The Sun. — London, England, 1870-07-19 00:00:00

Ling. rnasty ich an t and e only red by from ighest ie won as, the their . ruin. very Lssing i Ger -1 aloft erman Court care- T have could rankly from it has mover. their Lich a t,y be et the t they -ell as ments with ,übtful 'or has The i fixed 'erton, ).rd the hannel ship as erton's zp 040 SPECIAL EDITION. SUN OFFICE, 7 O'CLOCK. THIS EVENING'S NEWS. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. HUNTINGDON RACES.—THIS DAY. OW ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) KIMBOLTON CUP. Queen of the Valley La Giroflee Sister to Ravioli Five ran. PEEL HANDICAP. Nightingall Dolphin 1 2 Eight ran. HUNTINGDONSHIRE STAKES. Toby — The Boy Violet... Six ran. CLAIMING PLATE. Royal Arms I Remo C Kenmore.... 2 Eleven ran. HINCHINGBROOK STAKES. Hopbine..... Baquidhar.. Echo ...... . Three ran. MEMBERS' PLATE. ~.... 1 Far Away . Timothy Blacklock •• ••• Five ran. ADDITIONAL ARRIVALS. Bonnie Katie, Echo, Van Amburgh, Violet, Cymbal, Defamation f, and Christabelle, CITY BETTING—THIS DAY, GOODWOOD STAKKS. 100 to 15 agst Capitaliste (taken and offered) 100 to 12 agst John Davis (offered) 10 to 1 agst Sweet Sound (offered) 20 to 1 agst Paganini (taken) GOODWOOD CUP. 60 to 40 agst Sabinus (offered) 9to 2 agst Pero Gomez (offered) sto 1 agst Musket (offered)9 7to 1 agst Siderolite (offered) 100 to 3 agst Chawbacon (offered) Very little doing. WIMBLEDON MEETING--THIS DAY. ine volunteers were astir early tins morning, tor to-clay is the day of the meeting, and, before the last gun is fired, the champion shot of the kingdom for the year, who will be a winner of the Queen's Prize of £250, will be known. The weather is everything that can be desired, for the great event, and there is scarcely a breath of air stirring—certainly not sufficient to in any way affect the shooting. Precisely at 8.45 Lord Elcho, Captain Mild may, and Captain Costin appeared upon the ground, and the order was given for the sixty entitled to compete for the Queen's to fall in. Theirnames were then called over, and they were told off into squads of nine each. There were, however, several absentees, and they just saved being dis qualified by putting in an appearance before the others Were marched to their targets. A question having been put as to the use of cleaning rods for loading purposes, Capt. Costin said the ramrods should be used, and Lord Elcho said it was better to keep within the regulations, and there could be no mistake if the ordinary ramrods were used. He advised every one to look to their triggers, ,•••(1 said the Council were very anxious to put every man on an equality. What they desired was that every man should have the trigger of his rifle tested before he went to the target, so that whenever the officer wisued to test it, whether, before, during, or a ft er th e couzes t, it m i g ht b e f oun d correct. A question had been asked whether, if a trigger was wrong when the firing point was reached, time would be given for it to be rectified. The reply was no, for if they had to wait about for this purpose they might never get through the work. The rifles were served out to them in a perfect state, and they had the respon sibility of taking them to the firing point in the same condition. With regard to flash pans, he strongly advised their removal. They never knew what objection a captious person might raise, and it was far better to use the rifles as they had been served out to them, and conduct their firing according to the general regulations. Then they were certain to be upon the safe side, The volunteers were then marched off to their respective targets, and the shootigg commenced, watched with much interest by a considerable company who gathered round the competitors at the various firing points. In addition to the Queen's, there is also proceeding the Army Prizes, Ist stage, at 500 and 600 yards • the Ash burton Shield (public schools match), at 200 andsoo yards; the Spencer Cup, competed for by the highest from each. school ; the third series extra prizes (any rifle) ; the con tinuation of the Oaks • the Nawab of Bengal's Prize ; the Licensed Victuallers' Prize, &c. Besides the pool and running deer targets the list contains no less than fourteen events, many of which conclude to-night. The volunteers are gradually taking their departure from camp, and, althougL there are large numbers still left to compete for the prizes, the diminution is very perceptible. The Princess of Teck, it is stated, will present the Prizes to the successful competitors on Saturday. The barometer this morning stands at 30.198 ; the maximum temperature is 114 degrees, temperature in the shade 76 degrees, and minimum temperature during the rieht 56 decrees. THE IRRIGATION COMPANY OF FRANCE. THE VICE-CHANCELLOR'S JUDGMENT. Vice-Chancellor Sir Richard Malins delivered judgment this morning in the matter of the petition presented by Mr. Fox, of Newport, Monmouthshire, for the compulsory winding -up of the above company, and the removal of Mr. T. Cave, M.P. for Barnstaple, and Mr. A. Young as liquidators. Ris Honour, having explained the nature of the petition, remarked that the object of the company vas the acquisition of a concession granted by the Imperial Government of France for the con struction and working of certain canals for irrigation within the empire, for which purpose a capital of £BOO,OOO was to be raised in forty thousand shares of £2O each. Among other things the article of assignment gave the di rec t ors power t o cons tit u t e th e c o mpany a French organisation , if they thought fit so to do. The Cetition alleged that the company was brought out of the redit Foncier and Mobilier of England ; and oomplained that £90,000 was improperly paid for the concession for the construction of one of the irrigation canals; that very large sums of money and securities were secretly, improperly, and in fraud on the shareholders, retained amongst the directors of the Credit Foncier ; and that a large portion of the eight thousand shares stated to have been subscribed by the company were merely colour able payments, and were eventually recouped. It was clear that neither the present directors of the Irrigation Company nor the liquidators under the voluntary winding up were implicated in the transaction ; and, therefore, he had no power of affording the petitioner any redress. It must, however, be observed that the petitioner was him self one of two auditors appointed in 1866, and that in that year, as well as 1867 and 1868, he audited the accounts, and had, therefore, ample opportunity of de tecting the discrepancies of which he