The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-05-14 00:00:00

HONEST! AUDdX.

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

Lord Palmerston has read Prussia a gentle
lesson on the wore of official brutality, which she
will not easily forget. The circumstances are
' pimply ilaten.--Viiptatu alawduaaald was travelling
with his family. Por a short time the party
left the carriage in which they had been sitting,
and a Dr. Parrow took their place. Captain
Macdonald remonstrated, but Dr. Parrow was
immoveable. The station-muter interfered and
supported Dr. Parrow. Captain Macdonald
resisted the station-master and was arrested, was
placed in prison for six days, and, when brought
before a court of justice, was acquitted of the
assault charged against him, but was fined for
insulting the station-master. In the course of
the proceedings, the States Procurator made a
general attack upon English travellers, whom he
accused of something which has been variously
translated "universal blackguardiam," or
" lubberlyism." Captain Macdonald demanded
justice, and was told that the law of Prussia was
ageiruse him. The matter came under the cogni-
sance of our Foreign Office, and Lord John
Russell wrote a "spirited" despatch—precisely
what an Englishman would think proper on the
first report of the case. Lord Robert Cecil
celled the attention of the House of Commons to
"a personal indignity inflicted on an Englishman
travelling abroad," and Lord Pahnerston ex-
plained the matter in a speech quite as "spirited"
as the despatch of the Foreign Secretary. With
regard to the aggression of the States Procurator,
Lord Palmerston thought "the whole proceed-
ings were of the most unfriendly character on
the part of the Prussian Government ;" and he
was the more surprised since "Prussia has every
motive for cultivating the friendship of the
English Government, the good opinion, and the
good feeling of Englishmen.' Upon this Baron
Sehleinits, in a note to Lord John Russell, pro-
fessed that he could not conceal from himself
"that accusations of such a kind as those which
Lord Palmerston, without ground or justifica-
tion, has raised against the Government and the
laws of Prussia, are well calculated to excite in
in the Prussian people an ill-feeling against the
Government, the leader of which has no hesita-
tion in designating the condition of Prussia as
lamentable. As there probably never yet was
an Englishman who travelled in Prussia without
having all his liberal instincts revolted by a
coarseness of official treatment, and an arrogance
of command, which in our country no gentleman
would like to be caught displaying towards his
servant or his dog, it would seem to be a settled
maxim with them that the German connections
of our court give them the privilege of trampling
on the English with impunity. They are, how-
ever, grievously mistaken. We love our Queen
with all our hearts, because she is loveable, and
our Royal Princess, too, lives in our affections;
but as or the Prussian alliance, we well know
on what a sandy foundation it is built. If Eng-
land depended upon Prussia for its existence, it
would be a blank on the face of the globe to-
morrow. Prussia may have a fine army, and her
soldiers may fight well, but situated as she is,
she is much more likely to ask the rest of the
world to fight for her, than to fight for the rest
of the world.

The later intelligence from America shows that
the war spirit has not in the slightest degree
abated either in the North or the South. There
can be no doubt that Washington is safe from
sudden attack, the Federal Government having
a large force in and around that city. The N or-
thenen are in great glee at • "blow struck for
the right" by the Illinois volunteers, acting under
orders from Washington in taking possession of
Fort Smith. the Arkansas arsenal, and removing
the arms to a place of Federal safety; but the
triumph is more than counterbalanced by the state-
ment that Geneva Ransom, who has recently left
North Carolina, reports that every Federal post
in that state had been taken. At Fayetteville
arsenal 70,000 stand of arms were taken, includ-
ing 28,000 of the most approved pattern. The
puWie journals on both aides are in numerous in-
stemma exciting the people to avenFe their foes.
The only gleam of hope for an amicable adjust-
ment of differences without an effusion of blood,
is a proposition made by the Governor of Ken-
tucky to the governor of Ohio "for the gover-
nors of the Border States to Ohio, arbitrators
between the contending parties in the present
difficulties." As the Border States stand the
chance of becoming the fighting ground, should
hostilities commence in earnest, and of suffering
the worst penalties of war, there can le no
doubt of their earnest desire for peace. Their
intervention too, would be free from the objec-
tions that would be nand by American pride
and jealousy against an appeal to the good
cakes of any foreign state. That the proposi-
tion of the governor of Kentucky may have the
desired effect is, we are sure, the sincere desire
of the best friends of America, but that it will
be listened to by the belligerent states, is, we
few, exceedingly doubtful.

