The Sun. — London, England, 1870-09-28 00:00:00

THE WAR. DESOLATION NEAR PARIS. The special correspondent of the Cologne Gazette, under head of " Before Paris," writes of the scenes he saw around the city :—" I have just returned from an excur sion from Sivry, via St. Denis, and thence back to Meaux. The same stillness of death was pre vailing on all sides. A patrol of Saxon Uhlans that I met just before I got into Meaux was the only indication that we were not in times of peace. The farms on the sides of the roads were deserted, open doors and windows, no living thing save the cat, the only faithful guardian of the fireside, whom I meet now in nearly all my excursions. In the first ten miles of my ride towards Paris I met at Claye an old woman seated in the open courtyard of the hotel Cheval Blanc,' picking and sorting rags, the only human being that I saw, who de-` clared to me that she was of German origin, and had been expelled from Paris. All was devastated and destroyed from the garret to the cellar. Chignons and false curls, crinolines and petticoats—in fact, every article of female toilette lay about in the passages ; plates, dishes, pots, kettles, &c., in fact, all the household utensils lay about in the greatest disorder. Everything was damaged, broken, smashed, torn—in fact, utterly destroyed. To the right and left of the entrance to the little town lay handsome villas, gardens with flower-beds, and the prettiest shrubs. I rode through one of the iron park-gates and made my way up to the steps leading to the door and went into the villa, which denoted the rich retired tradesman taking his ease after his labours. The tables were laid in the saloon, but the things on them were filthily dirty, and covered with empty champagne and claret bottles, broken plates, and glasses strewn about, betokening the wildest orgies. Remains of joints, pasty, dessert, &c., lay in confused heaps on tables and floors. The curtains were torn from the windows, mirrors over the mantelpieces had been smashed by having bottles thrown at them, disgusting sketches were made with coal and charcoal, the costly carpets covered with all kinds of filth, broken clocks, pictures, and engravings destroyed and torn from the walls. Such was the sight that pre sented itself to me in the downstairs apartments of several of these charming little spots. Ido not make any men tion of the beastly condition of the upstairs rooms, of the devastation of the sleeping-chamber of the lady of the house, of her boudoir, &c. No drawer, no cupboard had been spared ; the locks had been broken open, and the contents strewn about in the wildest disorder, from the garret to the cellar. I rode for one whole hour through the town without seeing a single soul. At last I caught sight of a man, who came forward with a book in his hand, and introduced himself to me as the only remain ing inhabitant of the town, the superintendent of the Paris Omnibus Company. `We have to thank our own people,' said he, ' for all this devastation. During the last few days we had to shelter and feed those from whom we sought protection and defence. The last inhabi tants of the town who had the necessary courage to stand by and take care of their houses and homes live been driven away by the lawless excesses of our men ; the women were insulted and outraged, and the men attacked with swords and bayonets ; and they only left when nothing remained ro plunder or to satisfy their lusts.' . . . About two miles behind Claye I found already a proof of the formidable preparations for the de fence of Paris—that is to say, a barricade made of square paving stones that barred the road. Accompanied by two Jagers from headquarters, we continued our advance about a mile further than the barricade. We saw neither Ga.,:e Mobile nor Franc-tireur. From the depths of the forest a handsome residence looked down upon us, and we took the road leading to it. Everything still and quiet, no ambuscade, no shot from the thicket, no sudden attack. The iron gate of the courtyard yielded to our touch. We could neither see nor hear anyone. The linen which had been washed still lay bleaching on the lawn behind the house. Everything denoted that the inhabitants had yesterday or the day before made a hasty flight. Strange feelings seem to come over me when I visit these empty halls and castles. I expect in each room to find some human being, but only the pic tures of the ancestors and venerable forefathers seem to look down upon us, the beds with their hangings are un touched, and the modern paintings of sporting gods and goddesses hanging on the walls seem to be sadly out of place. On the table lies an open book, shewing how re cently the reader has left his or her place. Nets and fishing-rods have still been left in their former places, the hunting gear is either saved or stolen, and only useless game bags denote that in former times the owner of this castle was fond of hunting and shooting, and the setter, nose to the ground, seeks in vain in the halls, passages, and garden walks, where goddesses and marble figures in the alcoves and shrubberies gaze mournfully into the dried up basins of the small fountains. The reader must pardon this lengthy digression about deserted castles, towns, and villages, for during the last week I have been passing through a series of deserted Paradises in which magpies hopping from branch to branch, or a lizard creeping through the leaves, or even a plain domestic cat, seem to enliven the lovely scene." PROGRESS OF THE PRUSSIANS. The Prussian Uhlans met with unexpected resistance at Etampes, where the Mayor made a vigorous stand against their requirements. Fourteen of their number arrived at the Mairie, and, according to custom, demanded sup plies and called for the arms to be given up. All at once the Mayor, who had been reflecting on their conditions, started forward and exclaimed, "We will not give up while there are only fourteen fellows like you at Etampes, Let some more come, and we shall see then, meawhile, if yoti take my advice you will depart with all expedition !" The Uhlans at first seemed inclined to fetch reinforcements, but after they had called for their officer at the Hotel-de-Ville they disappeared, and were seen no more. The other day a detachment of 60 Prussian dragoons appeared at Fontainebleau before the station of the National Guard. They were disarmed and the guns piled up together. Nearly at the same moment troops amount ing to four thousand came up and took possession of Fontainebleau. The same corps afterwards marched on Nemours. About two thousand Prussians entered Pithviers and laid the town under heavy contri butions in the way of food, clothes, forage, &c. A war contribution of 150,000 francs has been imposed on the town of Fontainebleau. PUBLIC FEELING IN BRITTANY. The Gazette de France gives a glowing account of the state of public feeling in Brittany. M. Kerisouet, mem ber of the last Corps L6gislatif, was charged by the Provisional Government with the task of organising the defences in the Department of Brittany. At his request the Conseils Generaux have assembled for raising the sums required for the defence, and they have readily res ponded to the appeal made to them. If the Prussians venture into this province they will not find as in the environs of Paris peasants overwhelmed by terror, who are unarmed and resolved not to defend themselves for fear of producing reprisals on the part of the enemy. The Bretons will know how to defend