The Sun. — London, England, 1870-10-24 00:00:00

1/°MBARDMENT OF MEZIERES. SEDAN, October 22. Th e p mt 111.ezieres fr o _ French opened fire with cannon last . night on the Prussian outposts in the wheicistion of I3oulsicourt, and threatened a sortie, on e " was checked This afternoon the same de ,. qratiou was made, and with the same result. t sortiein force is considered imminent. 1 he Prussian troops are on he altxt everywhere in the neighbourhoo , l. The bombardment will begin in the course of next in an e-et 'orm- h ow meat 1: all vhose ) a the CHINA, more their le of , thy' a,ken .lio US my now %tea. .fend egin raded You races THE WAR. 3ning >loco. ) dis boots feet. f the ored, mins, y cut la my 3ions, into r re- some any- iven, rling. ae to and poor carts feeds mtry even ; the Lt the time cures r my state the odd, ;owa lever icers oned JOSe. in a rated , and le of orees •sing were I out feral ision has PPe d s of flag with sing con- now •ork v es Dffer asks SECOND EDITION. SUN OFFICE, 2.30 P.M. LATEST INTE I. LI GEN CE. We have been favoured with the following coin 17411eication from Messrs. Morgan, Brothers, of 0 a n -non-street :-- 'Our correspondent telegraphs from Tientsin, ta October : "A Chinese army has been sent here, and the l aku Forts are armed and provisioned. "A ch'apel at Fatschu has been burned by the 111°13 7 but the provincial authorities promise its restoration." THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. Great hopes are entertained that the present ne gotiations will result in au armistice and finally 111 the conclusion of peace. During the last few d ays the French press has repeatedly called for th e intervention of England, and it ap pears that the Republican Ministry, en- O u raged by these public symptoms, applied at Lon 'en for aid. The English Government has thus maintained its policy of abstaining from interven bleh until the expressed desire of at least one com 2haht rendered it probable that some result "clad be attained. The present overtures are the mo re promising, as it is understood that France is 11 11 , 4 f prepared to yield, at least, Strasburg,. and a S hp of the adjoining territory. The question as to *h atlparty in France ought to conclude the 'I reaty ma p Still g ive rise to some difficulties, for, as we ha ve previo u sly announced, neither Bazaine nor the iz (3 re immediate supporters of the Emperor remain j 4 active or indifferent. The Gpznione of Florence, in its numbdr of October 23 '‘ e °lbmenting on the negotiations for an armistice, -11.8 that the French Gonernment would perhaps 4 g). ee, as preliminaries of peace, to dismantle th e for tresses of Strasburg and Metz, and to pay a War indemnity of £80,000,000 sterling, but Prlssia t tBias in demanding the cession of A lsace and 44orraine. VIENNA, October 22. L ord Granville has officially counselled an arnais t;ee to the belligerents, urging the prompt convo t'atl°ll of a National Assembly as apolitical necessity , the Provi s i ona l G overnmen t being unable to accept the Victor's c o nditions. A National Assembly can alo ne assume the responsibility of concluding a peace. k Ust ria, Russia, and Italy have been invited to %„ I ;PPort th e p ro position. The Vienna Cabinet im ,tdediately responded by appropriately urging its o ption to the Governments at Berlin and Tours. It Is to be hoped that Lord Granville's efforts for the %to ration of peace will be successful, although itn ril ellse difficulties still obstruct the cessation of BERLIN, October 22. The semi-official journals announce that efforts , 4 r b e being m ad e in different directions to bring an armistice, recent disasters having con a4"eed the French Government that further resist co 41 hopeless. ar It hi, believed that Germany wiil insist on the re l §tice embracing peace preliminaries. and on its b ,Nbi s i ng i n pr i nc i p l e th e s t ra t eg ical boundary °‘llAllation. CAPITULATION OF METZ. BERLIN, October 22. When offering to surrender, Bazaine demanded a b ab a 'tion for himself, which, if accorded, would pro retic,l37 have enabled him to take a prominent part in p e Z l ' i ng order in France, after the conclusion of V.;". General Boyer, his me - sender , went from f ro l.B4i lles to Luxemburg, where he met a gentleman pWilhelmshohe, Colonel Raimbeau who saved p Czar' s lif e when attempted by Borezowski in ,I t t . ris .. He had been sent from Wilhelmshohe to 'etersburg. Docteur Conneu had been sent to fi e Empress Eugenie. Angel de Miranda, Prim's ell(1 ) and the editor of Le Gaulois, has been arrested il ett tliz Versailles. Eleven-twelfths of the municipal e s have be en r e mitted at Versailles to alleviate the ~,d e n of the war. ' 3 ,,,ehele s t a t i s b e i ng v i gorous ly b om b ar ded. s everal thousand Prussians are posted at Marien l_hen to maintain the connection between Upper and General Werder. OCT. 23. Chartres was occupied on the 21st inst. T he deserters from Metz multiply. th, alit night the first parallel was opened agains t t o - 7 L e uth-western front of Schelestat at from 500 Op, Paces distance. Thirty-two guns have already ed fire against the fortress. Our losses are three Th e Papal and Bolivian envoys have left Paris. REPULSE OF THE FRENCH. aoY eB terda Y (the 21st) the French made a desperate from Mont Valerien, under the support of at w" 4 0 of th e l a rgest of their field guns. They bi` e l however, repulsed by the 9 th and 10 th ef l.i .e, i nns of the German army and the I st Regiment li t Landwehr. After the engagement had e , e n some time, the 4th German Army Corps y1 41 : 1( 11 P and the French were compelled to retreat. i a - d 4i ng witnessed the sortie and repulse from the 10 ,, act at M an l y . Th e G ermans suffered a trifling h'l3B:l.but took 100 p r isoners, and two of the French Th e Queen of Prussia has received a telegram wb ie jing the abo ve intelligence from the King, in a ear ' rt Ilia Majesty says the engagement took riallnaison, that 12 French battalions took art ja the sortie, and that, after three hour's fight g, the enemy were driven back by the bravery of BoldierB. )(et, V ERSA I L LES, October 22. — uaY afternoon the French, covered by the t ack of the fortress of Mont Val6rien, made an at froth ° , ll the German position in the bend , of the Seine Giral, Ituel, and La Celle to St. Cloud, in th e : co lumns and with numerous field guns. In all 18 :L e W8 : 8 a force o f mor e than 25,000 men, of whom The were engaged. to the fi ght last e d till d ar k, b u t the French retreated le aN , bl 3 Shelter of' the guns under Mont Valdrien, hancla ing " a tt . a battery, most brilliantly carried, in the T h e oft he G