The Sun. — London, England, 1870-08-18 00:00:00

THIS EVENING'S NEWS. THE WAR. GREAT BATTLE BETWEEN BROUVILLE AND DONCOURT. FRENCH VICTORY. TWO GENERALS WOUNDED. DESPATCH OF MARSHAL BAZAINE. PARIS AUGUST 18, MORNING. A despatch from Marshal Bazaine, dated yester. day, four p.m., says : . _ "During the whole of yesterday I have been fighting a battle between Doncourt and Thionville. " The enemy has been repulsed, and we have Passed the night in the positions we have con quered. "I shall delay my further movements for a few 'lours, in order to largely complete my ammunitions. . _ "We had against us Prince Frederick Charles and General Steinmetz. FRENCH OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. 'VERDUN, Aug. 17 (8.5 p.m,)—The Marshal- C ernmander-in-Chief sends the following despatch to the minister of the Interior : HEAD -QUARTERS, August 16.—This morning, about nine o'clock the corps darnzee commanded by Prince Frederick Charles directed a vigo rous :attack on the right of our position. The division of cavalry, Foilon, and the Second A rmy Corps, commanded by General Frossard, Well sustained the attack. The corps escheloned to the right and left of Rezanville came up successively to take part in tha action, which lasted until Right fell. The enemy displayed considerable forces, and several times returned to the attack. Was vigorously repulsed. At the end of the day a fresh corps &armee! sought to turn our l est. We have everywhere maintained our Positions and inflicted considerable loss on t he enemy. Our losses were also serious General Bataille is wounded. In the hottest of the fi ght a regiment of Uhlans charged the staff of the Marshal, and twenty men of the escort were Placed hors de combat. The captain who com manded them was killed. At eight o'clock in the evening the enemy was re- Pulsed along the whole line. The number of troops engaged is estimated at 120 )000 men. GERMAN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. PONT-A-INIOUSON, AUG. 17, 10 P.M. Yesterday Lieutenant-General Alvensleben ad vanced with three Army Corps westward of Metz on the road of the enemy's retreat towards Verdun. A bl oody fight took place bet ween th e di v i s i ons o f ` L enerals Decaen, Ladmirault, Froissard, Canrobert, a nd the Imperial Guard, and the 10th Corps suc cessively, supported by portions of the Bth and 9th C°l 'l)s, under tne command of Prince Fred e ri c k C harles. Notwithstanding the great superiority of the ea enay they were driven back to M e tz after a hot Light lasting twelve hours. The loss of infantry cavalry, and artillery on both sides is very consider_ able, On our side Generals von During and von Wedel have been killed, and Generals von Rauet and von Greuter wounded. His Majesty the King g r eeted the troops to-d a y o n th e fi e ld o f b a ttl e w hi c h the y had victoriously maintained." (Signed) "A. B. VON VERDY." (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) FRENCH RETREAT CUT OFF. Prussian offi c i a l t e l egrams c l a i m f or th e G ermans that:‘7 they have cut off the French retreat upon er clon, separated the army from the Emperor, and driven it back into Metz. General Alvensleben advanced on Tuesday with the Third Corps to the 'Nest of Metz, upon the line of the enemy's retreat to Verdun. They were encountered by the divi sions of General Decaen, General Admirault, Gene ral Frssard, and lastly, of Marshal Canrobert and by the Imperial Guard. An exceedingly severe fight ensued. The Prussians were re-enforced by the Tenth Ar m y Corps, and by detachments of the Eight and l\ r inth Corps commanded by Prince Frederick Charles. The French are reported to have possessed the superior force. Yet after 12 hours combat they W ere driven back aga i n t o re - en t er M e t z . Th e 'cues on both sides were very severe. Generals D oer y an d W e d e l were kill e d ; G enera l B ausch and another wounded. t he King yesterday (Wednesday) saluted the Tr oops after their gloriously won victory. PIGMY NEAR GRAVELOTTES. FRENCH OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. METZ, AUGUST 17, EVENING. A serious encounter took place near Gravelotte Yesterday. We gained a victory, but suffered great losses. (FRENCH ACCOUNT). VERDUN, AUGUST 17, 4.50 P.m. A telegram received from Briey reports incessant t ll „g h tlng in the directio n of M ars -Lat our , a ddi ng t hat it appears to b e a form i da b le b attle, and that lar ge numbers of wounded French and Prussians e being conveyed to Briey. On the other baud f lB announced that a body of about 1,200 men Prussian artillery and cavalry is encamped 11 Pon the plateau between Briey and Saint Jean, 414 is sending out scouts, who have entered Briey. 't ravellers, whose accounts deserve belief, coming fro m Mars-Latour, state that a serious encounter t °° k Place between French troops and a large 11111 nber of the Corps d'Armee, resulting in the re -1)1118e of the latter, upon the Moselle, under the Vi gorous attack of cavalry of the Guards. I t is rumoured that Generals Bataille and Fros- E 'ard have been wouuded. PLIGHT OF M. OLLIVIER. M. Emile 011ivier and wife have fled to Italy. He was frequently hooted at the stations where he was , ' eeo gnised. P aris is c ro wd e d w ith coun t r y P om pi ers i n thei r brass helmets. The Gaulois says, but the figures "Ins impossible, that they number 100,000. A Loan of a milliard is expected to be issued at 62. THE DEFENCE OF THE CAPITAL. PARIS, August 18. An Imperial decree dated Chalons 17th inst., ap points General Trochu Governor of Paris and Coro :111411der-in-Chief of all force entrusted with the defence of the capital. Another decree entrusts to the Maritime Prefects ~e leep tionally, the chi e f com mand of the troops at 'herbourg, L'Orient, Rochefort, and Toulon. O FFER OF FIFTY THOUSAND TROOPS TO FRANCE. A.dvic es received from Algeria state that at an assembly held b y th e Arab chiefs, it was reso l ve d to er to France the servtces of 20,000 horsemen and "0,000 Turco volunteers. A rumour was current among the deputies this 'rHE SUN, LONDON, THURSDNY EVENING, AUGUST 18, 870. afternoon that the Emperor had left Chalons for Reims. Within three days hence Paris will be covered by a line of defence mounting 1,000 guns. Tins MORNING'S NEWS. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) THE QUEEN AT READING. At half-past eight last evening her Majesty the Queen arrived at the Reading Station en route to Scotland. She was accompanied by the Princess Louise. Prince Leo pold arrived from Osborne about a quarter of an hour before her Majesty. Immediately the Mayor of Reading heard of the arrival of his Royal Highness he proceeded to the station, accompanied by the ex-mayor and some other gentlemen. The Queen did not get out of the car riage. The cheering of the crowd inside the station was of so enthusiastic a character that the station-master was compelled to ask them to moderate it. The royal train proceeded on its way at nine o'clock. THE BATTLE OF WOERTH. A fatal picture of the battle of Woerth is given in the IF iirtembergisehe Staatsanzeiger by a superior officer who took part in the action. The French, he says, had been reconnoitring at Woerth, and at the eastern side of that place, and this gave rise to the fight, which began at nine in the morning and ended with nightfagl. They were represented by five or six divisions, under the command of MaoMahon ; un the side of the Germans, the Third Army, with all its corps, except that of Baden, took part in this trial of strength. The fight in the centre, where the sth and 11th German corps were attacking, was terrific ; and here the duel betweed the needle gun and the Chassepot claimed many victims. The guns, large and small, together with the mitrailleuses, did, in fact, more havoc than Ives experienced at Sadowa. At two p.m., when the village of Freschweiller was in flames, the pres sure of the Prussians became more palpable. At Reichshofen two German cavalry regiments over took the enemy in his disordered retreat, and captured important trains and some artillery. One squadron alone seized no fewer than 200 waggons. The French at length retreated in irregular flight ; and, after receiving a farewell salvo of thirty grenades, they turned partly towards Niederbronn and Bitsch, and partly towards Saverne. Our losses are very considerable ; 'but, on the other hand, we nave gained the certainty that MacMahon's troops will for a long time be hors de combat. Our army took 6,000 prisoners, and carried off thirty pieces of artillery and other trophies. The second brigade, who suffered fearfully whilst assailing the enemy, could barely be restrained by the officers. The prisoners are Chasseurs-a-Pied, Turcos, and Zouaves—who are most disgusting-looking creatures. On the Bth, bivouacking at Ingweiler, the same officer describes his experience at the now fainons battle of Woerth, whilst leading a brigade from Gunstadt towards Elsasshausen, which was then in flames. At fuur o'clock numberless wounded men covered the battle-field, and large convoys of prisoners were met. From Elsasshausen an attack was made upon the right wing of the French column, who aimed badly and fired hastily. Whilst the Germans were marching against the enemy's front with extraordinary rapidity, a mitrailleuse battery of six guns was unmasked, and inflicted frightful losses upon the advancing party. Numerous Prussian tirailleurs followed the Wurtembur gers, hurrying onward without stoppage across the plain, 1,500 paces wide. The writer had a horse killed under him by the discharge of a mitrailleuse. The French on being ap proached within 80 paces fled into the woods. The Ger man brigade, marching towards the burning village of Freschweiler, stormed several houses and broke the doors open with the butt-ends of their guns. Here five or six hundred prisoners were taken, amongst them no fewer than thirty officers. In a barn where the writer ascended a ladder and summoned the Turcos to surrender, they responded by discharging at him five to six useless shots. He then caused the captain to speak to the men, and they at once yielded. get yourself captured. The Prussians will e there in two hours." "I have my wife and children there." " God preserve you, then! i)o not fail to say that the morale of the troops is excellent." We shake hands; exchange a few pleasant words with M. d'Abzac, and I search vainly, in the ranks of the staff as it moves, for the laughing and sympathetic face of M. de Vogue, ordnance officer. This lnr young man, full of promise, was killed by a bullet through the forehead, and General Colson, with a bullet through the heart ; both of them by the side of the Mars; ; who was reckless of his life. Then comes a regiment of Turcos, the most com plete and the firmest of the three. Those fellows have not thrown away their knapsacks nor their arms. One of the first comes out of the ranks, and springs to my neck. It is Albert Duruy, a fellow journalist. And the excellent fellow begins by telling me I have been to your house : it is empty. All your people are safe." " But you—you?" "I ? —as you see. Firm as a poet. All, my poor friend, what a disaster.' We will repair it, though." He runs off, and disappears Tin the motley crowd of his comrades. 4 little further on I meet a civilian, dressed in a short coat of grey velvet, who marches like an officer, between two companies of the line. It is M. Gaildran, the artist of the Illustration, an old friend of the day before yesterday. He carries his portfolio across his back, and to-morrow morrfing, at Phalsburg, he will no doubt make a sketch of this shameful retreat. At the gates of Saverne, the panic stricken are fiSing along the railway, or are hiding in the gardens ; but some good regiments of the line arc tramping in step through the streets. Their pas sage, calm and courageous, is not over before eleven o'clock at night. These last belong to the sth Corps ; they reached Reichshoffen too late to give battle. I find the little town a prey to a panic really fabulous. Marshal MacMahon arrived there on Satur thy night, at seven o'clock, followed by the remains of his army, and proceeded by a swarm of breath less fugitives. In the twinkling of an eye Saverne saw itself filled with the Ist Corps, which the foe, very luckily, believed to have retired upon Bitsche.' , They massed themselves together where they could ; these most fortunate in the houses of the towns men ; those who had brought away their knapsacks and camp equipage, under their tents ; many upon the pave ment, in the fields, under Heaven's canopy. The night was passed in terror. If the enemy had known how to profit by the opportunity, he might have made 10,000 or 15,000 prisoners at one blow. The population was only half reassured by the presence of troops broken down, starved, and discomfited. Some families got off by the mail train at midday, the last that went from Strasburg to Paris. Some others regained confidence in waiting for the officers, who said, " You have nothing to be afraid of so long as we are here." But yesterday (Sunday), at six o'clock upon I know not what false alarm—perhaps only because three or four scouts of the enemy were announced on the side of Steinburg—the Duke de Magenta caused the generale to be beaten. and Saverne thought itself lost. Whilst officers and soldiers threw themselves pell-mell upon the Phalsburg-road, three-fourths of the people went off wildly towards the neighbouring