The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-03-08 00:00:00

erntral /deb3o.

IMPRIPIONIIEIT FOR DIRT IN FIIANCE.—It was dated
smite time back that the Civil Tribunal had ordered •
Mr. Lorck, an Englishman imprisoned for • debt due to
the Company of the Hotel de Louvre, to be sat at liberty
on the ground that, AA the judgment sending him to
prison did nut aav for what length of time lie MU to be
detained, he could not, though a foreigner, be impri-
soned for • longer period than mix months, the Mini/ern
filed by law—which six months confinement he laid
undergone. The Hotel l'ompany appealed against this
deeicion to the Imperial Court, and the Court lately
heard lengthened arguments on the appeal ; but the
judges, being equally oh villed in opinion on the subject,
could not come to s decision. Three other judges scam.
dingly had to he adjoitied to them to consider the case.
On Satunlay the Court decided that the judgment of
the Civil Tribunal should be confirmed.

A ROMANTIC MCICI Dm. —On the 19th ult., as Thomas
Monkhouae was digging a grave in the Kendal Ceme-
tery, his attention was called to the body of a man
lying on the ground near a headstone. ()sin examina-
tion it was ascertained that the person was quite dead,
and a bottle was found in his pocket containing essen-
tial oil of almonds, with which he had poisoned himself.
About half-an-hour before the fatal act he had come to
the grave digger, and asked if lie hail not ACVCII graves
open. Receiving a reply in the affirmative, the
wretched man went away, and shortly afterwanls mode
further work for the sexton by swallowing the deadly
poison already mentioned, The wretched han bad
formed an attachment to a widow, which warn not
retunied, and when his dead body was found it was
lyiw, at the heatlfttotte of the grave of the widow's
late' husband. The deceased was 39 years of age.

Joie( Iluxvv.tt's toretx.—ln Coltle.illetiCe of an
Order in Council the coffins in the vaults of the zhorch
of St. Martin-in-the-Fields were ordered to be de-
posited in the catacombs. As it was known that the
remains of the great Hunter were in the vaults, a dilli•
gent search of several days was made for his coffin by
Mr. Frank Buckhuid, of the Life Guards, a son of the
late respected Dean of West!: l i sss ter, and his exertions
were Crowned with slincemi last week. It is not • little
singular that he found two coffins hearing the honoured
nettle. The veritable Hunter, however, we. found in
Nu. 3 vault; the coffin was in excellent preservation,
the cloth only being decayed in some places ; the hand'
some brass plate upon it was as perfect as when origi•
sally engraved, the coat of Mine uninjured, and the in.
scription, clear and distinct, was as follows :—" John
Hunter, 119., died October 16, 1793, aged 64 years."
The medical profession, of which Mr. Buckland is •
Member, must feel grateful to him for the interesting
discovery.
I).t•txo ATTIMPT AT EACAPIC ST A DEM RRRRR —Oll
the 2•2 nil ult., a private of the 36t1s Regiment, named
Skerrett, who enlisted six years ago, and sinee then has
on three different occasions deserted, made &desperate
effort to escape from custody. He was being conveyed
by the 11 15a. in. train from Manchester to Aldershott,
in the custody of Sergeant Robert Smith Slid a private
named Kenipster, who, in Consequence of their having
logt the ker, allowed him to ride without being hand•
cuffed. M lien the train which Was due at Stafford at
2.5, arrived within • utile of the town, the 'peed was
slackened, and tikerrett, unperceived by Smith, awl.
. . .
and ;-

dimly opened the door of the .carriage jumped out.
Retarder caught at him, but failed to hold him, and the
daring man fell on the embankment. He was noun,
however, on his legs, and ran acmes the meadows,
followed by the 'errant and Rounder, who had also
jumped from the carriage, iin arriving at the river,
likerrett, stripped Ilium', of hie coat and waistcoat and
took to the water, and after a moment's pause he was
followed by the sergeant, who gallantly succeeded in
capturing his prisoner after a race of nearly TOO yards on
the opposite side. He wax subsequently taken to the
countytheir
journey Onto k
time followingtinit
hoi morning the party re.
Sewing Br A CLLIUMIAI.I.—ths Friday night Feat
sensation WU produced in the village of Littlebourne,
near Canterbury, in consequence of the vicar the parish,
the Rev. J. Woodcock, having shot himself. It appears
that for a long period the deeeaaed, who was 69 years
old, bad led an irregular life. lie wan presented to
the living by the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury so
far beck as Hei, and be wax also one of the minor
cations of Canterbury Cathedral ; but, in consequence
of his having absented himself from his vicarage owing
to pecuniary difficulties, lie wax called upon to reit
va the minor canonrhip, which he did in r.
deceased continued to hold his living, but his conduct
was an objectionable that very few of bin parishioners
would attend the church. Recently there woe increased
scandal in the villav, owing to hit servant having gone
away pregnant, and an investigation wan threatened.
On Friday evening he retired to his bedroom, and from
his manner his wife followed him, when in her pretence
lie put • pistol to his head and blew out his brains. A
coroner's inquest WU held on the body on Rattsrday,
when the jury returned • verdict,—" That the deceased,
John Woodcock, allot himself while in a state of mental
derangement." On Saturday the benegoe was aequea.
tered, in the names of the churchwardena of the lowish,
and on Sunday the instrument of sequestration was
publicly read in the church by the officiating clergy.
man, the Rev. Thomas Hirst.

