The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-03-15 00:00:00

DORSET COUNTY EXPRESS

DORCHESTER, TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1859.

HONESTE AUDA X.

IN the House of Lords on Tuesday Lord Woos-
HOUSE moved an address to the Crown, praying for
the production of certain telegraphic despatches
relating to the affair of the Charles-et-Georges.
He referred to the circumstance of the dispute
between France and Portugal, and accused the
Government of having sacrificed the interests of
Portugal, and compromised the dignity of Eng-
tand. The Earl of MALIIESBURY defended the
course taken by the Government, and contended
that the ultimate result had been satisfactory to
Europe and honourable to the British Cabinet.
After a long discussion, in which Earl GRAN-
VILLE, Lord KINGSDOWN, Earl GREY, the EA 1
of DERRY, and other peers took part, Lord
Wont:Houma withdrew his motion. On Thurs-
day, in answer to Lord STANLEY of ALDERLRY,
the Earl of CARNARVON said that the question
whether Singapore should be made a British
colony had been referred to the Governor-
General of India. The Lord CHANCELLOR intro-
duced a Bill to amend the law in respect of pre-
senting indictments to grand juries in the metro-
politan districts.

In the House of Commons on Monday the
East India Loan Bill was read a second time.
On Tuesday Mr. KIM:LAKE called attention to
the awe of the Charles-et-Georges, and !mired
for the production of various papers relating to
the subject. After a long ilisellszion, in which
MT. BUXTON, Mr. S. FITZGERALD, Mr. Lowx,
Mr. Bovit.t, Lord John Bussett., and the
Somerron-Gxxxxxt took part, the debate was
adjourned, but no day was fixed for its resump-
tion. On Wednesday MT. WALPOLE moved the
second reading of the Government Church-rates
BBL Sir J. TRELAWNY moved RI all amend-
ment that the Bill be read a second time that
day six months. !hi a divisiou the amendment
was carried by 254 to 171, leaving Ministers in a
minority of 83. The Bill is consequently lost.
On Thursday, Mr. Musa and Lord J. Russr.l.l.
gave notice of amendments on the second read-
ing of the Reform Bill, chiefly with the view of
retaining the rights of freeholders in cities and
boroughs to vote for counties. The CHANCELLOR
of the ExeHroues stated that it was not
intended that any persons should be disfran-
chised by the Bill, and that he should lay upon
the table clauses reconciling the principle of the
identity of suffrage between counties and
boroughs with the recognised rights of free-
holders within the limits of Parliamentary
boroughs. Mr. NKEY moved aresolution to pre-
vent the future funding of Exchequer Bills hold
by the Commissioners of 2.-avings' Banks without
the authority of an Act of Parliament, but after
a short discussion the motion was withdrawn.
Lord BURY called attention to the Newfound-
land fisheries, and moved an address to Her
MAJESTY for copies Cr extracts of any COlTOl-
pondomx between the English and French
Governments on th!.! subject. Sir B. LYTTON
said that a mixed commission had been appointed
to make inquiries on the mad, and lie hoped
that the matters in dispute would soon be settled
by amicable negotiations. Mr. S. FITZGERALD
added that one of the Commissioners for Eng-
land would be nominated by the Legislature of
Newfoundland. After these assurances Lord
Boar withdrew his motion. The Municipal
Elections Bill, after several divisions on the
clauses, paasen through committee.
Pitisex NAern.rox has resigned the office of
Minister of Algeria and the Colonies, and has
been succeeded all interim by M. Ronite,
Minister of Public Works. Thu Moniteur of
Saturday contained two important articles, one
of which denies in the strongest terms the truth
of the waertion that vast preparations are at
present making by the French Government ;
while the other asserts that the Emil:atm has
simply promised the KING Or SARDINIA LO
defend him against all aggressive acts On the
part of Austria, and nothing more. From
Vienna we learn that Lord Cowtsv left that
capital on Thursday moniing for London, charged
with counter-propositions from the Austrian
Cabinet, which it is hoped will prove acceptable.

Ties position of Miiiisters just now is not only
critical but pitiable. The sop offered to the
landed aristocracy in return for the £lO county
franchise has been very far indeed from being
aopiiesced in by the residents in cities and
boroughs, amongst whom a wholesale system of
disfranchisement was to take place—by way of
propitiating the landed proprietors. It is won-
derful that in these times of boasted enlighten-
ment, and a growing desire on the part of the
people for the possession of increased political
power, that a scheme like that whose injustice
was manifest, and which instantly brought down
the condemnation of the country, could have
been concocted by any Cabinet. No ameliora-
tion, however, of the measure is thought of before
the announcement of Lord Jolts ReBBEiz of the
terms of the amendment which he will move on
the motion to read the Government Bill a
second time, and then it is that Mr. Manama,

