The Sun. — London, England, 1870-11-15 00:00:00

IV.-PAYMENT OF THE. NATIONAL DEBT. (BY THOMAS DE MESCHIN, M.A., LL.D.) In considering the question of the National Debt it is obviously a question of the utmost moment to determine how it affects wages. Now I propose to shew that when the Government goes into the money market and effects a loan, which operates to raise the rate of interest, it produces the same economic result as if it had raised the whole amount of the loan by a direct tax upon wages within the year, save that the nation remains charged with the debt in perpetuity, whereas had the tax been levied directly upon wages, no debt would have been incurred. It is obvious that this is a most material point in this question, for paying off the debt now, would go far towards enabling us to carry on future wars without resorting to loans. The elements of value are exchangeability, desireable ness, and scarcity—that is to say, having the capacity of being transferred from one person to another—being directly or indirectly productive of pleasure or preventa tive of pain ; and, lastly, being limited in supply. When, from any cause, an article becomes more limited in supply, or scarcer, its value is at once raised ; the same quantity of it will now exchange for a larger quantity of every other article whose value has not been altered. If the capital of a country be lessened, the remaining portion is rendered more valuable. Everything for which it can be exchanged relatively falls in value—that is to say, the same amount of capital will now purchase more land, more labour than before it was diminished. When Government goes into the money market and makes a loan, it diminishes the capital of the country, and thereby the remaining capital is rendered more valuable. But when the price of anything from any cause is raised, the price paid for the use of it is necessarily raised in a greater ratio than than that of the article itself. When capital becomes more valuable the price paid for its use is necessarily raised. Those who have capital to lend will now require more for the loan thin they would have done when it was more plentiful—that is, the rate of interest will be increased. Therefore when the quantityof capital in the country is lessened by a loan the rate of interest rises. There are three elements of profit—namely, first, interest on the capital employed; second, insurance against risk ; and third, remuneration for superinitendenco. Every part of profit is contained under those three heads. If any of them permanently rise or fall, profits rise or fall pro tanto. Therefore if from any cause the rate of interest be raised, it is immediately followed by a rise in the rate of profit. Many may imagine that in practice this does not take place, owing to the difficulty of transferring capital from one employment to another ; but in point of fact it will be found the course is this : If one employ. ment ceases to yield the ordinary rate of profit, that part of the business transacted on credit—i. e., with other people's capital—is curtailed and contracted, and this capital is set free to be employed in those employments giving higher profits. On the other hand when profits are large and the business flourishing, the credit transactions are extended as much as possible—thus the capital of the country passes from employment to employment, and profits keep tending to_ wards equality, therefore it may be laid down as generally true, that a permanent rise in the rate of interest is fotTowed by a rise in the general rate of profit. But it was before proved, that a loan is always followed by a rise in the rate of interest ; a loan is, therefore, always followed by a rate in the general rise of profit.] Thus if the general rate of profit were 10 per cent. while the rate of interest was 4 per cent., and from any cause the rate of interest rose to 5 per cent., the general rate of profit would necessarily rise to 11 per cent. Dr. Hamilton in his "inquiry into the National Debt " maintains the converse —he says—" a rise in the Three per Cents to par [when he wrote they were at 621] could not take place without a general reduction of the rate of interest, and this must be accompanied by a like reduction of the profits on trade and manufactures." [Chap. 6, 247.] Leaving rent out of the question, the whole produce of the country, arising from trade, manufactures, and every industrial employment, is shared between capitalists and labourers. The capitalist's share is profit, the labourer's, wages—the former is determined by the general rate of profit, the latter by the general rate of wages. Every commodity produced is divided into two shares, bearing a certain proportion to each other ; if while the productive powers of labour and capital remain unaltered, this pro portion be altered, the share of one will be increased, the share of the other diminished—that is, wages will rise and profit fall, or profits will rise and 'wages fall. Any thing taken from wages and added to profit will increase the capitalist's share or proportion ; any thing taken from profit and added to wages will raise pro tanto the labourer's share, hence it, follows if any cause (not affecting the productive powers of capital or labour, or the value of production) produce a rise in the general rate of profit, it increases the capitalist's share, but it has been before proved a loan raises the rate of profit—consequently a loan increases the capitalist's share of production. If a financial operation increases the capitalist's share of production out of the remuneration of labour, that scheme becpmes a real tax upon wages ; it matters not whether it be open and avowed or covert and secret, but a loan in creases the capitalist's share, therefore a loan is a - tax upon wages. Now a tax exclusively on wages is simply in iquitous, it is laying the brunt and burden of war on the back least able to bear it. The subject may be regarded in another point of view. A loan is abstracted from circulating capital; it cannot be taken from fixed capital—buildings, machinery, and tools. Circulating capital is almost all consumed and reproduced within the year, and forms the wages-fund for the main tenance of labour. When this wages-fund is diminished the number of labourers remaining the same, a less sum remains to be divided among all, and consequently each must receive less ; that is, when the general rate of wages falls, every labourer must suffer in his wages. When Government goes into the money market and contracts a loan it lessens to that extent the circulating capital of the country, and diminishes the wages-fund; consequently the labour must be supported less liberally. The theory of wages being so intimately connected with the subject, it may be well briefly to advert to it here The general rate of wages depends on the amount of the fund for the main tenance of labour-• ers, compared with the number of labourers to be maintained, which depends Tartly on the pro ductiveness of la bour in the direct or indirect pro duction of corn; modities to be used by the labourer, which depends on Partly on the number of labourers em ployed in the pro duction of things for labourers—i.e., the production of• wages, compared with the whole 'l. The quality of the labourer. 2. The assistance derived from natural agents. 