The Sun. — London, England, 1870-08-04 00:00:00

THE WAR. THE BATTLE AT SAARBRUCK (FROM THE COhRESPONDENT OF THE CENTRAL PRESS. METZ, AUGUST 3. A later telegram from Paris states that the division engaged in the fighting at Saarbruck was the second of General Froissard's Army Corps, and was com manded by General Bataille. The Prussian ad vanced posts were carried at the point of the bayonet, and the artillery then dislodged the Prussians from the town. The estimate of the Prussian force engaged varies from 10,000 to 20,000. The correspondents of the Presse, Opinione, National, and Peuple Francais, writing from Saarbruck, represent the effec is of the mitrailleuse as very murderous. It is stated that the Prussians are withdrawing towards Treves. Saarbruck being an open town is not occupied by the French . It is be lieved that the 7th Prussian Army Corps, numbering 25,000 men, is between Saarluis and Saarbruck. The bulletin of last evening's Ojicial Journal says it is stated that Prince Frederick Charles arrived yester day at Treves. The Prussian official account, given in a telegram, dated Berlin, Wednesday, says : "At ten o'clock on the morning of the 2nd instant the small detach ment at Saarbruck was attacked by three divisions of th. French Skinny, and a firo - from 92 guns WCISI opened upon the town. The Prussian detachment evacuated the heights of the drilling ground at noon, and the town at two p.m. A retrograde movement was then made to the next defences. The losses on the Prussian side are comparatively small. Accord ing to the statement of a prisoner the Emperor Napoleon arrived on the ground in front of Saarbruck at eleven a.m." The Emperor, according to the Gaulois, has sent a telegram to the Empress, which runs thus : "Louis has just received his baptism of fire. He displayed admirable coolness, and was in no way afraid. A. division of General Frois sard has taken the heights which command the left bank of Saarbriick. The Prussians made a short resistance. We were in the first line, and the balls and bullets fell at our feet. Louis has kept one bullet which fell near him. Some soldiers wept on seeing him so calm. We have lost one officer and ten men killed." The foregoing telegram, be it noted, is on the authority of the Gaulois. Saarbiirck is more or less burned. A Prussian account of affairs at Saarbruck is dated Monday before the battle, and runs thus :—" Com munication between Saarlouis, Treves, and Saar bruck is completely open and unimpeded. Saar burg and Merzing are in the occupation of the Prussians. As previously announced, the French column of infantry, supported by: artillery. which attacked Saar bruck on Saturday, was repulsed. On the Prussian side one Uhlan was killed, two Fusiliers wounded, and two horses shot. Columns of the French have advanced to wards St. Arnual and Gersweiler, and hold possession of the woods in that neighbourhood. There has been a very brisk rifle firing and an immense waste of munition on the part of the enemy." NOTES ON THE BATTLE. The Pall Mall Gazette of last night says :—" It need not be said that no ' official French account' of the events of the war is to be trusted. It is not in accordance with Napoleonic traditions thal such official accounts should be trustworthy. On the contrary, we may pretty safely take it for granted that they will be written in the almost comically reckless spirit which describes Prevost-Paradol's most inconvenient death from a pistol shot as resulting from ' aneurism of the heart.' That the French victory over the Prussians described in the telegram above is substantially or at least sufficiently true we do not doubt : true to the extent that the French have driven, or have been permitted to drive, the little German force at Saar bruck out of that town. But whether this opera tion is to be accounted much of a " victory" remains to be seen. It takes at once a different aspect from that which it presents in the official account ' if our own view of the probabilities of the campaign is accurate. Endeavouring yesterday to understand and define the German plan, we said that 'it is intended for a battle in which the German left, from Zweibrucken to near Saarlouis, should maintain a purely de fensive fight ; while their right, advancing from Saar louis and west of it, supported by the full reserves, attacks the enemy in force,' in an endeavour to cut his communication with Metz. If this be the plan, then the victory of the French at Saarbruck is perhaps little more than a withdrawal of the Germans, in accordance with their plan of defensive action in that quarter. The Times of this morning sanctions a good deal of the opinion we have ventured upon within the last few days by simply repeating it. This morning's tele grams also justify our expectations of the campaign by the statement that the 7th Prussian Army Corps was marching by Treves toward the frontier. But this signi ficant news we gave yesterday, on our own private infor mation." PUBLIC FEELING IN DENMARK. The Standard hears on good authority that the Govern ment are doing everything in their power to maintain a strict neutrality. But it is greatly feared that the popu lar feeling will be too powerful. The King himself is already incurring great unpopularity from the attitude which he has taken up, and nothing short of an active co operation with France is likely to satisfy the people of Copenhagen, who represent in this case the wishes of the Danish nation. GERMAN FEELING TOWARDS ENGLAND. BERLIN, MONDAY. A first glance at the German papers leaves it almost a matter of uncertainty whether this people is at war with England or France. The former State seems to fall in for quite as hard measure as the latter. The columns of the newspapers bristle with angry and c.ntemptuous terms— treachery, ingratitude, bad relationship, and all that kind of thing. Either the Germans are on very badterms with the English, or they are endeavouring to persuade us that they are. Articles, full of the strongest condem nation of England's attitude, appear in all the leading papers day by day. The ostensible point of attack is the method of enforcing her neutrality which England has adopted. Germans coavyn that English neutrality is favourable wholly to fiance, and thoroughly disadvan tageous to Prussia. France has the command of the seas, and is, therefore, able to procure English coal, horses, &c., which are all denied to Germany. Here we have a speci men of the difficulties which beset States that endeavour to maintain an attitude of impar tiality without sympathising with either. Coal and horses are contraband of war when they are supplied clearly for the use of a belligerent; and it would seem that the English Government will prevent the furnishing of coal to the French vessels. But horses can be prevented from going over to one side or another only by totally prohibiting their exportation. Is it fair that the English trader should thus be deprived of the chance of getting the best market for the article he has to sell ? If horses be thus dealt with, why should not provisions, &c., share the same fate ? The Germans, in fact, would have England share the burden of a war for which she is not answerable, and which she strongly condemns. On what principle are the British to be subjected to such a loss ? In every war the nation which can command the sea gains thereby a decided ad vantage over the other, and it is not for neutrii peoples to make good the deficiency. Indeed by urging the justice of the German case and similar pleas, the papers here clearly express the view that Eng lond ought to openly sympathise with Prussia, and, by exceptional measures, deprive France of the advantage which she enjoys as a naval power. They would like the neutrality to be converted into a Prussian alliance. The Cologne Gazette is the worst offender with this discreditable writing. The other day that usually respectable journal published a most abusive article, comparing England to an " army of lions led by hares." To-day it comes out with a similar production. " On all sides it is stated that Prussia has laid an official complaint against the development in favour of France which British neutrality is taking. England, it appears, will enrich international law by a new theory of neutrality in time of war. The English supply the French with coal, horses, and pilots, and yet they set themselves up as neutrals, and when the Nortlr German Ambassador made representations to Earl Granville he took refuge in empty platitudes, of