Tfi ArsTß.ll.lA.—The following is an
extract from a letter addressed by • lady, a native at
and fur many years a resident in, Edinburgh. now is.
siding near Melbourne, Port Phillip, to • Mat' here.
It is dated " Ka Crailbourne, December 9th,
114.114. We are busy people hero. Mr. It busy with his
farming and cattle from sunrise till after siiiivet, a bile
have the care of the dairy and poultry, limixenold cares
and gardening. It is well to have employment. A
young man of about 17, came to our door one day in
August last asking for xinuething to rat. Ile had din.
ner in the kitchen, and then I went to talk with him.
lie uid his father was a banking agent in --, near
London ; that lie hail been employed in his office, knew
book lteeping by single and double entry, and had been
trying in vain to get employment in Melbourne ; he
hail ken dye weeks in lodgings there, and his money
was gone, and now he was wandering through the
country seeking any kind of employment. I wan sorry
for him, and asked him if he could ride well on borne•
back, which lie s.riii he could. I desired him to wait
till next day, when I expected Mr. It to retuni
from town, who might perliapaemploy him ; lie did so,
and wax very glad to reinxin a tenant of our
doing ally work that was given him on the farm.
Thousands, I believe, who Imre been employed in a
similar line at home have been dreadfully disappointed
after owning to Ohl country, where the expeller cif living
is so great that iii. quite • serious thing to be nut uf
employment. It is nut every one who is fitted to turn
to rural occupations, eApeeislly in this hot climate,
I ur holm is very hot, having an iron roof. One day,
about a fortnight ago, the thermometer stood within the
house at 114 deg."

DINCOVENT Or Alf ANCIENT !trim. Corrim.—Mr.
William Mitchell, farmer, heggataden, Inverainmy,
Chapel oftlariuch, when ploughing in a tiehl on his farm
upon the 21st of February, 0111110 121.011 a Atoolle with the
plough, and mllllOll.l It, have It dug up, took hit spade
and gave the atone a knock. He tbomtlit lie heart •
hollow 'bound, commenced and cleared ill around it, got
a lever, and took up the stone. Ile then (mind that it
I..flat'.l a grave cover, measuring il feet iliclmt Itong, 5
feet 2 inches broad, and 7 inches thick. The length of
the grave at top wax 3 feet 3 inches by 2 feet 2 inches
broad ; at bottom, 4 Net lung, 2 feet 10 nickel, broad.
The depth of the grave wms 2 feet. The grave was
formed by the four stones set on their Ages It was
full of l,l. There was ale" found in it an urn,
elaborately carved, and measuring 7 inches by II inelirm,
full of 'noun on the top, and haviii4 in the bottom •
reddish 'dime. The bones found in the grave included
cii ii. ilium measuring 11 inches by q Mellen ; • thigh
bone of a large dee ; a humerus, or embolic ; and a sca•
pule. 'lle bonus found would almost complete a skeleton.
Several teeth were found, including two large molar*,
quite fresh; twu small initiate, fresh ; Ave incisors, very
little decayed. The appearance of the jawbone indicates
the wisd -teeth had not been through, showing Via':
the person hail nut fat exceeded Al years of age. About,
four yearn ago a sjuuuihar grave was discovered on the
estate of Piteaple, distant from the present grave about
85 yards west•north•west. Both places are about an old
Boatel) lode from the battle field of Haase, the g
bearing about west and by north from the field. The
old road f ruin Aberdeen passes within lb to 33 yard' of
both graves For the information of antiquaries we may
mention that the grave will be kept open for some time,
and any one going to Inveranisay Station, Mr. Brown,
the obliging station agent, will direct to the plain, while
Mr. Mitchell, the tenant, will be equally courteous and
communicative.

