The Sun. — London, England, 1867-04-26 00:00:00

THE LUXEMBURG QUESTION. (F 1 am the Times' Correspondent.) LUXEMBURG, April 22. If the humorous idea of a recent author were car ried out, and, by way of increasing the European " chaos," the fate of nations were to be decided by committees of Political ethnologists, what work it would give them to fix the destiny of Luxemburg ! The Walloon portion of the old Duchy is appro priately enough annexed to Belgium, but what ought to be done with the so-called German portion —the Grind Duchy of Luxemburg of the present day? The local writers admit that the Luxem burgers are of Teutonic race; but so, they say, are the Dutch. This, according to M. Groen, and to M. Vreede, the Professor of International Lamy at the University of Utrecht, is no reason why Hol land should be absorbed in the Prussian monarchy ; and the Luxemburgers argue in the same manner that the fact of their lingo (I cannot call it a lan guage) containing, besides Flemish and French, a large number of German words, ought not, neces sarily, to condemn them to a similar end. What, however, are you to do with a people one of whose favourite exclamations is " Zaperlott !" who for " half-and.half" say " halef an halef ;" for " Your servant," " Vot zerviter ;" for "to pass the even ing," " soiree passiren ;" and who, wishing to con vey the idea that a man speaks " with a strong Eng lish accent," makes use of these words, "Mat engem utreerten Euglenneschen Akzent 7" These Letze burgers, with their " unversteindlisches Kauder walsch," teach us, at all events, that language is no sure test of race. In the case of Luxemburg it is at once a geographical sign and an historical monu ment. Ihe chief town of the Duchy is about the same distance, and that distance only a good walk, from the frontier of Germany on the one hand and of France on the other. The country, as long as it was under the dominion of the House of Austria, was governed as a province of the Netherlands ; but almost every strong Continental Power has had Luemburg at some time or other, and the traces of foreign rule are to be found in its language, as well as in its laws. On the question of race the ethnologists would, no doubt, give judgment in favour of Germany. On the language question they would fight; and when men of science begin to fight, their combats, as we all know, last some time. If the question of manners were to be considered, the Luxemburgers would cer tainly not be classed with the North Germans,whom they in no way resemble ; but rather with the French populations of Lorraine and Alsace, or, perhaps, NV ith the South Germans of some petty, and, until now, paternally governed State, in which the inhabitants love ease, and bate the high-pressure system of go vernment as practised by Prussia. As to religion, the Luxemburgers are devout Catholics, and were included for centuries in the diocese of Treves. At present Luxemburg is under the spiritual govern ment of a Vicar Apostolic, who is Bishop somewhere in partibus infideliurn—at Halicarnassus, I think. Duchinski, who carries his ethnological investiga tions into all the details of private life,would expect me to state what the Luxemburgers eat, drink, and avoid, whether they make their beds in the French or German fashion, whether their wine comes from the Rhine, the Marne, or the Moselle ; whether they prefer wine to beer, or beer to wine, and in the latter case whether their malt liquor is of the Belgian, the Bavarian, or the Strasburg type ; whether their clothes are made of French or of German materials and pattern ; whether the courage of the men is of a light and chivalrous or of a solid and business-like description; finally, whether the beauty of the women is oneof form and colour, or only of manner, and whether they are principally remirkable for good nature and sympathetic qualities generally, or for vivacity, conversational powers, and love of admira tion. I air in a position to answer all these questions, besides others which M. Daehiuski would never have thought of putting. I accept only the one relating to the courage of the men, who, though rather noisy in their mirth, do not seem quarrelsome, and whc have had nothing to fight about since I have been here. . First of all, as a proof of the willingness of the Luxemburgers to oblige every one and to accom modate themselves to every taste, let me mention that they set their railway clocks by four different meridians, and that each clock has three hands. The Prussian who has just arrived at Luxemburg by the train from Treves or from Cologne, and who is, of course, iu favour of annexation to Prussia, is pleased to see that the clock marks with one of its three hands the hour according to Cologne. The French man from Metz, looking upon the Grand Duchy as so much French territory in fitturo, is charmed to find that the Luxemburg clocks have already learnt to keep French time. The Belgian, who, in nine cases out of ten, thinks that the proper thing to do with Luxemburg is to give it back to Belgium, dis covers a proof of Belgian tendencies in the existence, on the face of the station clock, of a Brussels minute hand. _I came to Luxemburg by a train which was due at one in the afternoon. It seemed to me, on reaching the terminus, that we were ten minutes late. I looked at the cloth, but at first I could make nothing of it. One minute-hand pointed to XII, the other to while the hand for indicating the hour rested impartially upon I. It was one o'clock by Brussels, ten minutes past one by Luxemburg time. A French writer who recently visited Luxem burg, and declares (very incorrectly) that the Luxein burgers praise the Prussians to those who speak to them i❑ German, and the French to those who address them in French, might have regarded this Janus-like clock as a symbol. It is impossible, then, to decide the question of the nationality or national tendencies of the Luxem burgers by means of their railway clocks. With regard to some other points bearing upon this ques tion, on which I have not yet touched, I may state that the coinage of the Grand Duchy (it has a sepa rate coinage of its own) consists of francs and cen times, and that the pieces are stamped with in scriptions in the French language. I have already said in a previous letter that French is the official language, and I ought to have added that it has been so for centuries. Under the rule of the German Emperors, before the invention of centralisatioe, when provincial distinctions were fully recognised, ant when religious persecution had not yet been re placed by the equally odious persecution of Govern ment functionaries, the Luxemburg_yrs were allowed to use the French language in all public affairs, and the GoVernor of the Lower Countries corresponded with the local authorities in the tongue. When Louis XIV. took Luxemburg he found a French administration already established in the place. When, by the Treaty of Utrecht, it passed back into the hands of the German Emperors no change was malls, in the local government, which was still car ried on in French until 1794. In that year the Aus trian military Governor of 'Luxemburg took leave of the people in a very cordial letter written in the French language ; and the government of the Grand Duchy, transformed into the Department of Forests, then became French in a fall political sense. In fact, it is only from 1815, when the Grand Duchy was given to Holland, until 1830, the year of the Belgian Revolution, that French ever ceased to be the legal official language of Luxemburg. Even dur ing those 15 years French was practically the lan guage of public affairs, and in all official documents sent to Luxemburg from the Hague French and Dutch were used side by side. I have said enough about the language of Luxem burg, popular, literary, and official. L t me add, however, that, as it seems to inn, the extent to which French is employed in the city of Luxonmurg no more proves that the Grand Duchy ought to be, or ev,m that it wishes to be, annexed to France than the extent