forests. The example—a sad example—was set by the gendarmes and the sergents de vine. The townsfolk closed the shops, piled up the furniture upon carts; some farmers drove their cattle before them as in the time of Abraham ; there were incredible accumulations formed both of men and animals in the houses of the foresters and in the ruins of old castles. This morning all is calm in the town, or, to speak more accurately, all is dead there. The invasion is expected from one moment to another, and no one dreams of defence k; ainst the 150,000 men of the Prince Royal. The Mayor invites the bakers and butchers to re-open their shops. A few devoted men and some brave women divide themselves between two ambulances, of which one is at the hospital and the other at the Asile Imperial. There remain only sixty wounded or so ; 160 have been sent on to Sarrebourg. Almost all the Zounves and Turcos made their escape last night, fearing to be murdered by the Prussians. How they have been able to drag themselves as far as Phalsburg, being in such a state as they were in, I scarcely know. They must have stolen horses and carriages. Mine was recovered this morning, at six o'clock, from half-a-dozen stragglers --perfectly sound—who had replaced their traces with turbans unrolled. THE CORPS LEGISLATIF. Count Palikao, in the Corps Legislatif yesterday, said : —" We have obtained a slight success, the importance of which I do not exaggerate, but the Prussians have been repulsed. They have lost from 1,200 to 1,500 men. This is a little success which will restore hope to Alsace and Lorraine." He asked that the Chamber should adjourn till the next news came. NI. Pinard supported him, but on the motion of M. Gambetta an immense majority resolved to meet to-morrow. Prince Napoleon, contrary to the desire of the Empress, has sent his children to Prangius. He has also, it is said, sent away all his valuables from the Palais Royal. De Choiseul, deputy, yesterday morning arrested on the Place Beauvais with his own hand a person wearing French uniform whom he suspects of being a Prussian spy. It is related that at the battle of Woerth an officer of Curassiers had his head carried off by a ball. Notwith standing, the body remained upright for a short time, and for about 100 metres the decapitated horseman appeared as if he was charging the enemy. The Figaro has opened a subscription for the purpose of presenting a sword of honour to General M`Mahon, whose recent defeat it regards as one of the most brilliant achievements in the history of France. The special correspondent of the Frankfort Gazette at Woerth writes :—" We have won a 'ictory, but a very bloody victory. Since Saturday there has'been a complete want of provisions here. Epidemics may be expected. The air is poisoned with the thousands of dead bodies which are scattered about. A few hot days and cholera and typhus will kill those whom war has spared. Each wounded man has received what he required, but only what was absolutely necessary. The number was too great. I know that Germany has given much, but still not enough. Another battle, and the wounded will have nothing." lIHE MONEY MARKET AND COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. CITY, Two o'CLocx. FALL IN THE BANK RATE. The Bank rate of discount was to-day fixed by the directors of the Bank of England at 44 per cent., being a fall of 1 per cent. Consols are now 914 to 914 for money, and 914 to 911 for account ; Three per Cent. Reduced, 914 to 914 ; New Three per Cents., 914 to 914 ; India Five per Cents., 110 to 1104; ditto Four per Cents., 1004 ; Metropolitan Board of Works, 34 per Cent. Stock, 924 to 924. In the Foreign Market Brazilian Bonds of 1865 are 914 ; Egyptian Seven per Cents. of 1864, 83 to 85; ditto of 1868, 744 to 73i ; Spanish of 18e7, 261 to 262 ; ditto of 1869, 25} to 26 ; ditto. Quicksilver, 71 to 73 ; Peru vian, 86 to 854; Turkish Five per Cents. of 1865, 43 to 434; ditto of 1869, 56 to 57 ; and Five per Cont. Italian of 1865, 77 to 82. The Railway Market--Metropolitan are 64 ; Great Eastern 341 to 341 ; London and Brighton, 37i to 38} ; Caledonian, 73-i to 74k; South-Eastern, 69} ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 41i ; Great Northern, 117 to 119 ; ditto (A), 126 ; North Eastern, 1391 ; London and North-Western, 1261 ; Midland, 1261 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 130 ; Great Western, 66}. Canada 'Six per Cents. are quoted 1051 ; New South Wales Five per Cents., 101 to 1001 ; New Zealand Five per Cents., 98f to 991; Queensland, 1071; Victoria Five per Cents., 1001 ; and ditto Six per Cents., 1121. In Bank shares Alliance are quoted 13 to 14 ; Anglo- Austrian, 22 premium ; Chartered Mercantile, 27 ; Consolidated, prem ; Imperial Ottoman, 12; London and County, 48i ; London and Westminster, 59i; Lon don Joint Stock, 34 ; and Union of London, 35 37. The Paris advices state that the 30 days' legal interval granted for the payment of bills has created great incon venienee to the principal banking establishments. The Soci6t4 Gendrale and the Comptoir d'Escompte are said to be most affected by the law, and the shares of the former have fallen 10 per cent, since its enactment. The firmness of the Bourse yesterday at the close was conse quent on the report of a French victory. Lombard and Austrian railway shares have been in great demand for the German markets, and advanced 3 per cent respec tively. As much as 3 per cent., or at the rate of 72 per cent, per annum, was paid for the loan of these shares for a fortnight, speculators having sold largely beyond their power of delivery, and transactions being limited. A prospectus has been issued of Warsop's Aero-Steam Company (Limited), with a capital of £30,000 in shares of £lO, for the introduction of the aero-steam pump, which, when applied to marine boilers, is stated to effect a considerable economy of fuel and to prevent scaling and incrustation, thus lengthening the duration of boilers and lessening the risk of explosion. A prospectus has been issued of the Steam Road rolling Company (Limited) with a capital of £5,000 in shares of £l, for the introduction into general use of heavy steam road rollers for consolidating mac adamized and other roads. It is proposed to let such rollers to parishes where they may be desired, or to contract for the performance of work. It may be hoped that the management of this undertaking will be such as to leave parochial authorities without any pretext for the continuance of a system of roadmaking that has long been a scandal to the metropolis. At the meeting of Braby and Co. (Limited) yesterday a dividend of 5 per cent. for the half year was adopted, £l,OOO being added to the reserve fund, and £3,868 carried forward. The report of the Langham Hotel Company (Limited), to be presented on the 26th inst., recommends a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum, which will absorb £4,159, and leave £5,838 to be carried forward. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Tars DAY. SHAMEFUL CRUELTY TO A HORSE.—George Huxtable, of No. 14, Harrow-street, Harrow-road, appeared before Mr. Knox at the Marlborough -street Police-court to answer a summons for the following shameful cruelty to a horse. An officer of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals watched the case. From the evidence of two officers, Carlyn 46 E, and Comber, 50 E, it appeared that while the de fendant was driving a mourning coach on the 32st ult. one of the horses fell down and could not rise, and the de fendant after thrashing the horse thrust the handle of his whip up one of the nostrils of the horse causing it to bleed. The defendant said he had never been accused of cruelty to a horse before. Mr. Knox said he had been guilty of a very cruel act, and fined him £3, or a month in default. SYSTEMATIC CRUELTY TO A WlFE.—James Galby, a labourer, living in St. Peter's-street, St. James's, was brought up at the above court, charged with assaulting his wife, Eliza Galby. Mr. William Moore, of the Associate Institute for Enforcing the Laws for the Protection of Women, watched the case. The complainant, one of whose eyes was nearly closed and much blackened, deposed that on the previous night her husband came home, having been drinking, and on her speaking to him about it he struck her a violent blow in the eye, and knocked her down. She did not wish for more than that he should be bound over to keep the peace and leave her, as she could keep herself and children. The prisoner said he received provocation, and that his wife attempted to strike him. Mr. Knox said he could not pass over a man's striking his wife as the prisoner had done, and committed him for two months with hard labour, and ordered him at the end of that time to find a surety in the sum of £2O for three months. RETURN OF MR. PAGET. Mr. John Paget, the senior magistrate of the Thames Police-court, resumed his labours, and presided for the first time since his partial recovery from his recent severe ill ness. The last time he presided here was on the 27th of 'April. The learned gentleman with his usual punctuality was on the bench precisely at ten o'clock. He has been considerably reduced by his long and severe illness. He immediately commenced hearing the night charges, of which there were fortunately only a few this morning. We believe that for a short time Mr. Paget and Mr. Lushington will preside on alternate days until Mr. Paget's complete restoration to health. DUBLIN ELECTION. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAM.) HALF-PAST ELEVEN O'CLOCK. Corrigan, Liberal ... 1128 King-Harman, Nationalist ... 728 All quiet. IRISH SYMPATHY WITH FRANCE The report of the alleged successes of the French was received with much satisfaction throughout the south of Ireland. Tralee was yesterday decorated with laurel branches and green flags, and a large bonfire was lighted last night in the vicinity of the town. Bands paraded the town last evening, followed by large crowds, who raised frequent cheers for France. Limerick has also been the scene of a demonstration. A considerable sum has been subscribed in Cork for the relief of the French wounded. A FRENCH PRIZE. It is reported from South Shields that a North German barque which left the Tyne a week ago,• coal laden, for Hamburg, has been captured by a French war vessel, and taken into a French port. BOAT ACCIDENT IN SUFFOLK. On Tuesday morning early, two fishermen named Westrup, father and son, living at Thorpe, near Alde burgh, went off fishing. They have not since returned, and portions of the boat and gear, a broken oar, and other signs of an accident, having been thrown upon the beach, it is feared that they have been drowned by the swamping of their boat. DEATH OF A CONVICT FROM SELF-INFLICTED INJURY. It appears to be the ambition of the convicts at Port land to obtain admission into the infirmary ; and in order to reach their object they put themselves voluntarily in such positions that injuries must as a necessary conse quence come upon them. Most of them are satisfied with damaging themselves slightly, but a prisoner named William erossby, who was under a sentence of seven years' penal servitude, expressed his unqualified contempt for such half-heartedness ; they were fools (said he) they did not do it "to rights," he would be less of a coward. So a day or two ago he placed his foot under a passing waggon, and injured the limb so severely that it had to be amputated. The opera tion was aot successful; mortification set in upon the wound, and the man died. An inquest has been held; verdict, death from mortification and collapse. THE SOPER RIFLE. Yesterday afternoon an interesting breech-loading trial with the Soper rifle took place on the estate of Major Sir Paul Hunter, Mortimer-hill, near Reading. The targets as used at Wimbledon were ranged at one hundred and seventy-five yards distance. Sir Paul Hunter directed the firing and verified the targets. In trial for time Private Warwick, or the Berks Volunteers, in five minutes got off fifty-three rounds, scoring six bull's eyes, nineteen centres, and twenty-three outers, making a total of one hundred and twenty-seven points. Mr. Soper next fired ten shots for accuracy, and scored thirty-two points. The Messrs. Warwick and Soper then fired simultaneously. Private Warwick got off fifty-sizz rounds, and Mr. Soper thirty-nine rounds in two minutes. The points made by the two men numbered two hundred and nine, but no glass was used to mark the spots, and many shots fell short. The two were then told to fire at two hundred and eighty-five yards for accuracy. Both fired at once and there was no missing. Fifty-five points were made out of eighty shots. Much interest was exhibited in the trials thus made, and it is understood tbs those who witnessed them will, to the extent to MOO their influence goes, endeavour to bring the rift, used lute public competition with the Government rige. GOODS FOR PRUSSIA AND AUSTRIA. A St. Helen's firm has received intimation that goods for Prussia and Austria are permitted to pass through Riga duty free, but the receivers' addresses mustbe stated on the hills of lading. Now that the Elbe and Weser are blockaded, the route vid Riga can be resorted to with advantage. AN ENGLISH MERCHANTMAN FIRED AT BY FRENCH SHIPS. The screw-steamer Haswell, arrived at Sunderland from Hamburg, reports that off Heligoland she passed three French ironclads, one of which fired