ermans. L andwehr of the Guard behaved magnifi thei ; Schmitz' s Di v i s i on es p ec i a lly distinguished it 7selv es ( 1 11 act lery. I°ll the Prussians scarcely used their artil- Pret„,'• All " German loss was one half that of the is quiet to-day. A FIGHTING AT BESANCON. ee ; et i , e gram, dated October 22, says there was 14 1 , 4 °B nghting to-day from nine in the morning till hot 13.3 t ween Voiday and Cussey. The result is Itla d e et stated. A, vigorous bayonet charge was V osge sY the Z ouaves and t h e b a tt a li ons o f the week, OCCUPATION OF ST. QUENTIN. After a brisk cannonade yesterday, the Germans succeeded in taking posses4ion of St. Quentin. THE GERMANS IN THE NORTH. AMIENS, Sunday Afternoon. The rumour of the enemy's approach on Friday was a false alarm. He hai fallen,back on Beauvais. The Francs-tirenrs report that the Germans are not coming to Amiens yet. BOMBARDMENT OF VERNON The Prussians bombarded Vernon on the 22nd. They were on the opposite side of the Seine, and could not cross, the bridge having been blown up. PRUSSIAN REPULSE. An engagement took place on the 22nd in the Forest of Hecourt. The French troops sonsisting• of scouts from the battalion of the Ardeche and Free shooters ofCaen, behaved admirably, and repulsed the enemy, who had cavalry, infantry, and artillery. THE MISSION OF M. 'VIERS. Touns, October. 23. The intercourse between the French Chargé d'Affaires and the different European Courts was_ friendly, but not active. M. Thiers so far succeeded in his object that four Powers showed a disposition to move, but especially England and Russia, not conjointly, but each in its Own way. _ . The result has been the proposal of an armistice, allowing the election of a Constituent Assembly competent to ratify peace on behalf of the nation. The Tours Government agrees to this, subject to consultation with the Government at Paris. A safe conduct has been asked for to enable an envoy from Tours to enter Paris. When obtained, M. Thiers will go to Paris, and after obtaining the, acquiescence of the Government will probably pro ceed to Versailles to treat as to the conditions of an armistice. It is presumed the principal conditions of peace are already agreed to. Prussia is to renounce an increase of territory, and receive Luxemburg. PROBABLE REMOVAL OF THE POPE. The news that reaches us from Rome represents the Pope and his supporters as becoming more and more dissatisfied with their position. The Vatican is blockaded, and persons visiting it are examined Letters ant telegrams are scrutinised. The Papa Court declares the work of the Church to be impos sible under such circumstances, and some of the Pope's leading. confidants urge a speedy removal ; and it is believed that this step will be taken. INDIA. BARRACKPORE, October 22. Yakoob Khan has been successful in some sharp fights near Candahar, and 'the tide is again turning in his favour. His lather's army is expected on the 16th. The garrison still holds out. The Amer, contrary to rumour, remains in Cabul. The Muscat news is conflicting, but not generally favourable to the Ameer. Synd Azim had fallen into an ambush and been routed. Snyd Tourtnee was repulsed at Beraymee, but boasts that the tribes are with hitn against the Ameer, and that Azitn is being deserted. It is expected that the action at Candahar will be of great importance. The festivities at Jeypore closed on Monday with a banquet and fireworks. The Viceroy visited the gaol, the college, and the schools, laid the first stone of the Maharajah's hospital, and has bad good sport at intervals. lie visited the Sainbhur Lake on Tuesday, entered Aimeer on Thursday evening, and was met by the Chief of Oudeypore and a procession. Private interviews occupied the next day. To-day there will be a public Durban TUE MASSACRES IN CHINA. BOMBAY, October 22. Troops are being sent from Madras to China ith great despatch. THE REDS AT BELLEVILLE. The Manchester Examiner's Paris correspondent writes: Belleville has been calmed for two days, but there is an immense row amongst Reds. They now call members of the Government traitors, who must be hurled down from powers by the people. Their day will soon come. They can stand but a few days longer, says Blanqui. We must tighten the cravat upon them, say Delechose. Although silent, these men are not idle, they will keep up thei, agitation until the Comte de Paris comes to release us from this factious crowd. The same correspondent, writing on the 11th, says the outcry is beginning against the Minister of War on the ground that he is too old for so important a position, and lacking in revolutionary spirit. There is a demand that M. Dorian, Minister of Public Works, should unite the War Office with his department. When men, connected with the Ministry have newspaper organs to spread these rumours among people, they can always start a project in their own favour, and this one originates with one Ministerial organ. The court martial convened for the pur pose of trying men who fled from Chatillon, have con demned five of them to death. Comte de Dampierre, killed in the sortie on Bayneux, was a member of the Jockey Club, and well known on the turf. He received a ball in the breast at ten o'clock in the morning, and ex pired in the ambulance at Arteuil at five in the evening. THE FIGHT AT CHATEAUDUN The Times correspondent at Tours says : If faith can be placed in the report addressed to the Tours Government by the officer commanding the battalion of Parisian Franc-Tireurs who fought at Chateaudun, the defence of that place was a very gallant affair. He estimates the German force at 6,000 infantry, 1,500 cavalry, and two latteries. It will be curious to compare this statement with the Prussian report. Opposed to them were the Paris battalion, the National Guards of the place, and a few Freeshooters from Nantes and Cannes. They defended the place from noon till 7 p.m., when the enemy forced a barricade, and got in ; but the fight was continued in the streets till 11.30. The French say they fired away 60,000 cartridges, lost 200 men, and killed or wounded nearly ten times as many Germans — which last estimate could hardly be anything but a guese. Under cover of the night they were able to retreat, covering the flight of the inha bitants, who had abandoned their dwellings. The town was shelled and burnt down. In to-day's Gazette appears a decree, declaring the inhabitants of Chateaudun to have deserved well of their country, and granting 100,000 f. to aid them in their houseless misery. It is most grievous and afflicting daily to read of the destruction not only of villages and hamlets, but of small towns, not