The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-04-30 00:00:00

DORSET COUNTY EXPRESS

DORCHESTER, TUESDAY, APRIL 30, MI.

HONESTE AUDA.r.

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

According to latest accounts received from the
several States of Europe, events seem to wear a
rather more 'miffing aspect than they did a week
or two ago. Mutual explanations aro reported
to have taken place, and there appears a glim-
mering ray of hope that the Imperial Powers
may practically acknowledge the truth of Lord
Palmerston's declaration at the Mansion House
dinner, that there is not one of the questions now
pending in Europe "which might not amicably
and honourably be settled without an appeal to
arms." If it is true that the Emperor of Austria
has at length been induced to understand the
tremendous risk which his dynasty has been run-
ning for the last few years, and that he has
satisfied the Bohemians and induced the Hunga-
rians to believe the promises of reform conveyed
to them, he has, unquestionably, aimed the
greatest possible blow at the war party in every
state in his dominions. The pdkition of Venetia
is, however, exceptional, and the conduct of the
Austrian Government is an admission that
Francis Joseph dares not, and cares not, to ex-
tend to Venetia the privileges eagerly assured to
Hungary, Bohemia, Istria, and the provinces
less advanced in civilisation. Perhaps, after all,
IVenetia will at length be ceded to Italy, without
the shedding of blood, on a quid fro quo being
guaranteed him by the other great Powers. A
more friendly feeling is also said to exist between
the Emperors of the French and Russia on the
assurance of the former being given to the latter
that he has not in any manner been abetting the
agitation of the Poles • that he has not been
rousing that disappointed people with the antici-
pations of turning their disturbances to account,
whether against Germany or against Russia.
In corroboration that the Emperor Napoleon's
professions are the real sentiments of his mind,
I the Moniteur, in a semi-official article, in allud-
ing to this subject, and the emancipation of the
Russian serfs, concludes by expressing a wish
that the Emperor Alexander may not be pre-
vented from extending his liberal measures to
Poland "by manifestations of such a nature as
, to place the dignity of the political interests of
' the Russian empire in antagonism with the ten-
dencies of its Sovereign." Italy, too, assumes a
leas martial appearance. Count Cavour and
Garibaldi have become reconciled. "The Soldier
Deputy"—the name which Garibaldi claims for
himself—has given up for the present any pro-
ject he might have had of carrying the sword
into Venetia, and has proclaimed his obedience
to his King, who tells his followers that there is
other work to be first done. I hat our own
Government has exerted no small influence in
bringing about this better state of things is quite
evident from the announcement lately made by
Victor Emmanuel, that England would be against
that country which should provoke a war.
The events reported from America on the one
hand, ring, it may be, the knell of the Union;
but on the other, they dissipate the shadows
which for months have been gathering over the
destinies of the Republic. So long as the
Unionists remained under arms in the midst of
the Secessionista, they offered ii perpetual chal-
lenge to their opponents; but the fall of Fort
Sumter, preceding it may be, that of Fort Pick-
ens, will perhaps so far purify the question as to
relieve it from the elements of brute force, and
mutual barbarity. The Americans fight "wil-
lingly, but with unwilling hand." They lift the
hand to strike, they wing the instrument of
death, but some mysterious power averts the
stroke, or blunts the edge, or deadens the blow.
No deadly passions appear to have burst forth
on either side. Are they in earnest, or are they
playing at war 1 As for the seige, the bombard-
ment, and the defence, they might as woll, so far
as the present accounts go, have been affairs of
blank cartriidres. Seven batteries breached and
bombarded Fort Sumter, burnt down its bar-
racks, blew up several magazines, threw shell
into it innumerable, the flag of the Union was
shot down, and a vast show of destruction was
accomplished. The fort replied with alike spirit,
at length it surrendered, and the garrison
marched out, prisoners of war. It was like the
fights recorded before the days of gunpowder,
when mailed knights could hack at each other
for three successive days without destruction to
human life. It was like sparring with boxing-