which he, was not sparing in the Upper House when the question was put to him. rHE SUN LONDON, THURSDAY EN , ENING, AUGUST 4, 1870. The bitter feeling in the public as well as in the political world on this matter is indescribable. People counted on England playing the part of a cold spectator, but not that it should support the enemies of Germany by resources. This foolish conduct will bear evil fruit for England, whatever may be the issue of the war." And then the Cologne Gazette proceeds to detail the ill effects which will follow this course, whether France or Prussia gain the victory; though it does not describe what are the benefits to be gained by biding with Prussia. The Gazette might remember that since the publication of the Secret Treaty, public feeling in England has not, so far as we can learn here, been particularly favourable to France. Doubtless, Englishmen will do their duty to both sides ; but they are hardly likely at present to strain a point in favour of France. But the papers here require no reasoning of this kind. They go on in their own way. The Weser Zeituny says :--- " The British Cabinet and the British public have most clearly declared whom they consider the author of the present war, and which side they desire to see victorious. The con elusion drawn, however, is that England will remain neutral. Let the honest man drive off the robber, but for Heaven's sake don't let us place any difficulties in the plunderer's way. Probably no Englishman will call this a great policy, but is it a wise policy? We doubt it." The North German Correspondent holds that England is doing everything possible to give the FrenchEmperora whip to lash herself. England, while affecting neutrality, allows her territory to become the French base of operations against the coasts of North Germany. England has become a French arsenal and magazine, from which our enemies can draw any amount of cartridges, coals, and horses. ThA North at, asks whether England desires to have another Alabama question on her hands. Pro bably these extracts will suffice to shew the tendency of the talk here. i THE MISERIES OF SPECIAL CORRESPON- DENTS. More troubles have befallen the unhappy writers who set out from England in the hope of being able to describe the war from the French side. Almost every one has been arrested at some period or other of the last three weeks. Many have suffered a short im- prisonment more than once. Amongst others; the correspondent of the Standard was captured a second time. His release was the work of regular newspaper diplomacy. Mr. G. A. Sala, the special of the Telegraph, and Azamat Batuk, the kind Turk who officiates for the • Pall Mall Gazette, agreed to be the ministers plenipoten tiary and ambassadors extraordinary, and to intercede for the captive. Their first endeavours were not pro mising. The following telgram, which is dated Metz, August 2, and is signed by both correspondents, has a decidedly black look : " Your correspondent arrested. Serious. Will be released on condition of his last letter not being published. He must leave Metz." But prospects improved a little shortly. Another telegram is of far brighter tint :—" The circumstances of your correspondent's arrests having been laid before the Emperor, his Majesty expressed gratification at the efforts made by the English in Metz to prevent the publication of news injurious to French interests. Your correspondent is released uncon ditionally by order of the Emperor, and the Provost Marshal General is instructed to declare to Eng lish journalists that the Emperor relies on their honour to act with discretion and judgment,' wishing, as he does, to preserve the most cordial relations with Eng land, and recommending English correspondents to ad dress themselves to the Provost Marshal in case of difficulty. This is for publication." This ending is de cidedly happy. It is even promising; for it would appear that some concessions are to be made to the unfortunate writers, and thus the special of the Standard, by enduring martyrdom for his kind, has infinitely benefited the good cause. The joyful occasion thus inspires the Standard :-- "Our correspondent at Metz has had to endure the annoy ance of a second arrest, but some consolation will be afforded to him by the remarkable circumstances which have attended his release, courteously an nounced to us by two of his colleagues. His seizure has elicited definite orders from the Emperor in reference to the treatment which -English cor respondents with the French army are henceforth to re ceive. The Provost Marshal has been directed to declare to English journalists that the Emperor relies on their honour to act with discretion and judgment, wishing, as he does, to preserve the most cordial relation s with England. Our correspondent, as an earnest of this promised libe rality of behaviour, was unconditionally released, in spite of the nervous apprehensions of the officers, whoever they who had effected his arrest, in reference to the im portance of the disclosures he has been making. We feel sure that no evil consequences will ensue to the French Government from the more generous policy which is in future to regulate its behaviour to foreign correspondents. It is in the last degree improbable that corre spondents thus put on their parole d'honneur not to abuse the privileges of their position by the publica tion of news which could be of service to the enemies of the army with which they are stationed, would inten tionally betray the confidence extended towards them. As for errors of judgment, which no man can be abso lutely sure of never committing, there is, at all events, a double guarantee that these will not be made. While the correspondents, on their own part, will be induced to write with great care by a sense of the moral responsi bility under which they are placed, the papers to whom their correspondence is addressed, will be equally desirous of justifying the trust imposed in their discretion, and will no doubt refrain from the publication of any news of a dangerous character, the nature of which their corre spondents may have failed to appreciate." THE MITRAILLEITSE.--I think it possible -you ma) oat have seen the following interesting details of ill, mitrailleuses. These deadly engines can throw, to distance of three thousand metres, a hundred and twe , ....1-- (1 ee large balls per minute ; but this is not eV—the p.?int of the mitrailleuses is the certainty of your er:n. '.'acre is no recoil, and once the range is got you le , ve n - )thing to do but load and fire. It has a swinging met which sweeps down the enemy. Another peculiar;' is that the ball goes from the muzzle point blank. .li' 01! tliis be true, an average reinenit may be annihilate b. --Par;:; Corrc , . , on«'cit of the Tecc:raph. JOIPEROP'S Doc Ton.—Dr. Nelaton has gone L,..) the army, and, as it is given out, to "organise lie ambulance." Of course nobody believes this reason, nod indeed it is incredible. This eminent 'surgeon, now no elderly man, h as th e reputat i on of being the first operat,T in the world; but there is no presumption whatever that he has any greater capacity for the special 3n:y now said to be imposed upon him than hundrtele of younger men and of more military experience. I can not avoid the conclusion that the Emperor—whose chrooie state of health everbody knows is such as to make it supremely ridiculous for Min to affect to put himself at the " head" of a great army in the field—feels already the want of his favourite and skilful surgeon, and that a shallow subterfuge has been imagined to conceal from the public tie.; true cause of Dr. Nelaton's departure from Paris. It is hinted in one of the papers th a t no t w ith s t an di ng th e Empress's regency, the Emperor means to come to Peri, " frequently " during the continuance of the war. I dare say, under Dr. Nelaton's advice, he will very soon be here. —Daily News Correspondent at Paris. HOMEWARD AMERICAN MAlLS.