to which French is en)ployed in Brussels proves the sAme thing in respect to Belgium. But it nanst not be supposed that French, the offi cial language everywhere, is only used as a conver sational language in the chief of the Luxemburg towns. There are whole villages of Luxemburgers who speak the same sort of F renc h t h at one - hears from the Alsatian water-carriers iu Paris, and I have ' , keepers who speak F renc h come across several shopke e p ers with purity. Among the upper classes the use of the French language is a tradition am} a habit ; but I was unable, without assistance, to make out how it happened that French was so familiar to men who could not have learnt it as children, and who had no need of it for conversing with those generally surrounding them. This is the solution of the enigma :—The true capital of the Grand Duchy is not Luxemburg, its provincial chief town, but Paris. Paris is the ideal city to which the aspirations of all Luxemburgers tend. Everybody here who can afford to make a long journey goes, in the first place, to Paris, as everybody who wants to make a short journey in the neighbourhood goes to Metz rather than to the far more interesting city of Treves. The French-speaking workmen visit Paris regularly every year, returning here at the end of the season, and remaining with their families during the period of chOmage until their money is spent and the time for recommencing work has arrived. Workmen of a superior kind go to Paris to perfect themselves in their particular calling, and also because Paris is, to their idea, the greatest place in the world. Young men whose parents have means, after being educated at a French or Belgian gymnasium, go to some French university to complete their studies. Those who wish for a military career enter the French or the Belgian army, but for the most part the French. The Federal contingent of Luxemburg consists (for it has survived the Confederation) of only 1,700 men, and offers no career to a warrior of ambition ; but Luxemburg has contributed its contingent of volunteers to the Belgian Legion which was formed for service in Mexico, and to the permanent Foreign Legion of France. A man must be desperately in want of military glory to enter the French Foreign Legion. A certain number of Luxemburgers, how ever, have done so, others have become naturalised in France, and have entered the French regular army. It can be seen from the tombstones in the cemeteries that Luxemburgers were killed fighting on the-French side in the Crimean and Italian cam paigns. But no Luxemburger took part in the great German war, which was terminated without the Luxemburg Contingent of 1,700 men being called into the field at all. There is no movement on the part of workmen or students or aspirants for military fame towards Ger many ; all which proves not that the Luxemburgers are French, but most decidedly that they are not German. As for their general mode of life—to return to the minor tests in the Duchinski system—their cookery is partly French, partly German, and they drink Moselle, which is half a French half a Garman wine. They have French beds with German eider downs upon them. Their horses seem to be a cross between the Flemish and the old French post-horse. The men clothe themselves, but do not drew, and that personage in a recent French comedy who longed for the *day when he might walk about with his waistceat unbuttoned would have found him self quite at home in Luxemburg. As for the women, they resemble in mint' respects the admir able women of Strasburg—awiable Germans, vivi fied by a French spirit. APRIL 23. People in England, as in other parts of the world, musthave been surfeited with news from Luxemburg —I mean of incidents supposed to have happened there. Established Governments, or their agent.i, have shown themselves as fertile in invention as the much-abused " European revolutionists," who used to concoct such wonderful telegrams about Italian, and, above all, Polish affairs. I thought on arriving here that if I did not succeed in discover ing what had, I should at least he able to find out what had not, taken place—what was the truth about the petitions for and against annexation to France? what about the revolt of the " Nassauers' in garrison here ? what about the proclamations in favour of annexation to France posted up on the walls at night by French agents to be torn down the nett morning by indignant inhabitants? what about the black flags carried through the streets on the anniversary of the battle of Sadowa ? what about the visit of M. de Lavalette to Luxem burg ? what about the visit of the Baron de Tornaco to Paris ? All I knew about the affairs of Luxemburg on reaching this city—in addition, of course, to the bare fact that the King of Holland had proposed to ce le the Grand Duchy for a pecuniary consideration to the Emperor Napo leon, and that Count Bistnark, or the King of Prus sia, had forbidden the sale, was baSed upon the facts suggested by the above inquiries. The scaffolding was a treacherous one, and for the most part rotten. Two petitions, one for the main • tenance of Luxemburg in its present position, the other approving, by implication, the proposed an nexation to France, have been circulated and signed. As for the " Nassauers," by which was meant the Nassau regiment, forming about one-half of the gar rison, they did not revolt, nor had they anything to revolt about. .1 have been puzzling myself for some time to find out why this fable of the revolt of the Sassauers was spread so industriously all over Europe, but must now give it up as a bad job. With regard to the proclamations, if they were posted up at night, when as a rule it is dark, who can prove that they were posted up by French agents? Ido not see why the French Government should send agents to Luxemburg at all, for every Luxemburger you meet is a self- constituted French agent already. I cannot speak positively of my own knowledge, but every one that I have asked has given me the same answer on the subject—that the ad dresses iu favour of France were posted on the walls and dropped about the streets by the students and other young men of the town-4es jeunes yens, as a class, in fact. Grave persons admit that it was very unbecoming to do anything of the kind, inasmuch as the country is still under the government of the King of Holland, but they deny that French agents were in any way concerned in the matter. If the farce of universal suffrage should really be played in connection with the proposed cession of Luxemburg, the French will no doubt look after their own inte rests and their own ballot boxes, and without resort ing to any unfair play they might, if the question was understood to be one between entering the North German Federation and being annexed to France, count on obtaining an enormous majority. But I don't think they have made any attempts to influence the sentiments of the people hitherto, and why should they? I have bought some dozen books on the history, laws, and local religious ceremonies of the Luxemburgers. They are all in French, and three out of four contain sarcasms against the Ger mans. The two most celebrated works in Luxem burg literature aie the learned flescription of the Grand Duchy by the Bishop of La Basse-Mouturie, and,its too complete history, in eight stupendous quartos, by the Jesuit, Father Bertholet. Ido not pretend to have read either of these productions; but I have looked through Bertholet's appended " Dictionary of Illustrious Men produced by the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, whose names are not introduced in this history," and I can certify that both the works I have mentioned are written in French. If the historians of the last century, writ ing at a time when the Grand Duchy still formed part of the Holy Roman Empire, used the French language, and if, as is the case, the guide-books and pamphlels of the present day are also published in that tongue, then it is really very difficult to under stand what need there can be to stimulate