always, like Chateaudun, destroyed in the course of a long fight, but often intentionally set on fire in punishment of at tempted fruitless resistance or other alleged offences of the inhabitants. A shot fired from a house is sufficient to insure its destruction, and perhaps that of the whole village. At a village near Orleans some shots were fired, and fifty muskets were found concealed under the altar of the church. Thereupon fifty of the inhabitants were ordered to be shot, as were also an old man and a boy of 16, accused of having fired at Prussians. Bishop Dupanloup was so fortunate as to obtain their pardon from the General commanding, but _they had a narrow escape. ROBBERY BY A VALET. Mr. John Craven, county magistrate, residing at Steeton Hall, Yorkshire, has recently been robbed of bills and securities of the value of several thousand pounds. A great part of this property was contained in a pocket book. Charles Oates, the valet, was apprehended on the charge of having stolen the book ; and on Saturday, before the magistrates, at Keighley, he pleaded guilty, and stated he had destroyed the papers which the book contained. The book was produced in a mutilated state. Prisoner was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE NEWMARKET RACES.—TiIIs DAY. (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) HANDICAP PLATE. Blue Gown Miss lierville ...... Sister to Cherie Seventeen ran. LATEST BETTING ON THE COURSE. 15 to 2 agst Podesta, (taken) Bto 1 agst Adonis (taken) Ito 1 agst Frivolity (taken) 9to 1 agst Not Out (taken) 100 to 7 Barford (offered) 30 to 1 agst Forget-me-Not (offered) 1000 to 15 agst Dubois (taken) E SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 187 c CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. This morning the October Sessions of the Central Criminal Court commenced at the Old Bailey. There are 113 prisoners for trial, but very few of the cases have any pubic interest. Three charges involve a loss of human life—one of the prisoners, John Tantenny, being indicted for the murder of his wife at Greenwich about a month ago, and the other two; Denis Collins and Thomas Towde, for manslaughter. A young woman named Emma, Sutlirfe, is charged with concealing the birth of her child; John Crawford, and Charles Holmes with' feloniously wounding; Louis Gustave Droz with casting a quantity of corrosive fluid upon his wife, with intent to do grievous bodily harm ; and Matto Topolo and Andres Lundstrom with unlawfully wounding. There are several cases of arson, rape, forgery, fraud, burglary, robbery with violence, and uttering counterfeit coin. A money-lender in Clement's-lane, City, named James Stevens Tripp, is accused of obtaining £9OO from Mr. Parry, an engineer at Hornchurch, in Essex, by false pretences and fraud ; Robert D'Auray, a Frenchman, of a series of ingenious forgeries on bankers in London and elsewhere, to the extent of 1;800 or 000 ; Roco Metell;, of uttering forged notes of the National Bank of Sardinia ; Alfred Timothy Healey, said to be a gentleman of property at Twickennam, of house breaking ; Jonas Woolf, a rag merchant in Spitaliields, of receiving stolen property worth £l,OOO ; and Alfred Harris, of stealing a post letter containing £5O. Among other cases standing over from the last sessions may be mentioned those against Mr. Cornelius Walton', a barrister, for a libel ; and John Bennet, a coal merchant at Wandsworth, for obtaining money by false.pretences. The Court is likely to be engaged during the greater part of the week. Tlt E MONEY MARK ET. CITY, Two o'CLocK Business on the Stock Exchange this morning• was a shade firmer. At the present high range of prices opera tors are naturally careful, and they are further restrained by the approach of the settlement, which begins on Wed nesday- Consols are marked 92fi for money and account. The leading speculative Foreign Stocks are firmer upon the proposed armistice. Turkish 1869 Bonds are higher, Italian, 5-16, and the rest i s . The prices are as follows : Spanish Three per Cents, 1867, 291 to 30 ; ditto, 1869, 29g to 291 ; Turkish Five per Cents. of 1865, 43 , 1 to 44 ; ditto Six per Cents. of 1869, 511 to 52; Peruvian Five per Cents., 90 to 901 ; Egyptian -Seven per Cents. of 1868, 77 to 78 ; Italian Five per Cents. of 1861, 55} to 55k; and Lombardo-Venetian, 141 to 141. It is understood that the new French loan will be a six per cent. stock, and in the Stock Exchanga the impression seems to be that if the rumour current as to the terms on which it is to be introduced should prove correct there can be little doubt of its being promptly subscribed. The idea of its being open to the objections that it will furnish aid to a belligerent and also retard the prospects of peace is not likely to be entertained so as to affect its success. The advices from Frankfort state that although quota- tions are upheld business is very stack, speculation being suspended on the assumption that the war is likely to be protracted through a winter campaign. Peace is re. garded as wholly out 'of the question until the fall of Paris and Metz, and the confidence in ultimate success is such that the Prussian Gevernment have obtained the high price of 95t for the remainder of the North German 5 per Cent. Loan by a combination of bankers. Money is very abundant, and foreign bills are bi e ,h, those on Vienna being especially in request by army contractors. The report of the Royal Mail Steam Company, to be presented on the 26th inst., spews that the surplus on the working account for the six months ended the 30th of June is £15,514 in excess of that for the same period of 1869, and recommends a distribution of £3 a share, free Of income tax. The Levant Herald states that the Turkish Government have contracted a temporary loan with the Soci6t3 Gend raid of Constantinople for £1,200,000 at 12 per cent. per annum, in addition to the usual Bank commission. The Glasgow► Berald states :—" The rumour current for a day or two of the difficulties of a local woollen firm has been confirmed by the announcement of the failure of Messrs Boskill and Co., manufacturers, with very mode nits liabilities." POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Tins DAT. UNPROVOKED ASSAULT UPON A POLICEMAN. John Hayden, a very powerful man, was charged, at the Westminster Police-court,with an unprovoked assault upon Charles Player, 53 B. Complainant said that at a quarter past one yesterday morning he saw the defendant in the High-road, Knightsbridge. He was quarrelling with a loose woman, and they were using the most disgusting language to each other. Witness told them to go away, but the man