themselves, and the Germans will make their acqaintance at their own expense. Every one is pre paring for the struggle, and the old songs are resounding in the villages of Morbihan and Finisterre. I have heard, says a correspondent, " an old man singing ' Arthur's March,' which is traceable perhaps to the Druids, and which, in the time of the Revolution, more than once led the Bretons to victory. Let the Prussians come then ! They will be received as were the English of old, the Saxons maudit of our brothers." The Conseils G 4114- reaux could not but second this outburst of national feeling, and readily voted all measures requisite for an efficacious resistance. All the balances of the departmental budgets which had not been expended, have with few ex ceptions been devoted to the expenses of the war. It was agreed that the first thing to be done, was to purchase arms, and distribute them among the people. M. M. Kerisouet and de Talhouet were desired to go immediately to England to buy Remington arms. The Vendee is also in arms. M. de Cathelineau, who signs himself An Old Vendean soldier, has issued an impassioned address to the Vendeans and Bretons and has asked permission from the Minister of War at Tours to raise in the Vend& bodies of volunteers as scouts and free shooters. He would, he says, be ashamed on this occa sion not to exert the influence which his name has in this country. In reply, the Minister of War has app o i n t e d him commandant of the Volunteers in the Vend4e. AN AUSTRIAN VIEW OF THE SIEGE. The Presse of Vienna says that during this last epoch Paris has become extraordinarily strong. The indomitable energy of the Provisional Government has effected by improvisation all that the fallen government, in its in credible blindness, neglected. Important earthworks have been raised, all the heights round the capital have been occupied, and dispositions taken to carry out an effectual system of defence. The plans prepared by Generals Trochu and Mellinet have been distributed to all the subordinate commanders. E very one knows the task allotted to him, and only waits the given signal to set to work. Arms, ammunition, and provisions are all in abundance, and no surprise need be apprehended. The enemy, who is approaching Paris, should resign himself to the tedium af a regular siege, and he must prcroeed to the attack of an isolated point as at Sebastopol, for no pitched battle will be offered to him. Under these oen ditions, even should the weakest ,point be chosen for the attack, the resistance will certainly be of the most for midable character. If the Germans cannot take Paris in four weeks, it will not be possible for them to hold their ground longer, and then the positions will change. The siege of Paris at present is the ruin of the Germane, for the besiegers have only one chance of success, and that is the outbreak of a civil war in the capital. The corps d'arna4e which operates round Paris is the first line of defence ; the forts form the second line, the fortified enceinte, the third, while the fourth is formed by the barricades which will be defended by the retreating troops. and by the armed citizens. It is here that the struggle will be the most desperate, and the defence of the streets organised by an infuriated populace may fur nish a resistance similar to that of Saragossa. Already the examples of Strasbourg, Toul, Metz, and M6zires have fired the Parisians, and they will no linger hear of an armistice, nor of preliminaries cif peace. SUN, LpiNDoN, w - gDNEsDA Y, S.ERTEMBE,R 2S, 1870. letter arrived from Prince Napoleon in an open enveloptt,. addressed to the Emperor, under cover to the King's Head-quarters, in which the Prince ex pressed a wish .to be permitted to see tk Emperor, but the latter stated that he had no desire to receive a visit from his relative. When the news froro Paris was communicated to the Emperor, he was carried away and lost his usual reserve and calm. " There," he said, "is the greatest misfortune thlt can befall France ! A Republic ! Now, gentlemen, we have the same enemies —you and I." 'So they say. The Emperor made a request to the King which his Majesty thought ' s ing-alar and of no moment. It was that he might be allowed to wear plain clothes. "He may wear whatever he pleases." An officer has been appointed at Cassel to wait on His Majesty every morning, to take his orders, and then to quit the Schl.ss, so eaat the Em peror may,feel quite at liberty, except so far as his parole binds him. He was very much struck by the number or troops in Germany, and by the guards of honour drawl► up at all the stations as he passed. They were Landwehr. " Why, they have the bearing of old trained soldiers," he exclaimed, "and they are only your Militia!" Just what they were and are. —Tines' Correspondeut with, the Prusian Army. FRENCH. ENTHUSiASM. The Rouen correspondent of the Standard, writing concerning Bismarck's ultimatum to M. Jules Favre, says :—" The answer of the Government of the French National Defence is this. The people of Paris are ready to bury themselves under the ruins of their city. To arms ! it the national call to all Frenchmen. War till complete extermination, is the motto of a great organising country. All minor events disappear before such a pronunciamento of the enemy ; of all the shells which have decimated the French legions, of all the disasters which have so rapidly succeeded from worse to worse for the last two months, of all the humiliations, without excepting the capitulation of Sedan, which have fallen with all their bitterness on a courageous and unfortunate people, none perhaps will be more resented, none will go more to the heart of every Frenchman than that last cruel and ungenerous despatch of a victorious enemy. It is the finishing blow of a lucky athlete on his thrown down opponent ; but it is also the incendiary shell which will bring a new sphinx from the ashes. The cup is full ! France, regenerated by misfortune, will rise as one man, animated by the glory of the last efforts. I am writing now from the middle of a large and populous city. The dispatch has just come. The indignation is extreme, and the people all swear to avenge their honour or die. If they do not keep to' their word they deserve their fate. Whatever may be the result of the unavoidable con flagration, the Prussian Government could not choose a better way to arouse the national spirit of France. If lam not mistaken, the struggle will be extreme. Within a few days the Prussian armies will be encircled in a circumference of fire ; thousands will become the prey of tneir powerful artillery, but thousands will sur vive ; the Francs, the Ganlois are rising, the Vendeans will revive these heroic episodes of devotion to their hearth, to their God, to their country ! The men are ready ; they are innumerable. I could astonish you with their unex pected number. I have met thousands and thousands with in the last week, as I informed you in my last latter. Chiefs are wanted, but they will spring from the masses. The race of Hoche, Moreau, and Larochejacquelin is not exterminated yet. A new era is beginning. The new Teutonic Colossus must he checked yet for the sake of civilisation and liberalism. From the beginning of the war I have impar tially recorded the superiority of the Prussian military tactics. No nation can approach them now in the science of making war. Their soldiers are brave and perfectly disciplined, their officers are most efficient, their generals