now complained. If the company had proceeded strictly, the property would have been sold, but if that had been done, he (theVice-Chancellor) was assured that a great advantage would have been given to the French shareholders, whilst the petitioner and his fellow English shareholders would not have had a farthing. In all mercantile concerns the interests of the great majority must be attended to, and the court should be slow to sanction such proceedings as were contem plated by the petition at the instigation of an insignifi cant majority. He was satisfied that nothing more injurious could be done than complying with the three first prayers in the petition. If the Petitioner's case had been good in other respects, a fatal blot would have been delay ; but he (the Vice- Chancellor) thought the petitioner was entitled to have an inquiry instituted, either in Chambers or by arbitration, as to the value of his 300 shares, and to be paid the amount out of the fund in court. The hostility with which the proceedings had been conducted, and the fact that the charges of fraud had been wholly unsustained, would have fully justified him in dismissing the petition with costs; yet considering that it had been induced by the erroneous course pursued by the directors in refusing to pay the petitioner the value of his interest, he thought tne justness of the case would be met by dismissing the petition without costs as to the first three prayers. Although no language could be sufficiently expressive of the conduct of the old directors, it was only fair to Mr. Moore, of the Credit Fonder, to say that the charges against him were entirely unfounded. Mr. Cave had also been unfairly treated as to the manner in which he had been interrogated by counsel. That was an additional proof of the hostile feeling actuating the petitioner, and it was only right to say that he was convinced that Mr. Cave, who had at tained the high social position of a member of Parliament, returned to this country to answer the inquiries which were made of him at the earliest possible moment. It is stated as being probable that the judgment of the Vice-Chancellor will be appealed from. Among the fragments of our Metropolitan Gossip the other day, we inadvertently included a wholely groundless rumour, to the effect that Lord Lytton was about to commence a new serial story in Blackwood's Magazine. We only wish the statement had the smallest foundation. THE WAR. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) HESSE JOINS PRUSSIA. PARIS, July 18. The Envoy of Hesse-Darmstadt at this Court has been ordered by his Government to demand his passports. Ho will do this immediately, and proceed home on the 20th. THE FRENCH FLEET. Viscount de Borelli, accompanied by his secretary and suite, arrived at Hull last night, and sailed this morning for Copenhagen in the Danish steamer Phoenix. From Copenhagen the Viscount will proceed to Stockholm to join the French fleet, of which it is expected he will assume the command. THE LAST STRUGGLE FOR PEACE. PARIS, July 18, 9.30 P.M. Diplomacy is making a final effort for the presevation of peace by appealing to the Protocol of 1856, but success is hopeless. On the demand of the Spanish Ambassador, Don Carlos leaves France immediately. The 62nd Regiment of the Line has left Paris by the Eastern Railway. Great crowds assembled at the station s and numerous presents of cigars, tobacco, and money were made to the soldiers. More regiments leave to-night and to-morrow. The Zouaves of the Guard have left, and part of the cavalry from Versailles. The garrisons of Southern France are concentrating at Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Agen, those of Central France at Anjers and Le Mans, and are to be forwarded north wards by fast trains. It is stated that Baron A. de Rothschild has resigned his post of Prussian Consul-General in Paris. A paper says that he previously went to Ems to solicit an audience of the King of Prussia, and that it was refused him. ... 2 THE StfN, LONDON, TUESDAY EN ENING, JULY 19, 1870. 1111 SE R lAL PARLIAM ENT. , HOUSE OF COMMONS.—Tm 2 DAY. The Speaker took the chair at five minutes past two o'clock. THE THAMES EMBANKMENT. Lord Onto FITZGERALD, Controller of the Queen's Household, brought up her Majesty's reply to the address; irons the House in reference to the Thames Embankment, which was reserved to the Crown, and which had been reclaimed from the river at the expense of the ratepayers of the metropolis. The reply stated that as no public offices could be erected without a vote of Par liament, the House had in its own hands the mans of giving effect to the prayer in the address. Fier Government would not ask for such a note unless they had reason to suppose it would meet with the auproval of the House. rH E MONEY MARKET AND COMM Eil CI AL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, Two o'Clocx Business on 'Change to-day was much depressed. Con sols have fallen to 8:/, the lowest point touched since 1866. Foreign Bonds continue weak. Spanish 1869's have fallen to 234 . ; and 1867, 234 to 24. Turkish Six per Cents, 1869, 47 to 49 ; Five per Cents, 37 to 39. Railways very dull. 'Consols are now 901 to 89 for money, and 904 to 89 for account; Three per Cent. Reduced, 901 to 894 ; New Three per Cents., 904 to 891; Exchequer Bills, 2s. prem.; India Five per Cents., 1104 to 111; ditto Four per Cents., 1031 to 1024. In Bank 'shares Alliance are quoted 131 14; Anglo. Austrian, 5 to 7 prem.; Chartered Mercantile, 28 to 30; Consolidated, 4i ; Imperial Ottoman, 111 to 104; London and County, 50 to 51; London and Westminster, 60 to 62 ; London Joint Stock, 33 to 34 ; and Union of London, 364. In the Foreign Market Brazilian Bonds of 1865 are 87 to 88 ; Egyptian Seven per Cents, of 1864, 87 90 ; ditto of 1868, 69 to 70 ; Spanish of 128', 234 to 25 ; ditto of 1869, 231 to 2; 4 ditto Quicksilver, 5 die. ; Peru vian, 844 to 854 ; Turkish Five per Conte. of 1865, 36 38 ; ditto of 1869, 48 to 50 ; and Five per Cent. Italia. of 1865, 85 to 88. The Railway Market—Metropolitan ex, 674 to 68 ; Great Eastern is 36 ; London and Brighton, 384 ; Caledonian, 14; South-Eastern 681 to 684; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 47 to 474 ; Great Northern, 117 ; ditto (A), 124; North Eastern, 135 to 164 ; London and North-Western, 124 to 125 ; Midland, 1254 ;11Lancashire and Yorkshire, 133 to 1334 ; Great Western, 66. Canada Five per Cents. are quoted 941 to 95 ex div. ; New South Wales Five Cents., 100 f to 101 ex div. ; New Zealand Five per Cents., 981 to 884 ; Queensland Six per Cents., 106 to 1064 ex div. ; Victoria Five per Cents., 