The Sun. — London, England, 1870-12-14 00:00:00

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He :ause the collision er, on to :ollision. rn Line, and the I he had ears,.and Ewell, on careless ;em was y of the admit of ort must ray bill at the d to the y put in essity of g rested testing ,mont of of Mr. 3ial rule line was ;nalman. express V of the L broke )wn fog • a pre er: The ing his ) : The re than to some enable man's tors to system ra line, ,de) was Colonel what e block to th© Id give cow the rues - ickets LATEST INTELLIGENCE. SUN OFFICE, 8 A.M. THE WAR, REPORTED RE-CAPTURE OF LA FERE. LILLE, December 13. It is confidently asserted hero that La Fero has been retaken by the French army, and that large Convoys of provisions and ammunition, as well as 850 prisoners, had fallen into their hands. Large masses , of troops continue concentrating here. THE FIGHTING ON THE LOIRE. BORDEAUX, December 13. An official despatch published here by the Go vernment of Defence, states that the last important engagement which was fought on the 10th inst. by the army under General Chs.nzy lasted from 8 a.m. till 5 30 p.m., the French taking 400 prisoners and recapturing the village of Origny. The prisoners confirm the belief that the enemy's losses were severe on the 9th and 10th, great numbers having fallen as victims of our mitrailleuses. On our part the losses were not unimportant. In the Valley of the Loire the :enemy appears to be developing a movement on the left . bank of the river. There is nothing fresh from the army at Bourges. In Normandy the enemy has occupied Evreux and evacuated Elbeuf and Oissel. Lord Lyons has arrived hero. THE REPORTS OF THE TOURS GOVERNMENT. BERLIN, December 13. The German official Monzteur de Versailles con tains the following : " The Tours Government continues publishing false reports from the Loire Army. They say that, excepting some heavy ship guns, not a piece of artillery remained in ' the hands of the enemy at Orleans, and that the retreat was effected without any loss of men or material. This is rather strong, considering that we have taken 14,000 prisoners and 77 field guns. The men propagating these arrant lies are the same who wish to be regarded as so many Republican Catos and Aristides. The lawyers of Tours are even worse liars than were the generals of the Empire. THE BATTLES OF BEAUGFNCY. The King has sent a telegram from Versailles to the Queen Augusta, telling her Majesty that the four days' fighting round Beaugency has been a series of successes by the Germans. His Majesty further states that if no important ground was gained, the enemy had to withdraw towards Blois and Tours in consequence of the serious losses sus tained. The German loss, his Majesty says, was but small. The frost - had broken up and a heavy thaw set in. The retreating French around Beaugeucy aro being sharply pursued by the Germans. CAPITULATION OF PIIALSBURG. By way of Strasburg m e learn that Phalsburg capitulated unconditionally yesterday (the 12th), and that it was expected the' Prussians would take formal possession of the place to-day. BOMBARDMENT OF MONTMEITY. The bombardment of Montmedy commenced yes terday (the 12th), but no result is yet announced. REPORTED SORTIE FROM PARIS. A telegram received from Havre to-day, states that it was generally reported in that town last night that General Trochu had made another great sortie. from Paris last night, and had been successful in cutting through the Prussian lines. DEFENCE OF HA.VRE. HAVRE, December 13. It is reported that the Germans are in great force about 16 miles from thetown. Havre is defended by 350 guns and a large body of troops. The place will be defended in the most determined manner. The French Cavalry have defeated a troop of Uhlans, and taken a number of prisoners. The Prussians have been within four miles of Mutleur, but 10,000 French troops took up a very strong position, who commanded the place When the Prussians retreated. THE LOSSES - OF THE WURTEMBURGERS. Bnusns, December /3. The Wurtemburg losses in the recent fighting on the Marne were tremendous, anounting to 1,900 in killed and wounded, or one in every seven in their contingent. • A Considerable number of French prisoners have been taken through Versailles lately, and the Crown Prince has come to the resolve that when Paris surrenders, the whole captive garrison shall be marched through Versailles. Letters of a late date which have been received from Paris state that there is sufficient meat of all sorts to last for six weeks, and that the capital con tains enough of wine and cereals to supply the in habitants for six months. LATEST FROM PARIS. According to the latest news received from Paris, (December 10), it ix stated that no fear need be entertained on account of the want of provisions. The Commandant at Paris has addressed the fol lowing letter to General Schmitz : " Vincennes, December 8. "My dear General.—l hear with sincere con cern that the "four Prussian officers whom I had ordered to be escorted to Paris have been subjected to malevolent demonstrations approaching to insult. These captive officers on parole, :as ours in Prussia) are under the protection of our military honour. Send them to me immediately. I shall arrange for their exchange with an equal number of French officers of equal rank. They will be only able to convey to the Prussian army tidings of the moral condition of Paris, supported as it is by a spirit of devotion and sacrifice which has not at any time been kore firm, and that all of us are preparing for the combat, " Receive, &c., " TROCHU." It is stated that the night before last a great Council of War was held at the Louvre, when the decisive operations were discussed by which it is to be sought to deliver Paris. The whole of the generals and admirals commanding sections were Present. UNITY OF GERMANY. BERLIN, December 13. The Unity party have achieved a brilliant victory 1 4 the Wurtemburg elections. The Ultramontane and Republican parties, which are anti-Prussian, and w ere f o rm er ly paramountin t Wurtemburg Parliament, have succumbed. THE CAPITAL OF ITALY. The committee of Italian deputies appointed to -141111 11 e the bill for the tran s f er o f th e ca pit a l to 1, - ' 4111 :le met on Monday. Some of the deputies de nded that the transfer should b e more prom ptly effected. Signor Lanza said : "The question is a purely technical one : if, however, the majority of the m embers believe that the period before the transfer vmight p erhaps be shortened, I shall adhere to their IL we. After some other members had spoken of the material di ff iculties attendant upon the transfer, a ue committee a p prove d t h e fi rst c l ause, w i th an sh ould by Signor Serotti that the transfer Leuld be m a d e b etween this time and the 31st of larch, 1871. FilE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1870. NEUTRALITY OF LUXEMBURG. BRUSSELS, December 13. The Echo du Luxembourg learns from Versailles that the annexation of Luxemburg to Prussia has been agreed to by England, in order to make Ger many abandon her intentions to part of Lorraine.