refused. After the woman wens away the prisoner, who was then standing at the front of a houso where he said he lived, suddenly rushed upon complainant and struck him a savage blow on the jaw. Complainant fell, and in doing so his head came in contact with the pave ment. Mr. Woolrych : What was the effect of the assault? Complainant : I became insensible from the effects of the fall. My head was cut, and I have been in great pain from the wound. Mr. Woolrych : Are you rendered unfit for duty ? Complainant : I am. When I recovered from the first effects of the blow I found the defendant had gone. I was taken to the divisional surgeon to have my head dressed. Mr. Woolrych : How did the defendant get taken ? Inspector Holmes, of the B division : A gentleman who witnessed the assault followed the defen dant until he had an opportunity of giving him in charge. The gentleman proved that defendant rushed upon com plainant and attacked him as described. Defendant was remanded. " MARINE STORE" DEALERS AND THE HABITUAL CRI MINALS AcT.—Bradfred Panow, a metal dealer, in Eller thorpe-street, Poplar, was brought before Mr. Paget, at the Thames Police-court, charged under the Habitual Criminals Act, with unlawfully purchasing a quantity of lead being under 112 lbs. in weight, and a quantity of copper being under 56 lbs. in weight. The defendant pleaded guilty. Mr. Paget said the object of the law was to prevent pilfering by children and adults in small quan tities, and it must be obeyed and the law enforced in such cases. He fined the defendant 205., which was paid. George Peterkin, a cowkeeper in Bromley, was brought before Mr. Paget, at the above court, charged with being concerned with two other men, named Valentine May and Thomas Lane, in stealing 600 lbs. of oil-cake. On Satur day morning a police constable named Collins saw Lane carrying a large bag of oil-cake on his shoulders, which he conveyed to the premises of Peterkin, a short distance from the river Lea, where Lane was in waiting to receive it. There was another bag of oil-cake in the shed with Lane. May and Lane were taken into custody by Howlet, a detective of the K Division, and remanded. Peterkin was afterwards arrested, and he admitted lending two sacks to May and Lane for the conveyance of oil-cake from a boat on the Lea to his cow-shed. Howlett said Peterkin told him he knew nothing of the sacks, Mr. Paget remanded Peterkin for a week, and admitted him te bail. STEALING A POST LETTER CONTAINING A BANK NOTE. —Emile Odin, a French dentist, living at 12, Great St. Martin'srstreet, was brought before Ms. Tyrwhitt, at the Marlborough Police-court, with stealing a letter contain ing a£s Bank note, the property of Frederick Michael Dorn, a German, residing till a few days back at the same address, and who described himself as an optician. Mr. Albert interpreted. Henry Sansom, 12, St. Martin-street, Leicester-square, said that on Wednes day evening a postman brought him a letter addressed to Mr. Michaels, or something like that, and he (witness) signed the book for it ; and prisoner, in the course of an hour after, knocked at the door, and he showed him the letter, and said " Very good, very good," with much politeness, and took the note away. Sub sequently the prosecutor came and asked for the letter, which was a registered letter, and then it was discovered that the letter was not for the prisoner. Paul Bayer, of Castle-street, said that he spoke to the prisoner respecting the letter, and he admitted that he had had a letter for the prosecutor. The prisoner said the prosecutor had asked him to receive any letter which might come for him to the house in the name of Michaels, as he owed rent, and he was afraid they might be stopped by the landlord for it, and he did so. He took one letter to the prosecutor, and sent the letter in question, but it was lost. Remanded. GARIBALDI AT WORK. From the Vosges region we learn that Garibaldi is at last at work. He has formed the cadres of his army in three brigades, composed, to all appearance, of somewhat too many regular troops in proportion to the irregulars, to give them either the solidity of the one or the elan find elasticity of the other ; and a serious combat was fought between the army of Besancon and the Germans all day on Saturday, between Voray and Cussey, with what result is not yet known. The only de tail we possess is, that a vigorous bayonet charge was made by the Zouaves and the battalions of the Vosges; but the point at which the battle was fought goes some way to indicate its cha racter. The two villages named are on the two roads by which a German army might be expected to approach Besancon from Vesoul ; one due southward from the latter, the other by a detour to the right, pass ing Fretigny and Oiselay. And both villages are at the points where the roads cross the river Ognon—which forms the boundary line between the Departments of the Haute Saone and the Doubs ; thus indicating that, as we inferred the other day, the mission of the French Vosges army is purely defensive, and that it was in an attempt to stay the German march on Besancon, from which the scene of con flict is but five or six miles distant, that the en gagement of Saturday took place. Judging from the reported composition of Garibaldi's or Cam briers army, we doubt much whether, even with the aid of a strong position, it could seriously resist the erman advance ; and should the result of the encounter prove to be a defeat, there will be no great reason for Telegraph. THE ARMY OF THE LOIRE. Writing from Tours, under date 19th October, the cor- I respondent of the Standard observes : General Lefort has left Tours to take the command of the 15th military division at Bayonne. General Pourcet is upon his way from Algeria to take the command of the 18th military division at Tours. General Pourcet has been in command of the province of Algiers. He is said to be a firm and intelligent officer ; if so, he is exactly the man for Tours. Considerable bodies of Garde Mobiles and Franc-tireurs have marched in here to-day, and some of the line troops who arrived yesterday have gone forward. The most varied accounts have been current during the day of the state of things at the front. One canard, which had many believers, was that Orleans was evacuated by the enemy, whom one account repre sented as returning in all haste towards Paris, the other as pushing for Vendome. I look upon it as ab solutely out of the question that Orleans has been evacuated, and I believe that the true state of things is that they have left 6,000 or 7,000 men there ; with a very strong force of artillery placed in batteries along the