100 to 1004 ex div. ; and ditto Six per Cents., 111. The Scandinavian, from Quebec, has brought £52,500 in specie ; the Allemania, from New New York, £10,500 ; the City of Limerick, from Brazil, £5,385 ; and the Oneida, from Brazil, £19,296. The failure of a firm of stockbrokers, with liabilities to the amount of about £70,000, has been announced. Pre vious to the panic they were buyers of all sorts of securi ties, including Consols, railway stocks, and foreign bonds. Their transactions were largest in the latter, the fall in which of late has been so great. It is understood that in most instances these operations were entered into on behalf of clients, who have failed to pay their differences. A favourable liquidation, however, appears to be antici pated. Two other suspensions, but for much smaller totals, have also taken place in the Stock Exchange, making a total of fifteen in connection with the fort nightly settlement. The Liverpool Journal of Caznierce announces the suspension of two large firms in the cotten trade. At Lloyd's a great many war risks have been offered, end business has been transacted, but not without diffi culty, owing to the uncertainty as to further complications. Many of the leading underwriters prefer watching events, until they can form some definite opinion, to yielding to the excitement now observable in the Room. It is appa rent that German ships have been very widely used in all the trades. The freight market is in a most sensitive state, but at present there is not much increase in the demand for vessels for outward employment, and it will probably be some days before any improvement is established, except in rates from the Baltic and the Black Sea for gain, which have risen in consequence of the transactions on the Corn Ex change. From Brazil we learn that the bill to give the guarantee 0f.,5 per cent. interest on the £485,000 additional capital of the Pernambuco. Railway had passed, and was to take immediate effect—a result honourably promoted by Senhor Diogo Velho, the Minister for Public Works. The Argentine Government have concluded the con tract of 40 years' privileges for the laying a submarine telegraph from Cape San Antonio to Rio Grande, and thence along the coast to Rio Janeiro. With regard to the Norwich Crown Bank (Harvey's and Hudson's), it is announced that the books have been placed in the hands of Harding, Whiney, Gibbons, and Co., by the wish of the principal creditors, and with the concurrence of the debtors. The liabilities are a million and a half, and the assets uncertain, but very large. The dividend cannot be estimated at present. The report of the Bank of Egypt, to be presented on the 22d inst., recommends the usual interim dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum for the half year. The report of the Fore-street Warehouse Company (Limited) recommends a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum. The Staffordshire Joint-Stock Bank (Limited) has declared the usual interim dividend of 15s. per share, being at the rate of 7i per cent. per annum. The books of Mr. Magnus, of the Pimlico Slate Works, have been placed in the hands of Messrs. Norfolk and Yalden, accountants. LONDON GAZETTE-THIS EVENING DOWNING-STREET, JULY 18. The Queen has been pleased to nominate James Robert Longden, Esq. (now Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony of British Honduras), to be appointed Governor and Com mander-in-Chief of the Island of Trinidad. THIS MORNING'S NEWS HOUSE OF LORDS—MONDAY. The Lord Chancellor took his seat on the Woolsack at five o'clock. THE WAR BETWEEN FRANCE AND PRUSSIA. Earl RUSSELL said he wished to put a question to his noble friend the Secretary for Foreign Affairs. It was DOW unhappily certain that the calamity of war had broken out in Europe. He referred to the statements made by the French Minister on the sth and 15th of July. The French Government had fully explained what were the grounds on which they had gone to war, and as the French Chambers had both almost unanimously approved of its course, it would be hardly his duty, as a member of the British Parliament, to have referred to them, if the Duc de Gramont on the sth July, and M. 011ivier on the 15th of July, had not stated that the French Government had opened negotiations with all the foreign Power", in order that the legitimacy of its complaints might be re cognised and understood, and that the majority of the Great Powers admitted the justice of the French demands. He wished to ask his noble friend if he wouldmake a state ment such as was made previous to the Crimean war. He wished to ask whether her Majesty's Government had in timated that the French Government had good grounds of complaint in the candidature of the Prince of Hohen zollern for the Spanish Crown ; also whether if such was the case, whether the approval extended to the threat of war on the . part of France, and also to the further de mands of the French Government after the candidature of the Prince of Hohenzollern had been withdrawn, and to the demand of France that under no circumstances should the Prince ever become a candidature for the Spanish Throne ?—Lord Cairns, upon the noble lord resuming his seat, said perhaps the noble earl would also state whether it was intended to bring in any bill for the better enforce ment of the neutrality laws.—Earl Granville said it was the intention of the Government to introduce such a mea sure immediately. With respect to the questions of the noble earl, he must observe that the noble earl had given notice that he should put two questions, but he had omitted to put one, and as to the other he had but barely referred to it. He was most anxious to withhold nothing from Parliament. He had on a former occasion informed their lordships of the policy of her Majesty's Government, and to that they strictly adhered. He should be able to lay the papers he had promised on the table in the course of a few days. In the meantime he was in their lordships hands ; but he thought it would be more convenient if he delayed any remarks that he had to make until the papers were before them, • instead of making an exparte statement. There was an unfortunate discrepancy between M. du Gramont and him self, but he believed there was no difference as to the facts, and that whatever inference M. de Gra mont drew from them he did not impugn his (Earl Gran ville's) statement in the least degree. He would therefore, with their lordships' permission, reserve any statement until the papers had been delivered. It was unfortu nately too true that a declaration of war had been sent from France to Prussia, and