The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-03-29 00:00:00

Doroctsliire.

E rAilloi OF nig mionwits Folt. THE
CorNTY OF uonmer ON HF,FOIIII.

Ilkllvered In An linme a Common* on 311t4ulny,
Marl' 21, 114411,1

Mr. H. 0. STUNT (who spoke from a hark bench "n
the Miiiisterial mule) mild lie rejoiced that the noble lord
at the heed of the (Weenie's:id lisul haul the moral
cottage to Wale forward and grapple with thi4 question,
loch now leen hovering over the country for the
„t &own years. At the same time, he 'leerily regretkil
that that noble lord haul not gime a little further, and,
through 11111 representative iii that Howse lahl on the
„eia a Hill that WIN likely to satisfy the ;eat expecte-
nom if the people. (Cheers from the 4 hpa.itam.) In
sa aide apeach delivered to his constituent+ the amble
jail the member for King's Lynn moven or eight years
api declared that he was strongly opposes) to anything
in the Ante of piecemeal legislation on the miliject of
Parlismintary Reform, and that he ardently hoped,
.1.. a the II negtiOli Wii introduced ltito the Homo/ of
emmona, that • full anil comprehensive memoirs
„waid le proposed, and one which would satisfy the
,„.uple if not for ever, at all events for a comMlerable
6,f., come. It would appear that the noble lord had
nor moneys hat modified hie opiiiion, for lie must he well
aware that the Bill before tim house, IN) far I being
welded by the country as a proper and practical isidu•
tme of this difilenit question, had been but the signal
for renewed agitation and general discontent. ((leers.)
He haul heard the introductory speech of the Chancellor
of the Exchequer with oonsulerable astonislimeit (a
hash), for it was surprising that one who Was siecond to
tio man in that House for political 'sagacity should in
pigg ("wily, gravely, and deliherately propose to deprive
100,000 of his honest, intelligent, loyal, and indriotic
fellowomuntryinen of their inestimahle privilege of
Toting at county elections. He was obliged to look
about for an explanation of so extraordinary a proceed-
ing. The lion. member for Birmingham was quite right
in describing this as a sop thrown by the (lover aaaaa ent
to the county members on their own aide. No doubt it
was kindly intended, yet' it certainly paid the county
members tie very high compliment. (A laugh.) He
wondered that they did not regard it in the proper light
—viz., ass great political insult offered to themselves
mad their eonstituents, and slid not protest as one man
against a scheme manifestly so unjust and so uncon-
stitutional. (Cheers.) Instead of doing this, however,
hi. hon. friends first took the sop and then diul not like
it (laughter) ; becnv...,e a few days afterwards down came
tie hon. member for Moinersetshire, generous MTN ! and
gave notice of amendment to maintain what lie called
eiisting rights—a proposition which was nothing more
nor less than a miserable compromise. County ineul-
bees generally ea the Ministerial aide were not supposed
to hold very enlightened views, or to have very expan•
eve intellects, and, after mixing considerably with
them himself during the last six weeks, lie must say
lie Was rather inclined to share in that opinion.
(Laughter.) He wished to ask his lion. friends in public,
as he had asked them over and over again in private,
why they were so suspicious and distrustful towards the
people? 07heers.) For many years past the decent
and loyal behavour of the manses had been the theme of
admiration throughout the world. It was said OM
there was • danger of the people undermining the
throne and subverting the aristocracy. He shared in 110
such apprehension—he laboured under no such lialluei•
nation. It was because he had faith in the people that
he protested against any attempt to tamper with their
constitutional rights. (Cheers from the Opposition.)
lie so protested because he was • Conservative. (An
ironical cheer from the Ministerial side.) Yes, he
repeated, he tussle that protest because lie 11/115 a Con-
servatis e ; and lie would tell the hon. gentleman who
raised that malevolent cheer, that that 111111 was more
worthy the appellation of Conservative who Advanced
with the times in which he lived and identified himself
with the principle of progressive improvement than one
who had no trust in the people, and who, whenever an
opportunity presented itself, was invariably found rais-
ing his voice and recording his vote ill favour of a retro-
grade policy. (Opposition cheers.) Moreover when the
proper time arrived he (Mr. Start) 'should record his
vote in favour of extending the borough franchise,
because in his conscience lie believed there were tens of
thousands of the working classes in the country pre.
eluded from that right to which their intelligence and
education so eminently entitled them. (Opposition
cheers.) Desirous an he was to see • satisfactory mem-
sure of reform passed in the present session, the ques-
tion naturally suggested itself—would he assist in
Attaining that object by voting with the noble lord the
member for the city? He thought not. (A laugh,
answered by counter cheers.) If the resolut of the
noble lord were carried all chance of passing MI effec-
tive Reform Bill during the iiresent session would he
kit. Merely, it was in the power of any 11011. member,
when the House went into committee on this Hill, to
111.01 e a resolution embodying the objects if the noble
lord? (Hear, hear.) Surely, the Government had not
vliown any hesitation to Advance half way in the path of
improvement, and lie could not see any reason why the
Bill, after one or two omissions, some alterations, and a
few additions (a laugh), should not eventually assume •
shape consonant with the feelings amid opinions of the
House. And now for the queation of party. He
wanted to ask hon. gentlemen on the opposite side of the
House what Advantage they were likely to derive from
joining with his noble friend the member for the city ,
in what he (Mr. Sturt) inu,t call his extremely cleat.- '
mini party movement. (A laugh.) They were a dime-
muted party. He would just refer, for example, to the
ballot. He WM convinced hon. gentlemen on the oppo.
site side below the gangway would make the question of
the ballot a sine time, moot in the cousideration of a Reform
Hill. Believing, (hen, that no good could accrue either
to the eoutitry or to any party by paseing the resolution
of the noble lord, lie should vote against him and in
favour of the second reading of the Bill before the
House. (Hear.) He haul, in conclusion, to thank the
House for the indulgent attention they hail granted
him. He hoped lie had not hurt the feelings of any of
his right hon. friends on that (the Ministerial) aide of
the Heine. (Laughter.) lie trusted none of his hon.
friends near him had been petrified by aught that lie
had said. (A laugh.) Ile would only further stete
that lie had addressed the House as & free and kite-
ismilent member, having no ambition to gratify, and
animated only by the wish—whicla, lie was sore, guided
every useniber of that assembly—to secure to the utmost
extent, the safety, honour, and welfare of his native
country. ((lteers.)

