The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-05-29 00:00:00

NoTEB OF THB WEEK.

I.—Ti BRILIA•IfT DRAWING-BOOM last
week, and the state concert given by Her
Majesty's command on Friday evening, are
among the most noticeable domestic events
of the week. 'I he concert was most fashion.
ably attended, filling up the park with car-
riages, round whio crowds ot spectators
thronged for a pabsing sight of the Prince
and Princess, and of the grand courtiers
fortunately enough to be included in the
Queen's invitation. We say "fortunate
enough." for Court ceremonials are often
dreary affairs, and are seldom enlivened by
the voice of a Titijens or a Gardoni.
ll.—Amoito TUB LanisT and freshest
batch of telegrams we have the following,
from which it would be difficult Indeed to
extract hope of a satiafactory settlement of
the pending difficulties on the contiuent by '
the proposed Congress:—" It is confirmed
that Austria will take part in the Congress,
provided that no bases be laid down for nego-
tiation that Austria cannot recognise 'Bauch,
that the decisions of the Congress be not
binding, and that the programme Contain no-
thing which may be to the prejudice of
Austria." If all the great Powers commence
their discussions unon similar conditions,
what good can be expected to result from the
Congress? Mr. Gladstone's reply to Mr.
Disraeli, in the House of Commons, on
Thursday evening, is regarded as the reverse
'of satisfactory. He had nothing to say
except to throw discredit upon a statement oi
! the Poole, "that the bases of negotiation
, for the pruposed Congress would be found in
territonal compensations," and could give no
hint as to *hat the bases would be. If' the
present difficulties are not to he solved by
"territorial compensations," it is difficult to
imagine how they are to be met. people
were looking to the Danubian Principalities
to compensate Austria for the loss of Venetia
and the aggrandisement of Prussia in the
Duchies—ltaly making for her acquisition a
money payment, which 'Mild be pulsed over
to Turkey u compensation tor the Principali-
ties. But these last territories, in spite of
the i'aris conference now sitting on their
affairs, seem inclined to manage their own
business after their own fashion, and Prussia
apparently supports them in their choice of a
scion of her royal house, thus unaccountably
putting an obstacle in the way of an adjust-
ment, if she really desires peace. But the
more we think of these questions, and the
more we discuss them, the more do we become
convinced that a Congress cannot prevent
war, even if it manages to postpone it.
Nev-r was a thread in a worse tangle than
European affairs at the present moment, anu
while the fingers of diplomacy are busy en-
deavouring to untie one km t, the sword will
probably be impatiently brought into requi-
sition to cut another.

111.-WR AIR BIGINNTWO to ask what is
to become of the Reform Bills P There are
only some two months of the session left,
and the Bills, on the most favourable sup-
position, can hardly get out of the Lower
House under a month or six weeks. The
Irish and Scotch measure* are, of course, to
be kept in waiting on the Rnglish ; and we
expect very protracted discussions on the
latter in committee, as well as at the sub-
eminent stages. It is understood that the
Conservatives will throw every obstacle in
the way of the proposed Redistribution
scheme; and their opportunities for this in
committee are very great. In addition to in-
numerable amendments on the szhedules, that
may be proposed and discussed at any length,
a night may be wasted by any two members
who persistently continue to move alter-
nately, "that the Committee report progress,"
and •• that the Houseadjourn," and insisting on
a division each time. The same motion can-
not be made twice in succession, but thPse
two may alternate indefinitely.
IV.—Wx regret to see that a calm has not
yet succeeded to the tremendous financial
storm which has shipwrecked so many
buoyant hopes and bright expectations during
the last fortnight. Gloom still settles over
the money market, and panic has shown its
teeth again during toe last few days. Amidst
the despondency and anxiety prevailing, we
hear of the most cowardly conduct on the
part of • few wretched harpies, to whose in-
trigue* mnch of the present relapse of public
confidence may be attributed. Shareholders
or depositors in banks above suspicion, have
received anonymous letters calculated to pro-
duce most injurious suspicions, if not more
, calamitous result*, upon the companies against
1 which the designs of these anonymous
writers are directed. Confidence has been
shaken in this way in many directions, but
we most sincerely trust that such cowardly
and criminal proceed ngs will be traced home
to their authors, and receive the severe
11 punishment they deserve.

SALISBURY DIOCESAN CHORAL FESTIVAL

The festival of the Salisbury Dimiusact Choral
Amnialion wUI be bell on Wedniseday (toonorrow) In
the sin of &Saban Cathedral when a Lager somber
of choir. than hen ever been brought together in this
noble edits. will attend The ohject. of this moociation
Sr. to IP °mote he improvement of singing in churches,
to offer faculties to ohms to 'Units instrunion in church
'awls by pronding ehoironastere to ow. La., at a
°beep rate, and to enoturage a good and hearty style of
congregational singing of mitred minim and by., JOINS-
It is iininted that upwards of 1800 singers will be pre-
sent in On Cathedral on Wad eeeday east, when saran'
arrangements a ill be made for the preservation of order
and for oaring comfort. For the emonamsidasicsa of
the Tel-foss °hairs who will take part in ebb. groat
%win!, special trdna will run on the Oren Weirton,
the Buy h-West.rn, sad the &menet ant Dawn hews,
In order to °mini the singers to and fro. 8.16-
bury. Before UN 6,11,11)41130, meat of the terries,
thwro wlll bie • retmerwil, after whit* the
ChOir. sill he at liberty for • short time. Al
half peat eleven o'4aelt a peoersaion will be foromd In
the Modateos, eihteb will paw into the navy al the
Oa' .ib.lll the ffrooomiosial Pedal (No. 16.
rali-bury Hymn Book). ChrLit is oar roormir-stoos."
all b- wog by ii. shorty as.l earphaed eheim to
Handel'. 148 n. TLe clergy mid stoners baring tab..their p'.,,the envois will proew.s- os with, ma
Veade will be olumtwl to Ns 11, Seliebury Chan Book
(W Sussell, 1813). The 144th Peal.% will ha chanted to No. 214, B.li.bury Chant Boot (Dr. 0. J.lLleet) • h 148th Psalm (Dr. Greene. 1766); and the 1461,
to the Irsicrieni• d shoat. TI.. lk Arum will 6..4.04
to sonnies by Dr.Sieggall. The ffenalictu e
s will be ven,
to the Kat sheet in the Saliebury Mast Both AT.
Parnell 16M). The anthem, "Lift up your
0 ye gater,"ll afterwards be nag. nos Ca=
wi
shatioeno, sad Wialore• anus si4J4aelpti
Int plan; ins 4 all lise ellibbn WM