it would be the duty of her Majesty's Government immediately to issue a proclama tion of neutrality. He was happy to say that a fortnight ago the relations of her Majesty's Govern ment with the Governments of France, Prussia, and Spain were mostfriendly, and although they felt it to be their duty during the last ten days to use the strongest language, consistent with dignity and self respect, these friendly relations had not been impaired in the slightest degree. Her Majesty's Government held that it was its duty to do its best to maintain an attitude of strict neutrality, to act independently towards all parties, believing-that by so doing they would be in a better position whenever a favourable opportunity showed to act with influence and utility. The remarks of the noble earl elicited cheers from both sides of the House. THE ROYAL MINT. The Earl of KINNAIRD moved for a select commttee to inquire into the mode in which the work at the Royal Mint was carried on. He believed that the system in operatioi. was extremely faulty, both with respect to the work performed, and the pay of those who executed it. Dissatisfaction WAS loudly expressed in many quarters at the system now in operation, and it would be well to have the whole matter thoroughly inquired into.—The Marquis of Lansdowne thought there was no necessity for the pro posed inpuiry, and having stated his reasons for opposing the motion the noble earl did not press it, although he said he withdrew it with much regret. The Life Assurance Bill (Mr. Cave's measure) and the British Columbia Bill were read a second time. Their Lordships then went into committee on the Mar ried Women's Property bill. Lord Penzance and the Earl of Shaftesbury gave it their approval, after which its various clauses were considered, and the bill passed through committee, and was reported with amendments. Several other bills having been forwarded a stage, their lordships adjourned at five minutes past eight. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-MONDAY. THE ARMY ESTIMATES. The House went into committee of supply on the army estimates. The vote in respect of the volunteer force gave occasion for a pretty lohg discussion; and the Secre tary of State for War explained that it had been thought advisable to increase the efficiency of the force, and it had been determined to enable the officers of each company to earn an additional capitation grant of £2105., which would amount to £2O, or equal to an increase of ss. capitation. The vote in respect to the experiments with guns raised the whole question of small arms and artillery, and the inevitable result was the introduction of the Armstrong and Whitworth controversy.—Mr. Bernal Osborne, in the impetuous manner which characterises . him, declared that we were on the eve of a great European war, and we were unable to play our part in Europe because we had got into such a muddle with our cheap and nasty system. This declaraction was received with laughter, mingled with applause, and the hon. gentleman assured the committee, and he had made this assertion advisedly, and they could not at this moment put 50,000 men into the field. Some bolder member, "15,000." THE ARMY ENLISTMENT BILL. On the house going into committee on this bill, Major Dickson moved that the chairman leave the chair. He thought the momentous events occurring on the Continent were a sufficient justification for this proceeding. It was necessary that the House should have an opportunity of considering whether it was desirable to experimentalise with the army at a time when two great military Powers were about to engage in a great struggle. He believed that the bill would destroy that which, so far as its numbers went, was the finest army in the world. The legislation now proposed was purely theoretical, and was opposed to all our experience and practice in the past. If the bill were passed the army would be composed of young and inexperiencad men.—Mr. O'Reilly supported the bill, and contended that the hon. and gallant gentleman had misun derstood the scope of the measure. There was nothing to prevent the War-offiCe authorities retaining the men after three years' service. At the same time three years in his opinion were sufficient to make a good soldier.—Major Lindsay and Viscount Bury protested against the passing of the measure, especially under the present circumstances. —Sir J. Pakington appealed to the Secretary fol. War to proceed no further with the bill at the present Continental crisis. —Mr. Cardwell pointed out that the measure did not deprive the authorities of one single power which they now possessed. On the contrary, it would increase the power of the authorities. He denied that it was a revo lutionary change in the constitution of the army, and contended that it would increase its efficienCy and the power of recruiting. In a period of great excitement, a large number of men would join the army for a period of three years. The right hon. gentleman subsequently stated that with the single exception of the year which succeeded the Crimean war, before the troops had been disbanded, there were now more soldiers in this country available for foreign service than in any year since 1816. The motion was then lost. The committee proceeded to consider various amendments, which were opposed by the Government. The whole of the clauses were eventually agreed to, and the bill passed through committee. COMMAND OF THE FRENCH FLEET. Admiral Bouet Wuillamez takes the general command of the French fleet. Under him are :—Admiral Dieu donne, in command of the ironclads at Cherbourg ; Ad miral La Ronciere le Noury, commanding the transports ; and Admiral Jurien de la Gravlire, aide-de-camp of the Emperor, who will follow his Majesty to head-quarters, and command, if required, the flotilla of gunboats on the Rhine. THE WAR VOTES IN FRANCE. In the Legislative Body the bills presented yesterday were unanimously agreed to. Other bills, including the Budget of the City of Paris, will be discussed to-day. The Constitutionnel confirms the announcement that Count Wimpfen has left for Berlin, with the French de clarations of war against Prussia. Mr. Washburn, the United States Minister,' has accepted the protection of Prussian subjects in France, after having previously requested the assent of the French Government. Le Peuple Francais has has an article entitled "Le Times' et la Prusse," in which the Imperial organ says the Times forgets that England made war on Louis XIV. to prevent a French prince from occupying the Throne of Spain, and that in 1848 England was on the eve of a rupture with the Go vernment