The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-08-27 00:00:00

DORSET COUNTY EXPRESS

DORCHESTER, TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1861

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

There are few older, and certainly no more
forcible dicta of proverbial philosophy than the
ono which tells us that "the cobbler should stick
to his hit." Indeed, the worthy member of
shoes is pretty sure to get into difficulties if he
undertakes matters foreign to his vocation.
Charles V. made • first-rate despot, but he was
a sad bungler at watch making. Warren
Hastings could- govern India—some people say
that he miagcverned it—but be was laughed at
when he tried to write acrostics and epigrams.
Lord Byron could compose splendid poetry for
John Murray, but be broke down lamentably
when he tried to start a monthly magazine.
How many eminent authors and artists have we
not seen making themselves supremely ridiculous
as amateur actors? What a ninny does my
Lord Haddo appear when he sets up as an art
critic • and how much more solid would be the
political reputation even of Richard Cobden, if
the great Free-trailer had never essayed to
under-value the British navy, and to cut down
the military estimates. There are no instances,
perhaps, in which the wholesome principal of
"sticking to the last" is so valuable and
imperative as in municipal corporations in
general, and the Weymouth Corporation in
particular. Men who are exceedingly shrewd
m their private affairs, and who amass large
fortunes in their own particular calling, carry
on the public business with a recklessness that
would indicate they had "neither souls to be
saved, nor bodies to be flogged." Things which
in their private capacity they would scorn even
so much as to think of, they will perform in
their public capacity with impunity. Let us
look back at the Weymouth Corporation pro-
ceedings during the last 60 or 60 years, and
what • long catalogue of dark deeds is presented
to our view. Party spirit, political partizan-
ship, personal feeling, and selfishness, has
reduced them from being one of the richest to
one of the poorest corporations in the land.
The last act in the drama is the Pile Pier. The
pier tolls last week amounted to £5O 12• 7d.—
the week before they were between £4O and £6O.
It is true that during the winter months this
amount will be greatly reduced, but there can
be little doubt that if the thing were properly
developed, the tolls would be worth from £1,200
to £1,500 a year. And what steps do the
Corporation take in the matter? Seek to make
the most of the pier by making the necessary
erections and carrying out other improvements I
Nothing of the sort. On the motion of one of
the members who is a boat proprietor, they have
passed a resolution to the effect that if an offer
of £750 a year for 3 years is made, the tolls
shall be yet. Another boat proprietor has
offered a little above that sum for them. What
will be the next step taken, and the next? Will
the Corporation feel themselves bound to lease
the tolls for half their annual value? We shall

see.
The subject which Mr. Roebuck opened to his
Sheffield constituents on Thursday last, of the
alleged agreement for the cession of Sardinia to
France, is not new to our readers. We have on
several occasions alluded to the circumstances
under which Italy might be driven to make the
sacrifice. Knowing the Emperor's thirst for
power, we have very little doubt that if the
whole truth were told, the French Government
does covet the island of Sardinia for the purpose
of making it a great naval station, and thus
securing a large increase of the naval power of
France in the Mediterranean. Probably, too,
the Italian Sovernmeut has been made
aware that the cession of this islaqd would be
the price for which the Emperor would be dis-
posed to withdraw hie troops from Rome, and
aid in the liberation of Venioe, if his assistance
should become indispensable to the Italian
MUNI. The adoption of such &course would un-
doubtedly injuriously affect England, and put an
end to our present relations with our neighbours
across the Channel; but we very much question
the wisdom of the policy recommended by the
member for Sheffield, of seeking an alliance with
Austria in opposition to Italy and France. But
if tbe cession of Sardinia to France would in-
juriously affect this country, it would, to a far
greater degree, be hurtful to Victor Etnuianuel's
kingdom by obstructing its legitimate develop-
ment as an independent and important naval
power ; and it is evident, we think, that Italy
will not make the sacrifice except for the avoid-
ance of what she conceives to be a far greater
evil, such as being defeated by Austria in the
field. But what would be the result of an
alliance between England and Austria, a eircurn-
stenos which Mr. Roebuck thinks is " devoutly
to be wished," and which would probably be
brought about were Conservatism in power 1
It is well known that the Hungarians are day
by day growing stronger in their deter:intuition
to resist the new constitution which the Emperor
of Austria seems obstinately determined to
thrust upon them. That they should so resist
may be • source of regret to many, especially as
next to oar own constitution, it is the most
liberal in Europe. Besides, if the people could
come to regard themselves as one united empire,
having all one common interest, instead of being
divided into separate states, having different
laws and separate interests, who does not see
that the affairs of the State would be carried on
with the greatest amount of good to all 7 But
this the Hungarians cannot be brought to be-
lieve. They desire the restoration of their
ancient constitution in all its integrity, and far
be it from England to say they shall not have
their desires gratified. Now, it is reported that
there is a growing coldness existing between
Austria and France. The French Government
is in constant communication with Htnigarbin
chiefs, while a Hungarian legion exists in
Italy, looking to the Tuileries for permission to
grow into an important fact. Let us suppose a
war to break out between France and Austria, a
thing by no means improbable, could we ally
ourselves to Austrian despotism in trying to
thrust upon the liungsmens, who would be