the Luxemburgers in their very evident inclination towards France. There have been officers and non-commissioned officers here, however, from the neighbouring forti fied town of Metz. The officers, after sending their cards to the proper authorities and requesting per mission to see the works of the fortress, were natu rally enough refused. But the new forts protecting the railway, and other military buildings erected by the Prrt-sians were sketched all the saw. Indeed, though printed notices are exhibited forbidding the approach to certain points in the fortifications, there are no sentinels to enforce compliance with the in junctions. The gartispn is said to be at its mini mum ; and this would Certainly seem to point to at least the possibility of a painful solution of the Luxemburg question. A batter sign still is that of late no additional works have been constructed, and that no new artillery has been brought into the fortress. French functionaries, too, have visited Luxem burg in their offi,ial capacity, and with the view of reporting to their Government ou the condition of the Grand Duchy generally. A Prefect from a neighbouring department, irs ho h s large estates here, was the first to arrive. Sum minor officials came with the special view of st.►dying the eera. rnE SUN, LO mercial relations of Luxemburg, and of devising means for lessening the shock that its trade would rective from the country's being /suddenly trans ferred from one Government to another. The in habitants, on being told by their French visitors that their birthplace, and they with it, had been sold, felt mortified as well as surprised, but a cer tain number of persons seem from the very first to have looked upon annexation to France as a good escape from a forced entry into the North German Federation. The Government of Luxemburg (which consists of three directors-general, one of whom is president, with the title of Minister of State) had neither been consulted, nor was it informed of the cession to France until after it had actually taken place. When I say " actually had taken place," I am adopting (temporarily) the opinion of some Luxemburgers, who are convinced that the Act of March 27 between the King of Holland and the Emperor of the French was signed, and declare that they know it, and even explain how they came to know it. Persons of this way of thinking maintain that the transfer to France is only a question of time, and that time a few weeks ; and they ask how French officials could have come here with the ac knowledged view of taking possession unless Count Bismark's consent to the transaction had been ob tained beforehand. This, they say, explains Count Bismark's per fectly true statement that the Luxemburgers have no wish to belong to Germany ; and they declare that the report of their having carried black flags about the streets on the anniversary of Sadowa was intentionallj , spread in order to discredit them in the eyes of the North Germans, and thus reconcile the latter to an entire separation from them. This seems queer on all sides ; but it is certain that the lie is used as a weapon in connection with this Lux emburg question, though it is often difficult to un derstand with what particular aim it is being em ployed. As for M. de Lavalette's reported visit to Luxem burg, it has not taken place. Neither has the Baron de Tornaco, Minister-President at Luxemburg, been to Paris, as some French and Belgian papers have asserted. It seems to have been thought that after the deci sion of the Dutch Government to keep clear altoge ther of the Luxemburg affair, and consequently to cease to represent it diplomatically abroad, M. de Tornaco would proceed to Paris as Envoy from the Grand Duchy. All he did, however, was to go to the llague, where it is believed that he did not suc ceed in obtaining an interview with the King. From this it is concluded that his Majesty, like. so many of the Luxemburgers, looks upon the arrange ment with France as a settled affair, and wishes to hear no more on the subject. Otherwise the local Government would naturally pretest against a ces sion of any kind, to no matter what Power. A Minister is somebody in Luxemburg a Sub-Prefect is next to nobody in France. To-day it is announced that M. Fohr, Director- General and Judge, will go to Paris to represent the interests of the Grand Duchy, and that M. Jonas, Registrar-General, will proceed on the same mission to Berlin. The Baron de Tornaco remains at Luxem burg. The Luxemburg Government has for some time past been kept fully informed of all that takes place in connection with its affairs ; and a telegram was received from Paris this morning by a person in authority stating that the cession to France would be carried out with the consent of Count Bis mark, who, if his conduct in the matter was not ap proved, would resign. Senders of telegrams, how ever, like the receivers, are sometimes deceived. Railway and other Companies. METROPOLITAN. The general manager of this company, Mr. Myles Fenton, states that the number of passengers con veyed on Easter Monday last over the Metropoli tan and Hammersmith and City lines was 101,493, against 87,662 on Easter Monday, 1866, and 66,232 on Easter Monday, 1865, showing an increase of 13,831 passengers over Easter Mon lay in 1866, and of 35,261 over the same day in 1865. SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE. The half-yearly general meeting of this company was held yesterday at the Eustou Station ; Colonel Bigge in the chair. The report of the directors stated that the dis posable balance on revenue account for the half year ending the 31st of December, 1866, was £3,941, out of which the directors recommended a dividend at the rate of 41 per cent. per annum. The London and North-Western Railway Company had given the requisite three months' notice of their intention to exercise the option given to them by the agreement of the 2d of August, 1863, of purchasin,q, this company's undertaking upon the terms con tained in the agreement and sanctioned by Parlia ment. The report was adopted. On the motion of Mr. J. ADDISON, a vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. LLANELLY. A Wharncliffe meeting of this company was held yesterday at the offices, Great George-street, West minster ; Mr. J. Biddulph in the chair. Mr. Markby, the solicitor, read the head of a bill for granting further powers to the Llanelly Com pany, and to enable them to give their dock as se curity for £50,000, which the Harbour Commis sioners of Llanelly intended borrowing from the Loan Commissioners, with the view of securing better harbour accommodation for that place. After a long discussion it was agreed, on the motion of Mr. HELEN, seconded by Mr. FOWLER, that the bill be approved, with the exception of the part relating to the agreement with the Harbour Coinmissioners of Llanelly. LLYNVI AND OGMORE. A Wharncliffe meeting of this company was held yesterday at the Great Western Hotel, Padding ton ; Mr. A. Macgregor in the chair. The Solicitor read the heads of a bill, authorising the company to raise additional capital to the extent of £lOO,OOO, with the usual borrowing powers, and to sanction traffic arrangements with the South Wales Mineral Railway Company. The CHAIRAAN said the necessity for increased capital was caused by an incorrect estimate of the amount required for new works in connexion with the harbour and docks at Porthcawl, and for ad ditional rolling stock. The necessity for additional rolling stock implied the fulfilment of their expec tations as to the increase of traffic, and he believed it was likely to exceed their expectations. The works at the port were almost completed, and their prospects when completed were exceedingly good. The inner basin would have a depth of water of 29 feet at spring tides and 18 feet at neap tides. A resolution approving the bill was carried, and the proceedings terminated. WEST FLANDERS. The report of the directors states, in reference to the claims of the preference and original share holders to the division