- .... gir

The war now breaking out in America has
led to a discussion in both Houses of Parlia-
ment during the past week respecting belligerent
rights at sea. President Lincoln has proclaimed
• blockade of the ports belonging to the
Southern Confederacy, and President Davis has
issued letters of marque, and is arming priva-
teers from all nations to attack the vessels
sailing under the old banner of the United
States. From the discussions that have taken
place on the subject, it would appear that the
measures which have now been taken by
America are not of a nature to involve England
in a quarrel with either party. The vessels of
neutral Powers which confine their enterprise
to the legitimate objects of conveying ordinary
articles of merchandise to other ports will be in
no respect injured or endangered by the em-
ployment of privateers by either of the hostile
confederacies; but no neutral ship, whatever
may be its cargo, can with impunity endeavour
to force its way into a port which is effectively
blockaded, nor convey to either of the belli-
gerents any of the stores of arms and ammuni-
tion which, as report states, are being exten-
sively bought up in Europe for North America.
Hitherto, the carrying trade has been almost
monopolised by the Northern States, but the
application of the letters of marque to the pre-
sent case, imposes almost • prohibitory liability
on American bottoms, and therefore on the
special trade of the North, and places a
premium upon English shipping directly
trading with the Southern ports. With respect
to pnvateering, our Government will shortly
issue • proclamation, warning British seamen
that they will have no claim to the protection
of England should they engage themselves in
the service of the South, and be captured by a
Northern ship of war, and threatened with
capital punishment.
The splendid hospitalities of thecity of London
are never turned to better account than when
they present an opportunity of expressing public
approval of the acts of one who has earned the
gratitude of his country. The banquet given by
the Lord Mayor at the Mansion House on Wed-
nesday last, therefore, to Lord Elgin, was a fitting
tribute to one who has wiselT governed colonies,
and fulfilled the arduous duties of an ambassador
with great credit to himself and benefit to Eng-
land. The toast of the evening was drunk with
enthusiasm, and responded to with eloquence.
Lord Elgin availed himself of the occasion to ex-
press with becoming modesty, but with much
manliness and candour, his grateful sense of the
tribute paid to him, and to describe the vast
difficulties with which be had been forced to con-
tend, and the successful issue of that arduous
struggle. Few men have turned the events of
their lives to better account than his lordship.
His self abnegation, promptness, and decision,
enabled him to assist mainly in the preservation
of our Indian Empire. But there aro acts of a
more positive character, which have a high claim
on our admiration, in his career. The capture
of Canton, and the subsequent negociations shich
he set on foot, in conjunction with Baron Gros
and the ambassadors of Runde and the United
States, produced a treaty, which, had not the
Emperor of China been ill-advised, might have
' prevented subsequent hostilities. Happily, we
I are now at pesos with the myriad inhabitants of
'that strange and marvellous land; our communi-
cation and trade with them daily and hourly in-
creams. Great opportunities are now presented
for enriching ourselves, and at the same time
improving them. If we can only, in our com-
mercial relations with the Chinese, show that we
are reliable in our engagements; if honourable
merchants and devoted missionaries, by their
dealings and their preaching., convey a right
idea of our national character, and the influence
of our creed and civilisation, then China may
become to us • source of the greatest material
prosperity, while we may reciprocate bless-
ings of a higher order than those which we
receive.

Now that it is certain the paper duty will be
repealed, the Times, notwithstanding its former
hostility, has become an advocate of the mea-
sure. Nothing can be more just, or more tempe-
rate, than the manner in which the Tines sums
up the obvious reasons for the repeal of the
Excise duty "It can be made not only into
money, but into boxes, and pipes, and carriages,
and tables, and clothing, and hats, and bonnets,
and shirt fronts, and collars, and wainscotting,
and ceilings." "AU this—and more to which
we shall advert presently—we are ready to
believe. If any one doubts what may be done,
he has only to cast his memory back to the left
generation, and he will find himself at once in
what may be called the dark ages of paper. Can
we doubt, then, that the manufacture is suscep-
tible of infinite improvement? The exciseman
alone stands in the way. We wish hint heartily
farewell. We have driven him away from the
soap-vat, from the brick-kiln, from the glass-
house, and from a dozen other workshop.; and
no sooner has he gone than the mind seems to
conceive great intentions." And then we have
capital illustrations of the brilliant success which
has come over the trades mentioned since they
have been freed from the Excise incubus, every
line written with a nerve and point character-
istic of that journal in its happiest moods. The
Tines, however, sees onu drawback to the success
of the British paper-maker—the want of food for
his trade. "He lives on rags, and he can't get
them." But subsequent to the appearance of
this complaint, the subject has been brought
before the French Corps Legialatif. The French
Government has concluded a treaty with Belgium,
fixing the duty on the exportation of rags to that
country at 12f. ; and England being entitled to
I be placed in a position "as favourable as any
other country"—in accordance with the treaty of
commerce—she, too, will be now able to import
rags at this reduced duty. Our paper manufac-
turers therefore seem likely to find themselves
better off than was expected with regard to the
importation of rap from France, but some of the
French protectionists are as angry as our own
protectionists would probably have been under
similar circumstances.

