The Sun. — London, England, 1870-10-17 00:00:00

,MONETARY REPORTS.-SATURDAY. A quiet feeling has pervaded the stock maricets to-day. Transactions have not been extensive, but the tendency has been favourable. Railway stocks shew no movement of importance. Foreign bonds have been steady, and Spanish have improved on the rumour that the Duke d'Aosta will be accepted as King of Spain. Home Govern ment securities have been steady. Consols have risen 1-16 per cent , the quotation being 921, 92R for delivery, and 92 5-16, 92 7-16 for November. Reduced and New Three-per-cents, 91+, 91+ ; Bank stock, 232, 234; Exchequer bills, ss. to 10s. prem. ; India Five-per cents, 110, 1101 ; and India bonds, 18s. to 235. prem. Colonial Government securities have changed hands quietly, but at full quotations. In the market for English railway stocks there hasbeen an absence of any important feature. Very few trans actions have taken place, but prices have ruled firm. Mid land at 127 to 127+, and North Western at 129 to 129+, are each k better ; whilst Great Western, at 71i, 711 shew an advance of +. Metropolitan, 66+, 66k; Caledonian, 76, 76+; Brighton, 42, 42+; South-Eastern, 74, 74+; Great Northern, 121+, 122+ ; ditto A, 134, 134+ ; Great Eastern, 37, 37g ; North-Eastern, 145+, 145 g. Indian railway stocks have been steady in value, with a moderate inquiry. East Indian, 109 / , 110 i ; Great Indian Peninsula, 1051, 1064 ; Oude and Rohil kund, 1041; and Scinde, 1034 , 103 k. Canadian Shares have been steady: Grand Trunk, 12k; Great Western, 141, Foreign Shares h ve been in moderate request ; Lombards have adv‘n se h, or to 144, 141; Great Luxumbourg, ; Recife and San Francisco, 15k, 1; San Paulo, 21g. Foreign bonds have been steady, and the quotations have risen. Egyptian (1868) have advanced or to 761, 761; Italian (1861), or to 54A 541; Spanish (1867), 3-16, or to 28 7-16, 28 9-16 ; ditto (1869), 3-16, or to 28 3-16 28 5-16 ; Turkish Five per cents or to 44, 431; Brazilian (1865), are quoted at 90, 90j ;Egyptian Nine per Cents, 99 to 99A ; Turkish Six per Cents, 64 to 63i ; Mexican, 141 to 15. The Monte Videan loan is quoted par to 1 prem. American securities have been steady. The Five- Twenty Bonds have improved -1. The 1882 are quoted at 89i to 802 xd ; ditto 1885, 884 to 88 xd. Erie shares better, at 181 to 10 ; Illinois Central, 109/ to m. There has not been much inquiry for Bank shares, Chartered of India, Australia and China, have marked 13-1 ; English, Scottish, and Australian Chartered, 16,1 ; London Chartered of Australia, 23i; London and West minster, 60i, f ; Union of Australia, 41 ; and Union of London, 37k. In Telegraph shares the demand has been inactive. Anglo-Mediterranean, 14; ditto New, 8 9-16 ; British Indian Submarine, 8* ; Falmouth, 10 , 2 ; Great Northern, 11* ; West India and Panama, 5 ; Telegraph Construc tion, 26i, ; Hooper's, 41. In miscellaneous securities the transactions have been to a fair extent. Ceylon Company, 5i ; Hudson's Bay, 9* ; Royal Mail Steam, 58 to 59, At a meeting of the creditors of Mr. John H. Tattersall cotton broker, of Liverpool, it was shewn that there were liabilities for 22,493. A composition of is. in the pound, payable at a month, was accepted. There has been a good supply of money in the discount market to-day. The demand for accommodation has been limited, and Three-months paper has been taken at 2i, 2i per cent. The Nyanza, for the East, has taken out £212,800. The sum of £27,000 has been sent into the Bank to-day. Mr. Helmuth Schwartze thus reports on the state of the wool trade :—" The fourth series of colonial wool sales has been fixed to commence on Thursday, the 27th inst. The arrivals up to date comprise 130,308 bales. Of about 23,000 bales (principally Cape wool) which are afloat the greater portion may be expected to arrive in time, so, hat with the wools held over from the last series, the tota l to be offered will probably reach 200,000 to 210,000 bale s Of this quantity, it will be attempted, on the recommen dation of the committee of the New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land Association, to hold over 25 per cent. for a series of sales, which is to commence on the 2nd of February, 1871. The accounts from the English manufacturing districts are not unfavourable ; a fair amount of business seems to have been done ; and dealers' hands are pretty free to operate in the approaching sales. A prospectus has been issued of the Mariner's Reef Quartz Mines and Crushing Company, for working mines at Maryborough, in the Australian colony of Victoria. The capital is £50,000, in shares of £l, of which £20,000 is to be the present issue in England. The purchase money is to be £20,000, half in cash, and half in shares. LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE.-SATURDAY, LATEST PRICES.-AFTER OFFICIM HOURS. The prices under the lines Indicate the business done. 10 BerlinWW,erworks(L) 14i 15i 2 Lon & Prov Marine L) ;pm 30 Bolckow-Vaughan (L) 33 38piu 100 Madras Irrig &n.Caa 1 100 Boston City (U.S.) 5 g 5 p c by Lid Goy. 100 102 c Sterling Loan.. 91 93 101 4 Biit at Fgn Marino (L) 221 pm 2 Maniiiins Land (L) 1 dis.l pm 25 Canada Company, . 72 76 5 Natnl Disct Comp (L) 11 II:. 10 Ceylon Company (L) 41 31dis 21 N Zealand Loan and 51 Mere Agency *LI . • 1 1 Pro 35 City Offices (L) 251241 dig 5 N Zealand Loau and 20 Colonial (L) 5 Corn Union Assumes 213Lpm 61 N Britsh and Marc (L) 27 28 81 5 OceanMarinelnsur 10 Crdt None of Eng (L) 21 2) 50 1' and 0 Steam 47 49 100 Crystal Palace 100 Do Pref 100 Do 6p c Perp Deb lOB 113 50 Rhyniney Iron 271 Ebbw Vale Steel (L).. 81 Bdis 15 Do New Bl 91 100 Egyp 9 p cV'roy :Loan, 60 Royal Mail Steam guar by Egyp Gov.. 981 991 59, 8 13 Fore-st Warehouse (L) 6 61pm 12 Tel Con and Main (L) 26 261 100 Fgn and Colonial Gov 26f, / Trust 6p c Bonds.. 94 98 2 Themes and Mersey 71 Gen Credt&Disct (L) 1 I dis Marine Insur (L 312 pin 14 Gen Stm Navigation 28 30 St Tobacco 6p c Loan, 7 Hooper's Tel Works 21 2dis guar by Italian Gov, 85 88 4f 5 Trust and Loan Co of 17 Hudson's Bay 9 9/ Upper Canada .. I 1 pm 9, 1 5 CT Marine, Lvpool IL 4) 51pm 45 Indrbbr,Gut Per.and 20 Union Steamship (L) 24 26 Tel Works (L) . 371 381 6 United Di s C or p rn (L) 11 (diss InternlFinan SociL) If 11dis 5 UnivMarinelnsnr (LI, 4) spm 20 It 'nit: Can Cavonr S 31 Viceroy of Egypt 7P 0 100 1)0 6p c Bonds. re. Mortgage Loan.... deemable 1870 . 60 63 12 Warrant Finance ..,. 9 7 dis 30 London Fin Assoc (L) 19 18dis GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. Three per Cent Consols 921 924 Pict 5p o Jan & July 1f394 102 103 921, 4 Brazilian, 1865, 5p o .... 891 901 Do for Account 924 Egyptian 1862. 7po .. .. 82 84 Three per Cent Reduced 91 91/ 831 91, 4 Do Rail Deben 7 p .. 98 100 New 3 per Cent 91/, 1 Peruvian, 1865, 5 p c Exchequer Bills, March 5 10 pm 90 pm Portuguese 1869 3p o 29 291 Do, June 5 10 pm 29} ss, 10s pm Russian, 1862. 5 p a.. .. 874 881 Bank Stock India 5 per Cents India Bonds — 69} pm Spanish. 1867. 3 pa Can 6pc Jan&Julyll77-84 10511061 281, 1 1052 Do, 1869, 3p a Do March & Sept. 103 105 2 8. 4, 1 1)o 5p c Jan & July .. 98 99 Turkish. 