The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-06-18 00:00:00

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

Iv has been declared by philosophers that ghosts
are the creation of fogs and miasma. There
never was a celebrated phantom, it is alleged,
except in a moist and vaprous country. Tiles,
the shade of Hamlet appears in Denmark, Ban-
quo's spectre in Scotland, and the apparition of
dead Caner in the only swampy part of the
Italian peninsula. If, then, shadows of this
description have their origin in moisture, we
have an elucidation to the mystery of Messrs.
Councillors Thompson and Hibbe being fright-
ened by the drinking fountaium at Weymouth.
It is well known in the town where he resides,
that Mr. Thompson makes no mean pretensions,
and perhaps justly so, to a knowledge of
Natural" History ; and had he set himself up
as a connoiseur in works of art, many would
have been the admirers of his great genius; but
when he tells us that he formed his opinion of
the drinking fountain from what the Yeomanry
Cavalry said about them, we cannot prevent our
risible faculties from being immoderately excited
at his sublime simplicity. Of the uncourteous
manlier in which these gifts of a benevolent
gentleman have been treated by the Weymouth
Town Council, we have at present no remarks
to offer; but the denial of Messrs. Thompson
and Hibbs, of their being actuated by party
motives does appear to us, we are fain to confine,
somewhat supererogatory. We are told of a
certain notorious phantom that " what seemed
his head" had on "the likeness of a kingly
crown." In the same way, these immaculate@
make themselves to appear before us wearing
mimic wreaths of moral evergreens; but, upon
examination, they turn out to be the most
egregious tinsel. They may deny that they sit
in the council as party men, but what other
pretensions can they lay claim to for their soot
at the council table? They may talk about
their disinterestedness in matters political, and
of their straightforward conduct in reference to
the best interests of the ratepayers; but, to
employ a homely phrase, the drapery of our
"honourable" friends will not bear washing;
the colours fly; the darns become visible. We '
find out, indeed, that the impersonation of their
no-partizan cry, when disenchanted into its
proper shape, looks very much like a magpie.
The war fever has again bioken out in Paris.
France maintains at the present time an army
numbering more than half a million, besides a
vast navy which is rapidly increasing, and in the
' highest efficiency. What is this for Surely
not merely as an expensive and pretty toy for
the amusement of the people? So powerful a
weapon so laboriously finished, and in itself so
greedy of action, and by all the laws of
national life so sure to die of inanition if it
cannot live by employment, necessitates what
it suggests—war. Occupation with somebody
and somewhere. One of those tolerated,
and because tolerated, all but approved
phamphlets, which appear at intervals
in Paz is, has lately been published by Prodlion.
lie tells us, in his document, plainly, that Eng-
land is to be the ohject of attack—that such an
aggression would melt all the discordant elements
of France—that its success would be certain, and
that the tribute levied upon subject England
would be the aggrandisement of France. The
point where the repressed ill feeling of the
French is likely to explode is said to be Syria.
The Emperor blames us for insisting on his with-
drawing his troop, in terms of the European
convention. He has very plainly hinted that he
will do so in the letter, but not in the spirit of
that compact. Ho will keep his skips and soldiers
hanging about the seaboards of Syria in case of
there occurring what he will take care to secure
—another outbreak of the Moslem against the
Christian population. The instant this occurs
he will disembark his troops, and re-occupy the
' post he has just abandoned. Russia substantially
encourages Frapce to do so, desiring herself a
similar pretext' for seizing Constantinople. In
such an eventuality, what are we to do? To
strike, would be to kindle a war which would
spread over Europe. To remain quiescent spec-
tators, is to connive at the infraction of treaty,
the disturbance of Europe, and the interruption
of our intercourse with our eastern empire. The
words of the Emperor are "peace, peace," but
his acts are "war."
The confusion with which the Italians were
seized when the death of Cavour was announced
begins to grow calmer, and to give place to con-
fidence. "Italy cannot perish," because hence-
forward she has a life of her own, and =mot any
longer be essentially incarnated in any one man.
Au agglomeration of twenty-three million of men
of the same nation, all thoroughly guided by the
same object, is • real power. Dissensions in the
ulterior have nearly all calmed, and where any
sparks of reaction exist, they will be stamped
out. Riessoli, who has abjured the Catholic re-
ligion and become a protestant, will never come
to any compromise on the Roman question. He
is a man who, unlike Cavour, delights to entangle
Gordian knots; he prefers to cut them. The
Italians, too, feel the necessity of standing
firmly together, for they are euvironed with ene-
mies of all kinds. The centrifugal elements—
liotirbonist, Federalist, Ultramontane, Autono-
mist—are powerless to disarrange that which has
already been done; at the worst, they could only
cause some partial disorder, without any serious
consequences.
Napoleon went to war for one "idea," and he
now wants to negociate for two more. It is
affirmed that, within the twenty-four hours fol-
lowing on Cavour's demise, the Emperor de-
7=id a very trustworthy and favourite aide-
p to signify to Victor Emmanuel that he
would leave Rome, put no more obstacles in the
way of the consolidation of the Southern Pro-
vinces, and allow Italy to try, with all her own
forma, what she could achieve in the way of
Unity ; but, for this, the King was to give up
Sardinia and Genoa I We may, safely, PerhaPs,
infer that the King's reply was decidedly a nega-
tive. one, but as the unification of Italy is im-
possible without the possession of Rome,
awl the possession of Rome imNuible
without the consent and aid of the Emperor

Napoleon, it is impossible to say what the inex-
orable "logic of events" may oblige bim to in
the future.