quays. The main body of the advance, as far as I am able to ascertain, has mached towards Vendome,and will there threaten Blois and Tours. It was a portion of this corps which occupied Chateaudun yesterday, and a glance at the map wiil show that unless the greatest vigilance is used by the French, the Prussians will be enabled to slip pa-,t their left flank, and march 'directly upon Tours without risking a decisive battle. They would of course by so doing cut themselves off from their base, but they would also cut the French army off from their base, and if the Prussian commander feels con fident in the power of his army to crash that of General Paladin, it would, of course, gain the gr atest possible advantage from a victory in that position. The French army, in fact, would be annihilated if beaten by the Prussians advancing from Paris towards it. The same fate would, of course, befal the Prussians in the event of their defeat; and it may be considered as certain that they will not attempt so hazardous a move unless they feel perfectly confident of victory. Another body of Prussians is signalled as seen in the direction of Chambord. Upon this side considerable uncertainty appears to prevail, and as forests extend almost uninter ruptedly from La Ferte-Saint Aubin to Blois, it is quite possible that the Prussians will move masses of men through them, and that the first intelligence, we receive of the movement will be that the enemy have occupied Blois. Strong bands of Franc tireurs should be placed in these woods to give early intelligence of the move, and to oppose it until assis tance can arrive. The last computation of the Prussian army is, excluding the force left at Orleans, that it amounts to 60,000 men. General Paladin has certainly a force numerically superior to this; the question is, is the numerical superiority- sufficient to make up for the comparative rawness of the troops: Estimating the French army as one-third more numerous than the Prussians, I am inclined to think that if they are properly handled, in a fair, straightfor ward battle the French will be able to hold their own. The question is, Will they be handled? This time only will show. According to present appearances, two or three days will yet elapse before the battle will take place, and at the rate at which troops are passing through here this ought to add another 10,000 men to the French army. In the import tnce of its issues the battle will be little, if at all, inferior to any which has yet taken place. A French victory, and France will be reanimated ; Gene ral de Paladin will be at the head of 150,000 men, and the march to relieve Paris will begin. A French deft at, and pro found discouragement will fall upon France, Tours will be captured, and the whole work of organisation will have to begin afresh. General de Paladin has issued an address to his army. lam unable to give the text, but the fol lowing is the sense :--`. I demand of you, above all things, discipline and firmness. lam perfectly prepared to have every soldier who hesitates before the enemy shot instantly, and if by chance I myself fail in my duty, I order you to shoot me." This reminds me of Laroche jaquelin's address to his Vendean soldiers, "Si je recule, tuez moi." I hope to start to-morrow afternoon, or the next morning, to be present. M. Gambetta returned an hour or two since, but I have not heard a word as to the progress of his mission. THE SORTIE ON FRIDAY, At Paris, says the Telegraph, no great activity has been for several days shewn by either side, and the sortie made on Friday last from Fort Mont Valerien was on a comparatively small numerical scale, and conducted with much inferior vigour. Twelve battalions sallied in the direction of Versailles, a little to their own right, on the side of Malmaison and Bougival, near the southern end of the great loop made by the Seine west of Paris. The attack was covered by forty guns, principally of considerable calibre; but after three hours' fighting, the French were repulsed by ue o r e t n i o t n s e o f f t t h h e e Fif Guard,t h C o a r n p d s , t t h h e e F r i r e st ur t L h a n c d wehr e rpe. The three hours' fighting are mentioned in the King's telegram to the Queen ; but the ordinary official account speaks about a " hasty retreat" of the enemy, who gave the Germans time only to gather up 100 prisoners and two guns—trophies for which they paid very lightly. The two principal inferences from the reports of this sortie ate : that General Trochu wished to try in the field that artillery of which, a late telegram informed us, the organisation by the besieged had just been completed; and that the arrival of the Mecklenburgers and other troops at first engaged upon the sieges of the Northern fortresses has enabled the Fourth Corps to be moved to its right, to the south bank of the Seine, and so permitted a new, distribution of troops on the south side to be made, which fills up the places left vacant by the First Bavarians and the portion of the Eleventh Corps sent southward under Von der Tann. According to letters from Paris received at Tours, General Trochu lately demanded from each battalion of National Guards a volunteer force of 150 men, for sorties and active service ; but this demand, about ten per cent, of their total strength, has been so much exceeded, that the willing offers for ser vice will number 100,000—or about thirty per cent. The fact evidently shows that the spirit of at least the armed population is good; but it must not be for gotten that as yet the besieged have had everything their own way as to choosing the time, place, and plan of actual fighting, and that even the martial temper of the Guards may suffer if they have to watch on the bastions under a pitiless storm of ball and shell. It is reported on fair authority that Bismarck and Von Moltke are not absolutely agreed as to the course that should be pursued at Paris, the Chancellor being opposed to a bombardment, the strategist insisting that in many points of view it is the true policy. If the English proposals for the armistice are accepted, however, it may be that the cruel test which the Parisians are now anxiously awaiting may after all be averted. THE DEFENCE OF THE COUNTRY.