1854, tip a BO 82 981 81 Do Inscribed Stock ~ 97 90 Do, 1865. 5p o Dom of Can 5p c 1903 .. 96 98 434, 2, 1 Ceylon 6 p c May and Do, 1865.6 p o November 1878 lO7 103 624. 31 Mauritius 6p c Jan and 1113.5-2080nd5,6 p o 1882 89 902 July 1873 lO3 105 894, 1 x d 1071 Do do 1885 884 882 New S Wales 5p 01871-76 101 102 834, 4 a d New Zealand 6p o 1891 lO6 109 Do 1040Bnds, spa 1904 861 861 Do 5p c Do 5p a Consolidated 97 98 Erie Sha, 100 dole, all paid 974, 1 x d Illinois Central Shares .. 10911101 Do 6p c Mar & Sept 1891 105 107 Atlantic and GW R Con Do June & Dec 1891 107 110 Mortgage Bonds 3Ol 311 Vict 6 p c Jan St July 1891 113 115 31 DoApril &OctlBB3-85.. 110 111 1104 RAILWAYS. Bristol and Exeter B6 88 Do Ist Pref Bonds .... 59 61 Caledonian x d 2nd Prat Stock Great Eastern 377 Great Northern Do A 121, 7 1337134 4th Pref Stock 7 17 Great Western 7l 717 Greatlndian Pen gsp c 10511067 717, 7 1067, 57 Lancashire St Yorkshire 13.071317 Great Western of Canada 142 147 131 142, 7 x d Lon, Brigh. and S Coast 42 427 Do Op c Bonds, 1873.. 100 102 4 2 7, 7, 9 Do 59 do, 1877-8 96 98 Lon, Chat 7,. 7, 9 and Dover .. 13 131 Do sp a c pref, issued 80 par Ipm 13, x Lon and North-Western 12871291 Madras guar 5p c 1297, 9 N. Railway of Canada, Lon and South-Western 88 90 6p c let Prof Bonds 90 Oude and Rohilkund g Man, 5he5 f71047 , a nd Lincoln 447 457 5p c 4, Metropolitan 661, 7 Delhi guar 5 p c Midland 12671277 1037, 7 1277 Bahia and San Francisco North British 347 x a North-Eastern Consols.. 145 146 Belgian E Junction 1457, 7 Buouos Ayres Gt Sthrn 251 257 South-Eastern 74 741 Dunaburg and Witepek 18 187 74, 7 Dutch-Rhenish 22 24 Atlantic and St Lawrnce 76 79 Eastern of France — Bombay, Baroda, and Great Luxembourg Central India, g 5 p c.. 10471051 117 Buff & Lake Huron Frei Lemberg Czernowitz gua Do 59 p c Bonds, 1872-3-4 80 82 7p c 167 167 Cape guar 6p c East Bengal guar 5 p c., 105 106 Ottom (Smyrna to Aidin) 57 57 East Indian, g 5 p o 1107, 97 guar 7 Grand Trunk Canada p 0 .. 157 157 127 (Limited) Do Equip Mort Bud 1 San Paulo (L) guar 7p c 21 217 217 charge d 6p c x Do 2nd do Scrip par 2pm Southern 14 7 f , France 7 o BANKING COMPANIES. Pd Pd 1 Agra Bank (L) A•• • • 8 9 20 Lon Char of Austrlla 23 24 25 Alliance (14) 10 Anglo-Austrian 20 Anglo-Egyptian (L) 22 23 15 London Joint-Stock 32 33 50 British N American 53 55 20 Lon and Westmnster 60 61 20 Ch of India. Austrlia 13 14 60 4, I 134 10 Metropolitan........ 81 84 25 Char Mere of India 24 4 25 4 20 Midland (L) ...... 14, i di a 25, 4 19 10 City 25 Colonial 4 Consolidated (L) ... 20 Eng. Scot, and Ans() 16 17 41} 161 4 15 Union of London .. 364 374 20 Imperial IL) 10 Imperial Ottoman TELEGRAPH COMPANIES Pd Pd 100 Anglo-American L) 86 89 6 Great N. China, and ___. die 10 Anglo-Meditrn (L) ln 141 Japan Extension.. 2/21 141 5 Indo-European (L).. 12 14 100 ho 8p c — 100 Atlantic 10 Marseilles, Algiers, and Malta (L).. . 10 British Australis (L) 3.1 31dis 10 Mediterrn Ex (Lc • • 41 5 11 2) Pnma and S. Pcfc(L) 3 2 dis 10 13ritish Ind Erten (L). 61 6) 1 10 British Indi an S u b - 8 Reuter's marine, (L) ....... nB4 20 Soc Trans France (L) 15 151 . 8, 1, 8 100 Submarine 233 238 2 China hubmarine (L) 4141.114 Do Scrip 2 21 10 Falmoi ith, Gibralta r , 10 W India &Pauama(L) 42 54 and Malta (L 1 104 10 Great Northern 114 MISOELL A NEO US SECURITIES. Pd Angle-Austrian Bud holtita Certificate 11 2} 4 Lon Gen Omnibus 2i 3 21, 3 MARKETS. READING CORN MARKET, SATURDAY.—Vt this market during the week English wheat has in some instances advanced Is, per qr., but only a quiet trade has been done. There has been a large supply of foreign corn, while English has been rather limited. Barley, both for malting and grinding, has been dear, while oats, beans, and peas have not altered in price. An average trade was anticipated at the Exchange to-day. The attendance was unusually large. GLOUCESTER CORN MARKET, SATURDAY.—EngIish wheat was in moderate supply at this market to-day; and best qualities fetched an advance of is. per quarter. Secondary qualities were unchanged. Foreign wheat held - firmly, at the extreme rates of last Saturday. Grinding barley brought rather better prices. Oats and maize were unchanged. DONCASTER CORN MARKET, SATURDAY.—There was a large supply of wheat at this market to-day ; 3d. per three bushels higher was asked. The inquiry for seed closes slowly. Barley was in less request, and somewhat cheaper. Oats and beans were unaltered. NORWICH CORN MARKET, SATURDAY.—There was a short supply of wheat at this market to-day, which met with a brisk sale, at an advance of fully ls. perqr. over last week's quotations. barley and all other descriptions being fully supported. Ave rages—Wheat, 1,841 qrs., at 465. 2d. per qr. ; barley, 7,953 qrs., at 355. 3d. per qr. NEWCASTLE CORN MARKET, SATURDAY.—There was a large supply of wheat from the farmers at this market to-day, and it barely obtained the is. advance whieh was given for the merchants' wheat. Flour was ls. per sack dearer. No change in any other grain. LEITH CORN MARKET, SATURDAY.--At this market to-day wheat was firm and fully dearer. Flour was also higher. Barley was steady. Oats were moving off rapidly at 6d. per quarter advance, Peas were firm. Beans were dull and rather lower. The arrivals for the week amount to 5,096 quarters of wheat, 1,570 quarters of barley, 834 quarters of oats, 128 quarters of beans, 17 quarters of peas, 363 quarters of rye, and 2,295 sacks of flour. KIRKCALDY CORN MARKET, SATUEDAY.—There were middling supplies of all kinds of grain in this market to-day. Wheat and oats sold at 6d. per quarter higher than last Satur day. Barley remained unaltered. Prices :—Wheat 365. to 535. 6d. per quarter ; barley, 295. to 395. 6d. per quarter ; oats, 21s. to 235. per quarter. DONCASTER CATTLE MARKET, SATURDAY. —At this mar ket io-day an advance of 10s. to £1 was made on cattle, 3s. to 4s. on sheep, and 6d. to ls. on pigs. There was a good show, and brisk demand on all. METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET, SATURDAY.—The supply of meat has been moderate. The trade has been dull, as follows :—Beef, from 3s. Bd. to ss. 2d. ; mutton, 4s. to ss. : veal, 58. to ss. 6d. ; and pork, 4s. to ss. Bd. per 81b. by the carcase. LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET, SATURDAY.—This market opened steady to-day, at the closing prices of yesterday. The probable sales are 10,000 bales. The imports are 2,577 bales. There are no Surats. Closing Report.-- There was a good trade and export demand at this market to-day. Prices were not quotably dearer, but the turn against buyers. Sales 12,000 bales, including 4,000 on speculation and export. Ex arrival Charleston ship named, 7.1(1. METROPOLITAN HIDE AND SKIN MARKET, SATURDAY. —Market hides, 561bs. to 641bs, 31d. to 31d. ; 641bs. to 721bs, to na. ; 721bs. to 801bs., na. ; 801bs. to 881bs., 30. to 4d. ; 881bs. to 961b5., 4d. to 41d. ; 961bs. to 1041b5., 41d. to 40. Horse-hides, 10s. to 12s. Calf-skins, light, 2s. to 4s. ; full, 7s. 6d. Sheepskins, polled, ss. to 6s. 6d. ; half-breeds, 4s. to 4s. 6d. Downs, 3s. to 3s. 6d. METROPOLITAN HAY AND STRAW MARKET, SATUR DAY.