a shot at her and gave chase. The Haswell proceeded on her way and was fired at a second time. She thereupon shewed English colours, and acceded to the demand to she w her papers. These being judged satisfactory, n she was allowed to come on. THE LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAIL- WAY COMPANY. The half-yearly meeting of the Lancashire and York shire Railway Company, was held in Manchester yesterday, Mr. George Wilson chairman. In moving the adoption of the report, he congratulated the shareholders on the fact that the revenue had increased £45,120 during one half-year, and that they would be able to pay a dividend (7 per cent) more than any they had previously paid since 1847. Of that they would have a surplus, the largest ever carried for ward. They must look upon that as a very favourable result of the half-year's working. The passenger traffic shewed that the suffering from the depression of trade did not affect those who travelled first class nor the third class passengers. For compensation for accidents the company had paid during the half-year £20,439 as against £10,749 last year, being a total increase of £9,690; and he confessed that, seeing the way in which applications were made for com pensation, there could be no great decrease in that item for some time to come unless Parliament interposed, or unless there should be some other tribunal than the present one before which to settle cases of compensation. Under the present system they should never succeed in defending themselves fairly until those parties who served on juries were themselves convinced that railways were exposed to great imposition, and were induced to deal with railway companies as they would with any other case that came before them. Looking to the fluctuation of dividends since 1847, he said he thought these figures would shew that there was no line so bad that it could not entertain hopes of recovery, and that there was property which was well managed, and which would continue to improve. Mr. George Anderton seconded the motion, which was agreed to, and a dividend of seven per cent. was declared. A CLEVER TRICK BY A SOLDIER. On Tuesday a large number of persons assembled in the street cheering for the French army, the Empress, and Emperor, when the intelligence of the slight victory gained by the French on Sunday reached Castlebar. The amateur bands turned out, playing several national airs. While enthusiastic cheers for the French were being given three soldiers of the 54th Regi ment happened to ',ass by. They were immediately hooted the people no doubt fancying that their sym pathies lay with the Prussians. When the soldiers per ceived the attitude of the crowd one of them very prudently cried out, " Three cheers for France," which met with a most enthusiastic reception, and they allowed the three soldiers to pass on without being further molested. Henry John Francis, a coloured seaman, was sentenced to seven years penal servitude by Mr. Justice Lush, at Liverpool yesterday, for wounding another sailor with a razor. The two men at quarrelled at a public-house in Liverpool. A large number of the military and police brought into Derry on the occasion of the last anniversary have been draughted into Omagh to preserve the peace at the open ing of the new Orange Hall, on Friday. Both parties, Catholics and Orangemen, will, it is said, muster in strong force on that occasion, and very serious apprehensions are entertained for the preservation of the peace. THE METROPOLITAN BOARD.—A letter has been received by the clerk to the Metropolitan Board of Works, containing the following timely suggestion : " Mr. Bruce desires me to mention to you, for the information of the Metropolitan Board of Works, that, having regard to the probability of legislation at a very early period on the subject of the government of the metropolis, he thinks it worthy of careful consideration by the board whether any appointment that may be made of a successor of Sir John Thwaites should not be on the understanding that such legislation as I have referred to cannot be long postponed, and that it may involve the abolition by Parliament of the office of chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works," STRATEGY OF THE CAMPAIGN. We still believe the French will make good their retreat to Chalons. If for no other reason, because it seems to us impossible that the Prussians can push on sufficient num bers of troops to interpose effectually, because of the ques tion of supplies, which seems so tiresome and uninte resting to civilian readers, and which our Government so magnificently pooh-poohs in the organisation of our reserves, but which is really at the bottom of all military operations—armies of 400,000 Prussians, or more, cannot push on into the heart of France at the rate a pf twenty miles a day without a most complete system of supply and ample means of transport. Unless they remain concentrated they are useless for offence or defence, witness the French corps spread over the whole frontier from Thionville to Mulhouse. If they concentrate without supplies they starve. "A starving army is worse than none," wrote Wellington after the battle of Talavera, when he found himself deceived by Spanish promises of help, and his men for days reduced to living on one-third of their proper supply of rations. " A starving army is worse than none—the men plunder under the very eyes of their officers. The officers themselves are discontented, and with the army that a fortnight ago beat double its numbers I should now hesitate to attack a French corps at half its strength." And whence are the Prussians to get supplies as they advance in such vast numbers over a country that has been drained by the French of all it possessed ?— Standard. So far as it is at present possible to penetrate the obscnrity that veils the designs of the French generals, their plan—if they have any—would seem to be to defend the line of the Meuse resolutely with the so-called "Army of the Rhine " against the two Prussian armies of the Right and Centre; while the new army of three corps, which is, we are told, to act under Marshal Bazaine, from its base at Chalons menaces with attack in detail the heads of the columns of the Third Prussian Army, prose cuting its flanking movement on the line which we indi cated a few days ago—from Nancy by Chaumont towards Troyes, on the southernmost of the three routes from Paris that now lie before the Germans. The Emperor, is, we know, already at Chalons, where large forces are being organised, and a plan of campaign such as we have roughly outlined would be just of that half offensive, half defensive sort which is dictated at once by the pecu liar fighting qualities of the French troops, by the too palpable fact that they are for the time outnumbered, and by the consideration that every day's delay in the decision of the war must weaken the cohesion, damp the enthu siasm, augment the difficulties, and decrease the numbers of the enemy.