— Daily .News, The Telegraph publishes the following telegram : BERLIN, December 13. In the circular despatch which was addressed by Count Bismarck, under date of the 3rd December, to the Powers who signed the Treaty of London of the 11th May, 1867, the Chancellor of the Confederation enumerates various facts which he considers to amount to a violation of the Ireaty. Among those facts are the refusal of the Luxemburg Government to permit the German wounded to pass through its territory ; the assist ance given to the French in the provisioning of Thionville ; and the non-detention of French soldiers who took refuge beyond the Luxemburg frontier. These acts, Prussia contends, constituted a breach of the neutrality with which Luxemburg was in vested by the Treaty; and the Government of Prussia declares that it no longer holds itself bound to respect the neutrality of Luxemburg in the move meat of her troops. Tai HAGUE, December 13 (11 p.m.) The Prussian Ambassador at this Court has read the note of Count Bismarck on the Luxemburg question to the Foreign Minister here, Holland having been a party to the London Treaty of 1867. The Luxemburgers have petitioned the King of Holland to maintain the innepeudence of the Grand Duchy, and to protest against the contents of the Prussian note. VIENNA, December 13. The proceedings of Prussia with respect to the occupation of the Luxemburg has produced the greatest excitement here. All the newspapers con demn the proceedings. The New Free Press refutes the arguments adduced in the Prussian Note, and designates the policy as arrogant. The ?ages Presse upon the signitaries of the Luxemburg Neutrality Treaty together to rise against such a contemptuous policy, which makes valueless all rights secured by treaty. FACTS FROM THE FRONT. FRANKFORT, December 13. To-day, says the correspondent of the Telegraph, I have received a curious and interesting letter from an officer at the German head-quarters. Amongst other items which he mentions is one which emi nently shows the care and foresight of the Germans in their determination to provide against possible contingencies. The complete project of a war upon Great Britain was planned out as exactly as that of a war against France, long before the present struggle commenced. Count Bismarck, my correspondent states, was urged by South German delegates to take the present opportunity of mediatising all the Kings and Princes, and making the unity of Ger many Prussified a fait accompli. But he withstood the temptation, although the German Republicans offered him all their influence, as he chose rather to reserve a pretext for keeping open action for the time when the Austrian Germans shall be ripe—as it is supposed they soon will be if Magyar influence is brought to bear upon them op pressively, of which many people think there .can be but little doubt. Count Bismarck recently said to a great German. Republican who was preaching the infallible neces sity of a German Republic sooner or later : '4. My dear sir, I am a hopublican, but the time is not come yet." RUSSIA AND THE PARIS TREATY. CoNSTANTINOPLic, December 12.. La Turquie urges the Government to claim, in exchange for the Danubian Principalities, the Bessarabian frontier of the Dinester, on account of it not being a Sclavonic district. ST. PET E RSBURG}, pecember 6. • Although it now appears to be pretty certain that a Conference will shortly be held in London, and that the Black Sea question will be settled in a manner satisfactory to Russia, addresses still continuo to flow in. The nobility of the province of Moscow have presented an address to, the Emperor. AMERICA. NEW YORK December 12. The New York Tribune and World positively state that General Schenck has been offered and has sig nified his willingness to accept the British Mission, but he will probably not be able to leave Congress until the conclusion of the present session. Several other journals, however, deny that General Schenck has been appointed as alleged. A negro riot has occurred at Atlanta, Georgia, in which six'persons were killed and 40 wounded. INDIA" (BY TELEGRAPH via TEHERAN.) CALCUTTA, December 12. The Government sanctions the arming of three more Bengal regiments with Sniders. Tho COM-. mander-in-Chief selects the Ist battalion of the 6th Fusiliers, at Peshawur, the Ist battalion 11th, at Morar, and the 41st at Mooltan. Another regiment will be armed at Madras. By April it is expected that Sniders will be in the hands of every British soldier in India. Colonel Baigree and Doctor Ringer have selected a site well adapted for troops in Central India, 120 miles from Jubbulpore, 30 from the Great Indian Peninsular Railway. Yakoob Khan's position remains unaltered. He has plundered 100 Beloochistan and Affghan camels. The Kurrachee and Chinsurah depots are to be abolished, saving £B,OOO yearly. The troops for the Punjab will be sent by rail via Allahabad instead of the Indus. Tea issued to the troops will in future be two thirds Indian. Hitherto it has been half Indian and, half Chinese. The amount required for army purposes is £250,000 yearly ; the saving 3 pie per pound at the present quotations. CHINA. (Per Grant's North China Despatch, via Kiachtv.) TIENTSIN, Nov. 28. There are grave disturbances in Hunan. (Hunan, qy Henan, a province of China, bounded partly by the Yang-tse-Kiang River, which enters the sea near Shanghai.) (CENTRAL rniss TELEGRAMS.) AN ACTION BY CARDINAL CULLEN. In the Dublin Court of Probate yesterday, thecae of "Cardinal Cullen and others v. Br6phy and Egan" was opened before Judge Warren and a special jury, The assets disputed were £154,000 of personal property, and real estate of the annual value of £2,000. The 'testator, Charles Egan, had left the bulk of his property to trustees, for the benefit of Catholic charities. The de fendants rested their case on the assertion that the will had been obtained by fraud. The brothers and others who dispute the will are in humble circumstances. LIVERPOOL ASSIZES, At the Liverpool Assizes yesterday, Bridget Daly was sentenced to twenty years' penal servitude for the man slaughter of Patrick M`Dermott, at Liverpool, last Sep tember. A Wigan collier, named Finch, was sentenced to ten years' penal servitude for a brutal assault 'on his wife. TWO BGDIES WASHED ASHORE AT TYNEMOUTH. The bodies of two seamen were washed ashore at Tyne mouth. One is that of an elderly niau, the other that of one about 18 years of age. They are supposed to be those of the captain and one of his ;sons from the wreck of the Samuel Bernard, of Boston, which went down with all hands at the mouth of the Tyne on Friday last. The bodies were removed to the deadhouse. THE CHARGE AGAINST A HARROGATE GENTLEMAN. The Knaresborough magistrates yesterday dismisied the case against Mr. John' Whitehead, ofl Harrogate, charged with having paid for goods purchased at Sheffield with a cheque which he endorsed with a false name, the form having been obtained from a cheque-book contained in a portmanteau lost in transit by railway.. The magis trates intimated that the case.was clearly one of mistaken identity, and stated that Mr.