taking alarm, retreats precipitately from his
position, and declares that his proposal will not
extend to the disfranchisement of freeholders in
boroughs, in respect of their county votes, in
cases where hundreds are included within the
limits of Parliamentary boroughs. This is, of
course, a considerable modification, but still it
does not leave the 40s. freeholder entirely scathe-
less. But supposing this were so, there is the
great question of the reduction in the borme;ll
franchise which is altogether untouched. The
great merit claimed by the Government is the
putting of the counties and boroughs on an
equality in respect of the elective franchise ; but
the saute reasons which have always existed for
a lower qualification in boroughs as compared
with counties still exists, with this difference,
that the progress of education and intelligence
proves that that disparity ought not only to be
maintained, but to be extended, even, in favour
of boroughs. That is the principle contended
for by Lord Jonw Russett. No attempt what-
ever has been made by 010 DERBY Cabinet to
question the soundness of that principle, yet
they not only fail to give any sort of recogni-
tion to it in their Reform Bill, but boldly set
about cutting off the votes of lirfi,ooo freeholders
resident in boroughs. Upon thu very first show
of the proposition being seriously contested, the
Ministers give way, and quietly acquiesce in
three-fourths of their ground being cut from
under them. It is curious to observe with what
precipitancy this resolution wax corno to. On
Tuesday last a groat Minister of State, no less
than Her MaJasrv's MIME SEURKTAItY, was re-
elected at Devizes. Of course he was called
upon to return thanks for the honour, and it
was equally clear that ho must say smnething
about the Government Reform Bill. Poor man,
his ingenuity was painfully racked to support that
wretched and abortive measure. " That which
I. done by the Bill is this," said the right honour-
able gentleman :—"Suppose a man occupies a
"RlO house in this borough, for instance, and
"has also a 40*. freehold attached to it, as
"matters now stand he has a vote for the
'borough and a vote for the county also. But
"the Bill deprives him of his vote for the
"county in respect of ii freehold so situated.
" Perhaps you will say that that is a hard
"measure. But you must recollect that we are
"dealing out what we believe to be evenhanded
" justice." What a pity that Mr. EsTCOUKT
did not know that within six and thirty hours
this " evou-handed justice" would be blown to
the winds by the Ministry who had conceived
it ! Pity that so much eloquence, zeal, and
sophistry should be wasted in so futile an endea-
vour to prove a case of Ministerial magnanimity
and Conservative Liberalism! The situation of
the Government is really just now one of the
most undignified that can well be conceived ;
and as to its tottering condition, no one can
entertain a doubt on that head. It is impossible
to suppose but that the partial restitution of
justice to the 40s. freeholder will give more or
less dissatisfaction to the landed interest which
was to be propitiated by biting those
freeholders, and that a defection in the Tory
ranks will assuredly take lance. Then, when
we consider the utter inefficiency of the "fancy
franchises," as they have been not inaptly called,
and the well-marked opinion of the country con-
demnatory of the entire Government Bill and of
the Government itself, the break-up of the
Cabinet—notwithstanding the concessions they
are ready to make in the desperate effort to
retain power—may well be regarded as immi.
nent. The defeat of the Government by a very
large majority on Wednesday last on the ques-
tion of the Church-rates places beyond all doubt
their extreme weakness—their tottering con-
dition. With the terrible breakers a-head the
guidance of the vessel of the State might well
have been given over to other hands upon sus-
taining this defeat upon the Church-rates,,
whereby the Government would have saved
something of their character for political integ-
rity and consistency, of which they made alai,-
wreck on the very following day, in their despe-
rate tenacity of official life. This tortuous and
unworthy course of the Government is, to our
minds, an indication of the determination to
hold power to the last, and, on their defeat on
the Reform Bill, to go to the country rather
than resign. The former step is a daring one in
the extreme, but quite consistent with the
character of the Cabinet ; the latter would still
cover with sonic shOW of honour the many
defects and delinquencies of the Derby Adminis-
tration.

DOR(' RENTER PITCHED CORN MARKET, Saturday.
—The supply of wheat at market to-day was only
mixlerste, and salt* progressea slowly, at barely last
week's quotations. Barley and oats ill fair ilennuid
for seed at late rates. Seed in steady demand, with-
out alteration in value.

The high Sheriff of Dorset has appointed the fol.
lowing gentlemen to Is: deputies for granting reple
vine :—Nlesars. G. .1. Andrews, ISoreliester
Andrews, Weymouth ; C. U. Bartlett, ‘Varehain :
C. E. Buckland, Shafteshury ; K E. Fear, Sher.
bonne; B. Fox, Beaminater ; F. Hinton, Lyme
Regis; .1. T. King, Blandford ; S. W. Long, Still.-
'Muster Newton ; T. Rawlins, Wiudaurne ; and 11.
D. Templer, Britlport.
enuncu l'atannat. Am SOCIKTY.—Tho annual
meetings of the Dorset Association of thin society
were held in the Townhall yesterday, when the
Rev. H. II utton, rector .ISt. Paul'', %went Garden,
and the liev. A. J. Ram, of West Ham, EASCR. at.
tended as the deputation. Serinons were preached
in aid of the funds of the association on Sunday
last at Holy Trinity, St. George's, and Christ
Church.
CONFIRMATIONS IN DORSET.—OOII6IIIIARMIN Will
lie held in thia county, during the present week, as
follows :

Shaftesbury. Tuesday the I.sth, at 11.30.
1•:n 11111 l e Green, 3.