of any sum that might re main for dividend after paying the interest, 51 per cent., on the preference shares and Bs. 9d. (or 5 per cent. on £8 155.) to the original shareholders, that the question bad been submitted to eminent law yers in England and Belgium, and the opinion of all of them, varying somewhat in positiveness, was in favour of the original shareholders. The statutes of the company provided that in the event of a dis pute between the shareholders the question should be submitted to three arbitrators in Belgium, whose decision should be final. A holder of preference. shares having raised the question, it had been sub mitted, with the usual formalities, to three arbitra tors appointed by the Tribunal of Commerce at Brugel. The decision of the arbitrators was in favour of the original shareholders, and the direc tors hoped that this decision, according as it did with the best opinions they could take, had finally set the question at rest. The statement of accounts for the past half-year showed that after providing for the fixed charges, there remained a balance of £7,034, out of which the directors proposed to pay 4s. 91 per share, payable as usual on and after the 15th of May next, and to carry forward a balance of £6BO. Since the last meeting the directors had paid £1,231, the balance due for carriages and trucks, thus closing that account. The Socio 6 DON, FRIDAY EVENINa, APRIL 26, 1867. d'Exploitation had been merged into a larger com pany, the Societe Generale d'Exploitation de Che mins de Fer, under a strong and influential body of shareholders, and the directors had everyreason to be satisfied with the arrangements. The report of Mr. A. W: Chantrell, the managing director in Belgium, stated that the works on the Roulers and Ypres line bad been commenced, as well as those of the Dix mude and Nieuport. The works on the Courtray and Denderleeuw had also been recently com menced, and the first section, as far as Audenaerde, was expected to be ready by the end of this year. The Imperial decree approving the convention signed between the Minister of Agriculture, Com merce, and Public \Yolks and this company for the concesion of the line from Hazebrouck to the frontier of Belgium was granted on Dec. 19 last, and there was reason to expect that the construc tion of the Poperinghe and Hazebrouck junction would not be long delayed. The capital account showed that £599,554 had been expended. The revenue account showed that £17,262 bad been re ceived, including a balance of £,1,121 from the pre ceding account ; and the expenditure, including interest on bonds and preference capital, amounted to £10,228, leaving, as above, a balance of £7,034. WESTERN SHAREHOLDERS' ASSOCIATION. It appears that the objects of this association are to impress upon the directors of the various com panies the abandonment of some or all of the schemes for extension now projected by the respec tive companies in the present session of Parliament, and, if considered advisable, to obtain the sanction of Parliament to the abandonment of any unpro fitable scheme to which either company may be considered to be pledged by Parliament. The chair man, Mr. R. Brent, and the hon. secretaries, Messrs. H. S. Ellis and R. M. Daw, state that they have forwarded copies of memorials, signed by numerous influential shareholders, to the directors of the Lon don and South-Western Railway Company, the Bristol and Exeter Railway Company, expressing their opinion that it is most undesirable to as:4st the formation of the Devon and Cornwall and other pro jected railways in the West of England, excepting the extension from Okehampton to Lidford ; urging that every facility be given to the public for the interchange of traffic between the various Weitern railways. They also state that a deputation from this association has already had an interview with the dir, ctors, in reference to the various extensions pro jected or supported by the London and South- Western Company, at which interview the directors signified their desire to postpone as long as possible the construction of such branches and extensions as are partly made, and to enter into no engagements for the construction of other branches and lines ex cept such as are absolutely necessary. Euphrates, leaving the Deyvsim between them and the Turkish forces at Erzingow and Erzeroum ; and the Russians would then move through an Ar menian population, if not favourable, at least not directly hostile, and exercise at every step an influ ence over the Kizzilbash, who would themselves be sufficient to hold in check a large army seeking to take the short route of their rugged mountains. But, besides, the country is in a financial point of view well worthy the Porte's attention, the hills abound ing in iron, copper, lepd, and even silver, and pro ducing gall nuts, and other natural productions— all unknown to the Turks. Passing on through other districts, the Consul found, with some ex ceptions, caused by oppression that is unchecked, a prosperous population in the Erziugau Sanjak and the Kharput plain. In this great plain there are villages every half hour, and all available lands groan under orchards, grain, and cotton ; the poor emigrate for employment to the cities, and the people, therefore, arc prosperous, the Christians purchasing land of the Moslems freely. At Diarbekr he found that, after five years of losses by locusts first, and then by cholera, the Tchetchen immigra tion, unfortunately advocated bv the Pasha and sanctioned by the Porte, is proving disastrous to the province. The loss in cattle alone has been enormous, not only from over-work in transporting the immigrants and their baggage, but also from the undiscriminating tastes of this half-famished people. Unsupplied with proper rations by the Government, they devoured every four-footed beast that fell into their hands, whether killed in the usual way or dead from natural causes ; oxen-, horses, dogs, donkeys, buffaloes, and camels—nothing came amiss to them. Within the last three months of 1866 more than 5,000 beasts of burden were lost to the poor agricultural classes of the province, and timber to the amount of more than £2,000 sterling iu value from one district alone. Many of the owners of cattle gave them up, and never attended to re claim, beingin fear of corvee. Artisans and labourers have been dragged from their 'mina 80 miles off to build the homes, Government offices, and huts for the new city, leaving their families and business at a season when their presence was absolutely neces sary, and for which the nominal dole, promised but not paid them, can be no compensation. The Con sul thinks it hardly likely that a race like these new subjects of the Porte, accustomed for the last fifty years to a life of war and plunder, will at once quietly sink down into the comparative inaction of an agricultural life in a colony, composed entirely of themselves, headed by intelligent, clever men, formerly officers of the Russian army, and retaining all their old Tchetchenais associations of war, battle, struggles for freedom, and belief that riches and plenty are dependent solely upon the single strength of their arms. Nor will the knowledge they are hutted in a country that for centuries has been abandoned by the Turks—if, indeed, it was ever really subject—from their sheer inability to held 'their own against the Arabs, contribute to their loyalty, particularly if put to the test of taxation and conscription. The Consul trusts that the Go vernment will not, by withdrawing its support, prematurely drive the Tchetchens to brigandage for subsistence ; and he strongly advocates the placing a permanent regular force at Ras-el-Ain to awe the Bedouins and force peaceful habits upon the im migrants. The absence of resistance on the part of the 4rabs to the establishment of a foreign colony in a country which they regard as their own is en couraging. The Pasha is a man of great persever ance. If the new colonists should turn out the re generators of this most fruitful portion of the Turkish Asiatic dominions, and, by constantly me nacing the Arabs, force those useless people to their proper localities, the arid deserts beyond the Euphra tes and about Nejd, foreign settlers might be at tracted, who would serve as a counterbalance to possible or probable rebels. The Consul has seen no country so well calculated for pasture and agricul ture, more particularly cotton. There are thou sands of acres of rich virgin soil completely under the natural irrigation of the Khal)oor and its sources, in a level country practicable even at present for every kind of wheeled conveyance to Mosul on the one :tide, and Aleppo on the other. A railway, so !ong talked of, between the Mediterranean add Per sian Gulf would find its shortest route through Ras el. Ain and other districts, which it is proposed to colonise with Tchetchens and others now under Arab influence. SPILUT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. ~- TIMES.