The Sun. — London, England, 1870-12-16 00:00:00

MONETARY REPORTS.- YESTERDAY. There has been a want of animation observable in the Stock Exchange to-day. The business dOing in all Masses of securities has been on a very moderate scale ; nevertheless the tone of the various departments has been favourable on the whole, and the bulk of the alterations have been indicative of steadiness. In the market for home securities very few transactions have taken place. Consols have been quiet, at 91? 1 , f.)n ex div. for delivery, and 91k, 91i ex div. for January account. Reduced and new Three per Cents., 911, 911; Bank stock, 230, 232.; Ex chequer Bills, 10s. to 15s. prem. ; India Five per Cents. have been done at 110, 1101, and India bonds at 225. to 275. prem. ; Colonial Government securities have been quiet, and without change. Business in the market for English railway stocks has been on a very limited scale, and the fluctuations have been unimportant. Caledonian at 86k, 86$, and Brighton, at ot, 404 , , are each lower ; Great Eastern, on the other hand, has been better, at 38e, 384 ; and North Eastern at 144, 1441. Metropolitan, 63k, 63A ; South Eastern, 74, 744 ; Great Northern A, 134, 135 ; Midland, 127, 1281 ; North Western, 127 k, 128 ; and Great 'Western, 691, 70-1. In Indian Railway Stocks the business doing has been very moderato; Bombay, Baroda, and Central India, 105 - ; East India, 110, A ; Great Indian Peninsula, 107 i, ; Madras, 105, ; Oude and Rohilkund, 103 i ; and Scinde, 1031. Transactions in Canadian Shares have been on a limited scale ; Great- Western 14. In Foreign Shares the demand has been inactive. Notwithstanding that the demand for foreign bonds has been on a very moderate scale, the tone of the market has been 'firm, and there has been a tendency to improve ment. Spanish (1867) at 311, 310 ; ditto (1869), at 31A-, 311 ; Turkish Five per Cents., at 431, 44, and ditto (1869), 501, 50i, are each per cent. better. Peruvian (1865) are quoted at 911, 92 ; Egyptian (1868), 77, 771; Italian (1861), 55k, 55g; Mexican, 132, 131, United States Five-twenty (1882) Bonds, 881, 88k ; ditto (1885), 88, 881. The Scrip of the French Loan is at par to 1 prem., and the North German . 1 1 to 1 prem. For bank shares the inquiry has been limired. London Chartered of Australia have been 1 lower, at 23 to 24 ex div. In telegraph shares next to nothing has been doing. British Indian Submarine, 6 / 1, and Falmouths, 911-16, 9i; Hooper's Telegraph Works, 61, 6g, and Construc tions, 26g. Miscellaneous securities have been in limited roquest. Berlin Waterworks, 15k ; City Offices, 9j ; Credit Fonder of England, 2, k; Thames and Mersey Marine Insurance, 51. _ The Clearing House return for the week ending De cember 14th, shews a total of £60,628,000 against £76,590,000 for the corresponding period last year. The bullion operations at the Bank to-day comprise the withdrawal of £30,000 in sovereigns for Lisbon. The Manchester Courier of to-day says that Mr. Samuel Shaw, cotton spinner, Micklehurst, near Oldham, has called a meeting of creditors. The liabilities will not be large. An application has been made to the committee of the Stock Exchange that the three issues of the Spanish 1867, 1869-70 stock, which are similar in every respect, and dealt in separately, should henceforth be dealt in quoted together in the official list, following the precedent adopted with the various Portuguese loans. No alteration has been made in the rate of disco unt to day. In the general market the demand for discount has been on a limited scale, and three months' paper has been taken at 21 per cent. The return of the Bank of England chews the follow ing results when, compared with the previous week : A decrease in circulation of £556,986 ; an increase in public deposits of £748,967 ; an increase in other deposits of £11,967: a decrease in Government securities of £9 ; a decrease in other securities of £4,131; an increase in bullion of 2220,225; an increase in rest of £12,137 ; an increase in reserve of £702,315. The circulation, (in cluding post bills,) is now £23,676,830 ; public deposits amount to £6,780,939; private deposits to £18,669,747 ; the securities held represent £29,310,022, and the stock of bullion is £22,892,718; the rest figures for £3,177,224. The Elbe, from the West Indies, has brought L'20,(110 in specie. At a meeting of the British Indian Submarine Tele graph Company, the directors' report was adopted and a dividend of ss. per share was declared. The traffic return of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway shews an increase of £4,665 ; the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire of £1,460; the Great Eastern of £1,494; the Great Western of £3,523; the Bristol and Exeter of £172; and the Caledonian of £4,374. The Great Northern traffic has decreased by £542 on the cor responding week of last year ; and the London, Chatham, and Dover has decreased by £29. LONDON STOOK EXCHANGE.—TirvusDAy. LATEST PRICES.-AFTER OFFICIAL HOURS. The prices under the lines indicate the business done. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. I'hree per Cent Console 911 911 DoApril &Oct 188345.. 111 112 911, 3, 1 x d 1113, 8 Do for Account 91/ x d 1041,4 Three per Cent Bcdneed 91191/ Brazilian. 1865, 5p o .... 92193 ; 911, A 93, 2/ New 3 per Cent 911, 1 Do Rail Deben 7 p a .. 101 103 Exchequer bills. March 10 15pin Italian, 1805. 5p 0 14a pm Peruvian, 1865. 5p a Do. June. . lO 15Dm 02 . I. i 10s pm Portuguese 1869 3p a Bank Stook 2301 Russian. 1862. 5 p a.. .. 83 85 India 5 per Cents „.., 8 4 I 1101 x d Do Ls ic.olas 4D o India Bonds — 66, 1 27s pm Spanish. 186 f. 3pc Cane pc Jau&Julyll77-84 10411051 3 1 1 L I. I 105 Do. 1809, 3p a Do March & Sept. 102 104 31, 3, L i 1)o 5p a Jan & Ju'.y .. 98 99 Turkish. 1354, 6p o 7B 80 Do Inscribed Stook .. 97 99 Do. 1865, 5p a *Dom of Can 5p a 1903 .. 97 99 431, 1,3, 41 Ceylon 6 p c May and Do. 1865 0p a November 1878 lO6 108 03, 21 Mauritius 6p o Jan and U. 5.5-20 80ud3,6p a 1832 881 88, July 1873 lO3 105 881, 3 New SWales 5 p clB7l-76 10111021 Do do New Zealand 6 p c 1891 lOB 110 831_ Do spa Do 5p a Consolidated 99 100 871, 1x d 991. 3, i ErieSlia,loo dols, all paid Do 6p c Mar & Sept 1891 106 103 Illinois Central Shares .. 110 111 1)o June & DeclB9l 108 110 Atlantic and 0W It Con Viet 6p c Jan lc July 1891 115 117 Mortgage Bonds — 1151 1885 83 88 RAILWAYS. Bristol and Exeter B6 88 Grand Trunk of Canada Caledonian 862, 51 37, 6 Great Eastern 381, 1 29 4 Great Northern 124, it, 31 4th Prof Stock ' 16 161 Do A 134 135 161, 152, 164 Great Woeteru 691 701 Greatlndlan Peng 5. , a 107 108 694. 1, 70 1071, 4, 1 Lancashire & Yorkshire 13241331 GreatWesteru of Canada 14 141 1324, 3, 21 14 Lou, Brigh, and ki Coast 401 41 Do 6p is Bonds. 1873.. 98 100 41 Do 54 do, 1877-8 . .... 95 97 Lon. Clint, and Dover 124, 1 Madras guar 5 pc Lou and N orth-Western 12711281 1051, 5 1271, 84 N. Railway of Canada, Lon and South-Western 90 91 6p a Ist Prof Bonds Man, Shot. and Lincoln 451 454 . Gude and Rohilkund g 4 51. 5. i 5 p 0 Metropolitan Midland 12711281 Sclnde, Puulaub, and 128, 1 Delhi guar 5 p o North British 341 Bahia and San Francisco North-EasteniConsols— 14341444 g 7 p c 144, 38, 0 184 South-Eastern 74 741 Belgian 10 Junction .... 24 21 Atlantic and St Lawrnce 75 77 2} 3orubay, Baroda, and Buenos Ayres Gt Sthrn _ 244 244 Central India, g 5 p o 10411051 Dunaburg and Witopak 18} 181 1051 Dutch-lthenish 22 23 Buff and Lake Huron .. 31 44 Eastern of France — Do 51 pc 80nd5,1872-34 79 81 Great Luxembourg , lll 11/ Cape guar 6p c 1, East Bengal guar 5 p c.. 1041100 i 7 . 15} 151 East Indian, gsp C . ... 