The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-04-15 00:00:00

ernfral Idetrs.

The West Hartlepool Harbour and Railway Company
has for some years past attracted considerable attention,
in consequence of the hostilities that have raged between
its chairman, Mr Ralph Ward Jackson, and Mr R.
Coleman. A report of the directors of the company has
just been pubbalicd, and appended to this document is
the report of Messrs Quilter, Ball, Jay, and Co., llCCollrl-
taste, Both reports deal with the financial condition
of the company; and it is said that they bring a series
of facts to light Which reflect in the most serious de-
gree on the late board of directors, while their effects
upon the future interests of the company cannot at
present be estimated. The new directors request the
utmost forbearance, so that they may have a chance of
retrieving the affairs of ties concern, and they have made
a deed of assignment to the Master of the Court of
Chancery. Until the return of the next half-year is
ascertained no dividend will be declared. The colliers
of the company are to be disposed of, and no steamers
are to run to Cronstadt this season. Mr Jackson hss
resigned his seat at the board, and tie accountants state
that the deficiency in the accounts is at least £494,000.
adding that even this formidable sum does not in all
likelihood represent the full measure of the deficit.
Mr. Edward Backhouse, a Sunderland banker, and a
member of the Society of Friends, was summoned
before the magistrates, at Sunderland, en Saturdim
for refusing to pay church rates. The defendant
: said he refused to pay the rate. becaum be believed
I that a compulsory collection of them did not tend to
promote peace on earth and good will among men. His
legal adviser dispnted the validity of the rate, and
the case will be carried to a higher court.

A Sussex coutemporat7, overflowing with joy and
gratitude at the bommatation of the bop duties, has
determieed that Busse shall 'celebrate the event in
• manner worthy of it. 'The enthushustic journal sire
—"Let us have no poor select meeting, but a dinner at
such a pries as will enable many who have shared in
past sufferings to take part in the present joy; and,
above all, let it be done at once. Do not let as wait
until the Bret warmth of our emotions has passed away,
and the deep glow of gratitude lies subsided into a mild
sentiment of approval; but let all assemble and join
in expressing their deep sense of the services which
have been rendered to the cause by the noblemen and
gentlemen who have taken part in the agitation which
has at length been crowned with so glorious •
success."

HAATLEY COLLIRRT RiLi, FUND. —At • meeting
held at Newcastle-on-Tyne last week, it was anaounced
that £75,000 had been collected. The allowance
decided on was : 7s. 6d. per week to each widow ;
10s. 6d., widow and child ; 13e. 6d., widow and
two children; 15s. 64., vridow and three children ,•
171. 64., widow and four children; 19s. 6d., widow and
Ave children ; and 21e. 6d., widow and six children.
Thee, allowances to continue, except in eases of gross
misconduct, to widows as long as they remain unmar-
ried ; to Orli until they reach the age of 15 ; and to
bays until they reach the age of 12 years. The allow.
ance to infirm adults to remain at Sc. per week, as at
present. 'Widows marrying to have £2O; widows or
ehildren dying to have £3 funeral expenses; birth of a
child, El ; death of a child £l. Education and medical
expenses in addition to the foregoing. The calculations
had been based on Government tables, and it was esti-
mated that £50,000 aotild have to be sunk to meet
these expenses.. The Mayor of Newcastle proposed
that they should pay £2,000 of their surplus fund for
the relief of thewidows and orphans in Wales, but the
proposition met with considerable opposition, and it
was withdrawn.