—Mr. Charles Forster, M.P., presided at a public dinner in Walsall, on Thursday evening, and in proposing one of the toasts referred to the subject of the defence of this country : In his opinion, the policy to pursue was to treat the nation in a spirit of confidence ; to put arms in the hands of the people, and rely upon them for the defence of the country in times of emergency. He thought that there was at the present time less ground for panic in this country than at any other time, inasmuch as the two great military Powers of the Continent would, at the close of the present war, be in such a state of exhaustion that, even if they were inclined, they would be unable to carry out any schemes of aggression that could affect this country. IN FRONT OF METZ. The special correspondent of the Telegraph writing from the head-quarters of the First Army, Oct. 17, says : I have now ascertained the exact loss of the division Kummer in the action of Maizieres and Woippy. I am sorry to say the numbers are considerably beyond the figure at which 1 put them down. Eighteen hundred killed and wounded, and 65 officers, is the fearful sum-total of the few hours. The French loss is about 2,400—at least, if we can trust to the information we have received from the enemy's prisoners. The overwhelming force which the French brought to bear upon this particular point must account for the dreadful loss of life, and the large proportion of officers testifies to that indomitable perse verance and cool courage which will not be restrained. I cannot say too much upon this subject ; for the conduct of the officers of the German army is a theme that would fill volumes. The loss of the soldiers may be repaired; but for years to come Germany will feel most acutely the want of those brave and determined gentlemen who have stood their country in such good stead in her hour of trial. At daylight this morning many an anxious eye was turned towards Metz. The height of St. Blaise was crowded, and if it were possible to wear a telescope out by looking through it, such would indubitably have been the case upon this occasion. As it may be remembered, I mentioned in my last letter that intelligence had been received that on the 10th—yester day—the Republic would be proclaimed in the beleaguered city. Everyone hoped the fact might cause some sort of diversion in favour of those who have for so long' gazed upon that plain in the valley of the Meselle, upon that splendid Cathedral, and upon the frowning batteries of St. Quentin, Queuleu, and St. Julien ; but even these were silent. The fire from the outposts, usually so brisk at this hour, was also scarcely to be heard, and we were about to wend our way back to our quarters—some with the firm conviction that Metz must under any circumstances fall before Christmas, others that French patience had lasted much longer than anybody had ever anticipated, but all apparently satisfied that sooner or later Bazaine must give in—when the well known rattle of the mitrailleuse made us turn our eyes in the direction of the earthwork of St. Privat. Out of this work the French advanced towards Frascati, with two mitrallleuses, and a strong battalion of infantry ; but whether they thought better of their first purpose, or whether they saw that our people were prepared to receive them, after firing twice from the mitrailleuses they retired by way of St. Privat. The town of Metz itself was unusually still. We could hear the church bells tolling, and occasionally the roll of a drum ; but, beyond this, there was no indication that anything of moment had taken place. Arrived at my quarters, I found that my anticipa tions with respect to the heavy firing on the morning of the 15th had proved correct. The besieging army was ' bombarding Verdun. It appears that they opened firs upon that fortress on the 13th instant, and had steadily kept at work until noon on the 15th. The result is yet unknown. Intelligence that Soissons had surrendered to the German arms has also come to hand ; so that, one by one, gradually but surely, the strong cities of France are passing into the pos session of the enemy. But at what a cost is this taking place? Does not Germany suffer as well as France ? Do not the hospital returns, the lists of killed and wounded, the large number of prisoners she has to supply with food, and the starving peasantry of France whom she will have to assist —at least for the present do not all these things sufficiently attest that the heart of the nation is bleeding, and that her voice should be raised for peace? The heavy rain of the last few days has caused the Moselle to overflow its banks. This has also com pelled the French to move their camp from the Island of Clnunbiere towards the suburb of St. Julien. Count Bernstorff's circular to Lord Granville seems to have given great satisfaction to every one here, and I have had to stand the fire of innumerable pleasant ries in consequence. One officer of his Royal Highness's staff, who sat next me at dinner last night, begged that I would impress upon my countrymen that for the future they should send Martini - Henry rifles to France instead of Chassepots, for that in such a case Prussia would soon be armed with the best weapon in the world. In this I think he is not for wrong, and I ima gine the whole Prussian army will be supplied with these rifles as soon as the occasion offers itself. Simple in its construction, light and handy in its use, shooting equally well at short and long distances, easy of repair in case of need, I know of no weapon so well adapted for a military small-arm as the Martini-Henry— especially in the hands of a young and inexperienced soldier. In the loading of the needle rifle there are five motions, in that of the Chassepot three, and in the Mar tini-Henry, if I recollect aright, only two. NEW PROPOSALS FOR AN ARMISTICE. Dispatches from abroad report a fresh and more decided endeavour on the part of her Majesty's Government to bring about the conclusion of peace between Germany and France. We have good reason to believe that in the main the information is unworthy. Lord Gran ville has addressed himself simultaneously and directly to both the Cabinets of the belligerents and to those of the chief neutral Powers, urging that an united effort should now be made to secure an agreement on the terms of an armistice, that might allow of due consiaeration of the bases on which peace might finally be settled. It is obvious that any proposal of the kind, made at such a critical state of the war as at present— and made with all the weight which the immediate appeal of the English Cabinet can lend—affords a better prospect for the termination of the war than either the negotiation at Ferrieres or any unofficial exer tions of General Burnside in the same direction. While, therefore, confirming in their substance the welcome tidings first published at Vienna, we may add, not with out good ground, that, although the different circum stances and dislocated condition of the two portions of the Provisional Government may present some