The Sun. — London, England, 1870-12-31 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE. SUN OFFICE, 8 A.M. THE WAR, OCCUPATIQN of MONT AVRON. ROYAL HEAD-QUARTERS, VERSAILLES, December 20. Mont Avron has been occupied by the 12th Army Corps, after a bombardment of one day. "The French_trooPs left behind them many gun carriages, rifles, and dead soldiers." On the 28th inst. the siege artillery on the east front of Paris succeeded, after having on the pre vious day silenced Fort Avron, in effectually bom barding the railway station at N&sy-le-Sec, and also , y in dislodging the enemy's artillery in position at Bondy. Our losses were three men. The enemy's detachments who were still outside the fort after its occupation on the 29th withdrew to Paris. We lost one man. On the 27th instant Lieutenant-Colonel Botten stein, with six companies of infantry, one squadron of cavalry, and two guns, had a smart engagement with the enemy between Montoire and La Chartre. Eventually the enemy surrounded the detachment, but Colonel Bottenstein broke through with a loss of 100 men, and captured ten officers and 230 men. The King has sent the following telegram to Queen Augusta : " Our bombardment of the fortified Mont Avron on the 27th inst. with 76 guns has silenced the enemy's guns yesterday and to-day." The following despatch has also been received : The King of Saxony has received. the following nouncement from Prince George : "LE VERT GALANT, December 29 (7 30 p.m.) -Finding Mont Avron deserted by the enemy . 5 afternoon, the first Company of the 4th Foot took possession. The guns had been carried off, but many limbers, _as well as fire-locks, ammunition, and dead, were . .left behind. Towards noon some field artillery •of the enemy had hastened from Avron towar. s Noisy,. and from Rosny four batta lions with their baggage withdrew towards Paris. We have had no casualties to-day. From 7 to 10 to morrow morning we shall throw a strong force into Mont Avron for clearing up and occupation. While this is being effected an artillery fire will be kept up against Noisy, Merlan, and Bondy." THE BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS. CARLSRIME, December 30. According to information from - Versailles, the attack on two of the Paris forts is certain to take place on the Ist of January. Besides the fire on the forts, shells will be from time to time thrown into Belleville, Villette, and St. Antoine. Nothing is likely to be done in the neighbour hood of the Loire for a fortnight at least. Prince Hohenlohe and General Kameche have been nomi nated supreme chiefs of Artillery and Engineers. Reinforcements are coming up fast. They amount in all to about 150,000 men ; 4,000 horses are on their way, and will arrive at Versailles shortly for transporting purposes, the use of siege trains, and conveyance of ammunition. MARGENCY, December 28. A dozen or more shells were sent inside Paris yes terday, and to-day into La Vilette and Belleville, from the Rainey batteries, the range being about 7,000 yards. The French batteries at Bondy are silenced, and the camp behind Bondy is broken up. The French had erected six batteries on the plain between , Courneuve and Drancy, looking towards Le Bourget, the significance of which is nullified because they are infiladed from Rainey. The rail way station at Baubigny, hitherto of immense use to the French, is commanded by German batteries. ANOTHER UNSUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON BELFORT. BESANCON, December 29. Intelligence has been received that another unsuc cessful attack was made by the Germans on Belfort on the '24th, which was repulsed. The Prussians had 1,400 men hors de combat. On the 21st instant 56 carriages were employed in conveying German wounded to Chatenois ; and it is said that on arrival it was found that almost all the occupants were frozen to death. ATTACK OF ROSNY. ROCHE, December 29. The Prussians yesterday made a furious attack upon Nogent, Rosny, and the Plateau of Avron, unmasking their siege batteries, and attempting a bombardment. They were repulsed with consider able loss. INVESTMENT OF PERONNE. Advices from the Army of the North received at Versailles state that on the 27th instant the fortress of Peronne, after several engagements, was in vested. The pursuit of the French army of the North continued. Generals Chanzy and Bourbaki have resumed offensive operations. PRUSSIANS AT BAPAUNE. ARRAS, December 29. 15,000 Prussians arrived at bapaune on the 26th, and marched the following day in the direction of Peronne and Douai. The Germans before leaving told the inhabitants that they were all tired of the war. NEWS FROM BORDEAUX. The latest information received here states that the Prussians had made a hasty retreat from Gray in the direction of Vesoul. At Mezieres another loss had been inflicted on the Prussians, and preventing them from estab lishing batteries in front of the fortress. The German loss in the affair of the 24th at Bolbec was heavier than at first supposed. The enemy re moved more . than 20 conveyances, containing, it in estimated, 200 dead and wounded. SEIZURE OF ANOTHER ENGLISH VESSEL BY THE GERMANS. " HAVRE, December 30. The English vessel Sylph has. been seized by the German soldiers at Rouen. The crew were forced ashore, and the vessel towed down the river. She has been sunk at Duclair. NEWS FROM BELGIUM. BRUSSELS, December 30. No pilots are given to vessels navigating the Scheldt from Antwerp, owing to the danger from the ice. Cambrai is prepared for defence. General Faid herbe is to the south-least of Douai. It is believed that Count Bismarck is trying to form a Peace League between England, Austria, and Germany. RATIFICATION OF THE GERMAN TREATIES. BERLIN, December 30. This morning the ratifications were exchanged of the treaties between Hesse and Baden and North Germany. The treaty with Wurtemburg was also ratified, as well as the military treaties with Baden and Hesse. MOVEMENTS OF THE GERNIANS. LILLE, 'December 29. A Prussian cavalry detachment arrived at St. Quentin on Wednesday to prepare for the passage through St. Quentin, of two Prussian Generals, with an escort of 2,000 men, also to arrange for the ; accommodation of 1,800 troops as garrison of the town. Tin SUN, rLONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, iB7O. ;: t„ / raj r eylA , G ILI I. HER •MAJESTY • a OSBORNE, Dec. 30 The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, accompanied by Princess Beatrice, and attended by the Dowager Duchess of Athole. Colonel Du Platt was in attendance on horseback. Her Majesty walked out this morning, accompanied by Princess Louise. Prince Arthur and Prince Leopold also went out. Prince and Princess Teck left Frogmore yesterday. THE SEIZURE OF BRITISH SHIPS. The Rouen