The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-08-01 00:00:00

Monet eountg exiiresss.

TUIRDAY, AUGUST' 1. IfOti.

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

It is said of the elder Mathews that he
suffered from a painful disease of the tongue,
from having talked so much and so fast; we
have often wondered that the disease is
not more prevalent in the present day. No
I
doubt, if the majority of people were more
dull, life might possibly become a little more
silent, but it would be prolonged. The com-
panion who is ever talking is no better than a
murderer, and in a healthy state of society he
would be hanged. The saddest part of the
matter is that most men talk, not because they
have anything to say, but because they have a
dread that the world will discover that they
. have no great wit.

The World of this week told us a strange tale of
of the sea, or, rather, from across the sea. The
stolen Duchess had turned up, it was said, in
America, and Messrs. Agnew were invited to
buy back their own property. The best of the
joke was that, since there is no extradition
treaty with America at present, nor likely to be
for some time, Messrs. Agnew would be able to
do so without compounding a felony. It is not
surprising that the same town gossips who had
hinted that there had been a colusion all
through, and that, like the Rape of the Sabine.,
the fur Duchess was carried off from her owner
with his connivance, should excogitate this
second story. It is contradicted, however, by
the Messrs. Agnew, and is a pure invention
from first to last. Lucky people, the Agnews,
another advertisment for nothing.

It has been said that barristers virtually form
a trade-union, and certainly they are pretty
closely bound together by the tie of professional
etiquette. This fact has just been shown by a
resolution passed at a meeting of the bar, at
which all the circuits were represented. For-
merly it IMP the rule that no person could take
a brief on any other circuit but his own under
100 guineas, and no senior of the bar under 300
guineas. It has now been agreed, however,
that any "silk gown" may go off his circuit for
100 guineas, and any junior member for 50
guineas. This arrangement has been arrived at
owing to the changes effected in our law courts
and on circuits by the new Judicature Act, and
the new system will be convenient to the bar
and a benefit to the public.

The Somersetshire magistrates have just din-
discovered that policemen, like mere ordinary
mortals, require lighter clothing in the broiling
days of summer than in the chills of winter.
It is true the enlightenment comes but late in
the hot season, but still the Somerset constabu-
lary have reason to be thankful even for these
small mercies. They were about the last that
discarded the old-skin tall hat, and now they,
it is to be hoped, will obtain another acceptable
reform. A magistrate, it is true, expressed a
fear the men may take cold, but possibly the
men will be quite content to risk their delicate
organization if the boon is conceded. Let the
Somerset magistrates attend a summer inspec-
tion of the police of our own country—among
them the light tunic has been in vogue for
years—and they would then see some of the
bait dressed, drilled, and competent men to be
I met with in any police force in Egland,

The July number 4 the A auntie monthly, in
a very interesting article on the Centennial
Exhibition, after describing how President Grant
came to the opening, and spoke, says, "Let the
truth be told, in spite of the reporters. There
were more groans and hisses than human as he
finished his brief address. Ten years ago earth
and sky would have shaken with the thunder of
his welcome. What &sublime possession to have
thrown away, the confidence and gratitude of a
nation ! He stood there, as it were, discrowned
and disowned, the frock-coat and black hat
typifying the loss of the glory he put off forever
with his uniform.'

The Government are placed, it is said, in a
peculiar predicament about the disposal of their
business. They had deterniined, so goes the
report, to throw over the Prisons Bill, seeing no
possibility of otherwise getting through the
Education Bill, the Judicature Bill, and the one
or two other measures that cannot be put aside.
But it seems that a very influential body of their
supporters in the House of Commons, led by
Mr. Russell Gurney, have presented& memorial
to the Prime Minister urging that, of all things,
he should pus the Prisons Bill. The intended
sacrifice has therefore to be reconsidered, and
the duties and responsibilities of the Govern-
ment have to be reckoned over anew.

There is no news of actual fighting between
the Servians and Turks. The usual expected
great battle" is announced, but it has been
foretold so often, and with such very slight
foundation in fact, that readers can scarcely be
expected to receive all they hear with perfect
sonfidence. The correspondent of the Times at
Parakiui draws a moral to the disadvantage of
the Servians from the secrecy which they
maintain with regard to news from the seat of
war. He considers that "they are injuring
their own cause, and giving a great advantage
to the enemy by being a little too clever in the
way of reticence." Another favourite story in
regard to Russian assistance for the Servians is
revived. It is said that all the "chief com-
mands in the Servian army are to be given to
Russians who will carry on a totally new system
of operations." Perhaps the most startling
intelligence of the day is that the new Sultan is
in e-ctremis. According to the latest telegrams
he has been "given up" by the doctors, and
his death may be expected at any moment. If
It were not for the extreme probability that
still later telegrams will announce that he is in
perfect health the story of his expected demise
would be calculated to cause some sensation.

