The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-12-31 00:00:00

past year, the Anglo-French treaty has
worked well fur both countries, and has been
the means in a commercial point of view, of sup-
plying the loss, in a great measure, of our trans-
atlantic trade occasioned by the A inericau war
and the Morell Tariff. But more than this.
Socially it has had the effect of daily drawing
the two nations more closely together. No
stronger evidence could be given of the friend-
liness of the two great nations at the present
time, and of the great value the ruler of France
seta upon the English alliance, than the note ad-
dressed by M. Thotivenel to the American
Government on the late outrage on the British
flag.
Proud too are we to say that we have • united
people at home. The year upon the whole has been
one of prosperity. We had a bountiful harvest,
and never was the wheat got in for the next
year's crop in better condition than during the
past Autumn. In the agricultural districts
labour is abundant, and wages are in many
instances higher than they were& few years ago;
and if in some of our manufacturing districts
short time has been obliged to be resorted to,
the people have borne their privations with a
fortitude that is unexampled in the annals of
our country. The new bankruptcy law is
working well ; long pent-up sufferers to a bar-
barons enactment are finding relief, and both
debtor and creditor is benefitted. During
the year, under the fostering care of the Prince
whose death we all mourn. the Great Exhibition
of 1869 was finally planned and determined on.
The great domes are rising ; committees iti all
Parts of the world are preparing for the Maus-
trial triumphs at Brompton next summer. A
guiding hand will be missed ; but the noble
work will, we have no doubt, be brought to •
good conclusion. If our information be true,
its opening will not be postponed on account of
the death of him who projected it, but, that
, Her Most Gracious Majesty has intimated her
intention, if spared, to open it in person.
Finally, the Queen reigns in the affections of
a loyal and devoted people. It is most satis-
factory to them to be assured that the fottitude
of her Majesty's character enabled lier to sustain
the shock of her bereavement; but it is still more
gratifying to learn, almost from her own lipe,
that the world has yet interests which enlist
, her liveliest sympathies. Most graciously her
, first public act is to take under her protection
a society in which the Prince Consort took
particular interest, and at the same time to avow
her gracious desire to give effect to that educe-
' none! progress which the Prince had so much
at heart. The institution thus honoured is the
Royal Horticultural Society. At • meeting of
the Council, specially summoned on Friday
last, the following moot gracious and affectiog
communication, addressed to Mr. C. Wentworth
Dilke, one of the Vice-Presidents, was read
o.borne, Lim 24.

My dear Dillie—The Queen has directed me to inform
you that it is Her Majevty's wish that the Horticultural
Gsrdene should be convidered as under her peculiar and
personal patrousge and protection.
The only oollaulation that Her Majesty min hope to
And for the rest of her life, under her bitter and hope•
lest bereavement, is to endeavour to carry out the wishes
and intentions of her beloved husband.

The Queen well knows the deep interest that be took
in this undertaking, and would wish to have periodical
reports sent to Her Majesty of the progress and pro.
oeciinge of the society. Sincerely yours,

C. B. Paters."