On the motion of Lord Palmerston on Monday
night, the House of Commons voted £30,000 to
be settled upon the second daughter of Queen
Victoria by way of dowry, and £6,000 a year, in
consequence of a message from Her Majesty that
a marriage had been agreed to between the
Princess Alice and his Royal Highness Prince
Louis of Hesse. As this interesting ceremony is
shortly to be solemnized, it may not be unin-
teresting to our readers to have a brief summary
of the ancestry and antecedents of Her Manjl4l:7B
new son-in-law. The Grand Duchy of Heine
Darmstadt was founded by George 1., second
son of Philip L, who died about the time of the
Reformation. In 1815 the Grand Duke joined
the Germanic Confederation, and at the present
time Hesse Darmstadt stands ninth in rank,
enjoying three votes in the full council and one
in the minor council. Its territory consists of
two large portions separated from each other by
a long slip belonging to Hesse Cassel, and the
city of Frankfort; lying between Prussia,
Wassail, Bavaria, and Baden, and containing an
arts of 3,300 square miles, divided into three
provinces, known as Starkenburg, Rheinhessen,
and Oberbessen. Hesse Darmstadt is partly
mountainous and partly level; some portions are
agricultural and others rich in mineral treasures.
In religion it is mainly Lutheran and Calvinistic,
though it contains above 200,000 Roman
Catholics. In 1838 the military establishment
of the Grand Duchy was fixed at 6,288 men,
and the war establishment at 9,469; tho latter
was raised to 10,514 in 1855. Its population,
according to the census of 1851, was 854,314.
The present reigning Grand Duke is Louis 111.,
eldest son of the late Grand Duke Louis It,
and brother to the present Empress of Russia.
He was born in June 1806, and married on the
26th December, 1833, to Matilda Caroline
Frederick Wilhelmia Charlotte, daughter of
Louis, King of Bavaria, by whom (who was born
in 1813) he has no issue. Aocordingly the heir-
presumptive to his title is his next brother, Prince
Charles William Louis, father to the affianced
husband of our youthful Prince's. Prince
Frederick William Louis (the bridegroom elect)
was born September 12, 1837, and is consequently
in the 24th year of his age. The Princess Alice
who was born on the 25th April, 1843, has just
completed her 18th year. As the Grand Duke
has no children, the affianced husband of Queen
Victoria's second daughter will ultimately in-
herit the sovereignty of Hesse Darmstadt if
he survives his father and uncle. This alliance I
will establish intimate family relations between '
the courts of St. Petersburg and London, and
will not, consequently, be altogether destitute of
political interests.

Donating' PITCHED COAX MAussr, Saturday,
May 11.—The attendance was not so large as usual.
The general tone of the trade was better, and but
for the bad quality, arise would have been established ;
as it vu, holders ware very firm, and on the whole
we oonsider the price of all grain was in favour of the
seller.

--15Oitcwarrim Cmcnwr aux.—This club com-
menced their season on Friday last, when unfortu.
'lately the weather was anything but favourable;
however,the party which vu large, adjourned to the
Green Dragon Inn, where a sums. cennisting abed.

steaks, mutton-chops, Welch rabbits,and other good
things was provided by Host Longman, which was
done ample justice to by the numerous members and
friends, and a very pleasant evening was spent.
Ties CV:SIM—The following return' show that
the population of this borough has considerably
increased during the last 10 years, a fact which we
feel persuaded will be hailed with pleasure by cur
readers.
1861 1851 Incr.
Dorchester—St. Peter's 1213 1150 63
AU Saints 946 814 132
Holy Trinity 1601 1549 62
FordLgton 3258 3147 111

7018 6660 358
It will be seen by the above, that the pariah of
Fordington contains nearly the same number of
inhabitants as the three other parishes put together,
and when to this we add that the greater part of its
population consists of the poorer classes, we feel sure
that every philanthropist and well•wisher will bestir
himself for the temporal, social, and moral benefit of
this increasing portion of the town.