` Whitehead left the 'court without a stain upon his character. THE BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS. Writing from the Royal Headquarters, Versailles, on December 9, the correspondent of the Daily News,says : On returning to this city after the lapse of six weeks, I am astonished at finding everything in pretty much the same condition as when I arrived in Versailles on the 25th of September. The position of the besieging army is, so far as I can at present ascertain, almost entirely unal tered. An apparent change, however, is in the addition of from four to five hundred siege guns ; but time appears to have altered the minds of the besiegersrespect ing their utility, and yesterday some very significant hints were dropped in conversations that I had with some of the leading Prussian authorities. About the middle of last month, when I was at the headquarters of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, I was told that it was the intention to bombard the forts D'lssy and Vanvres as soon as sufficient ammunition could be trans-, ported, which would be in the beginning of December, \ and that on the 4th of the month the bombardment would commence. Here lam trustworthily informed that the opinion of the military authorities about a week ago underwent a great change respecting its practicability, or, rather, possibility ; and it was, after considerable discussion, determined • not to bombard rather , than to undertake to reach the forts and the City, and fail. There is a part of the history of the siege of Parig which even now can be written. At the time of the commencement of the siege of Paris there was a divided council in the German camp. Moltke and most of the isfetary authorities were in favour of storha ing one or meire of the forts, in order to be able to reach the city. But the King, who has a great distaste for the effusion of blood, strenuously opposed this, on the ground that innumerable lives would be lost, and the more tedious plan of starving out the city, or com pelling some of the forts to surrender if the guns could be previously brought into position, was adopted. It was then assumed, however, that from Meudon at least Fort D'lssy, and probably Mont Valerein, could be commanded by the guns from that place. As I have said, this opinion appears to have been recently altered, and it is once more open to discussion•whether the first plan of storming the for was not the most advisable. Towards the end of 'September, before the German siege guns had arrived, there was no part of the ground not actually in the hands of the French from beyond Mont Val6rein to the west of the city along the south side to Bosny on the east, that I had not very carefully examina The proposition of Moltke was to storm Mont Val4rein. There is a remarkable similarity between that fort and St. Quentin bofore Metz. Both are now impregnable. Of the latter, Count Bismarck said to General Boyer, Bazaine's aide-de-camp, at the time of the negotiations for the 'surrender of Metz, that it had almost entirely fallen to ruin, and had only been made impregnable by the French after the siege of Metz had commenced. That is precisely the case with Valerien. I was constantly in the neighbourhood of Valerien from the 25th of September to the Ist of October. I had an excellent view of the fort, which was on the summit of the hill, the ascent to which was gradual, and nowhere presented any obstacle otherwise than within the fort itself. With mitrailleuses and cannon the ascent is now rendered impossible. At that time no cannon were in position, and the garrison had not yet had sufficient time to reconstruct the fort; the work had just commenced. I am satisfied that a storming at that time presented no greater difficulties than many other engagements. where I have been present and seen the Germans ad vance up a hill side and carry the works of the French, This was notably the case on the east side of Metz on the 14th of August, and at the beginning of the war at Spicheren. Mont-Valerien was not stormed. Now I learn that a bombardment is almost impossible, and moreover that the accounts that Paris is almost reduced by hunger are also untrue, and that in all probability it will hold out a considerable length of time yet. However, the account that the bombardment would com mence on the 4th was conveyed to Paris by spies. it is supposed, and its feasibility having been credited there, it was hoped to anticipate it by the recent sorties, An immense amount of blood was shed, which when added to the losses, by the various other-engagements be fore Paris, would very probably equal that occasioned by storming Val4rien. The German army, however, is still in a pretty good condition, and can hold out a long time yet. lobtained. lam afraid these opinions 9re but too well founded. However brave, the6e irregular French troops must be worthless against the veterans of Germany. With good officers, good artillery, and good cavalry, they might be able to make some stand ; but they possess not a single one of these three essentials to success. We are constantly hearing the most varied and extraordinary accounts of Manteuffel's movements. At one time we are told that he had hastily left Paris, leaving behind only two or three thousand men. At another time we were informed that the Germans were advancing against Havre in two columns, each 20,000 strong. My opinion is that they will not attack the town itsblf at all. They will come quite close to it, certainly— but will content themselves with " requisitioning " the rich district iu the neighbourhood. The French officers . commanding here are perfectly in the dark as to the numbers and the whereabouts of the