--Mr. Charles James Eastern thus reports upon the state of the hay market. There was a good supply of both hay and clover on sale to-day. The former experienced a steady in quiry, at fully late rates ; but the latter was in limited request, at scarcely previous currencies. Straw was unchanged. Prime old hay, 1265. to 130 s. ; inferior ditto, 110 s. to 120 s. ; prime new hay, 115 s. to to 1255. ; inferior ditto, 100 s. to llos, ; prime clover, 130 s. to 140 s. ; inferior ditto, 115 s. to 1255. ; prime second-cut clover, 120 s. to 130 s. ; inferior ditto, 110 s. to 115 s. ; and straw, 30s. to 345. per load. LEEDS TRADE REPORT, SATURDAY.—For the manufac turers there has been a worse market to-day than last Saturday. Even• tweeds are worse to sell. There are buyers from London and Manchester, Scotland and Ireland, but on examining stocks instead of taking one or two score pieces, they mark only two or three. The trade in white goods is quite of sorting up kind. Victories have a preference if anything has. Good wool is sluggish, as the London sales begin in a fortnight, but all sorts of low wool are in good request, at full rates, because of the great demand for army cloths, blankets, and rugs for the German and French Governments. At Dewsbury German buyers are selecting both winter and spring goods. The Canadian trade is cropping up there again, making that district busier than either Leeds or Bradford. The flax trade has fair inquiry for hemps and tows, Yarns and thread are changeable In price. Little new flax from the Continent has yet been offered. The iron works are slacker, orders from the Continent not having come in as was expected. It is only on army machinery that work is now brisk. The coal trade has no change, and stock is accumulating. CLYDE CRUSHED SUGAR ArARKET, SATURDAY.—This market closed quietly to-day. A moderate business was done at a decline of 3d. to 6d. on the prices of last Saturday. THE WEEKLY PRESS. GAMBETTA AND BISMARCK. The Saturday Review says that last Saturday M. Gam betta dropped out of the skies at Amiens, the vehicle that bore him and his fortunes being a balloon which at one time hovered so closely over the Prussian lines that several shots passed through it. He was come to speak the thoughts and urge the demands of besieged and suffering Paris. Count Bismarck on his part has also issued a manifesto, and in it he regards the siege of Paris from a totally oppo site point of view. He considers Paris as certain to be forced into a surrender. He argues that the engage ments which have already taken place on the outskirts of Paris make it certain that the besieged can do nothing effectual to help themselves. The French believe so firmly in the power of Paris to resist the enemy, and in the destruction of the Germans if they persist in the attempt, that they would now only treat as being virtually the conquerors. Even if peace could be now made on terms which the Germans would not dream of accepting, the French would be so encouraged and elated by the successful resist ance of Paris that they would burn for another war to revenge Sedan. It is only by forcing Paris to surrender that the Germans can have any hope of avoiding another war, and therefore Count Bismarck lets it be understood that they most certainly will force it to surrender if they can, however fearful may be the misery the success of their arms will cause. THE DEMEANOUR OF PARIS. The Spectator observes that nothing in all this wonder ful war is more wonderful than the attitude of Paris. If it continues—and the best German authorities, Count Bismarck and General von Moltke, and the best French authorities, General Trochu and M. Gamb e tt a , ev id en tl y believe it will continue—it will furnish a final answer to those who dread that the manly qualities may decay in cities. Paris is, par excellence, the city where the evil results of city life might be expected to display themselves in all their virulence. It is the city of pleasure, full of vice, given to frivolity, and fond to distraction of sedentary amusement. The investment will probably not become a siege for the next few days, the necessary guns not having yet arrived, and even when it does, there is no evid ence th a t th e Pari sians will yield. Their city is of freestone, and will not burn. They have the greatest under-ground accommoda tion Gf any population in the world. Their water supply is believed by General Trochu to be sufficient, and their city covers too great an area to be shelled all at once. According to professional calculation, that operation would require 2,000 guns and 60,000 shells a day, four times at least the force the Germans can exert. The greatest fear is that of a panic s and General Trochu has taken the best method to avoid that by telling the people that they will be shelled and instructing them how best to put out fire. We see only too much reason, in the courage of the German army and the skill of the German generals, to believe that Paris will be captured ; but we see no reason to believe that its capture will not be a most dangerous, costly, and terrible exploit. So far, at least, there has been reason for the proud city's beli e f in herself. COUNT BERNSTORFF'S REJOINDER TO LORD GRANVILLE ON NEUTRALITY. The Economist thinks Count Bernstorff's rejoinder to Lord Granville ais very able but very inconclusive— and it is inconclusive for the commonest of all reasons, because it tries to prove too much. And while hunting out ancient though uselesscases, Count Bernstorff overlooks the plain, recent, and binding case of the American civil war. We then sent great quantities of arms and munitions to the North, though it was prac tically unfair, for we could send none to the South, which was then blockaded and closed. The last great war is the last great precedent. We cannot now act otherwise be tween Prussia and France than we did between South and North in America. And Prussia acted in exactly the same way by us and Russia in the Crimean war. She supplied Russia with arms and munitions and whatever else she could gain a profit by. On this point Count Bernstorff is even amusing. He will not go into the details of it for fear of exciting " angry feelings between the two nations." But he is ready enough to enter upon any detail and ra t e u p any old instances when he is making his case against England. It is only when he comes to defend his own country that he declines to go into facts. Of course in reality he only does so because those facts are quite against him. Everybody conversant with the matter k nows t h at the conduct of Prussia towards us then was exactly the same as she complains of in us now. Count Bernstorff can no more deny this than that the Prussians were beaten at Jena or that the French sur rendered at Sedan. We do not think our neutrality laws perfect, but we are sure that under oar laws the Govern ment have acted jus . tl- that th ey could not have acted otherwise legally, an' ‘hat the complainants would have acted now just as Lv have, for they have always done so before. THE TIN TRADE.