of Louis Philippe, because of the " Spanish marriages." " Can it be said," asks Le Peuple Francais," " that a Prussian Prince on the throne of Spain is not as great a danger for France as a French Prince in the same position would be to England ?" ITALY CALLING OUT HER TROOPS. In yesterday's sitting of the Chamber of Deputies, Signor Sella, the Minister of Finance, announced that the political situation would cause some changes in the finan cial condition of the State, as estimated in the Budget. He announced that the Government had de cided to call out two classes of conscripts, but merely as a precautionary measure, for the maintenance of public order. COLOGNE IN A STATE OF SIEGE. According to advices received from Rhenish-Prussia Cologne is about to be placed in a state of siege, whilst the garrison of Aix-la-Chapelle has been reduced. THE NEUTRALITY OF LUXEMBOURG. In consequence of the Government having announced that both France and Prussia had given assurances that they intend to respect the neutrality of the Duchy, the Chamber unanimously voted that the neutrality gua ranteed by the Great Powers will in no way be violated. THE BELGIUM FORCE. The reserve corps of Belgium, entrusted with the de fence of the Antwerp position, will consist of :40,000 men, and the army for the field of 60,000. The King will con tinue to reside in Brussels, and does not intend to visit the camp at Beverloo. RUSSIA AND PRUSSIA. The report of Russia having joined Prussia in the con flict is discredited by the principal London firms, but at the moment when it was circulated the agitation on the Stock Eichange was beyond control. It is believed that, so far from Russia having prematurely abandoned a neutral position, she has made most earnest and honour able efforts to arrest the determination of France, and would still, in conjunction with England, gladly seize any opportunity to prevent by mediation the danger of a European conflagration. The French authorities have seized on board a sailing bark 700 muskets intended for the Carlists. It is expected that other attempts will be made by the Carlists to con vey arms into Spain. An order has been received in Birmingham for 80,000 rifles, and their destination is presumed to be France, as they are to be conveyed to the coast in waggons of the South-Eastern Railway Company. An order has been received at the postal telegraph offices that no messages are to be received in cipher for transmission to France. One of the Queen's Royal yachts will proceed at once to a Continental port, to convey to this country the Crown Princess of Prussia (Princess Royal of England), on a visit to her Majesty the Queen at Osborne. Information has been received from the Foreign Office chat a notice has been issued by the North German Government stating that on the northern coast of Ger many orders have been given to take up the sea marks, to withdraw the light ships, and to extinguish the fixed tights. The French fleet is on the way to the Prussian ports, -Ind declaration of blockade may be expected to-day. In inch case ships of the hostile Power are required to leave mmediately, but neutrals are allowed six days to clear. An official notification has been posted at Lloyd's an touncing the removal by the Prussian Government of its ighta and land marks in the Baltic. THE THRONE OF SPAIN. The Imparcial of Madrid announces that the question of convoking the Cortes is again being discussed with a view to invest the Regent with the attributes of Royalty. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) ROCHESTER ELECTION. POLLING NINE O'CLOCK. Goldsmid (L) ... 221 Fox (C) 87 Liberal return. POLLING ELEVEN O'CLOCK. Conservative Return. Goldsmid (L) ... .. ... ... 562 Fox (C) ... ... 283 Another return. Goldsmid Fox TWELVE O'CLOCK. Goldsmid Fox Two O'CLOCK. Goldsmid .... ... Fox Goldsmid Fox THREE O'CLOCK. CLOSE OF THE POLL. Goldsmid (L) ... ... ... Fox (C) ... ... ... ... 513 479 . BRECON ELECTION. HALF-PAST TWELVE. Gwynne Holford ... 343 Price ... ... 291 There are about 60 to poll. All polled at the Castle. THREE O'CLOCK. Gwynne Holford 370 Price ... ... 318 About thirty-two more electors are yet unpolled. DEATH OF SIR ROBERT HARVEY. Sir Robert Harvey died early this morning. It is stated that Messrs. Gurney and Co. have purchased the premises and goodwill of the Crown Bank, at Norwich. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. Lord OTHO FITZGEEALD brought up the reply to an address to her Majesty, praying her to appoint a commis sion to inquire into the law relating to friendly societies. I ter Majesty stated that she had given directions for a commission to issue for the purpose in question. SECRET TREATY BETWEEN FRANCE AND DENMARK. Mr. A. SEYMOUR, the member for Salisbury, gave n )tice t at on Thursday next he should ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government had any infor mation other than that furnished by the newspapers as to the existence of a secret treaty between France and Den m irk, and whether at any time during the last six months a formal proposal for mutual disarmament had been mad.: by France to Prussia, and refused by the latter Power, r st,..tted by French and English journals. THE IRISH COAST. Mr. GRAVES asked a question relative to important changes that have occurred in the banks of the Irish Coast between Tuskar and Dublin. Mr. SHAW-LEFEVRE replied that the subject was under the consideration of the Admiralty, but before they gave any definite information they would require the Irish Light Commissioners to forward a detailed account of the c Images. . _ . CHRISTMAS DAY. Mr. PEMBERTON asked the Home Secretary, as Christ mas this year fell on a Sunday, whether he would bring in a short bill to authorize the closing of the Bank of Eng land and other banks on the day before or after it. Mr. BRUCE answered he did not think it would be consistent with public convenience to bring in such a bill. ELEMENTARY EDUCATION BILL. The Elementary Education Bill, as amended, was con sidered. There was a tolerably large attendance of mem bers, but the discussion was very languid.—Mr. Dicken son, the member for Stroud, proposed the introduction of a clause to the effect that the managers of a public elementary school might, with the sanction of the Educa tion Department, and with the consent of all parties whose consent might be required by the Edu cational Department alter any regulations to which the management of such school might 133 subject, attaching any special qualification or dis qualification to the office of a manager or teacher, or giving a person, not a teacher, special superintendence or authority in the management and teaching.