The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1870-07-12 00:00:00

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JO oral &mutt' expres.

TUE3DAY. JULY 12, 1870.

Amid such inopportune circumstances as the
decease of one of his principal colleagues, the
continued indisposition of two others, and the
eccentric and offensive fre ilts of a subordinate
like Mr. Ayrton, Mr. Gladstone may be con-
gratulated on the practical success of the most
difficult portion of his Irish policy and on the
hopeful prospect that now exists of settling the
English Education question on • basis that, if
not "satisfactory to all parties," is generally
acceptable to the bulk of the people, and at the
same time affords • precedent for dealing with
the third and last great Irish difficulty. Of
course, we take it for granted that there will be
no serious collision between the two Houses res-
pecting the now somewhat unimportant amend-
meutis of the Lords to the Land Bill. To quarrel
over the divergencies which remain would be
ridiculous. As for the Education Bill, it has
been so well considered in the Commons; and
has been so considerably modifed to make it
acceptable as • compromise between parties, that
when the Lords get it in committee, they will pro-
bably pass it without important alteration.
But, en revanche for compliance on the Education
question and for concession on the Land Bill, we
must expect to see the Lords throw out or
considerably modify the University Tests Bill.
On the other hand, Mr. Gladstone suffered a
nominal defeat on Friday night on the subject
of the crown land reclaimed from the Thames by
the Northern Embankment, respecting which
Mr. W. H. Smith moved an address to the
crown that it should not be built upon. The
majority of 50 in favour of the motion, which was
opposed by the Government, provoked loud
opposition cheers.
Another step towards "Ireland for the Irish."
Notice is to be given in the House of Commons,
by an influential representative, of a motion for
sanctioning, early in the next session, the esti-
blishment of a Federal Parliament in Ireland,
for the transaction of purely Irish affairs.
The close of the present session is now fixed
by those skilled in such vaticinations at Thursday,
August 18th. _ _

, Convocation of the province of Canterbury
has had • busy week. The English Church
Union was very much shocked that the Bishops
' should have joined with Dissenters at the Holy
Communion in Henry Vll.'s Chapel, at West-
minster Abbey, when the revisers of the Author-
ised Version of the Scriptures met for the first
time, and memorialised the Upper House on the
subject. Their lordships had to defend them-
selves, and for the most part did it well ; bet we
expected better thinks from the Bishop of this
diocese than the plea that he didn't know Dis-
senters wern present. As to the forthcoming
census, their lordships have been much exercised.
The 18.51 returns indimated great progress among
Dissenters, but Oxford says bluntly the numbers
given were untrue, while Winchester, more wily
—as becomes him —averred that the census
Sunday was extremely rainy, consequently the
chapels filled, while the churches were empty.
This is slightly odd, and suggests an interesting
inquiry—whether, as a matter of fact, churches
fill best on sunny days, and chapels on wet days?
and if this be so, why is it 1
It is to be hoped that, after all, we shall have
a religious census in England next year, if it
he only to know how many "Peculiar People"
there are in this country of many sects. For
ours3lves we really cannot understand what are
the legitimate objections to a man—or a woman
either—telling us what religion he belongs to, as
well as his name, age, birthplace, occupation,
Surely there can be no reason why any reasonable
person should withhold information which is to
merged in a lot of statistical figures and cannot
affect him personally.
The Bishop of Salisbury has delivered himself
anent the Contagious Diseases Act. His lord-
ship has written to the Hew. W. T. McCormick,
of Portland, to express his disapproval of the
measure. Whether the episcopal veto was thus
conveyed to • curate in the most southerly
parish in the diooeseefor the purpose of making
known his lordship's opinion to the ends of his
earth is uncertain, as also how the Government
is to become acquainted with this decision of the
Bishop. Perhaps Mr. McCormick will be ap-
pointed Bishop's messenger to the House of
Commons, ordering the repeal. When a newly-
appointed Judge sought counsel of an older one,
the venerable law lord advised him never to give
the reasons for his judgments, "for," said he,
"the public may respect your decisions ; but
' they are likely to doubt the value of your ,
reasons." "George Sarum" is too cautious to
give his reasons; and does not say whether he 1
disapproves of the partial and unfair subjection
of women only, or whether he dislikes entirely
the attempt to suppress a disease that poisons
the innocent by the most unexpected contact. If
his lordship knew that the unwary use of •
towel that had only been once used by an
affected person, and was apparently clean, has
been known to destroy totally the sight of an
entirely virtuous person, he might not be so
unsparing in his denunciation, and if the evil
done by some girls (and no doubt men too) ap-
parently modest,were only guessed, the so-called
cursed spy system" might not appear so
infamous. A crusade against intemperance in
drink and dress, and towards the armiug of
citizens instead cf keeping up celibate defensive
services, with, may we add, the discountenancing
of the idea that a celibate priesthood is more holy
than • married putorate, will do more towards
happiness and purity than unreasoning cheap-
provals of the Contagious Diseases Act.
.

The candidature wof a Prussian Prince—
Leopold, of H ohensollern—to the Spanish throne,
threatens to provoke a great European war.
France is irritated beyond comprehension, and
undisguisedly threatens to hold Prussia respon-
sible if the nominee of Marshal Prim be ratified
by the Corte,. We cannot suppose the Prussians
will be over ready to frown upon the candidature
under the influence of French dictation. Neither
will the Spaniards acquiesce in such interference.
, Their feelings must have been those of complete
indifference to &candidate whose name was never
mentioned until it is suddenly brought before
them by the recommendation of their present
rulers. These feelings may be completely altered
if their freedom of choice is to to embarrassed by
French jealousy of a third party. Earl Granville
has now a capital opportunity for signalizing his
entry upon his new duties by throwing oil upon
the troubled waters. As representative of a
Government equally friendly to each of the three
Powers concerned, and not suspected of having
selfish interests to serve, as the Russian or the
Austrian Governsient might be, the new Foreign ,
Secretary may plove himself asgoodapeacemaker
as Lord Stanley was in the Luxembourg
business.