The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-02-22 00:00:00

railtsh ire.

WARM I NSTER.—FataI A trident. —On Friday night
week, as a carter in the employ of Mr. W. Plow.
man, of Ridge, near l'hilinark, was passing down
Lord's Hill, in the direction of Warminster, with a
load of awn, the wheel jerked out of the drag shoe
acid threw the wagon forward. The abaft struck the
carter in the side or back, and threw him upon the
hank, where he was found shortly afterwards by
some other carters, who were going in the same
direct . The poor fellow was not quite dead waen
they found him, but he expired shortly afterwards.
The boy who was in his company was on the wagon
asleep, and knew nothing of the accident till some
time afterwards. The body was removed to the
George Inn, Deverill, where, singular to relate, there
still lies another carter from the same ueighbourhoml
who is suffering from the effects of a severs accident
which took place about two months since near the
same spot. The deceased in the present case has left
a wife and four children.

Ditvizas.—Dr. Letheby, the eminent chief officer
of health to the city of London, delivered a lecture
in the Townhall, on Thursday evening week, to a
numerous auditory. The tide of the lecture was
" The Magic of Chemistry," which, in the hands of
the talented lecturer, enabled him to rivet the atten-
tion of the audience from first to last. Numerous
beautiful and highly successful experiments showing
the chemical changes produceablu in matter were
introduced. As regards the effects that might he
produced by chemical agency in altering the odours
of various substances, Dr. Letheby instanced Thames
mud as one which, though being in itself a compound
iif every disagreeable scent, was yet capable of being
completely transmuted in this respect. lie had
during his experiments lain summer discovered a
process by which from this very Thames mud lie pro-
duced the delicate and valuable essence of pine
apple. He also warned his audience against entertain-
ing the idea that all dieslonnita were disinfectants,
an elia too prevalent with many who, finding a noxious
smell proceeding from a drain or other place, ima-
glued they had taken every healthful precaution,
when by one means or another they had got rid of
the smell. A t the close, the thanks of the meeting
were unanimously amorilud to the lecturer on the
'imposition of Dr. Everett, the Mayor.
l'asNY BANKs.---A meeting was held last week in
this town which resulted in the formation of one of
these institutions, to lie called "Time Devizes l'enny
Bank." The President will be %V. Ewart,
M. P., the rector, the Rev. P. A. L. Wood, acting
as secretary and treasurer. It is proposed to con-
nect with it a parochial society of a kindred cha-
racter which has already been established. A room
has been granted for the use of the committee by the
managers of the Devizes Savings' Rank, at which
the new Penny Rank was co tttt nenced on Tuiamilay
week. 75 depositors then attended, whose invest-
ments amounted to .CI ss. M.

MA14L84,1101.1011. Unfounded Repos- I.—A para-
graph which has gone the round of several news-
vipers, and which is calculated to cause unfoumbal
alarm respecting the prevalence of diptheria in this
town, has been fully inquired into, and we are
happy to say that no foundation can be discovered
upon which the truth of the paragraph can be sup(
posed to rest. The medical gentlemen declare that
they have not seen a single case of the disease for
wine time past. The case referred to in the para-
graph where two children had died and another was
not expected to survive, proves to be an example of
the ravages of severe scarlet fever, accompanied by
croup ; and that case occurred at a distance from
Marlborough, in an isolated cottage at a toll-bar,
with nearly a niile and a half of open down between
it and the town.
ftwinioN.—Asrociation for the Proeeention of
Felons. —The annual meeting of this society was
held at the Goddard Arms Hotel, on Friday week.
Dinner wax on the table at throe o'clock, when
about 30 persons sat down and partook of it. A.
1.. Goddard, Esq., in the chair. The usual loyal
and patriotic toasts were given, after which Mr.
Foote read the report of the committee. The pre-
sent members embraces 74 first class and 26 second
class, total 100. The following gentlemen have been
proposed, and become members, Mr. Joseph Ben-
skin, let class ; Mr. Henry Robert Smith, and Mr.
John Godwin, 2nd clam. A number of other toasts
were given, including the Members for the Borough
and Hundreds of UrickLsole, the Treasurer, James
Bradford, Es' q., Mr. R. Strange, Mr. 11. L. Duns-
ford, Mr. J. E. G. Bradford, Mr. Foote and others.
The remainder of the evening was spent in singing
some very excellent songs, and altogether it WM a
very convivial one. We must not forget to mention
that the dinner, and the way in which it was served
up, reflected great credit on the worthy host and
hostess, Mr. and Mrs. Westmaeutt.

M tRRIAOI WITH A DKCIIARAD WIER'S HINTER.—
The Bill "to legalise marriage with • deceased wife's
sister" appeared in print on Thursday last. It has
already been read a second time in the House of Coin•
mons by a majority of 13.'i to 77 votes, and went through
committee on Thu:sday evening. The Bill is a brief
one. The preamble boldly asserts the expediency of
amending the law as to marriage with the sister of •
wife's deceased, and the first clause at once summarily
legalises all such marriages, whether solemnized prior or
subsequent to the passing measure of relief. It would
appear, however, that while past marriages may have
been celebrated at any time or place whatever, future
marriages of this kind may only be celebrated "in the
office of any registrar ;" at least so we read the clause.
There is a provision for saving the rights of property,
and it is expressly enacted that the Bill shall in no wise
invalidate, alter, or affect, "any canon or constitution
ecclesiastical of the United timid' of England and Ire-
land" now in force. For some reason, hitherto unex-
plained, the benefit of the Act is not to extend to
Scotland or Ireland. The Bill ii endorsed with the
names of Viscount Bury, Mr. IL Monckton Mikes, and
Mr. Schneider.