are great strate gists and tacticians, their artillery and war material are without equal, their successes have been immense, and their ambition has increased proportion ately ; but it is the modern invasion with all its improve ments and powers, it is feudality menacing to conquer the best part of Europe. The last struggle of the French nation is of a vital interest for her neighbours—will it not be too late when they see it clearly ?" AN INTENDED COUP D'ETAT. The Progres, a Lyons paper, gives a circumstantial account of the scheme of a coup d'etat which it asserts was in contemplation before the fall of the Empire. A quantity of documents were found in the Prefecture at Lyons after the proclamation of the Republic, which it was at first believed were very ancient. The Progres now states that they were of recent date, and that their faded appearance was occasioned by smoke, as they were being burned by the authorities at the very moment the Prefec ture was invaded. The warrants prepared for the forthcoming coup d'etat are estimated at some 1,500, as 300 or 400 have been saved from the flames, most of which have at least a corner burned. These papers did not exclusively concern the leaders of the Republican party, nor were they directed only to the suppression of an intended emeute, as was represented. There were war rants against peaceable, inoffensive men of good social position, whose only crime was not having bowed the knee to the gentle sway of December. A former batonnier of barristers, four or five members of the General Council, merchants of high standing, men who were regularly invited to official receptions all had their spe cial warrant. To the documents were attached minute directions how and where they could best be arrested. "It is no longer a mystery," says the Progres, " that the future coup d'etat to which these war rants referred was decided upon in the interview which M. Rouher and M. Cassagnac had with the Emperor at Chalons. These honourable agents of the Imperial secret police returned to Paris with the necessary orders and powers, and the coup was prepared in all the prefectures of France. This is how we can explain the remains of recently burned papers which are found everywhere. It was sought to destroy these documents. When M. de Keratry took possession of the prefecture of police he found a heap of ashes of burnt paper in one of the courts, between fifty and sixty centimetres thick. M. Pietri had been more farseeing than the Lyons authorities, and had had time to finish his work. It is' said the Prefect of Allier was so zealous about his, that he set the prefecture itself on fire. The plan was to be put in execution directly after the first success of McMahon, a success which was confidently reckoned on. Decrees were then to have sent those arrested to Cayenne or Lambessa, a difference which only required the word " more" or " less" beside of the name. Finally a good plebiscite would have completed the matter, and decided by a vigorous affirmative in favour of abandoning all parliamentary encumbrances, and returning purely and simply to the admirable constitu tion of 1852. Under this the little prince could have quietly ascended the throne. When everything was pre pared for Lyons, the general commanding the state of siege was asked to give his assistance. He hesitated, and wanted judicial sanction. The chief magistrate of the district was therefore applied to, but he refused his help. Later on the same feeling which made him refuse to charge the arrested persons made him reply, when ques tioned, that he had not had the lists communicated to him. But the facts of the communication and the refusal are certain. An inferior official, less scrupulous, readily agreed to pass over the head of his superior, and to take his part in the business.. This maybe openlysaid, since he is now a fugitive, and cannot be affected by the statement. The same feeling of reserve has delayed the publication of the fore going details until the former officials of the administra tion were released. There is not the slightest doubt that the whole of these fine projects would have been now categorically denied if the warrants of arrest found at the .uyons prefecture were not in existence as incontrovertible evidence. It was really unfortunate for the fallen regime that at Lyon? on September the 4th the Republicans were so early at work. One hour later, and the heavens would not have been more pure than the hearts of the ex- Emperor and his satellites. THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON. The news from Meaux is that General von Boyen and the Prince of Linar have returned from the Emperor's residence at Wilhelmshohe, and that they give a very in teresting account of their mission. As they had been in some measure charged with the custody of his Majesty's person, the King, with that fine taste of the true gentle man which he is in Ml respeCts, thought it would be better they should not remain at Wilhelmshohe, as it might look as if the Emperor were under duress, and so they have returned to camp. The King also offered a residence at Wilhelmshohe to the Empress and Prince Imperial, but the offer was not accepted. Along the route from Belgium to Cassel, through Prussian (German) territory, the good taste and feeling of the people were remarkable, and forced the Emperor to praise what it may be said he would " rather have had no need to laud." At Cologne there were some rejoicings and some " populace " outbursts, but they were calmed by the gestures of the Prussian officers, and one of the Emperor's staff whom it would be invidious to name, said " that in a like case the people of France would scarcely have behaved so well." At Wilhelmshohe a great reduction was made in the personal retinue, carriages, and horses by the Emperor himself, and he expressed a desire to defray the expenses of residence ; but, as a Royal estab lishment had been sent there for his service, it was not possible to allow his Majesty to pay for what was provided by the King of Prussia; Tire extra persouna were dis missed; the horses were sold. Soon' after his arrival a THE THREE EASTERN SIEGES. The official Prussian account of the progress of the sieges at Thonville, Metz and Strasburg, says with res pect to the former place that the investing army " is com posed of all kinds of troops, but we are not much troubled by the enemy. At nightfall bodies of cavalry patrol all round tire fortress, so as to cut off every communication from outwards, and at night the infantry are obliged to do outpost duty, which is rendered the more severe as hardly 24 hours pass without some sortie being made, supported by Franc-tireurs, among whose ranks even women are to be found." It is not easy to comprehend how the Germans can be " not much troubled by the enemy" if sorties are made every twenty-four hours ; but this is for the Staat sanzeiger to explain. With respect to Metz the official account has nothing material to record during the last fortnight. Balloons containing letters are constantly sent up from the town. Of Strasburg there is the following notice :—" The approaches have been nearly completed, the three parallels having been finished without any particular annoyance or attack from the-enemy. The firing has been briskly maintained, and the artillery of the investing army has silenced many of the French guns, and caused the enemy to retire his guns from the embra sures, after having dismounted them from their car