The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-09-06 00:00:00

HONESTE AUDAX.

COUNT DB DIORNY, the president of the French
Legislative Body, has delivered a speech of
great interest on the English alliance, in the
form of an address to the Council-General of the
Puy-de-Dome of which he ii president. In this
speech the Count adverts to the recent discus-
sions in the British Parliament on the state of
our national defences, and to the suspicion that
the Emperor Napoleon has long cherished the
desire of avenging Waterloo and St. Helena by
an invasion of England. He adverts also to the
charge brought against the Emperor by a portion
of the English press, that he concluded peace
with Russia and Austria with the sole intention
of making those Powers his allies and of attack-
ing England with their assistance. These
charges Count de Morny answers by declaring
that when he went to the coronation at Moscow
in 1856, the instructions he received from the
Emperor were "not to allow any encroachment
to be made on the English alliance ;" and that
"to suspect the Emperor of preparing in the
dark, without any other motive than ancient
enmities, an enterprise that would throw into
confusion the gravest interests in the world, and
would be the most fatal blow to civilization, is to
doubt his word and his heart as a Sovereign and
a man." With regard to the Italian question,
he says that if the statesmen of England, who
now consider that enough has not been done for
the Italians, "had consented before the war to
express the sympathies which they now mani-
fest," it is to be presumed that "the affairs of
Italy would have been regulated by diplomacy."
"We live," he says, "in a period when the
hatreds of castes and families have succumbed
from the increased mildness of manners ;" and
he concludes by saying that the only way in
which the Emperor of the French proposes "to
avenge Waterloo on England" is by carrying on
a friendly rivalry with her in commercial inter-
course, and in the occupations and labours of
peace ; by completing the means of transport ,
and locomotion throughout France; by reducing
the cost price of all raw materials and manufac-
tured articles ; by imitating the English in what
the French are deficient; by gaining strength
from the spirit of association without continually
requiring the support of the Government; by
endeavouring to conquer, and by prudent use
preserve, the liberties which make a man abso-
lute master of his own welfare, and which "have
no other limits than the wrong done to others."
The Constituticnote/ of Tuesday contained an
article of semi-official significance on the attitude
of France in reference to the question of the
Italian Duchies. It states that the Emperor,
having agreed at Villlfranca to the restoration
of the former reigning Princes, has addressed
words of reconciliation to the Duchies. His
Majesty has not yet given up all hope of success,
and will fulfil loyally to the end his disinterested
mission ; but if he should not succeed in reunit-
ing the Princes and the people in mutual accord,
it is not his intention to force either the one or
the other, nor is it his wish to follow the errors
of the ancient Austrian policy, whose armed
intervention in the affairs of the Peninsula "has
ceased for ever." "We have given," it says,
" to the Italian people advice which we believe
wise and prudent, which it will grieve us if they
do not follow, but which we could not pros
upon them by force. To us Italy owes her
independence ; we shall not take away from her
to-day what we have given her but yesterday."
In connection with this article, we may state
that Count Linati, the Podesta of Parma, has
returned to that city from Paris—whither he
had been sent on a mission to ascertain the exact
intentions of the Emperor—and has reported the
following answer of His Majesty, made at the
very moment that the soldiers of the Italian war
were marching through the streets of the French
capital:—" Tell the populations that have sent
you to me that my arms shall never do violence
to their wishes, and that I will not permit any
other foreign force to commit violence against
you."

DORCIIINTER PIIVIICD COHN Malign., Saturday.
—The dull reports from most of the leading mar'
lets during the week caused the trade to rule heavy
in our market to•day. There was a plentiful supply
of wheat, mostly old, and to effect sales a reduction
of Is. to 2s. per quarter bad to be submitted to.
Barley was also plentiful, it being too early to coin.
menee malting the demand was slow at barely last
week's rates. Oats as last week. Winter tares and
trifolium in good supply at lower prices.
CON FIRIIATION.—The Lord Bishop of this Diocese
will hold a confirmation in the Church of St. Peter,
at three o'clock in the afternoon, on Tuesday, the
eleventh day of October next, for the parishes of St.
Peter and the Holy Trinity.