119 111 Northern of Prance . 110; i 0 ttorn I Bni yrua to Ahl In) 44 54 Grand Trunk Canada .. 11 11 4 Recife and San Francisco 111 (Limited) guar 7p o Do Equip Mortßnd 1 • San Paulo (L) guar 7u c 201 2 1 charge 6P 0 Do 2nd do Scrip .... idle Ipm Southern of France .... Do Ist Fret Bonds— -554. 611 BANKING COMPANIES. Pd Pd. 1 Agra Bank (L) A. n Si 2U Lou (Aar of Austrlia 24 25 25 Alliance (L) 10 AugloAnittrian 20 Anglo-Egyptian (L) 20', 21 Li London Joint-hock 33i , :,4', 50 British, N American 53 55 341,_L, 3 . 2 20 Ch of India, Austrlia 14 15 20 Lou and Westinuster 62t 6311 25 Char Mere of India 23 24 10 WI, 22 234 Metropolitan 3!: 9 10 City 25 Colonial. 4 Consolidatkil (1, ... " 1 Inn 25 ((vital flank Goroorn 40 41 20 Eug.SCOt. Kllti Aux. ( . 1 lb 17 25 Ilition of Australia.. 41 42 20 Innwrial ,L 1 in I Wilt,fiZtt l nttHillui .. 11 Illpui 31131 TELEGRAPH COMPANIES. Yd I'd 100 Anglo-A twerican LI 79 Si 10 Crtat Northern .. 10 Anglo-Meditni (L) 123 123 6 Great N. Chi n a, an l 'lOO Atlautic apau Extenaion .. 21 - 12 at. 100 Do 8p c 13 British Australii (1.) 5 41dis 10 Marseilles, Ale dis and Malta (L)- . i 6 10 British Lad Bxten (L). 61 10 Mtjditerrn Ex (L) 4t 5 6 2fi Pions. and S. PcfolLt 2i at, 10 British Indian Sub- dis 111 Ilf marine, 174 6; 20 SooTraue France (L) IM i3l 7 ChinaSubmarine(L) 54 sdis IUO Submarine .237 242 lu Falmouth, Gibraltar, Do Scrip 2} 2' , and Malts (hi . al 92 • 1.0 W India&PananntL) 1; 5.1; 01, 11-16 x tl. MISCELLANEOUS SECURITIES. Pd Pd Anglo-Austrian Bud- 5 InternlFinanSoo(L) Midis holders' Certificate 11 21 3 3-16 10 BerlinWaterworks(L) 14 15 20 It Irrig Can Oavour n 4 151 100 Do 6 p °Bonds. re• 30 Bolckow-Vaughan L) 30 35pm deemable 1870 . 63 65 100 Boston City (U.S. i 30 London Fin Assoc(L) 20 18dis p c Sterling Loan 91 93 111 4 Brit k Fgn MaHnel L) 2I 31pin 4 Lou Oen Omnibus 25 Canada Company. . 73 75 21 10 Ceylon Company LI 3/ 277 dis 2 Lou &Pros , Marine L) 11 pm 7 100 Madraslrrig . &Canal 35 City Offices (L) 2O 25 dis g 5 n c by Lid Gov. 101 102 91, 2 Mauritius Land (Li / 01E. 20 Colonial (L) 5 Com Union Assurnce 3 31pm 21 N Zealand Loan and 8 i Mere Agency IL) . • ii i1. , 1 1 1 10 Crdt Fone of Eng ( L) 11 21 5 N Zealand Loan and 2. I Trust IL) 100 Crystal Palace 100 Do Pref .. ,• . 100 Do 6p c Perri — Deb ll2 117 20 P and 0 Steam 45 47 271 Ebbw Vale Steel Li.. 9 B:dis 10 Do do New. 1867 3 2 dim 187, ; 50 Rhyniney Iron 100 Viceroy of Egypt 7p e 15 T)o New Bl 91 Mortgage L oa d ... . 78 80 GO Royal Mall Steam 78112 Tel Con and Main (L) 207 267 100 egyp 9 p eV - my:wan, 267 guar by Egyp 03V.. 94 96 2 Themes and Mersey 95 Marine hum (L 2: 3 18 Fore-st Warehouse IL) 76 86pm 5} _ .00 Fgn and Colonial Gov St. Tobacco 6 p o Loan. Trust 6p c Bonds.. 98 100 guar by Italian Gov. 87 89 99 5 Trust and Loan Co of 76 Gen CredaDisct IL) I .} dig Upper Canada .... i 1 pin 7 3-16 5 Cr Marine. Lapool (L 46 6pm 14 Gen Stm Navigation 276 281 20 Union Steamship (L) 23 25 7 Hooner's Tel *)Yorks t Nis 6 UnitedDisCorprn(Lidis ;pm 61. L. 9-18 ' 5 UnivMarinelnsur(D 617fran 17 Hudson's Bay 8 86 12 Warrant Fluauce.... 97 Ws 45 Indrbbr,Gnt Per.a.nd Tel Works L) .... 44 45 MINING SHARE LIST.—DEoEmBER 15. Messrs. WATSON BROTHERS. Mining Offices,, 1, St. Michael's Alley, Coruhill, London. The chief demand to-day has peen for Wheal Grenville shares, at an advance. Taquaril, East Lovell, and West Tankerville firm at quotation. Australian United. Bwlch Consols, Chiverton Moor, Chiverton Valley, Choutalea (Gold), Cook's Kitchen, 18, 19 Devon Great Consols. Drakewalls, 235, 25s I)olcoath ii;i:VeClio North Del Rey, 21 East Caradon, si, 6 East Lovell, 241 251 East Beton, East Wheal Grenville, 2. 21 Froutluo and Bolivia (Gold), General Brazilian, Great Lazey, 171, 181 Great Retallack. Great Wheal Vor, 3,3; Hingston Down, Marks Valley, 61, 7 New Beldon, New Lovell, 225, Ms Pacific, Pary's Mountain, Perran Wheal Virgin, 32s Csl, 25s Plynlimmon, Prince of Wales, 19s, 218 Providence Mines, 38, 40 Rosewall Hill and Rausdine United. 11 South Oondurrow. 3, n South Frances, Tankerville, 13, 134 Taquaril (Gold), 48s, 50s Tiucroft. Trumpet Consols. Van. Van Consols, West Caradon, West Chiverton, 11, 52 West Maria and Fortescue, 11, West Tankervillo, U. Wheal Crebor, WhealOrenville, 2i, 3 Wheal Kitty, St. A gnes. Wheal Mary Ann, 81, 9 Wheal Seton. MARKETS. MANCHESTER CORN MARKET, THURSDAY.—At this mar ket to-day the demand for wheat was limited. The English wheat was mostly in damp condition, and such must be quoted at is. per quarter lower, but anything done was held for previous prices, which millers were indisposed to give. Foreign wheat was ld. to 2d. per cental cheaper. In flour there was very little passing and a decline of 6d. per sack may be noticed. Oats maintained late rates with a slow sale. Beans, both English and foreign, were rather easier to buy. Indian corn reduced ed. per quarter. BIRMINGHAM CORN MARKET, THURSDAY.—There was a less supply of English wheat at this market to-day, nearly ls. qr. lower. Foreign wheat was down more than usual. Barley very unsaleable. Oats only retail. Beans and Peas" unaltered. MAIDSTONE CORN MARKET, THURSDAY.—This market was dull to-day, at the following quotations :—Wheat, red, 48s. to 515.; white, 50s. to 545.; oats, 20s. to 255.; barley, 325. to 385.: beans, 40s. to 455.; peas, 38s. to 425. There was a very little trade. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET, THURSDAY.-There was less animation observable throughout the cattle trade to day, in consequence of the milder weather, and Monday's cur rencies were scarcely sustained. As regards beasts, the supplies were moderate. Transactions in all qualities were restricted, and prices occasionally experienced a slight decline. There was a fair show of sheep in the pens, of which a moderate quantity were in tolerably good condition. The inquiry for either infe rior or prime animals was inactive, the former being disposed of on somewhat easier terms. The best downs and half-breds sold at 6s. to 6s. 4d. per 815 s. The calf trade was scarcely so brisk, but prices were unchanged. Pigs met a quiet sale, at about Monday's quotation. Per 81bs. to sink the offal.-Coarse and inferior beasts, 3s. 6d. to 4s. 4d. ; second quality do., 4s. 6d. to 4s. 10d.; prime large oxen, ss. 4d. to ss. 10d.; prime Scots and crosses,ss.lod. to 63.2 d.; coarse and inferior sheep, 3s. Gd. to 3s. 10d. ; second quality do., 4s. 4d. to 4s. Bd.: prime coarse woolled sheep, 53. 2d. to 53. 10d. ; prime South Down do., 6s. to 6s. 4d.; large coarse calves, 3s. Bd. to 4s. 4d. ; prime small do., ss. to Gs. 2d. ; large hogs, 43. 4d. to ss. 2d. : neat small porkers, ss. 6cl. to 6s. 4d. ; quarter old store pigs, 225. to 265. each. Arrivals.-English : Beasts, 1,350 ; sheep, 5,440 ; calves, 51 ; pigs, 10. Foreign : Beasts, 1,125 ; sheep, 1,860 ; calves, 284 ; pigs, 10. Total : Beasts, 2,475; sheep, 7,300; calves, 335; and pigs, 20. GLASGOW CATTLE MARKET, THURSDAY.-There was au ordinary supply of cattle at this market to-day, but many of them were of secondary quality. The deinand was fair, and last week's quotations for top sorts were fully maintained. Prices were for top Scotch, current, 80s. to 82s. per. cwt. • secondary, 765. to 78s. 4)er cwt.: middling and inferior, 603. to 70s. per cwt. Top Irish, 145. to 765. per cwt.: secondary, tkis. to 70s. per cwt.; middling and inferior. 60s. to 755. per cwt. There was a fair 'supply of sheep, but many of them ' were of interior quality. Good sorts were in demand, at prices similar to last week's. Inferior very dull. Top, white faced, current, Pd. per lb.: secondary, Bd. to Sid. per lb.; top, black-faced, Sid. to Pd. per lb.; secondary, Bd. to 80. per lb.; middling and inferior, 6d. to 7d. per lb. A clearance was not effected. BRISTODCATTLE MARKET, THURSDAY.