ob stacles—and although the temper of the Parisian papula tion is also an element of some weight in the calculation of chances—there is reason to hope that the present nego tiations will at least lead to a full and fair consideration of the present claims and prospects of both States. In connection with these fresh negotiations, we may merely notice a rumour which reaches us, though not ,from an official, yet from a well acredited quarter at Berlin, that at envoy has been sent to England from the German head-quarters at Versailles, to make or discuss certain proposals having for their object the return of the ex-Empress Eugenie to France. The gracious and unfortunate lady who has taken up her sojourn among us may be still regarded as the de jure ruler in France, until by their voice constitutionally expressed, the people shall have confirmed the decision of a Parisian minority, expressed in the sudden heat of irritation and dis appointment, that the Napoleon dynasty was dechue. It is known that General Boyer, the Aide-de-Camp of Marshal Bazaine, reached this country on Friday, and that next day he had an interview with the ex-Empress, the purpose of which was in reasonable probability connected with the tenor of the mission en trusted to his hands by Marshal Bazaine before his departure from Metz for the Royal Head-quarters at Versailles. We have the beat authority for believing that General Boyer, after his interview with the ex-Empress, proceeded to town; that her Majesty also came to London, and to yesterday evening had not returned to Chislehurst. We can have no warrant for associating this visit with any arrangement of which General Boyer had been authorised at Metz, or encou raged at Versailles, to speak. We simply note the facts, and leave their coincidences and suggestions to those who care to draw them. Meantime, there is every reason to expect the capitulation of Metz from hour to hour ; and by that event the many surmises that late incidents have provoked may be set at rest.—Telegraph.. 11.M.5. CERBERUS.—It is stated that there has been a serious disturbance on board H.M.S. Cerberus, now lying at Chatham, bound for Melbourne, and the case is before the Rochester magistrates. EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDING.—At the West, minister Police-court, Captain Edward John Armytage was charged with bigamy.—Mr. B. Hutchinson, solicitor or the prisoner, asked that his client might be remanded, after a short note had been taken of the case, as he had not had time to look into matters connected with the first marriage.— Mr. Needham, clerk to St. Margaret,s parish, Westminster, produced the extract of a register of marriage, sheaving that Edward John Dalrymple was there married to Jane F. Tagsman in 1861. —Mr. Arnold: Do you recognise the prisoner as the person who was then married ?—Witness: No, I cannot, although I was present.—John Micklejohn, detective sergeant, said : I apprehended the prisoner on Friday night in the Belgrave-road. I told him I took him into custody for intermarrying with Caroline Sheldrick, his former wife being then and now alive. He said, "It is quite right, I will go with you." His first wife, who lives in Denbigh-street, gave me her marriage certificate, which corresponded with the registrar.—Mr• Arnold : The prisoner ought not to have been taken without better evidence of the offence, and I shall not detain him. He is discharged. _ OUR OU L'ENPORARIES---This Morning THE PROPOSED ARMISTICE, The Times says England has proposed an Armistice—an Armistice for the convocation of a Constituent Assembly, and it is vaguely reported from Tours that the Delegation of the. Government of Defence is favourably disposed to a pacific arrangement. It would, perhaps, be difficult to say more, but it would certainly be difficult to say less than this. The Governments of France and Germany have both been for a long time disposed to make Peace, but their views on the proper conditions of an arrangement have been irreconcilably opposed to one another. Everything turns upon the conditions of negotiation. The first ques tion that must be asked, when it is said that England has proposed an Armistice, is, " What conditions have been recommended by our Government as proper to be accepted by both belligerents ?" We know that when Count Bismarck and M. Jules Favre discussed the question at erri4es each was ready to approve an Armistice, but they could not agree upon the terms. We did not know till Saturday what the whole of these terms were. We thought the surrender of Strasburg, Toul, and Verdun had been all that was in dispute, but the last Circular of M. Favre told the world—and it is one of the most astonishing facts of the war that he did not make the corn municationbefore —that the total cessation of hostilities was to last only 44 hours, that the besieging armies were to be allowed to forage, while the besieged were denied the privilege of revictualling, and that Alsace and Lorraine were not to be allowed to send representatives to the Constituent Assembly. We need not add another word to show the paramount importance of conditions in con sidering an armistice. The Standard, commenting on the announcement that the English Government is endeavouring to bring about an armistice with a view to the election of a National Assembly to decide whether the war shall be continued or not, says it is idle to talk of an armistice until an agree ment in substance as to the terms of peace has been arrived at. If the Prussian Government has withdrawn the demand for Metz and Strasburg,L orraine and Alsace ; or if, on the other hand, the Government of the National Defence is ready to accept these terms ; or if, finally, the neutral Powers have put their foot down—to speak somewhat vulgarly—upon the belligerents, and said, " Thar terms will fairly meet the case. If you, France, will not accept them, we will have nothing more to say to you ; and if you, Prussia, will not, you must count upon our hostility," there may be some chance of an armistice. Let us, exclaims the Standard, deal with the last of these assumptions first. Does anybody believe that the English Government has taken the high handed course which a higher law than Count Bis marck's doctrine of benevolent neutrality might suggest ? It could not be expected to undertake such a responsi bility alone ; and if we may believe the telegraphic reports, it has associated with itself in this intervention the two Powers which practically are without any in fluence or power at this moment. An earnest, a genuine intervention of England and Russia would probably bring the war to a close upon the morrow it