— Telegraph. _ The French continue their retreat upon Chalons. The line taken by Marshal Bazaine is not, as some have sup posed, south-west towards the line of the Upper Marne, at Bar-le-Duc, but due westward to Verdun. A despatch, dated yesterday, states that the bulk of the army was on the day before concentrated at Etain or Estain, in the department of the Meuse. The road by Etain is not the best and most direct one to Verdun, which lies more to the south, and leads through Mars.la-Tour and Manheulles. Marshal Bazaine was probably induced to take this circuitous course in order to place his columns as far as possible from the Prussians. The latter, however, have not let him off. It is from French despatches we learn that on Monday they harassed his march. It is probably some Corps of the army of Prince Frederick Charles --the same, we presume, which passed the Mo selle at Pont-a-Mousson, and which, operating on the right of the Crown Princ',‘, is nearest the French line of march—that was thus engaged. No very consi derable German force, however, appears to have been able to get so near Bazaine's corps as to dispute its progress. The problem was, to a great extent, one of marching, and the French seem to have got the start. The French Minis ter of War says that only two divisions of Prussians ap proached Bazaine to harass him, and were repulsed. This is the explanation of the firing which so shook the nerves of the Sub-Prefect of Verdun, and led him to report, "under reserve," that a groat battle had been going on all day. The statement of Count Palikao in the Legislative Body that the Germans had relinquished their intention of cut. ting off the retreat of the French army refers simply to their attempt to hinder the retreat to Verdun, an attempt which the French Minister of War considers to have failed and to have been abandoned, and not to the general operations of the Germans beyond the Moselle. The latter are still pressing forward. in order to be able to force the French to an engagement before reaching Chalons. The Germans are advancing by a route rather more direct than that taken by the French but the latter have the advantage which belongs to an army operating in its own country of being served and aided by tho whole existing local and public organisations on its line of march. The German army, however, is said to be better supplied in France than the French army itself is, owing to the admirable arrangements of the military administration.--Daily News. EDMOND ABOUT'S JOURNAL. The famous correspondent of the Paris Soir has turned up alive and well. It appears that he was present at the Forbach battle, and that after the fight he set off to Laverne where his residence is. Arrived at Laverne he was of course just in the nick of time to meet the debris of of WMalion's Corpse retreating after the battle at Woerth. This is what happened to him on the road from Phalsberg to Laverne, and the letter is dated Monday the Bth :—One sees solid regiments who proudly retreat, whilst a few bad soldiers—disbanded, lost, demoralised, and disc,aned— throw themselves desperately into each by path. I arrive just in time to stop three unhappy Turoos, mounted upon artillery horses, at the moment when they are entering into an old quarry of sandstone, think ing to make a short cut. One guesses that our artil lery must have been rudely tried when one observes caissons pass without their guns. But see here, one, two, three regiments of the line, quite firm, tolerably complete in numbers, rifle on shoulder and knapsack on back. Behind them, Marshal MacMahon, calm, dignified, almost smiling, and fresh as a rose. I salute him as he passes ; he responds, without noticing me. One of hls Aide-de-Camp, M. d'Abzac, names me ; then he stops, and tells me quite simply, in few words, the story of his defeat. " I had only 35,000 men, and I found 150,00 in front of me. We have given way before numbers. They have killed or wounded about 5,000 men ; but we shall have our re venge, gxplain this to the public. But where am yAIS mine' like this t; i; T o Saverne.'l ti istiU WAR NOTES. THE EMPEROR'S MANAGEMENT.—The following is noteworthy as being from " the " correspondent of the Telegraph at Paris : The Emperor has taken great credit for the " friendly inactivity" of France during the Austro- Prussian war of 1866; but we now know that the French army was in such a condition as to have been utterly unfit to take the field during that year. Then followed the reign of Marshal Niel, and the reforms which he initiated, and which led to the new regulation of the army enacted by the French Legislature in IS6B. Upon the death of Marshal Niel, imbecility and and incapacity, represented by Marshal Lebceuf, suc ceeded to the command. From that hour the French army has been going down hill. Millions of francs have gone into the pockets of the intendants militaires and of army contractors. Fraudulent returns have satisfied the easy-going auditors of public accounts. Whatever melits the present Emperor may have possessed as a ruler, he has always shewn himself utterly in tolerant of details. Naturally idle, he has been altoge ther destitute of the vigilance and insight which charac terised the mighty fouAder of his family. " I know the draught of water of all my generals," said the Great Napoleon. It is because he has known nothing of the " draught of water" and character of the men in whom he has trusted that, so soon as this terrible wrestling match with Germany is at an end, France will call the tresent Emperor fearfully to account. THE DEFEAT AT WOERTH.