The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-09-04 00:00:00

NOTICE OF THE WEEK.

I.—THE QUEEN AND Corm., preceded
according to the established etiquette, by the
Prince and Princess of Wales, are keeping
their annual holiday in the Highlands.
Even Prince and Princess Christian, having
returned from their marriage tour on the
Continent, have gone on to rejoin her Majesty
at Balmoral. It reads somewhat like a
canard to learn from the papers that record
with whimsical fidelity the scanty incidents
of these northern visits, that her Majesty
having stolen a march on time and arrived at
the Castle an hour too soon, there was
literally nobody to receive her. This state-
ment is surely either a left-handed compli-
ment on her Majesty's accustomed punc-
tuality, or it is intended to cast a slur on
Highland sloth and indifference.

I I—PECSSITA AND Acetati have not
only concluded a treaty of peace; but it is
momentarily expected that Austria and Italy
will do likewise. By the arrangements of
the former, the Prussian constitution will
now become valid in Hanover, Nassau,
Hesse-Cassel, and Frankfort; by a clause
contained in the same document, but appa-
rently paving the way for the Italian treaty,
the cession of the Lombardo-Venetian tern
tory to Italy is provided for without any
heavier conditions than the payment of it
debts. Thus, although the Queen of Han
over refuses to quit her palace, and addresses
have been signed to her by 100,000 people in
the streets (dispersed however by the Prus-
sian soldiery), and although the negociations
with the Papal states are said to have failed
on the part of Italy, still the year 1880 will
have seen fulfilled to an incredible extent two
of the most gigantic day-dreams of political
enthusiasts—the dream of a United Ger-
many and that of a United Italy. The
North German Confederation will probably
assemble at Hanover ; but where the South
German, and what it will be, more especially
whether or not it will be subject to the will
of Franee,are matters that remain in question.
As for Italy, besides the negociations in
progress, there is before her the 11th of
December, when the last French soldier will
quit the Papal states and Italy will remain
for the Italians. But whether the occasion
may be one for jubilee or regret must be
determined by the event. There are some
who think that when her external relations
are settled her internal troubles will begin.

'HT.—CANADA Is =DURING the hard.
ships of defending herself against a con-
temptible danger. The Fenian, have threat-
ened another raid. They have held a
" picnic" at Buffalo, on the American side—
but without giving signs of hostility, for they
were pretty well watched. They still con.
tinue to hold forth threats of another raid,
which necessitates the placing of gun-boats
on the lakes, and this the Canadians them-
selves have done, in default of the action of
our Government who might have been
expected to have employed at least that
precaution. The Niagara frontier is likewise
disturbed by Fenian outrage, and, although
President Johnson has abandoned the United
States prosecutions against the Fenian raiders,
we have alone his loyalty to thank for visit-
ing with paralyzing discouragement the too
ready alacrity of too many Hiberno-Amencans
to create annoyance (nothing more) through
these puny kicks against our Canadian fellow
subjects.

IV.—Tns BRIBERY SYSTME has been re-
ceiving painful illustration through the
revelations given in evidence before the
Election Commissions which have simulta-
neously visited Great Yarmouth, Lancaster,
Reigate, and Totnes. It is well-nigh incon-
ceivable to find wholesale bribery practised
unblushingly in so many places. But when
we know and reflect that these places are
probably but indications of what prevails
throughout as a general rule— the exceptions
being indeed few and far between—it is diffi-
cult to refrain from endorsing the harsh
sentence of Lord Brougham long ago delivered