—The adventurers in Cornish tin mines are greatly encouraged by the result of the Banca sale, and efforts are being made to re-work three or four abandoned concerns in the western part of the 'filE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY OCrOBER 17, 1870. TIT E WA 11... THE SIEGE OF PARIS (BY BALLOON MAIL.) I'ARIS, OCT. 10th. The utter dulness of the siege has, during the last few days, been relieved by some lively political contests. It has been expected, ever since the beginning of the investment, that the Reds would sooner or later give trouble, and a few days ago they seemed disposed to save us from disappointment in this respect. Their hostility for the first time became formidable, and at length broke out into open conflict But the fight, though sharp, has ended in the triumph of the Government. The regular authorities had, on their side, the whole , respectable por tion of the inhabitants; and even amongst the workmen the Ultras found few adherents. . The question of the municipal elections was the chief, though not the sole point, on which the Ultras joined issue. The other day, it will be remembered, Gus- tave Flourens held an armed demonstration with 10,000 National Guards in front of the Hotel de Ville. This show of force, however, failed in its objects, among which the immediate election of the mayors in the Paris communes was conspicuous. Refused his demands, M. Flourens gave in his resignation as head of the National Guard commanding the Ist Legion of the Seine. This demonstration passed off quietly, but in the evening a meeting was held on the 'Boulevard Prince Eugene, at which more than 3,000 persons were present, and at which Ledru Rollin spoke with all the fire and passion of earlier days, calling upon the citizens to demand the immediate for mation of the commune in Paris. The agitation' spread to some extent, and the indecisive attitude of the Govern ment favoured the notionthat they wouldultimately yield. Now, however, they have suddenly arrived at a decision and seem resolved to maintain it with vigour. On the evening of the 7th, a meeting of the Mayors and their subordinates was held, at which a vote was taken, result ing in 29 votes against 26 in favour of the immediate election of the Mayors. However, next morning an official notice, very firmly worded, appeared in the Journal - Officiel, intimating that the Government had thought it consistent with the principles it upheld to hold the municipal elections, but it had decided that in presence of an enemy investing the capital all elections should be postponed, and, moreover, that it would know how to make the power which it had been entrusted with by the people respected by the armed dembnstrations. This decision had, it appears, been arrived at mainly through the in fluence of Jules Favre, who now holds the office of Minister of the Interior in addition to his own portfolio. Gambetta is believed to have favoured • the project of municipal elections, and even to have asked Ledru Rollin to take up the matter. It is not therefore surprising that with such conflicting opinions in the Cabinet no decision could be arrived at until Gambetta had left for Tours. It was at once apparent from this manifesto of the Government, that there was some ground for apprehending a collision, but it was also evident that the authorities were prepared to resist it. However, the people were peaceable enough, though on the day on which the notice appeared in the Journal Officiel, - some 2,500 men, mostly unarmed, assembled in front of the Hotel de Ville, in answer to an appeal made by the organ of the extreme party, the Patrie en Danger. This demonstration passed off harmlessly however and the arrival of General Trochu and his staff was the signal for loud cheers. It was evident that in spite of the persistent efforts made in some quarters, and of the alarm occasioned by the beating of the rappel, there was no danger of a serious emeute. The people were uneasy and troubled, but nothing like civil war was to be dpprehended. The majority are disgusted with the small, but noisy party who are always seeking to create disturbance under some form or another. The Government have won respect by their firmness in the matter, and in the present state of affairs it is a point gained to know they Can be firm in the exercise of their authority, even if, as some think, they have been somewhat arbitrary in its display. The complete and fortunate collapse of this movement is probably due in a great measure to mutual disagree ments among its leaders. There is no love lost between Blanqui and Ledru Rollin, and neither of them get on with Felix Pyat. Flourens, who has taken a prominent part in the m.atter, has withdrawn his resignation, or, as some say, has been re-elected. In either case, it is to be hoped he will henceforth have more regard to the serious necessities of the situation than to keep General Trochu waiting to receive him for five hours, as he did on the last occasion, while the cannon was sounding all the while from the ramparts. It is no wonder that under these circum stances General Trochu should have declared that unless an immediate stop were put to these armed demonstra tions he should resign. He was supported in this by Jules Favre, and together they carried the day. . The Reds will have some difficulty in renewing this battle. The position of the Government has been greatly strengthened by their victory, and the Ultras are propor tionately depressed. The one man in the Government who might have sympathised with them has, moreover, gone —up in a balloon—to Tours. Gambetta is, indeed, too wise to openly aid the Reds even if he were here ; but his opinions are extreme, and it would not be unnatural if the men of demonstrations were encouraged by his presence.' Gambetta departed on the 7th to infuse some energy into the very lifeless operations at Tours. After much anxiety, a pigeon has been received from him, shewing that he is all safe. the ground to be attacked is so very much larger and more broken, and that whereas Strasburg lies on our frontier , the hdstile capital is at a great distance, from it, and at the end of our line of operations. We have certainly, by the fall of Toul, and the restoration of the bridges over the Aflame, between Meux and La Ferte, re-opened rail way communication with the front, and are now in a position to bring up our heavy guns ; yet there remains the tough work of transporting the cannon over hill and dale to the places where they are to be put in battery— a labour which in front of Duppel, it will be remem bered, sometimes required an entire company for a single gun. When the soil is very uneven, or else softened by rain, horses frequently cannot be employed for this purpose. We must not omit mentioning that the portion of the environs from which a bombardment could be directed, not alone against the main rampart and several suburbs, but against the very heart of the city, is the most hilly and impracticable of all. It is, however, probable that the bombardment of the city will not be proceeded with until the fire of several forts has been silenced. Great as might be the impression made by a