EXCURSION TO LONDON. -it will be seen on re-
ference to our advertising columns that an excursion
train will leave the Grisit Western Railway station
at Weymouth, for London, on Monday next, the
12th inst., and will return from Paddington on
Thnniday the 15th. The fares are, as usual, fixed at
a very moderate rate.
WILSLEYAN lilerilooism.—The following are the
arrangements made at the late conference meeting
with reference to the Wesleyan ministers in this
portion of the South Western district :—Dorchester,
James Scott, Arthur Wilkinson. i Shaftesbury,
James Cooke, Ist, Milt* B. Pickering. Christchurch,
J M. Pater. Poole. James Tayler, Ist, John
Gilbert. Swazwe, John B. Charles. Wareham,
John Mackintosh. Lymington, J. W. Button,
supernumerary. Wimborne, John Weal, Ist,
Josiah Jutsum, Cranborne. Sherborne, William
Henley, William F. Clarke. Yeovil, John Bastard,
supernumerary. Weymouth, Joseph Eanuihaw.
Portland, Samuel Beard, Robert N. Barritt.
Bosouou POLICE, Monday.—(llefore H. Lock,
Mayor, and .1. Ensor, kloi.)—Junirs Popie was charged
with being drunk and disorderly on Saturday night last.
The charge with proved, and it appearing that the defen-
dant had no money in his poweeiolion and no visible means
o! procuring a night's lodging, was committed to gaol
for seven days.

('UNIT PETTY SERSIOND.—Pret,ent H. Williams,
11. N. Middleton, and W. L. Henning, Esspi.
J,Jon Outliners, muster of a vessel lying in Portland
Roads, Man summoned for assaulting Thomas Comben
Wallis, landlord of the Prince of Wales heerhouse.
Portland. Fined 6d. and costs. Mr. Weston appeared
for the defendant.
[Truth Ibulokr, a young man of Maiden Newton,
was summoned by William Foist for being drunk and
using &Minya language towards him. Fined ss. and
costs.
Janes Green, of Toiler Porcorum. a lad of about 17
or 18, was sunimonnl by Mr. Edward Pope for stealing
apples from his orchard. The defendant was caught in
the fact by P.C. Fripp on Sunday morning during Divine
service. Committed for 2 calendar months' hard
labour.
John Oiler, of Broadway. was summoned by Mr.
Charles Jesty, surveyor of the Weymouth tunipilce, for
erecting a fence adjoining some new houses lately built
by the defendant within 25(t. of the centre of the tune
pike road. Mr. Hare, clerk to the trustees, appeared
for the complainant and Mr. John Tizard for the de-
fendant. Fined v., and Its. tid. costs, and fence ordered
to be removed in a fortnight.
R,eleard Cu pie, a labourer of Phlilletown, W 3, 811111-
moned by Supt. Brown for being drunk. T.. and
costs.
Silas Raker, Jose Fures, and Jasir, 17,Ahrrel, three
labourers of Chesilborne. were ALIT 1111 l °lied by Supt.
Brown for severally riding on their wagons without
reins between Piddletown and Dewlish. Fined is. in-
,
eluding cost..
Daniel English, briekinaker, of Upwry, and George
Orehard,his est-ter, were summoned by Supt. Brown for
cruelly torturing and abusing a horse, the property of
Mr. English. Mr. English undertaking to have the
horse destroyed, was nprimanded and paid expenses.
Frank Russell, a labourer of Renville Lane, was
brought up in custody of Sergeant Tee charged o ith
feloniously stealing a whip from a gig belonging ti Mr.
Jaahua Merit, of Wynforl Eagle. It appeared that Mr.
Meril had been to Stratton to meet souse rams he had
purchased at Mr. Flower's sue, and whilst taking
refreshment at the Bull Inn he left hi, whip in his gig.
The prisoner came to the house during the time with A
horse and cart, and after taking some ale he left, and on
Mr. Merit coming out he iniisse.l his wide. Suspicion
having fallen on the prisoner, Mr. Meril followed after
him, and found the whip concealed under some straw
in his cart. Committed for one month's hard labour.
COMMITTED TO boIiCHESTER Gant..-11,ted Ligionr.
—Andrew Taylor, assault on his child at Fordington, 3
calendar months; George Sanger, assault, ke., at
Gillingham, 3 calendar months; James Green, robbing
orchard at Toiler Porcoruin, 2 calendar months; Fre-
derick White, stealing money at Weymouth, 1 calendar
month; George Smith, stealing a jacket at Fontmell
Magna, 1 calendar month ; Frank Russell, stealing a
whip at Stratton, 1 calendar month.—lmpriaossital.
Michael Collins, bastardy at Axminster, 6 weeks.