3. The assistance derived from capital. 4. Freedom from Government in terferenee. (5. Partly on the rate of profit. number of labour ing families,which depends on 6. Partly on the period forwhich capital em ployed in the production of wages must be advanced. Hence the general rate of wages depends on these six elements. An alteration in any of the first four w ill cause an alteration in the amount of the general rate of wages. Any alteration in the last two will effect an alteration in the proportion, that the general rate of wages bears to the general rate of profits. Of the two great classes, a rise or fall in the first four elements (which form the first great class) may be compen sated inter se by other falls or rises, in which case the amount of the general rate of wages will remain unaltered Thus if the assistance derived from natural agents become less efficient in production, that might be counteracted by increased industry and skill on the part of the labourers. _Of the other great class which consists of the last two elements, a rise in one may be counteracted by a fall in the other, in which case the proportion will not be altered. And lastly, one of the two great classes may rise, and the other fall just sufficientlyto neutralise the rise, in which case no change will be effected in the amount of the gene ral rate of wages, but only in the proportion of wages to profits. Thus the rate of profit might rise, which would increase the share of the capitalist of the resulting of pro duction, but the effect of this might be neutralised by an increase in the productiveness of labour. The six elements on which the usual rate of wages de pend are— Ist. The quality of the labourer. The productiveness of labour depends on the strength of body of the labourer. Any cause tending to diminish the physical strength of the labouring classes, whether it arises from bad sanitary arrangements, or an insufficiency of wholesome food, or, any enervating cause, will destroy the efficiency of the la. bourer, diminish his productiveness, and tend to lower the general rate of wages. A so lid education, imparting habits of industry, will make hi% a constant producer, which will increase the productiveness of labour. Expanded intelligence will enable him to adopt any trade or occupation, should he be push e d out of his own, by anyone of the thousand discoveries which a re every day being made. Had the hand-loom weavers had this intelli gence, it would have enabled them to turn to other occu pations as soon as they saw their own was gone for ever, and thus have escaped the harrowing and heartrend ing misery which occurred some years ago. Englightened intelligence will also enable the artisan at once to under stand and adopt the annually-accuinu'ating improve ments in all branches of production, and also enable him to see when strikes are beneficial,and when they entail greater evils than they can cure, limiting, as they do, production, lessening the fund for the maintenance of labour, and lowering the general rate of wages by diminishing for the time, at all events, the amount of the fund to be divided amongst labourers. Also some knowledge of the arts of life, the igno rance of which notoriously limits our production. The great obstacle which besets inventors is the impossibility of procuring persons to perform operations which cannot be reduced to regular routine or a mere matter of memory, Mr. J. S. Mill treats this subject in a masterly manner. Pol. Econ., B. 1., ch. 7. The mean age of the labouring population is also an element in their productive efficiency, that condition where there is the greatest number of adults, other qualities being equal, being the most productive. Then the "moral qualities," to use the words of Mr. Mill, "are fully as important to the efficiency and worth of their labour as the intellectual." 2nd. The assistance labour derives from natural agents : the climate of a country ; its soil ; mineral products ; the water power of its rivers; its harbours and maritime position ; all facilitate and increase the productiveness of labour. When from any cause natural agents are rendered more available for production, as in the case of new dis coveries, it tends to raise the rate of wages. 3rd. The assistances derived from capital are innumera ble—as machinery, tools, railroads, canals, bridges, roads, and ships, and the minute sub-division of labour which can alone be accomplished by capital. But when the capital of a country is diminished, especially its circu lating capital, the assistance that this capital has lent to labour is diminished, at least pro canto. and consequently wages must fall. When a government, therefore, goes into the loan market and effects a loan, it necessarily diminishes the capital of the country and lowers wages. On the other hand, by paying off the National Debt, it takes a portion of the annual revenue of the country, and converts it into capital by paying it to the fundholder, and thereby increases the circulating capital of the country, which tends to increase the rate of wages. 4th. Freedom from Goverment interference, interference which has done more to impede and prevent production than all other causes acting among civilised communities ; the main function of a government should be to give secu rity against violence and fraud, foreign and domestic. If the National Debt were all paid off, it would free labour from that very great and constant government inter ference, which the necessity of having to raise £26,000,000 of taxes a year to pay the interest, entails, and the muLi plied evils which such heavy taxation involves. sth. The rate of profit. Mr. J. S. Mill lays down that the gains of the capitalist depend alone on two elements. 1. The magnitude of the produce, i.e., the productive power of labour. 2. The proportion of that produce ob tained by the labourers themselves, i.e., the ratio which the remuneration of the labourers bears to the amount they produce. But the rate of profit, the percentage on the capital, dePends only on the second of these two ele ments. The rate of profit also depends on—the cost of labour, which is a function of three variables, viz. : • 1. The efficiency of labour. 2. The wages of labour (meaning thereby the real re . war 4 of the labourer). 3. The greater or less cost at which the articles com posing that real reward can be produced or pur chased. The former part of this analysis is the conclusion arrived at by Ricardo, from whom Senior differs, and with ap parently good reason, but the discussion would extend to too great a length to be entered on here. When the rate of profit is increased, the first and third of those variables remaining constant, it is obvious that it must be at the expense of the second variable, i.e., the wages of labour. The gross profits of capital may be distinguished into three parts, viz. : 1. Remuneration for risk insurance torm . d { wages of superin 2. ditto for trouble tendance 3. ditto for capital interest When the government, therefore, by borrowing, raises the rate of interest, as it did to an enormous extent during the French war, it raises the profits of capital, and such augmentation of profits is abstracted entirely from the wages of labour. 