Mr. K. HEYlll:lt said, when they were considering •
Bill to emend the representation of the people, the first
qu.stion they ought to ask themselves Was this, -what
end did they propose to themselves by popill or represen-
tation, and how far Ii 1 our representative institut oils
answer that end! We in England desired good laws
and good government. I'Ve desired security for those
good laws and that for good government, and we believed
that that security was Lest attained by represeutative
institutions ; but we knew nothing of the " rights of
man." (Hear, hear.) Let the House go back for a
moment to the state of affairs at the time of the old
Reform Hill. The great centres of manufacturing in-
dustry. Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield. had
no members ; and other large towns which had members
were very often represented by close corporations,
which could not in any way be said to represent the
"pinions or the interests of Ritmo towns. Seats in that
House were openly bought and sold. All attempts to
remedy that state of things had been pertinacioualy
resisted. A great man, who afterwards became a wiser
politician, declared that no reform was necessary. It
was under these circumstances that the Reform Bill was
brought forward, and speakieg from the Ministerial side
of the House, he had no hesitation in saying that he
regarded it as • great and ^uccessful measure. It was
not • perfect measure, but a cry arose for " the Bill, the
whole Bill, and nothing but the Bill" —a stupid parmly
i 1 the form in which oaths were administered in our
marts of justice. But, although it was not a perfect, it
as a great and successful measure. Had our political
sad social progress during the last :10 years been, AS We
Were Sold, • dream! Was it true, as the people had I
been told in speeches out of doors, that we had been the
slavea of • landed aristocracy, who had involved us in I
expensive ware for their own benefit and against the
interests of the country ! Had there not, on the contrary,
s, the noble lord stated, been passed many most
able and important measures of political, progress during
those 30 years! But perhaps moue I . members would
%ay to him, " You have no right to speak of those
theasures, for you opposed the passing of them." Now,
mule of those measures his party opposed, and for others
they voted ; but whenever the public opinion of this
country declared itself in favour of • measure that
nieuure was carried by the House of C ttttt mons. and it
Passed through the House of Lords. Hear, hear.) Ile
admitted what the iloble lord had said with respect to
the question of free trade. He agreed with hint in what
he had said about Catholic emancipation—namely, that
it was put off to ton late a period, and that it Was carried
by • very dangerous process. But be believed that if
the reform of Parliament had been carried two years
earlier Catholic eiliaticipation would not have been
granted. With regard to the remarks of the nolde lord
on the corn laws and on free trade generally, lie must say
that it was not merely the agricultural interest that
deemed itself affected by the question of free trade ; this
shipping interest and many manufacturing interests also
took a part in the struggle. (Hear, hear.) lie would
remind the lion. member for Birmingham that the
Anti-corn-law League Was opposed by large portions of
the labouring classes, and that the league found it
necessary to issue tickets for win t i tt ion to its ineetinge
to exclude those who used to diatutb those meetings by
raising questions about the five points of the charter.
Rut When public opinion had declered in favour of the
great measure of free trade a large majority of the House
toinmons, and • considerable majority of the House
of Lords, which WAS called the landlords' House, passed
that measure. (hear.) The working classes dist' tasted
the hon. membor for Birmingham un account of his
°Pissition to the Ten Hours Bill, which was supported
'limey by the landed gentry, headed by the Earl of
Niaftesbury. In legislating upon that euhjeet
Parhia-
-I'wst went as far as was consistent with sound principal ;
a interfered on behalf of women and children,
,*he were unable to protect themselves ; but who could
mrileve that • Parliament returned by the labouring
gasses would have stopped at the right moment! Had
*e never heard of an Light Hours Bill for adult males! I
Agent, were the working clamea quite sound on the sub-
ieet uif capital and labour' The shoemakers, as &clam,
were extreme Radicals, and yet they fiercely opposed the
mtneluction of machinery into their handicraft, which
reminded him of the recent conduct of the licensed vie-
tgallers of Ilarylebone, when they passed • vote of con.
'deuce in their new and learned member as a sound and
'unest Liberal—and opposed to the opening of the
t
,r*dv• (A laugh.) It might be said that, though the
"tc'emed Parliament had passed some goml meuures,
Yet its foreign policy had been expensive to the country,
. Productive of advantage only to the aristocracy.
It Ito turned out the hon. member for Birmingham from
hm meat at Manchester? It wu not the landed gentry,
kit ths, genuine English impulse of the men of Man-
mieeter that rejected him because he was for peace when
were for war. Who was the Minister that made
oneself so unpopular by his supposed lukewarm:less in
the late war with Ramie? It was Lord Aberdeen, an
"Id Tory colleague of Wellington and Liverpool. The '
member for Birmingham had been saying some un-
Pleasant. things of the aristocracy during the last few
*meths. What did the aristocracy say of ? They
Ihought lt a great misfortune for • man who aspired to
he statesman to commence public life by a course of
ingost of doors. They thought that the habit of
large and enthusiastic meetings, where only
"10 014, was beard, had produced a bad effect both upon