Da. Sstrrnmorr.—Mr. H. B. Sheridan. M.P.,
having been requested by the friends of Dr. Sme-
thurst, attended on Thursday last at the home office
with a petition to the Queen, signed by Mary Sine-
thursk the prisoner's wife. Mr. Sheridan urged upon
Sir G. C. Lewis the deficiency of evidence against and
numerous arguments in favour of the prisoner and ,
Mr. Sheridan than introduced the wife of the prisoner, '
Mary Smethurst, and Mrs. Smith, the mistress of
the boarding-house at Bayswater in which the three
parties resided. The statements which these two
ladies ma4le were listened to with the greatest at-
tention and patience by the Secretary of State, and
variods points were cleared up and explained which
had been left in mystery at the trial. The two
ladies made .their statements with clearness and
force, and with great apparent truthfulness, and,
as it seemed, with considerable effect. Mr. Wadding-
ton was present during the interview, which lasted
an hour and a-half. Mr. Sheridan urged upon Sir
George Lewis his opinioa, ("wok' upon the public
feeling, that a reprieve was positively neeesieiry, if
only to afford an opportunity for further investiga-
tion.

DR. Ssirritussr is respited during HER
MAJESTY'S pleasure. This is the result arrived
at after the most anxious and deliberate atten-
tion given to the various representations made
to HER MAJESTY'S principal Secretary of State
by various persons interesting themselves to pro-
cure a commutation of the sentence. Of course
the life of the condemned criminal will be
spared, and the fate which awaits him is no
doubt that of penal servitude for life. This is
the end which waits upon that voluminous and
able controversy which, whatever else may be

said of it, reflects much credit upon the ingenu-
ity and talent of the several disputants in the
case. It is not our intention to discuss the pro-
priety of the advice tendered to the Quzzx as it
may be supposed to rest upon the guilt or in-
nocence of SMETHURST. We have our own
opinion like many others upon that point, and,
notwithstanding all that has been said since the
trial, we are among those who believe that the
evidence adduced on that solemn occasion was and
is conclusive of the prisoner's guilt. The QUEEN'S
Minister must think so too if the man is to be
doomed to perpetual imprisonment. If there
be any real doubt in the ease, the evidence is in-
sufficient, and upon insufficient evidence the pri-
soner ought not to suffer a life of degradation
and misery. There is no middle course between
guilt and innocence ; but we have seen that
there has arisen a kind of process, recognized by
the highest authorities, which is a second trial of
the accused, in the popular form of public dis-
cussion ; and, as we have seen, that interpo-
sition, after trial by jury and condeumatiou by
the judge—in cases where °vital punishment is
due to the culprit—that interposition is strong
enough to "rush aside the law," and bring
about a remission of the sentence. Here is a
medium punishment meted out for an offence
which, if proved, is death by the law—which, if
not proved should set the prisoner free. This
aspect of the matter then seems to be to a great
extent inexplicable and unsatisfactory. We
ourselves are strongly disposed to think that the
desire for the abolition of capital punishment,
though not avowed, is in reality the secret
spring which brings into action those energetic
and astute logicians, rapidly increasing in num
her, who argue down the validity of evidence
Upon which the life of a fellow creature has been
forfeited; but whose eloquence would be silent
and whose zeal would be chilled were the
punishment in the case anything short of death ;