6th. The period for which capital employed in the production of wages.must be advanced—it is the labourer's interest that this period should be as short as possible. From this it appears that the general rate of wages depends partly on the number of labourers employed in producing wages compared with the whole number of labourers, and this last mainly depends on the rate of profit. If, therefore, the proportionate rate of profit be increased from the effects of a loan or any other cause, the number of labourers employed in the production of wages will be diminished, and the number of labourers engaged in producing profits will be increased. There will be the same amount of production, but it will be differently distributed ; the capitalists will receive more, the labourers less. And this may have happened while wages have actually risen. They may have been depressed from the effects of the loan, and been raised from other causes—that is to say, their amount may have been raised, and their proportion diminished. But the apparent or money value of wages must not be confounded with the real amount, which is to be estimated by "the quantity and quality of the commodities which form wages, if paid in kind, or are purchasable with the wages, if paid in money." Of this difference Senior gives a striking example : " Estimated in money, we say that wages have risen in England since the reign of Henry VII., because the labourer now receives ls. 6d. or 2s. a day, and then received only 4id. Estimated in commo dities, we say that wages have fallen in England since that reign, because the labourer then earned two pecks of wheat a day, and now earns only one." Thus, then, wages may have an apparent rise while suffering a seal fall, wages in money may be high at the moment wages in kind are low. I therefore use wages to express not the money, but the commodities received so purchasable by the labourer. (To be continued.) filE ROMANTIC DOUBLE SUICIDE. On Saturday morning the dead bodies of a young man and woman were found lying side by side, quite dead, in a bedroom at the Warwick Tavern, Redhill, Surrey. The man appears about 30 years of age, has something of a military look, with a rather reddish thick beard and moustache, dark brown hair, and nose rather prominent. His height is about sft. 7iu. He wore' a red striped woollen shirt, trousers nearly new (black with white stripes), black cloth waistcoat, grey tweed coat, nearly new black wideawake, marked inside E. (or P.) Pecover, Reading ; foam was issuing from his mouth. The woman appeared to be about 21 or 22 years of age, had very good features, with an abundance of dark brown flowing hair. Her height is about sft. 2in. The left hand was laid upon the bosom, and a gold ring was on the third finger of the hand. When seen alive she wore a fashion able small bonnet ; black dress, with several stripes at the bottom of the skirt, of purple ; black cloth jacket, nearly new. The man came to Mr. Easton's about a week since, and took a bed and sitting room for himself and wife. He paid a week's rent in advance, and said he had some lug gage coming, which, however, did not arrive. The woman came the same evening. They lived well, and generally went to bed about 9.30 or 10 p.m. Shortly before 9 o'clock on Saturday morning Mr. Easton went to tas.e some water to the bedroom, and knocked three or four times, but received no reply ; and on the room being entered, the deceased were found lying side by side in their night clothes, life being quite extinct. A paper was found in the bedroom, on which was written that they had both agreed together to poison themselves. One half penny in money was found in the room, and a few books, viz., a Church Service, in which was written " Maria Mason, the gift of her cousin ;" a book, " Wooing of Winifred ;" and the Waverley Novels. In a Directory is written. "The Rectory, Fiddleworth, near Petworth, Sussex." Two empty phials, which had contained cyanide of potassium were found on a sideboard in the bedroom. The Danish vessels at Hull shewed a general dis play of bunting on Saturday to indicate joy at the French success in Orleans. The death is announced of Mr. Charles Salisbury Butler, who was for many years M.P. for the Tower Hamlet - 8, for which he was elected in 1852. He was 58 years of age. THE SMITHFIELD CLUB CATTLE SHOW. —The preparations for the forthcoming cattle show at the Agri cultural-hall, Islington, have commenced, and it is under stood that many improvements are contemplated, with a view to secure the comfort of the public, as well as care for the animals. The entries of stock being now com pleted, it has been ascertained that the number of animals to be exhibited will be far in excess of those of last year, and every available inch of space in the area will be ap propriated to the cattle and sheep classes ; whilst the basement of that portion of the building known as Ber ner's-hall will be occupied by the pigs. All implements intended for exhibition will have to be at the Agricultural hall by the 30th inst., and the stock to be exhibit e d mus t all be in their places in the show before 10 o'clock on the night of Saturday, the 3rd of December, as after that hour none will be admitted. Amongst the entries of the present year the Queen will exhibit several specimens in the Devon and other classes, and enter into competition with the Prince of Wales, who has become a warm patron of the club and contributor to the show. LONDON, TUESDAI, NOVEMBER 15, 1870 ME CHARGES OF HERESY AGAINST THE REV. C. VOYSEY. Yesterday this case again came before the Judicial Committee of the Privy CounciL The Rev. C. Voysev, vicar of Healaugh, a parish in Yorkshire, appealed against a decision of the Chancery Court of the Province of York, which admitted to proof a number of articles alleging that he had promulgated and circulated doctrines in contra vention of the Articles of religion. The appeal was heard last week, and theirlordships now delivered judgment. The members of the Judicial Committee present were the Lord Chancellor (Lord Hatherley), Lis Grace the Arch bish. p of Canterbury, Lord Chelmsford, and Sir R. J. Philli ro ore. The Rev. C. Voysey appeared in person to conduct his case. The Lord Chancellor, in delivering the judgment of their lordships, said the defendant (the Rev. C. Voysey) was cited to appear before the Chancery Court of York by authority of letters of request by the Arch bishop of that province. Certain articles were exhibited against him, in which it was alleged that he bad offended against the laws ecclesiastical. The defendant objected to the admission of the articles on the ground that the passages quoted did not mention any statement, doctrine, or opinion which_contita,vened the law. The official Principal of the Court, aftdr hearing the arguments made at the time, delivered jUdgment, and ordered the articles to be admitted to proof, and from that time to the present an appeal against this decision had been prosecuted before the Judicial Committee. Their lordships now having heard the defendant at great length, expressed their opinion that the articles, with the exception of the 13th, were admissable ; and the counsel for the' prosecution having withdrawn that particular article, they directed the case to proceed. In giving this judgment, _they were desirous that they might not bilk misunderstood. It amounted to this, that, in their judgment, the passages