—So far as M. Paulin Limayrac and the Constitutionnel may be taken to be the expression of the Emperor Napoleon's mind, it would seem easy to acquit the French Government of all blame in that unfortunate matter of Luxemburg. Prance, we are told, seeks no quarrel ; she neither offered nor intended any provocation. She only comphins of Prussia's dog-in-the-manger policy. She cannot conceive why that Power, which made so good a job of its last year's venture, should grudge its neigh bour a little business in the same line, and stand in the way of a bargain in which France was ready to pay down hard cash. France looked upon the Grand Duchy as no man's land—a mere waif thrown upon her borders by the great wreck of the old German Confederation, an " unconsidered trifle," which she might as well "snap up" as anybody else. The question, no doubt, lies on the very terms set down in the Constitutionnel. Long before the Luxemburg quarrel presei.ted such terribly serious aspects as it has now assumed, when the very name of the Grand Duchy hardly conveyed to most men a distinct idea, it was Count Bismark who, volun tarily and gratuitously, from his place in the North German Parliament, informed the world that the King of the Netherlands, by the dissolution of the old German Blind, recovered the full sovereignty of his out-lying territory, that the Luxcinburgers showed no sympathy with the Prussians, and no wish to be incorporated in the new Confederacy, and that, for his own part, he, Bismark himself, was desirous to break off all connection with non-German Poten tates. It is true that, in the same breath, the Minister expressed a confident hope that "Prussia's undoubted rights would never be challenged," but it was hardly to be suppose 1 that the same Power should put forth claims to mere barracks and store houses, after so distinct a renunciation of the grounl on which those buildings stood. That Prussia could continue to be at home in a place which was, with her consent, to become French territory was a con ceit which Count Bismark could not hope to pass off even as a sally of Brandenburg humour. The mo deration and liberality of the Count's answer to Herr Bennigsen at that juncture took the world by sur prise, and was naturally construed into a confirma tion of the vague surmises connected with Bis mark's visit to Biarritz. Those rumours, as we all remember, were that the neutrality of France during the late war had been purchased at that famous interview by a promise of Prussia's connivance at an eventual French annexation of Belgium, or that a p ar tition of the Nether lands territ or i es, and the advance of France and Germany on either side to the Scheldt, had been hinted at between the two secret nego tiators. All this conjectural edifice had no other foundation than the fact of France's neutrality. The transfer for Luxemburg, had it been peace fully effected, might have been looked upon as a first step towards the fulfilment of the alleged bargain. But, however earnest Couut Bismark may have been in his engagements, he either had ceased, or wished to appear to have ceased, to be a free agent when called upon for performance. Events were too rapid, and German patriotism was too ramp uit for him. National enthusiasm was the holy water and the Fade retra by which the fiend, was baffled when he came forth and claimed his bond. Under such provocation there is something almost angelic in the temper with which the semi official organ, assuming to speak in the name of the Imperial Government, assures us that France " puts aside every claim," and is willing to allow the ques tion to be considered as a European one. Europe, we know, or the three mediating Powers, England, Russia, and Austria, are supposed to have come to the conclusion that Prussia has no longer a right to the place she has for above half a century occupied in the Grand Duchy, and have sent a note to Berlin conveying their views ou, the subject. Count Bis mark, however, has a habit of being from home at the right moment, and the official answer has been put off for a few days. in the Minister's absence, however, the North German Gazette intimated that " the Prussian garrison would never be withdrawn from Luxemburg." Possibly, however, that decision may gave to be reconsidered. There has been in this affair something like precipitation on all sides. Thii matter has too soon been suffered to get beyond the control of statesmen. The French, who, only a few (lays ago, had hardly heard of Luxemburg, found out all at once that the existence of its fortress in German hands was au insult and a menace to themselves ; while the Germans, who, in the re constitution of their country, had left the Grand Duchy out in the cold, are now quite sure that its stronghold is the key to the gates of . Berlin. There is not much that can be taken as serious in any of these assertions. The importance of fortresses in the issues of modern warfare has been reduced to its true proportions. Fortresses may be of avail to small States unable otherwise to take the field, as the Dannewerke and Duppel were to Denmark, but only for a short and puny effort ; but the destinies of empires are decided by the shock of vast masses in the open, and under the walls of their capitals. What good were Josephstadt and Koniggratz, or even Olinutz itself, to Benetlek, when Sadowa was lost ? Or where would have been the Use even of the Quadrilateral had the Archduke Albrecht been worsted at Custozza, and Cialdini been enabled to cross the Alps to Vienna? The pretext of the fortress deceives no person ; and if it were indeed true that France renounces all hopes of the territory, and that Prussia, acknowledging the repugnance of the people to her rule, is willing to release them from all German allegiance, if it were true that the question is reduced to the mere ram parts of the citadel, the solution would only be too obvious. What Prussian pride might refuse to the peremptory demands of France might with a good grace be granted to the representations of friendly Powers. The demolition of the fortress of Luxem burg may be an impracticable and, perhaps, an un desirable undertaking. But a more plausible arrangement suggests itself. The destinies of the Luxemburgers should be left in their own hands, and, whether they declared in favour of an indepen dent Government or voted for re-union to Belgium, the fortress should by all means be made over to the latter kingdom. The danger in all these con templated changes presses most heavily upon that free but defenceless Belgian community, and the first tramp of warlike feet in the apprehended out break would do away with the inviolability of that neutral territory. if there is any State on the Con tinent to which we are really bound by clear engage ments, that State, as we learn from Lord Stanley, is Belgium ; and, however indifferent we might other wise be to to the havoc which the two great rival nations might, in the indulgence of their mad passions, inflict upon one another, we can hardly help wishing that their difference should be termi nated in the manner which could best screen our