A MODERN CASTLE Or UDOLPHO.—A correspondent
Penchi the following remarkable story to the Dubl in
Evening Mail :—" This is the age of discoveries, anti one
of such • atartling nature has mast been made in an
English enmity that it seem, out of place in the region
of sober fact, and to belong purely to the atmosphere of
the three-volume novel. Here are the circumstances ;
the names for the moment I ant not at liberty to
Indicate s—The Earl of married not long ago, and
brought his bride home to one of the old family mansions
which members of the English aristocracy regard with
an affestion automating to veneration. The lady, how-
ever. being mere eeatineatal in her tastes, after a short
TesKsista m the virtimmlll IPPrerrid•d, Ie toe,

-au

expressed a wish to have a boudoir in the vicinity of
her bedroom. The not le earl would gladly have eom•
I lied with the request, hut, upon examination, it was
form(' that the rooms, as sometimes happens in antique
building., were so awkwardly distributed that by no
conceivable plan of rearrangement could the desired
bon/01r be fitted in. Thereupon it became necessary to
invoke professional assistance, and an eminent architect
oao Stlnamoned from London. Ile exatnMed the house
narrowly, and said there eeemed to be nothing for it
but to build one, though at the came time he could not
resist the impression that there must be another
towliscovered room somewhere in that wing of the
mansion. The noble earl laughed at the idea ; the
oldest servants and retainers of the family were quell.
tionert, and dectered that they bad never heard even a
ramour of its existence. The ordinary methods of
tapping, tee., were restored to, but without effect. Still
the architect retained his conviction, and declared
himself ready to stake his professional repntation on
the result. The earl at last consented to let the walls
be bored, and, when an opening had been made, not
only was the room found, but a sight presented itself
which almost defeats attempts at description. Tire
apartment was fitted up in the richest and moat
luxurious style of 150 years ago. A quantity of lady's
apparel ley about the room, jewels were scattered on
the dressing-table, and, but for the faded aspect which
everything wore, the chamber might have been tenanted
half an hour previeusly. On approaching the bed the
most curious sight of all wan seen, and this it is which
affords the only clue to the mystery. The couch held
the skeleton of a women, and on the floor underneath
the bet, half in and ball out, lay another skeleton,
that of a man, presenting evident traces of violence, and
proving that, before lie expired in that position, he must
have received sonie dreadful injury. The secret
comiected with this tole of hood bas been well kept,
for not merely hod all tradition of the arrene faded away,
but even the existence of the room itself was forgotten.
The survivors probably walled up the apartment at the
time, and its contents remained hermetically sealed up
till the present day, when, according to the best calcula-
tions, after the lapse of a century and a half daylight
ham accidentally penetrated into this chamber of
horrors."

HUNGRY M AIIPSON.—Abont mid-day we fell in with •
couple of Indians laden with a considerable amount of
dried salmon. They were afraid to approach our 1111110
body, so we sent a deputation in advance, composed of
Sampson and another, to trade with them. The Indians
permitted the deputation to Approach them, and,
unpacking their salmon, laid it down while the terms
of barter were agreed on. The sight of provisions was,
however, too much fur the famishing Sampaon. With
one fell swoop of his long arms he swept up all the fish,
with a ravenous howl, which made the terror-stricken
Indians scud like hares out of sight. Sampson at once
fi II tooth an lnafl upon the viands. Beholding this, we
all rushed upon him, and insisted upon a fair division of
the spoils. As there were thirty of us, however, the
limited supply only tantalized our appetites, and the
treatment of the Ind ans proved very bad policy,
as no doubt, owing to this raid, we met no more of
them on the trail. " Lo die° har bhoys," growled
Sampson, an we started on our journey the third
morning, "I'm bound to get a feed, or I gum I'll be driv'
to by some unfortunate critter among ye in his tracks,
and jest wolf him right up" And, gum in hand, amid
loud laughter, he icticitsd in advance of the train. In •
couple of hours or so we I card the report of his piece,
and by ant by cane up with the hungry Ysnkse, who
was hound busily engaged with the body of an old crow,
which, with the strange idiosyncrasy of crsws in general,
hail found hie way into these solitary mountains, and
got shot for his pains. Peals of laughter echoed through
our company, as we saw the black game Sampson's gun
had brought down ; but our mirth grew still louder,
when w• found out why he I.ersisted in remmaging away,
in an anxious manner, into the old bird's carcase. The
fact was, when the sportsman came upon his game, he
had no sinall shot with him, and to have tried a bullet
was nearly hopeless—so, hie wits sharpened with hunger,
and regardless of expense, Sampson had actually loaded
his barrel with a charge of nuggetty gold, and thus
brought down his quarry. So now he was endeavouring
to recover some portion at least of his precious charge.
But his efforts was very unsuccessful.—Leisure Hour.