set forth in the articles exhibited were prinuffacie at variance and inconsistent with the law as contained in the formularies of the Church, which they were alleged to have contravened. It would,:therefore, be competent for him (the defendant) to remove this opinion by proving that the passages entered in the articles did not bear the meaning ascribed to them by the promoter, and he might have recourse to the whole of the work in which the passages occur in order to substantiate this view. Or further, he might say that the sense ascribed to them being correct, they did not exceed the limits which the law prescribed, and for this purpose he might refer, as their lordships had-decided on hearing this cause, to the authority of eminent who had written on the subjects which formed the !natter of the charges. It would then be competent for their lordships to erase such other articles as they might see fit, and it was not until then that they could form an opinion as to the real merits of the case. They had been earnestly requested to retain the cause in their own hands instead of sending it back for trial, and therefore they 'had resolved to proceed to the hearing at once in pursuance of this request. They would therefore proceed with the cause, but instead of giving final sentence, they could do no more than report to her Majesty, who would affirm or disaffirm what they had done. They wished, in doing4hus;_u k ut to form a legal precedent, nor to interfere with the power of the court below, but considered it was a coufse*.which in this case should be adopted. The case was then proceeded with. Sir Roundell Palmer opened the case for the promoters, and went seriatim through the articles upon which the general charge is based. He argued, quoting largely from the Scriptures, that the doctrines set forth by the defendant were antagonistic to the Articles of the Chris tian religion, and pointed out in what particular instances the latter had been offended against. The Solicitor-General argued on the mime side, The Rev. C. Voysey then entered upon his defence, and said he felt that it was the duty of every minister freely to express his opinions, and this was all he had done. He considered it was not only his right and his privilege to teach the Scriptures according to his own ideas, but his duty also, and he was still 'ready to affirm that the views he had promulgated were net antago nistictic to the articles of the Christian religion. The rev. gentleman had not completed his defence when their Lordships adjourned. LAW AND POLICE. JACK AMONG THE LAND SHARKS.—Mary Ann Herring, aged 31 years, and Ellen Bryant, 21, were charged, at the Thames Police-court, with stealing £9 from the person of Henry Davis, an old weather.beaten, sun burnt mariner, who gave a very odd account of his adventure among " those here land sharks," as he termed the prisoners, and the vile gang • with whom they associated. He came to London on Thursday last and went straight from the Railway Station to Bryant's house, in Bluegate-fields in a cab, took a nap, and at four o'clock in the afternoon went to the shipping office on Tower-hill, andi-eceived £ll and a few shillings for wages. He returned to Bryant's house and saw both girls. He gave Bryant a so iereign, and tied up 10 sovereigns in the corner of his handerchief for safety. He treated both girls to the play, and changed one sovereign. At that time Davis had two sove reigns belonging to him. Hey took them away, and consigned the girl to perdition. He went home to Bluegate-fields, in the latitude of Shadwell again with Bryant, and went to bed. He put his necker chief and money under his pillow. The prisoner and a lot of girls of light character began dancing in the room he was in. He was smoking his pipe in bed, and laughing at them, but they had the laugh at him. They hatched up a row and a quarrel, and fought ; and while, the row was going on they took his goldfrom him. The "old one" said, " Come, you get up and turn out," and he did so ; and Ellen said, " Come, go out of the house and take your man with you, and take your bundle." It was a planned job, to get him out of the house. "Ah, the pre6ty little Ellen, I love her still." (Loud laughter.) Directly he got out of the house she said "You go to hell," and he then began to suspect something wrong, He found all his money was gone. He then addressed Ellen Bryant, and said, " Now Ellen, I did what was tidy by both of yon ; where is my money ? Give me £5 and say no more about it." "I had only 13s. left out of the sovereign I changed. I am sorry to see a woman in that here dock." The prisoners were remanded for a week. A CURIOUS CHARGE OF FELONY. — , Emily Stacey, married, of lady-like deportment, was charged. at the Westminster Police-court, before -Mr. Woolrych, with a silk mantle from the Victoria Coffee House, 8, Wilton road, Pimlico. Mr. W. D. Smith, of Rochester-row, defended. Mrs. Pedley, a widow, living at 231, Vaux hall-bridge-road, said she had lost several articles of dress, viz., a black silk dress, mantle, satin petticoat, and a packet of black silk from a box in a room which the prisoner occupied at 8, Wilton-road: Witness had lived there, but left to attend a sick lady who has since died. Goods were safe in prisoner'e, room on Saturday afternoon, and in the evening they were gone, and she, too. Mr. Woolrych asked if she knew anything of the prisoner ? Mr. Smith said she was a highly respectable lady, wife of a gentleman, who was present. They were staying at this house quite temporarily ou account of changing their residence, and taking a house in Pimlico. Eliza Notley, widow, keeper of the house No. 8, Wilton-road, proved Mr. and Mrs. Stacey taking a furnished apartment. On Saturday witness saw this box all safe, and prisoner intoxicated ; at half-past three witness went into the room and found the box broken open, and the things gone. The prisoner had left at half past two. Mr. Smith contended that there waonot the least probability a lady like the prisoner should commit so paltry a theft ; her husband was a man of means and position; he analysed the evidence in its weakest points, and contended that although there was slight suspicions, his client was perfectly innocent of the charge. Mr. Woolrych said it was a case for enquiry, and remanded prisoner till Wednesday, accepting. bail. BREACH OF PROMISE.—The case of Wilson v. Wilson has been heard before Mr. Justice Byles. It was an action in the Common Pleas by Louisa Wilsomagainst James Wilson for a breach of promise of marriage, and the present application was to pray in aid the Debtor's Act to obtain payment of the damages and costs. The action was tried at Liverpool and resulted in damages to £lOO and the costs were taxed at £59125. The defendant is a master mariner, and had assured the plaintiff during the courtship that he had saved money. He had, however, failed to pay the damages, and his whereabouts at the time of the applica tion was a matter of mystery. His Lordship, who re marked that the captain must be somewhere on this planet, made an order for the £lOO to be paid by the 20th of this month, and the £59125. in three months. THE WEST INDlES. —Saturday's mail news from the West Indies inform us that early in October heavy rains had prevailed generally throughout the West Indies, particularly at Jamaica. The fearful hurricane which occurred at Batabano, in Cuba, on the 19th of October did much damage, the sea washing into the town and many houses being placed four feet under water. Some vessels were carried ashore and left high and dry a quarter of a mile inland. The office of the West India and Panama Telegraph Company was inundated. The hurricane was very disastrous in Matanzas. The river inundated a part of the city, carrying everything before it More than 2,000 persons are said to have perished, but no details are given. Key West also suffered severely from the hurricane. In Cardenas the loss of life was slight, but the estates suffered severely. All the stores were destroyed and nearly all the vessels in the harbour were wrecked, The British schooner Ida, from Caymanas, with turtle, and bound to Jamaica, got aground off Pedro Cays, and it was expected would become a total wreck. BREAKFAST.