correspondent of the Times writes on December 26th :—" An incident much to be regretted, but scarcely to have been avoided, of which some account will probably have reached you by telegraph, oe. curred a few days ago on the Seine. The French have numerous gunboats on the river, with which, starting from Havre or from Quillebceuf, where the Seine begins to broaden tow ards the sea, they make reconnaisances as far as possible in the direction of Rouen. On the 21st one of the gunboats had advanced to within a short distance of Duclair, where, on the right bank of the river, the Prussians are established in some force. Duclair is a litt.e port or landing-place, about half way between Quillebceuf and Rouen, and the Prussians had already begun to block the passage at that point when the approach of the hostile craft was announced. For tunately, or unfortunately, five English colliers, unladen and carrying nothing but ballast, were at hand. They were just what was wanted to complete the naval barri cade, and the Prussians ; using them for that purpose, sank them. The owners will lose nothing, since the Prussians have given a bond of indemnity; but the thirty odd seamen who manned the vessels, and who were forwarded yesterday to the care of Mr. Leefortin, her Majesty's Vice-Consul at Dieppe, are certainly to be pitied. It is to be hoped, however, that the indemnity payable by the Prussians will be sufficiently large to cover the loss of wages these poor fellows must otherwise suffer. LAW AND POLICE. A HEARTLESS ROBBERY.—James Hickling, aged 30 years, an iron moulder and driller, was brought before Mr. Paget at the Thames Police-court, charged with stealing two skirts, a cloak, a shawl, and a time-piece, the property of Mary Ann Woodcock, a poor but respectable widow, now living at 209, St. Leonard's-road, Bromley. In the early part of November last the prosecutor was dwelling in the same house as her brother-in-law, the prisoner, who has the unenviable privilege of being a lazy, hard-drinking fellow, seldom, if ever sober. She left home on the 17th of August to fulfil an engagement as nurse to a lady, and returned on the 26th, when she found that her boxes had been forced open and the articles above-named stolen. She gave immediate infor mation to the police, and Norman, a clever detective of the K Division, was placed on his track, but did not find him until yesterday, when he returned to his old haunts, and thought the robbery had " blown over," but Norman soon taught him the reverse, and arrested the prisoner. The whole of the property was produced by a pawn broker, who said the prisonerhad pawned it. Mrs. Sarah Greenacre said she was also sister-in-law of the prisoner, and the prosecutrix had a box in her room which the pri soner forcibly broke open and abstracted the contents. The prisoner, in defence, said he took the property, and he would redeem them when he got into work. Mr. Paget could not allow a serious and cruel robbery to be com promised in that manner, and committed the prisoner for trial. CAUTION TO NEWSAGENTS. —John Wall, a young man, who gave his address " Betts' lodging-house, New Church court, Strand," was charged before Mr. Knox, at Marl borough-street police-court, with stealing, outside a shop in Tottenham-court-road, a parcel of newspapers, the pro perty of Mr. Edwd. Curtice, newsagent, Holywell-street. Sergeant H. Rogers, 38 E, deposed that at about 7 o'clock that morning he was told the prisoner had got a parcel of papers in his possession which he had no right to. He went after the prisoner, and on coming up with him in Endell-street found he had a parcel of papers under his arm.' On asking him where he had got them, he said that a man running away with them threw them down and he picked them up, and that he was going to take them to the owner, " Mr. Smith." He told the prisoner that he would have to go with him to the station, as he knew him to be a thief and to have suffered four months' imprison ment and twelve months' imprisonment for a similar thing, and he took him there. Mr. H. Beeson, in the employ of Mr. Curtice, said a parcel containing upwards of a hundred of the morning papers was given to a driver to leave at Mr. Stevens' shop, in Tottenham-court -road. Richard Abrahams said he gave the parcel to a lad, heard the lad call out " papers," and saw him put down the parcel and leave it as usual at Mr. Stevens' door in a side passage. Mr. Stevens deposed to hearing the lad call out " papers," but on going to the door there was no parcel there. The previous convictions having been proved, the prisoner was committed for trial. kFFAIRS OF SPAIN MADRID, DECESUIER 29 The excitement created by the attempt to assassinate Marshal Prim has not abated. Crowds assembled in the streets to-night, and in some instances revolutionary re marks were indulged in. There are rumours that the Ministry of War is in possession of information which leads to the belief that a wide-spread conspiracy exists, the members of which are pledged to remove by assassination the known enemies of Republicanism. Three arrests were made to-day. The police and military are active. General Sickles and other foreign representatives called and left congratulations at Marshal Prim's house to-day. The Marshal's wounds are more serious than was at first supposed, and some fears are entertained of inflammation in the hand and shoulder. :kRRIVAL OF GENERAL PELTINGEAS AT HAVRE./ HAVRE, December 29. The new commander app3inted to defend Havre, General Peltingeas, has arrived. The immediately assumed command of the troops, and was well re ceived, both by the soldiers and the population. He made a speech on the occasion, and declared he would die rather than yield to the enemy. PRUSSIANS HUNG BY TILE FRANCS TIREURS. A correspondent from the Vosges, in the Progres de Saone-et-Loire says :—Two Francs-Tireurs have been hung by [the Prussians. Three days after seventeen Prussian corps were dangling from the trees in the same neighbourhood. A bat talion was sent from Strasburg to search the coun try. Only forty men returned. The officer at their head was weeping with rage when he re entered Strasburg. THE SINKING OF ENGLISH' SHIPS. M. Duval is deputed by the Municipal Council of 1 Rouen to proceed to Bordeaux, in order to obtain of the Provisional Government an inquiry into the conduct of General Briand, who, the Council allege, deserted the town and drew off his army, four hours before it was occupied—without even a word of re sistance or the formality of capitulation—by the Germans. The Council wish to correct certain mis representations with regard to the occupation of Rouen which have appeared in the English Press. no requisition of money was made. 40,000 pairs of socks, 29,000 pairs of boots, 4,000 flannel shirts, and 