—Owing to the ;ear, all the German steamers have been withdrawn from the Atlantic mail service, and consequently the ar rival in this country of American mails has become more tardy than ever, as the United States' Post Office do not put mails on board the Cunard steamers which leave New York on Wednesdays, and invariably reach Queenstown about two clays earlier than the Guion steamers leaving new York the same day, and currying by appointment the - 1fni . ..6,A gtat,--o' mail. The Cunard steamers leaving Nev:- York on the Thursday carry the United States' mail of that day, and Cie:se vessels reach Queenstown as soon, and frequently Bonier, than the Guion steamers leaving New York with the mails on the pre v i ous d a y . An instance has just occurred showing the working of this postal service. The Cunard steamship Java, without mails, and the Guion steamship C o lo ra d o , w ith the mails, both left New Vorle on Wednesday, the 20th of July, and while the Taxa arrived at Queenstown on Friday, the 29th of July, the Colorado did not arrive there until Sunday, the 31st of July ; meanwhile the Cunard steamship Abyssinia, which left New York the day after the Colorado, reached Queenstown one day before her.— Times. MODERN CAMP LIFE.—Now-a-days the aspect of a camp is serious, not to say severe. The soldiers, who have had as much sleep as they can under their tents, are awakened by the freshness of the morning, and our dawn here is almost cold. They dress, they take their coffee, they burnish their arms. In short, every one is busy. There is no time for ennui or for melancholy. You see many soldiers read ing or writing, and you perceive that the average level of education has been raised. Here and there a cearse expression is to be heard ; but as often a joke in good taste, as neat as it is stinging. Even our Arabs--the Threes, who frighten the Germans so much—behave like civilised beings. Yester day I visited a regiment of 4,000 nati ve s h arps h oo t ers . All the inhabitants of the neighbouring town walk through the tents, and are in no way scandalised. Sometimes at the sight of a pretty girl from Lorraine, or a blonde beauty of Alsace, white as milk, the African's eyes glow, and his parting lips shew thirty-two teeth which would ail ling.y eat up the fair visitor like a ration biscuit ; but that's all. The women themselves are not too much frightened at this natural spontaneous admiration. Perhaps they are even a little flattered by it. There is little or no marauding. The standing harvests which surround these canvas cities are in general respected. Our soldiers have been robbed enough by shameless tradesmen. At one place they have paid twenty-five centimes for a halfpenny loaf ; at another a sort of yellowish and bitter water h as b een so ld to t h em at the same price as the best beer of the Grand Balcon; but they have never taken their revenge. Only this morning I heard a corporal baraining for a haset of vegetables. "You are not reasonable," he said to the vendor. "We have come here to help you, and you sell your provisions to us dearer than to the townspeople. Well, never mind ! so much the worse for you; here is the money !" Who on earth ever expected so much philosophy from a corporal of the line ? It is an exception when some com panies have borrowed potatoes from the neighbouring fields. They were far from any town, the communica tions were not handy, their officers had said, perhaps im prudently. " Disperse !" Anythin g is permitted to the man who is ordered to " disp erse ,' and who has no one but himself to rely on ; but the troops used their license without abusing it.—Edmund About in the Telegraph. SWITZERLAND'S POSlTlON.—According to the Vienna Treaty of 1815 Switzerland enjoys the advantages of perpetual neutrality, under the guarantee of the leading European Powers. In consequence of this, the Federal Government, as soon as war became imminent, by a dispatch dated Berne, 18th of July, announced thsdr decided resolution to maintain our neutrality invio late amidst the general conflagration. Although both the belligerent parties, France and Prussia, answered in the affirmative, we could not simply rely upon their solemn declarations. As far back as a fortnight ago five divisions, numbering about 40,000 men, were ordered to move towards the frontier, from Berne down to Basil and the adjoining valley of the Rhine. The remaining four divisions got orders to be ready to start at the first notice. In the meanwhile prepara tions are going on to put the reserve forces of the country in a proper state so that in a comparatively very short time, if the necessity were to become stringent, we could muster an organised militia of about 150,000 men. Financial arrangements are being taken in order to provide for the payment of the troops and their means of subsistence. Happily for us, the adjacent States of Southern Germany, especially Bavaria and Baden, have consented to the continuance of the corn trade with Switzerland, which was for a moment suspended. Whilst Austria maintains its neutrality we shall be at perfect liberty to introduce wheat out of Hungary by way of the Bavarian lines. You see, therefore, that our situation is not at all endangered, for the moment at least. —Swiss Correspondent of the Standard. FEELING IN PARIS.—The enthusiasm for the war has entirely disappeared in Paris. It is now evident that a war with Germany means a prolonged struggle against one million armed combatants determined to defend their own country, and, if possible to give the French such a lesson that hereafter the Emperor's peculiar mode of making his reign an era of peace by attacking his neigh bours will be rendered impossible. The announcement that the fortifications of Paris are to be placed in a condi tion of defence, and the Emperor's admission that the war will be a long one, have singularly damped the ardour of those who imagined that within a fortnight a glorious peace, which would re-establish the su premacy of French arms, was to be signed in Berlin. It was expected that the presence of the Prince Imperial would enlist the sympathies of all on behalf of the Impe rial family. It has had a contrary effect. The cruelty of exposing this poor'child to the fire of the enemy is severely criticised. The Emperor is compared to one of those beggar women who carries about a half-clad infant on a cold day, in order to provoke the compassion of passers by.—Daily News Correspondent. WHAT WILL THEY DO P—The delay in the operations shews one of the disadvantages of such huge armies as those which are employed in modern warfare. To set them in motion is a work of the greatest difficulty. It was not by massing largo forces behind the frontier that Napoleon succeeded in makin g the wonderful campaign of 1805. The army was broken up into corps de &armee, which moved from a distance on a common centre more than a hundred miles from the basis of operation, in the very heart of Germany. tiut then Ma,yenee belonged to France. At present a force which cannot be less than 200,000 men is huddled up in a narrow space between the Rhine and the Saar on the one hand, and the Vosges and the Moselle on the other. It occupies strong defensive positions, but it has also strong positions in front of it. It is easy to understand that great circumspection is necessary in making an advance. But both the soldiers and the inhabitants suffer from this overwhelming accu mulation of men in such a narrow strip of country. No doubt the positions taken up are admirable in the event of the Prussians assuming the offensive. But as it _ap pears that their position enables them to guard effectually the two lines of . the Saar and the Rhine, they are hardly likely to make an attack in force in a country where a large army could not deploy, and • where their heads of columns could be destroyed in detail as they debouched. On the first step which either army may take a great deal depends ; but I think I shall be found to have anticipated correctly the probable course of affairs—that whether th e F r ench or the Prussians attack, they must move forward in two or more columns; an advance en mane of 150,000 or 200,000 men over the broken ground each army has before it appears to be impossible.—Correspondent of the Standard at Paris. WITH THE PRUSSIANS AT SAARERucK.