—There was a good supply of beef at this market to-day, and trade was brisk, at 84, the general price. Good supply of prime mutton, at 80. per lb. for best quality. Inferior was dull. There was a fair trade for store beasts. LONDON OIL MARKET, THIIRSDAY.—Linseed firmer and quieter. London 295. 9d. to 30s. ; Hull, 295. 9d. .spot and De cember ; 30s. 6d. to 30s. Pd. first four months. Rape dull. On the spot at 455. 3d. to 455. 6d. for English brown, but for best makes 448. 6d. paid last four months. LONDON TALLOW MARKET, THURSDAY.—TaIIow is very active, and prices advancing. Y.C. is quoted 445. 941. to 455. on the spot and December, 455. 9d. March. -- • - LONDON METAL MARKET, THURSDAY.—Tin is firm ; Straits, £l3O cash ; spelter Belgium, £l7 ss. to £l7s. 10s. Chili bar copper, best brands, £64 ; Wallaroo, £72. METROPOLITAN HAY AND STRAW MARKET, THURSDAY. —The market to-day was moderately supplied with all de scriptions. The demand was inactive, and prices were barely supported :—Prime meadow hay, 130 s. to 140 s. ; inferior' ditto, 110 s. to 120 s. ; prime first-cut clover, 1300. to 140 s. ; inferior ditto, 115 s. to 1255. ; prime second-cut clover, 1265. to 1355. ; inferior ditto, 105 s. to 115 s. ; and straw, 335. to 38s. per load. COLONIAL AND FOREIGN PRODUCE MARKETS, Tarns- DAL—Sugar ; The market to-day is rather quiet. Desirable qualities aro still very firm, but low soft sugars are scaccely so well supported. There have been no public sales to-day of any kind. Refined good are inactive but firm. Coffee : Native Ceylon is less inquired after, and to sell in quantity easier rates would have to be accepted, but holders do not press sales. Teas : The market to-day is steady, and prices were well nAintained. - Cotton is dull, and prices are almost nominal. .. LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET, THURSDAY.—Opening Report.—This market opened with a fair inquiry to-day. Probable sales 12,000 bales. Imports—American, 4,659 bales; Brazil, 2,303 bales. Closing report.—This market closes without change to-day. Sales, 12,000 bales. MANCHESTER TRADE REPORT, THURSDAY.--There is only a quiet business going on at this market to-day, as buyers have supplied themselves freely. Prices continue to shew much steadiness, both in yarns and goods. Notwithstanding, cotton continues to decline. Spinners, consequently, are now running their machinery at a fair profit, and the position of manufac turers has likewise improved. The tenacity with which pro ducers resist any concessions in price iu the face of a declining cotton market is quite an anomaly in recent times: BRADFORD TRADE REPORT, 'THURSDAY.—PoIiticaI fore bodings continue to depress business at this market. No sooner had the Russian danger subsided than the Luxembourg diffi culty arises. Meanwhile war continues to rage without promise of abatement. A good deal of caution is conse quently prevalent among traders here, and less business has been done this week than last, Values of wool are exceedingly well maintained, especially for good wether descriptions, which are becoming scarce. Country holders will not part with their stocks, even at late prices, and staplers here are, therefore, obliged to stand out for extreme rates, although the demand is comparatively weak, and users are very reluctant to operate. In yarns for export more has been done during the week, chiefly for single thirties, but there is rather a falling off to-day. A few two folds have also sold at lower prices. A little more in quiry =is felt for carded yarns. Prices throughout are against buyers. , In the piece trade things are, as usual, quiet at the end of the year. For America, however, there is aerin more doing, several fresh buyers being in the market. Prices are fully upheld. SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE IRON TRADE, THURSDAY.—At a meeting of ironmasters to-day, a middling attendance was reported. Trade was generally flat, but there was a better de mand for pig and sheet iron. What orders are out are only for immediate wants, the approach of stock-taking and quarter-day preventing large future orders being given. There is still great uncertainty as to the future of the trade, which largely depends on the issue of the war and of the difficulties in which this country is involved by the course taken by Russia and Prussia. GLASGOW PIG IRON MARKET, THURSDAY.—This market opened quiet to-day. No transactions ; closing at Ms. 2d. buyers. This market closed quiet ; 51s. 2d. cash taken ; closing, sellers at this ; buyers offering 51s. 110. CLYDE CRUSHED SUGAR MARKET, THURSDAY.—There is no improvement in the demand at this market to day. Any business doing is at rather easier nrices. CORK. BUTTER MARKET, THURSDAY —Ordinary firsts, 13Ss.: seconds, 1265.; thirds, 1145.; fourths, 1075.; fifths, 9Ss.; sixths, 675. ; 1340 firkins in the market. Mild-cured—firsts, 151 s. : seconds, 1345.; thirds, 119 s. ; 40 firkins in the market. It is understood that the distinction of K.C.B. is about to be conferred on Colonel Wood, Inspector of Constabulary in Ireland. At the Liverpool Assizes, on Wednesday, the grand jury returned a true bill against Richard Edward How chin, who has been committed on a charge of wilfully wurdering Christian Flueck, a Liverpool schwhimster, in whose establishment he was au usher. The church of St. Thomas, Regent-street,London, was re-opened on 'Wednesday, after a complete restoration. There was a very large attendance of clergy to receive the Bishop •of Rochester, who preached. In the evening the sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. A. li. Evans, rector of St. Mary-le-Strand. . Mr. Gladstone, on behalf of the Crown. has nuu►i tcated the ReV. William Francis Wilkinson, M.A., vicar of, St. Werburgh, Derby, to the rectory of lottterwortit, LeicesterShke, vacant by the death of the Rev. H. John • son, M.A• He is the author (with the Rev. W. Webster) of d43-reek Testament, with notes, and several works on theology and national education. BREAKFAST.—EPFS'S COCOA.- -GRATEFUL AND COM- FonTINO.---The very agreeable character of this preparation has rendered it a general faxourite. The Civil Service Gazette re marks :—" a thorough knowledge of the natural laws which govern the operations of digestion and nutrition, and by a careful application of the fine pr.perties of well-selected cocoa. Mr. Epps has provided our breakfast tables with a delicately flavoured beverage. which may save us many heavy. doctors' bills " llich packet is labelled—JAMVB EPPS An Co.; limn:co patine Ch em i sts. London. Also, makers of Epps's Cacaoine, • a very thin evening, biNurage.