invader. How can it be otherwise when no reconnaisance is ever made, although there are three squadrons of Hussars doing nothing in the town ? At the outpost where I spent last night, I firmly believe that if a few Minns had put in an appearance there would have been a precipitate retreat on the fortifications behind Harfieur. I do not mean to say that the French troops are cowards ; but they are so l demoralised, and have so little confidence in their officers, that they would, not stand a moment in the open field against even a much inferior force of Prus sians. I hope, if the enemy attack Havre, that the Gardes Mobiles will make a stand behind their splendid chain of fortifications; if these were properly defended, it would cost the Prussians half their army to reach the town. There was a slight brush with the enemy this morning at the village of Gaimeville. Fifty of their cavalry encountered a regiment of Eclaireurs, who fired upon the enemy, killing six. There was also a slight affair at Octeville, of no importance, however. At Fecamp, 5,000 men were expected to arrive to-day, on their way to Havre. THE SCENE AT TOURS. The special correspondent of the Telegraph, in his letter dated Tours, December 8, says : —The Army of the Loire is now divided into two large bodies—one of which, under Chanzy, is acting on the right bank, while the other, under Bourbaki, operates on the left bank of the river. I believe that, as I write, fighting is going on between Chanzy and the enemy in his front ; and that Bourbaki is covering Bourges, and gradually falling back upon that town. The report is that everything is going well for the French ; but even this rumour has failed to restore confidence in Tours, and all who can get away to Bordeaux or Nantes are going as fast as they can. M. Thiers leaves by the three o'clock train this afternoon, and I know many other persons who are also departing then. In fact, there seems to be a settled conviction in the mind of every one that the entry of the Prussians into Tours is simply a question of time, and that here they will most certainly come before long. Yet I cannot see that the struggle is getting feebler or less hopeful on the part of France. Thousands of troops arrive every day in Tours, and go on to the front. My window looks out upon the Boulevards, opposite the railway station ; and hardly an hour passes in which I do not see fresh, regiments arrive, and proceed by road either towards Orleans or elsewhither. Within the last twenty-four hours, at least ten thousand fresh troops of the regular army have thus arrived and gone on. Where they all come from is a puzzle, until one recollects that within the last two months one hundred regiments (de marche, as they are called,) of regular infantry have been formed and organised out of the depots of the corps that were made prisoners at Sedan and Metz. Each of these Rdgiments de Marche consists of three battalions of 800 men each, making 2,400 rifles per regiment. Many of the men are no doubt quite young soldiers ; but there is among them a large admixture of old soldiers—of men from 25 to 45 years of age, who have served before, and are now once more called under arms. Tidings have just arrived that there has been a crushing defeat to-day of the Army of the Loire under Chanzy ; that Bourbaki and his two divisions are surrounded ; and that, in a word, the game is up, so far as the French army is concerned. The government and the Diplomatic Body all leave in the morning, and there is to-night such a rush for the railway station and the 12.30 train as never was seen before. I should think this must be the beginning of the end of the war. THE ARMY OF THE LOIRE. Tha correspondent of the Standard at Tours, in com menting on the reverses of the Loire Army, says :—There can be no question that the responsibility of the check rests entirely upon the Government, and upon M. Gam betta as its head and moving spirit. It Was he who pre pared the whole plan of the campaign ; it was he whoupon the Ist ordered D'Aurelle tb advance, although it is gene rally known that D'Aurelle himself was strongly opposed to the movement, not having as yet collected the whole of -his troops ; and, lastly, it is due to D'Aurolle's obstinacy, in the face of the opinion of the Government, that the whole of the Army of the Loire are at present safe and united upon this side of the river instead of a considerable portion being either prisoners or wounded in Orleans. It is evident, indeed, from the enu aieration of the forces engaged, that the French have beeii completely outgeneralled in the preliminary movements ; the Government, in fact, kept the army stationary when it ought to have moved forward; it kept it immovable until the forces of the Duke of Mecklenburg of Von der Tann, and of Prince Frederick Charles were all united against it, and then ordered it peremptorily to ad vance before a very large portion of its own forces were ready to take part in the struggle. For, from the enu meration of the forces engaged, we now see that the real left wing of the army had not joined it. The Army of Le Mans, in itself, a considerable force, and, added to the Mobiles of the Army of Brittany, certainly exceeding 100,000 men, were not engaged at all, and the brunt of the struggle with the united German armies fell entirely upon the Army of the Loire, which alone must have been much inferior in strength to the Prussians. It was only in the retreat that the mili tary skill of the French generals had an opportunity of shewing itself untrammelled by the orders of the Dictator of • Tours. The result has been, as I have said, astonishing, and the retreat of the Army of the Loire will rank amongst the most skilful operations of military history. Now that his utter incompetency as a strategist has been made manifest to the world, M• Gambetta, who has hitherto been an absolute dictator, and who would have taken the whole credit of the operations had they been successful, turns round, and endeavours to shift the responsibility upon other shoulders. A decree was abso lutely drawn out, signed, and issued, dismissing D'Aurelle from his post, and ordering him to be tried by court martial. The facts of the case were, however, too patent, and M. Gambetta shrank before the storm of indigna tion which the publication of such a decree would have excited. Already he finds out that his first despatch concerning the evacuation of Orleans had ex cited extreme disgust, and he accordingly withdrew the decree of dismissal, and instead appointed a commission, composed of General Barral and two civilians, to inquire into the facts relating to the surrender