bombardment, it cannot be our object to aim at a partial result. To secure all we want, and secure it safely, we require the forts. We may confidently expect that we shall not be long in conquering some. The formidable power of some new kinds of guns, as well as the application of the indirect shot for making a breach, so success fully practised at Strasburg, are sure to have the more effective results the slower and the more careful the preparations made. The investing army has the means to protect itself from rain and cold, and as the winter at Paris is, as a rule, much milder than in Germany, we may hope to brave the rigours of the season without any very sensible suffering. Paris, on the other hand, will get weaker every day the siege lasts. Pro visions will become scarcer and scarcer, and the prole teniat is likely to rise ultimately against the wealthy,— a contingency hastened on by our hindering any fresh supplies reaching the beleaguered town. Our numerous cavalry is quite competent to carry this out. The French Minister of the Interior, in his latest circular of the 9th instant, assures his countrymen that Paris can neither be'taken 'by force, nor surprise, nor famine, nor rehellion. His self-delusion, it must be admitted, is complete. He enumerates the very calamities which will compel surrender, and in his blind confidence draws a false conclusion. Our task is to possess ourselves of the French capital with as little loss of time and life as pos sible. We are sure to master the uncommonly difficult probleM, but shall scarcely succeed so very rapidly as the anxious expectation of our countrymen would desire." THE GERMAN PLAN OF ATTACK. A somewhat extraordinary official declaration has been published in the Staats-Auzciger at Berlin. The Prussian public seems t) have grown impatie at the long inaction of the Germans before Paris—the wives and children want their husbands and fathers at home, and it has appeared wise to declare publicly the reasons why the besieging army is not getting on so fast as the Berliners think it ought. This document is remarkable in several particu lars. It declares that the siege is a very difficult under taking indeed. It must occupy a considerable time. It announces that the besiegers will not be satisfied with merely sitting down before the place in order to starve it into surrender. Both a siege and a bombardment will be tried. The latter agency, however, will not be brong - h6 into play until the Germans have obtained possession of some of the forts—which they confidently expect to do. Then if the city does nor capitulate, the horrors• of a bombardment will be inflicted. The document commences by stating that peace in a war with France can be obtained only at the capital. If the French Ministry had possessed a good army the capture of the city might have been a work of extreme difficulty. One-half of the French troops has, however, been annihilated and the other shut up. But the energetic commander who has the control of the defence still possesses such resources that the task is one of the most difficult recorded in military history :—" Considered as an object of attack, Paris can be scarcely regarded as a fortress. It is rather a fortified battlefield, with forts covering every point of access. Among- these forts some are strong enough to rank as citadels of themselves, while others, as for instance Mont Val6rien and St. Denis, are well known to exceed the strength of many a fortress. Behind the forts there is a continuous rampart nearly six geographical miles in circumference. It would take no less than twelve hours to visit the forts in succession, the sphere of their efficiency actually extending over 18 hours. Owing to the immense circle to be guarded the investment of Paris cannot possibly be so close as was that of Stras burg. Another circumstance- which greatly interferes with our cutting off allcommunication between Paris and the rest of France is the hilly nature of the environs, which, covered with gardens and villages and traversed by roads and watercourses, renders the duty of the troops surrounding the city extremely arduous. To bring up more troops would complicate matters by having more mouths to feed. Directly our generals recognised that, cc% ing to the unavoidable incompleteness of the invest ment and the position of affairs in the interior, reduction by mere enclosure would not lead to a piompt result, preparations were begun to bombard and regularly be siege the place. Although in a city of 2,000,000 inhabitants the steady decrease of provisions and the progressive disorganisation of society alone may be regarded as guaranteeing ultimate surrender, still, as the inclement season is drawing near, a partial bom bardment accompanied by an attack upon those of the advanced forts whose possession may be indispensable in certain contingencies will be an effective means to accele rate the catastrophe. But the preparations for bom bardment and a regular siege require an amount of time and force which it is difficult for the unprofessional mind to realise. It is true the conquest of Strasburg has been achieved with so astonishing a rapidity that the public, unacquainted with the technical ob stacles in the way, may be pardoned for mea suring Paris by the Strasburg standard. But there is this wide difference between the two cases, that in Paris REQUISITIONS AT VERSAILLES. i . A correspondent writing from the head-quarters of the "King of Prussia at Versailles, on the Bth instant, remarks :—The. adjustment of the various requisitions requires infinite tact and patience, for those who have the regulation of them are between two fires. The Prussians insist and their poor fellow citizens desprecate. How to satisfy both? They probably find that an insoluble problem. It is said that things are better since the King came, that his royal eyes have spied out the barrenness of the land, and his lips countermanded t certai already-ordered financial inflictions. The C rown Princ had previously stopped the killing of mi.ch cows —the eese, as Paddy would say, who laid the golden eggs—for butter is still three and four francs a pound; and it remained for the King to go a step further in relieving the cry of distress. I belieii poor Versailles is really not in a position to bear a heaVy burden. During the last ten years, as any of the inhabitants will tell you, the compulsory construction of schools, and of various works tending to increase the comfort and health of the place, has entailed upon it a debt of, in round numbers, four millioons of francs. Thus Versailles was already in a condition calling for strict and vigilant economy. Its occupation by the Germans has dried up most of the sources of its ,-,revenne, and inflicted upon it, in three weeks, expenses which are calculated to amount to the respectable sum of £24,000 sterling. During the last few days, it is acknow ledged, the foreign authorities have seemed to recognise and appreciate its hard position. Versailles never lives, except by a borrowed life, and now it is cut off from the foreign centre of its being. Its richest inhabitants