riages. The fires in the town have been much less fre quent, and none have taken place within the citadel in the past few days. Recently some of the heavier batteries have been brought into action, and the fire has become heavier against the walls of the town, and the cannonading has to be actively sustained, as the French garrison are actively employed in repairing the breaches as fast as we make them, The town of Kehl has again become the point of aim for the French guns, yet, strange to say, without causing any damage, as the shells are without fuses, and consequently do not explode." THE DEFENCES OF METZ. The correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette, writing from Metz, September 23rd, says :—" The fact is, Metz is a place of such prodigious strength that there is very little chance of the Germans attempting to carry it by any coup de main. Besides its great natural strength, which has been improved by the strong defensive works, ancient and modern, of which you have already heard, well-devised and strongly built field works have been and are still being constantly -- added whiCh would have to be carried before the wall of Metz could be reached. While we were looking from the top of the Château de Mercy we could see some thousand busy spades at work extending and strengthening an earthwork under the guns of fort St. Quentin. As all these field-works are protected by the heavy guns of the fortresses, much blood must be spilt and many lives sacri ficed before they could be carried. Of all this the Germans are, of course, perfectly aware, as they have excellent points of observation from which they can watch all that the French are doing. The King has sent orders that the expenditure of life shall be avoided here. For the present, then, offensive _measures are not likely to be taken en the German side. At any moment, however, Bazaine might make a fresh sortie, and it would for many reasons probably be made on this side, and along the road which I have just described ; where any success would supply him with much needed provisions. Hence the utmost vigilance is observed, and every inch of ground is employed for' defensive pnrposes. The château from whose observatory I have been watching the French is held by the 15th Regiment. It is a prominent point, and must become the seat of a sharp contest in the case of a sally by the French. On the occasion of the sortie of the 16th it was also held by the 15th, and that regiment,. in defending their positions against the strong body of troops which advanced against them, sustained' a loss of thirty-four officers and 800 men. It is loopholed and barricaded with all possible precaution, and the 15th, who still hold it, will, if necessary, defend it with the utmost obstinacy again, as they have before, and probably with the same success. Seeing, however, that it is a position. susceptible of such important uses, and that it is within easy range of the French works (not more than 1,500 yards from the guns in the trenches), it is thought sur prising by the Prussians that the French have tiot before this rendered it untenable, which they might easily do. It has already been once or twice shelled lightly, and bears the marks thereof. Descending from the château we accompanied the officers, of the outpost guards, which are pushed forward to the extremest points at La Grange aux Bois, a solidly built house occupying an exposed position within a few hundred yards of the French outposts. A newly dug grave held the body of a sentry shot the day before on the lawn in front of the house, on which he had incautiously exposed himself ; for the French have not given up the war of outposts, and a rapid drop ping fire, which reminds one of a good October day in a well-stocked preserve, is always going on. We visited the extreme outposts with a fine, gentlemanly young fellow, a Westphalian officer, who was going down to them. The French sentinels were within 400 yards of us ; and putting up a hat on a stick it was soon riddled with balls. The Germans had captured a field-balloon a few nights ago, and from intelligence re ceived they are on the alert for a movement from within. A noise of moving artillery, which was covered, oddly enough, by the playing of bands, was heard a few nights ago, but it was too dark to see what it meant. THE PRUSSIAN FLEET. We have been favoured with the following l e tt er , addressed by a Prussian naval officer on board the Kron- Prinz to an English naval officer at Plymouth. It is dated off Jade Wilhelmshafen, September 18, 1870 : " We are, of course, anxious to see the end of the war ; the losses are enormous ; nearly every family is mourning some relation, and all the glorious deeds and prowess are not able to make good the heart-sufferings of all Germany. Many of my old brother officers were killed and wounded, also several cousins of mine ; nearly every day brings the news of similar losses. We are still laying in the Jade ; the French fleet left Heligoland and returned to Cher bc.urg. We went out to look after them ; once we were chasing two ironclads that came near the mouth of the Jade, but they refused action, though the Iron-Prinz had been out by herself. We went full speed to meet them, but they turned back to Heligoland, giving alarm to their fleet, so that we were obliged to return. 'l'o all these facts the dreadful news of the loss of the Captain agitated our minds, and one cry of pity and sorrow was heard by everyone. \Wall hall seen this powerful ship, and envied your country for having it. As far as by the reports of the survivors, we cannot get another conclusion than this, that low free boards will in future not be full-rigged and sent across the ocean, and turret ship 3, even high and free boards must remain in smooth water, and be used for protecting the coasts. I have been read ing the report in the Times, and found that my old ship mate was on board. I am so sorry that I cannot say how sad I am. His case will be much regretted in all England, and particularly by the navy." THE EXPLOSION AT CUXHAV.EN. The Hamburgh correspondent of the Independance Beige relates the particulars of the explosion at Cuxhaven. It occurred through the imprudence of a person who was shewing the torpedoes to some officers. Captain Struve, of the steamer Neuenfelde, which was anchored near the harbour, who had engaged to place torpedoes.in the course of the enemy's vessels, proposed tp four officers of the Landwehr to show them the mechanism of the infernal machines, and afterwards invited them to supper. They were in a merry mood, and accepted the invitation. The captain of the steamer, on getting on board, called the officers round him, and tried to, unscrew some part of the mechanism, but not succeeding in his attempt, he called to a sailor to bring him some pincers. Instead of doing so, seeing the state his master was in and the im prudent manner in which he was dealing with the danger ous article, he jumped overboard, and thereby saved his life. At the same moment the torpedoes exploded, and the vessel, the captain, officers, and all on board were blown into frag,inents. The vessel disappeared, and the largest fragment remaining of the human bodies was tire head of the captain, which the waves washed on a sand bank. The gully was literally strewed with pieces of wood, iron, bones, and remains of human bodies. It was a hor rible sight. Nine men were destroyed in this fearful manner. THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT AT TOURS. TOURS, SEPTEMBER 25, A panic was created here two days ago by the news thai the Germans had got to Orleans, would soon be at Blois, and might thence be expected to run down post haste and oust "the rump " of the Provisional G wern ment from Tours itself. This report of the spread of the irrepressible Uhlans gave rise to great grief throughout this place. The announcement wasspread that the Govern ment would remove from Tours further south ; one " authority " said it meant to " back " as far as Toulouse ; and the people, or many of them, shewed an unmistakeable disposition to retire. But we have got over all this trouble. The Germans have not yet reached Tours, and the Government remains, go verning with all its might. It finds the work very hard It is a grave undertaking, and not a very en couraging one, to form new armies when all the regular troops, which might have formed a nucleus, have been locked up in fortresses, killed, or made pri soners. Moreover, there is, at least, some part of France which objects to be governed at all at the present crisis, and there is just now no means, at the command of the authorities to bring the refractory districts to order. Lyons has been troublesome, though it now gives signs of repentance, and professes obedience to the central authority, albeit it will not consent to abolish the red flag. In other parts of the country the hold .of the new Government seems exceedingly slight. With Metz and Strasbourg the Republican Ministry, has apparently no intercourse whatever. Bazaine, it is probable, would dis own any form of rule, unless it were that of the Emperor —or, perhaps, himself. In the next place the detachment of the Government posted here is decidedly too weak. No doubt it was the best plan to divide the Ministry, one party watching , over the defence of the capital, whilst another, stationed at Tours, endeavoured to develope the national resources. But the division has not been equitably made. All the talent of the Government is inside Paris, and scarcely any of it outside. Of the many good men who for the last twenty years have given proof of their ability in the Chamber, and of their integrity by refusing on Principle the sweets of Imperial office, not one is here. Favre, Pelletan, Picard, and the rest have remained in the be leaguered capital. The three Ministers who repre sent the Provisional Government at Tours, M. Cremieux, M. Glais-Bizoin, and Admiral. Fouri chon, are men of fair average capacity. and nothing more. M. Cr6niieux is a veteran politician— a little too veteran, indeed. Born in 1794, he early dis played considerable capacity at the bar. During the later days of Louis Philippe's reign he distinguished himself by his attacks upon the Guizot Ministry, and strenuously supported the reformist agitation, though always with moderation, and never entirely breakii►ng with the monarchy. After the abdication of Louis Philippe he pronounced in favour of the regency of the Duchess of Orleans, and it was not without hesitation that he associated himself with the Republic. He became Minister of Justice, and so remained until the fall of the Ministry on June 7, 1848. He was the only one of the eight representatives of Indre-et-Loire who favoured the candidature of Louis Napoleon for the Presidency. After the man of his choice had, however, displayed some of his peculiar qualities, M. Cr6mieux became a vigorous supporter of the Opposition, and on the occasion of the Coup d'6tat was honoured with incarcera tion in Mazas Prison. He afterwards devoted himself to his profession, and never reappeared in political life until last year, when he commenced to speak at public meet ings. At the general election he stood for the second circumscription of the Drome department, but was beaten by 13,189 to 12,920. At the partial elections for Paris shortly afterward's he got a seat for the third oircumscrip tion. M. Glais Bizoin is also an ancient. He was born in 1800, and has had great experience of representative assemblies. He served Parliament constantly from 1830 to 1848, taking his place on the ex treme I .eft. But in the revolution of the latter year he did not play any very important part, and failed to get a seat in the Legislative Assembly. In 1863 ho triumphed as an opposition candidate in the Cotes-du-Nord depart ment, and during the six years which followed gained quite a reputation as an original character by his frequent and remarkable interruptions. In 1869, he was beaten, but got in for one of the Paris seats at the partial election which took place in November. Admiral Fourichon was born in 1809, and passed through the various grades of the navy without doing anything very remarkable. In 1861 he was made president of the Council of Navy Works, and has a place in the Legion of Honour, so that he is in some sense an Imperialist. Amongst these three men—all tolerably advanoed in life—there does not appear to be one who is capable of making any great impression upon the people. A genius might at the present moment rouse the country to extra ordinary efforts, and turn something useful out of the raw stuff which lies ready to his hand. But there is nothing in the previous careers of these three veterans to justify the presumption that they will accomplish striking feats. Youth and energy are the qualities most in request. We have substantial testimony that the blockade of Paris is complete. For several days up to the 22nd no news came from the capital. M. Jules Favre, as you well know, has failed to obtain acceptable terms for an armis tice. People hope that Thiers's mission will be attended with good results. The evidence, however, all points the other way. THE STRENGTH OF PARIS• Unless two or more forts are taken, Paris need not fear a bombardment ; and even then the shells would spread themselves so much over the enormous surface that the damage must be comparatively small and the moral effect almost nothing. Look at the enormous mass of artillery brought to bear upon Strasburg; how much more will be required for reducing Paris, even if we keep in mind that the regular attack by parallels will naturally be confined to a small portion of the works ! And until the Germans can bring together under the walls of Paris all this artillery, with ammunition and all other appliiices, Paris is safe. From the moment the siege matdiiel is ready, from that moment alone does the real danger begin. We Fee now clearly what great intrinsic strength there is in the fortifications of Paris. If to this passive strength, this mere power of resistance, were added the active strength, the power of attack of a real army, the value of the former would be immediately increased. While the investing force is unavoidably divided, by the rivers Seine and Marne, into at least three separate portions, which cannot communicate with each other except by bridges constructed to the rear of their fighting positions—that is to say, by roundabout roads and with loss of time only—the great mass of the army in Paris could attack with superior forces any one of these three Portions at its' choice, inflict 1 osses upon it, destroy any works commenced, and retire under shelter of the forts before the besiegers' supports had time to come up. In case this army in Paris were not too weak compared with the besiegers' forces, it might render the complete investment of the place impossible, or break through it at any time. And how necessary it is to com pletely invest a besieged