—The Daily News correspondent, writing on Sunday night (be fore the battle), thus describes the s t a t e o f a ff a i r s at Saarbruck :—After so many alarms we are still here. We were roused early this morning with the report that the troops were to evacuate the town, and for the fifth or sixth time we packed ul) our things and made ready to start. There was much Af. in the streets, and all the appearance of immediate action, but it turned out to be nothing, or at most not more than an unusual strengthening of the outposts. It is expected that a battalion of Jagers and of the 69th, and also several more companies of the 40th, altogether about three thousand men, will arrive to-night. General von Goeben, commander of the Bth Army Corps, is immediately expected. One of the men whom I mentioned in my last letter as wounded is dead: The others are only slightly wounded. The story in the Siecle of forty prisoners being made by the French between Forbach and Saarbruck is an invention. Fusilier Kraus, who killed the first Frenchman, has received thirty thalers—about five pounds—from Berlin. A natural feel ing directs the current of patriotic liberty rather towards the capture than the slaughter of the enemy. The men who bring in the first cha.sseur, or the first cannon, or even the first Chassepots, will receive a very large reward both in money and goods.' Skirmishes between patrolling rec •;oitring bodies are reported every day and vight, but though very interesting to us here who know the men and the places, the record of them would be in an English paper a mere assemblage of names. The unvarying badness of the French shooting has created a rather too reckless spirit among the patrols here. The present state of things here inflicts unusually hard work on the garrison, and a succession of disappoint ments on those who wished to see some fighting. I shall 9 away tomorrow %Ilea§ th 9 TWUSfa oi au 00,4 to. flight 14 verified, ETEENCH DESIGNS BELGIUM.--The Daily News Paris correspondent reports an interesting conversation he had with one of the members of the Corps Legislatif. The following is a noteworthy extract :—" What do fc:u think," I said, " of the projet de traite?" " Benedetti," he replied, " is a supple, intriguing Corsican, a mere topl of the Emperor. I certainly do n ot b e li e ve in his Story of ha - ling merely written the projet ' at the dictation of Bismarck, and then having left him this compromising document—he is not so simple a fool. I have no doubt that the projet' represents the Emperor's views, and I think both Bismarck and the Emperor would wipe the kingdom of Belgium from the map of Europe to-morrow if it could be done to their mutual advantage." " And what would the French and German nations say to this ?" I asked. " About the German nation," he replied, " I cannot pronounce an opinion, although my impression is that they would not object to it; as for the French nation nine-tenths would applaud it." Further on the deputy said :—Belgium has belonged at different times to almost every European nation. Until 1831 it never had an independent nationality. Its independent evistence is only owing to the rival jealousies of others, it is an artificial one. If, after an unsuccessful war, you lost Ireland, should you consider it a very great crime to wish to recover it ? Venetia be longed to Austria for fifty years; her title to it was placed under the guarantee of a European Congress, yet Europe applauded its transfer to Italy. What more right had Prussia to seize on Hanover than we have to seize on Belgium ? Hanover, said Bismarck, is so situated that without it we cannot defend our country. This is what we say about Belgium now that Prussia has acquired such an enormous development." HOPES OF AN ENGLISH ALLIANCE.—The Ger mano see a hope of an English alliance and of a joint attack upon their detested enemy. This, . though perhaps a sanguine view, is what I find to, be taken by many Prussians. They forget the offence of selling horses to France and of intending to sell coal. They even overlook our short-cOmings about cartridges. There is fat in the fire, the English press is calling Franco to account, widwe are considered a better sort of neutral than we were a week ago. What can be more natural than that men should look anxiously round and count every chance of help when they are waiting for a l-important news. A single battle lost would not be fatal to this side, as the Germans think that it would be to Napoleon. But all hope of takinc , a lead from the beginning, of going to P ar i s h an d o v er hand, as they went to •Virnna, and of making another seven weeks' NMI', wovid vanish with one defeat.- It would then be a long, wearying struggle. The Landwehr men would be nocly unss.t:l from home, and the French blockade wrnld injure the German commerce. Thus, without desponding for an hour - about the fate of the Fatherland, or t.aking in the least that gloomy view of their case English friends are apt to take for them, the Guiana would hail our alliance with joy.—Doily News Co'ropondo,'t at Bolin. AUSTRIA AND THE SECRET TREATY.—The im- pression produced by the project of treaty bet Ween France and Prussia has been very great indeed. It„ has cooled down the last sparks of sympathy which might have been lingering in favour of France. The impression was so much the greater as, before its appearance, a /lumber of other secret c onven ti ons an d pro j ec t s o f t rea ties had been iu circulation. In most of these combinations it is Austria who is meant to pay the piper, so you will not be sur prised to hear that after your last revelation we feel some what like a man who finds himself suddenly in a den of brigands.—Times Correspondent at Vienna. • THE FRENCH DELAY.—Various reasons have been given for the tardiness of the French attack. We are assurred that the French have been checked by the know ledge that Prussia means to leave the Rhenish provinces bare of all sustenance for any invading force. The rail ways will be utterly destroyed, and no sort of forage or provision will remain for French use. At Metz we are told that "the army has an order to carry four days' rations in their knapsacks and eight days' rations in the regimental fourgons. With regard to forage the arrangement is much more difficult ; its transport necessitates an endless train of all sorts of vehicles. The whole of the neighbouring country employs its peasants and horses for this kind of work. They come even from Luxemburg and the south-western part of Bel gium, and are hired at the rate of Bfr. a day per horse and 2ifr. a day per man. At Metz all the squares, every available spot, indeed, are crowded with these vehicles ; and so it is elsewhere." The Emperor is represented as much depressed by this forced delay. He counted upon giving battle days before ; and his chances of winning it have too obviously diminished, and are decreasing hourly. —Pall Mall Gazette. SHARPSHOOTING WORK. —A letter in a Paris paper says :—The Fren c h a d vance d pos t s occupy a ll t h e roa d s which lead to the Prussian plains. The troops are echeloned . in the woo d s a l ong th e f ron ti er w h ere t h ey encamp, changing place almost every day. They arrange their knapsacks around a tree, cover themselves with their cloaks, and remain thus crouched in silence. You must come down upon them before you can see them. They get soup from the camp. The life is a hard one, but it is necessary to be on the look out. As they advance, they take advantage of the trees and standing corn to conceal themselves. In the middle of the plain the mounted patrols are con stantly on the move, and sometimes approach close to the Prussian frontier. Occasionally you hear the crack of a rifle. The horseman replies, and falls back. In a field of corn recently cut, but not yet carted, there are some fifteen of our sharpshooters, who fire on the enemy's vedettes at their pleasure. A detonation is heard, a , whitish smoke is seen, and in a moment everything relapses into that stillness which reigns in the country in the sultry hours of the day. Then there is a sudden fusillade and then again a pause. The two opposite hills seem to be observing one anosher. Every fold of ground and every tuft of trees are so many improvised fortresses from Lebind which the barrel of a rifle gleams betimes in the sun, the bullet hisses through the air, and according , to the accuracy of the aim a horseman drops dis mounted. Without producing an encounter, each day has its episode. THE NIEDERBRONN AFFAIII.-1. About has ust given us a most amusing account of the Lefeat of _ the Baden reconnaissance in front of Nieder- bronn, which he justly calls a foolhardy affair. Six Grand Ducal officers, with ten or a dozen men, actually marched. 