The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-12-22 00:00:00

I CAPTAIN liAigelo. aft r hum,r.olY isonPs`inß
eotni am. a Mr. o tome., os a oipeti •r ffi rin a•i
it Ii I MI to rlrprid Jr ire Ye.o111•1.11 to that of the
Itilite-le in *NC they had bosun C. to. s;ort•
aeivetires, said lie Iselieved that the Queen had soil a
more loyal and dernfred Mass among her anhjeits than
the Yeomanry of England, and if anything we wa•ited
to increate that devotion it *mild be the esteem of their
nenoti Peen. Theta were 00 ue people who considered
the Yoruinanry of not much um, hut he Wad of a very
different °Menu,. Furnished wit" an efficient weapon
and well tuountoil they wire rewly when require I to do
their duty, but be trusted it widild be 000! years befo,•
such would be the ease—(hour, hear, and clie•ra). In
these times of proposed r •trinehment be hoped that no
Radical Government would b.. to oh unsighted as to deny
them the few advantages they posaessed, or dotty them
their eight days' drill at Weymouth—(loud applattar).
He was for economy, but not such ecionomy as for the I
sake of saving a few thousands would impair the
efficiency of any of the toms of the country—(lond
applause).
-

Cousin Magtath, responded for the Volunteers;
and referring to the observations of Mr. Portman with
regard to the increase of pay to the regular army, said
that two years ago, wben be returned thanks for that
branch of the sisniste, be expressed a fear that if some
measure of the sort was not adopted they would not be
able to obtain • sufficient number of men to recruit the
ranks. The increase of 24. per day in the wages had
been of great advantage, and he thought they ought
to be very grateful to the taxpayers for so willingly and
cheerfully agreeing to that additional barthen. He tad
the greatest pleasure in responding for the volunteers,
and also in being able to say they were an Increasing
form. Taking the Battalion °Tyr whirs he bail the .
honour to command as a sample of the force general),
be might state that there wu an inure... of 41 as the '
roll this year an estimated with the previous year; and
in proof of their increased efficiency he further stated
that the number of efficient* in 1867 was 739, this year
791 ; nomefficents in 1867, 178; in 1868, 171; the •xtra
effictenti in 1867, were 612, and in 1868, 652.
The average number attending drill was in 1867-23.94,
and in 186823.92, and the lessees. of ispitation grant
Mrs. Whenever be bad occasion to call the battalion
out either logo to Porteinouth, the rcvleir, or to attend
camp, they showed the greatest readiness, and though
some people said that on inch days the volunteers went
out for • holiday, he would tell them it was no easy
work to get up at three or four in the morning as some
of the corps did when they went to Portsmouth, and be
hard at work all day, and then not get home till mid.
night. The gallant Colonel then adverted to the
remarks of Mr. Portman as to the daims of the volum
tiers for imeresmod support from Government, sail mad
that what they asked for was an extra El per man, so
that they could have the advantage of going into camp
without having year by year to ask the *misters* of
their friends in the county to meet that exounse• He
then proposed "The health of the Lord Lieutenant so 4
Magistrates of the County," speaking very highly of
the former for the interest he had taken in the welfare
of the poor, and especially of women and children—
(loud °beers).