12,000 cigars, besides a large quantity of oats and of horses to the value of 250,000 francs, were required, and were forthcoming. Three, not six, English ships were sunk by the Prussians in the Seine, below Duclair, and that for one of them—not worth more than £6oo—the officer in command gave the captain a bill upon the town of Rouen for £2,000. The behaviour of the Germans generally in Rouen has been unimpeachable. ROME. ROME, Deeetnber 29. Several livas have The waters are receding. been lost. ITALY AND ROME. ---- - FLORENCE, December 29 (Evening). The five bureaux of the Senate met to-day to examine the bill proposing to transfer the capital to Rome. Three of the bureaux delegated Signori Amari, Arese, and Menabrea to sustain in the sitting of the Central Bureau the proposal to delay the discussion of the biil until the Chamber of Depu ties shall have ratified the guarantees offered to the Sovereign Pontiff. REVOLUTION AT THE DIAMOND FIELDS. PLYMOUTH, December 30. By the Union Company's steamer Saxon from the Cape arrived here, news comes that the diamond discoveries on the bank of the Vaal continued pro gressing very favourably, and crowds of persons were emigrating to the diamond fields. A. revolution bad taken place among the rulers of the Diamantine Provisional Republic formed in the west, or drift side of the Vaal. EXPECTED NAVAL ENGAGEMENT OFF THE IRISH COAST. QUEENSTOWN, FRIDAY. The French ironclad Gwynne, 3,900 tons, ten guns, has arrived here for the purpose of coaling and effecting repairs to her machinery. The Gwynne came from the coast of France, and it is believed that the object of her mission is to search for the German war steamer Augusta, which put into Bantry Bay a few days ago. It is expected by some people here that a naval engagement will take place somewhere off the coast. The captain of the Gwynne to-day visited the admiral at this port. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) THE BISHOP OF WINCHESTER AT HASTINGS. The Bishop of Winchester, speaking at a meeting held at the Music Hall, Hastings, yesterday afternoon, in support of the Additional Curates' Society, dwelt upon the spiritual destitution prevailing in populous districts, and spoke of the endowments to the Church of England as gifts to parishes or districts, and not to the nation at large. He pointed out that the present age is not one of endowment, the relative position of rich and poor having undergone a great change, and there being much uncertainty as to the mode in which endowments may be applied fifty years hence. His Lordship con. tended that it is a fallacy to suppose the Church of Eng land is richly endowed, and he quoted figures, shewing that the clergy are meanly paid in proportion to the out lay required for their calling, and in comparison to pecu niary commercial pursuits. He spoke of the society as the handmaid of the Church of England in pro viding ministers for more populous districts. After a brief reference to the grants made in different dioceses, he concluded with an eloquent appeal on behalf of the cause. Mr. G. B. Gregory, M.P., pre sided over the meeting, which was also addressed by Mr. T. Brassey, M.P., and others. THE NORWICH ELECTION PETITION. A telegram from our Norwich correspondent states that the Conservatives will not press their claim to the seat on behalf of Mr. Huddleston, Q.C. ANOTHER ACCIDENT FROM A BROKEN TYRE. A train leaving Carlisle early yesterday morning ran off the line at Burton and Holme Station on the London and North-Western Railway. Eleven carriages and trucks were precipitated down an embankment, and were much damaged, but the passengers and guards pro videntially escaped with a few scratches and bruises. The accident was caused by the breaking of a tyre, and the traffic on the line was delayed for four hours. THE FUNERAL OF MR. WILSON. The funeral of the late Mr. George Wilson has been ap- pointed to take place at Ardwick Cemetery, Manchester next Wednesday forenoon. A special meeting of the National Reform Union was held this evening (Friday), for the purpose of considering what arrangements should be made as to attending the funeral. Mr. Jacob Bright, M.P., who occupied the chair, said it would be more in harmony with his feelings had he been permitted, to be silent on this sad occasion. He knew the grief that would be felt by all present, and it was needless to attempt to give expression to it. They had lost a man w hom all of them had loved in private life, and for whose public course they had a profound respect. Though he had been acquainted with Mr. Wilson for many years, he did not know what his faith was, or what was his religious profession, but this he knew that he carried with him into politics to a rare degree the great Christian maxim, " Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you do ye even so to them." No man probably in the north of England had taken a more active part in the discussion of those public questions which had occupied the attention of the nation during the past thirty years ; and though Mr. Wilson never failed to do justice to all men, whatever their opinions or whatevertheir stations, yet his affections were for the people. For them he often suffered, with them he always worked through good report and through evil report. Mr. Wilson has left behind him the precious legacy of a high character, and be might be permitted to say that, so long as such men were born and lived amongst us, the honour of England and her highest interests could never be neglected. A resolution was passed, to invite the members and friends of the Union to be present at the funeral of their Presi dent, and a committee was appointed to make arrange ments. THE REPRESENTATION OF MEATH.--Mr. George Plunkett, who is one of the candidates seeking the Repre sentation of Meath, has sent a letter to the Catholic clergy of the diocese, in which he says—" A deputation has waited upon me to ascertain what course I would pursue in relation to Mr. Gladstone's Italian policy if I were returned to Parliament, and I have been given to under stand that, unless my answer proved satisfactory, my return would be opposed by the clergy. In reply, and to meet the wishes of the deputation, I beg to say that I will oppose the Government on those party questions which do not affect the interests of Ireland or of Catholics in general, so long as Mr. Gladstone does not reverse his Italian policy." THE CONFERENCE. General Loverdo has resigned his post of Director of the French Infantry and Cavalry oh account of bad health. The Prussian Administration at Strasburg has forbidden the inhabitants to rebuild or repair the houses destroyed or injured during the siege, because they wish the town to be reconstructed on a new plan. CRYSTAL PALACE.