was exerted. But Russia holds aloof, while England timidly counsels moderation to the one belligerent and surrender to the other. If the suggestion of a particular kind of peace has accompanied the English proposal of an armistice it has at the best been put forth timidly. It would not have the slightest chance of success unless it were simply a record of anagreement to which the two belligerents had .tome, The Daily News is of opinion that the condition of Europe is itself sufficient to reveal the subject of the late Cabinet deliberations. In the view of her Majesty's Ministers the time has come when another effort may be made to stop the effusion of blood in France with at least a chance of success. It would be weak to be over sanguine of the issue, but if the overture is accepted, no small portion of its success will be Sue to the prudence and tact with which Lord Granville and his colleagues declined the incentives to premature and fussy meddling with which they have been sedulously plied. We sincerely trust that the Government of the National Defence in Paris will see its way towards the adoption of the proposal of an armistice to be made by England in conjunction with the Jthe r neutral Powers ; and that Count Bismarck will facilitate this sensible course by not. making its zouditions needlessly burthensome. The delay which it will interpose in active operations will not relieve Paris or Metz. They will have no opportunity of pro visioning themselves for further repentance ; and so far 'as their power of holding out is a question of food, the lapse A time will place them in a worse position than they occupied before. But the armistice, if it be adopted, will allow the opinion of France to be taken as to the policy of continuing the war ; and it will probably supply it with Ministers responsible s to a Representative Assembly and therefore competent, not merely to discuss terms, but also to negotiate a treaty of peace. HOPES OF PEACE. The Telegraph says telegraphic announcements, pro ceeding simultaneously from Vienna and Tours, in- form us that vigorors efforts are being made to arrange au armistice' between France and Prussia, and that the English Government has taken the initia tive in these negotiations. The statement is sub stantialy correct. An appeal has been made to both belligerents, and we are glad to say that there are strong hopes of a favourable result. The object of so statesmanlike an interference at the present stage would be, to gain time for the French people to declare, in some authoritative and legitimate way, their real wish as to the terms of peace. Of course, if the terms proposed by Germany are such as France cannot accept, the war must continue to the bitter end. It is, indeed, more than probable that a pause in active hostilities would give both nations the opportunity of estimating their present position at its real value. The French mast in any case be prepared for great sacrifices. Germans, on the other hand, would be brought to appreciate the fact that, if they press too hardly upon a fallen people they will have against them the feeling and opinion of the civilised world. Surely there must be something in the portentous nature and degree of their own success which should make them pause, and inspire them with doubt as to its per ma nonce. Mr. Burnand's new burlesque for the Vaudeville will be called " Elizabeth ; or, The Invisible Armada." WORKMEN'S INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, AGRI CUKTURAL HALL, ISLINGTON, 1870.—The number of visitors, exclusive of season ticket holders, exhibitors, and others, on the 22nd inst., was 4,126, and for the week ending same day, 22,452. CRYSTAL PA LA C E.—Hal f-a - Crown Day (Sat ur day),—Admissions by season tickets, 3,995 ; ditto on pay ment, 878 ; total visitors, 4,873. The adoption of the Elementary Education Act k by the Oxford Local Board has roused the opposition of the clergy of that place, who have forwarded a resolution to the Secretary of the Education Department of the Privy Council, declaring the school accommodation in Oxford to be in excess of the requirements of the Privy Council. TIIE PURCHASE OF HAMPSTEAD HEATH. —At Friday's meeting of the Metropolitan Board of Works, a report was presented from the General Purposes Com mittee respecting the terms on which it was proposed to Purchase Hampstead-heath, to . be retained in perpetuity as a place of recreation. It appears that the board has secured for the comparatively small sum of £47,000, the the whole of the interest of the Lord of the Manor over a n area of 240 acres. The recommendation of the committee that a bill in Parliament should be promoted for acquiring the heath on these terms was unanimously adopted. THE ATTACK UPON CHATEAUDUN. —The corre spondent of the Standard, writing from Tours on the 19th instant, says :—" The little town of Chateaudun has fallen after a gallant resistance offered by 900 Francs tireurs and the National Guard. It was attacked by a body of 7,000 Prussians, with two batteries of artillery. It is an open town, but the defenders had thrown up barricades in the streets. The attack began at mid-day, and up till six in the evening the Prussians had gained no advantage. At that hour the Prussians succeeded in forcing their way through some houses and taking one of the barricades in the rear. The combat continued in the streets, but the enemy forced their way into the Place de L'Hotel de Ville. The resistance still continued, and at nine o'clock the defenders made a vigorous effort and drove the Prussians from the place. They then collected the remains of their forces, and at ten o'clock beat an orderly retreat. Their loss is heavy, but, as may be imagined from the nature of the defence, that of the Prus sians is much heavier. The next morning the Prus sians burned a number of the surrounding villages. I make • no mention of the innumerable atrociti e s which the Prussians ar e said to be committing in various parts. Not a lay passes without numerous new incidents are ant hd d e s r he a g u ng events a ny t ti v sl a l a y gce a os n u (1 1 s si n h uo in t m ; e I p rea r i tbt e le s er s t s b t u r a f r k on e it n i b e i ng mentioned in the papers. According to these reports ,firo,h me defenceless e a m l t a o e r n f persons upon the spot ; but I hesitate to believe them, well authenticated as they certainly appear to be. If one half is true, the Prussians deserve the contempt and abhorrence of civilised Europe. The truth will not be known until the end of the war, when, no doubt, an official inquiry will take place, and the real state of Milk; be published to the world.".