BANKRUPTCIES THIS YRAR.—The total nurniter of
bankruptcies earetted in the first three months of this
year was 1,187, of which 1,521 took place in the country
districts, and 1,293 in London. The number has been
declinin, month by mouth, 1,016 bankruptcies having
b en garotted in January, 930 February, andBll in March.
Of the 1,524 provincial haokruptciee. 175 took place in
the Ltverpeol district, 2(45 the Manchester district,
39310 the Birmingham distract, 291 in the Leeds district,
245 in the Bristol diztrict, 124 in the Exeter district, and
92 in the Newcastle district, The bankruptcy rate in
the Liverpool district, hat consequently been at the
rite of 700 per annum, as coinpared with an average of
79 ter annum in the previous ten years ; in the Man-
chester district, at the rate of 816 per annum, as
compared with a preview' average of 89 in the Birming-
ham &Arid, at the rate of 1,572 I.er annum, as cons.
pared with • previous average of 156; in the Leeds
district, at the rate of 1,164 per annum, as compared
with a previous average of 105 ; in the Bristol district,
at the rate of 930 I.er annum, as compared with a
previous average of 68 ; in the Exeter district, at the
rate of 496 ler annum, as compared with a previous
average of 42 ; in the Newcastle district, at the rat, of
363 per annum, al campared with • previous art r .ge 36;
and the metropolitan district at the rate of 5,172 per
annum, as compared with a previous average of 748.
The bankruptcies for Englan I generally have been at
the rate of 11,268 per annuls, as compared with a
previous average of 1.123; so that, to state the matter
shortly, about ten times as many bankruptcies are
gazetted under the new Act as under the imparts .t system
previously in force.
CURIOUS CALCULATION.—The Chaacellor of the Ex-
chequer's speech, as reported in The Times newspaper
on Friday last, occupied more than one page and two-
thirds of • page of that journal. The ealcuhttion has
been made that, if the letterpress could be presented
in one long unbroken line, instead of in columns
(literally In extenso), it would occupy • length of 144
yards, or nearly one-twelfth of a maw—Wolverhampton
Chronicle.

A LONG TSRM.—Eagter term this year will em-
brace • period of 29 days instead of 24, arising from the
fact of the feast of Easter falling late in the year.
Last year the term ended on the Bth May, and the
ensuing term will not end till the 13th May. The
extra live days are added on Recount of the closing of
the office from Thursday next. The alteration is of
importance to be known, as it seems to have escaped
notice in some quarters.
We under tend that it is highly probable that the
present session will be terminated by June or the
middle of July. The house will have thus had com-
paratively but a light amount of work this year; it is
not likely that the peace and tranquil order of affairs,
which are in themselves • tribute to the event responded
to by a public mourning of the whole country, will be
just now in any way disturbed sufficiently to provoke
protracted discussions or delays which shall extend the
sitting of Parliament. All the festivities of the season
have been sobered accordingly to the general sorrow and
sympathy; but it has occurred to no, ns doubtless to
many even more directly interested in the question,
What ere we to do without any drawing-rooms or
receptions by the Sovereign during the approaching
summer? Of course, it is not the were routine of
etiriette, or vain egotism attending • drawing-room,
which we should regret to see shorn or dim nished of
their relative a lvantages, such as they be; but certainly
to ninny of our fellow lieges of both sexes seeking to be
presented at foreign Courts, the lapse in the Court cere-
monies at home would perhaps prove, if not prejudicial,
certainly, for ma time extremely inconvenient. Those
of our readers interested will accordingly be glad to be
informed that, on the return of the Prince- of Wales
from his tour in the Holy Land, he will, in all likelihood,
essume, for one Cr two occasions, trio duties which have
been by custom and the law of the land performed by
Her Majesty the Queen. Of course, precedent and
formality will be duly satisfied by the Court authorities
ani the Heralds' College for this unusual measure, as
it is notoriously the desire of the Queen that none of
her subjects should suffer in any drgree from the re-
tirement and seclusion which st present constitute her
chief solace for the trial and affliction which she has
undergone. The Prince of Wales will probably return
by the end of May, and the appointed drawing-rooms,
by proxy, will be duly notified according to the
customary regulations in force in the Lord Chamber-
lain's department.