of Orleans. Why, what inquiry can be necessary ? M. Gambetta, as Minister of 'War, must know the facts of the case far better than the general public, and we know quite enough to see that the retreat was the only hope of saving the army. After the left was beaten and the right was beaten, and the town was half surrounded, 'what course was open but retreat? M. Gambetta knows that as well as any one else ; it requires no strategist to understand it. Yet he wishes to occupy the attention of the French people. He wishes to prevent them from in quiring how it was that the Army of the Loire was sent forward to fight the three united German Armies without the support of the Army of the West and of the Army of Brittany. The exasperation against Gambetta is, in fact, general ; and if the young Dictator is not careful he will find that his fall from power will be as sudden and as surprising as his rise. If France is saved, it will be in spite of, and not by the aid of the Republic. No movement has yet been made towards selecting a representative of the county of Westmoreland, in place of Earl Bective, who has been elevated to the Peerage - by the death of the Marquis of Headfort ; but it is stated that his son, Lord Kenlis, of Mederley Hall, will be in vited to offer himself as a candidate for the seat. QUALITY OF THE LOIRE ARMY.—TheMmes' COT respondent says that the retreat of the Loire army on the '4th was admirably conducted. Every available point was disputed, and the troops retired in perfect order. "When we remember the qualities for which the French nation is celebrated, and those which they are supposed to lack, we cannot but admit that we are agreeably surprised by a retreat which leas already involved four clays of tolerably hard fighting, including the first, which I did not see, and which was so disastrous to the Bavarians—a retreat which, so far as the enemy has been able to judge, has as yet produced no symptoms of demoralisation. A. French captain, who bad been taken prisoner, told me that the officer in command was General D'Aurelles de Paladine, and it is the general opinion of the German officers that if there had been a few more such generals and such troops in the earlier days of the war there might never have been a Sedan or a Metz. I do not know' how many prisoners were taken to-day. I did not see snore than 300 ; but, to judge from our present experience, the Army of the Loire does not seem of the kind that capitulates," THE EXPECTED ATTACK ON HAVRE. The Daily News correspondent at Havre, under date December 12, writes as follows :—The enemy has not yet arrived at Harfleur. Sunday has passed, and we have not yet heard the booming of cannon, as had been pre dicted by certain French journals. Havre is at-present prepared to meet the attack. The number of troops in garrison is set clown at 50,000 — some say. 70,000 ; but we must allow for exagge 'ration.. There has been some skirmishing going on for the past few days in the neighbourhood of Bolbec and Montivilliers between advanced bodies of Prussians and General Mucquart's corps, Thirty IThlans were taken on Saturday and brought into Havre. The Prus sians are greatly harassed by this general. He is a tall, well-built, energetic, determined-looking man, of 45 years of age. He wears a plain uniform, bearing the Cross of the Legion of Honour on his breast. He is most popular with his men, who number about 1,000, principally Francs-tireurs. A portion of the Irish ambu lance is attached to his corps, and a chaplain, who, it is said, fights like a soldier. Captain Manchez, of the navy, has been appointed commander-in-chief of the defence of Havre. People shrug their shoulders, and speak with hesitation as to his capabilities to fill so responsible a position ; let us hope that the gal lant captain would prove himself worthy 05 the task thrown. on him. General Briant, who had been commander-in-chief, left for Cherbourg at an early hour on Saturday morning, with four 'squadrons of Hussars. He had given orders for 2,000 Mobiles to accompany him, but the population revolted, besieged the hotel, and protested against any troops leaving Havre at pre sent. There was quite a scene for some hours. The general was ultimately obliged to leave quietly with only the Hussars. We - have still, in the way of cavalry, some squadrons of Chasseurs d'Afrique and Eclaireurs. It was stated as a positive fact here, Yester day, that the Prussians had entered Honfleur, a town opposite Havre on the other side of the Seine, which is seven miles wide at this point. They are moving on towards Lisieux and Caen. No doubt they will find plenty of pro visions in the towns, which are rather numerous along their line of march to Cherbourg. The object of the Prussians - in thus marching on Havre and Cherbourg, two strongly fortified towns, particularly the latter, would appear to be to cause a diiision of the armies of France, and to prevent a concentration of her troops. It will, however, go ill with the invaders should the French armies in their rear operate successfully against them. Yesterday I visited Harfleur, where the principal fortifications of Havre are situated. The road was crowded with traffic of every description. Long lines of vehicles were passing along, loaded with the furniture and effects of the families flying from their homes before the advancing TJhlans. Harfleur and Montvilliers; five miles from each other, are connected by a deep valley, along which runs the river Lezarde. Along the brow of this valley extends the forts and trenches, on which 200 breech-loading cannons are Mounted. The viaduct which formed the road has been cut away, and a temporary'bridge thrown across. Thus it would seem almost impossible for the enemy to gain an entrance to Havre on the east side. Should these defences be stormed, there are then the fortifications in the immediate vicinity of the town, which are strong, because of their natural position, being situated on the top of a hill which forms a semicircle stretching almost from tte Seine on the one hand to the sea on the other. If, how ever, the Prussians, with their superior guns and good generalship, succeed in entering the town, a large number of prisoners will fall into their hands ; for there can be no retreat for the French except by sea, and we have not a sufficient number of war vessels in port to receive such an army. The English residents feel somewhat relieved at the arrival of two gunboats ; the Hercules, which has been here before, and the Dasher. We have now vessels of all nations hero, each to protect the interests of its own nationality. The special correspondent of the