R. A. CASTLEMAN, Esq., briefiy resp ended, and mid
that the magistretes had great pleasure in performing
"theviir.dauties,suchand whilst
inen.it y h
Johns
ss the io
there
erew.proflitetaalet..nal
bet that such duties would be carried out &wording to
the laws of the land —(erimm).
The CHAIRMAN said it was very pleasant to him to
propose the health of the same identical members for
the county of Eorset as were proposed lad year— (loud
and enthusiastic cheering). H. was sure the company
would agree with him when he said he liked to see old
faces—(oheers). He trusted that the new Parliament
would only sinetmo such measures as would tend to the
peace, the happier., and the prosperity of England,
and with great pleasure he gave for their hearty accept-
ance 'fl, health of Mr. Portman, Mr. Start, and Mr.
Floyer." They had arduous duties before them, but he
did not quite agree with Mr. Watts with respect to the
disestablubmentof the Irish church. He believed that
that measure would be eventually east out, and that
there was enough Protestant feeling in the country ti
ensure its rejection. There were no doubt very eon.
siderable changes required, and any measure which
would secure the adoption of such changes would he
believed be carried. There we. another question which
he had no doubt would occupy the attention of the
Legislature, and that was the subject of education.
It was considered by many that the pretreat mystem of
education was dying out, and without going into that
subject he would merely express his own opinion that
if farmers "maid consult the best interests of the people
of this country, they would only employ hays who
could read, write, and knew a little arithmetic. The
chairmen concluded by proposing "The County
Members" which was drunk with great enthusiasm.
The Hon. W. H. R Porn-max, IL P., who responded
to the toast, was loudly cheered. He said that he
could not but express his best 'beaku on his own
behalf and on behalf of his absent colleagues to the
Chairman and to the company for the kind way the
health of the county members bad been given and
received, and be could also &awe them it gave him
much pleasure in tiding over an election far the county
of Dorset without a contest —(hear, hear). He found
himself in quite air unexpected position, for he firmly
believed • short time ago that instead of being present
with them he should be in the House of CHU:MOORS
listening to • bog debate and taking part in an im-
portant division. Thanks to Mr. Disraeli, that had
been avoided, and cow Mr. Hambro's party were the
"ones" and his party were the "ins"—(laughter). The
conduct of the late prime minister was much like that
of • defendant brought before the magistrates at the
Town-hell that day, whr, when asked why he lifted up
the cellar door, and went that way into hi. house,
replied that "it was the handiest way"—(lond laughter).
He thought Mr. Disraeli had taken the "handiest way"
and saved them • great deal of trouble by disappear.
leg through the Geller door—(bmar, beer). He especially
wished to thank the elsirman for hi. kind expreesion
as to the representation of the county, because at one
agricultural dinner, the chairman, whom he did not
know except by name, after expressing regret that
neither of the members were present. Ind pointedly
alluding to him, said that he was " true blue" to the
backboce, and he hoped soon that instead of two Con-
servatives and one Liberat there would be three Con-
servatives to represent the county. He (Mr. Portman)
might remark that there weretwo sides to that question,
and he, himself, might reply that he wished
to see three Liberals, but these were not alto-
getherouPsit
ii le returnedi certaiwnhloy thoughthtishatvietwhoLse .
were county men, and had some interest in the welfare
Fnedridhaits. own.h
of that county which they represented—(cheers). He
therefore considered that this wee a source of congratu-
lation with regard to the late election, and also that
those belonging to the extreme Radical school had none
belonging to their party returned. He had no feeling
of sympathy with the Reform League, and considered
they showed • want of courtesy to the members of the
late government. Another signal defeat at the late
election was the rejection of Mr. Mill, and this he
attributed to his interfering with the other elections.
Mr. Watts had been dangling • big fiy before his face,
but be did not Intend to take the beit--(lsoghter).
They all knew his views with regard to the Irish church
question, and be considered it a too grave end serious
one to enter into at such a time—{hear hear). He
might however say that he did not entertain any such
desponding views with regard to the English
church as these expressed by Mr. Watts.
With regard to the educational Titration Mr.
Portman said he did not quite agree with the
Chairman as to boys not being engaged on • farm
before they could reed and write, for one bey probably
could read well at nine, whilst another could not at a
H more advanced age. e considered if the farmers
would only employ boys at 10 years of age they would
be found generally to be able to read and write, and
have • sufficient knowledge of arithmetic, and would
also then be at an age when they could without injury,
perform fieldlabour. As they were awareeCommiasion to
enquire into the state of the agricultural labourers had
lately been visiting many parts of the country, and In
intercourse lwith one of them the eommiesionsr
said that he was agreeable surprised, after what had
been stated of the condition of the Dorset labourer,
that that condition was far better than was generally
believed, and it was shown that in several agricultural
counties the wages of the labourer was the me as in
Dorsetshin.. Another question which might probably
be brought before the House, was one whisk would
virtually abolish the law of primogeniture. He knew
that John Bright did not agree with him on that ques-
tion, and probably not his younger brotbers—(laughter)
—but he was most decidely opposed to any such
change& This semis:skaffa:dad the subdivision of land,
sad to prove that rush • plan would be most injurious
and destructive of the prosperity of this country, he
would mention that two years ago • commission was
constituted in Ireland, when it was decided that there
should be no more subdivision of land In that
country, chiefly on the ground that it was found
impagbile to carry on any great public works through
the land being held by &large number of small holders,
Indeed, the real grievance in Ireland at that
very time was that every man wanted • piece of land—
(hear, be&r)—and be (Mr. Portman) considered it a
great evil for • country when there was a large number
of small lifeholders or small Iseseholders, who had not
sufficient capital to work the land—(ebeers). Mr.
Portman then referred to the establishment of Chambers
of Agriculture, and expressed his opinion that there was
no reasonable cause why the agriculturists should not
combine for the protection of their interests as well as
the commercial by watching over those meastres in
Parliament affecting them, and promoting a bond of
union between them. At the some time he reminded
them that they must consider the tutor* as well as the
: present, and if by the advocacy of such organisations
the taxes now levied on personal property were put on
landed property, and their rates diminish, they would
be wise in time to remember that their rmts might be
increased. He should be happy to support any measure
in Parliament which upon • calm oonsideration and the
opinion of others better qualified to judge than himself
would benefit the agrioultoriste,but he would not support
any measure whirl might tend to the injury of other
interesta for the good of theirs, neither would he be
pledged, or bound hand and foot, to give his vote for
any measures without each calm consideration, Mr.
Portman concluded by referents to the remarks of the
chairmao respecting the Capitation Grant, and expressed
a hope that no Radical Government would cut down
the allowance to the volunteers—(Lord Osborne: "We
have not a Radioed Government"). Mr. Portman replied
that he did not say it was, hut it had been alluded to by
one speaker as such. He trusted that the time was very
far distant when the services of the yeomanry would be
thelzhe.D.4l:olom.
Mr.
tion.onnime, htoheonco:
required to quell disturbances at home or that of the
volunteers to meet invaders from &brad—Good cheers),
ngrvet°tivadde member
fmeucheetoinorma.pviaiikail:t.hgeyintio)h.wipsymieseromu(ugLobei:lidixlepooeftibe
ohoritoruliVen:ii&dimiusitbet.ymLiyothadoounitmfti:h7—(qcheurpeau..ileleeonontredreigingoni'muac:PoypothidnrotcoiPmiEb.hecdic!
Ttwilratough tritfermeigewaswesneoreowf Dorset in inalinedythatearsroosia:t° thimbilvfiewnito it
asi met
the
first time that the subject of agriculture had some last
on the list as claiming their attentions, and be wished to
make • few remarks about Chambers of Agriculture.
He did not altogether madder that he was
the most suitable person that could have
been selected to speak on sash • subject; yet it was one
at the us" time IN which all were more or Ire
Interested. Citatsbenof Avicioltare were viewed with
certain unmet of jealousy, and be wee sot married
"Dv Entithias that was new wee looked sPas laths