—Advt. • IRE -SON, A )NDON,, FlittliA.V, DECEMBER 16, 1.87 G. METROPOLITAN GOSSIP,-TH URSDAY. There is a fresh " question " every week now. Russia, the Alabama claims, and Luxemburg—these are stirring times. We now learn that another treaty is to be. set aside. It would, perhaps, be premature to pronoUnce very definitely on this Luxemburg affair until the real nature of the case is fully known; but of this there can unfortunately, be very little doubt. Yet various stories find credit. It is said that the transfer of Luxem burg is being negotiated with the approval of the French Ministry as a substitute for part of Lorraine. This is very improbable. Secondly, it is affirmed, with greater• appearance -of truth, that the English Government, without any concert with Vrance, is ~ trying to induce Prussia to accept : . the little duchy instead of Metz. I have reasons for stating, almost with certainty, that such is not the case. The remaining theory is that Prussia means to have the Duchy because she would like it, and is therefore , preparing to deaf with. the treaty of 1867 as she is accustomed to deal with other treaties. A miserable pretext has been got up, and step by step (very large steps) the annexation Will .be consum mated. The breach of faith involved in this phase of the transaction is much more flagrant than that which. Russia is accused of committing. The neutrality of the Black Sea is a humiliation to Russia. Its abolition.would not affect the material rights of any other State. It is indeed agreed On all hands that the time has come for reconsidering the Treaty of Paris, and that the offence of the Czar in his claim to repudiate a treaty of his own will. But the neutrality of Luxemburg is no humiliation to Prussia, for she never possessed the little territory. In claiming it she sets aside the Powers that signed the treaty. She insults France by availing herself of the helplessness of that State to break a bargain which has nothing to do with the present war. And she does injury to the unfortunate Luxembuigers, who would like to be annexed to France .any day, but hate Prussia, and would almost sooner own allegiance to the Celestial Empire. Strange that these " German popula tions " should think so lightly of the Fatherland !. What may we expect from these proceedings ? What will be the upshot of a condition of public Morality which resembles that of the 9th century rather than what we ought to expect in the 19th? I see a laughable paragraph in a foreign ' paper, which seems to shew that the example of the two great Powers will not be lost. It is hinted that Turkey will soon seek to withdraw some of the privileges granted to Chris tian subjects on the principle that the age of treaties is passed ! Why are we not a South American Republic ? In that happy western region nobody makes any profes sions, and therefore nobody is deceived. The policy of the Government in the Black Sea qnes - - tion must be guided in great measure by the attitude of the Turkish Government. The news, before hinted at, now comes in a sort of semi-official form from Constantinople, to the effect that Turkey cares nothing at all about the neutrality of the Black Sea. There seems no doubt of this fact. Aali Pasha and General Ignatieff have come to the conclusion that there is nothing to quarrel about. The Porte in fact sees that it must henceforth rely upon its own resources, and it is therefore careful not to offend Russian susceptibilities by keeping up a humilia ting condition. Moreover, Turkey now posseses fifteen ironclads, well armed, well equipecl, and under the com mand of an Englishman— altogether a force which it will require some exertion on the part of Russia to outstrip, mid very ,different from. the miserable armament that perished at Sinope. I heard some rumours early in the week about a split in the Cabinet, which might result in the retirement of Mr. Childers at least,, if not of another Minister. lam bound to say that it was a Conservative M.P. who attached importance to this bit of club gossip ; but there is just one element of truth in it—the deliberations of the Cabinet have been- less smooth and unanimous since domestic affairs ceased to occupy its attention. The Irish Church Bill, the Land Bill, and even the Education Bill, presented no difficulty of any moment ; but the:e foreign affairs raise questions which seriously threaten the unity of the Administration. It is far from being the case that all the Ministers rely solely upon "moral influence " as the only instrument to be employed in deciding qu , !,tions beyond our own shores. Itowever we have, it must be confessed, seen few outward and visible signs of the influence of the war. party. Little preparation seems to be making ag,ainpt any eventuality. Something was done in that way when the first Russian circular came, but they appear to have dropped off. If the Cabinet does not contain within itself the causes of its own disruption, the Opposition will not fail to try to supply the deficiency. That they would do so is an obvious conclusion that every body might have formed for himself, and I know as a fact that they meditate a serious attack. Such a chance has never presented itself since that gloomy day when the three resolutions, brought up in the nick of time, settled both the Irish Church and the hopes of the Conservative party. Whilst everything looked dark and unpromising fur next session nothing but Mines Regulation, Bills, &c. these foreign complications have arisen, and afforded an opportunity for the display of the traditional Conservative policy. Provided the Luxemburg question develops into something serious, the party may have a double oppor tunity. It can attack the Government for not making war on the round that England is being trampled upon; and it can attack if war is made on the ground that the army has been culpably neglected—it being taken for granted that the military forces are in a most unprepared state. The Opposition can have no serious design of. getting into power by these means. It is not desirous: of ilnme 7 diate office. Government with a minority of 70 was dis couraging enough. GOvernment with a minority of over a hundred would be heartrending. Moreover, the party has not yet settled down, nor filially installed a man as the heir apparent to the Premier ship, since it seems universally agreed. that the late Premier cannot reign again. Yet a suc cessful attack on the enemy is always of use. It dis credits the foe, and it encourages friends; and the friendsoi the Conservative cause greatly need encouragement at present. But the game of the Opposition is again. tially a waiting one. The party . has but one chance, and that to wait for the time when the,rise of democratic principles will drive a good many aristocratic Whigs and very mild Liberals into the oppo site camp, and so once more equalise the battle. Such a reinforcement ought not to be much longer delayed. Mk I Conservative friend who has put his faith in the rumours of a Cabinet dissension, expresses his warair hope that the Red. Cap may be speedily donned in England. A develop went of extreme principles would infallibly give the Conservatives that help which they look for vainly now. Your readers will probably have noticed a paragraph in the papers announcing the death of the Guild of Litera ture and Art. The history of this institution is far from reassuring to those lovers of literature whose admiration of 'good writers, disposes them to make charitable provi sion for the maintenance of indifferent ones. The Guild was not the first attempt to provide'for decayed authors ; there was a Royal Literary Fund, which in 1850, excited the wrath of the late Mr. Dickens, who, accordingly, re solved to found the Guild.. The Guild was formed, and I great efforts were expended in promoting its interests. Mr. Dickens made speeches, so did Lord Lytton ; one author wrote a play expressly for the Guild, others acted it ; and the Queen and a great many other people went to see them act it. A , large sum, was raised, and was employed to build a retreat at Stevenage, in . Sumer setshire, on land given by. Lord Lytt,m, and near the sidence of th at nobleman. Everything was made ready; the houses were good ; and nothing remained but to get authors properly decayed to come and live in them. But this essential condition to the success of the Guild was never fulfilled. No author could be found' ufficiently de- - eayed and helpless to live in these almshouses. Authors are too touchy a race to endure