~
Gillingham, Wednesday, the 11.411, at 11.
Stouvr Provost, 3.
~
Hutton Waldo-int, Friday, the 18th, at 11.
llelbury A blots, 3. „
I werne Minater, Saturday, the 19th, at 2.

At the last meeting of the Archaeological Institute,
the Rev. C. W. Ibighain real a notice If the
Roman remains and a tcsiselated floor discovered at
Dorchester, within the precinct* of the castle. and
he produced a plan of the buildings. with drawings
of pottery, personal ornaments, vestiges of fresco-
panting, kc., indicating the site of a villa of more
Iliad ordinary character. S particulars in regard
to this discovery hail been sent at a previous meet-
ing. Mr. Hingham brought also, by permiasi 111 l 111
Sheridan, KN., M. P., an original drawing by
Engleheart of the remarkable builsling and pave.
ma of the same period, found in 1794 at Frampton,
losrset, also a publication of rare occurrence by S.
Lysons, displaying the results of his milssetiuent
excavations, in which he received considerable
encouragement and assistance from King (Soap 111..
at that time resident at Weymouth. Chow mosaic
ilssms are of great beauty, and specially interesting
as presenting the monogmin of the Saviour's name,
11l immediate connexion with symbols and subjects
of pagan mythology. The pavements wen, covered
Ili not long after the discovery, and remain thus
interred on Mr. Sheridan's estate near Dorchester.
It were much to dedesired that examples of so line
a character could be transferred to some National
Nltiscum. The Rev. C. W. Bingham also exhibited
a beautiful ring•bmoch, inscribed and set with
rubies and other galls: Mrs. H. C. Pigou sent for
examination a vase of very unusual form, lately
found at Wyke, near Weymouth, with a human
skeleton, doubled up in a rinlely formol stone eist,
at a very small depth below the surface. It was
pronounced by Mr. Franks to be of the late Roman
period.
PARLIAMENTARY VoTE.4.—Mr. A. Kinglake, Mr.
Mitchell, awl Mr. Nicoll voted for Mr. Locke
King's Bill for altering the law of real ehtatcs in
iiittyit.sey. Colonel Freestun, Mr. Knatchlaill,
Right Hon. H. lAbouchere, Mr. Mills, Hon. W. It.
Portman, and Mr. Ker Seymer voted in the majority
against it.-- Mr. Calcraft, Mr. Campbell, Mr. 1. I:.
Glyn, Sir W. Joliffe, Sergeant Kinglake, Mr. King.
lake, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Nics3ll, and Mr. Napier
:Mort were in the majority on the third residing of
the Marriage Law Amendment Bill. in the minority
were Mr. P. Gore Langton, Mr. Kcr Seymer, and
Mr. Gerard Stud.

COVNTY COURT, Mardi 11.—The monthly sitting
of this court was held before Edward Everett, Esq.,
Judge, when, of thirty-four plaints which had been
entered, only four same on for bearing, vie. :
Rawl, v. Kellatcav, which was undefended, and the
plaintiff had • verdict for Ile., to be pail on the 21it1m.
Lucas v. Win:ar also undisputed, and • verdict was
entered for the plaintiff for 1:1
Slade v. Gillingham. —The defendant did not appear.
and an order was made for payment of 10s. on the 14th
instant, and the residue Mb*. a month.

Amid v. Shilier.-1)..1)1 Iq4. 74., mut Ow plaintiff in
the absence of the dile:Want took &ii order fur 4s. •
uont h.
There were several suminunnes fur euniinitnient, and
orders mule fur noti-appcarsusee and isou-payutent, vary-
ing from 21 to 2.4 days inipriso ttttt vitt.

Boum:an Pomer..-31untlay.-411efore H. 'Jock, Esq.,
Mayor; .1. F. Fledges and M. Devenish,
Thomas Tapior aid A,,4 Taytor, of Fordingion, were
brought up for being drunk and disorderly un Saturday
night.— Fined tM. each.
ibtrp Pod was summoned by Ann Storey for an
alaeult.-17a..e &swinged, each caving her own rue.t.,
Nguenel Howe., landlord of the Railway Tarero bser-
holm,. WAS .uniononed for keeping his house open after
o' clock on :Saturday, thofSth of March. Mr. Weston
appeared for the defendant, and rsised MI objection
that the defendant was notabe ',cruel licensed, although
it WAS proved that bin HAM WAS over the iloor.—Capa
dismissed. Aired, su,ouloue will be issued for the
appearance of another parq.