—Mr. Forster was quite indifferent as to whether the propo sition were accepted or not, and when he was appealed to by Mr. G. Hardy to give his opinion upon the amendment, he quietly observed that he did ait think it was necessary, neither did he think its intro duction into the measure would do any harm. Neverthe less a division was forced by the dissentients, and the proposition was adopted by 86 to 53 votes.—Sir George Jenkinson, the representative of North Wilts, proposed a clause, by which he sought, in any case where a pablic elementary school existed at the time of the passing of the Act, in any duly constituted ec.ilesiastical district, and where such school fulfilled all the conditions required by the act as to management and efficiency, and was maintained by private and volun tary funds, assisted by 'the Government grant and the children's school pence, to exempt the persons who thus con tributed to the support of the school, from the rate for the support of any other school. The proposition, which had really been well discussed in committee, was on a division rejeoted by a majority of 120 to 70 votes.— Several verbal alterations were made consequent upon the changes which had been made in the bill. Mr. M'Arthur proposed an amendment which met with determined opposition. The hon. member's proposition was that no person whatever except the school teacher should give religious instruction in the school, and that no clergyman or minister of any religious denomination, or member of any religious order, should be eligible to be appointed a school teacher. The Vice-President, in the course of his appeal to Mr. M'Arthur to withdraw his amendment, created a little merriment by saying that a member of the religious body to which he belonged might on the Sunday wish to say " a few words in the silent meeting," and yet be in no way be ineligible as a teacher.—The represen tative for Lambeth did not persevere with his amend ment.—Mr. Candlish, the member for Sunderland, pointed out that as the bill stood, no proceedings could be taken for the purpose of acquiring land compulsorily for schcols, except in the month of November. He presumed it would be difficult to discover sny reason for confining the initiation of proceedings to that month, except that it was the month named for the initiation of proceedings in private bill legislaton. He proposed an amendment, which was accepted, removing the restriction. — Mr. M`Laren moved an amendment, the object of which was to secure education for the blind. This could be done at a very small expense, and experience in Scotland had she wn that the mixing of the blind with the " seeing schools" had been attended with the greatest moral good to the afflicted persons.—The Vice-President pointed out the inconvenience which would arise from including the class of persons referred to specifically in the bill. The object of the bill was to provide sufficient elementary education to all chil dren not otherwise provided for, and the scope of the measure would include the blind.—The member for Edin burgh, upon this explanation, withdrew his proposition. —Mr. Dixon observed that the Bill as it originally stood gave power to theTownCouncil in boroughs to elect the school boards. There was an obj ection taken to that proposition by his hon. friend the member for Chelsea, and although he was defeated, though by. a small majority, the Government had since accepted the amendment of the hon baronet. The hon. member for Birmingham thought it should be at least provided that in the larger boroughs the councils should retain the right given to them originally in the bill, and therefore he proposed that in boroughs of 100,000 inhabitants and upwards the election of a school board should be by the Council, provided that not less than one-third of the number to be elected should b o elected from persons who at the time of the election were not members of the council. He believed that the objec tion to the power of election being vested in the Town Councils arose from prejudioe. He spoke of the abuse which Town Councils received, and remarked that they were in very bad odour in that House. If it were found that good boards were not elected by the municipal bodies, then Parliament could make any alteration. The hon. member said that. he was quite willing that the figure he had named in his amendment should be reduced.—Mr. Forster denied that the change as to the mode' of election in reference to school boards had been made on the ground suggested by Mr. Dixon, namely, want of confidence. The Govern ment had confidence in the councils, especially in large towns. The right hon. gentleman renewed the difficul ties which lin rl beset the action of the Government in this matter, and, said the vice-president, Mr. Dixon himself seemed to be conscious of the perplexing character of the question, for he had stated that he was not disposed to object to the reduction of the figure he had put in his amendment. 11, believed that they might argue any length of time, either in favour of the council or against it, but the insuperable difficulty was as to where they should, draw the line, whether there should be elections by court cils in towns of 100,000, 50,000, or 30,000 inhabitants. The Vice-President had every confidence in the system of direct election. Mr. Mundella suggested the withdrawal of the amendment, in order that they might go to a divi siou on the main q uestion--whether or not the elections should be by town councils. Mr. T. Collins, the hon. member for Boston, taunted the Liberal members with want of confidence in popular elections.— Mr. Dixon, acting upon the suggestion of the member for Sheffield, did not press his amendment.—Mr. Forster then moved the omission of the word " council," in order to substitute " persons whose names are on the burgess roll of such borough for the time being in force." This gave the House an opportunity of bringing the question to an issue. LEFT SITTING. WHITEHALL, JULY 16. The Queen has bean pleased to appoint James Arthur Crichton, Esq., advocate, to be Sheriff of the Shire or Sheriffdom of Fife, in the room of Donald Mackenzie, Esq., resigned. JULY 18. The Queen has been pleased to present the Rev. John Pitt,.M.A., to the charge and office of Second Minister of the church and parish of Dunfermline, in the Presbytery of Dunfermline and shire of Fife, vacant by the transla tion of the Rev. James French from the second to the first charge thereof. ADMIRALTY, JULY 16, The Honourable Frederick Canning Lascelles has been this day promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in her Majesty's Fleet, for special service. SERIOUS FIRE IN THE STRAND. A serious fire broke out at a few minutes to six o'clock this morning, in George-court, Strand, just in the rear of Messrs. Coutts' Bank. It was first discovered on the premises of Mr. Wilkins, a carpenter, from which it spread rapidly to the adjoining houses. The engines were sent for, and the hose from the bank was brought to bear upon the flames. Every exertion was made, both by the firemen and the inhabitants, but the fire was not extin guished for an hour and a half, and the premises of Mr. Wilkins were completely destroyed. POLICE INTELLIGENCE-THIS DAY. A DANGEROUS PRAOTICE.