such a badge of serfdom ; they would as readily have worn a uniform like commis-. siouaires or dhoeblucks. The houses upon which so much labour has been expended have never been occupied. And 60 at length it is found needful to confess the defeat; rarlianiemtt Will be asked next session to colt sent to time sale of the property, and the appro priation of the money in, another way. Clearly, it anything ever is to be done in this direction it must be in the silent, secret way. A man has been sent to prison for twelve months for forging an order for admission to Drury Lane Theatre. He committed the offence, not from an overmastering desire to see Amy Bobsart, but from the less worthy motive of wishing to secure five shillingS through the sale of the forged order. This kind of fraud is probably not very common. The risk and difficulty are too great " to pay " ; moreover this man had an old order which he altered, and the supply of unused admisions i;aunot tie large. The great difficulty for managers is not to protect themselves from the public, but from their own servants. Everybody is aware of: • the frequent 'existence of those combinations between money-taker and check-! taker which no ingenuity has succeeded in baffling. Very common likewise :is the practice of the: pass-out check-taker doing a little business on his own account. This individual is able to act without assistance. ', His business is to give tickets for readmission to -visitors' who wish to leave the-house during the intervals, and he is thus enabled to pass in personS who have not previously been in the theatre on the receipt of a gratnity. I have noticed a check-taker thus deal with three Or four "gentlemen" who haVe beeh aware of his proclivities. No, precise contradiction seems to have been, given to the report that General D'Aurelle de Paladine, is none other than the Ducde Nemours. I seethe. Globe is disposed to Hove that the Qrleanist Prince: has really taken the -field in disguise. It shows that the name of the brigadier who served, in the Crimea,„ is • not precisely that assigned to the late commander of the Loire ariny,; ;so that the .two may 'be different persons. Moreover it is to be noticed that D'Aufelle de Paladinc, whoever he - may be, disappeared suddenly after the recapthre of Orleans and' nobody seems to have since seen him, or to know what. has beconie of him. on the 7th, hoWever, the Due do Nemours is announced to have visited. the Queen, and nobody had heard anything Of-the Duke for some time preViouly. In short, the Due de Nemours disappeared whilst D'Aurelle was at the head of the Loire 'army, and the late commander has disappeared now that the OrNanist Prince is heard of again. These are ISingulail facts, against which :to be. set the: improbability .of Gambetta, etnploying an Orlcanist prince, who might have become the saviour of ..his_ country, And, the unlikelihood of the Dud de Nonionrs. holding such a command SP tong without somebody.rceog' nising him. Moreover, what has become of the Crimean brigadiei.lAurelles or Aurelles, who has always been credited with the leadership of the French troops ? The Due de Nemours has ,oftendistin- guished himself in the field. He is the second son of Louis Philippe, and a man of considerahle.talent and of ,great virtue. Some facts have come to my knowledge which may serve to exemplify the means employed by tho Emperor Napo leon to obtain information.• At the great Paris show of 1867 an inventor,who was exhibiting a discovery of general utility, had in his employ .a young Pole.. This man in formed his fellow-workmen that he was one of five confederates who had agreed to shoot the Emperor of Russia , whilst he was in Paris. This cool an nouncement , came to the ears of the, inventor, who forthwith communicated , with the police. He did not receive much attention.. The astute agents said that statements respecting nefarious plots were often reaching them, but that. they „invariably proved to be groundless. Everybody will remember the event .that happened. • Two or three days afterwards the' Czar was fired at, and the police then remembered Joseph. The inventor was requested to attend at the Tuileries, where ,he had a long interview with the Emperor. He was summoned to the linperial presence on, - several occa sions, and Napoleon was so much pleased with the tact and ability displayed. by-his. visitor that he proposed to him to 'travel . through , South Germany for the purpose of ascertaining the state of feeling there on the gread questiOu of union with Prussia whether: Eismaield.sin had made any progress in the Southern - States, and - whether the latter would be likely -- -to • join Prussia in case of a war. Napoleon:'.suggekted • that by ad vertising • his - invention extensively he would be. brought into contact with the editors Of newspapers, of Whick•eir crunstance he could take advantage to gain information. All expenSes of ' travelling ) and advertising were to he - paid by the 'French Government, whilst the envoy' would - reap whatever benefit might accrue from the sale of his invention. • The terms were accepted, and reports'were from time to time for warded to the Tuileries. Up to the present moment the inventor, whNe labours in South Germany have termi nated from more than one reason, continues in confidential terms with King William's illustrious "guest." It is to be hoped that the emissary's services were worth the price paid fur theM. It is obvious; however, that if he sent trustworthy information, it was not acted upon, for the'Emperor says himself that he • Made war in •the hope that the Southern States would not join . Prussia. No - doubt a ,great deal of dissatisfaction with Prussia existed in Bavaria and Warterabf•rg, and the advertising inventor may have faithfUlly recorded what he' saw ; but when German soil was !menaced all minor dif ferences disappeared. A few weeks ago I spoke of the arrival in town of M. Yvon, the eminent Parisian artist, who painted . the storming of the Malakoff, which was so much admired in. the last Paris exhibition. He has been remarkably: suc cessful since in London, and has had the honour of visiting the Orleanist family. Mr. -Hall, 'of the Art Journal, has purchased some of his pictures. Another refugee . is Dr. Le Gouest, the medical ' attendant of Marshal McMahon. He was at Sedan, and with the rest of his compatriots saw some hard fighting. - Unfortunately he Was in health, and froM that cause came over to England. In literature Christmas books' of all kinds form the staple. There is very little of any other kind announced, but an immense variety in this department, Amongst, the many excellent illustrated books I have seen, I may., particularly recommend : " The Coa'st-of Norway from, Christiana to flanniaerfest," by Mr. Elijah Walton,---twelve beautiful views ; " Riviera, ske%ches from Cannes to Genoa," by Dean Stanley ; and " Mountains :and Lakes of Switzerland" sixty-four fine little prints . after drawings by Mr. C. Pyne. Messrs. ,Cassell publish a. collection of 250 drawings by , Dort% selected from the various works of that artist. These-are merely a few specimens amongst many. Messrs. Bell and Daldy .have a collection of - . engravings after Landseer; and a Raffaele Gallery. Macmillan has a list 'of Williiam MOre's Ridiculi, 'by Mr: Rogers,.. is the chief: Mr. Murray ; illustrates Mr. Whymper's "Scrambles amongst the Allis," noticeable specially for' fine views of the Matterhorn: Messrs. Cassell have besides Dore's collection, a masterpfece called " PiCtUres of 'Eng lishLiterature," illustrating tWenty scenes from Chaucer to Tenriykain. The list is endlesS, and too long to follow further. In general literature Sir E. creasy's second volume of his history reaches from Edward I. (1307) to the accession of the Tudor House (1485) —only, one king behind Fronde. Thus, with Freeman's Norman Conquest and , Macaulay, the range of first-class histories extends over well nigh the whole period. A capital German history. of the war is being published in monthly parts at Berlin. It is by Dr. -Ilernoann Fechner. • The Premier took a little holiday 'yesterday, on. the occasion of his niece's marriage. He looked very well, "quite jaunty," says one observer. ANONYMOUS BENEvOT,F,N F..