The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-04-26 00:00:00

Srmu ailb Nabu.

The Brazilian screw 'dem gunboats Belmont, 7, and
Parnabida, 7, each of 120. horse power, which left Havre
on Holiday, arrived on Tuesday in Plymouth Sound.
After coaling they will sail for the Brazils.

The Victoria Hros.; has been bestowed on the follow-
ing :—Captain Thomas Bernhard Hackett ; Private
“eorge Monger ; Colnuroierjeant :Stewart )ITherson ;
Drui 1111 l er TholllßS Flinn ; Captain George Alexandix
Fleming, and Lieutenant Patrick Roddy, all for gallant
actions in India.

"There j o manifest a want of novelty in scone of
the principal features of tin. Arnuitrong gun," Maya the
" Mechanics' Magazine," " that we are not surpriwal to
Irani that the granting of Sir William's patent has
been oppoaed. Oppoaitions to it have been entered by
several inventors."

An increase will shortly be made in the force of
Royal Engineers HOW serving in the Mediterranean.
The Mediterranean Garrisons are to be reinforced.
Probably several of the second battalions of regiments
serving in India will be employed in this service.
A formidable convey of 18-pounder guns, and loaded
anjinunitionwagons, together with the n iiiiii .rous train
composing four siege bAteries, has departed from Wool-
wich garrison for Colchester and Chichester. The four
batteries employed about 500 horses.
A court-martial was held on Tuesday, on board Her
Majesty's ship Victory, in Portsmouth harbour, fur the
trial of Li.mtenant-Co iiiiii ander John 1 -y Scott, M
Moss, second master, awl Skuilien Gillett, ordinary era-
Huth (ha,kout•man on the night in question), for the
kW of :ler Majesty's screw %team gunboat Jaseur, on
the :tax. Nuevo shoal, during the passage of that
vowel from Port Royal to Gerybiun. at It/ 30 1,111. on
the 21h1i of February last. The Court was COlapOSad of
Captain George T. Gordon. C. Ifer Majesty's Ail.
Hannibal, ainl co 11111 l ending Steam Heserve, president ;
Captains IL ILrris Britannia ; It. S. Hewlett, C.
Eseellent ; H. Calilwell, C. D.. Mersey ; T. Wilson, St.
Vincent; and E. :li:edicts*. Doris. Mr. hillier
officiated u Geputy-Judge Advocate. After hearing
the evidence adduced by the prosecution as against Mr.
Moss, the second master, and Stephen l:rnett, ordinary
seaman, and the evidi nee brought forward by the said
Mr. MM. and Stephen Great in their defence, the
Court, after a most wireful deliberation, severally
acquitted the prisoners of the charge brought against
them. The Court then pr-seeded with the trial of
Lieutenant John tlinney Scutt, the commander of the
Jaseur, on the same charge. The result wag that Lieu•
tenant Scott was acquitted. The master and gunner
were recommended to the Admiralty for their conduct
after the wreck.

01K NATIoNAL DrPENcEB.—.I meeting was held on
Saturday evening week, at St. Martin'n Hall, to take
this subject into consideration. Sir C. Napier occupied
the chair, and regretting that the meeting was so thinly
attended, (there were about a hundred persons in the
hall), proceeded to compare the state of the army and
navy of England with those of other countries at the
present moment. France posnessed • fleet all hut as
large as that of England. She had an army of rullo.ooo
men, ready to march at a moment's notice. She haul
also • large number of commercial steamers. She had
on the north and west coasts DM steam vessels of all
sizes, and in the Mediterranean I no. There was nothing
to prevent an arbitrary and despotic government like
that of France from laying an embargo on those vessels
and marching the men uni board. In a week she could
throw an overwelining force into this country. It was not
even necessary for France to invade this country. All
she need do was to send a fleet off the Neilly Islands.
She would thus intercept all the American, West Indian,
and Mediterranean trade, and give this country a blow
from which she could mot recover for ninny years. Sir
Duncan McDougall moved the first resolution, expres-
sing f Ile fears of tha meeting that the country was
inadenjuately armed ; and General Taylor moved, and
Captain Sleigh sieconiled, Ho: next renolution—" That,
iii pUrSUallee of the first resolution, a memorial be at
once presented to the Queen, and petitions to both
Houses of Parliament, as soon as they re-asnemble.
urging the necessity of maintaining a ,sitticient t'luumnnel
fleet ; of calling out the necessary julius, and minding
volunteer rifle and dither corps, for the defence of the
country." Both resolutions were carried unani tttttt nay;
and after an address from Sir Allan MeNah, who spoke
in high praise of the militia in Canada, the meeting
separated.