Mr. Disraeli presided at the second anniver-
sary dinner of the Agricultural Benevolent
Society, held at the Freemason's Tavern, on
Wednesday evening. The hon. gentleman, in
proposing the toast of the evening made a very
remarkable and intelligent speech. He blow the
free trade born as though he had been coaching
it all the way from 1841. Ile counselled the
farmers to read the cheap newspapers ; said they
ought to be grateful to railway companies ;
somewhat ridiculed the narrowness of parish
politicians ; and glorified agricultural societies.
It is certainly refreshing to see how superior Mr.
Disraeli is when he dines to what lie is when he
debates. He is then one Englishman talking
, common sense to others, in a style far above,
I both intellectually and grammatically, the great
majority of public speakers. We could almost
wish that Mr. Disraeli were everlastingly
the chairman of a public dinner, where, unen-
slaved by the temptations of hatred, unpoisoned
by the whispers of jealousy, and unrestrained by
the trammels of party, he could hold himself
supreme.
The Duke of Somerset, on Tuesday night,
showed in a very forcible manlier that the pre-
sent Government arc quite alive to the impor-
tance of intiiittaining an efficient navy. The
panic monger,. it. all vots of the country are con-
tinually representing that Napoleon 111. has an
eye to, sooner or later, lu'umnihintiiig England ;
and that a Conservative Government is the
only Govertuneut thit could cope with our wily
ally. A week or two since Sir .T. Pakington,
who is alsa)s on the alert for somethieg that
shall bring the Government into had odour with
the country, made a most injudicious speech in
reference to the present state of the French and
English navies, although, as Lord Alfred Paget
subsequently showed the worthy baronet had
stated nothing that lie had not informed the
House of three weeks before. The Earl of
ICam:tree!), following in the wake of Sir J.
Pakington, brought the subject before the
notice of the House of Lords. This produced
a spirited reply from the Duke of Somerset.
He did not pretend to deny that France, in a
a year's time or so, would have a fleet of 110111 e
six-and-twenty armour plated vessela—a force
equal in mere numbers to our Mediterranean
and Channel squadrons together ; but lie showed
that with all their exertions, we are a long way
ahead of the French—not, indeed, iii resulta,
but in ideas. For example, the Duke observed,
that if it should be sob/iambic to make defensive
operations without loss of time, assuming that
the iron-cased frigates are really or practically
itivultierable—we could do so very easily by
finishing off as irousides some filmic which had
been commenced as wooden two-deckers. But
the invulnerability of iron-cased ships has lately
been brought seriously into question. " I find,"
said the Duke, alluding to some very recent ex-
periments " that Sir William Armstrong's guns
have tired through eight-inch iron with the
greatest facility." In point of fact, an Arm-
strong bolt of about 1101 b. weight was sent
through and through is target not only stronger
than the sides of a French slop, but stronger
than those of the IVarrior herself. Now, it is
evident that if the science of attack has once
more become superior to the science of defence,
the ironsides of the French so much boasted
about are comparatively worthless ; and our
fleet of gunboats, if each vessel should carry
a 1001 b. Armstrong gun. would be a match for
all the iron navies of Europe. Government,
therefore, has been proceeding upon this calcula-
tion, and haft been serving out these tremendous
engines to the ships of our fleet, so that if for
the moment they should be inferior in powers of
defence they might be superior in powers of
attack. The French, it is true, are carrying
, out its rapidly as possible, the one idea of
'ulterior defence ; but we are, in addition to
this, experimenting upon iron sides and de-
veloping new powela of artillery ; and instead of
precipitate!), involving the country into an ex-
pense which might, after all, prove to be all but
useless, se are supplying our old ships with
new 101.1 ounders. The problem as to what,
after all, would be the very best mode of pro-
cedure is unquestionably it most perplexing one,
but the Duke of Somerset's remarks show that
Government is truly alive to the importance
of the case, and that the matter could
not well be placed in better bands.