--One Shilling Day, Friday, December 30, 1870.—Admission by season tickets, 2,980 ; ditto on payment, 3,544; total visitors, 6,452. The Illustrated News states that the will of the Rev. H. Michell Wagner, M.A., late Vicar of Brighton, has been proved under £lOO,OOO. THE COLLIERS SUNK IN THE SElNE.—Thirty one seamen belonging to the British ships seized by the Prussians arrived in London yesterday afternoon, and have ~been taken charge of by Mr. Mayo, the Registrar- General of Seamen, pending Earl Granville's orders. We understand that an enormous number of ap plications for the secretaryship and other appointments under the London School Board have been received, and from the character and attainments of the gentlemen ap plying, we have little doubt that great difficulty will be experienced in selecting the best men.—Civilian. RESIGNATION OF THE CHIEF CONSTABLE OF WonCESTEASHIRE.I—The chief constable of the county of Worcester has placed his resignation in the hands of the magistrates. It is understood that there are already two gentlemen named as candidates f or the office, which will not be filled up till the Easter Sessions. —Birmingham Post. MR. CARDWELL AND THE COAST DEFENCES. Mr. Cardwell, Secretary at War, recently visited Harwich, with the view of making arrangements for the develop ment of additional defences at that port. A contract for the new works contemplated has already been let to Messrs. Lee, of Westminster, and operations have been commenced both at Languard Fort and the Redoubts. Instructions have been received at Colchester from the Horse Guards to provide accommodation in the cavalry barracks at Col chester for a field battery of artillery. AMERICAN AND CLYDE IRON SHIPBUILDING. — We understand that W. R. Garrison, Esq., president of the United States and Brazil Mail Steamship Com pany has contracted with Messrs. Alexander Stephen and Sons, of Linthouse, Glasgow, for the construction of three iron steamships of 1,700 tons each, to be fitted with all modern improvements as first-class vessels. These, we believe, are the first iron steamers that have been ordered here direct from the United States of America. — Glasgow Herald, THE GENEVA CONVENTION. It is remarkable how freely the Geneva Convention is discussed by hosts of writers who are evidently ignorant of its capital stipula tions. The red cross by no means confers the privilege of neutrality without enforcing corresponding duties. The French are far more deeply to blame for leaving masses of their wounded behind without surgeons or ambulance material than the Germans for being . unable, in an enemy's country, to make adequate provision for them. The Geneva Convention neutralizes the surgeons and ambu lance stores as well as the wounded, and the neglect of the French to leave these with the wounded, whom they throw in masses upon the hands of the victorious Germans, seems to have escaped attention : while the invaders are blamed for not providin what is beond their means to provide in an ene g my's B rit ishcountry.— Medical Journal. AN EASTERN ARCHBISHOP IN LONDON.—The Most Rev. Dr. Cyril B. Benni, Archbishop of Mosul (the ancient Nineveh), is now in London, stay ing at the West End. He was among the Eastern Prelates who took part in the proceedings of the Vatican Council. He is now engaged in making collections to aid in establishing schools and re building churches for the Roman Catholics of the Syrian Rite in his distant archdiocese, who are suffering from great destitution. We understand that on Sunday week, the Bth of January, the Archbishop will " celebrate " in the Syrian Rite, at the 11 o'clock Mass, at the Roman Catholic Church, Kingsland, near the Dalston station. Monsignor Benni speaks fluently French and Italian, and would be happy to confer with any English savants who are interested in the antiquities, secular and ecclesiastical, of the East. The statement that Count Bismarck refused a safe conduct pass to M. Jules Favre, which would enable him to attend the Conference as the representative of France, is incorrect. When Earl Granville asked the North German Chancellor to grant such a pass, Count Bismarck replied that it was then impossible to forward it to Paris, as the French persistently fired on all who ap proached to hold parley, but that he would send it at the earliest opportunity. Since then Count Bismarck has communicated with M. Jules Favre, through Mr. Wash bourne, the American Minister in Paris, and has informed the French Minister that a safe-conduct and every facility would be given him to be present at the Conference. The sittings of the Conference will not be held in the large salon at the Foreign Office known as the Conference Chamber, but in a smaller room adjoining it, which has already been prepared for the oc casion. Although it is not understood that the question of Luxemburg can well be discussed in the Conference that meets on Tuesday next, we anticipate no real diffi oulty on the subject ; for, as the facts of the case become better known, it grows more evident that, if Prussia was not without practical and solid grounds for her com plaint against the Duchy, France might have retaliat ed. It can, we believe, be proved on evidence that 1,200 tons of provisions were conveyed by the Luxemburg Rail way to the French ; but also that 30,000 tons were con veyed by the same channel to the Prussians. At the same time we may state that the North German Govern ment has not taken any exception to the validity of the treaty guaranteeing the neutrality of Luxemburg, but has only accused the local authorities of not observing the conditions annexed to their privilege ; and that complaint will, of course, be met by the necessary explanations. Telegraph. CHRISTMAS AT VERSAILLES. Writing from Versailles, December 24, the special correspondent of the Standard at the King's Head quarters, says :—I believe that Christmas and the Reign of Peace are usually held to be convertible terms ; yet Christmas has come, and two hostile armies, each of whose forces we must count by the hundred thou sand, are celebrating it in. sight of each other ; in what number we all know too well. Nevertheless, there have been unmistakeable signs in the Versailles shops and in the Versailles streets for days that a merry malting festival was approaching. Many of the shops are now in the possession of enterprising Germans, and their windows are stocked with the good things which at the end of December commonly greet the eye. Doubt less some of the warriors made purchases in the hope they may reach little hands they themselves had taught both to frolic and to raise in prayer, little hands now clasped about a lonely woman's neck, who weeps and wonders when, if ever, the bread winner will come home from the war. Well, let them buy what they