differeui

assisted by France and Italy, a constitution f
which is distasteful to them, and in assisting to I
preserve Venice intact to the Austrian dominions I
It is probable that the Emperor of the French
has some deep-laid scheme for obtaining S ir-
dinia whenever he may see an opportunity to
make the claim, and according to resent ap-
pearances the surest way of bringing about such
&crisis, would be for other Powers to give Austria
such assistance as should render necessary the
aid of the French army iu securing to
oppressed nationalities their independence.
The Congress at Washington had ad-
journed after passing an Act relating to
slaves, the purport of which seems to be that any
person causing his slaves to serve in the Con-
federate ranks, shall thereby lose his property in
them. As the Congress has not the power of
enforcing this Act, it comes to nothing at all in
the meanwhile, and is not likely to come to more
at any future time. According to the report of ,
the news' correspondent, the desertions from I
the Northern army are numerous enough to
excite apprehensions, whilst at the same time
the mighty spasmodic efforts of the lloveniment
at Washington to create and maintain a great
military establishment, are attended by the most
extravagant waste, which must speedily result in
the creation of a great national debt. Jonathan,
never at fault for a device in an emergency, has
hit upon some novel schemes of warfare. The
Northern papers have put forth a famous pro-
posal for driving the Confederates from Mittman...
The sug .estion is that they should be "smoked"
from the stronghold they had formed for them-
selves, by setting the brushwood in their front
on tire. On the other hand, Southern ingenuity,
not to be outdone, has discovered an equally
effective mode of gaining on the enemy at Fort
Piekeus, and • Southern paper proposes that
"tin vessels should be filled with snakes,
scorpions, and other agreeable insects and rep
tiles, to be discharged by mortars and guns jut
the interior of the fort, so as to deliver their
pleasant consignments on arriving among the
garrison."
The attention of the new Sultan appears to be
almost exclusively occupied with the reorganiza-
tion of his army and navy. The reforms intro-
duced into the former have been of the most
salutary nature, and will doubtless be attended
with the best results; but his majesty's success
in the naval department, with Mehemet All
Pasha at its head, is not quite so certain. Orders
have been issued for the construction of several
new line-of-battle ships, frigates, corvettes, and
gunboats. These vessels are to be built in
Turkey, and afterwards sent to England to
receive fittings and machinery. Considerable
reforms have taken place in the civil depart-
ments, and still the cry from all quarters of the
Empire is against the rapacity, corruption, and
oppression of thieve vested with local govern-
ment. At the present moment there are no less
than twelve serious complaints lodged at the
Porte against governors of provinces, and a vast
number against private officials. It would be
impossible to depict in too gloomy colours the
state of the country under the existing order of
things. Abdul Azle has undoubtedly a work of
no ordivary difficulty to encounter in clearing
this Augean stable. The whae body politic is
thoroughly sick, and needs to have not over
nice hands to deal with it.
Throu4h the British consul at Lagos, a treaty
has been arranged between certain potentates
on the West Coast of Africa and Great Britain,
whereby permission has been granted to British
subjects to establish factories, for the purchase
and reception of palm oil and other produce of
the country, at Porto Novo and Badagry, two
ports on the north side of the Bight of Benin.
They may also possess themselves of land for the
cultivation of cotton and other crops; and,
generally, they are to enjoy full trading privi-
lege.. In return for these concessions of the
chiefs of the Slave Coast, they have to pay two
heads of coy ries for every 150 gallons of oil,
and two string's of the same &belly money on
every pound of ivory exported from Porto Novo.
Formerly the impost on oil was one head of
cowries for every 30 gallons of oil, so that tho
new treaty effecte an important savink to British
merchants. The export duty at Badagry is
11 heads of cowries for 150 gallons of oil.
"Fifteen heads of cowries are to be paid for
making public the readiness of any merchant to
trade" —a kind of advertising charge apparently.
The weather during the past week has been all
that could be desired for the harvest. This
circumstance, coupled with the prospect of the
comparative cheapness of money, has stimulated
activity at the Stock Exchange. It is now
some time since so much buoyancy was wit-
missed, and if, as is anticipated, the directors
of the Bank of England should make a further re-
duction of per cent. on Wixlnesday next,
there is every reason to believe that com-
mercial transactions, which have of late been
in • very depressed state, will regain their
usual activity. On Saturday, consols for money
varied from 911 to 921 and for the account from
92 to 921.