DORCHESTER PITCHED COEN NI AIIRET, Saturday,
June 15th.- %Ve hail a tolerably good attendance at
our market to day, with plenty of samples of all
kinds of grain on offer, but the general tone of the
trade was so exceedingly dull that sales could not lie
effected without a considerable giving way to price.
for every kind of grain, except helms and peas,
which w ere &dyable in retail quantities at late rates.
lla•mi Ash ENDOWS ileroelToitY SA LK. —There
was a large supply of stock, especially sheep. The
trade •as not so goisl. We a ere sorry to WO the
farmers ntlering their stock by auction, And at the
same time selling privately, the buyers waiting till
the auctioneer has panted, and then begin to deal
with the owners. tor instance, one man bad a pen
of rams anil stags, which he sold a few minutes after
for ss. per head less than they were offered by
auction. This is unfair towards the Auctioneer, and
we r, peat that no man can have • conscientious
right to sell his own stock on the auction ground.
The cider sold well. . . .

Aceinaar.• fin Saturday last, an accident, which
fortunately was not Attended with such seiious results
as might have been anticipated, occurred to the
family of the Rev. Mr. Smith' of Stafford, who
were returning home from Dorchester. When
driving (loan Teen Road, Fordingron, the horse took
fright at a pig which was lying by the side of the
hank, and the road being narrow, the vehicle over-
turned, and the whole of the occupants were thrown
out. Mrs. Smith was taken from underneath the
carriage, and found liar wrist bruised, and one at
her daughters, about In years of age, was also
slightly injured. The rest of the family escaped free
from injury, but of cimrse were considerably alarmed.

ANOTHER All'IMMT.—On Friday, the .14th inst..
as Mr. l'ouncy's photographic apparatus was being
drawn by a horse near Alton Pancras, the boy in
attendance very foolishly took off the blind halter
from the horse, to allow it to think, when, of coarse
the animal started off, and proceeded for some
distance, when it dropped flown, and was found to
be so much injured that it had to be drawn into a
field, not being able to stand. A veterinary surgeon
was sent for, but the animal was obliged to be killed.
poIICIIESTEIt AND ITS IDIKVECTIVIt DRAINAGE.—
On Sunday morning last (llith), poor Mr. Bonen,
who, it will be remembered, has so frequently been
inured by the officials of the Board of Health, was
again almost frightened to death by the inundation
of his property with sewage filth, which owing to
the defective drainage entered his front door, and
when the ground floor was tilled to a great depth
flowed out at the back, leaving A considerable
deposit of filthy matter; in fact, we could not see
his dining-room carpet, it, appeared like a sheet of
mud. It is really too bail of the local authorities to
take advantage of Mr. Bollen's old age and infirmity,
knowing as they do that he is a biliful t spend the
remainder of his d o
ays quietly, without recourse to
law ; and that these inundat have frequently .
occurred, and will again, with every little storm, and
that the defect might be remedied for a few
pounds. With these facts before them, we say it is
too bail to allow public works to lestroy plicate
peopeity without the slightest acknowledgment.
It bas ever been our wish, as well As our ditty, to
protect the weak ,(not hat that Mr. Bonen could protect
himself it he liked war as well as peace) anise carp
not hut condemn the arbitrary spirit of the
authorities, which is so glaring iii this case,
and the little respect paid to the owners
of property withiii this unfortunate and highly taxed
borough. We are sorry a ante( spaceforldils uurenter-
ing more fully ni the subject.
OIWAN FOR CillilsT'S is in
contemplation to havea new organ att.:bred'. Church,
Forilington, as the preeent olie is totally unlit to
perform its necessary part in the Divine service.
The list of subscriptions has been headed by the
gift of fill from the incumbent, the Bev. Mr.
Bird, soil many of the congregation have liberally
subscribed.

Rivi.csnooiuio.--Somo lIIte•IMMAkCI were shot
for on Thursday last by a few members of our rifle .
corpe, at the rifle range. Maiden Castle. The first
prize, which was shot for with 12 rounds at a dis-
tance of 200, 300, 400, and .500 yards, was won by
Captain Kindersley, who made 12 pain's. He was
tied by Private Thomas Homer, but in shooting off
the tie Homer missed, and tho Captain made an
outer. The second prise was won by Private
Thomas Rogers, who tied with Corpoial Mean.
Rogers, however, in shooting off the tie, made a
centre and Mean an outer. The second sweepstakes
Was shot for at a distance of 6011 yards with 5 rounds,
and the first pine was won by Private Rogers, who
made five points. In shooting for the second prize,
Corporal blears and Sergeant Gregory wade four
pointa each, sail on shooting off the tie at first both
mimed, but on the second flre it was won by
Corporal Mears, who made a centre, and Sergeant
Gregory missed.
WORKINGMEN'S INSTITDTR.—We must congratu•
late the tutors of the several classes at this institute
, at the suce,as which has attended their labours, and
! whom) skill and proficiency were so prominently
shown at the examination which took place at
TILIII4,011• short tithe ago, as a student fr m each of
the c6Aisa, contrived to bring home • prize. The
French claw miller M. Garston baa been eminently
succnsful. ha ing carried away the French price for
two years f..ll.,wing.
COMMITTED TO inc DORCHESTER GAOL —811111008:
Edward George Hircealanil, stealing a watch at Britt-
port ; James l'alumr, abating a prong at Kest Slower;