32 kilometres (upwards of twenty miles) into the enemy's country, making their observations and gleaning information, not at night-time or in disguise, but in broad sunlight and full uniform. They crossed on the Sunday morning near Lauterburg, were seen by numbers of people, cut the telegraph wires at Huntspach station, while the inhabitants were at church, passed the day in riding about the country, and were not caught until the Monday morning, when they were surprised while at breakfast in a farmhouse. They rushed to their horses ; there was a pretty hand-to-hand combat, such as Wou vermans loved to paint, but the audacious Germans were outnumbered and taken at disadvantage ; poor Winsloe was klled, four other officers were taken prisoners, two of them being wounded (one of these has since died), and the sixth escaped—it is said on a. French troophorse, his own having been killed in the affray. It was a very brisk, picturesque sort of affair altogether, and M. About justly remarks that it reminds one of the fantastical feats of D'Artagnan and his companions, or some other dare devil heroes of Dumas' romances.— Times' an respondent at Paris. BA 'VARIANDI SAFFECTION.—It may be kept a secret on the German side, but here we have inf orma ti on on which we fully rely that large bodies of Bavarian troops have been sent northwards on account of the disin clination they shewed to fight in the cause of Prussia. It' seems that the most rigorous measures were found neces sary to compel their departure. Their officers are repre sented as better affected to the Prussians.—Times Corre spondent at Paris. THE KING'S WAR HORSE.—The Sporting Life says that among the distinguished Germans who have been summoned to take up arms on behalf of their country are Prince Pless, the purchaser of Blue Gown, and M. Andre, who some time since bought The Colonel. M. Andre has made a present of the son of Knight of Kars and Boadicea to the King of Prussia, with the hope that he might become his Majesty's favourite charger. The double winner of the Grand National will doubtless soon be called on to give proof whether he can behave as well under fire as across a stiff line of country. The following are the names of the five members who supported Sir W. Lawson in the House of Commons, on Tuesday, in opposing the grant for an additional 20,000 men :—George Anderson, Alfred Illingworth, Charles Reed (Hackney), Henry Richard (Merthyr Tydfil), Peter Rylanols. The tellers were Sir Wilfrid Lawson and Mr. 'Thomas Potter. The Church Herald understands that the Ritual Commissioners' final report, comprised in a few sentences, is at length ready for presentation to her Majesty, after which it will be immediately published. it has been de layed in consequence of the numerous protests which the members of the Commission felt themselves called on to make, every one of them, if report speak truth, taking exception to something. The changes proposed are said to be few and slight. It is stated, "on the best authority," by the Standard, " that on Captain Harvey finding the Ad miralty disinclined to purchase the secret of and proprie tary rights in his torpedoes, he made offers to Russia. The Government of that country, fully alive to the value of Captain Harvey's invention, purchased the secret directions for placing and working these torpedoes and 100 of the torpedoes themselves. These 100 torpedoes have actually left for Russia." THREE BOYS LOST IN A DRAIN.—A lady standing in George-square, Glasgow, heard cries proceeding from a grating near her, and it was found that three " Arabs " were underneath. A large crowd soon collected at the spot. With the assistance of a crowbar-the grating was forced open, and the boys extricated. Dirty, barefooted, and weeping, they presented a sorrowful spectacle. They had entered the drain a long distance from the spot where they were found. The candle which they had with them getting extinguished, they lost their way. TIIE (,hops IN - WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.—TIIO Brookville Jeffersonian, of Jefferson county, Pennsyl vania, states that Western Pennsylvania has rarely been so generally blessed with bountiful crops. The wheat is already harvested, and the farmers have secured more. than an average crop, the berry being plump and the ears' well filled. The hay' crop is very abundant in all sections, and in the southern counties the greater portion is already safely secured and housed. In some localities the supply promises to be so abundant that the finest fields of clover are being plowed down or pastured off—a course believed by many good farmers to be the most profitable. In every direction the prospect is highly encouraging, substantial improvements are going up on all sides, and remunerative employment is furnished to every applicant, so that the signs of poverty are scarcely ever seen.— Philadelphia Ledger. THE AMERICAN EXAMPLE OF EMANCIPATION. Strange as it may seem, the abolition of slavery, even in this country, is not universally admitted to be a wise measure. At the South where slavery prevailed, it was in the greatest favour, and even now, those who were most familiar with it are its most strenuous friends and apolo gists. Politically, morally, and socially, there seems to have been an influence about the institution of slavery, which blinded men to its worst features. In this country political resistance to slavery originated at the North, and among a class who had little, if any, practical know ledge of its evils. Its enemies were stimulated by a recital of wrongs they had never witnessed, and became indignant over cruelties which they knew of only by hear say. It was upon this second-hand information that the country was stirred up to that decided course cf action which resulted in the election of Abraham Lincoln. Not one in a hundred of those who voted for Mr. Lincoln, had ever visited the South, or witnessed the social degradation caused by slavery. The people - drew their inspira tion from the Press, from the platform, and from narratives in various books. When the rebellion broke out in America was the foremost supporter of slavery in the world. It represented the only nation, claiming a high civilisation, which held so large a percentage of its .own people in bondage. Even with its slow political progress, Russia had taken steps to emancipate its serfs before our rebellion began, and the amelioration of their condition is not to be attributed altogether to American in fluence. During the first year of the rebellion, and thenceforward to the end, the real issue >of the struggle was understood by all foreign nations to be emancipation. It was natural that such an issue should attract deep attention, and that it should greatly affect the older civilisations. There is no doubt that a silent influence went out from us among all the nations which even incidentally tolerated slavery, and that it has under mined the institution wherever it existed. Not only in Turkey and Russia has the noble work of eman cipation been carried on, but • also in Brazil and several of the other South American States. Quite recently a proposal has been seriously discussed in the Spanish Cortes for the abolition of slavery in Cuba, and in other colonies. We are told that the foremost citizens of Cuba are in favour of the abolition of slavery at the earliest practicable moment, and they perceive that the example set them by the United States must be followed. In other words, they admit that slavery can never again exist so near to us. This is one of the first fruits of our example of emancipation—an example which will yet be followed by every civilised nation holding slaves. The great struggle by which we were enabled to wipe - out the stain on our national character will never need to be repeated. No other nation will ever be called upon to make a like sacrifice—and, indeed, no other could make it and live. We do not believe that any great was will hereafter be fought for emancipation. Whenever the spirit of freedom becomes strong enough to justify resistance, the influence of our example will be felt, and the chains of the slave will fall from his limbs. - New York Times. AN AMERICAN ON DICKENS. One bright June. day in London, several years ago, there was a little dinner at Cattermole's, the artist, at which Dickens had promised to be present. The company assembled, and everything went pleasantly until the dinner hour arrived. There was then some pause of expectation, for Mr. Dickens had not come. Conversation became a little more difficult ; and as the conviction gradually seized the party that perhaps he would not come at all, there was a very obvious disappointment. When it was impossible to wait longer the dinner was served, and the guests descended to the dining-room ; but it was curious to remark the blight that had overspread the feast. There was the usual gay murmur of a dinner all around the table, but it seemed as if everybody was secretly looking for something or somebody