SENDING DISEASED MEAT TO THE lANIDON
M•Heirrs.—At the Central Criminal Court, May 9,
George James was charged with misdemeanour, in
having unlawfully sent a quantity of diseased meat
to Newgate-market for sale.—Mr. Giffard prosecuted.
Mr. Metcalfe was counsel for the defendant.—This
was another prosecution by the City Commissioners,
and the defendant in the case is a butcher at Don.
head, and has been in business for 30 years, and
during that time sending meat to Newgate-market,
and no complaint had ever been made against him.
In this instance three quarters of a bullock and •
calf had been sent up in one hamper. The beef was
in a high state of inflammation, and quite unfit for
food.--The jury found him Guilty, and he was sen-
tenced to two months' imprisonment, without hard
Labour.

Barrier MISSIONARY SOCIETY. —On Sunday last,
two eloquent and impressive sermons were preached
on behalf of the above society, by the Rev. F.
Trestrail, secretary. There was • large and attentive
congregation at both services. The rev, gentleman
took his teat in the morning from the 21st, 22nd,
and 23rd. verses of St. Judo, and in the evening
from the 10th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.
In the course of his remarks Mr. Trestrail
gave some very interesting accounts of the progress
of the Missionary cause in -Brittany, and other places
visited by him. He also alluded to the vast field
open to missionary enterprise in China, where both
by the reigning Emperor and chief of the rebel
army, permission had been granted to preach the
gospel; and urged upon his hearers, in the most
earnest manner, to assist in answering to the cry of
help sent from that long•benighted land. The
amount collected at both services Will .C 5 6e. Sad.

VIGILANT—VERY ! 011 Salltda7 list, Sergeant
Hitch brought up from Wyke Regis, handcuffed, a
private in the 49th Regiment, named Samuel Looby,
after detaining him i n custody two days for being found
drunk between Wyke and Portland. The Magistrates
thought the defendant had made a great " looby" of
himself in getting drunk, and reprimanded the
constable for keeping him in custody two days awl
then bringing him up in irons. As it was thought
that defendant lad had ample punishment for his
offence, he was discharged.

THIRD DORSET BITCH VOLUNTERRR. —Oll Thurs-
day last a number of the members of the Dorchester
Corps assembled at the rifle range at Maiden Castle
to shoot for two prizes—the first, a handsome
zneerchaum pipe, offered by Lieutenant Coombs,
and the second, a handsome retriever, offered by
Ensign Devenisb. The first contest was at 200 and
300 yards, five rounds each. Privates Joseph
Homer and Thomas Homer were the highest on the
list, scoring respectively 14. Corporal Mears
obtained 12 points, Corporal Chick, Sergeant
Gregory. Colour-Sergeant Davis, and Sergeant
Homer, 11 each, Captain Kindersley and Sergeant
Turner 10 each, Privates Saunders, Rogers, and
Hodges, 9 each, Ensign Devenish 8, private,
Robinson 7, and Treves 3. Privates Thomas and
Joseph Homer having obtained a tie, and being
highest on the list, shot off several times, and
eventually the former obtained the prize. The
Ensign's prize was contested for with six rounds at
500 and 600 yards. Private Troves was the winner
with 6 points, Sergeant Gregory second with 5
points, Sergeant Homer and Corporal Mears
obtained 4 each, and the rest were below that
number.
Couvrrrrin To Hi Donau/1m GAOL.—Sessimia :
Jesse Dordle, stealing from the person at Cranborae.—
Hard Lamar : Eliza Woolidge and Sarah Staley,
vagrancy at Wyke Regis, 3 calendar months; David
Lane, leaving family chargeable at Beeminster, I
calendar month; john Whitlock, assault, &a. at
Bberborne, 3 calendar months • Samuel Blackburn,
disobedience of orders H. 11.8. Diinegal, 28 days ; John
Luke Abater, and Richard Thomas deseding 11.11.8.
Aboukir, 91 days; John Kellion, disobedience of orders
R.M.S. Donegal, 28 days.