rep-

DORI:HUTU' PITCHED COEN MARES?, Saturday,
Aug 24.—We had a small attendance to-day and
only • slight inclination to do business. The general
tone of the trade wu dull, but prices remained about
the same. Trifoliutn and other autumnal seeds
were plentiful but not cheap.
MISER& BARER •ND ENSOR'S RZPOSITORY 8•LIL,
Aug. 24.—The supply of fat stock was not very
large, but the quantity was good and the demand
equally so, prices being well supported, and a
general clearance was effected. The afternoon sale
also went off well.
Pans ItieLs Snoorno.— The Gloucester Rifle
Association met at Bristol for three days in the
commencement of last week for the purpose of con-
testing for prism. The proceedings caused great
attraction, and many persons visited Bristol from
all parts of the kingdom. A prise of £lOO offered
for the best shot, open to "All Corners." was won
by Sergeant Thomson, of Oxford, with 16 points in
13 bin. 7 shots at 500 yards and 7 at 600 yards.
There wore between 140 and 150 competitors. The
mensben of the Dorchester corps scored as follow.:
—Private Hodges, 12 points-9 at 500 and 3at 600
yards; Corporal Mears, Et points—.l at 500 and 3at
600 yards; aud Sergeant Gregory 7-5 at 500 and 2
at 600 yards. The Volunteers prize of .ClO, 7 shots
at 200 yards, was won by Sergeant Rowe, of the
First Devon, who obtained 16 points. Private
Rogers, Dorchester, made 9, Sergeant Gregory K.
and Prig& Dodges 6. The £lO prise at 300
yards, WET seven shota, standing, was won by
Sergeant Markey, 13th Gloucester, with 13 points.
Sergeant Gregory, Dorchester, made 7. The prise
of I:10 at 500 yards, 7 shots each, was won by Capt.
Kline, of Bath. l'rivate Hodges scored 7, and
Private Rogers S. An extra prize of £2O, 5 allots
at the respective distances of 500 and 600 yards,
was won by Private Chainberlaiii, of Bristol. with
12 points in 9 hits The second prize of £6 was
won by Private Fiddler, of Merton Mallet, with
12 points in 7 hits. Private Hodges, Dorchester,
main II points in 10 hits, Corporal Mean, 11 in 9
bits, and Sergeant Gregory, 8 in 6 hits.
INDCETRIAL PROVIDENT SoCIETY. The new
Comperative Society is, we understand, progressing
rapidly. Upwards of 100 *bares have already been
allotted, more than .£3O on which were paid iato the
treasurer's lianas last week. The society has taken
premises in Trinity-street, for grocery and provision
stores, which will shortly be opened for the members
and others desiring to purchase. It is not, we be-
lieve, intended to undersell other tradesmen in regard
to the price, hut the profits will be divider( among
the mensbers quarterly, in proportion to their per.
chases.
CAHINITHENTS To THE DORCHCISTIR GAOL.
Assizes : Edward Henry Winchester, hiviny at
Allington ; Richard Tompkins, rape at Puncknowle.
Santos : George Hounsell. housebreaking at Portland ;
Walter Bit radio, assault with intent, kc., at Beam inster ;
Thomas Conner and Patrick Hinds, stealing two shirta,
he., at Portland. Hoed haboar : Richard Anglo.
vagrancy at Winterborne Abbas, 3 calendar months;
John Cornich, poaching at Abbotsbury, 14 days;
Margaret Robinson, vagrancy at Bourton, 21 days;
Joeeph Edwards, vagrancy at Bradpole, 14 days ;
Thomas fluidly, damaging property at Bridport. 14
days ; George Richmond aud David Richmond. vagrancy
at Chiddingron. 1 calendar mouth; Junes Richmond,
vagrancy at Chiddington, 1 calendar month ; and for
assault on police. 1 ditto ; William Lane, Frederick
Lane, and Jame* Line, assaulting police at Blandford,
1 calendar month ; Jane Motterface and Edith Hand ord ,
stealing a broach and chains at B-idport, 1 calendar
month ; Edward Fitspatrick, stealing money at Reid-
port, 1 calendar mouth. imprisonment : Mark Cobb,
bastardy at Warshaw, 2 calendar months; Samuel
Henn, &small at Nether Compton. 21 days ; Henry
Spenisor, breach of the peace at Weymouth. 3 calendar
mouths; Daniel Baker, drunk, kr., at Winterbome
Whitechurch, 7 days ; Thomas Rich, deserting H.M.S.
Colossus, 3 calendar months' bard labour.