The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-03-01 00:00:00

DORSET COUNTY EXPRESS

DORCHESTER, TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1859.

HONESTE A UDA X.

LORD COWLEY, the British Ambassador at the
Court of France, was sent last week by Her
MAJrarv's Ministers on a special mission to the
Court of Austria. The CHANCELLOR of the Ex-
CHEQUER, on Friday evening, in replying to
Lord PALMERSTON'S questions on the state
of Europe, said that the Government had
grounds for believing that both Austria and
France will evacuate the Roman States,
and that under these circumstances Lord
COWLEY has been sent to Vienna on a con-
fidential mission. The right hon. gentleman
added that he could not inform the House
of the precise character of that mission, but he
could say that it was a mission of peace.
Despatches from Corfu informs us that the
lonian Parliament has rejected Mr. GtsteiroNE's
scheme of Reform. Mr. GtsnsroNE has left
the island on his return to England, and Sir
Hama STORKS has issued a proclamation an-
nouncing his assumption of office.
In the House of Lords on Tuesday the Duke
of Atiovtit called attention to the recent regula-
tion of the Post Office rendering the prepayment
of letters compulsory, and expressed a doubt
whether the benefits of the new system would
countervail its disadvantages. Lord COLCHES-
TER, as Postmaster-General, justified the regula-
tion, which was condemned by the Duke of
RICHMOND, Earl GRANVILLE, and Lord
CAMPBELL On Thursday Lord DIoNTRAGLE
again called attention to the subject, and Lord
COLCHESTER announced that, in deference to the
strong opinion expressed against the regulation,
both in Parliament and out of doors, the warrant
authorising it had been withdrawn.
In the House of Commons on Monday Mr.
Wsteote obtained leave to introduce the
Government Bill on the subject of Church-rates.
On Tuesday Mr. Cowrex's motion in favour of
printing in detail the reports of the Inspectors
of Schools, led to a long discussion on the ex-
pense of printing these documents, but the
motion was ultimately withdrawn, on the under-
standing that the reports in future shall be given
without abridgment, but that the inspectors
shall be required to confine them to the heads
specified in their instructions. Mr. MACKINNON
obtained leave to bring in a Bill to establish
councils of arbitration to adjust differences
between masters and operatives; Mr. COLLIER
obtained leave to bring in a Bill to prohibit the
payment of the expenses of conveying voters to
the poll, and to facilitate polling at elections ;
Mr. ADAMS obtained leave to bring in a Bill to
enable coroners to admit to bail persons charged
with manslaughter ; and Mr. SCHOLEFIELD
obtained leave to bring in a Bill for prevent-
ing the adulteration of food and drinks. On
Wednesday on the motion of the second reading
of Mr. ALCOCK'S Church Rates Commutation
Bill, Mr. COLLINS moved as an amendment that
it be read a second time on Monday. After a
short discussion the amendment was carried
without a division. The House then went into
committee upon the Manor Courts, (Ireland)
Compensation Bill, and agreed to all the clauses
except one which charged the compensations on
the Consolidated Fund. On Thursday Mr.
-CAIRD moved a iesolution in favour of the perio-
dical publication of agricultural statistics. The
motion was opposed by Ministers and negatived
on a division by a majority of 11, the numbers
being 163 to 152. Mr. J. I). FITZGERALD
moved a resolution for the alteration of the
Roman Catholic oath, with a view to place
Roman Catholic members in the same position
of civil equality as other members on coining to
the table to be sworn. The motion was opposed

by Ministers, but was carried on a division by
122 to 113. The House then went into Com-
mittee, when Mr. Firzonaaw moved a resolu-
tion upon which to found a Bill for the abolition
of the oath. on a division, this resolution was
carried by 120 to 105, and leave was given to
bring in the Bill.

Loan PaLmeiterow in calling the attention of
the House of Commons on Friday last to the
state of Europe, and in putting the question to
the Government as to the probability of the
maintenance of peace, has done a certain amount
of good service to the country, by giving to the
still vexed question of peace or war a little
wholesome ventilation. Looking at the almost
prevailing anxiety and vague apprehensions felt
in the commercial world, especially, as to the
actual position of affairs, Lord PALMIRSTON'S
formal inquiry did not come an hour too soon ;
and the Government have been compelled, appa-
rently with regret, to break silence—long and
obstinately persevered in—in obedience to the
demand of the ex-Premier. At that important
juncture, curiously enough, the Government
found themselves provided with a very useful
bit of intelligence in the way of showing that
the maintenance of peace was not after all quite
so "hopeless" as was to be inferred from Mr.
Draitairm's statement previously made to the
House, the gloomy and ominous character of
which communication tended, it is well known,
in many quarters, to augment the prevailing
uneasiness. We ourselves never doubted that
there was more or less of State craft on the part
of the Government when they assumed this por-
tentous aspect.
'