Belgian friends from their neighbours' ambition. The degree of authority that the mediating Powers may exercise ou the interested parties will depend on the earnestness and unanimity with which they go to work. France, if we may believe M. Paulin Limayrac, shows sufficient deference and complai sance. She even holds aloof from the negotiation, not to embarrass the mediators' actions, and seems willing to await their award. Notwithstanding any amount of blustering, we should not expect to find Germany more intractable. Bisreark has at all times shown himself a deep gamester, fully competent to reckon the terrible odds. He is not the man to be led astray by the mere outcry of beerhouse enthu siasm. Ile is fully aware that in many of the newly annexed districts loyalty to Prussia has struck no very deep roots. Ile knows full well what reliance may be put on the fidelity of his Southern allies. However desperate he may have seemed in his ven tures, there has always been method and calculation in his audacity. Had not Austria's trial been Italy's opportunity, it is questionable whether Prussia would ever have struck a blow for German supremacy. There are but few instances of a big bully fairly and deliberately coming to blows with another equally big. A single-handed encounter with France offers Prussia hardly any chance of certain success, and if she looks round about her and sounds the disposi tion of Denmark, Austria, and other countries, except, perhaps, Russia, she must see how far more numerous than the friends who would back her would be the enemies arrayed against her. If the mediating Powers know how to make the best of all these cirzumstances, they will have, perhaps, a less arduous task beiore them than is gene rally imagined. Whatever may be the mood of the would-be belligerents, the neutral Powers should never forget that they are three against two. Inde pendent of the sacredness of their peace-making mission, they should feel how easy it is for Might to throw its weight into the scales with Right. There was a moment, as the world is aware, in which a decisive attitude on the part of France would, in the summer of last year, have damped the warlike ardour of Prussia and Austria, and pre vented the hostilities out of which the present corn , plication arose. Only those who undertake to curb other people's ambition should themselves be . inaccessible to all covetous longings. "He who is without sin let him cast the first stone." The want of the policeman has long been felt in Europe. But how can the office be intrusted to any one who is not above the temptation of his neighbour's pockets? ' had Russia nothing to gain and Austria nothing to retrieve by war, it is not likely that a cannon could be fired on the Rhine without their permis sion. HERALD. - Despite their abusive language and their violent resolutions, the meetings that have been held to denounce the Government and the Reform Bill afford abundant testimony to the wisdom of the one and the popularity of the other. The assem blages are not formidable iu point of numbers, and they are so insignificant in point of influence and character as to show plainly that the true feeling of the country is against them. The resolutions them selves point to a similar conclusion. It is found im possible to get up a demonstration in favour of any practical counter-proposition. The mass meetings o f Birmingham and Leeds do not express their ap proval of a £5 rating limitation, or their preference for a rental qualification ; they demand that which they know no, Government will propose and no Par liament will ever concede—that which is popularly understood by the phrase " universal suffrage." Last year similar meetings passed votes of confidence in the late Government and satisfaction with the £7 franchise; this year they confine themselves to de clamations that have no practical sense at all, and demands in which their leaders refuse to concur. It i s plain, then, that the agitation out of doors is wholly unreal and artificial ; that it is confined to that class which has not and never will have any practical weight in English politics— the class with which wild declamation passes for argument, and abstract dogmas for statesmanship—the class of theorists and revolutionary dreamers. There is no sober, thoughtful, orderly opposition to the Minis terial measure ; no genuine supp or t o f M r . Glad stone's obstinate adherence to the fatal error of 1832 and the fiasco of 1866. We are entitled to assume that the practical political sense of the nation is con tent with the Reform Bill of Mr. Disraeli ; and we assume th's the more confidently that its opponents direct their attacks not so much against the mea sure as against the men by whom it is brought for ward. They dare not cope with the provisions of the bill, and the reasoning by which those provisions are maintained ; they prefer to elicit clap-trap cheers by panegyrics on Mr. Gladstone, the friend of the people, and denunciations of the Ministers, the inveterate enemies of reform. " Codlin's the friend, not Short." This is the substanc e o f a ll that M r. Forster and Mr. Stansfeld have to say ; this is all that Mr. Bright can urge, beyond a deliberate misstatement of the nature of the measure, and an appeal to local preju dice and local circumstances. Coarse personal abuse, false personal charges, vulgar railing, or impudent imputations of fraud and collusion, as unfounded in fact as unscrupulous in assertion, form the staple of Liberal harangues. Could there be a stronger testi mony to the unanswerable force of Tory arguments and the unimpeachable honesty and equity of the Tory Reform Bill ? Evidently the old word has once more been passed along the Radical ranks--" No evidence for the defence ; abuse the plaintiff's attor ney." The speeches of Mr. Forster and Mr. Stans feld are significant both in their omissions and their admission. Both are in some sense representative men, both are extreme Radicals, both have some practical experience in politics, both are warm per sonal friends of Mr. Gladstone. It is noticeable that neither has much to say against the bill or in favour of the defeated amendment. The former, indeed, seems to prefer the ratepaying franchise to the rental limit, which he frankly admits to have been formally and finally condemned. He voted for the amendment ; but he must, in so doing, have had a struggle with his conscience, for he cer tainly does not approve of the scheme of which that amendment formed a part. Ile commends the Con servative Government for having done away with limitations based on accidental distinctions of value, and placed all householders on one footing, though lie thinks that the conditions imposed on all are too stringent and unequal in their operations. As is often—unhappily not always—his wont, he speaks like a man of sense and of business. He understands the question with which he deals, and when he phases he can support his views, but not by the sense ' less appeals to abstract theory which suit the mob, but by the arguments which influence practical men ; not by reference to imaginary rights of man, but by such considerations of policy and prudence as have had weight with his own "Died. lie holds extreme opinions ; but he is not a man of extreme mind. His habit of thought, his manner of regarding political subjects, are those of a businesslike and often a statesmanlike intellect, not those of a fanatical imagination. Wherever the interest and rights of white men only are concerned Mr. Forster is capable of judging and arguing on practical grounds, and his speeches in Parliament upon the question of Reform have certainly contributed to throw light upon some important points. Mr. Stansfeld is a clever men, but unhappily on this subject he is led into injustice and absurdity by two of the dominant defects of his character. He is vindictive ; and he hate; the Conservatives too heartily to speak of them, perhaps even to think of them, with common candour and courtesy. And he has lived so long among con spirators, and associated himself so closely with their wild fancies and credulous assertions, that be 1 . 