will, there is no child's puzzle they can lay their hands on a thousandth part as puzzling as the painful, perplexing, insuperable contradic tions one has to consider when two whole peoples are arrayed in murderous arms against each other, and the Gospel of Christ is withal not abolished. The distant forts greet me with a well-maintained growl. All day long the same sound has been smiting our ears ; and it is evident that Paris is ,not celebrating Christmas in a humble spirit. Yet they tell us to-night, that though there has been heavy firing there has been nothing more; no fresh sortie, no further demonstrations. It is n')l fighting weather. I never remember so cold a Christmas ; and 1 should think that lying out in the open after a wound for three or four hours would to-day be sure death, Mr. Lawrence Oliphant, who has just come back from the Loire, appears to think that there will be a suspension of conflict in that quarter as long as the present weather lasts, seeing that both sides stand sorely in need of repose to recuperate their / energies. I cannot yet get at the precise truth/ as to the considerable action which is reported from near Amiens. When one is told that Manteuffel had 30,000 men, and Faidherbe 60,000—that the French were pushed back, but that other details ire wanting—one sees that no very valuable victory has beert \ won. The members of the " Fourth Estate" muster sti4ingly enough at Ver sailles to have organised a Christmas dinner, though it should be added that it could scarcely have taken place at all, and would certainly have been only a melancholy meal, but for the spirit and energy of one amiable member of our body, who unites with a graceful pen a mastery of many languages, and a rare musical faculty, the qualifications upon which depends the successful ordering of a feast. We sate down 16 guests, the press of America being honourably represented among us. Mr. Odo Russell did us the pleasure of joining our circle, and even Prussian uniforms were not absent from the board. THE ARMY OF THE NORTH. Under date Douai, December 28, the special corres pondent of the Standard writes :—During the last three or four days, after my return from the North, I found the utmost excitement, as may well be imagined, prevailing at Boulogne, in consequence of the fighting before Amiens. Fugitives and special messengers came thronging in by every train with fresh news each minute of the recent events. The majority I had the opportunity of speaking to seemed to he of one opinion- -namely, that Faidherbe had achieved a decided success ; but that he only followed his plan of campaign in retreating, rendering in this instance more imperative by the Saxon corps under Prince Albert coming up with the intention of surrounding his army. One affair particularly was brilliant in the extreme. The 33d of the Prussian line, known as the crack regiment in the service, charged, took two guns, and then con tinued up the hill. They had only eight rounds of ammunition left, and the rush was all the more des perate. The French not only waited for them, but went out to meet them with the bayonet. For an instant the result seemed uncertain ; but the tremendous pluck of the Northern Mobiles told its tale, and the Prussians were sent flying down the hill with irresistible force. An English officer, who had the good luck to be looking on the %%hole time, described it to me as one of the most dashing charges he had ever witnessed. But the same man, and two or three other persons who arrived yester day from Amiens, declared that nothing could equal the terror of the spectacle the field of battle presented when alll was over. The cold was so unprecedentedly intense that the wounded and dying were benumbed in the very act of trying to crawl off the field ; and even the dead were frozen in horribly grotesque positions as they fell. The North is at last thoroughly awakened, and fully comprehends the clanger. Hitherto she has been sacred from invasion. Five days back it was thought that the Prussians had more than enough to occupy them at Amiens, and to-day they are not far from the walls of Arras. As though to add to the sensation, the news spread like electricity through the town that beyond Douai the line was cut. All news that comes in the night is difficult to be verified, and is moreover of a more startling nature. It is cer tain, however, that the railway officials refused, in my own instance, to book as far as Arras. But I was surprised and delighted to see that all this had no depressing effect on the people. On the contrary, it seemed rather to steady them ; and amongst the troops, that might be under orders to depart at any moment, I remarked an elasticity and nerve that ought to • have inspired the utmost confidence. If lam not greatly mistaken, the men of the North will show before man: days of what different stuff they are made to the raw ma terial that has preceded them. I say, advisedly, before many days. A big cloud is gathering over the little cluster of northern fortresses, and its bursting is only a question of hours. Messrs. Jay, Cooke, McCulloch, and Co. in connection with the eminent American Banking House of Messrs. Jay, Cooke, and Co., of New York, Philadelphia, and Wash ington, will open their London house at , 41, Lombard . Street, on Tuesday next, the 2nd January. The Resident Partners will be the Hon. Hugh McCulloch, (late Secre tary to the United States Treasury,) Mr. J. H. Puleston, and Mr. Frank H. Evans. THE GOVERNMENT AND, THE FENIANS.—CORSO (pent upon the promised release of the Fenian prison ers, which is expected to take effect on either to-day, or on Monday, and the condition of exile attached to their par don, a movement is being set on foot amongst the Irish residents of London and several English provincial towns, in conjunction with a similar movement in Ireland, whereby funds may be raised to enable the prisoners and their families to emigrate, in the absence of any intima tion from the Government that the latter will defray this expense. THE SEIZURE OF ENGLISH VESSELS Al BUR COTE HAVRE The correspondent of the Daily News at Havre, writing I on December 28, says --The all -absorbing topic at pre sent is the gross and flagrant insult to the British flag by the Prussians at Duclair on Wednesday last. English residents, English merchants and brokers, are wild with in dignation that,such a cool and deliberate outrage should be. perpetrated in the broad dayligot, within a day's sail of England, and within less than thirty miles of an English gunboat. Here are the facts :—Six vessels, flying the Union Jack, provided with the necessary passports, per• snits, &c., after discharging their cargoes of coal, are quietly sailing down the river, when on reaching Duclair they are