else. Sud denly, when the business was well advanced, there was a loud ring at the door, which everybody heard, and the cloud instantly lifted. " There's Dickens !" said several of the guests, with an air of delight and relief ; and those who did not say it looked it. The next moment a noise was heard in the hall above, merry voices, pleasant laughter ; and then there seemed to be a charge of schoolboys or light cavalry down the stairs, and Dickens and his friend John Forster burst into the dinner-room, each loudly excusing him self, and accusing the other as having caused the delay. Dickens seated himself by the mistress of the house, and instantly, as it were, took up the conversation, and car ried it along with little sallies of fun ; and his " carrying on " with the waiter when he wanted a piece of bread was like a rollicking scene from " Pickwick." It was, the overflow of the highest animal spirits, and it was as elec trical in his manner as it is in his books. He felt entirely at home, and the feeling that the solemn English waiter would be confounded by such antics—which, however, did not in the least turn him into ridicule—was part of the humour. Dickens made a mock apology for his lay, founded upon a promise to attend a picnic in the earlier part of the day, given by the manager of the Opera, at which Grisi and the other singers, with the dancers, had been present. He sketched them all with a word and a smile. They were all vividly before the company. He took the dinner guests, also, as it were, to the pic-nic. " But oh ! the eating !" exclaimed he. " Dear Madame, do you know the eating at an operatic pic-nic—l mean, of course," he added, with a solemn, sly twinkle of the eye, "when the ladies of the ballet attend? " It was sheer extravaganza ; and however foolish and flat it seems in the tame telling, it was delightful and memo rable. After dinner, when the ladies went upstairs, and the children peeped in, Dickens beckoned to them ; and, seating one on each knee, took a slate and Pencil and drew the most grotesque figures as illustrations of the most absurd story ; then sent the young folks away as merry as the elders. What he did at that table he did in the world. He told the most delightful stories, he made the most harmless fun ; and all his story-telling and fun-making were morally healthful. He was a great civilising and Christianising power during thirty years. He was one of the men of the most unquestionable genius and positive influence that have app eare d in English literature, and meanwhile it was almost as good as his own fun to hear the comments that were made upon the man and upon his works. Sir Piercie Shafton, especially, was obliged to use his pouncet-box whenever the name of Dickens was mentioned. " Such a snob, Sir; really no gen tlemen at all, I assure you." There were those who thought him a caricaturist —a writer of mere extrava ganzas, no artist ; a kind of newspaper reporter on the great scale. That last criticism Dickens himself would undoubtedly have accepted. For the business of the great novelist is to report human life and character as they daily appear ; but his genius makes his reports the best of literature. As for caricature, every genius must follow its own law. Miss Austen finished each of her ex quisite miniatures of character with an airy-fine delicacy They are exact, and natural, and agreeable, but never typical. They have not named and classified human nature for us. The work is so elaborate and smooth that you may bring your eye close to the surface and yet you do not see the stroke. But however broad and coarse the touch of Dickens may seem, the effect is wholly life like, and the proof is the universal acceptance of the type. Common conversation and current literature reflect the humour and the wisdom of this genius as the streams and lakes reflect the bright sky. In the Sistine Chapel at Rome, if you go close to the huge fresco of the " Last Judgment," you are lost in amazement that such a mass of heavy colour should be called the greatest picture in the world. But if you will step to the other end- of the chapel and look at it, you will acknowledge that there is no greater. So Dickens's Power is felt at a distance, so to speak. His fidelity is ap proved by the general effect he produces. It is often said, for instance, that he could not truly describe what is called " society ;" and that in this respect one chapter of Thack eray is worth all that Dickens ever wrote. But is not the difference merely that Dickens offers the plump incarnate fact, while Thackeray delineates it in detail? There are plenty of Lady Dews, for instance, upon the larger or smaller scale, in every highly artificial society, and there is, perhaps, no Mrs. Merdle to be seen anywhere. Therefore we say Thackeray, in the " Newcomes," really holds "the mirror up to nature ;" while Dickens, in "Little Dorrit," creates a monster and labels it nature. Now, the impression produced by Thackeray is that the ten dency of what is called " society " is to harden the heart and produce a wholly artificial and repulsive life. He shews us further how it is done, and he shews it so skit fully that those who are familiar with the sphere and influence that he describes accept it as masterly. But is not the pleasure confined to them ? They follow with delight the amusing fidelity of the work ; but that is a purely artistic pleasure, which is not shared by the great multitude of readers. Dickens, on the other hand, presents an unshaded Mrs. Merdle as the repre sentative, the type, of the demoralization and utter arti ficiality wrought by society. It is recognised and ac cepted everywhere. That is what " the million" feel about " society." The book speaks for them and to them. The habitii4 of society knows that there is no Mrs. Merdle, but he does not reach the next corner upon his promenade without meeting a suggestion of her. This same characteristic is known in the delightful Dick Swiveller and Micawber. Nobody ever saw Micavy bee, but everybody knows him perfectly well, and this makes Dickens what is called the story-teller for the mil lion. His spirit is sympathetic with man, not with classes of characters only. In Thackeray there is no technical " low life." He takes us into the kitchen indeed, but that is only the downstairs . parlour. So Scott's sympathy with lords and ladies is never hidden, and Edie Ochiltree is one of the figures of a feudal society. But Dickens deals with general, common humanity His range is wider, if in particular points his insight is not so deep, nor his grasp so firm. Itseems worth while to say, so now, not to insist upon comparisons, which at such a height of genies as that of Scott and Thackeray and Dickens are uselese, and which seem ungenerous, but be cause there has been a disposition to be unjust to the real qualities of Dickens. A year ago there was a very in genious and brilliant depreciation of him in one of the English magazines; and Mr. Justin M`Carthy was, he said, surprised to find that in this country Mr. Dickens was praised as he was not at home.—From Harper's Monthly fur August. VACCINATION.—In this city there died of small pox last week, none ; in New York, one; in Paris, two hundred and sixty-seven persons. While in the French capital doctors disagree as to the efficacy and the mode of vaccination, the disease gets a frightful hold. In.this country, where, notwithstanding all objections, vaccina tion is the rule, the frightful disease is comparatively rare. In Great Britain there is some popular prej u di ce , espe pecially against the execution of the compulsory vaccina tion law. The chief objection madeis that cutaneous and other diseases are spread by the use of impure vaccine virus. There is some force in this objection ; but allthe outward results which may happen in i so l a t e d cases are as nothing compared with the fearful disease which vaccina tion certainly counteracts. And care in s e l ec ti ng t h e subjects fromwhich the vaccine matter is taken, reduces the weight of objection to mere prejudice. —Philadelphia Ledger, July 18. THE ATTACK ON SAARBRUCK. A graphic account of the shelling of Saarbruck is given by a correspondent of the Gaulois, who writes from For bach :—" The first French bombs have burst upon a Prussian town. From the high ground which overlooks the village of Spikeren the Prussian parade-ground in front of Saarbruck is visible. On the western side it is covered by a curtain of trees, at the extremity of whidh, on the