5 ready as Signor Mazzini himself to believe in ' her . ginary . plots and secret treaties concerted by othe 4 Signor Mazzini used to tell us of treaties bets' e ' n sardin e ' s ; Austria and Russia, between France and . containing compacts of unheard-of villany ; ke no in what pigeonhole they were lodged, and could they the breadth and colour of the tape with whic h t were tied.. So Mr. Stansfeld has imagined 3 e f te s pact between the Conservatives and the in virtue of which a restriction of value is to be added to that of ratepaying—so that Mr. Gladstone 's r' of strictive proposition may be combined with tha t iv the Government, and the franchise confined no te e i l6 to ratepayers but to householders of more than ~s rental . who pay rates. This shameful compac t s ' n ' o t the price of Lord Grosvenor's support. Vie are f - r e. told . why the majority of the resolute partisans °'.os strictions on both sides of the house, voted aga l . n a the Government, for little difficulties of this be never disturb the implicit faith of a Mazzin ise , e . liever. However, notwithstanding Mr. Stansfe ld s ou r peated asseverations, we venture to tell him, c' e own responsibility , . that the charge he has so reekl,T o made is utterly unfounded ; that Ministers soon abandon the first of their propositions —the o 3l soiialpayment of rates—as that second and co -el , n a principle of the bill—the removal of all absolute r,3 arbitrary exclusion ; and that if Lord Grosireeetho proposition . were accepted it would not hav e t he effect which he supposes, but would. still leave small householder free to achieve his own enfta rl A el „Tity meut. Apart from this ebullition of spiteful creu",,i, or unscrupulous . malice, Mr. Stansfeld's sP e t, and, in a less explicit manner, Mr. Forster 's s n : indicate a disposition to take a course the verl posite . of that insisted on by Mr. Gladstone and Bright. Instead of denouncing the bill as m e wri tt lessly bad, and wishing to reserve the vote of 13th , they accept that vote and conceive it to be ; he wow er. business the .. of the Liberal party to try to improv e to f bill in committee, retaining the personal parn el t o ' rates as a settled question. They use stronger ' e it guage than is at all just or consonant with t ro , real meaning , and indulge in useless insult an d P o f vocation, by way of reasserting the supreniaeY, s their party ; but what they really intend is, it se i cui t ; that the two years' residence should be reduc ed one, and that the case of the compound houseli a l"b - le should be met by some compromise more favou rs r than that contained in the bill—for instance , t, 1 1; as Mr. Hibbert proposes, the tenant slinni u ,. o .. allowed to pay only the reduced rate which he c. covers from his landlord, instead of the full..,e;te This is clearly the proper and the only leg itll 0 0 policy of the Opposition. Any further attack. us the integrity of the bill would be simply fact, le if y, and mischievous. But they are entitled to i to e ir if they can, its more obnoxious details ; an d "' t he success would not be a reason for abandoni n g, bill. On both the points raised we think t'hi`en wrong. Especially absurd does it seem that , "0 ratepaying is made the test of enfranchisement, oell man should pay 10s. and one 7s. on houses of eg o . v.alue in the same street, merely because at %Phi vious period the rates on the latter were p al " e a the landlord. It is clearly just that all ra,tepai.„,o who claim to vote as such should stand on the s a c er footing ; that there should be no excusals, vvh. et no , total or partial. But the matter is one for € l . o th e lion, and perhaps for compromise ; and if Liberals are willing to act in a fair and loyal to accept the bill and to try to make the bes t i t eo i it will become the duty of Ministers to meet„""ds in a like spirit, and endeavour to settle all puted details as equitably and liberally as F 3 , 1; of done without sacrificing any essential prinell' ; ',. to necessary precaution. I n the meantime, if thi s — pet be the policy of the Opposition, let them disconnAs, themselves at once and pe rem pt or ily from th e : 1 0 f graceful attempts at a renewa l o f th e outrag e ' le t last year, which are avowedly in preparation; w th . em . prove their sincerity and good faith by rel joi diating and reprobating those breaches of the" which are directed to overawe the respectable eta ea and influence the action of Parliament by bring ~,du the ruffianism of London in close and unfr i e :L e it proximity to its undefended wealth, and use wnt best endeavours as good citizens should, to Pr e . e g. a . painful collision and avoid the necessity of brl,, mg to justice the ringleaders in riots and disordent whose avowed purpose makes it impossible to trielif them with the lenity which English law conlinna. shows to disturbances untainted by actual se der While the Liberal party in Parliament remain t l , ll o f , the suspicion of complicity in the rowdyism 01 'p e t Beales and his associates, they can hardly elcP,; ( l, that their good faith should be taken for gr ae " - or that the consideration due to loyal Parliarn eo o opposition should be conceded to men who are ,if least willing to profit by, if they have not dircc;n, encouraged, an attempt to intimidate a Parliao-0 tart' majority by raising fears for the peace 3 security of the metropolis. SINGAPORE GAS (LIMITED). The directors state, in their report, that the profits of the company for the half-year ending Dec. 31 were £990, which, together with £25 from the pre ceding half-year, made an available balance of £1,016, out of which the directors recommended a dividend at the rate of 3f per cent. per annum on the amounts paid up on the original capital, free of income tax, leaving a balance of £5l. Mr. E. J. Wells, the manager, states in his report that the ad vantages of gas over cocoanut oil for illuminating purposes was fully appreciated by all classes of resi dents in Singapore. The total increase of lights for the half-year. was 798. The collection of the gas ren tal had been satisfactory, and the profits on the fit tings and sundries, and also the sale of the residual products, had fully answered his expectations. The total number of lights fixed at the end of the half year was 5,310. The revenue account for the half year showed that £4,332 had been received, and £3,342 expended, leaving a balance of £990. THE TURKS IN ASIA. Mr. Taylor, her Majesty's consul for Kurdistan, his transmitted to the Foreign-office a report on a recent tour he has taken in various provinces of Asiatic Turkey. Leaving Erzeroum, and passing through the Terjau Kuzier, he found a generally thriving population, though interfered with by thievih neighbouring tribes. Some villages were at the moment assailed by a party of Circassians, not to be confounded with the Tchetchens, though characterised, like them, by a system of wholesale pilfering - and brigandage. Backed by powerful personages, they had represented to the councils of Erzeroum and Erzingau that these villages were deserted, or had only a few inhabitants who har boured robbers ; and so carelessly are many impor tant matters disposed of that without further in quiry these Circassians obtained an order making over the villages and surrounding lands to them. Passing on to that part of the kairnakamlik of Erzin gau, which lies south of the Kara Su (Erzeroum c: n u d n ei intract able a t e l e - Euphrates y ), by th t e ne C n o n a r s u a l l y impracticable. He de scribesKingoheoanrbedirt'earldlace, the majority o f w h om Deyvistn, a coantry w h ich is one mass of high b r anch of the ab mountains, l e Kizzilba s h te them ts d may be called independent, as, secure in their inac cessible or difficult mountains, they pay what duties they like, refuse recruits, and disobe,y sub-governors other than those of their own race approved by themselves. Their mountains, as attested by tradi