Telegraph writing, from the French outposts near Honfleur, December 12, says : By this time the Prussians must be very close to Havre ; and many hours, I am sure, will not elapse before we have some fighting. Already the precursors of the main body are en eviVence. Not 600 yards from a French sentry, I saw six Prussian dragoons. They were dismounted, ap parently intent solely on feeding their horses. The invader, I am afraid, has a Avholesome con tempt for the poor Gerdes Mobiles. Would it were less justified f The officers confessed to us that they knew nothing of outpost duty. The admission was not neces sary to any military man, the manner in which the sen tries had been posted at once revealed the ignorance of the leaders of the Garde Mobile. The Colonel calmly in formed me that, in his opinion, the post occupied by his regiment was untenable ; and that, whether ordered or not, it was his intention to retire behind the for tifications at the first shot. Indeed, among all the officers with whom I spoke, the prevalent tone was that of despondency. They all appeared to think that France had had enough of fighting ; that the time had come to accept the best terms of peace which could be PARTY PROCESSIONS IN LONDONDERRY. A meeting of the Protestants of Londonderry has been called for this evening, to protest against the action taken by a section of the magistrates in issuing a proclamation forbidding party processions. The law adviser of Dublin Castle has pronounced the proclamation of the magistrates to be in his opinion perfectly legal, and instructions have been given to carry out its provisions. FUNERAL OF THE MARQUIS OF 'HEADFORT. The remains of the Marquis of Headfort were yester day interred inja mausoleum erected on the Headfort estate near Kells, county of Meath. The funeral was attended by a number of the tenants of the estate, and by the staff of the Meath militia, of which'-the deceased marquis was colonel. • CHARGE AGAINST. A CLERGYMAN. The charge against the Rev. James John Merest (for merly vicar of Upton Snodsbury, but who has been stripped of his gown on account of irregular conduct) of fraudulently issuing cheques upon the Worcester Old Bank, where ho had no account, which cbequed be paid away in houses of ill-fame in Bristol, was yesterday dis missed by the magistrates of that city on the ground that the consideration for which the fictitious cheques were given was immoral, and therefore wholly void in law. THE EAST, SUFFOLK, CHAMBER OF AGRI- CULTURE. The annual dinner of the East-Suffolk Chamber of Agriculture was held last night under the presidency of Lord Henniker. Mr. Collins, M.P., Lord Mahon, M.P. and Colonel Tomline were amongst the speakers. BANKRUPTCIES ANNULLED. Fitzroy, Ernest James Augustus, Nov. 18. Holding, John, and Dickens, Alfred, St. Mary's-road, Hornsey, builders, Dec. 8. Thompson, Edmund, Manchester, commission agent, Dec. 8. BANKRUPTS. (To Surrender in London.) Eudle, John Stephens, Mitre-court, City, mantle manu facturer, Jan. 9, at 11. Turner, George Hogarth, Princes-street, Hanover-square, carver and gilder, Jan. 12, at 11. NORWICH ELECTION PETITION. The Norwich Liberals will make recriminatory charges against Mr. Huddlestone, the Conservative candidate at the late election, should he persist in claiming the seat. — Echo. FAILURE AT SUNDERLAND. On Monday a meeting was held at Sunderland of the creditors of Mr. William Wight, a member of the Town Council, carrying on business under the firm of Robert Wight and Son, chain anchor and iron manufacturers, at Sunderland and Seaham Harbour. The barance sheet read shewed liabilities as follows :=Secured debts £2,000, partly secured £9,000, unsecured £25,000. Mr. Joseph Love, coal owner, held a mortgage on the works to secure a debt of £25,000, He offered to pay a composition of ss. in a month, and take the a orks, and this was almost un animously accepted.—Leeds Mercury. We are happy to be able to state that Sir Rode rick Murchison's condition continues to improve. No Conservative magistrates signed the proclama tion forbidding the demonstrations in Londonderry, and the name of the mayor was not attached to it. It is reported to-day that Mr. Kingsford, of the Temple, will watch the proceedings of the Contagious Diseases Acts Commission on behalf of the repeal party. Iron shipbuilding is reviving on the Thames, and we understand that about fourteen vessels of a fair average tonnage are in the course of construction. A. man who had absented himself from the training of the Aberdeen Militia was fined £2 by a Justice of Peace Court, on Saturday, the alternative being two months' imprisonment. The Right Hon. B. Disraeli and Viscouutess Beaconsfield have left Hughenden Manor for Strath fieldsaye, on a visit to the Duke and Duchess of Wel lington. It is stated that since the who!e of the American telegraphic correspondence has been thrown on the French Cable 9,500 words have been transmitted by it daily, exclusive of service message. - The death is announced of the Baroness Beau mont, the mother of the present peer. Her ladyship was - 11. daughter of the third Baron Kilmaine, and married, in 1844, the eighth Baron Beaumont, who died in 1854. The Bishop of Norwich has issued a circular to his clergy urging them to give their active promotion and support to local efforts in their parishes for the' rovision and maintenance of schools on the voluntary principle, with distinctive religious teaching. According to the Irish. Times the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee have adopted a code of rules, some of which are considered very arbitrary and objectionable. If the committee adhere to these new measures considerable injury will be done, we fear, to the cause of steeplechasing in Ireland. It is stated that the Right Hon. the Marquis of Breadalbane is to be married in June next to Miss St. Clair, daughter of the late Hon. Charles St. Clair, and niece of Mrs Milne Home, of Wedderburn, and that the ceremony will be performed at Paxton House, about the time above indicated.