Mayence road, is a red stone house of two storeys, appa rently solidly built. This house has been used since the commencement of hostilities as. a cavalry and' infantry post. From morning till night, by the aid of a glass, horse and foot soldiers have been seen spread about in groups of three or four within the border of the woo+ and in the fields. . For some days past it had been noticed that the enemy were digging trenches, forming epaulements of earth upon the ground which slopes from the manoeuvring field to the open country. Our military authorities here seem to have been curious to know what these earthern constructions were intended to conceal, and, therefore, they determined to send a few shells to compel the enemy to unmask his batteries. At one o'clock I found myself on the hillock, where four guns ha,,l been placed. Some officers of the Staff and Line were grouped together about 150 paces to the left of the battery atten tively examining the position. These gentlemen were in good spirits and in eager conversation, heedless of the risk they ran, for it is certain that if the Prussians had replied their fire would have swept the whole face of the plateau. Suddenly thunder burst in loud peals, and lightning lit the horizon, while the rain fell with such violence that within five minutes the roads and footpaths were converted into torrents, the water dashing through the mountain gorges and carrying away trees and great stones in their passage. It is needleis to say that, notwithstanding our attempts to shelter our selves under trees, we were all speedily wet through to the skin. The storm lasted with undiminished violence for a quarter, of an hour, and then gradually the sky cleared, and the mist which hid the Prussian moun tains disappeared ? bringing once more in view the Saar bruck road, the wood, and the red house. The rain con tinued to fall, but not sufficiently to interfere with the firing. About fifteen volunteer tiralleurs of the line, under the command of a lieutenant, descended the hill and took up their position in the fields within the Prus sian territory. A. Prussian soldier crouching down in a potatoe field, fired upon them, and then lay flat clown. Our tiralleurs sent some thirty balls in his direction, but did not hit him. At that time a fearful detonation was heard, awakening the echoes of the forest, and a shell fell three or four yards from the red house. At the second fire the shell entered the house, which became filled with smoke. Fourteen more shells were fired, of which one burst within the house and the others in Saar bruck. At a distance, and seeing the shells bursting with a momentary flash like that from . a cannon and a loud report, I imagined that the Prussians were returning the fire. It was not so, how e v er . Th e f ew h orse an d foot soldiers whom we had seen under the trees had withdrawn during the storm, and took care not to make themselves visible again. • The Vienna Prase, in a leading article upon the atti tude to be taken by Austria with regard to the war, shews that the policy of the Austrian Government since 1805 is one of self-interest, while a part of the population of the Empire had adopted a policy of sentiment. Since the battle of Sadowa, the policy of interest, as understood by France, has led that Power towards an alliance with Austria, while Prussia, with her tendencies to unite Germany under the Hohenzollern dynasty, endeavours entirely to crush Austria's power. The triumph of Prussia in the present war would be - the destruction of Austria, while the victory of France would establish a French preponderance against which Austria would move only should Germany be menaced. Austria's duty is to establish a neutral league to establish an Euro pean equilibrium, which, in certain eventualities, would have to be brought about by force. PROPOSED LEAGUE OF NEUTRAL POWERS.—Pie Eastern Budget has received information from a very well informed source on the effect produced in Austria by the Sect et Treaty. The Austro-Hungarian Government re gard the crisis as too serious to allow themselves to be influenced by sympathies for either party, and they are chiefly concerned for the interests of the monarchy. Austria has resolved to prepare herself for the efficient de fence of her territories, and to seek for allies on whom she could rely in an emergency. Italy would he such an ally, and negotiations have been entered into between the Cabinets of Vienna and Florence, with the object of entering on a common course of action in the event of Russia t.sking the field. Italy has made - a agreement for such an eventuality with France, and Austria would thus Le driven, simply by the force of events, in to taking the French side. This league, which is in course of formation, principally with the object of keeping Russia• in check, has also, it is said, been joined by Turkey. THE WAR IN EUROPE. The gathering cloud has broken at last. War has beers declared in Europe, and so well prepared for it are the con tending nations that before these words reach our readers• there may have been a battle between the two armies. Now that peaceful relations have been ruptured we can see how impossible it was to have postponed the contest much longer. Napoleon has evidently been bent upon it. Perhaps he deemed the war necessary to unite his people more and counteract whatever damaging effect the elec tions and the vote on the plebiscite may have had upon him. At all events his course during the past ten days• renders it clear enough that there could be no reconcilia tion until after there had been a deadly contest of arms. The candidature of Prince Leopold was but a, pretext, and while Napoleon might look upon the elevation of that prince to the throne with apprehension, there was no occa sion for the fiery heat into which the Emperor worked himself before the Cortes had even a chance to pronounce its will with regard to the new candidate. Of course there will be some who will insist that Prussia was wrong in not yielding a point which was not valuable to her, while re fusal would give ground for serious apprehension by France. It may even be contended that it is Prussia which is implacable,—the position hinted at in one of our despatches from London. But the result shows how useless would have been such a concession to Napoleon, and demonstrates the wisdom-of Bismarck's reason for not yielding,—that he did not believe that the Emperor would be contented with a consent to his last demands. But, aside from that, the• manner in which France has made its desires known to Prussia has been so insolent, and partook so thoroughly of the air of a master giving directions to a servant, that _King William could not have yielded without humiliation, nor without a con fession' of weakness which Bismarck• would never - make. France has been the aggressor throughout. Its temper was aroused, and Napoleon being determined on war has brought about his end by seizing the smallest pretext that has been assigned for 1, uch a conflict in modern times While the candidature o f Prince Leopold would certainly have involved Spain in the contest, and very likely Austria, Belgium, and perhaps other nations, the danger of a general European war is apparently averted by the ridiculously trivial cause of the outbreak. other governments may find an excuse as readily as France has already done, but they are not likely to be eager for war unless the Emperor makes this an occasion for pushing his Napoleonic idea as to the Rhenish boundary. In that case nearly all- Europe will become entanged in the affair. The United. States of course remains wholly neutral in word and act. In deed we are prepared to find the sympathies of our people pretty evenly divided between the two contestants. For although we think that nearly all will agree that France has been the aggressor,. there will be very many to ap plaud Napoleon in forcing war. It is a contest of giants, and if France has with insulting words and gestures dared Prussia to remove the chip from her shoulder while bran dishing her arms in a menacing attitude, there will be many to encourage her in a gallant fight against the marvellous genius who has made North Germany a great, powerful, and compact nation. It is d contest of intellect and skill. The two belligerents are nearly matched in strength and resources, and each is led by one of the two greatest statesmen of the age in Europe. A long war it cannot be. A few great battles will decide it, and he who is quickest in