deliberately fired at, boarded by Prussian sol diers, scuttled, and sunk; the crews have barely time to escape, leaving their money and effects behind them; they are obliged to pass the night without shelter ; next day they make their way to Rouen, and are sent home rid Dieppe by the English Consul. We are anxious to know what action the authorities will take in the matter. It is a sad state of affairs if such a violation of neutrality passes unnoticed. The Journal du Hattre, commenting on the subject, says: " We are con vinced that England, so proud of the privileges of her citizens, will inquire quickly into this affair. In it her honour, her dignity, and her security are at stake. If she allows such an act to be com mitted with impunity she will lower herself in the rank of nations to the fourth order." It is to be hoped that the Admiralty will see the necessity of sending us a more formidable war vessel to protect English interests than the tiny little gunboat at present here, which is, no doubt, a model of tidiness and smart ness, as her officers are of courtesy and kindness, but that is not quite enough under the present circumstances, and we ought to have a vessel at least equal in size to the other men-of-war of various nations at present in the harbour. The name of the vessels sunk are the Anne, of Shields ; Maclaren, Sunderland; Jes ss.my, Colchester; Sally Gale, Newcastle; Jane Fundle, Sunderland ; Alice, Sunderland. THE PRUSSIAN S AT H AVRE AND ROUEN The same correspondent writing on the movements of the Prussians at Havre and Rouen, says :—The latest in telligence is that they are in considerable force at Yvetot, where they seem to have fixed their headquarters. Yes terday about 200 entered Bolbec, and imposed a requisi tion for 500 sacks of oats. There is a strong recon noitring party of French in the neighbourhood of Saint Romain, but no skirmish has taken place since Saturday ; on which day, it is stated that several houses in the town of Bolbec sustained serious damage from the fire of the cannon on both sides, and that several of the inhabitants were severely wounded. The Francs tireurs who were killed in the engagement were interred with all honour, while those who fell into the hands of the enemy were, it is stated, shot immediately. It is the general opinion that these free -shooting corps have no mercy to expect from t he enemy, should they fall into their hands ; therefore it is that they are generally brave in action, an d fight to the last before surrendering. General Mocquart has come into Havre to rest his men ; and indeed the soldiers require rest and the comforts of life more than usual during this trying weather, particularly those who ar I a doing told outpost duty. They are relieved every hour, yet m two men were frozen to death while on duty near Har fieur on Christmas-eve. From - Rouen we hear that the inhabitants are feeling sensibly the presence of the Germans amongst them. A letter from that city is published in to-day's Joernal, in which the writer says they are completely at the mercy of Manteuffel, and that their streets and promenades are encumbered with Prussian soldiers. He describes provisions as being fright fully dear, and does not know how people will get on should this state of things last long. Everything that arrives in the market, even the tobacco, is reserved exclu sively for the enemy, and the inhabitants must go with out the enjoyment of smoking. An English gentle man whO came from Rouen yesterday affirms that the Prussian army in Normandy numbers only about 25,000 men. He says that by their marching and counter marching they establish the impression that they are double the number. He gives as an 'example, that on Tuesday morning last a body of men num bering 10,000, and carrying with them 39 pieces of cannon, left Rouen by the road to Caen, and that some hours after, the same body, with the same number of cannon, re-entered the town by the Oissel-road, thereby making it appear to the inhabitants that one column of men had left while the other entered. The ireitch autlw rities, lam sure, have cognizance of this strate gem, and cannot be deceived by such fantastic movements. THF, COMMENCEMENT OF THE ATTACK. Writing from the headquarters of the Prussian army at Versailles on the 27th, the special correspondent of the Telegraph says :—Christmas is happily over, we may say, its anniversary not having been marked by the slaughter of several thousand men, as our generals had expected it to be. Indeed, the garrison of Paris did but little to disturb the festivities of its enemies. One shell was thrown into a German work at Montretout, occupied by a company of the sth Chasseurs, killing one man and wounding ten. On the whole the firing from the forts and French earthworks has been heavy and continuous since the 23rd. Last night it was so "well nourished" that, though well ac customed to hearing its futile thunder, we fancied some thing out of the common must be taking place ; but, upon inquiring this morning whether an y symptoms had been noticed of an approaching sortie, I have been assured that, so far as tae French are concerned, every thing is "as it was." Not so, however, on our side. This morning the batteries, of which I have repeatedly made mention in recent letters, opened upon the French work on Mont Avron, and have already silenced several of its gulls. No details whatever of losses, &c., have reached us up to this time (2 p.m.), and I can therefore give you no information beyond the bare fact above stated, which will have been telegraphed to you ere this. The fifth disti nc t and significant phase of the siege of Paris has now set in. The Prussian twenty-four pounders have at length broken their ominous silence, and will, in all probability, make themselves heard, day after day, until the inevitable capitulation, with less noise than has been made by the marine monsters mounted in the forts, but with a great deal more effect. To-morrow, it is said, will commence an attack upon Vanves and Montrouge, whilst a galling fire will he opened upon several nth r points of the outer line of defence to occupy the garrison, and shells will be from time to time thrown into Paris itself, or, to be strictly correct, into three of its suburbs. lam inclined to think that this combined offensive action will not be carried out till the Ist proximo. The supreme direction of the engineering and artillery departments has been confided to Lieut.