place so long as reinforcements from without are not completely out of the question has been shewn in the case of Sebastopol, where the siege was pro tracted entirely by the constant arrival of Russian rein forcements in the northern half of the fortress, access to which could be cut off at the very last moment only. The more events will develop themselves before Paris, the more evident will become the perfect absurdity of the Imperialist generalship during this war, by which two armies were sacrificed and Paris left without its chief arm of defence, the power of retaliating attack for attack. As to the provisioning of such a large town, the diffi culties appear to us even less than in the case of a smaller place. A capital like Paris is not only provided with a perfect commercial organisation for provisioningitself at all times; it is at the same time the chief market and storehouse where the agricultural produce of an extensive district is col lected and exchanged. An active government could easily take measures to provide, by using these facilities, ample stores for the duration of an average siege. Whether this has been done we have no means of judging ; but why it might not have been done, and rapidly too, we cannot see.—Pall Mall Gazette. THE BATTLE OF THE NINETEENTH. The balloon which was launched from Paris brings M. Gambetta's official report of the fighting before Paris on the 19th and previous days. It is dated the 19th, and says:—" On the day before yesterday the General Exea's division, belonging to the 13th Corps, issued from its lines in front of Vincennes, and directed a reconnaissance against hostile columns which had been signalled in the environs of Choisy-le-Roi. The operation, conducted by General Vinoy, brought about an engagement at long range, the advantage remain ing with us. [This was probably the affair at Wissoux, concerning which I wrote last week]. Our loss was six men killed and 37 wounded. That of the enemy, according to information which General Vinoy is inclined to rely on, was 400 men, including 58 killed. The Prussian troops engaged formed the rear-guard (from 3,000 to 4,000 men) of a corps moving from Choisy-le-Roi to Versailles, turning the posi tions of Chatillon and Clamart ; that a large number of troops were, marching in that direction, was ascertained yesteaday evening by a cavalry reconnaissance ordered by General Ducrot, who occupied these positions with four infantry divisions, which stretched from the heights of Villejuif to the heights of Meudon. On this clay (the 19th), at daybreak, the general made an " offensive " reconnaissance in front of his posi tions. He ascertained that large masses of the enemy occupied the woods and villages in front, and in particular the presence of a very large force of artillery. After a brisk engagement our troops had to fall back. A portion of the right effected its retrograde movement with " regrettable precipitation," The other portion concentrated in good order round the earthwork thrown up at Chatillon. The left, which was not vigorously attacked, was able to hold its ground on the heights of Villejuif. At that moment the fire of the enemy's artillery assumed greater intensity. At four o'clock General Ducrot, after an engagement which had lasted all day, was compelled to remove his troops to the piotection of the forts. After securing the retreat of the teams of his guns and his gun-limbers to Paris, he ordered the eight guns of position in the redoubt of Chatillon to be disabled before him, and he was the last to Withdraw to the fort of Vanves. Throughout the day he had displayed a resolution and firmness worthy of the reputation he enjoys in the army. The artillery displayed the greatest steadiness in the midst of a crisis of which it had almost exclusively to bear the burden. The Garde Mobile, which was represented in action by two battalions under fire for the first time, shewed calmness and self-possession. Orders are given for the definitive concentration of the troops within the walls of Paris. Our losses, not accurately known as yet, do not appear to be extensive. There is serious reason to believe that the enemy suffered heavily from the fire of our artillery. The enemy has not made any demonstra tion against the forts. A true copy of the military report. A BALLOON MAIL The Tours correspondent of the Manchester Guardian telegraphs :—I have just seen the man who arrived from Paris in a balloon on Saturday. He left on Friday, the 23rd, and was fired at in the air by Prussian artillery and musketry until he had passed over Mantes. He noticed fighting going on in the direction of Mont Val4rien, and states that he could.see distinctly see that the German army was there formed of seven columns' and was flanked by a quantity of cavalry. On alighting he was received by the Prefect of the department of the Eure. He brought with him no less than three sacks of dispatches, and the news contained in them was to the following effect :—" The conditions stipulated by Count Bismarck had been placarded over Paris, and had excited the most patriotic indignation. The cannon of Mount Valerien had dislodged the enemy from redoubt which they had taken about St. Cloud. Paris has a most resolute and martial appearance. Day and night heavy cannonadihg is heard. No inhabitants are allowed to leave their houses after ten p.m. M. Jules Darouf, my informant, is preparing to return to Paris by the same means. An Italian journal announces that the PldbiScite in the Pontifical States will. take place on the 2nd of October. Typhus , fever is spreading at Bouillo n , an d th e s i c k and wounded are dying rapidly. In the Prussian camp at Reims the deaths average forty a day. The Vienna Presse tells an extraordinary story of an attempt by the French Emperor to commit suicide. The Presse itself, however, does not believe the tale, and it may therefore be dismissed. The Namur correspondent of the Manchester Examiner telegraphs that on Friday, Marshal Bazaine fought the whole day between Metz and Thionville, with consider- able success, and burned all the German encampments along the Moselle between the two cities. The Westminster Charitable Committee, have consented to dispense relief from the British Charitable Fund to all 'distressed English people who may be expelled from Paris in consequence of the war. The number of Prussians who have joined the army as volunteers for a year's service is 40,000 or 50,000. They 'belong to the educated and influential classes, and have mostly passed their examination as officers. There are seven German corps before Paris, of which the 12th Saxon is exceptionally strong—about 40,000 men, making a total of about 250,000 men, with, perhaps, 50,000 reserve coming up in rear. The proclamation of the Republic in France has made one considerable difference. The attitude of the lower classes has become far more hostile to the invading armies. Attacks on the troops are frequent ;in spite of reprisals, every now and then a soldier is killed. The arrest of Herr Jacobi has produced a painful im pression in Germany. The official journals excuse it on the ground of the state of siege proclaimed in Eastern Prussia. A number of citizens have signed an address to the King praying for the removal of the state of siege and the release of Herr Jacobi. It will be sent to the royal head-quarters. A French paper, Opinion Nationale, says that at Bazeilles (the unfortunate village near Sedan that met with such a mournful