liou.owAy's FILLS use Otirrnere—Derangernent of the
Stomach and Howels.—ln all case of irregularities of the
liver, the stomach and box em, Holloway's celebrated Pills are
a true speellice. Dysentery, biliousness, acidity of the stomach,
sick headache, debility, want of appetite, drowsiness, and
in, apaoity fur exertion will all pas. off before a course of these
pills, which pur fy the blood and give tone to the shots
system. In external injuries such has burns, scalds, and
bruises, and all skin diseases, the Ointment is wonderfully
efficacious. Both the Pills and Ointmeut are composed of rare
balsams, unmixed with a grain of mercury, or any deletrlous
wubstance. They can be used with safety by both sexes, at all
ages, in any climate.

A WOMA:ISEWTRWCID TO DEATH FOR MURDZIL—The
Dumfries Circuit Court was opened by Lord Dean on
Tuesday, when Mary Reid, or ilmney, was put on her
trial for the mortar of Ann Hannah, at Carpshad, in
the parish of Hells, on the 13th January last. The
UM was one of great atrocity, the poor woman having
been fonnd with seven wounds on her head, and three
on her face. These wounds were horn one to seven
inches in extent, and appeared to have been indicted
with a heavy poker, which was found covered with
blood and hair. The evidence was purely circumstantial,
and there did not clearly appear to be any cause for the
oommittal of snob a barbarous act. The brother of
deceased, to his evidence, stated that the prisoner was
in the habit of borrowing from his sister. but his eider
latterly refused to lend her anything. There was some
difference, four or five weeks before, between hie sister
and the prisoner about the latter carrying away wood
from Carpshad Farm. His sister spoke to him of the
difference. The prisoner said to him the wood was
"water wreck," and that she might take it. He said
she would not take it. He never knew of any other
difference. The prisoner's two children, eleven and
five years of age, were called as witnesses against their
mother, to prove that she was absent from home at the
time the deed was committed ; and several articles of
clothing and a knife stained with blood, found in
prisoner's residence, were produced in court. The trial
lasted ten hours, after which the jury unanimously re-
turned a verdict of guilty. Lord Doss, after the tins
form ali tiea, pronounced sentence of death. Tice execution
will take place at Dumfries on the 29th Mate.
WRECK OF THE MARS STRAIIRR.—The Waterford
Steam Navigation Company, to which the Mara ateamer
belonged, have furnished the following authentic list of
the cabin paysenzers, the number of the crew and pas-
sengers on board at the time of the wreck, and the names
of the persons saved :—Captain and Mrs. Russell, child,
and servant, Miss Comb', and Dr. S. Blest. cabin ;
Mr. Belcher, and Mr. J. Kerwick, with cattle • Mr.
Thomas Cooper. Mr. John Molloy, Mr. Wiliam
Wiltshire, and Mr. L. Nolan, with horses ; Mr. Brien,
with swine; besides 15 deck pawengers, whose names
are net taken by the company. The total on board was
27 adult passengers and three children, 23 crew, and
two cattlemen, making altogether 55. The deck pas-
senger& saved was Michael Dunn, who, with Mitilmel
and James Sutton, firemen, and J. Case and J. Cross,
seamen, were the six who escaped. The camber of lives
hat by the wreck is therefore 49. A subscription has
been opened in London and Brurtol for the relief of the
foaniHos of the crow, many of whom are thrown into
great thilittation by this Ind rut