the Mind and the oratory of the hon. tnetirlor. They
traced to that source the entire impoirsibility under
which he iiiilleared ti hilasur of placing Mooed 111 the
position of his iolverhary, or of supposing that nriob.sly
who held a iliffereut opinion from him could be either
booed or good. To that they attriliotell the incorrect
etatements, the urismind logic, the violent mill inteinpus
rate language of Which Wu hail heard sit much ilitring
the last few menthe. (Hear, hear.) The opinion* widish
the luso. moodier liadlispressed, and the manner in which
tip. y hid lawn recivepi by large 111114014.4 work ing meri,
by at glie rout of thu Twain's id reform. At Ihriumg.
ham the 1011, member 'stated that, ow Mg to our iiptein
of legislates'', there had leen alestraeted from the iii'
iluhlry of the p.orple the erionrious aipi incomprelemoble
sum Id two billiona. To by able to mullein such adepts,
Gorr the industry of the country must be pietty vigorims,
brit the lion. .ierisher must have forgotten that nor war
expenditure was bone in the greater insamire, nut by
Ike industrial elasheh, hut by a class far above them.
In order to allow that the House of 15ni 11111 l iis did riot
represent the country the hen. member 'dated in the
same speech that Hui question of free trade was only
carried by a majority of 19 in 10182. 141 tint everybody
know that the division in 11452 turned upon the budget,
the lionh ' e.tas Vie pohhihility of a proispective deficit,
and, above all. the desire of the Opposition to turn ~tit
the Government and take their Maws? (Hear, hear.)
The bon. member also lairl great strews upon the sin
of our pauperion, and seemed to ea 1111 l cct it with the
pyseveilings mid conrtitution of the Hume of Commons.
Where large inahseis of labourers congregated together
for the purpose of manufacture and commerce, and
when there MAX neocsmarily • great deal of improvidence
and home vice, there must always be distre. and misery.
Every true friend of the working classics would speak
to them of these things, and would try to persuade them
to reform theimielves ; but it suited the demagogue
better to talk to them of universal suffrage and the
wickedness of the House of Lords. (Illear, hear.) In
America, even in the new cities that had arisen up on
the bank,' of the Miashosippi, the same overcrowding, the
seine want of colon 1111111 l nicesharies of life, the same
vice and winery prevailed ; while in New York there
was a place called the Bowery, which lie could assure the
House matched anything to be found in St. Giles or
Saffron-hill. The hon. ineurber, proceeding on his tour,
told the people of Manchester that under our present
system of Government the aristocracy received far
more than they contributed to the revenues of the
State. But in order to make out that statement lie was
obligesi to include, among the receipts of the arestocracy,
all the property and livings of the church of England,
though lie niuht have known that lie himself or any man,
with money, might buy livirigh in the market. (Cheers
from the Opposition.) It argued a want of intelligence
on the part of an audience to receive such statements
as true. The aristocracy and wealthy clashes had paid
millions in income-tax more than they received for the
services of their children, who shed their blood so
freely on the plains of Waterloo and the heights of
Sebastopol. (Hear, hear.) The hon. member next pro-
ceeded to calumniate the assembly of which lie was no
ilistingui-hed an ornament, for lie mid that during his
Parliamentary experience, extending over 15 years, lie
never knew the House of CopuumuionslMSS • great measure
of justice because it was just. Now, the questimui
which arose in that House were not questions of pure
justice, but questions of relative justice, and, if it were
admitted that the House sometimes passed great mea-
sures of justice, it might fairly be allowed the credit of
passing them because they were just ; at all events, the
statement of the hon, member was uncharitable in the
extreme, and ought not to have been made by a member
lof Prtliament. (Hear, hear.) That it was accepted as
true by A large audience of working men ought to make
the House cautious in lowering die franchise. (Hear,
hear.) In Glasgow the lion. meruber said the present
electoral body was so corrupt and so managed that
almost all the objects for which • representative
assembly 'should exist were frustrated. Ile might leave
the lion. member to settle that question with the noble