—Berwick Warder. The Levant Herald believes that a loan is on the point of being concluded with the special object of making provision for, and punctually discharging the liabilities of Turkey. It is understood that the Imperial Ottoman Bank and several leading bankers will take portions. The amount is £2,300,000, and the rate - of interest, exclusive of commission, 14 per cent. per annum. Mr. Martin, the prosecutor in the Ledbury scandal case . , has ben presented by th e i n h a bit an t s o f L e dbury with an address expressing acknowledgment on the part of the signatories of Mr. Martin's " - invaluable services to the parish and to the cause of religion," by the course he has pursued. That his action was fully justified, they consider, has been proved by the decision of those magis trates, and subsequently, by the exhaustive judgment of Sir B. Phillimore. STANDARD THEATRE,--OR Saturday last there was produced at this theatre a new five-act play, entitled " The Wife's Tragedy," by Airs. Thomas—a name little known in connection with dramatic literature. The plot is rather old-fashioned, a wicked duke becomes deeply enamoured of a young pretty girl, a protege of his wife's. To win the girl he resolves to murder his wife, and on this plot are strung five short acts, and must be accepted as a hopeful sign of better things to come from Mrs. Thomas. Miss Edith Heraud made her appearance at this house in the part of the heroine, and was extremely well received. The wicked duke was peurtraj , ed by Mr. J. Hamilton, in a very creditable manner, and Mr. F. Tyars was excellent as a young lover. The minor characters were all well represented, and taken• as a whole "The Wife's Tragedy" must be recorded as a success. Founder's Day was celebrated at the Charterhouse on Monday. The foundation scholars, or " Gown Boys," as they are called, and the old pensioners attended after- noon chapel at four p.m., when an eloquent sermon was delivered by the preacher of the house, the Rev. Dr. Currey. The sermon dwelt mainly upon the life and labours of the late Master, who was connected with the Charterhouse for upwards of sixty years. At the conclusion of chapel the company assembled in the Founder's Hall, where the "oration" was delivered in Latin by the senior foundati on sc h o l ar, M r. H enry Seymour king, It reviewed the chief events of the year now drawing to a close. Tht orator concluded by a pologising for an , innovation—the adoption of tl4e foreign pronunciation of the Latin in his "oration" in the place of the fashion which has so long been followed in. Eng land. This passage was - loudly cheered. At the end of the " oration' the old Carthusians and other visitors came forward for the pirpose of " capping" Mr. king, who is about to proceed to Balliol Cqllege, Oxford. THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION.—On Saturday a meeting of the Executive Committee of the British Asso ciation was held in Edinburgh, Professor Christison, one of the vice-presidents, in the chair. It was remitted to a sub-committee to co-operate with the local secretary and treasurer in the preparation of a legit of gentlemen to form a local committee for making the necessary arrangements to receive the British Association in Edinburgh in August next. The same committee was authorised to communi cate-with the several public bodies in Edinburgh, Leith, and Portobello, and to invite subscriptions from them to the fund which it will be necessary to raise for defraying the necessary expenses. Professor Christison stated that the Council of the Royal Society lad agreed to recom mend the society to subscribe £lOO towards the fund; and a hope was expressed that the several public bodies, as well as banks and insurance offices, would respond liberally to the appeal to be made to them. It under stood that a sum of not less than £1,500 will be required to enable the local committee to carry out the requisite arrangements. OUR 00 I'ENIPORARIES—This Morning THE NEUTRALITY OF LUXEMBURG. The Times says There can be no longer any doubt as to the conduct of Prussia with regard to Luxemburg. A telegram from Berlin substantially confirms the in telligence that first reached us from Brussels, and we have the highest authority for admitting the correctness of the information thus received from two quarters. Count l yismarck has addressed a Circular to the foreign representatives of Germany, in which he formally denounces the Treaty of London con tracted in 1867, on the ground that the Goverhment Luxemburg has disregarded the obligations of neutrality imposed upon it by the Treaty. The Circular proceeds to specify the passive neglect and active breaches of neutrality alleged against the Government of the Duchy. Being bound as we are in some way under the Treaty of Loudon, we must protest against the claim of Count Bismarck to shake himself free from it without reference to the judgment of the other Powers who signed it conjointly with Prussia. The first step of the English Cabinet, therefore, must be to re pudiate the Prussian as well as the Russian doctrine. What may follow does not depend upon ourselves. We joined in the Treaty of 1867 only in the interest of European peace, and because it seemed to be consonant with the wishes of the Luxemburgers and to afford a reasonable settlement of dangerous rivalries. Having joined in it, however, we cannot follow the examples we denounce by hastening to evade its obligations. If the King Grand Duke called upon the signatories of the Treaty to fulfil the guarantee of neutrality contained in it, grave questions would, undoubtedly, arise. We should not dream of rushing single-handed to its defence —we are under no obligation of honour to do so ; but we should have to consider well before determining what course it behoved us to adopt. The Telegraph says : A statement, the correctness of which we do not guarantee, was circulated yesterday, to the effect that Prussian troops had occupied Luxemburg. If premature, the report is probably to be traced to the general feeling of disquiet and apprehension which the first announcement of the new diffi culty naturally created in countries bordering on the scene of controversy. According to a telegram from Brussels, the Luxemburg affair was regarded with great anxiety in the Belgian capital. We are still willing to believe that the magnitude of the question 'has been exaggerated by popular rumour; and, pending proof positive, we shall hesitate to assume that Count Bismarck has been guilty of such an out rage on international law as would be involved in the declaration that Prussia of her own free will and pleasure had repudiated the engagements into which she entered only three years ago. If, how:- ever, contrary to our hopes, it should prove true that Prussia had announced her intention of holding herself free to act as though the Treaty, of which the present Lord Derby was the author, had ceased to exist, there would be grave cause for apprehension on the part not only of Belgium or Holland, but of England. But the grossest ill-faith on the part of Holland would not entitle Prussia to ignore her ollligations towards other States, who are equally interested in maintaining the independence of Luxemburg. The truth is, that the sole