THE Tome BAND will perform a selection of music
at the top of High West-street this (Tuesday) evening,
commencing at heliport seven o'clock.
We have been requested to announce that Mr. W. K.
Brymer, M.P. for Dorchester, has accepted the office
of Vice•Preeident of the National Association for
Freedom of Worship (Central Office, Manchester).
Tex BLOCK Srartri.—We understand the South
Wistern Railway Company have completed the
arrangements for working their line on the "block"
system cf signalling, and they commenced so to work
on Monday.

RITURPI( Or Till ARTILLWIT. -The artillery battery
which left here a week or two ago have returned to
our barracks from the summer inameuvres. They
came in from Wareham about a quarter to eleven on
Monday, and looked rather dusty, which is not to he
wondered at, seeing the amount of dry weather we
have lately had. A few weeks at our quiet station
will no doubt again put them in the neat and respect-
able looking state in which they left for the
mano3uvres.

CO-lIIIITTED TO THE DORSET COUNTY PRISON. -
.4 soi.-ca John Dunn, burglary at Dorchester. Hord
Wear George Norman, stealing money at Marsh.
wood, 3 calendar month' ; William Collins, stealing
boots at Dorchester, 2 calendar months; Thomas
Vile, vagrancy at Weymouth, and Thomas Hallett,
ywnincy at Wootton Yftzpaine, 1 calendar month
each; 'George Miller, stealing mousy at Weymouth,
1 calendar month and 5 years to a reformatory ;
Benjamin Moggridge, drunk and riotous at Wey-
mouth, 28 day.; Jasper Thomas Russell, poaching at
Radipole, 21 days; Mary Kelly, vagrancy at Wey-
mouth, and a man who refused to give his name,
vagrancy at Weymouth, 14 days each;
Greftey, vagrancy at Weymouth. 7 days.- laprisun-
sant Adelaide Jeffery. drunk and riotous at Wey-
mouth, 7 days.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ARSOCIATION. -OR TIMM.
day evening an address was delivered g the in of this
Association by the Rev. H. C. G. Moule, M.A.
The esteemed president, Mr. G. Curme, presided.
and there was • fair attendance, although not
so large se on some previous occasion; no doubt
other attractions in the town that evening tended
to lessen the numbers. The meeting commenced by
singing and prayer. Before commencing his address
Mr-. Moule expressed the pleasure he felt In responding
to the invitation to address them that evening. He
often thought of their meetings with interest and of the
work carried on in that room. The rev. gentleman then
read I. Thessalonians, v., 8,9, 10, 11 v., on which
ha founded • thoroughly practical and profitable
address, his remarks being made especially applicable
to thefa-Lung mon present. He showed the advantage
of 1 • thoroughly sober life, in the meaning set
forth7nNe text, and remarked on the importance of
living that others might nee that there was a reality
In religion, especially ureng them to Let their light
shine, that if their neighbours or their parents were
asked as to their conduct at home they might be abls
to testify to the great change that had been wrought
In their uses, The rev, gentleman also dwelt on the
hope which the Christian enjoyed, and pointed out
that "whether he wakes or sleeps he should live
together with Christ." At the close another hymn
was sung, prayer offered, and, on the imposition of
Mr. Crams, seconded by Mr. Dixon, Mr. Moule was
thankei far his excellent address.
INSPECTION UT THE 3ah D.R.V.- -The comment;
officer of the Dana Rifle Volunteers, Col. Stow
ea Thursday evening inspected the 3rd D.R.V.
There was • very large racrater, between 70 and 80
being present ; this was no doubt on account'of its
bekg the first °Oficial visit from the galjaat Colonel to
this fine corps. The corps was under the command gf
Capt. J. F. Hodges. with Lient B. wiftiarw, Blab.
Lout A. Williams, and Battalion
Newman. Captain Mount Beam, riihsiztr. T.
also in attaidance, and the Rem H. Event% lb::