the field and secures the most advantageous position has made a long stride towards victory. Modern warfare is too wasteful to be of long duration. The facili ties for rapid transportation of men and material of war are almost perfect, and it can be but a few hours before the two great armies are facing each other, ready for battle. —Boston Advertiser. WAR IN EUROPE-OPPORTUNITY OF THE UNITED STATES. Our commerce should be just now the leadin. , subject of national attention. In the present juncture of world's affairs there appears the opportunity that, righly improved might not only restore to us the maritime strength that was swept away in our great war, but out of which also we might secure a start that would easily enable us to distance within a few years every rival power. At this moment there are twenty:six German steamers carrying passengers between ports in Europe and the United States. All these must stop at the very mention of the presence outside of a French cruiser. Sailing from this port also are all the splendid steamers of the " Compagnie G6n6rale Transatlantique," and these must stop, for there is also a Prussian man -of - war not far away. And this statement of the case with regard to the splendid passenger steamers, many of which also also have a fine trade in first class freight, is the state ment of the whole case with regard to French and Ger man commerce. Each nation has naval power enough to drive the mercantile marine of the other from the seas' What shall become of the numerous trade thus done- - and of the great number of ships engaged in it that are n ot fit for war, and ought not to rot in blockaded ports? England already has covetous eyes on this great trade, and in the assumption that business will fall to neutral flags " the Government is usged to remain neutral despite every possible complication that mai arise. British neutrality in this war will no doubt result greatly to the advantage of the Brstish shipping trade, and for this reason along every nerve will be strained to keep Great Britian out of the Continental struggle. Will this effort be successful? It is doubtful. Already we hear that neutrality will be inconsistent with the honour of England if the Low Countries seem to be in danger, and this reference to the fact that England is one of the Powers that guarantee the independence of Belgium is too plain for misconception. Again, we hear the intimation that England morally stands behind Prussia, and that any sign of failure on the part of the latter Power will draw England into the struggle. The very fact that these things are canvassed renders the neutrality of English ships uncertain, and so unsafe, and the probability is that the United States alone will have it within its power to reap all the harvest of this war. Indeed, this is a change that is justly due to us in the whirligig of time ; for as one war destroyed our commerce and built up Vie maritime trade of some Enropean ports at our expense, it is but proper that another war should build up our trade again at the expense of the commerce of Europe. But it is not only from the effects of our war that our commerce is pros trate. • It was stricken down by. the war, but it has been kept down by the inconceivable foil) , of certatn of our laws—laws like the compact with Shylock—framed to " protect " certain interests, to give those interests their pound of flesh, though this could only be done at the expense of.the whole body fro which the flesh must be cut. Before, therefore, war hi Europe can give us again that of which w a r in America de' privedus,,we must first set aside these most foolish, villanous pocket-picking laws ; these laws framed to enrich ten men and starve ten thousand ; laws which declare that this great nation shall own no ships except it can make terms with Mr. Kelly, of Pennsylvania, and a few more me° of his kidney ; laws only second in atrocity to those slave laws that th e na ti on h as recent l y torn ou t of its life at such frightful cost ; laws whose authors and supporters, if the slaveholders de' served all the opprobrium cast upon hini, should be stoned in the streets of every city of the repub a i - lie. The world has not, for many generations seen a more bewildering, confounding spectacle of imbecility, of down' right inability to comprehend and grasp a simple , thought—than that shewn by the United States Congres' when its attention was properly called to this sub; ject. The President by special message pointed out the opportunity; and hinted at the way we could illy prove it, but his words fell on minds preoccupied with another thought. What was this grand thought that left no room even for the proposition to erase the last great disadvantage left by the war? It was the reflection of every member that he had his ticket in his pocket, that he had made up his mind to go home, that be did not want to be delayed and stop for the bother of any m ore legislation, however imperatively necessary for the interests of the nation ; and in this pitiful haste to get away, and for this puerile reason, the Congress of the United States turned a deaf ear to one of the most inr portant messages that ever came to it from the Executive. Some members there were who proposed a measure that might have covered the case ; but Mr. Kelly, of Pennsylvania, was there, standing, as one might suppose, bludgeon in hand, deter mined that the nearly lifeless body of American commerce, should not rise while he could strike, a n d i n th e cr i m i n al indifference of the mass of members to their duty he was able to kill the proposition that was made. Such, then, is the patriotism of the Republican party, and such is the contrast between its conduct in the presence of a real national emergency, and the ready attention it once gave, to the nigger and now gives to every form of corrupt jobbery. Shall our opportunity pass because of a recreant and imbecile Congress, or must the government s tab?' means to evade the operation of oppressive laws ?—Nei York llerald. During the present session, up to the 23rd of .103 7 1 6,606 dinners and 4,912 luncheons have been served in the refreshment rooms of the House of Commons. SIR ISAAC NEWTON'S OE SERVA TORY.—We tire informed that subscriptions are being collected for the purpose of purchasing this interesting memorial and I)r °° senting it to the nation.—Times. There is an old chapel in Tilbury Fort, consecrated in the reign of Elizabeth. On inquiry it was found to be used as a billiard and reading-room, and all the Church furniture•removed ever sincelB44. The War Office have consented to restore and refit it for divine service, and it will be opened in the middle of August by the Bishop of Rochester. BIRTHS. On the 2d inst., at 23, Eaton-place. the wife of H. Hig" ford, Esq., of a daughter. • On the Ist i ns t., a t Wi m bl e d on, t h e w if e o f B . Francis- Williams, of a son. MARRIAGES. On the 28th ult., at St. Peter's, Kirkcaldy, Major Williani M`Bean, of H.M.'s 93d Sutherland Highlanders, to Victoria, the daughter of Henry Beveridge, Esq., ;LP., Kirkcaldy, N.B. a the 30th ult., at the parish church, Stepney, George Martin Loft, of Leeds, to Ellen, third daughter of H3'• Harvey, Esq., of St. Peter's-road. DEA7'II3 On the Ist inst., at Bromley, Kent, Mrs. Chas. Latter, aged 86. On the 29th ult., at 4, Gray's-inn-square, Henry Hugh Bunbury, aged 39. ondon : Printed by GIDEON ACLAND BoycE, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, and Published by Min at THE SUN Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct cf Savoy, in t County of Middlesex. Thursday, August 4, 1870, Never Palace missi Terrace Tycoo Troi No e: Present agents View ,seulptu The( Chasse] of Mon graphs and St " Koni Note be shor C John Full Adin] guinea now rel other GR _..... . Spiel and nu A' A' The e of the 1 the elei pate in Music have 1n Most e: celebral chef, Si position assign ( W. Gra ThomaE N. 8.- will tali .MA JONES, CHA➢II Horrors TR] JL S The 1 valuabl BOOKS be had Buckiru Office 0 ------ GR will STROU game dE Paddi PIV MILLI( Thalers Jae; per cer SUBS WEDN: August, Berth provinc Frani Furth North CLI The An The Ari Total Total laves No le, large re year, fi Capital No rq The c • divided fifth ye: Next Life and the their wi 41st / men on may be Westmi F A T ROUTE . Falmou Messl B]:oAr Mess in Grea to be se free of Loud, nlent stands, Alabasl and m. ME2,jest: Mr. MINE] Lyell's resting Ri7,. h. ri LOGy A.l S A Agents As GE A In a Portio: Soup, out it. Sole Manui and Londo] FR Nc