—EPPS'S COCOA.- -GRATEFUL AND COM FoRTING.—The very agreeable character of this preparation has rendered it a general favourite. The Civil Service Gazette re marks :—" By a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and by a careful application of the fine properties of well-selected cocoa. Mr. Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicately flavoured beverage which may save us many heavy doctors' bills." ' Made simply with boiling water or milk. Sold only in tin-lined packets labelled—JAMES EPPS St CO., Homceopathic Chemists, London.--Advt. THE SIEGE OF PARIS. THE BOMBARDMENT. Saturday's Provincial Correspondence of Berlin en deavours to calm the impatience of the German people at the delay in inflicting upon Paris the horrors of a bombard ment. Quoting the remark of the Staats Anzeiger "that all the preparations for the attack have meanwhile so far advanced that only the King's order is required for it to begin," it says, "it may be added that that order will certainly be given at the moment when it appears justi fied by all the circumstances which have to be considered, especially those relating to the internal condition of Paris." In judging of the proceedings before Paris it should never be forgotten that military considerations alone are not paramount, but that many others not ap parent to distant lookers-on are an important element. There is certainly at the German Headquarters no put poseless forbearance towards the Parisians at the cost of our brave soldiers. The relatives and friends of the latter may, therefore, allay their impatience, and rest assured that that remarkable prudence and wisdom, &c. The correspondent of the Daily News, on the other hand, says that no bombardment will be attempted, as the place can be starved. Other writers, and they quote reasonable figures in support of their view, urge that the Germans have at their command no means of effectively bombard ing so large an area. They can do nothing more than starve Paris. THE ARMY OF PARIS. It appears certain that the available defensive forces in Paris are much larger than has been generally believed. The Plebiscite announced a vote of 245,000 Linesmen and Mobiles, when the universally-accepted estimate put the two down at more than 160,000. The able "Besieged Resident" who contributes to the Daily News observes ; " At this moment there are three armies within our walls. Instead of 90,000 Mobiles we have 120,000. Instead of 60,000 troops of the Line of all arms we have 121,000. The vote of last Wednesday has established this fact, known to the authorities from the first, but concealed to deceive the Prussians as to the actual available force within. These troops will fight well. They have been tried. Trochu has the highest opinion of the Mobiles. Besides these 121,000 men, we have now quite 3 00,000 National Guards, of whom at least one-third are armed with the Chassepot, another third with the transformed breech-loader, or fusil a tabatiere, and the remainder with the percussion musket. As the prospect of serious business draws nearer, more energetic measures are being adopted to increase the number of men for active service. The whole of the National Guard is now to be mobilised, and the class of young men liable to the conscription—the class of 1870—is now called out. It is, in point of fact, the levy en masse, so far as Paris is concerned, and so far as she can influence the provinces." FUGITIVE FAMILIES. A correspondent of the Cologne Gazette notices that the prospect of an armistice brought quite a number of French families from their hiding place in the Paris district. " God knows where they have been concealed. Lines of them are seen on the roods of the Seine and Marne department, with heaped-up waggons, in which they are bringing their household goods back into their villages. The poor creatures must have hidden mostly in the woods, and have suffered much. They now appear again in the light of day, with saucepans, tables, chairs, chests, and beds. A goat, donkey, and horse belong to almost every household, and from the side of the loaded cart hangs a large hutch, containing the wild rabbits which serve them for food. The external appearance of the poor people is often pitiable. Their clothes are bespattered with mud, frequently, indeed, encrusted with it, as they never un dressed in the damp woods. Their feet are bound up with rags, their weather-stained faces are gipsy-like, and they shyly avoid the. German soldiers if they meet any on the road. It is evident they no longer believed the news which reached them in the woods ; perhaps they pictured something quite different, and now encountered the hated enemy, who they thought had retreated. Cold, how ever, may have driven these unfortunates from their con cealment, and they may have resolved, their limbs swollen by the frost, to choose the more merciful of two enemies." General Moltke has issued very strict orders respecting the bearers of the Geneva Cross. The pigeons brought out by the balloons from Paris are not of much service. Only a few of them have returned to the capital. EThe French have armed their new redoubt at Villejuif, with twenty-two heavy guns, and are constructing another redoubt between Villejuif and Vitry. In front of these redoubts are trenches and rifle-pits ; the whole being a Jac simile of Todleben's celebrated defences at Sebastopol. The New Zurich Gazette publishes Count Bismarck's reply to the request of the Ambassadors of various small States remaining in Paris to be allowed to communicate with their Governments. He says :—" Whatever may be our confidence that the signers of the letter of the 6th of October would know how, in (their communications to their Governments to conform personally to the obliga tions which their presence in a besieged city may impose on diplomatic agents according to the rules of martial law, one must take into account the possibility that the impor tance of certain facts in a military point of view might escape them. It is evident, moreover, that they are not in a position to give us the same guarantees for the mes sengers whom they may employ, and whom we should have to let pass to and fro through our lines." Count Bismarck, however, expressed himself willing to confer with the neutral Governments respecting the anomalous position of the unfortunate diplomatists. THE FIGHTING ROUND ORLEANS. TOURS, Saturday. At last the tide has turned. It