- b AN] the lastth . few days the following donations have been received by the charities named :—The National Hospital for the Paralysed and Epileptic £l,OOO from 'W. X. -" the Royal Westminster Ophthalmici Hospital, 1;1,000,, from "W.R.T. ; " and the Royal Hospital for Incurables, £5OO from "IL" IMPIIOVED TELEGRAPHIC INTESSAC4; FoitmS.-L—The authorities of the Post - Offiee haVe introduced a novelty in telegraphy,which at presentigknown only ton very limited extent, but which will, doubtless;. before long come • into general use. lndeed, the novelty, has hardly as yet gone beyond the region of • experiment. Its nature is the issue of interleaved books" of stamped message forms, with, in smile instances, - the naive of the sender printed on each forth; And in others, where it has been re in - quired, and where a person or firth is the habit of sending numerous messages to the same addresses, the names ,of both sender and Addressee. - It does net require much. shrewdness to see that the advantages of this arrange ment are important. By it can' be gained a saving of time in the writing out of the messages, and. a guarantee as to.. the correctness and legibility of the address, as well as the grea,ter- ease. and rapidity with which the naines .. " from and ' are signalled. Books. of forms of ' this very convenient description can he had at the usual rate - of , for each stamped form, - the only new condition being that. • persons - requiring them shall talio not Jess thau...1;50 , worth, time and 1,;(5 , on delivery.. Some r,0,000 of these forms have been alre:tl osned, and about . 100,900 firms through out -tle 'nted Kin-doni have commeeced using them. Most persons iu the riabit of receiving regularly many tele grams know that envelopes with their addresses printed in large and legible characters have for some -past. time been issued by the Post Offi ce to the public on the condition that the person using them should receive ' certain number of messages, a day. The number is either four_ or five. The latter arrangement has become very extensively used, It , promises well the future of this iin portant service to find the authorities at St. Martin's-le- Grand indulging in swill experiments as these. CAN I AFFORD Jr ?-,--Pay your Stationer 6(1. for a reply. Map of the World gratis in all Letts's Office Diaries. Letts's 6d. and 15. Diaries give, most value for your money. •tetts's Housekeepers' and Ladies' Diaries are much improved. Letts's. 'lnvisible Ink for Postal Cards, ed. per bottle. THE WAR. THE SIEGE OF PARIS. FOOD. • Herr Wachenhusen, writing to the Cologne Gazette from Versailles, makes some important admissions :—" It will have been known already that the French prisoners were provided with supplies of meat for a week, from whict may be concluded that the food question in .Paris is not so important as it has been represented. But is an established fact that the army outside the walls of the town has had to provision itself, having drawn its supplies from the district of country between the town and the forts, and hence nothing can be drawn from this circumstance which can be regarded as conclu sive. It is generally believed that Paris is provisioned till the end of the year, or even till the middle of January, and if such is the case the affair may last some time yet, for there is, no longer any talk of bombarding the city." THE 02V1IPAIGN ON THE LOIRE. UNEASINESS AT VERSAILLES. Dr. Russell writes from Versailles on the 11th : The news from. Beaugency received last night at headquarters caused grave faces. The Duke of Mecklenburg reports 40,000 Bretons, apparently of new levies from that sturdy population, on his flank, and D'AUrellee successor has turned to bay in front of Blois: Von Wittich, with the 10th Corps, now much reduced by fighting, has marched to strengthen the Grand Duke, who has some 50,000 men, and any other troops the Prince can spare will, no doubt, be sent to enable the army to continue its progress to Blois and Tours. The 10th, Corps was, I think, the corps which occupied Orleans, the 3rd and 9th Corps having been sent forwards towards Bourges. It is to be inferred that the Prince has received the means of holding the city `froth 'other sources. A report has reached me of an engagement at Beaugeney yesterday. If it be true, the Duke . has been attacked this time, and must be standing on the defensive till he receives support. That is a result which the French would call a victory. The sight of a German General on the defensive would inspire them with the liveliest as well as novel emotions. It might produce a change in the morale of the army. But it needs a great change. RETREAT OF THE FRENCH FROM ORLEANS. I could see enough to shew me that the enemy were not above two miles from the gates of the city. The National Guard was turning out and going to the trenches. Every street of the town—at least every principal street — was choked with artillery and infantry. They con tinued to cross the bridge all the evening. General d'Aurelles, after stopping about an hour at the Hotel du Loiret, took himself off with such speed that he left some of his aides-de-camp here, who were captured. It was one of his aides-de-camp who told me it was impossible to attempt to follow up the re treating army ; the roads were impassable, the men in a very bad temper, and it would be madness to attempt it. Colonel Reilly was left behind, having probably had no information and no escort from the French headquarters. However, this I know, that'all the military attach& were simply .; caught here, being unable to follow up. Of course no railroad was going. It was thought the mcn in the trenches might hold out all . night, and then, with the big guns that had been posted round the place,•they might keep 'off the enemy for some time, till the army had completely evacuated the city. The troops continued to pass, through faster and faster. At about eleven, batteries of ," artillery passed through galloping; probably they were some of the guns which had protected the retreat. The bridge of boats was burning. It was expected that after the last man had passed, the stone bridge would be blown up, and when I ' went to bed very late at night, I eipected every minute to be awoke by a fearful explosion and the rocking -of .the house where I have my billet. It was not so, however, and after listening for some time to the infantry tearing along as hard as they could go, I went to sleep, and was, only roused this morning by firing under my windoW. The Prussians were in -the town last night soon after twelve, and the 'firing on' the quay this morning consisted of a few shots exchanged by the French who still loitered en. the other side of the . river, and the Prussian advanced guard in the town. At nine the whole Prussian army marched in triumph into Orleans, bands playing and colours flying. I believe the French army made good its retreat. . The number of men taken in the town was'not great. The losses were very slight on the French side, owing to the men not holding well. This battle will be. another inexplicable thing, of which there have been so many in this war. Half the French artillery never fired a shot. Battalions of infaUtry, which had not been under fire, walked off the field saying they were retreating.