lord the member for the city, who it seemed had in 1832
perpetrated a fraud upon the people of England. But
it was not correct to say that all the various interests of
the country were not fairly represented in that House.
If the hon. member attempted to make such a statement
in that House he would dud that it was much easier to
persuade labouring men to believe in it than an hitch
ligent audience cognizant of the affairs of the country.
(Hear, hear.) Then the hon. member for Birmingham,
again addressing a large number of the labouring
classes at Glasgow, told them that entails, primogeni-
ture, tool large farina were the cause of all their evils,
and that lie wondered how people could breathe freely
on those large properties. Now, if they c.oild not
breathe freely in the Highlands of Scotland, that could
not arise from the want of pure air, but must be ince-
'dunes' by envious feelings towards the possessors of
perty. (" Hear, bear," and a laugh.) The lion. member
added that if they only had free representation all this
would be reformed according to the principles of political
economy. The political economy of the hon. member
was very well handled by the Eromoiiiie, in which
publication he was told that he was sinning against all
the principles of political economy in respect to large
farms. The people bought their corn in the cheapest
iiiarket, and the landlord let his land in the dearest.
It was • question of free trade, and had nothing to du
with the legislation of that House. (Hear, hear.) Con.
hidering the inflammatory language of the hon. member
it might be supposed that if he wade any reform in
respect to the land of this country it would not be a
reform &counting to the principles of political economy,
hut according to the " rights of roan." At length the
lion. gentleman produced what was intended to be a
scheme of reform, but it was so manifestly unfair to the
agricultural interest that some explanation was felt to
ix- necessary, and lie then stated that the agricultural
interest was represented in the House of Lords. He
(Mr. Seymer) denied this. The agricultural interest—
the farmers, whose skill arid energy had mainly con.
tributed to produce in this country the highest state of
cultivation in the world, were not represented in the
House of Lords. A few years ago the then Government
brought forward a scheme for the collection of agricul-
tural statistics, and, though that was repudiated by the
fhriners of this country, it isiossed the Howie of Lords
without ilietassion—certsinly without oppohition. The
monient, however, that the Bill cause down to the
House of Co 11111 l ons, where the agricultural interest—
the fanners—were represented by the county members,
the opposition to it MA/ AU strung that the Government,
' never ventured to proc..ed to a second reading with it.
Therefore, lie contendssl that the agricultural interest—
that those who cultivated the soil—were not represented
in the way stated by the hon. member. (Hear, hear.)
But the question which lay at the bottom of all this was,
what was the position of the House of ( 111 l mons in the
practical working of the coustitution. 'flue lion member
sneered at the idea of the constitution, and 'eked his
audience if they had ever seen it. Ile (Mr. Kepner)
would ask, had they not seen liberty ? (Hear.) Coro
sidering that the Crown never exercised its veto, which
it 'mutual:4 by the constitution, and that the House of
15.. eris never 'systematically opposed measures passed
by the Commons, it was necessary that that House
should work harmoniously with the territorial and
landed interest, strongly represented in the House
of Counnons, or there would exist in thia country
A thorough democracy which would overthrow the
Crown and the other branch of the Legislature. (Hear.)
The hon, member spoke out rather broadly, and sail
that an hereditary House of Prers could not be a per-
manent institution of A free country. Them had, how-
ever, bs.en both freedom and an hereditary WHIM of
Peers for some time in this country, and lie fancied
that when the hon. member used the word " free " lie
meant " democratic." He would now proceed to con-
sider some of the provisions of the Bill, the extension
of the suffrage, the partial disfranchisement of some
small towns, and the enfranchisement of other places.
iVith respect to the extenaion of the suffrage, it had
been admitted for some years past that there were
scattered throughout the country, not living within the