Tur Al:Clint/IT TO Till rA1..1111 MAIL BTICAMER.
CALAIS, Sunday, Feb. 27. We regret to staW that •
very melancholy accident befell the Prints Frederick
William of Prussia mail 'teenier, Captain Piddicks,
belonging to the Continental Royal Mail riteampacket
Company, on her attempting to enter Calais harbour this
morning, about 1 o'clock. Very considerable dainage
has been done to this lino vessel, and, melancholy to add,
three gentlemen, passengers, were drowned. With the
India and usual mails on board she left Dover shortly
alter 11 o'clock last night a heavy gale was blowing
I the northwest, and a high sea running, so that clue
hail rather • boisterous run across the Channel. A 4
she was about to enter the hardour a fearful swell drove
her with violence against the emit pier, onnpletely
demolishing the larboard patlille•wheel, and causing auch
other serious damage as to disable her, and retailer her
quite unmanageable. It was nearly dead low water at
the time, and the unfortunate revel having got clear of
the pier•head, was driven ashore on tFe east side of the
pier, the sea making a complete breach over her. The
find efforts of Captain Piddick were directed to the
preservation of his passengers, and, having assured them
of their safety, if they would only observe order, and
what NY directed to them, • lifeboat, which had
recently been presented to the inhabitants by tlie Royal
Notional Lifeboat Institution, caws off in • very gallant
manner, and quickly reached the steamer. Although
Captain Phldiek again addressed the passengers, and
remsured them there was no danger, the moment the
lifeboat came alongside they rushed headlong into it.
quite heedless of all cries for theui to wait. Th• boat
was lawn overcrowded and upset, and the whole of the
occupants were thrown into the sea. The Outline
steamer baring wine up at this critical time succeeded
In saving the boatmen and many of the passengers, but
unfortunately titres were drowned. The bodies were
picked up shortly afterwards, and efforts were made to
restore animation, but they were beyond recovery.
Their names were Mr. Charles Davis, of Oxford-street •
M. J. 11. Hrayere, of Canada; and • Swiss gentleman'
named Reef. In the course at the morning the wind
and sea subsided, and the Akers and crew were enabled
to walk ashore. The mails were got oat. although in a
wet condition, and were forwarded. At high water the
fore compartment of the ship partly fills, a large hole
being stove in her starboard aide. Captain Sinithett
R.N., Superintendent of the Mail Service, has arrived,
and is 'sanguine of getting the 'bap off in the mune el
slew days.

liiw DKRIT,PABLIAMENT, AND THZ (.01•ZTRY.-

We understand that certain iiii;enbers of-ilit:lll:pOsition
are dispose.' to euppoort the second reading of tli. g„,ern.
'tient reform bill—some meter the idea that the prin•
ciple of the bill is that of reform, which they would
therefore sanction by the second reading, whilst they
opposed the details of the bill ill committee—anol others
IsenllllC the ministerial bill promisee to SAVA from estinc-
tiom the smell boroughs which they themselves represent
our lope is, that the bill will he so powerfully denounced
lii the conntry an Co change the intention od one.. of
time, parties. We can barony believe it it possihle that
measure which proscribes and Motile the Milk of the
le luty of
rol7l.6'oile
r.illl7:' )a5% the htopc'
Is' *Tit liii. crisis.j
They should everywhere inert and petition the House of
0,1111111101111 not to pass the Government bill, but to PAM
instead of it an honest and efficient measure of reform.
MogosaXlx.—A young man, who gave the name
Misonier, stepped into the witness box, evidently under
the influence of extreme melancholy. He commenced
by informing the court that he was a corpse. Mr.
Bingham observed that lie wined • very lively he.
.Applicant—" I assure your Worship that it is • fact. I
aiim now nothing but a corpse !" Mr. Bingliaiii—" All I
can say is that your friends ought to au you, with as
little delay as jeeosible, decently interred. Can yom
make known your wishes!" Applicant ieplie.l that he
was under the influence of spirits and imps, Mr.
Bingham told him he need he WHICT no apprehension
froin such spirits as Ii e imagined. Applicant stated that
he wax constantly being operated upon by a neighbour,
who kept in his back parlour a dead body, and hail by
clairvoyance, extracted from him the living principle,
infusing into him in exchange, the fluid from the
defunct person, and that this operation had been going
on from September last. Hoping to cut off the mm.
ineric current, lie had since been to the Continent,
thinking the Channel between himself and the body
acted on to Ida prejudice would neutralize the effect, but
found himself irresistibly drawn back as much under the
same influence as ever. Ile wished the magistrate
would disenchant him from the 'numeric action ; for if
this Masao! dune, he certainly should be obliged to give
up the ghost. Being kindly and soothingly told that
his wish should be complied with, and that he would
speedily perceive the beneficial effect in lois rapid re-
covery, the poor fellow left the court greatly comforted.
• RARE ANIMALS FROX INDIA.—Ity the Nile, which
pruceeded down the river yestenlay ~,,, ruing, we hear
that the celebrated huge tiger, Jungle, the largest and
most beautiful of the fatuous fighting tigers of Lucknow'
is shipjul for sale in England. This splendid anneal
is not only remarkable fur its bile, which far surpasses
that of any tiger or lion yet seen in Europe, but for the
extraordinary beauty of his colouring and markings—
having all his body.stripes double. He is, moreover,
extremely tame and gentle to those lie knows, but
many A big buffalo has been felled by Ins tremendous
sledge.hammer of • paw. There was, in fact, no sport
at all about his method of pruceolure ; lie went most
s)stethatically to work, and the busineu was done in no
time. In a civilized country he will of course have to
forego the pleasure of such feats ; but we doubt not that
he will become an object of great admiration for his Use
and beauty. By ihe same vessel is likewise forwarded,
for sale in England, a flne healthy yearling bull.calf of
that very rare animal to obtain alive, the gigantic
Game, or Bus querns, which sportsmen in India penoist
in miscalling tfie bison ; it is the largest of existing
bovine animals, the finest bulls exceeding even 201 hands
bight, meazurunfroui the su nini t of the s ngularly elevated
dorsal ridge. This, indeed, is one of the t remarkable
features of the species, the spines of some of the dorsal
vertebra) measuring sixteen inches in length. Another
characteristic of the adult a,, i ttt al consists in its very
broad concave forehead, surmounted by • high trans-
verse arched bony ridge between the honis. The skull
is extraordinary IDAARIVC. We have seen one which,
with the horns attached, but uiuimuii, the lower jaw,
weighed exactly The peculiar form of the head is
scarcely even indicated in the yearling calf ' • and the
animal is • very clew grower. We have heard 0f one
which lived for three years in the possession of an
officer in the Madras Presidency, and was still, to all
appearance a mere calf. This is doubtless the hut
(lemur ever shipped For Europe ; and the species must
lit be confounded either with the Gael (B. trouts/4h
or with the fienteng (B. Souls frac) l'lnough only gene-
rally known as a will asuiuuial, we have been usured
that the Gaour, in addition to the Gaya', is olotnesti•
cated in the interior of the Tippers hills. The calf at !
present on board the Nile retains not a vestige of wild-
Arid, but is as quiet and tractable as any ordinary
domestic aniinal.—Aionds of Nafeirtil History, March,
114 W.