have quitted it. The poor, whom we have always with us, have had their little taken away to feed the in vader ; and the small rentiers and pensioners, who always swarm in a place like this, now find themselves in a position which may fairly be termed precarious. This is the fate of the losing side in war, unless indeed the conquerors be very sentimental people indeed. I read in your columns of cruelties committed by the invaders. I can only say that I, personally, have wit nessed none of them, or I should have reported them with impartial fidelity. But the Prussians are not folks to be trifled with. When they say a thing they mean it ; and when they order a thing they see that it is done. Two gentlothen belonging to the Prefecture—MM. Manuel and Dutilleux—resigned the other day their posts, but took care to disappear. A third, M. Cochard, resigned, but remained here. He was fined 200 f. Refusing to pay it, he was walked off to the barracks in the Rue Royale, and there incarcerated. Loss of liberty brought to him an altered mind. He has since paid the eight pounds. and resumed his functions. Yet there is generally, if not always, a most even justice in the proceedings of the victors. •At first they pitched upon the Church of Notre Dame as the sacred edifice where they would like to hear Lutheran service. The curd not wishing to be alone in what he deemed misfortune, petitioned that the other quarter of the town should take it turn and turn about with the one where stands Notre Dame. His prayer was at once heard, and every, other Sunday the cathedral likewise opens its door to the heretics. Of course this in nowise interferes with the Roman Catholic services. It is only introducing in France a tolerant custom long practised in many parts of Germany. Amongst the Imperial documents now being given to the world, is a letter from General Todleben. It gives a decidedly favourable opinion of the Paris fortications. A correspondent of the Cologne Gazette testifies to the activity with which the new troops of Paris are being drilled. They parade under the very eyes of the Germans well knowing that the latter will not fire upon them. M. Gambetta desired to leave Paris three days before he could get away. The wind was unfavourable. When the party got off, the crowds, who had been watching every day, were seized with a panic through fear that the travellers would come down in the midst of their enemies. A letter hi a German paper says that the German troops are being taught the use of the Chassepot before Paris, and will soon open fire with that weapon. " None of our men have as yet starved, although they may have had to subsist on potatoes for some few days. Wine is still found in large quantities hidden away under ground in the gardens, even in some of the places where the first detachments of our men had sought for and found whole treasures of it. Our provision convoys are on the road, and no fears can be entertained of our being deficient in the necessaries of life." The writer does not say what will happen if the convoys are by chance intercepted. A curious document has been found among the 'papers in the Tuileries. It is a note from M. Rouher to his Im perial master, commenting on the characters of the prin cipal politicians of the dynasty who have been suggested as Minister of the Interior. The portraits have been sketched off without particular ability, but so as to shew the merits and defects of each individual. But it is notice .able that in running over the parliamentary bodies, the Administration, the magistracy, &c., M. Rouher can only find old men, invalids, frivolous idlers, or incapables, and, moreover, he gives the Emperor to understand that these are a fair representation of France. The able correspondent of the Cologne Gazette says that the position before Paris is getting very uncomfortable. " The nights," he says, " are bitterly cold, and though the troops besieging Paris are mostly in cantonments, the wind blows through the broken window panes of the peasants' cottages over the straw or mattrass. The fire in the great is not sufficient, and soon goes out, for every stool cannot be brought near it, and if short commons hefal the troops for several days, and even wine and brandy, with the potatoes come to an end, the shivering under our thin garments will be terrible. Every contin gency must, therefore, be provided for." BAZAINE'S LATE MOVEMENTS. The correspondent of the Daily Hem writes as follows from Retonfay on the 9th inst. :—lt is not difficult, I think, to form a tolerably correct opinion as to the plan of Bazaine's tactics of yesterday. At the lowest estimate he must have 65,000 troops, which, so tar as the defence of Metz is concerned, are superfluous, and, therefore, detrimental. This element is the lever which the Prussians are using for the reduction of the fortress. They are ploughing their enemy's ground with their enemy's heifer. A hundred thousand men will sooner consume a given quantity of provisions than will twenty thousand; and when the larger number reach s/arvation point, the su rren d er o f every thi ng —fi e ld troops, ka.rrison, fortress, and town—must occur. But for theih appreciation of this eventuality, nothing would please the Prussians better than to open a fair passage to Bazaine any hour in the twenty-four. He might come dutside the cordon and welcome, with 60,000 men, and in the course of the following day, when he was holding a council of war, and debating more Gall/co, whether to march on Sedan or strike south ward and cut the Prussian communications, a hundred thousand Prussians would fall upon him from all points of the compass and smite him hip and thigh. But if his army were chopped into fragments to-morrow, the fort ress of Metz, with its garrison left inside, would still con front the besiegers, and its reduction would be postponed in proportion to the procrastination of the starva tion point effected by the fewer mouths to feed. Of all this Bazaine, a capable man, whose energy and merits the Prussians acknowledge frankly, cannot fail to be aware. He objects to capitulation simpliciter in the fortress, or to the alternative of capitulation or annihila tion in the open field. But there lies the Moselle, beckoning him on to the half-way house of Thionville, and beyond Thionville, at the distance of a single forced march, lies the frontier. Oh !if he could only dash out through that vexatious cordon. Across the beautiful plain lie the divisions of the Landwehr. A regular soldier himself, Bazaine has probably learned to despise the Garde Mobile with all the contempt of a veteran used to command veteran troops ; and nothiug is more natural than for a Frenchman to reason from a false analogy that, as the Garde Mobile, so are the Landwehr. To-day he has to digest his miscon ception as best he may. But the conception of Bazaine's effort was creditable to his knowledge of the .military art. While he made his grand effort against the Land wehr in the valley, he did his best to keep the other sections of the environing circle from finding leisure to concentrate in support of the