boundaries of boroughs or occupying a £5O house, many
intelligent ansfexcellent persons thoroughly entitled to
the franclibie, but who did not possess it. The Govern•
ment intended to meet the case of those persons by the
£lO franchise in counties and by what were called the
" fancy franchises," which in his opinion were value-
able. The Government had connected the 1:10 county
franchise with the disfranchisement of the borough free•
holders as regarded the counties, and he regretted that
the Government had thus given to the noble lord, the
member for the city of London. all opportunity for a
good eleztion cry. (A laugh.) He could mit hay that
in his county the majority of the borough freeholders
bad voted for him, but they appeared to him to be as
thoroughly honest and independent • set of electors as
lie ever saw, and they valued their county votes. (Hear,
hear.) He should certainly be glad if it were possible
, for the Ilovernment to reconsider that part of their
I measure ; for lie wax not convinced that, in spite of
this Bill, there might not be a splitting of freeholders
dangerou“ to the independence of small boroughh.
(Hear, hear.) With regard to the labouring clashes lie
certainly assented to the rir.le in which the (;overn-
ment propoxed to enfranchise them. If the limit taken
WILY deemed to high for some hon. members that was a
quest' for consideration in co 'ttee, and it would be
perfectly consirtent with the principle of the Bill to
admit men to the franchise with a wiener mon in the
savings-banks, or in other institutions. The real pro-
to be solved was bow to adroit the labouring
clashes to the franchise without swamping the rest of
the constituency. The lion. member for Birmingham at
one time proposed the parochial system of voting, but
the moment the hon. member discovered that that pro.
position would give • preponderance to property over
numbers he dropped it ar if it were a hot potato°.
(Laughter.) Another principle of the Bill was the en•
franchisement of certain districts, and he might here .y
he believed there had been a general expectation that
the nor ll ill ation boroughi or signal nomination borought
which still existed would have been didranchisied by the
measure of the Government. It was an old tradition
of the Tory party—founded partly upon the able
speeches of Mr. Croker in committee upon the Reform
Bill—that the Whigs got 11111CII the best of it under
that Bill so far as the disfranchisement of boroughs was
concerned. (A laugh.) It WWI quite natural, from the
large territorial poshessions of the Whig aristocracy, that
they 'should be able to control • oonhiderable number of
nomination boroughs, and lie thought the Government ,
in abstaining from the disfranchisement of thohe borough
had shown that they were not actuated by party spirit
Ii the preparation of this Bill. He also thought
the Government had acted with perfect fairness with
reward to the boroughs proposed to be oartially disfran-
chimed, for those boroughs returned 30 members to that
House, 15 of whom were Liberals and 15 Connery/stir..
The prop neal for the enfrancliihement of USW districts
characterized by jerfect fair.
MAX alho, in his opinion,
m,
although, probably, the majority of the new mem-
bers would sit on the opi,osite benches. He could not
conceive what valid objection could be taken to the uhe
of voting papers, for although it was true that the
system might be open to abuse, he thought it would not
be difficult to devise a reniedy. It seemed to hint some•
what liant that hon. gentlemen opposite, who wished to
make everybody vote by ballot, should opisese an ar-
rangement which would enable per-ions suffering from
sickness or bodily infirmity, or who were prevented
by other cameo' from going to the polling bioitlia, to re-
cord their votes. By increasing the number of pulling
dirtricts and permitting the use of voting papers they
would away do with the necessity for travelling eixpeuses,
and would thus get rid of the corruption which n
doubtedly been carried on under the cloak of such ex
!senses. He did not finite understand the explanation
given by the noble lord (Lord J. Russell) of hie cr.w3lOs
for departing f the usual course of proceeding in
moving such an amendment, but he had nu doubt the
country would be of opinion that the noble lord vu
more anxious to change places with the right hon gen-
tlemen on the Ministerial benches than to amend the
representation of tbe people. ("Oh Oh I" and
cheers."