- Generals Prince Hohenlohe and Kamecke, from whose well-known energy and skill in those scientific branches of war to which they have devoted themselves great things are expected by the army. The extreme coldness from which we have all been sufiering acutely for the last ten days is esteemed by the Prussian commanders to be their most powerful ally. The Prussian soldiers stand it exceeding well ; indeed, their sanitary condition has never been better than it is just now ; and they are propped up, from with;n and without, by every conceivable sustenance and comfort. The feeding and clothing of the army are all that could be desired ; consequently, the men do their duty without an audible murmur, and are in first-rate fighting condition and temper. How the army of the field encamped around Paris fares in this terrible weather we do not know ; but we suspect, from its comparative inaction at such a critical moment as the present, that the soldiers of Paris must be in sad case. No doubt, as soon as the frost breaks up, we shall have our hands full again—perhaps before, for it is probable that when the Prussian batteries open on the forts, &c., sortie after sortie will be made is in rapid succession upon the siege works. A busy impending, you may be sure. Faidherbe's retreat, how ever, and the passive attitude of Chanzy and ourbakire- , have relieved us of all immediate apprehension B wi th gard to menace in our rear. The Church's Church's loss by death during 1870 incluled Bishop Lee, of Manchester: Bishops Verschoyle and Leslie, of Kilmore; Bishop Gilbert, of Cof Barhichester ; Bishop Hatchard, of Mauriti us ; Bishop Parry, bados ; Bis hop Auckland, of Bath and Wells ; T. Deans Stevlipsens, D R a ev. le, and Brodrick ; Ar chdeacon Hale,Rev. Phil, W. B. Mackenzie, and others. — The Rock. Mr. Charles Fechter has brought his brief career in Boston to a sudden termination by resigning the ma nagement of the Globe Theatre. The Hub will, of course, be thrown temporarily .into despair at its loss, and New York at its possible gain. It is a pity that Mr. Fechter did not retire in more dignified style. Why should he insist on inflicting on a patient public the story of the petty professional rivalry and contemptible jealousies which drove him to resign ?—Neiv York Tribune. There has been a stormy scene in the Spanish Cortes, Senor Calderon Callantes having made a vehe ment speech against the Ministry, in answer to Figuerola's speech the day before. Collantes demanded that the Minister should retract his words. The subject of dis pute was the Andalusian bonds, but the orator attacked the Government on behalf of the penal code, the liberty of the press, and other legislative reforms, most especially the appointment of the magistrates. this Morning. 1 THE OLD AND THE NEW YEAR. The Times, having reviewed the principle events of the txpiring year at considerable length, concludes asfollows - Although it is impossible to foresee the duration or the ultimate consequences of the War in France, one of its great political results has been achieved by the &elution of the King of Prussia to the rank of German Emperor. The title, which was first conferred by military acclamation on victorious Generals, seems still to retain its early Roman significance, although in the course of ages it has ac quired a political and historical meaning. The pre eminence which Prussia has attained in Germany is not unfitly represented by the dignity which, down to the beginning of the present century, was recognised as supreme even by the independent Princes 0.. the Empire. The Imperial title, though it has been earned on fields of battle, corresponds to the necessi ties and aspirations of the German nation. The North German Confederacy had evidently fulfilled its purpose when the armies of Bavaria, of Wurtemburg, of Baden, and of Hesse Cassel had marched to conquest under the command of the King of Prussia. In the course of the autumn negotiations were instituted for the extension of the Confederacy to the Southern States, and an arrange ment, including the reservation of certain Sovereign rights to Bavaria and Wurtemberg, was finally accepted by the North German Parliament. On the suggestion of the Grand Duke of Baden, the King of Pavaria proposed to the other German Princes that the King of Prussia should be invited to assume the title of Emperor, and the North German Parliament despatched a deputation to Versailles to express its assent to the acceptance of the offer. The Imperial Constitution provides for a Council of Princes, in which Prussia will have less than a third of the whole number of votes. In the Parliament, which will be elected by a wide suffrage, the representa tion of every State will be proportionate to its popula tion. The establishment of so great and novel a State in the centre of Europe would of itself have sufficed to render the year 1870 one of the most eventful in history. Marvellous indeed, remarks the Daily News, have been the changes wrought by the past year on the political map of the Continent. Italy has at length acquired Rome as her capital ; Spain has forsaken her military Regency, and adopted a King ; Russia has de clared herself free from the bands in which she was bound after the fall of Sebastopol; Rouma nia demands her independence ; and England is looking to Austria as her most probable ally in any question which may arise, either in diplomacy or in war. But all minor changes are lost sight of iu view of the great conflict which was begun in the summer, and which we now see is to be carried into 1871. To-day we react: the end of the year ; but the end of this war, which is wasting the resources of two nations at the van of European power and intelligence, no prophet can foretell. The year came in to find ourselves and our neighbours wrapped in profound peace ; it goes out in a smoke of burning villages, with the winter atmosphere full of the lamentations of thousands of widows and orphans. We cannot even look forward to the new year as certain to put an end to this gigantic strife, and settle which of the two nations . at war is to be come the leader of the intellectual and material forces of Europe. 