Landwehr. The attack on Vany, L'Orme, and Chieulles was well calculated to engross the 10th Army Corps ; that from Mey on Noisseville and Servigny might well perform the same office with regard to the Ist Army Corps; the 7th Army Corps might be supposed to have their hands pretty well full with the sortie against Peltre, Mercy-le- Haut, and Ars-Laquenexy ; and with luck this sortie, too, might get through as far as the depot at Cour celles, and bring back of its abundance to the Gardes Nationales who were plying the big guns on the ramparts, and to the hungry citizens. The well conceived feint against Ladonchamps was intended to keep the 3rd Army Corps in play, occupying as it does the slopes between the valley and the fort of Plappeville. And then—there was but the Landwehr to cope with, and surely 40,000 veteran French troops might crash through the lines of these citizen soldiers, wea kened as those lines were by elongation across the whole plateau. Then, hey for Thionville ! only ten miles off, where a secure lair might be had under the guns of that fortress, while the columns caught their wind ; and then, picking up by the way what superfluous troops there might be in its garrison, one long march to the frontier, and it gained a surrender to the Dutch troops instead of the detested Prussians. This I. state to have been Bazaine's pro gramme. Had it succeeded Metz would have been a tougher nut for the Prussians to crack than ever ; their policy, of starvation would have been seriously compro misedi and Bazaine's field army would only have antici pated the inevitable capitulation. The two grand blunders which; defeated the scheme were the misconception on Bazaine's part of the strength, prowess, and effective dis positions of the Landwehr, and the mistaken idea that his feints to the right and left would so engross the 10th and 3rd -Army Corps as to prevent them from aiding the Landwehr to give him check on the plateau. His error on the former point must have come home to him when he saw his regulars recoiling pell-mell from the bayonet points of the Llandwehr men in the villages ; the salvoes of artillery sent by the 10th Army Corps from Malroy, Olgy, and other heights on the east side of the Moselle, and by the 3rd Army Corps from Frenecourt, Sennecourt, and the heights above St. Remy, all coigns of vantage on the bluffs on the western fringe of the valley, must have made him comprehend that a feigned attack, even if considerable, was not capable of engrossing the full attention of a Prussian Army Corpg. The batteries on the positions I have named enfiladed him ruinously. Down the valley there tore a fierce direct fire from the batteries at Amelange and those in front of Brieux, which advanced by alternate batteries with as much coolness and precision as I have seen the troops of a cavalry regiment working in the Phcenix Park; while from the heights on either side came such a cross-fire that I am filled with respect for the troops of Bazaine, when I realise the fact that they waited for the bayonet to dis lodge them from their position. Add to Bazaines disad vantages that he was miserably short of field artillery, and the conclusion is obvious that he could not but have failed under the circumstances, while the deduction is no less patent that the frustration of any future attempt is equally inevitable. ANIMOSITY OF THE FRENCH PEOPLE, The German papers contain many details illustrating the implacable hatred with which the French people re gard the invaders of their country. In some places the inhabitants refrain from open acts of violence, and con fine themselves to secret deeds, but in others they seem prepared to run any risk in order to kill a German. The Lorraine correspondent of the Cologne Gazette says :—" I can only repeat what I told you formerly as to the peculiar feeling of enmity which appears to animate the people dwelling in the country about and around Metz. Again last week some people lying in ambush fired upon our troops at Marieulx. The sudden attack was so severe as to warrant the entrance of several regiments into the woods to search them thoroughly, but the perpetrators of this outrage were not discovered. In a neighbouring village the main road was barricaded with heavy stones. The commune was visited with a heavy fire, which was quintupled on the following day, as the stones had not been cleared away." This note scouts the idea of annexing such a country to Germany. Another correspondent writing from Mulhouse says :—" We are quartered with the 25th Regiment at the railway station, and we dare not venture into the town unless we are armed to the very teeth, for our people are being continually fired upon, although up to the present moment only one IThlan has been killed. Last evening one of our sentries arrested a working man at the entrance to the railway station, as he heard him remark to a com rade as he passed him, ' When night comes on he won't stand long sentry there."' Near 11ietz a few days ago a woman offered some brandy for sale, attracting a group of soldiers round her, but it was found to be poisoned, and she was arrested. An officer writes from Champey We are no longer sure of our lives; an army gendarme has just been shot before our door, and when an officer hurried out to look for the criminal two bullets whistled past his ear. The offenders unfortunately could not be discovered." Herr Wachenhusen affirms that at Nancy the billeting of the soldiers has been discontinued, owing to the con stant murders committed on them in their quarters. " There, as in every part of France occupied by the invaders, the hatred of the people is daily increasing, and the foolish hope of driving out the enemy by a national rising is fanned by emissaries of the Republic." The number of vessels taken by the French in the war is not large—only thirty-two in aIL Dr. Russell's authority for what passed between the King , and the Emperor at Sedan was the Crown Prince. The Germans estimate their losses in the latest battles before Metz at 800 killed and wounded. The correspon dent of the Ti4nes says they must have lost a great many more than these. The Polish feeling seems to be strongly in favour of France. A good many French prisoners were sent to Posen (Polish Prussia), but the manifestations of sym pathy were so general that the Government thought it wiser to remove them. The Germans (to not leave the French prisoners in idle ness. A number of them have been employed in the canal works at Ems ; 2,100 are digging the canal which will join the Ems to the Vecht ; another thousand men are strengthening the canal at Wiek, and joining it to that at Rhanderfehn. Huts made of plank-wood have been put together to shelter the prisoners and their keepers. A new version of the three mysterious coffins, which have been so frequently referred to in the papers, appears in the Courier du Pas de Calais, a writer in which journal says that he has conversed with a traveller from Cham pagne, who assured him that these three coffins, in fact, contained nothing but rare and valuable articles stolen from Compiegne, Fontainebleau, and FeiTibres