The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-10-27 00:00:00

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able of the Bill, however, still rem.- to be
Improved in the future Parliament, when I trust the
vexation and trouble ocessioaed to the Ch.apoawd
Holuthelder, will be removed, and Electors protected
from intimidation by the role by Baia.
I have voted for the abolition of Compulsory Churah
Reece, and rejoice that this fruitful source of discord no
longer exists; and I Anticipate with coufidence that
unity will be found whore religious strife has before
existed.
I have voted for the Abolition of the Luh in the
Army, • punishment which I believe degrades and
brutalises without soy reformatory influence : I trust
that this, together with the additional interest ehirern in
our soldiers, will raise the moral tone of our army nod
plate that branch of our public defence in a yet higher
state of efficiency.
The condition of Ireland is • subject of the gravest
consideration. The chronic diesontent of the people
has caused exceptional measures to be taken for the
public safety, and all thoughtful minds have been con.
aiming how to meet the evil. One fruitful source of
discontent being a Protestant Church atabliahment,
with the population meetly Roman Catholic, the
present Government proposed to give them religious
equality by "levelling up" the Roman Catholic priest-
hood, and establishing • University for that body clone;
bet this has been abandoued, mad an appeal is now
made to dis-establish the existing Church, instead of
endowing all others. I feel the time hal arrived when
this ebould be done, not simply because a source of
irritation would be removed from the Roman Catholic
population, but because I feel that for the interests of
religion, the Protestant Church ehould appear before
that people without the string t rejudioes fostered in
their minds against her truths, by the position of '
antagonian in which she is made to appear to them.
The Members of the Protestant Church of Ireland
are numerically small in comparison with the Roman
Catholic population, yet they represent the balk of the
property in that country ; and I believe they have too
much love for their Church to allow it to decay for
want of support, especially when we see thaw who
have but little property, with credit to themselves,
sustaining their religions institutions. To think other-
wise would be a libel on them and • se:andel to our
faith; and by her din-establishment, I believe, instead
of there being no increase in the number of her members
for years in proportion to the population, ehe would
receive an impetus for usefulness which would noun
manifeet

The bubject of Education must of necessity seriously
occupy the attention of the new Parliament. It is one
of the most imperative of our social duties, and though
grave difficulties may surround the uietbod of its
extension, yet I hope the time is not far distant, when
every child born in this kingdom shall posses., at least,
the rudiments of eduntion, without any violation of
its religious principles.
The finances of our country will challenge closest
scrutiny than they have yet received, and everything
which a true economy might suggest be carried into
prsctice. (i.e army and navy must be kept in thorough
efficiency, but recent information chews that the public
money is 'suited to an extent unimagined by those who
have not given attention to the subject. The time I
believe is not remote, when pods: the auspices of
another Goveniment, the offish...l oursomintry will be
both hr.nourably 1,n,1 economically conducted.
I hoped to have seen you before tlmi, but sin un-
fortunately detained in London by severe indisposition.
At the earliest moment toy physician thinks I may
travel, I shall do myself the pleasure of coining amongst

you. I remain,
Your most obedieut and faithful Servant,
HEM: Y. EDWARDS.
Dated August 3rd, IsCeil.
63, Berkeley...quire, London.