may soon turn again ; but the prospect of that unfortunate contingency does not render the joy of the people here at the first victory of the war at all the less justifiable. An army which was but a mob a month ago, which six weeks ago did not exist at all, has attained within so short a period a respectable degree of efficiency, has taken the field, driven back a Bavarian general of renown, captured a large number of prisoners, two guns, and Orleans. It is true that the French in the engagements just reported enormously out numbered the Germans ; but so did the invaders out number the French in many other battles which were accounted glorious. Theimportant fact is that the conduct of the French troops and the dispositions of their leaders were such as to afford hope of further achievements. The fighting of the last few days consisted of a movement to surround and outflank Der Tann, the evacuation of Orleans and retreat on the part of the Bavarian leader in order to avoid this danger, and severe attacks upon him whilst in the course of retreating. The Army of the Loire moved forward about a week ago, and on the 7th the first action took place at Marchenoir, a place where Der Tann had assembled a reconnoitering party. The French had crossed the Loire at Bourgency and taken up their quarters between that town and Vendome. At Marchenoir the German recon noitring party were driven back, and on the Bth the French advanced further, the movement being continued with greater vigour on the next day. General Aurelles de Paladine seems to have designed the complete surround ing of Orleans so as to shut up the Bavarian within the place, and take his whole corps. The enterprise, though highly gratifying, did not succeed to this extent. The whole French force was thrown forward from Beaugency towards Orleans ; but whilst the right drew up round about Ormes, the centre and left, pivoting round the right, was directed towards G6migny, Saint Peravy, Boilay, and Briey, whilst General Martin des Pallieres was to lead a body of cavalry to Cercottes, on the extreme left of the line, and thus complete the encircling array. Fighting commenced early on the morning of the 9th, and lasted until night. Bacon and Coulmiers were succes sively gained by the French. At the former place the fighting was very severe. General Chanzy moved upon Gemigny, where he met with serious resistance, and Reyau, who commanded the left, marched upon Saint Peravy-la-Colombe. The possession of this place was the key to the whole movement. If Reyau had been able to get possession of it, the retreat of Der Tann must have been cut off. Unfortunately he could not do so. Der Tann, warned of his danger in time, sent powerful forces against Reyau on the extreme left, whilst he op posed but a rearguard to the right. By thus following the good rule of accumulating his resources on the im portant point, the Bavarian was enabled to get away. All Reyau's attacks upon Saint P6ravy failed, and he was obliged to retire, as was General Chanzy from Gemizny. Der Tann thus found the way , open to Artenay and Patay. This is the account given in the Gazette de France on the first day's doings, and it seems perfectly trustworthy. The French were frustrated in their attempt to destroy Der Tann's army; and were driven back at two points. But en revanche they succeeded at other points, and, compelled the evacuation of Orleans. It is very difficult to determine the exact lb e of demar cation between the events of the 9th and of the 10th. So far, however, as I can ascertain, the fighting on the' former day ended with what I have described. On the 10th the French proceeded to take possession of their prize —Orleans. They found 500 sick and wounded Ger mans, whom the retreating force could not carry off. General Pallieres came up with his cavalry on this day, and assailed the retreating German rear. Here a large number of prisoners was taken, and two guns. Von der Tann withdrew further, and is now reported at Toury, about 20 miles from Orleans. That he should have been driven back so far is clear proof of the superiority the French secured in this encounter. The papers give various details both of the engagements and the losses in which they resulted, but there is really no certainty on these points. One estimate gives 10,000 as the number - of killed and wounded. This is clearly an exaggeration. Another puts the prisoners at 1,800, which I quite believe. They cannot be many fewer. Yet another version says the Germans retreated in dis order ; but narratives better worthy of credence affirm that there was nothing like a rout in the Bavarian camp. It is idle to exaggerate the advantages won. They are great enough in themselves. The success is material ; the moral effect must be greater. With respect to strategical considerations, it must be noticed that Der Tann is now driven to the north, and that all chance of Prince Frederic Charles at once joining him with the large army from Metz, is cut off. If Aurelles de Paladine can speedily attack Der Tann with superior forces, the cause of France will look bright. If he does not move quickly, he is lost, notwithstanding the successes of the week. The Tours correspondent of the Standard, in a letter of the 10th instant, writes as follows :—At last the tide has turned—at last victory has attended the French arms. I have just been to the telegraph office to dispatch the news that the army of the Loire has advanced, that Orleans has been retaken, and that the Prussian loss was 500 killed and wounded. We have, as yet, no official news upon the subject, but before I close my letter it is probable that a bulletin will be issued. Even since sending my despatch I have obtained some further particulars. The fighting began some leagues on this side of Orleans, and the Prussians were gradually driven back towards the town, offering an obstinate resistance. At last they were driven into the town itself, which the French were obliged to bombard for some hours to drive them out. The Prussians then retreated towards Paris, and were followed for four or five leagues by the French. lam assured that the Prussians left 500 wounded behind them in Orleans alone. Should this be true, it is probable that their total loss will not be under two thousand men. It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of this victory to France. However brave soldiers may be, they cannot but fight with dis couragement when they find that victory never crowns their efforts. There seemed almost as if a spell hung upon the French arms. At last this spell is broken. The Army of the Loire has proved that it is no myth, as the Prussians were pleased not long ago to call it, and the army of General Von der Tann, de feated and broken, is in full route for Paris, where its arrival will, perhaps, cause a doubt in the mind of King William and his advisers whether France is so helpleasly at the feet of the in vaders as they had supposed. The news will be received throughout France with a burst of enthu siasm, and the preparations for war will go on with greater ardour even than before. Before men armed with a determination to die for France, now they will hope to conquer for her. The defeat of Von der Tann's army, and the occupation of Orleans by the French, will not improbably modify considerably the Prussian plans of