— Daily News Correspondent. • FREE- AND-EASY PRISONERS. " As to the marvellous facility with which prisoners were Made on the Loire after the victory of the Germans had become decisive, some extraordinary statements are made by the special correspondent of the Times at Orleans. An , enormous number of French, fighting against their will, were positively eager to be taken. A number of French soldiers were comfortably seated at dinner when some' Germans entered, and invited the latter to join in the meal, saying that they must be hungry after so much fighting, and that there was not the slightest danger of their making any attempt to escape, as they were waiting expressly for some one to come and capture them. Four men were taken by the Cuirassiers in• the avant posies during the night, and were told to remain by a fire till morning, When the morning came their number was increased to twelve, who had. deliberately come and seated themselves by the fire of their own accord. One German sentinel stated that during his watch upon the . same night upwards of thirty French soldiers had come to him and asked him in what direction they should go in order to deliver themselves up as prisoners. These are instances that happened to come under the correspondent's own notice ; and in talking with the prisoners he found that they had surrendered simply because they were " bored." They are heartily disgusted with the war, are perfectly indifferent to Alsace and Lor raine, extremely susceptible to the cold, and seem to prefer life in a German town to the hardships of cam paigning in winter in the presence of au overwhelming foe. While some_Uhlans were scouring a wood in the neigh bourhood of Didppe they discovered the body of a hussar ,tied by his heels to the branch of a tree ; his eyes had been gouged out, and his nose and ears cut off. The German loss in the battles on the Loire has fallen, as it always does, on the officers and on special regiments. One regiment alone lost twenty officers in the battle of *Bazoche-des-Hantes, and one battalion of another regi ment of Bavarians lost 190 men in the first day's fighting, and 130 in the second. This regiment alone has lost since 'the beginning of the war sixty-two officers, only three of those who left Germany still remaining with it. The Tires' correspondent in the besieged capital says that if the Parisians gained nothing, they, Jost nothing by the late sorties. " From all I see and hear, the troops are rather encouraged by finding they can cope on more than equal terms with the Prussians in a protracted en gagement on a large, scale than dispirited by the failure 'of their object—the forcing a passage through the Prussian lines," French general officers complain that VATirelle's military capacity was paralysed by his , putting himself into the hands of the Bishop of Orleani. He . not only countenanced by his presence a great deal of nonsense publicly talked by hini in the cathedral, but went pottering about withhim to the altars of various saints of more or less celebrity. The Bishop inflicted 'penance upon him, in consequence of which he reniainecton his knees for four consecutive hours at the altar of 'a, saint when he should have been attending tohis business, which in all conscience was pressing enough. THE FRIENDS OF FRANCE.—A number of foreigners, resident in France, have formed themselves into a corps of sharpshooters. Among the 230 men of whom the band consisted on the 30th of November, no fewer than 80 were either Americans or Englishmen. Several other nationalities are also represented in the corps, which is known as the " Friends of France." This body took au active part in the sortie on the 30th of November. They protected the'engineers when constructing the bridge over the Marne, and afterwards engaged in the assault on Brie-sur-Marne. This village being taken, the order was given to sterm.a redoubt, which the Prussians bad esta blisliqd on the heights above Brie. The "Friends of Prance" participated, 'With the Zouaves; in this as sault. As the position of the Germans was approached by a steel), narrow gully, in which not more than four well. could march. abreast, the. slaughter among the foreign corps was fearful, as many as fifty out of the entire number being killed. They, however, succeeded at last in drivincy the Prussians from the redoubt. Among the dead oe the " Friends of France " was a young Spaniardnamed Geruzez, who, on the preceding day, had made his will, leaving; 6,000 f. to the corps. With the • exception -6f two. wounded, the Anglo-Saxon portion of the body have no casualties to regret. - Amongst those who particularly diStinguished themselves were Messrs. 41. Chalmers and Luberne, Americans ; Hughes and Colvin, from London ; Fenci, Newcastle ; and M. E. Albo„ Jersey.; G. Shepherd, Shropshire ; and Elphich and Palmer, England. The "Friends of France " are said not to be recognised as,lcgitima.te soldiers by the Germans ; and It is reported that - two of them 'have . been hanged and four shot. PRUSSIA AND LUXEMBURG. Count Bismarck's Luxemburg despatch is a circular dated December 3rd, and addressed to the signatories of the London Treaty of May. 11th, 1867. The Federal Chancellor enumerates the acts by which Luxem burg, irr a German point of view has failed in obligations of neutrality. The Grand Duchy shewed no good will in respect to the trans port of the German wounded ; luxemburg allowed the revictualling of Thionville by a party which started from Amiens, and which, by traversing Belgium and the Duchy, succeeded in penetrating into Thionville at the be ginning of October. Finally, the government of the little State did not " intern " the numerous military fugi tives, who after Sedan and Metz passed through the grand ducal territories. Prussia, in consequence, in all matters concerning the movements of German troops, considers herself no longer bound to respect the neutrality of Lug' emburg. MIL SECRETARY FISH ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS. Mr. Fish, American Secretary of State, is said to have delivered some noteworthy opinions on the condition of European affairs at the end of November. The views are belived to have been expressed at an extraordivarY Cabinet Council held at the time of the revival of the Eastern Question. His views are given as follows The last news received from Europe indicates that Russia is resolved no longer to observe the con ditions of the Treaty of 1856, which establish the neutrality of the Black Sea ; * but I do not think war will _linevitably follow. I think it possible, and even probable, that a Peace Con gress of all the great European Powers will' be the result in which not only the Eastern question, but perhaps even the question of the Franco-Prussian war, will be settled. In any case, under present circumstances, the future of Europe is purely problematical, and bidden influences may produce results as surprising as unlooked for. Sup posing that a Peace Congress should assemble, it is by no means certain that the present Government of France should be overthrown. The strength of the new Republic lies" in the people itself, and a fortuitous peace without cession of territory would be equivalent to a guarantee of Lits future existence: The empire is over, and the only government which could succeed the Republic would be a Monarchy. Our