land we think there is reason to believe in the Mr. Rimier observed that he thought some notice 1
tacit deference in high quartes to these hum: no ought to be taken of a memorial of so much import- !
;Lee
names
brie.); ii.r.cita. ailud seeing.. as he ,
llid,
scruples which have become so effective. Had a
was a
grenatin
aaleatisot.f
been possible for the law to award penal servi- They all knew that therel
tude for life in Su Ernuasr's case, does any body respectable, comfortable houses for the mechanics of
thothmremoir,ialista
suppose that such persevering and energetic stated this town: in er„,: lias.
efforts, such scientific and elaborate researches four &mai,' in one ihouse, because, , under existing
and demonstrations would have been brought arrangements, proper accommodation could not be
against the evidence upon which Sm rritt afforded. Whether it would be 'possible to make
.r..sr WU
into Ulettn.`ra.ctroillll:ol,ll)WenittOwneasoltehtehibnuihulings
convicted ? Would lie not have been left to his
fate t And would there have been ally question which it was clear they could not then enter; t Uti
about the deceased having died from poison, he did think they ought to acknowledge the
memorial, and say. it would be referred to a coup
as when antimony w found in the blood, an a
d o t Loaned, and be by them further eon-
arsenic in the evacuations I We think not. lideral.
But Smeritvierr's punishment being what "the After some further conversation the matter was
deferred till the next meeting of the Council.
, "law calls death," public feeling is aroused, the
I BoAltl) OF HEALTH.
forfeited life is sought to be saved. How is
this to be accomplished I The divine and human
and various report
mtheentaFinaartilacereTtamilittteem was received,
law, imposing death punishment for murder, The Inspector reported the existea'nce. of certain
being extant, the course is to assail the evidence nuisances, and the usual orders were issued in '
upon which the sentence stands, which evidence, re".Peet of them.
be.":tur.i'ciiimptztanata beadle:se set titawn:ana thiet,Tperto
but for the capital punishment, would pass un-
questioned. This, in our humble view, is a very deferred :—lt was, to receive and consider the report'y
unsatisfatory, if it be not a very dangerous, of Mr. Dickens (the Government Inspector) as to
state of things. Better far do away with tLitd•ice..nadeitatnrksof
anthl public
inn•eattwTh,st-osti l ai:iedd,the
mie
capital punishment altogether than render in regard to the carrying out of the same. Mr. 1
the operation of the law uncertain in its Dickens's report net having been received (as was '
most awful functions, and avert its just but ter- enxpeeted when the notice was put on the paper), ,
rible edicts by the force of a hidden but power- othin !Isl.:hat:Ai:ever cs.,:naltdril.,..)ettslowntiter
wdasth:rwstate o.(6:lthe i
fully-operative principle of humanity, based gutterse taken into consideration, was likewise deferred
upon very questionable conclusions and a false from the same Muse. A great dealof con versation, how-
ground. The reprieve is a measure of mercy to erelrreun.cale rtehien to on theset subjects,lliarticularly as ith
the prisoner; but how far it in merciful to the rid system upon an-liic.l7lllYe oconan)e,l.ntfo„s67lnioTtuteie gene.
community at largo remains to be tested by between the houses and the main drains, which con-
further, and, perhaps, very painful experience. neetions, it transpired, ought, accenting to the Go-
vernment Inspector, to have been made during the
progress of the public works. Nothing appear:to he
yet determined as to whether the owners shall do
this work and upon what uniform system, or whether
the Town Council will undertake the whole, or so
much of it as the occupiers should desire the Council
to do for them. Of course it is well known that the
owner bears the expenses of these connections under
any circumstances. Matters therefore remain as they
were in respect to all these things; and it was under-
stood that when the Govenuuent Inspector's report
should be received a special meeting of the Council
would be called thereon, and the proper COMIC Of
proceeding discussed and determined.
The meeting then adjourned.