the campaign. As long as Orleans was held by the Prussian; there was no fear whatever of any assistance coming towards Paris from the South. There is no doubt the Prussians were entirely ignorant of the real strength of the Army of the Loire, and considered that Von der Tann, with comparatively smell reinforcements from the army of Prince Frederick Charles, would be able to make all safe in that direction. The great bulk of the besieging army was therefore divided into two portions, the one, under General Manteuffel, to march •to the north 7 west of Paris, the other, under the Prince himself, to pro ceed towards Besancon, and after defeating General Michel, to besiege Lyons. Now, however, that Orleans is occupied by a strong French army, and Orleans, be it remembered, is little over sixty miles from Paris, the situation is completely changed, and I imagine we shall hear ere many days that either the army of Manteuffel is ordered to march south instead of north of Paris, or that Prince Frederick Charles is recalled with his corps in all haste In another fortnight, in fact, &he besieging army of Paris will be threatened by three powerful armies—by that of the Loire from the south, by that of Keratry from the south-west, and by that of Bourbaki from the north-west, besides the army of Paris, 250,000 strong, and ready to sally, out from any side at a moment's notice. It is evident that the game is by no means lost yet. M eiRSHAL BAZAINE INTERVIEWED. The irrepressible correspondent of the New York Herald has "interviewed" Bazaine as well as the Emperor, and obtained from the Marshal's own lips a repetition of the statement already published on his behalf that hunger, and the impossibility of making a successful sortie (chiefly through want of horses) compelled him to surren der. The pith of tha conversation is contained in the fol lowing passages : Correspondent : Did you proclaim the Republic in Metz? Marshal : No ! Such a declaration would have para lysed all action ; I could then have counted no longer on my best troops. . . . I have sworn loyalty to the Emperor and the Constitution. The Emperor is a pri soner, but the Constitution is in force. Neither I nor my comrades will ever acknowledge any other Government unless we have previously obtained a discharge from our oath by the Emperor. Correspondent : Do you ascribe to yourself any victo rious engagement during the siege of Metz? Marshal: No; victory includes of necessity the ulti mate result of an engagement. I have whipped the Prussians often and severely, but the final result was always unfavourable to me. Correspondent : Hunger forced you at last to open negotiations. Marshal : Even if it had not been hunger, I would have done it on the day I learned that not the Republicans, but the mob, governed Paris, Lyons, and Marseilles, on the day I learned that the army was insulted, the memory of men who I venerate reviled. But it was hunger, and nothing but hunger. You would be mistaken if you were to think that I took the responsibility of such a step on my own shoulders. I acted only as the executive of the orders of a council of war, whose members ascer tained the opinions of generals, colonels, majors, &c., previous to making up their votes. I called the Council together on the 10th, and again on the 12th of October, when it was unanimously resolved that by the 14th I must commence steps towards capitulation. I now re quested permission from the Prince to send General Boyer to the headquarters of the King. It was granted after some delay. I proposed to march off with my army, to pledge our honour not to fight again in this war ; to be permitted to convene and to protect the French Chamber against a second attempt of the mob (canaille), or, as Count Bismarck named them, the street loafers (Messieurs du pav4). I detest politics; we only wanted to do what M. Gambetta refused—re-establish legality by calling together the Representative Body. Correspondent : And what did Count Bismarck say to that? Marshal : Here (taking up a document) you may read all that was said at the conference. It is General Boyer's report. But you must refrain from publishing it, as I don't know whether I can allow that. [Bismarck seemed to have agreed to Bazaine's propositions, but Moltke rejected them; he considered that the Marshal could not hinder desertion among his troops, who would then mate rially strengthen the forces of the Francs-tireurs.] Marshal : On October 18th we held another council of war. General Coffinieres then reported that the provi sions were all used up, and though it was really the case, I yet held out eight days longer amid indescribable suf ferings. The last council was held on the 26th. It was resolved to capitulate in order to save more loss of life. Correspondent : How large have been your losses since the 14th of August ? Marshal: Our casualties, not counting the sick and missing, amounted in the Rhine Army to 24 generals, 2,140 officers, and 42,339 men. I received, too, a contu sion at Borny. Look at this hole in my epaulette. Why didn't this confounded splinter of a grenade go deeper ? I should not have outlived my reputation as a soldier, nor should I, as a Frenchman, have known that day of ever lasting ignominy, the 4th of September. A letter from Pacy-sur-Eure says that on Saturday two suspicious-looking individuals were arrested at Caillouet and handed over to a court-martial, when 20 Prussians arrived in the locality with an officer. They were re ceived with a well-aimed fire, and 11 fell from their horses, while the remainder, most of whom were wounded, fled. An official communication made verbally to the officers at Metz before the capitulation gave full details of Changarnier's interview with Prince Frederick Charles - at headquarters. The Prince shewed himself thoroughly familiar with the proceedings inside Metz, and said he knew they had only three days' provisions. " We have always known, he said," what you did and what you wanted to do, After a council of war I was always BIRTHS. On the 11th inst., at 27, Carlton-hill, the wife of James S ' Harting, of a daughter. of On the 11th inst., at Falcon-lane, Battersea, the wife W. G. Rigden, Esq., of a daughter. MARRIAGES.I . - ti On the 12th inst., at St. James's, Piccadilly, Arbm Grenville Clayton, of the Royal Engineers to E li zabe. t a, Louise, the daughter of JOhn Kiernan, Esq., of gal . - stone. On the 10th inst., at St. George's Haitover-square, N tr t , Henry Newman, of Piccadilly and Streatham, to Fang l J Maria, younger daughter of Mr. Stephen Cox, Stool' ford-street, London. informed directly of what had been decided on. ; evidence of this, he mentioned the several proposals nu"_, on certain days by the various commandants of the OT, d'armSe, whom he named, and quoted also the resolutiQP" taken in consequence. Cathelineau and his volunteers took a brilliant To rt ill the action at Orleans. r deril An extensive emigration is going on from No., no p France into Belgium. The advance of the German s " Lille and other places is the cause of this exodus. The mortality during the siege of Strasburg ev e r g l a o A 80 a day. Immediately after the capitulation it 10 ' 20. It is now 10. Marshal Canrobert, with his staff, left Cas" Saturday for Stuttgart. Marshal Lebceuf will ell ° depart for Bonn. During the past week or ten days