Vraninrml.
A county gathering, the dinner of the Norfolk Agricultural Society at Swaffham, on Wednesday, brought out the curiously-divergent senti- ments that pervade the country. The Marquis of Lothian from the chair, dwelt on the growing sense of insecurity in Europe, and seemed to forsee a war the like of which has not been since the days of the Spanish Armada. Lord Albemarle, however, took matters more coolly, and be saw no ground for alarm. There is security for our neutrality ; he could conceive no cause that would bring us into collision with con- tinental powers ; he could not, in fact, see "what business it is of ours." Lord Leicester was grateful to the late Government for im- proving our defences. He is no alarmist ; but he has yet to learn that the whole of Europe can be convulsed, and that England can remain neuter. He could not agree with Lord Albemarle that there is no danger, or that the Emperor Napoleon invaded Italy solely to make it independent. However we may desire to remain neuter, we cannot allow the Mediterranean to be made "a French lake." Mr. Bentinok could not cease from congratulating himself and his hearers that we are beyond the reach of war ; yet he is of opinion that the formation of rifle corps is a subject of satisfaction to all Englishmen. Colonel Coke, M.P., was for letting the contending powers act the part of Kilkenny eats ; and Lord Hastings said he had not so good an opinion of "Louis Napoleon" as Lord Albemarle.
The committee appointed by the Norwich Town-council to consider the prevalence of bribery at Parliamentary elections for that city have adopted a memorial to the Government praying that a commission may be issued for taking evidence on the subject on the spot, as was done at Hull, Barnstable, St. Alban's, and other places. The proposed memorial will be submitted for adoption at the next meeting of the Council.
There seems some prospect of flax cultivation in Worcestershire ; at all events the Chamber of Commerce at Worcester have expressed a favour- able opinion on a project laid before them.
A Member of the University of Oxford, Mr. John Simpson, has been drowned from the upsetting of his boat in the Cherwell. A Coroner's Jury found a verdict of "Accidental death by drowning," and appended the fol- lowing recommendation—" The Jury strongly recommend the University authorities not to allow boats of the dangerous kind now in use to be let out to members of the University who cannot swim."
The Magistrates of Birmingham have fined a firm of commission agents 201. and costs for transmitting three packages of carboys containing oil of vitriol by railway. The agents pleaded ignorance of the by-laws of the company which forbid the transmission of inflammable liquids.
Previous page
