The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-10-01 00:00:00

jorrign anb Colonial inttllignice.

FRANCE.—A letter from Parissays ;—" The military
preparations of the French Government are going on
with great activity, Experiments are Net now going
on at Vlneennes with • view to use common rafied
howifaers au mortars, by fixing them at a very sharp
angle, which enables small shells to be thrown some
6,000 metres. Bat these experimenta excite but little
attention in comparison with • new invention which
has been tried with perfect imam, and by which • foot
soldier in heavy marching order is enabled to walk on
the eater withent sinking. It consists of a pair of india-
robber boots and trousers, all one piece, which are
filled with sir • little below the waist, and heavily
weighed at the feet. With these trousers on a detach-
ment has frequently crossed tim lake of Vincenne ,
where the water is about 16 feet deep, firing their
muskets, and loading Am they went. The men sink
about two feet, the water barely reaching the top of
their thighs, and appear not to have any difficulty in
keeping their balance and moving along. The experi-
ment is to be repeated in the presence of the Emperor,
and there is not the slightest doubt of its being adopted
for the army. The consequence of the adoption of this
system need hardly be pointed out. Fancy on a calm
day at sea how easy it would be to land 3,000 or 4,000
men, who would forthwith walk ashore, and secure a
landing for the rest of the form. For the crossing of
rivers the .advantage of this system is still more obvious,
and the delay caused by the nmweeity 1w constructing ,
bridges or discovering fords could be done away with.
I may add, as it ia not improbable that • plan for '
making soldiers amphibious may meet with some in-
credulity, that I can vouch for the accuracy of the
particulars given shove, which have reached me from •
military friend who himself witnessed what I have
attempted to describe. I can readily believe, however,
that you will require ample corroboration."
BELGIG/L—A meeting of the Brumels Association
in favour of a treaty of commerce with England, has
justymased a resolution declaring that the stipulations
of the rranoo-Belgian treaty ought to be applied with
the least possible delay to England, and to other
nations, pending Amore complete reform of the Belgian
tariff. The molutien met with only, • slight and in.
effective opposition.
TURKEY.—The Alonitow announces that the
neirotiatioes between the Porte and: several other
Powers for the conclusion of Mettles of commerce in
conformity with those which have been lisped between
It and England, Francs, and Italy, not yet having been
terminated, the Ottoman Government has demanded
that the application of the Moieties of commerce with
the latter Powers, which had been fixed. for the lot of
October next, should be postponed until the 13th of
March, 1862, This application is made with a view of
avoiding the confusion whigh would arise to commerce
and to revenue from the sad len substitution of an
irregular and varying tali, for one of a fixed and equal
character. The French Governmentima sanded to the ,
demand so far as it is concerned.

SW ITZEBLAND.—According to the Blind of Berne,
the effective strength of the Swiss army at the beginning
of the present year was 186,379 men ; 81,257 forniing
the Federal contingent 43,281 the Federal reserve, an
I d
61,838 the landwehr. n the latter number 2863 were
not organised.
HUNGARY.—The corn harvest has been most
abundant this year in Ifungary,and enormous quantities
are In Consequence being sent off by railway to the
counties al 'Astern Europe. The advantage which
Hungary will derive from these exports are exceedingly
Feat. According to a statistical returr•, drawn up by
the Minister of Agriculture, the vale* of corn exported
from Hungary &aloe the beginning of the month of
August, is nearly 18,000,000 f., being only about • third
of what can be sold. The abundant harvest has been
Important in a politisal point of view; it has had the
effect of making the rural population better disposed to
pay the taxes to the Austrian Government.

RUSSIA .—"fl. Russian nary," simple Pays, "Liu
enetainedle wrens loss.nn tbsi coast olJapsn—thst el the
Swollen*, line-01-batt.le ship, 100 Irene and 000 men.
All the crew ere said to hare perished.

ROME.—A singular proof of the fallibility of human
tribunal' is afforded in the melancholy story of the
execution of an innocent man at Rome. The history
of the OW may be told'in few words. At the end of
June last a quarrel arose on the Corso, at Home, in the
mune of which one Velluti, • gendarme, was mortally
wounded. His comrades arrested • railway porter,
Locatelli who had himself been injured in the scuSe,
and amitied him of the crime: Looatelli was tried,
found guilty, and reocommended to mercy on the ground
that be had acted, to a tertian extent, on provocation.
The Pope considered the recommendation, but Loaatelli
was a Liberal, and no mere, was shown to him: On
Saturday, in the presence of a large millitary force,
he was judicially deprived of life, protesting his
Innocence to the last, and refusing the spiritual
ministrations of those who had oondetnined him, and
dying with courage as he cried " Viva Malin I" Shortly
after the execution, a Roman emigrant, named
Castueei, gave himself up at Florence, and confessed
that he was the man who had stabbed Vefleti. Infor-
mation was immediately sent to Rome, but it was too
tile—the innocent and breve Locatelli had suffered
murderer's death, and his body cast into a pit "with a
barrowfal of lime over it to ensure rapid decompo-
sition !"

lIIIICO.—Her Majesty's Government, In oonjune-
lion with that of the Emperor of the French and the
Queen of Spain, have resolved to make an united
demonstration against Matto°, without recourse, how-
ever, to war, for the purpose of obtaining redress for the
wrongs and injuries indicted upon the respective
subject.' of the three Powers. It is intended to des-
patch immediately to the coast of Mexico • combined
fleet. and to seise the principal ports, and sequestrate
the Customs duties, appoint spats to levy snd venire
the same upon both Inward and outward vessels and
their cargoes, and pay themselves out of the proceeds the
sums claimed. The balance (about one-half) will be
handed over to the Mexican authorities at the different
ports. The Parris contradicts the report that
the present state of Mexico is about to be the subject
of a convention between the three powers most inte-
rested in the question. The Patric admits that the
French Government has fully approved the conduct of
Its minister in Mosion, that it has expressed its greet
dissatisfaction with the measures of the President
Juarez, and its intentien to protect the French interests
affected by them. But no decision has been made as to
the means to be employed to effect this result.

JAPAN —The members of the British Location in
Japan appear to have very narrowly escaped being mur-
dered. On the night of the sth July a murderous
attack was made upon them, and Mr. Morrison rod
Mr. Oliphant were seriously wounded. The rest of
the Legation, more fortunate, escaped, and took
refuge at Yakohatna. In consequence of this attack
the foreign community are reported to be very uneasy,
notwithstanding that the Government had expressed
much *noisily for them. Some English war vessels
have been ordered to proceed to the locality where the
outrage was committed.
ClllNA.—Aecording to the news from China, the
rebels are still in great force. No hies than 100,000 of
them are said to be approaching Shanghai. Nankin
continues to be closely invested by the Imperial troops.
The mercantile community are greatly disestielled with
the Chinese customs and the working of the new treaty,
and a Chamber of Commerce meeting has been celled
to consider the subject.

INDIA.—Froni India we regret to learn that cholera
Ii making lad havoc in the north-west districts, and
that our troops have suffered to • frightful extent, the
fatality amounting, it is stated, to two-thirds of thee.
attacked. Government are adopting active measures
to promote the cultivation of cotton ; and not alone
the Government, but also the Agrimiltnral Society and
private individuals.