flit NEW REEORX HlLL—Without professing &blind
admiration for the Dovernment Reform Bill, we are
bound to avow ourselves most agreeably surprised by it.
We had not hoped from a Cabinet of which Mr. Disraeli
in the spokesman anything half a° moderate and prac-
tical. We had feared to witness something hearing the
impress of the same hand that framed the marvellous
budget of 1ff.52, and wrote the scarcely more marvellous
tale of " Alroy." Instead thereof, we have a measure
which approves itself worthy of a " Conservative" Ad-
ministration. The leaders of the "Country Party" have
been true to their oolours. They have not tampered
with the Constitution for the sake of maintaining them-
selves in office. They have not pandered to the pas-
sions of certain soi•dieter " tribunes of the people."
They have preferred to be denounced by our Radical
onntemporaries as guilty—in choice " Brummagem. '
phraseology—of" • deadly insult to the working claws,"
rather than to be reproached by bound Constitutionalists
with having endorsed Mr. Brigitte iiropusal to swamp
all the education and property of the country by a deluge
of voters incapaciated from rational judgment, by the
irritations of poverty, and the LIM Amos of ignorance.
They have left undone most of the mischievous things
that both Liberals and Radicals expected them to do ;
and they have proposal improvements the justice snit
moderation of which have elicited the adooretion of
their consistent opponents, awl driven their late allies
frantic with disimaiititment. They have received the
high compliment if Lord Palmerston's silence and Mr.
Bright's itnputatione ; they have seen l,.rd .lulin Russel
stung into Radicalism by the iiiirnedbility of °mowing
them violently enough on constitutional ground. And
we, who wished for far more than they choose to offer,
—who, while ambling the destruction, desire the exten•
slim of our representative system,--who believe in the
right of the working-classes to be reionsenteil, though
iiot in their right to rule,—are bound tO admit that
though the measure announced by Mr. Disraeli is not
satisfactory either to us, or to that small portion of the
public which really cares about the subpet of Reform,
it is • measure consistent with the principles awl credit.
able to the tiourage of the Conservative party. Hut there
are purtiona of tlie acheme which appear to have been
devised with very iinperfect consideration of their wig.
dim) or practicability, which will not gain popular sup.
port, and which will provoke a very damaging Gra of
Parliamentary criticism. —.V iind,r4/ e (1 minium.