—WiIIiam Harrison Hislop, a traveller, residing in Bentinck-street, St. James's, was brought up at the Marlborough-street Police Court on a warrant by Costigan, one of the warrant officers, charged with using threatening language towards his daughter, Eveline Hislop. The complainant, a little girl, said her father, the prisoner, came home on the Bth June, having been absent a week, with his face and hands blackened, said he would " do for her," and very much alarmed her and the other children, they not knowing it was their father at the time. The prisoner's wife gave evidence as to threats being used towards the complainant, and said the prisoner was in the habit of illusing her and all the family. The magistrates after remarking that the act of the prisoner might have had a dangerous effect on the children for life, ordered him to find two securities in LlO each for six months. FRIGHTFUL CRUELTY TO A CHILD.—A. costermonger and his wife, named Shacklemere, were brought up at the Westminster Police-court, charged with shocking cruelty to a child. The complainant, her own daughter, 14 years old, was frightfully disfigured in the mouth. A number of neighbours and witnesses were called, from whose tes timony it appeased that the prisoner lived at 24, Paradise walk, Chelsea, and for some time past the cries of the girl have frequently alarmed the neighbours, who appear deeply to have sympathised with her ill treatment. On Thursday last her screams attracted attention, and the father. was then seen to hit her as he would have struck a man, and to kick her. On Tuesday the neighbourhood was again put into a state of great alarm by the child's shrieks, and the woman was seen beating her in some way while lying upon her back, and her father was then striking her with the buckle end of a leathern belt. She was afterwards seen in the yard bleeding and in a frightful state. Her father then beat her and made a kick at her. Defendants denied the vio lence imputed to them—the mother saying she had never touched her, and they declared that she was a very bad girl. Mr. Arnold—Your conduct as parents is likely to make her a fiend. You are remanded for a week. THE GUN LICENSES BILL. The House went into committee on this bill, and Mr. Stansfeld intimated that he would propose an ame ndmen 'exempting the servants of the occupiers of land from liability to the gun license when using or carrying guns for the purpose of scaring birds. The right hon. gentle man also said he would accept the amendment of Mr. Russell Gurney, exempting volunteers engaged in target practice, and under these circumstances the bill was allowed to go through committee. SHERIFF (SCOTLAND) ACT (1853) AMENDMENT &c., BILL. The House resolved itself into committee on this bill, and spent several hours in the consideration of its pro visions. The proceedings were very uninteresting. The bill was passed through committee without amend ments. DUBLIN CITY VOTERS DISFRANCHISEMENT BILL On the House going into committee on this bill, Mr. T. Collins urged the Government not only to disfranchise those persons who had been reported guilty of corrupt practices at the election of 1868, but also those who were guilty in 1865.—Mr. 0. Fortescue said that the matter should be considered by Government before reporting, and the bill passed through committee. Some other business was transacted, and the House adjourned at twenty minutes past two - o'clock. THE UNITED STATES. A telegram from New York says :—" It is reported that Admiral Porter has recommended further enlist ments of seamen, and othe i r naval preparations, in view of the possibility of the United States becoming involved in complications arising out of the pending war in Europe. The Bremen steamer Hermann did not sail for South ampton on Saturday, and all persons who had taken passages by her have had their money refunded. Nume rous meetings have been held throughout the States by Frenchmen and Germans to express sympathy with their respective nationalities. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) THE DOCKYARDS AND THE WAR The Western Morning News in an edition published yes terday evening says :—" The grave events now transpir ing naturally led to the supposition that additional activity would be displayed at the Devonport and Key ham Dockyards. This, however, is not the case. Up to : last evening no Admiralty orders having a direct or indirect bearing on the war had been received by the Ad miral-Superintendent. So far from the work being pushed forward the discharges of men still continue. Seventy e;perienced middle-aged artisans are now under notice of discharge. Twelve shipwrights and seven men of other trades received their superannuation papers yester day, and an equal number were before the doctors yester day,with a view to pension. In face of the danger of a great general war, these discharges, which are ordered to con tinue weekly, are especially astonishing. They are re garded moreover as a breach of faith, as the minimum strength of the establishments as provided hi the estimates was reached some weeks ago, and Mr. Childers three months ago informed Mr. J. D. Lewis, the active borough member, by letter and in the House of Commons, that when that limit was reached the discharges would cease." THE VICTUALLING YARD AND THE WAR. An order has been received from the Admiralty, directing the immediate entry of a number of extra hands at the Royal William Victualling Yard, Plymouth, which has of late been worked at quarter power, with a view to the doubling of the make of shipbiscuits and bread at that establishment. Four ovens have of late been at work, and four more will at once be started. LIVERPOOL AND THE WAR, The breaking out of war between Prussia and France will not interfere materially with the emigration trade of Liverpool so far as German emigrants are concerned, as the bulk of the emigration has latterly been through Ham burg and other German