tion and numerous ruins of old churches and build ings still existing, were at one time thickly peopled by an extensive and exclusive Armenian population, subsequently ejected by the Kizzilbash. The latter hare since existed there, in this i n d epen d ent state, for at least 4 00 years. There are two races, the Seyd Hassanaulees, the descendants of older moun taineers, and the Deyrsiadees, a later immigration, and they are generally at war with one another, but always ready to unite against an enemy hostile to their general interests, and are probably able to bring 25,000 matchlocks into the field. Their numbers, combined with a hereditary hatred, derived from their religious views, for all Moslems of the Sunin creed, whom they designate as Turcos, are large enough to be a constant source of uneasiness to Government, and to intimidate the peaceable villagers of other sects in their neighbourhood, or within reach of their in defatigable thieves and brigand bands, who levy black-mail from each village and ravage the public roads between Eggin and Arabkir and Erzingau and Erzeroum. The chiefs are rich in their own rude way, but the great majority hopelessly poor, from the large amount they areYearlyakliged to give their aghas, who take a fifth of their agricultural produce and a certain amount of sheep, butter, and money annually. Their religion is a curious mixture of Is lamism, Christianity, and Paganism, and they wor ship the sun, large t , 8 Ones and trees, and profess many other doctrines originally derived from the Kerametta and Assasins, who rose in the third cen tury of the llejret, common to the Noseyrees and Druses of Mount Lebanon and other parts of Syria. In this jumble of religions Ali holds the first place, but they regard our Saviour with particular respect, as they in fact believe that he and all the prophets and holy men, from Adam to Ali, were but different incarnations of the Deity. Ali, as coming last, they reverence most, and style him , 6 The word, the un created, begotten of light, the lion of God, the per fect and the just truth." They are totally ignorant of reading and writing, and therefore generally fanatics iu their faith, and in religious matters obey implicitly the guidance of their spiritual chiefs, called Deydees (sayers) and Seyeds, who preside at their prayer meetings, which are held with a secrecy which has given occasion to scandalous rumours unfounded in fact. The later immigrant race, the Seyd Hassananlees, are more' civilised than the 01 ler, and more desirous of knowledge, and have profited by the teaching of the indefatigable American missionaries at Kharput ; one of the most influential chiefs and his followers have really imbibed Protestant doctrines. But the real Dey vsimlees, the older mountaineer race, do not partake in such sentiments, and the Consul fears they may yet cause disaster to the state to which they are ostensibly subject. He says there is no doubt, that in spite of the loyal teaching of the Americans, the whole Kizzilbash, as a race, are everywhere disaffected ; and they are to be found in other districts, and up to Constantinople. In the event of a Russian aggression upon Turkey, the enemy might take the easy route of the rich valley of the Diyadia branch of the COUNTIAY MARKETS. BIRMINGHAM—THURSDAY. I r at, At to-day's mark e t th ere was a li m i te d supp ly of ss i j• i li which realised an advance of is per qr. on both aLd foreign. Barley and oats 6d to is per qr. bib Beans and peas firm. ERIS TOL—TBRInsDAY. aii On our market to-day English wheat was in very supply, and sold readily a t fully as much money. x ° r- go cl not active, but fully as dear as ou this day so'nnigh t A l f a ir in some instances r a tner more money obtainable. O l doing in barleys, at late prices. Supplies of oat' 3 usually short, and 6d per qr. advance was readily 01 Maize 6d per qr. dearer. BURY ST. EDMUNDS—WEDNESDAY. 00 The quantity of wheat offering at our market to -day A.ll large, and the trade was firm, at fully late price s ' other kinds of grain realized quite as much money'. GAINSBOROUGH—WEDNESDAT. 0 04 Only a small show of wheat to-day, and little bul ho ut doing, at last week's prices. Other kinds of grain Wl' alteration. MANCHESTER-THURSDAY. et II At our market this morning IN heat and flour n 2 re limited demand, and sellers were firm in asking fulqP er vious rates. Oats were id per 451 b, and oatmeal s - co r , load dearer. Beans ls to 2s per qr. advance on th e ob rency of this day so'nnight. Indian corn without DI alteration. EDINBURGH—WEDNESDAY. Wheat on the top, Os 6d up average, 2s Odi 1 1 Barley on the top, Os 6d down average, N 5" "r Oats on the top, same average, is 4d 1113' Beaus on the top, 2s Od up average, is 7d ur Total supply and sales. Wheat 727 qrs sold 591 Barley 638 qrs sold 5 8 8 Oats 1125 qrs sold 4 71 Beans B4 qrs sold Average prices, Wheat, 62s 6 , 1 1 Oats, 32s 8d Barley, 39s 9d 1 Beans 48s lcl ea Town-made flour sells as follo ws : —Whit e , 50 s Od; e superfine, 54s Od; superfin e , 52 s Od ; fi ne, 48s Od. GLASGOW —WEDNESDAY. th e To-day's market was well attended. Wheat on, 6 ( 1 spot realized l as t wee k' s ex t reme ra t es . Fl our a dvance u r i t tl to is per sack. B ar l e y, b ean; and peas without rnn te- 10 change. Oats improved 6d per 2641 b; oatmeal, Gd te per 2801 b. Indian corn nominal from want of supplY• THE PREPARATIONS OF FRANCE. The r iirw „ he correspondent of the Independance Beige, writing on 0f 23d; says :—" No mystery prevails here on the subj ac- 0 , the preparations of all kinds which are being made to P r e vent the Government from being taken at a ofdisadvacta should a war break out. We are told of the desPe tc , ll to several hundreds of pieces of artillery from the out' ve Strasburg. Gunboats (in frame it is to be supposed) " e a also been forwarded by railways to an unacknowl e t destination. Very great activity pervades the Marine ' th e ; partmont, and all the chiefs of the military service at - It various ports attend the Ministry to receive their orders. d e' is also reported to-day th a t a squa d ron may poss ibly WI spatched to the Baltic as a squ a d ron o f o bservation, e` l ' o f without any declaration of war, but that may be but en °d• the rumours to which little importance should bo fatal: Neither do I think we should attach much weight statement that England and Russia would raise object ' ° ; o to the employment of a French squadron in the B a ltic , ; 0 the event of war. It appears evident to me that after fil ch ing agreed with Franco on the subject matter out of svileth a conflict may arise, they would not seek to quibb le her as to the means of bringing it to a speedy terminatie -.0.1 Births. MARDoN—On the 24th inst., at 7, Vaasall-terrace' • - sington, the wife of Thomas T. Mardon, E* 9 daughter. NAHER—On the 24th inst , at Beechholme Winlb l4 l l common, the ;vifo of Major-General W. C. E. NaPier' a daughter. NOORDEN—On the 24th inst., at 27, Bedford-square, IST' the wife of P. E. Von Noorden, Esq.. of a son• Marriages. u ire % BELL—SHIELD—On the 23d ink , at the E iscopal Ch o Rothesay, T. Hugh, eldest son . of J. Ltiliwthian deli, Washington Hall, county Durham, Esq., to '- a ` ti tel youngest daughter of John Shield, of Ashburn, Esq. v i res JOHNSTON— AIRMAN —Oa the 23d inst., a t 260, it e• George-street, Glasgow, William Johnston, 64- " i th e countant, Glasgow, to Elizabeth Smith, daughter e• late William Aikman, Esq. Deaths. - S SWARIIRECK—On the 24th inst., at Sowerby, near Tillf Thomas Swarbreck, solicitor, aged 70. r ACIf HEATH—On the 24th inst., at 63, Richnien‘ - ' 1) Hackney, Mr. Henry Heath, aged 52. b MooßE—On Easter Sunday, at 2, Forres-street, E din very suddenly, Katurah, wife of Mr. R. B. Moore- _ . -------- London: Printed and Published by WILLI43I ANDO2 'of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at TEM SUN Meer Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County Middle x.—Friday, April 26,1867. I DCr • F' At Ii Th pro son!, r, s ~ WL„~ "rci, C( AT)~ x18:1 N Pit. ant JOT Die Aci