object which Count Bismarck can have in repudiating the Treaty is to facilitate the annexation of Luxemburg. The policy which rumour assigns to Prussia would deal a deathblow to all respect for existing treaties; and, therefore, our interest as well as our honour counsels steadfast opposition to any attempt at substituting the right of the strongest for the dictate of law. The Standard says : " Might is above right." Count Bismarck has repudiated the words, but he has steadily pursued the policy they represent. The renunciation of the neutrality of Luxemburg is a declaration in the face of Europe that the Government of the new Emperor of Germany recognises no other law than that of force, and will observe no obligations and abstain from no violence when the breach of faith or the unprovoked attack appear likely to serve its interests. The last doubts as to the concert of Prussia in the Russian repudiation of the Treaty of 1856 must now be removed. The repudiation of the Treaty of 1867 shews clearly what Germany intends, shews clearly, too, how much the restoration of France to her place amongst the Powers of Europe is necessary as well in & particular English as a general European interest. We know that the triumph of the Russo-Prusso alliance will be the negation of law, the triumph of per fidy und violence. We know, too, how, with very little effort, we can overthrow that alliance. Will England be craven enough to refuse the opportunity, and look on whilst the victory of might over right is secured through out Europe .? PRANCE AND PRUSSIA. The Dail ;/ News remarks : Germany is bent on securing herself in future from any attack on the part of France ; and the war, so far as it is waged with this object, has a defensive motive. But before we can give judgment in her favour, several questions must be asked and answered. What sort of security does she desire? If she wishes for absolute safety, if she insists on making it physically impossible that France sbould assail her again, the annihilation of her rival's power and independence will be necessary. Supposing the thing could be done, would she be morally justified in attempting it upon a defensive plea ? If not, at what point ought she to stop 2 It is clear that she ought not to exact more than that reasonable and practical security which is all that can be obtained in international affairs without recurring to wars of extermination and bondage. If a shadow of power and a hope of recovery are to be left to the worsted nation, policy re quires that the least degree of injury and humiliation shall be inflicted which is compatible with the future security of the conqueror. It is not true that terms which are favourable to France tend to withdraw from Germany the just rewards of success. On the contrary, the more lenient Germany is to France, the more provident will she be for herself. " THE CITY DIARY AND ALMANACK," published by W. H. & L. Collingridge, of the " City Press," has again made its appearance. In addition to the matter ordinarily given in a diary for the desk, it contains a large mass of official information with regard to the City not to be found iu any other publication, the whole being carefully compiled and well arranged for reference. It is a complete guide to the various business offices of the Corporation and City generally. There is ample space for daily entries, upon good paper ; and the blotting-paper with which the diary is interleaved, is a very useful feature. It is strongly half-bound, and the price only one shilling. The surviving partners of the Norwich Crown Bank, Messrs. 8,. Kerrison and B. A. Kerrison, applied on Monday to the County Court judge for their order of discharge. His honour said everything appeared to have been done according to the statute, and granted the appli cation of the bankrupts, allowing them their costs. The Warwick Assizes commenced yesterday, but the trial of Alfred Evans, the pointsman at Tamworth, when the fatal accident happened there to the Irish mail last September, for the manslaughter - of the Rev. Father Healey, and Samuel Taylor and William Davis ' the driver and stoker of the mail, will not take place until the,March Assizes. The Chanter of Agriculture Journal announces for the spring the sale of a portion of the Kingscote short horns. Colonel Kingscote 's home farm has long been overstocked, and he has determined to sell some entire families. Accordingly forty to fifty animals will be dis posed of, among which the Cerito family will form an attractive group. The Truck Commission will open its inquiry at Prescot on the last Saturday in this month. The Prescot Reporter is informed that the evidence is likely to esta blish the fact that very many in the watch trade are required to take provisions of various kinds in lieu of money for their work, and that the " trucking " also ex tends to watches and clocks. The Hon. Arthur Kinuaird, M.P., in a speech on Monday evening, at Surrey Chapel, expressed his regret that the Prime Minister in a recent letter had seemed to recognise the spiritual position of the Pope. There must be no bolstering up of the spiritual authority of the Pope by a Government which had done well in disestablishing the Protestant Church in Ireland. At Monday's sitting of the Central Criminal Court, Mr. Irvine Scott, late editor of the Reporter, pleaded to the publication of a-libel upon the directors of the lobe Marine Insurance Company. The defend an t having apologised, the prosecution was not pressed, and Mr. Scott was ordered to enter into his own recognisauces to appear for judgment if called upon to do so. The Cambridge local examinations commenced all over the country on Monday. At nineteen of the places the examination is for girls as well as boys, and at one (Birmingham) for girls only. The whole number, boys and girls together, under examination, is 2,600. Foity two gentlemen are engaged in directiug the examinatims at the several centres, and thirty-two will be employe.l in looking over the answers. Mr. J. Brabazon Pilkington, who was lately c m nected with the civil service at Ceylon, attended before Mr. Lushington,'at Marlborough-street Police-court, ~ud said he wished to swear an affidavit for the purpo:43 of having warrants granted against the Governor of Ce:, lon and a number of officials in that island, for false impri,on ment and conspiracy to create lunacy, and having him treated as a lunatic in Ceylon. Mr. Lushiugton, after re marking that he did not see that he could interfere, advised the applicant to consult a solicitor, o r, if h e thought proper tv do so, see Sir Thowae l Teary. reply. I,etts's Letti's ',etts's 4