—The following is from a letter in the Journal de Paris. It is written by a French soldier. "On arriving at Brumath, where the branch line from Haguenau joins the trunk line to Strasburg, our train stopped to allow the passage of another filled with wounded. A little after we saw the road which skirts the railway covered with men running away—horse and foot—pell-mell, in fearful con fusion—a terrific route (debandade epouvantable.) We were evidently beaten ; but no one supposed the disaster to be so great as it was discovered to be next day. Strasburg was in a state of scare : such must have been the tumultus of the Romans when the Gauls had arrived at the gates. The drums beat to muster, the church bells rung the tocsin, the gates were hurredly shut. The wounded and run aways from the battle-field arrized in crowds, went about the streets imploring the inhabitants' charity, and describ ing the incidents of the day. It soon became known that the first corps was utterly routed, that our sokiers fought like heroes, but had to succumb under overwhelming odds ; that towards evening ammunition failed, and retreat became necessary ; that the cavalry had suffered heavily, most of its otlicers having fallen whilst charging at the head of their squadrons ; in short, that there had been a defeat ; but a glorious re treat. Next morning—Sunday—ill these rumours were confirmed. It was reported, moreover, that the railway was taken by the enemy, and that we were all prisoners in Strasburg. I did not believe a word of it, and jumping on a locomotive soon reached Saverne, at the foot of the Vosges. What troops Marshal MacMahon had left were encamped at Saverne, on both sides of the railway. The soldiers were in a state of intense fatigue and dilapidation, seeking in vain for something to eat in the little town which had witnessed their onward passage with so muoh enthusiasm, and]. did not expect to see them return otherwise than victorious. Neverthe less a few cows were slaughtered—a very meagre meal for so many hungry men. But before the rations were cooked, the outposts set up a shout of alarm— ' The Prussians are coming!'—and the camp was thrown into confusion, and the town into a perfect panic. I then saw a sight which I never can forget. The whole population leaving behind their houses, their business, their interests, fled a s though seized with frenzy, with all they could carry a way, shouting 'To the mountain ! to the mountain !' I ran to the station for my luggage, and as I could not find a single house where I could put up, I entrusted it to a person who was kind enough to take it in charge, and started up the mountain with the rest. The scene was precisely like that in one of Erchmann-Chat- Ames novels. Along the rugged pathways of the Vosges a long file of women in tears, children stagger. ing and stumbling along, men with sad, gloomy faces, in the plain below the confused noise of the Prussians ad vancing and of our retreating forces—night coming on, and the mists rising from the valleys. After two hours' march we got to a village perched on so isolated a peak that the natives had not the remotest idea of what was going on a few miles below, and whom our arrival threw into a state of panic." THE STRENGTH OF THE GERMANS. —Nominally the forces now collected together on French territory number 570,000 men and 1,506 guns—namely, 364 squad rons of cavalry, 251 batteries artillery, and 439 battalions of ktfantrY ; or 91,000 horse, 489,000 foot, and the rest artillerists; but the real fighting strength of the German hosts occupying the line between Bouzonville and lameville this day is, as stated above, about KAM WA &WA This fArQe 09111Prehtudq the whole system of army corps opiporod ti 1866 by Prussia as the military head of thelliorth German Con f ederation,and the entire a:Mt:input furnished by Southern GertharkY three weeks atio, viz,, 140,000 men—the latter constituting more than half of the Crown Prince's command. itis old army corps, curiously enough, is attaohed to his cousin's army —so that the sturdy Pomeranians are temporarily severed from their beloved Lord-Lieutenant, but he has under his orders the Guard, flower of Prussian manhood, the fielle Poles, the stout Rheinlanders, and the stubborn Silesians, as well as the martial legions of Bavaria, Wurtemburg, and Baden, worthy rivals of their northern brethren in gallantry and in discipline. Such an army has never been assembled under one 1 'ader since the days of Xerxes ; yet Germany is in a position to double or treble it, if need be, without proceeding to the desperate measures already instituted in France.— - reßrxmdent of I,lm Telearanh. NATIONAL ARTILLERY ASSOCIATION. Not all the over-scrupulous precautions exercised by the Council, secretary, and assistant-officers of the Associa tion in the arrangement of scores for publication was suffi cient to prevent a grievous and inexcusable blunder in the posting of the winners of Tuesday's prizes. On the notice board at camp yesterday, the return appeared thus : " Winners on the 16th—National Rifle Association prize, Ist West York, No. 1 Detachment, 38 points : Duke of Cambridge's prize, 4th East York, No. 2 Detachment, 32 points ; third prize, sth West York, No. 1 Detachment, 31." Reference to the score officially furnished late on the previous night credited the 2d De tachment of 3d Northumberland (Newcastle) Corps with 34 points, thusplacing them second instead of the Hull Corps. According to the above list of yesterday,s shooting, the best scores are—Hastings, 37 points ; Sheffield, 36 points ; 4th Suffolk, 35 points; and Brighton, 34 points. The last-named is the only score which has been verified. Yesterday's programme consisted of the firing for the ten silver cups given by the Lords and Commons for the highest scoring detachment—a silver cup to No. 1, and nine plated cups to the men, given by Messrs. Elkington, for second; £lO, by the 3rd Middlesex Artillery, for third ; Messrs. Steward's money prize for fourth : and Sir Shaft() Adair's challenge prize. The following is the official return of the highest scores of Tuesday's firing : Detach- Points Time of Grand Corps. ment. made. firing. total. Ist West York ... ... 1 38 6.54 38 Ist Ea 4 York ... ... 2 32 6.50 32 sth West York ... ... 1 31 5.11 31 4th Forfar ... ... 1 29 6. 9 29 7th West York .:. ... 1 28 5.45 28 Ist Surrey ... 1 28 7.13 28 Ist C Cinque Ports ... 1 26 5.22 26 sth Cinque Pots ... 1 26 7.44 26 2nd Cinque Ports ... 2 26 6.21 26 Ist East York. ... ... 4 20 7.42 26 Ist Wigtown ... ... 1 26 7.23 26 Ist Lanark ... ... 3 25 7.10 25 The First West York are the winners, the Third Nor thumberland second, and the Fourth East York third. Scotland's Challenge Cup was won by the First De tachment of the Fourth Forfarshire, beating the fifty-nine other detachments that were entered for the prize. THE WEST BROMPTON MURDER. ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS. Two men, said to be a plasterer and a labourer respec tively, have been arrested by the police on suspicion of having been concerned in the murder. It has transpired that on Saturday last, had the murdered man collected in all his accounts, he would have had in his possession a sum ranging from £lO to £l5. A stcry is current in the neighbourhood that on Saturday night a man who had neither the appearance of an artizan or a labourer, changed six pounds' worth of silver, for six sovereigns, at a public house not far from the scene of the murder, but it is thought to have been a legitimate transaction, and in no way connected with the tragedy. THE INQUEST. Yesterday afternoon Dr. Diplock, coroner for the wes tern division of Middlesex, opened an inquiry at the Dray ton Tavern, Thistle-grove, West Brompton, relative to the cause of the death of Samuel Lee, aged 38, the potman at the above establishment, who is supposed to have been brutally murdered at the Gledhall Gardens, opposite the tavern, on Saturday last. Since the discovery of the murder the house in question has been besieged by a large number of persons anxious to gain admission, and the inquest room was surrounded by a large crowd, eager to learn all particulars. The jury having been sworn, proceeded to view the body, which lies where it was originally dis covered, and presented a shocking appearance, having no less than seven distinct wounds. The most prominent of these was a desperate blow over the right eye, penetrating apparently about one and a half inches, a second smaller one over the left eye, and a cut under the same eye, together with a terrible wound on the back of the head, penetrating far into the brain. The first of these had evidently been inflicted with a hammer, the head of which had entered the head in a straight direc tion. The view was a very hideous one, and the jurymen hurried away as quickly as possible. The first witness called was Caroline Lee, who said she lived at 2, Clifton place, Fulham-road, and was 36 years of age. Last saw him alive on Saturday morning at seven o'clock. He was potman at the Drayton Arms, and was in the habit of collecting money on Saturday from the workmen em ployed by Mr. Spicer, carpenter, and the like. He collected their dinner [and beer money, and used to bring her her money at one o'clock in the day. He was most regular in his habits, and never missed coming home before, and was a steady careful man. Duffield White said he was a carpenter, and lived at 38, Onslow Dwellings, Chelsea. On Monday I went to 3, Egledall Gardens, to see if I could find materials to finish my job. I went in by the front area, which is open to those who know how to get in, and he would know how to get in, having to collect pots, &c. The doors were not open, because there was always something lying about. -- Here a great number of questions were put by the jury, from the tenor of which it seemed that they had some suspicion of the witness, who, however, answered all questions fairly. By the Coroner (who suggested that the examination in chief should continue) : When I went into the house I smelt a strange smell, and going into the drawing-room I there discovered a man lying dead. I recog,nised him immediately. I hastily left the house, and calling Ben ham, a mate of mine, he sent over for Mr. Harrison, 'the landlord here, who brought the policeman back He saw the deceased as late as twenty minutes past one on Saturday, when he was taking money of the men on Earl's Court Farm, where the office is. The Coroner :--Did you see him after that ? Inspector Prescott, of the T Division : He was seen long after that, sir. In answer to a number of other inquiries, the witness added that he never knew of any one with whom deceased had a quarrel. He often gave trust and lent money, but charged no interest that he was aware of. MYceased's account book was here produced, having a large patch of blood on the leaf that was open, part of this and the opposite leaf having adhered to the floor where it lay in the pool of blood. The book, though full of figures, gave no indications as to how much deceased had received. Francis Godrich, M.R.C.S., deposed that he was called to see the deceased at half-past five on Tuesday. evening he was lying on his back, just as if he had been laid out. Witness thought he received the first blow in front, and fell dead, and was chopped about afterwards, and he never saw such fractures in his life. A plasterer's hammer, however, would be just the sort of instrument that would cause the wounds. .• Charles Adkins, the landlord of the Drayton Arms, stated that on being called into the house he observed footprints as if two persons had been in conversation at the mantel piece. The room was covered with thick dust, so that recent footprints were very visible. After some further evidence, the inquiry was adjourned till Saturday. The Cambria won the cup given by the New York Yacht Club in Newport harbour on Tuesday. Eight yachts ran. A second race for a cup, offered by Mr. Ashbury, was carried off by the Magic. Several American journals assert that Mr. Freling huysen has declined the post of United States Minister in London, and that thereupon it was offered to Senator Trumbull, who also declined it. RAILWAY COLLISION.—The attempt to shunt some carriages into a siding standing at the foot of a rather steep incline led to a collision between a goods train and a passenger train at Furness Abbey on Tuesday. The carriages were part of a tidal train from Barrow, bringing passengers from the Isle of Man, and while they were being shunted another portion of the train stood upon the rails. A second passenger train came up, and was brought to a stand ; but a second goods train which followed immediately could not be stopped, on account of the weight of the train and the steepness of the incline, before it had come violently into collision with the pas senger train. Many of the passengers, seeing the danger, leaped out of the train ; others were a good deal shaken, n but none, it is hoped , fatally. WORKMENS INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.—Last night a special meeting of the exhibitors in the Inter at theth the purpose of a Coffee l): was pointing a committee "to wa t c h th e i nterests an d pro mote e a tti Inter national ,iv Exhibitioner 1 . ) o road, held at for the inspection and sale of their exxhibits, and confer with the Executive C ounc il , to ma k e the Exhibition a complete success." The chair was taken by Mr. Charles Felling, of Belfast, one of the exhibitors. The chair man said they had not met to oppose the Council, but to offer them suggestions. He gave it as his opinion that the Exhibition should be opened at five in the afternoon at the rate of 3d. for each person, and that the 2d. rate should be abolished. On Friday he thought the price of admission should be is. from ten to five. It had been pro posed that a deputation should be appointed to go to the country to arouse the people of large towns to support the Exhibition. A resolution embodying these opinions was carried, and the meeting separated after a vote of thanks had been passed to the chairman. ing )f the 7 can most ono verse him -1 and , the ly set id of move I are with the upon ,but ntest army -man as close rried the that ily ,erly, th a erate wife, that band orce, louse thin, the e her and ingis tho silay. was -.torso