1870 has been a year of retrogression. It leaves us disquieted with the alarms of war ; each nation hungering for further armaments. The evil caused by the present contest in France is riot limited to the • nations engaged there. Europe has been thoroughly un settled and shaken to her foundations. It is impossible to say how many wars may mark the course of her restora tion to a settled peace. If a great and united Germany is to preside over the Continent—if the coming Empire is to bring out a new condition of things, if Europe is to have her old systems destroyed that she may rise again endowed with another youth—her future may be a bright one ; but it is as yet afar off, and in the mean time she is undergoing a baptism of fire and blood. The Telegraph, in commenting on the changes that have taken place in France and the Imperial dynasty during the year 1870, says :—All the power and perseverance, the plotting and the intriguing, the amazing persistence, for good and for evil, of twenty years have come by this year's end to a lamentable bankruptcy ; leaving nothing but defeat, disgrace, and derision for a dividend. But the Parisians, although they have blocked up Jean Goujon's window in the Louvre to protect it against possible German shells ; although they have consigned the Venus of - Milo to a packing-case, and rolled up the " Marriage of Cana" and the " Belle Jardiniere " in oilskin ; although they have hacked out the Imperial cognisance and scooped out Ike Imperial " N's" from every pediment and every, panel, cannot utterly overthrow their Tuileries and,their Louvre. They cannot ?own the golden docile of the Invalides. They cannot pull down the I:2w Grand Opera and sow its site with salt. They cannot narrow the Rue de Rivoli, or diminish the wondrous sweep of the Boulevards; and wherever they go in the Paris which, during the past twenty years, has been so marvellously and splendidly transformed, they must needs think of the Empire, and of the strange, stein man whose Fate has visited him, now with the utmost exaltation of human su premacy. now with the utmost impotency of human abasement ; but who has yet, in his time, done things of astonishment, and whose name is one that posterity will not let die. Whatever may be the future of France, the New Year will dawn on a Paris which is still Paris, which is in no danger, we trust, of destruc tion, and which may look for the return of her ancient glory, splendour and gaiety as earnestly desired, not only for the sake of European civilisation, but for the true comity of the world. Whatever may be the form of Government which, in the coming time, she may elect to adopt, whether she chooses to retain Republican or to restore Imperial or constitutionally monarchical institutions, she must continue ; and when the incubus of investment is removed, the brilliant capital will not fail to exhibit all her old elasticity in effacing the multiplied signs of the sufferings she has undergone. The fair city is easily wounded, but her hurts are as easily healed ; and there can be nothing wildly sanguine in the hope. or even in the assumption, that Paris in 1872 will enjoy a much happier New Year's Day than will fall to her lot to-morrow. The Standard says :—Christmas Day for 1870 was a Sabbath. New Year's Day for 1871 will be a Sabbath also. Twelve months ago both of these anniversaries broke brightly on the world. We were all at peace, and if the apparently inevitable misunderstandings between nations had not been entirely removed, none expected that the summer sun would scarcely have set before an inhuman war had burst forth to desolate the fairest land in Europe. The tune since last a new year_was welcomed seems, and is indeed in the Great Calendar very brief, yet it has been so crowded by events that the historians of the future will probably contemplate it in despair. It has been beyond doubt the memorable year of the century, with little light to believe its darkness, and the shadows it casts before are dismal indeed. For millions there has been no " Merry Christmas," for what other millions can we sincerely anticipate "A Happy New Year"? 1870 leaves us unregretted, so stained has it been with blood, with political crime, w ith ruin to the innoce nt, with the blight of evil but all-powerful passions. 1871 opens upon us in sadness. Usually the bells which ring out Progress,t l l the l a d n They tell, in their pealing chimes and their chorus adndthleingreiwnatrhde oNfewlo'nsgu!gtaeisntelidopeen:dPera°vmors.' of exulting echoes, of another race to be run, another volume to be opened, another picture of the earth more rich and mellow than the last, another opportunity for courage and genius and virtue. We may profitably ponder over the time gone ; we may excusably dream about the time coming. But, judged from the chronicle of the year, many a wretched work commenced in 1870 must be brought to a close—perhaps a bitter one —before 1871 will have a chance of adding any genial chapter to tbe annals of mankind. Sould the tsk be well accomplished, the year will indeed deserve a to be calenclared in red letters, because the civilised world is longing and praying for a deliverance from terrible miseries. The Advertiser, in its review of the year, says:— Is it not evident that Prussia does not want peace, and will not make peace, until she has utterly destroyed France? What makes the fate of France so hard is, that although the Government, having seen through the crafty designs of Prussia, and being desirous of checking her aggressions against Europe and France, accepted the challenge involved in the intrigue about the Spanish crown, and thus undertook what it re garded as a just and necessary war, gratuitously and obtru sively forced upon it, the French, as a nation, were in favour of peace. This fact was placed beyond all doubt by the reports of the Prefects of the Imperial Government, which prove that out of eighty-nine departments only eleven were in favour of war. Prussia has declared in words that it was against the French Empire and its armies that she fought ; but her acts and deeds, especially since the fall of Sedan and Metz, where the Empire and the last vestige of its armies passed away, too clearly prove that the Prussians are waging an internecine war of extermi nation, with the real and now scarcely concealed purpose of destroying the French nation, and blotting out France from the map of Europe, as Poland was blotted out in the last century. Whether they will be able, to accomplish this is another question. But about their real object there is no manner of doubt ; and hence the reason why the French, knowing their doom, lamwing they are battling for national existence, fight with rich desperation against such tremendous odds. The w'oole sale robbery under the name of " requisitions ;" the burning of French villages, inhabitants and all ; the tying up of French soldiers to trees to die of cold and hunger, not to mention the violation of women ; —the systein. , tic perpetration of deeds without a e like these she character ws the deadly animus of the GerlaAna -a n nd am the real of their pretended civiliSation and moral culture. _ „ .~; ' vas dly rbu on 'ter ied he iree per iich ;her )po- ;an, ant, ,Tik. ries the lom ;ted iim dis- y'r() - leaf ler. his the 3ea- was cted tglit ork, )ady 311111 3, in L. its sake 0 in )rge able )ird, hest idly ame ,uti- and our- tain im ►ble 7 of aver ;ten )out Bill per- Ace, asp, din n of ling 4, to ig,lit ;ion. ring rons !eet, as wer ow the it is Tic n of mp, the her can han mi d to od " ries lied the :;ent we Dale ronl half est, the nk! ,out and rtly 'ear ion, at .ica- !OM' haf. Mob Y cos ,telY ,„orsuro et * 11