ports. Should Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, however, become involved' the emigration through Liverpool will be seriously interfered with, large numbers of emigrants having recently come forward from those countries. Contracts for the passage of French emigrants from Havre to Liverpool have been made Several of the principal German merchants of Liverpool have issued a circular calling upon their fellow countrymen to attend a meeting to be held to-morrow for the discus sion of the great cause of Fatherland, and the duties thereby imposed on all Germans. Affairs in the share and produce markets were yesterday in a state of great confu sion and excitement in consequence of the rumour that Russia had decided to unite with Prussia. Numerous failures are expected in the cotton trade, which is at present in a most critical state. THE NEW VICE-WARDEN OF THE STANNA- HIES COVRT. The Prince of Wales, as Duke of Cornwall, has con ferred the Vice-Wardenship of the Stannaries Court on Mr. Herbert Fisher, Keeper of the Privy Seal in his Royal Highness's household. Mr. Fisher was formerly connected with the Western Circuit, and also private tutor to the Prince, but he withdrew from this circuit several years ago. THE MINERS' AGITATION IN FIFESHIRE. An enthusiastic meeting of miners was held yesterday afternoon at Thornton, near Kirkcaldy. The chairman Mr. Anderson, Kirkcaldy, said a great change had come over the miners of Fifeshire since their last meeting, in asmuch as the eight hours' system was now being carried out at almost every coal-pit in the county. Mr. Mac donald, secretary to the Miners' Association, addressed the meeting, and urged upon the miners to make a demand for an advance of wages to the extent of 6d. per day. It was agreed that the miners employed at Lumphimious colliery should give 14 days' notice of their intention to leave off working at the present terms. ALLEGED FRAUDULENT BANKRUPTCY. Thomas O'Reilly, bankrupt, arrested at Cork on Sun day night, was charged at the police-court yesterday with extensive frauds in connection with his bankruptcy. Mr. Clay, solicitor, stated that the prosecution was or dered by the Dublin Bankruptcy Court, before which the prisoner was examined on Friday, when he admitted ob taining large quantities of goods from English and Scotch firms, and selling them by auction in Cork under cost prices. The prisoner was remanded for eight days. He is about twenty years of age. STRIKE AT LIMERICK. The labourers of the city have struck for higher wages, which the employers have refused to give. Work is therefore at a complete standstill. The malcontents con gregate in large bodies throughout the streets, but no riot is as yet apprehended. The constabulary are placed in detachments throughout the city, so as to be ready in case of emergency. The presentation of the freedom of the City to M. de Lesseps is to take place on Saturday, the 30th inst. The ceremony will be performed in the Guildhall. TELEGRAMS TO FRANCIS.-Au order has been received at the postal telegraph offices that no messages are to be received in cipher for transmission to France. The testimonial to the Right lion. J. S. Taylor (for nineteen years whip to the Conservative party), will be presented to him on Saturday next, the 23d instant, in the large library of the Carlton Club. The Right Hon. John Warner Henley, M.P., will take the chair- A marriage has been arranged to take place in September next between Miss Liebert daughter of the late Mr. Alexander Liebert, of Swinton Hall, Manchester, and niece of Mr. Bernhard Liebert, of Brook House, Man chester, and Mr. Roger Granville, son of the late Mr. Bernard Granvile, of Wellesbourne Hall, Warwick. We are informed that an order was received in Birmingham on Saturday for 80,000 rifles, and that their destination is presumed to be France, as they are to be conveyed to the coast in waggons of the South-Eastern Railway Company.—Morning Post. DR. LIVINGSTONE.—Sir Roderick Murchison says the story about Dr. Livingstone having written to Dr. Kirk is a fabrication. Sir Roderick does net expect to hear any definite news respecting Dr. Livingstone for at least eight months, inasmuch as the supplies and canoes to be sent to him and the answers to letters could not be obtained for a long period. THE EVANS BANKRUPTCY APPEAL.—The appeal in the bankruptcy of Messrs. Evans, hop dealers, of Southwark, which first came before the Court of Appeal on Saturday, entered its second phase yesterday, before Lord Justice James, the object being to set aside the recent decision of Mr. Registrar Brougham, ordering the bankrupts to file annually an account of profits over £l,OOO each, and pay the surplus to the joint account of the official assignee, until the creditors should receive 7s. 6d. in the pound upon the debts proved. Mr. Serjeant Sargood, who represented the appellants, deprecated the course which the court below had followed, inasmuch as it would not be produc tive of substantial advantage to the creditors. Judgment was reserved. ROBBERY ON BOARD THE LOTHAIR.— Charles Smith, a stevedore, aged fifty-one years, was brought before Mr. Lushington at the Thames Police-court, charged with stealing seven fathoms of new rope from the ship Lothair in the West India Dock. The priscner was leaving the dock with a coil of new rope under his arm, and he was asked by Henry Young, a constable, for a written pass authorising him to carry it out. He said he brought it from the ship Lothair, and that he was about to carry it on board another ship belonging to the same owners, and that the chief officer of the ship, who was very busy, had failed to make out a pass. He then proposed to leave the rope in the possession of the constable until he could get a Pass, and this was agreed to. He left and was absent some time. On his return he said he could not get a p as s, and entreated the officer to let him take the rope out of the dock. This was refused, and Young made inquiries, and ascertained that the rope was stolen, and that the prisoner had not finished his work on board the Lothair. Mr. Charles . Miller, the chief mate of the Lothair, identified the rope which had been stolen from the ship. He never gave any authority to the prisoner to remove it. The prisoner assured the magistrate he had never any intention to steal the rope. Mr. Lushington committed the prisoner for trial. The prisoner's wife here called out to her husband, " Plead guilty, and have it settled here." The prisoner obeyed the directions of his better half, and Mr. Lushing ton accepted his plea of guilty, and sentenced him to three months' imprisonment and hard labour.