fate) the parish clergyman put him self at the head of the women and girls to fight against the Germans. The wife of the village blacksmith is said to have killed five of the enemy with her own hand. The Bavarians who took Bazeilles, lost it, and took it again, unanimously maintain that when they were first driven back they saw their wounded comrades hurled by the inhabitants into the burning houses. A wedding has taken place in the German camp before Metz. Lieutenant Papen, having been dangerously wounded at Gravelotte, his betrothed made a rapid journey from Westphalia, and, rejoiced at finding him still alive, attended upon him with a devotedness only witnessed on battle-fields. Through her attentions and those of the surgeon he was sufficiently recovered to be married to her on the 15th by a Jesuit priest, in the presence of several officers and Knights of Malta and St. John. The bride remains by her husband's side until he is able to go south. When the Emperor returned from the battle-field into the town of Sedan on the ever memorable Ist of Septem ber, he alighted from his horse and gave the reins to a boy of 14, who was standing in the Place de Turenne. At the moment the shells from the Prussian batteries began to fall in the town, and one of them burst at the foot of the statue of Turenne. The Emperor, who was but ten paces from his horse, escaped, but the horse's legs were broken and the poor boy had his two legs and his right hand taken off. He was seen by a recent visitor to the am bulance, a few days since, still living, but without much hope of recovery. His mother was his attendant. The real Turcos—for some born Frenchmen have assumed their costume—are Mahomedans. Few can speak French. They have bits of writing in their pockets, some to protect them from hostile bullets, others from death in a foreign country, others from fever, and others from misfortune. They wear a ring on almost every finger. Their conduct in camp gives the impression that they are better than their reputation, but they confound mem and tuum. One, when asked what he was before he became a soldier, replied with truly childish frankness, "Robber."—Cologne Gazette. A correspondent of the Daily News says :—" It is the South German States who insist upon the taking of Alsace and the German-speaking portion of Lorraine as the price of their entering the German Confederation. The North, I think, might be persuaded, notwithstamding all the pre sent public clamour, that it would be best to forego the annexation of those unwilling provinces ; but their South German brethren say they must be protected against sud den inroads and attacks by France ; that it is for that end they have fought, and that they so readily agreed to consider the declaration of war by France to Prussia as a cases fcederis, and so the deed will be done." "It is remarkable," says a Wurtemburg officer, " how the French mode of fighting has altered in this war. They employ cavalry, especially cuirassiers, for the attack, while the infantry generally awaits the attack in strong positions behind earthworks and rifle-pits. This is the cause of the enormous Prussian losses, and of an order by the King that strong positions should never be assaulted in front. In the battle of Sedan the artillery did the most service. The Prussian losses are• not very considerable, but the French much more so. Mitrail leuses were not so largely employed as at Woerth ; their effect at 1,000 or 1,200 yards is often really fearful. It is remarkable that so many mounted officers fall," The Spanish papers announce that Count d'Eu, son of the Duke of Nemours, heir through his wife of the imperial throne of Brazil, now in England, is likely to be a candidate for the throne of Spain. CACAOINE.—Cacoa nibs on the removal of the oil fall nto powder, and this powder is caaoine. Cacioine contains neither sugar nor any other admixture whatever. Cacaoine makes one of the lightest, thinnest of warm drinks, and is the most de sirable of all for use in the later hours of the day. Cacioi ne, b y reason of the ingenious method b y which the . oil is removed, p re . serves all the fine natural fla vour of cacao nibs.—prepared only by James Epps and Co., Homoeopathic Chemists, 112, Great RUs sell-street ; 170, Piccadilly ; and 48, Threadneedle-s treet ;at their Works for Dietetic Preparations, Euston-road.—ADvT. D UNV I LLE and Co., Belfast, are the largest holders of whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is recommended by the medical profession in preference to French brandy. Sup plied in casks and cases for home use or exportation. Quotations on application to Messrs DUNVILLE & Co., Royal Irish Dis tilleries; Belfast : or nt thei London °Mere, 4, Beaufort Ttuildin Strand. (I INFANTICIDE IN LONDON. Apropos of the baby-farming trial at the Old na' the Medical Press a n d Ci r c u l a r says: —From inquiriersela have instituted, we have reason ; now ther e a ,ch London and its suburbs numerous establishments in sv ei o t, " ladies may receive every attention during co nfinere ere T he l and be assured of the strictest secrecy." boar fact of a woman seeking such a place for her, n ot of trial is prima facie evidence of the child beinweil welcome. The proprietors of these es t a blishmente , n t he versed in the practice of their art, undertak e ` dou bt, duties of midwifery, and there seems to be little o although legal proof may be wanting, that in some, .„F the infant never sees light but is ruthlessly stifled 1,,b0 birth. These houses are well known to the policFliboo are convinced that it is from them that the 4 ' l m o, babes found in the neighbouring gardens must hav e but they are unable to prove it, and therefore are Pra,denthe silent. Yet, day after day, bodies are found i n At, streets and squares of London, scores in each w— to thousands every year, and nothing is- de r the check the practice. In the proceedings e c , s Commission of Inquiry into the Trade Outra. ,- e ij to Sheffield, we have a precedent which it would he w it the follow in the present case. The police can point out houses and find the occupiers. Cannot a Royal CO bp sion be appointed to induce some of their accomPlw e t he fear of punishment or hopes of pardon, to disclose working of the system, and devise some mea f the lating such establishments by placing them and inspection of competent medical officers THE QUEEN AND THE EMPRESS EUGI-4-Nag „a That the Empress Eugdnie should have arrived in Engi without any recognition by the members of our ft°l; Family has been much remarked upon. Th eref°re d i o gives us much pleasure to report that her MajestY f Queen has within the last few days addressed a lette r sympathy to the Empress.—Pall Mall Gazette. NAVAL AND MILITARY liTELLIG Bi d We understand that the Admiralty have at e accepted the Harvey torpedo for use in the Roya l —Globe. The flying squadron, under the command of 11s t r d . miral G. T. P. Hornby, left Valparaiso for Eug'a the 10th instant. „ f „ u cl39 A sad event occurred at Portsmouth early on mornin g . Sergeant-Major Elton, from the ZenAyarille stabbed by Sergeant Wilkinson, both of the Roy al: ate ly Light Infantry. It appears that Wilkinson deliber„od• fixed his bayonet on his rifle and made a charge , W" o ved ing Elton very seriously, who was immediately can e to Haslar Hospital in a dangerous state. No cause "to present be assigned, but Wilkinson has for some shown symptoms of insanity. It is stated that Lady t Herbert of Lea is that her condition causes great anxiety, and i-1500 has been thought necessary to keep from her t he on on of the foundering of the Captain, with her second s bo A ard. s o serion,sll it clO circular received at Chatham Garrison on DT j Sh states that the Queen has appointed Lieut-Gen s 'i o the Richard Airey, G.C.8., to be Adjutant-General 0, Forces, vice Lieut-General Lord• William Paulet, whose term of Staff service has expired. CplW! , THE NEW IRONCLAD FOR MELBOURNE.