miltainmorr„—Mr. James FA!ward Henning, Oiled
smi Rev. S. Ilut iii i i ig, of Ow ton'.
liven App.iihusi tit nil in
tlu titli Regiment.

Miss Hastel'm, the mistress of the infant
luis been liresentol, her resigning °thee, with a
Net ut gravy, table, ton, and salt spoons, provi.lial by
Mr. A 11411114, silversmith.

• 'Hwy.' mii" rii AIM A Y..--On Thursilay week
soinie of the 104 dealers whit frequent Sherborne mar.
kwi git together in the Flume of Feathers, whim it.
03.:11Teil to IC ilia. 114 the wuailwr wsui 1011411, it
• he a good indlialllll for what he turnicl 4. Sluicing
the colts," that is, uniting the young ilralers treat
the company with liquor. A good whilcup Wail Ili
Ulletl mum, atiil the cstramilinary inunber of 30 colts
were duly shoed - amputee greatly to the satisfaction
of the company and the landlord.
Mr. F. Atkin, Temperance advocate, delivered a
third lecture at the Tiiwnhall, on NlioniLty evening,
to it large audience, and at the claw of his fervid
address fifteen persons eigned the Temperance deela-

Iht. A itxm.n. —A lecture was delivered at the
room of the Literary Institution, on Tuesday even•
in last, by the Bev. D. Anthony, ILA.. of Frome,
being a clear and succinct revi..w of the life of the
Bev. Dr. Arnold, late head master of Hugh),
school, who, the lecturer said though in his youthful
days he was often less successful than many of his
classmates, who possesteed brighter intellects and
greater genius, yet gave early promise of future great.
lieu. Possessed of a slender frame, callable ofgreat
endurance and exertion, he by intense application
succeeded in attaining to such a high position and
great influence as a teacher, that although he gave
rise to no school or party, yet when the history of
the age ill which he lived conics to be written his
name must 'claim a large share of the historian's
attention.—Mr. Mehnoth, who preAided, at the
close tendered the thanks of the audience to the rev.
lecturer.

MARK OF It FAN.= TO A MlNberxii.—The pressen.
tation of a handsome sold watch, a purse of Nove-
-1 reigns, and a scroll cont.: g the nanies of IQ sub.
• scribers, was made to the Rev. John Duncan, M. A.,
Lite curate of Sherborne, on Tuesday, by a deputa•
. The rev. gentleman, in receiving these tokens
of the love and respect of the people under his chaise,
declared himself to be quite unable to give expriusion
to his feeling of gratitude for the great kindhouis
which he had always received at the hands of the
people of Sherhorne. If they would allow him, as
the pulpit was closed against him, and the ordinary
nieaus of saying farewell to his congregation was out
of his reach, he would express his acknowledgements
in a letter. The gold watch which was provided by
Mr. Adams, silversmith, bore this inscription
" Presented, with a purse, to the Rev. John Duncan,
M.A., by 15ti (this number was afterwards increased
to 162) subscribers, inhabitants of Sherborne, as a
mark of respect and regard, March, 1i5.59." The
names of the subscribers were very nicely enrolled
by Mr. Jelfs.
Si, Armin-ay.—The Marquis of Westminster has
consented to preside at the second festival dinner of
the Playground and General Recreation Society.
His Lordship is a donor of £5ll to the funds of the
society. Robert Williams, Esq., gives £lO, and
Charles Dickens, .C. 5.