about 30011°1. have- been shipped at Southampton by the B°ll e t i 3 Western Company's steamers for Honfleur, St. Mato' Havre. The official paper at M6zieres urges the assassinationej°f the Germans, remarking that if each of the 60,00 0 e nr°il Francs-tireurs shot a Prussian a day there would in te & days he none left. The diffieulty is for each of the 6 to accomplish this moderate daily allowance. One French gentleman who was settled in Monte V icie° has come to France, and organised a body of freeshe eter : o , He has introduced a South American weapon—the 1115 0 1 Each man of his company is to be armed with one these instruments for use against the Germans. Some of the French peasantry, to save themselves fri: spoliation, denounce to the Prussians those who re B Prussians say their hands are full of letters of delltinct tion. They are themselves disgusted, and announce " when peace is made they shall give up the names. t The Echo du IVord reports that Generals Ladcli f 4 l, and Jeanningros have succeeded in escaping from and are now at large in Lorraine, but closely pursce,“ the German troops. This report needs confirrce'flo The arrival of General Ladmirault at a German town recently announced in a German paper. Lady Pigott, wife of Sir Robert Pigott, Be•P" - "L e Branches Park, Newmarket, has arrived at Metz, Vi e , her services have been gratefully accepted by the gi n men on the medical staff. She at once commenced Acr; io duties among the sick and wounded. Lady Pigott is excellent linguist, and her aid is, therefore, d oes valuable. t he During the German occupation of Orleans women of the city spent their time in visiting prisoners, and and assisting in the hospitals. .The sian leaders had thanked them for the care of te m , wounded. The Bishop of Orleans had Pet the O°P- ( j example, and was always ready to give assistance to consolation. The Emperor of Russia recently sent a letter uncle, the King of Prussia, which excited some sPec: 46 tion both in French and German political circles. i t : - r o, stated by some to have simply asked leave for M. rr to pass through the German lines into Paris, but is is ll ,, w said to have merely expressed a wish for the speedy rev' ration of peace. of The bestowal by the Czar of the third of the Orde r , St. George on General Steinmetz is explained in the lowing manner :—The Russian Emperor sent the dec o ',; tion to the King, asking him to confer it on the re A t ''i deserving officer in his army. The King thereupon 6 ,:d it to General Steinmetz, with a highly complime eb D letter. Steinmetz was recently deprived of his colmrli°- .. j ., ag of the Second Army. He now gets a Russian OLYFF consolation. A correspondent of the Elberfeld Gazette says that ha has learned from a reliable source that it is beginilit t , be considered needful for Germany to annex a larger I ' o l tion of France than Alsace and Lorraine. His inforl o % told him that it would be needful to take also the t er : tory extending from Givet to Sedan, as well ae the east e portion of Lorraine. If this line of frontier were 01001311! Germany would be increased by an area of abou t % square miles, and by a population of two millions an quarter. What is the German Fatherland? The Economie of Tournai states that for many 6 :3 past the trains from Brussels to Lille have conv e Y, numerous French soldiers who had succeeded in esceP a il ` from Metz and who sought to return to France. them were many officers, who, having signed no eng% ment to the contrary, are free to resume services with ' 4 ' French army. These travellers assume the most extr 9l°, ; dinary disguises in order to escape capture by the mans, and one colonel was noticed in the working dres s° a journeyman stonemason. Fort Mortier, at Neu Breisach, became a complete t aili d before the surrender. The entrances to the casemates the gate were choked up. The utensils, beds, carPt °l &c., were everywhere scattered about. Of the seven gn i of the fort, six were made unserviceable by the hest fire ; only one grenade cannon remained uninjured iron mortar gun-carriage had been tut in two by a hotel ). Cartridges and bombs were lying in the wells, and th_ j °tv sands of splinters of grenades and bombs were disPe7 ie in all directions. Strangely enough, in an open Ai' were nine oxen and three sheep quite unscathed. In September, 1869, the direct British trade with elg e r a man ports found occupation for shipping amounting 279,634 tons, while that with Holland was 121,66 6 t 0 In the present year the figures , were 76,915 and 164, 17 ; the trade with German ports thus diminishing 203,000, and that with Holland increasing by 42,000 t 0 This, according to the Cologne Gazette, shews the mode,: tion of the claims to compensation from France for W it , losses which have been prepared. No compensati° ll demanded for the general stoppage of trade caused bY ti t l e / a blockade and the removal of buoys ; this being conside o; g in the same light as the losses sustained by all branehn , nt industry. The claims are restricted to comp ensa tion vessels captured. A Prussian soldier, writing from Metz on the D 8 says :—" At Ars Laquenexy is a camp fo r p r i soner s. 111 0 ; first of them looked on us very sourly, but a moreel_, bread, however small, brightened up most of their fav% According to their own account they bad of late only third of a ration of bread and a little horseflesh withell salt. The allowance to the prisoners is the same as toe own aimy, and yet the distress is very great. Straw is!: longer to be had for our own troops, and the poor Frew' soldiers have to lie under their narrow canvas tents / 11tile mire. Several dropped down dead on the march the fi:. day, and after the first night's camping out there We r e 110 deaths. Our patrols could with extreme diffiet l9l keep the prisoners within the limits of the camp. All e". 4 out for bread. The re-lighting of lighthouses off the North Gerit rivers has been countermanded. Up to Friday, and f o several previous days, it was reported at Grimsby that vo German fleet were preventing all ships, both outward and homeward bound, from passing Cuxhaven, and that v"" ,„ Germania, with a cargo of sheep, had been compelled go back to Hamburg. The Elbe was telegraphed open vn Saturday, and the screw steamer Wakefield was to let e , v i Grimsby on Saturday night for Hamburg as usual. ie,,„ out of the thirteen steamers running from GrimsbY' Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Dieppe are doll weekly service, and five are laid up, chiefly owing to ni stoppage of the trade at Dieppe. The Hamburg Dutch and Belgian commerce was never so brisk; cad landed at Grimsby are now slaughtered immediately, an have never since the Privy Council orders were isfA l e d been sent inland. 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On the 10th inst., at Fincastle, Pitlochry, N.B , Sir Rob ert • Gilmour Colquhoun, K. 0.8., aged 67. London : Printed by GIDEON ACLAND BOYCE, t No. 112, Strand, Printer, and Publi s h e d by him a Tux SUN Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of t Savoy, in the County of Middlesex. Tuesday, November 15, 1870, 1 ....... i......... ........... ......... C' Ad d l'estil AND' f ields Nene Of 8 4 : aent Ti to N TA ut e t e o , e t ........ Li CA mod, bI Ana, aleni h i 3 ....et, lad y kw Vet, t oth, —..„