—The is not heavily masted. She has strong and n i l ° her° bulwarks, and a temporary upper deck, to enabl e 0 sils make her voyage. All this will be removed whesoter arrives out, and she will be almost level with thet litt when moored in Melbourne harbour, presenting bn mark for an enemy The Colonial Governmen t P al the cost and charges. MAZZINI ON JUSTICE TO WOMEN . ' sa ys In a letter addressed to an English lady, that he blesses the efforts of the brave, earnes t - `,'" as es, women who demand the repeal of the Contagious Di°lo6. Acts, which is but an incident in the great genera l ( l ie s tion of justice to woman. He asks if the question 13 % a sacred than the abolition of slavery in 14 - nieric er o serfdom elsewhere. The most impo r t a nt F, to of life the first is, he says, entrust% as woman ; and he adds, no question s ile Oak yours ought ever to be solved without O a to How far does the proposed solution mi nis ,0g; the moral education of society ? The sense of seunalm the deep conviction that each of us has a task to t ot on earth, for our own improvement and for.„ all of our fellow-creatures is the first step 3 " th o education. You are a:human being • noth in g concerns mankind is alien to you. If you crush If i n i t his' innate sense of self-respect you decree the be°,ither you sanction moral inequality to any extent, V il if t•pe . create rebellion, with all its evils, or indifferenc e, risy, and corruption. If you punish the aeeolsio leaving the sinner untouched, you destroy, by e a, r° ,o l3 ; the sense of injustice, every beneficial result o, ,Y ra orYfr ment. In these acts lie. Mazzini says, the germ 0 0 :, t bel disease far more terrible than the physical e" ta ol have thus brutally and impotently endeavoured to s 0 4, out ; this fresh step backwards, taken in selfish fe 3r i lth if not speedily retraced, be followed by others, ill it fo tiag moral sore neglected, it will become a cancer, 'I I the very life-blood of your nation. In the moral Pi s 3 ciples i I have stated you will conquer. Your ctius e l i e cl . o religious one. Do not narrow it down to what s right or an interest. Let duty be y ou r g round, u ° po lr protecting your unhappy sisters and in urging y our tical claims. CRICKET OF THE PAST SEASON . • j r c An t s During the past cricketing season . th.! - '4. r . eo-: Ground played forty matches, of which they won.v` ers tf , three. They were beaten by Cambridge 11111 &ileg e ' Harrow, Eton, and Rugby Schools, Cheltenham te te' and the Royal Artillery, and in eight other 1333 ,,• 0 0 ,15 There were three drawn games. The Surrey profesle the won but four out Of thirteen matches; Pooley ni verge highest score, his total being 771 runs, and his t ,: 0 0 4 ; 24 runs ; Jupp scored 664 runs, and averaged 1 0 ; Griffith 563 runs, and an average of 17. York shn six out of seven county matches ; Rodger iddison, j e the most runs, viz., a total of 248 runs and an eve 2/ to each innings. Nottinghamshire won scorer;f° lost two matches. Richard Daft is the highes t svo total 495 runs, and an average of 61. Sussl two And lost two matches ; Charlwood so i r i e ns t runs, his average being 33. Kent won two an a matches ; W. Yardley, Esq., made the top sco re an° 01; runs, and an average of 23 ; Bennett, 194 ronsP d p l a y average of 11. Middlesex won one, lost one, an - A v l#, one drawn game. Herefordshire won five 5 ,n" tyr'ra c ,"'• one drawn match. For Gloucestershire, W. ‘ 5 :, fol Esq., played for his county in three matches, an era ° innings he scored 366 runs, and produced al l a fr,2 91 runs. His highest score in one innings was —Echo. Llo yd According to information received by th e of Pesth, Turkey is prepa r i ng armamen ts on a scale' of 0 The death is announced of the Rev „.,,,,, c lol 3 ' Russell, the oldest c l erg y man i n th e di o cese of -"l;iiclg e s, Mr. Russell was educated at Clare College, C a l i e where he took his B.A. degree in 1814, whe n Asir,' seventh junior optime in the math e matical tripoe• obeli presented in 1817 to the living of Shepperton, neEt r ioa ° , sey, which he h e ld un til th e ti me o f hi s death., a P e- t As'" fifty-three years. His living, which is wo;th ahe n to the hundred pounds a year, appears to have, passertle °-e vier, patronage of the Rev: John Clement o, o vett, t he of l'ontesbright, Essex, who will 'probably h en new vicar of Shepperton. qtr THEATRICAL GOSSIP.---NteXt Saturday til er-e olobe to be new attractions inaugurated in London. I be Ni th Theatre opens, under Misr .; All eyne ' s m anagete en c:jaP; a new farce by Mr. Conw ay Ed war d s , called " 13°3- 0 Residence," Shakespeare's "Ta of the Sb rov a , Marco Spada." The Holborn o ` min pe g ns with Mr' the Parry's sporting drama, called ` The Odds,'' nii- s at ° Holborn Amphith ea t re opens w i th a won d e rful cir eti r e a performing e l ep h ant, P apeta, who p l a ys the °Ol e blows her own trumpet, and converses amicably audience.--Mr. H. J. Montague is quite well ag. jece'' Mr. W. S. Gilb er t' s sa ti r i ca l bl an k- ve rse fai r Y;t the called " The Temple of Truth," will be prodnee ti cl oits toll e ' Haymarket on Monday, October 24. Mr. 13 plays the principal character.— London Figar ° ' [ADVERTISEMENT.]—HoIIoway's Pills and o „i n ";,te ! Consequences of Neglect . — ln our variable c 1 1 ,11 4 51. 01 larger proportion of diseases to which mankinc:. 1 c ol depends on the neglected treatment of c9,n,P 4 .9„,,' influenza, and rheumatism. The prudent will tion to the first symptoms, which are removal e l a or cl the use of Holloway's Pills and Ointment. complaints, whilst taking his Pills, their effect is ( i be bA c ,, and increased by briskly rubbing his Ointment on ," if ca t' and breast twice a day for five minutes or lenge'oetol e venient. The friction causes the Ointment to P ifies th the skin, whence it pusses to the lungs, and 134° 11 091 whole mass of blood as it flows through those o its circulation. BIRTHS. fo , of On the 25th inst., at Leamin g ton, Lady son. f On the 24th inst., at Needham Market, the Nv."'" ° G. Hayward, Esq., of a son. MARRIAGES. On the 24th inst., at St. John's, Upper HollowaY, 14etliori, Chester. Esq., York Lodge, Gresham-road, th e and 34, • Eastcheap, to Jane, second daughter of Pr ' Henry Knight, Esq., of Reading. oat ' On the 24th inst. at Chiswick, Toke HarveY , s ec to -- -- o A fe of the late J. Ifarvey Boys, Esq., of Marga te Wsq. , therine Mary, third daughter of John Turn Linden House, Upper-mall, Hammersmith. DEATHS. 11, On the 24th inst. at Pangbourne, p ur ge of Cornhill, aged 53. Sr On the 25th inst., at 12, Old Bond-street , Joseph Pc of the firm of IL and J. Jacobs, aged 57 of London : Printed by GIDEON ACL AND lb° No. 112, Strand Printer, and Published bY No. tfle o f THE SUN Office, 112, Strand, in the P recinct Savoy, in the County of Middlesex. Wednesday, September 28, 1870. *.a,, ---____ ........-...... .......... C 8011 kdmil ``The Yea " The nal J. G . Ave ] _ . Gre aane] —____ Ti C i sh orch ( im eon, ligh. the and 1 Das Oft