gloves, not the loaded musters of modern war-
fare. It was a mere spectacle. The population,
and even the ladies of Charleston poured forth
to see the sight. Ten thousand soldiers lined the
works, watching the sport, and contributing
their share; the batteries tottered, like crumb-
ling landslips, one after another; the "fashion- I
able promenades" were thronged with exhilarated
observers, the mob clustered on the wharves and
steeples to enjoy the eight, and "not one was
killed or wounded." This is certainly different
I from what we have been accustomed to bear of
I the Americans, among whom "a word and a
blow" has been the rule. There have been
bloodier fights in Congress than this Charleston
affray, and in England, many a "difficulty" at
Ithe bar has cost more bloodshed. But what
next and next I as John Bright would say. No
one knows. A triumph has been gained on one
side, and it is now demonstrated that the Federal
government cannot hold the Federal fortresses
I against the volunteers of the Secessionist States.
I The harmless flame kindled in South Carolina
I may be reflected from a thousand cities within
the Uniou, and arouse a spirit of more iudoini-
able discord. In the North there is an army,
and navy, and money, and a more numerous
white population, without, too, the incubus of
slavery. There is also the tradition of the
Union, the Capitol, and the successor of
Washington. Modern warfare cannot go on
without money, and the Northern States can
more easily raise and spend a hundred millions
of dollars a year than the Southerm States can
raise ten millions. All that is outside and mate-
rial is in favour of the North; but in the South,
I there are the men of action, who can combine,
I
conspire, keep a secret, have a plan and it
out without wavering or flinching, thecul War
Minister of the Secessionist States publicly
announces that the Secessionist& flag shall float
over Washington before the first of May. The
prospect, therefore, is dark, with scarcely a ray of
light upon the American horizon, and we can only
hope, that in this second crisis of America, this
hour of trial which revives the memory of the
generation which made war for independence,
some men will arise to calm down the rancour
of jealous factions, and spare the riven Common-
wealth from the crimes, the sorrows, and the
ignomy of a civil war.
The India and China Mail has arrived. The
intelligence from the latter place is unimpor-
tant, but the news from the famine districts is
still very deplorable. One regiment, it is said,
Icounted two thousand dead bodies in its line of
march, nor is there any immediate prospect of
I an improved state of thine—indeed, the famine
I is extending into other districts which it was at
I first hoped would escape the dread visitant.
The Irish famine of 1847, and the metropolitan
I destitution of last winter are cast into the
shade by this wide spread visitation, which
timely and munificent aid can alone prevent from
depopulating an enormous empire. Sixty-four
thousand pounds have been collected up to the
present time in this country, for the relief of the
sufferers, but may it not well be asked, what is
this among so many?
Mr. Gladstone's proposed remission of the
Paper Duty meets with very ineffective opposi-
tion in Parliament, and the weakness and
absurdity of the criticisms passed, upon the mea-
sure only tend to strengthen the Chancellor of
the Exchequer's position. Let the people have
cheap tea aud sugar, rather than cheap books
and newspapers, is the cry of the party who used
their endeavours to prevent a repeal of the
Corn Laws. It is universally confessed that the
paper duty, if repealed, is lost for ever, and can
never be re-imposed. Why Is it not because
it is a tax so plainly averse to the best interests
of the people, that no Chancellor of the Exche-
quer in the future dare venture to seek revenue
from such a source? The Times still continues
its opposition to the paper duty repeal from its
professed desire to preserve the interest of the
British manufacturer. But the Times is now
printing its impression upon Belgian paper.
Not a sheet of British make is now used in
Printing-house square. Under existing regula-
tions the Times saves six shillings per ream by
importing its paper—which it uould not do, if
the duty were repusied—and as it uses two
hundred reams per day, the total saving amounts
to the enormous sum of £18,780 per annum.
Sentiment and patriotism portrayed in the

columns of the Times are very grand ideas; but
they are of little worth when opposed to such a
sum as that.