communications with France are at present inactive. Minister BertheraY is recognised here as the sole legitimate representative of the French Government. Minister Washburn was em ployed by our Government as an intermediate agent on important occasions ; but notwithstanding the length of the war there have been few incidents to call fg i r his in terference. His recognition of the French Republic was not premature, it was in consequence of orders he had received, and the line of conduct he is now following is quite in accordance with the wishes of our Government. The election of the Duke d'Aosta to the Spanish throne will not materially alter our policy in regard to Cuba. Spain, however tardy in diplomacy, is prompt enough to accept war, and the future of Cuba is not worth enough for us to make one on its account. The policy of England towards her colonies has always been equitable and continues to be honourable. The scheme of General Butler for the annexation of Canada, as developed in the letter he addressed to the Tribune from Lowell, is in fact war, for England would not submit to it without a struggle, and there •are other means of adjusting the Alabama differences. Our claims in this matter should be settled at an oppor tune time, perhaps soon. The principal objection raised hero against the Johnson-Clarendon treaty was that private claims were included in the protocol. The Alabama claims are considered - by us as more important than private claims, because they embrace grave questions of international law, which cannot be decided either by an ordinary convention or by a mixed commission as can private claims." The rumour has been current in New York that Mr. Secretary Fish is to be replaced by General Butler. ENGLAND, RUSSIA, AND AMERICA. The Philadelphia correspondent of the Times, writing on the 30th, says —The Russian Government, in view of what then seemed probable—the meeting of a European Congress—a short time ago, through its Minister at Washington, expressed a desire to have the United States represented. The Minister consulted the Secretary of State, and also Senator. Sumner, the chairman of the Senate Committee of Foreign Affairs. Sumner, it is under stood, favoured the project,. but the Government does not. Should such a Congress assemble, the United States will, no doubt, decline to send a representative, the desire in this country being to avoid any European en tanglements—either in the shape of American inter ference in Europe or European interference in America. The latter this country -milli not tolerate, and therefore it will, to be consistent, avoid the former. The Russian Minister, I understand, has been informed of this deter mination. In fact, notwithstanding the general popular belief in the great friendship between the United States and Russia, these nations do not seem of late to have been much in accord. The United States will not allow herself to be used by Russia to forward • any of the plans of the latter for aggrandisement, and this sturdy independence has been made plainly evident in recent outgivings from Washington. This has naturally disappointed Russia, and the announcement is made in Washington that the Russian Government is deeply offended at the declaration of President Grant that he will not at this juncture press the Alabama claims. Russia thinks that such a declaration is, at this time, an indirect and uncalled for expression of sympathy for England, by relieving her of her fears that the United States might take this opportunity of a quarrel with Russia for demanding their early settlement. A Washingten correspondent, writes that it has been gene rally remarked that in the past few weeks the Russian Minister, M. Catacazy, has called on neither the Presi dent nor the Secretary of State, and the assertion is made that he is acting under instructions from his Government, which before long will communicate officially its grievances. To add to the delicacy of the situation, M. Catacazy is said to have received letters from prominent Republicans, among whom are named Senator Summer and General Butler, apologising for •the acticn of the President, and indicating that the nation would not sup- Port him in his refusal to now press the claims. General Butler, the correspondent adds, even endeavoured to get the "'resident to retract or modify his opinions, but failed. These statements now lead a portion of the public to fear some complication with Russia. Whatever may come, the President seems resolute in his determina nation not to press the claims. He thinks the propo sition for reopening the negotiations ought to come from England. The King of Prussia, says a Versailles letter in the North German Gazette, continues to receive in his usual manner the reports of the various departments of the Government. As a rule, he only leaves the Prefecture about noon for an hour for a short excursion. The neigh bouring eminences of the district of Versailles, which afford an extensive view over Paris, are generally visited' Dinner comes off about five p.m. From six to eight his Majesty is in his 'study ; at eight there is the soirée, to which a large number of officers always receive invita tions. [ADvEnmisEmENTI--Holloway's Ointment and Pills. — Bad legs, bad breasts, ulcers, abscesses, wounds, and sores of all kinds may be thoroughly healed by the application of this Ointment to the parts affected, after they have been duly fomented with warm water. The discharge should not be checked at once, but rather, encouraged, for any sudden check must, of course, be always dangerous. Nature is the noblest of physicians, and must not be op posed, but seconded. All sores are for a time the safety v'alves of the constitution, and should not be closed or healed until they assume a healthier character. Under the action of this powerful Ointment, aided by the Pills, the depraved humours of the body will be quickly re' moved. BIRTHS. On the 14th inst., at 21, Grafton-street, the wife of Cecil Chaplin, Esq., of a son. On the 12th inst., at Little Melton, Norfolk, the wife of . Robert A. Barkley Esq., of a daughter. MARRIAGES. On the I.3th inst., at St. Paul's, Hamlet-roa,Upper Norwood, Robert Alexande r Slater, Esq.., of For Upest hill House, Bideford, North D evon, to Fanny, young daughter of the late Mr. W. W. Weitbrooke, of Upper Norwood. On the 13th inst., at the Church of St. John the Evan- Mary gelist, Penge, John Gill, Esq., of Greenwich, lo Harford, only daughter of the late Robert Hoggart, Bsq., of Norwood, Surrey. DEATH. On the 10th inst., James ark Child, Esq., BellY House * Pembrokeshire, age 78. On the 12th inst., S a t Park - gate House, near Battle , Wm. Dowdeswell, Esq., late Madras C . ~ aged 63. M deg __.,-. London : Printed by GIDEON ACLAND BOYCE, o.f. No. 112, Strand , Printer, and Published b y him 51 THE SUN Othee, No. 112, Strnd, in the Precinct of tht' Savoy, in the County iddlesex. Decomber 16, 1870. MC phony—t Arabella Vernon Solo Pis besides t theme ii Concert] Admis: Issue, d Entrance applicati Admissic Concert Mexican A LIT 11ANGE] Vast and superb Brilliant Vocal an Musiciai of the Sc Officer). Mdlle. liellar, Siedle, 3 mauns. Evening and Litt ments. and dari any age • Comr Circle, 5 pen fro AR' Theo: of the the elec pate in Music F. have ha moot e 3 eolebrat chef, position assisraec W. Gra' Thomas Tom' of Establil EVENI tlemen of being R' _ I andEle Ss. 6d. Rose Cards, fumed chasers Londol rvE, al lead, ( free, tc tea me Any qt on app street, trade in she in bor N` A l P. T' and a at the India Mild 1' tainit MIL( provi with RAB all e 3 in Lo the C meni gam Alab and MaJe MIN Lyel resti at 2.