I Many men of the French Imperial Guard were cap tured in the sortie of the 7th. They said they had nothing to' complain about ; that pork, and sometimes beef, was served out to them, but they believed that the rest of the army had really nothing but horseflesh to subsist on ; and the same story from all—no salt. An examination of the haversacks seemed to confirm this statement, for whilst the men of the Guard had rations of salt pork and biscuit the men of the other corps had nothing. After hearing so much about the education, refinement, and generally guileless disposition of the Prussians, it is astonishing to find a war correspondent of the Post loudly complaining of their behaviour :—" The arrogance and churlisiness of the few Prussian officers we encountered in the trains and at the hotels disgusted us. They could not even address an English lady with ordinary peliteness. They were not " jacks in office," as their uniforms and decorations showed; but their conduct was not such as we are in the habit of associating with gentlemen either in England or in France. Mr. Bancroft, the American Minister at Berlin, re ceived the congratulations of Count Bismarck on the fiftieth anniversary of th e , d a te when he received his doctor's degree. Mr. Bancroft sent a warm reply. nu' American is very popular at Berlin. The Standard is authorized to give a complete con tradiction to the statement contained in the letter of the correspondent of the Daily News at Tours, to the effect that the Empress of the French was cognizant of the manoeuvre by which General Bourbaki was induced to quit Metz. But this " authorization," coming, as it must from an interested party, is scarcely sufficient. It will be well to hear what General Bourbaki has to say no the subject. The official 'journal of Stuttgard publishes a manifesto on the subject of the proposed new Confederation, which leaves no doubt that Wurtemberg agrees with Bavaria in demanding greater individual freedom than meets the wishes of Count Bismarck. It says :—" A careful ex's' mination of the North-German constitution led to the conviction that these ends may be attained without accepting all the provisions of that constitution as they stand, since they contain many things ,essential for the formation of a strong and lasting State, but also others which are less essential and accidental, as they arose from the peculiar - circumstances of Northern Germany. It appeared desirable that the various States should be allowed a greater freedom of action, especially in finan cial and administrative matters. The Government of Wurtemberg has been actively engaged in this sense." DISTURBANCES IN MARTINrCO.—A letter which has arrived at Rouen states that serious disturbances have taken place at Martinico. A band of desperate men set to work to destroy the places which were situated on the south of the island. The greatest consternation was spread through the island in consequence of the murders com mitted, and the fires caused by these ruffians. Martinico has been deprived of troops through the disastrous effects of the Prussiari war, and the task of restoring order was accordingly left to the volunteers. Young men belonging to the first families in the colony responded readily to the appeal of the Government, and hopes are entertained of the speedy re-establishment of tranquillity. THE PLOTS UNDER THE EMPIRE.—It has been proved that under the Second Empire the Prefecture of Police was transformed into a veritable laboratory for the manufacture of plots which were organised by M.Aii Pietri and. Lagrange. With the exception 0 Orsini's and Pianori's attempts, and the last movement of La Yillette, 'the machinations of the Imperial police may be found in all the celebrated trials which served to consolidate the fallen regime. In 1863, for instance the famous plot of the four Italians was dis covered, whose principal instigator, named Greco, suffered for his complicity in it by being condemned to transportation for life. The said Greco was, however, the secret agent of M. Lagrange, who liberated him in the night and 'N.ovided him with means to depart for America; where for many years the Imperial Government has conferred a pension on him. Greco changed his name and called himself Rubotti,.under which name he recently arrived at Paris to assist the police in the prefecture. Greco is now in confinement and has signed a declaration of his misdeeds. A little while before these events the' same Lagrange went to Florence, accompanied by -several of his agents. Their avowed mission was to assassinate or carry off blazzini. Many of the accomplices of these plots are shut up in the Conciergerie, and their written confessions will be made public. In 1870 the various plots which have recently been tried at Blois were organised by the police. Ballot, one of the assistants, had demanded £20,000 for his pains, and had already received £BOO, with which he had paid his sub-agents. It ap pears from the various confessions which have been made that these schemes were vigorously carried on under the orders of M. Pietri for the purpose of assisting the plebiscite. Bernier, the Juge d'lnstruction, is supposed t 3 have been concerned in some of these affairs, and it is proved that he made his inquiries in the room of M. Lagrange. The prefect of police has resolved to make known many other documents which have been discovered in proportion as the inquiries which are being carried on shall proceed. ART, MUSICAL, AND LITERARY GOSSIP. We understand that Mr. Swinburne has in contemPla . ion a poem, founded on one of the Mediaeval Romances. —lt is rumoured that the first article in the cur rent number of the Westminister Review—that on the Land question in England—is from the pen of Mr. D. Syme, a well-known Melbourne journalist.-- A work now in Messrs. Trubner's hands will incidentally thrcw some light on the intellectual capacity of Hindi:o women, commonly treated as nil, but this history of Hindu poetry will give names and specimens of twenty eight poetesses.—lt is announced that, next month, Putnam's Magazine will be merged in Scribner's Monthly.—Among the signs of the growing spirit of collectorship in the United States, noW affecting our markets, is the establishment at New York of a dealer in autographs, continental currency, engravings, and old books, as also the publication of a small quarterly journal called "American Antiquarian." —lt is announced that in Rome a commission has been appointed for the preservation of the libraries and mu seums of the Eternal City. Contrary to the experience of unfortunate Strasbourg, no harm is reported to have befallen the buildings and other works of art in Rome. Former accounts of ravage and de struction in Strasbourg are more than con firmed by those who have entered the desolated city. — A month's season of, Italian opera will be commenced at Covent Garden Theatre on the 31st inst., under Mr. Mapleson's sole management.—Mr. Wood has announced that he will not continue his Italian Opera speculation at Drury Lane Theatre next season. The Orchestra, which is the organ of the ex-impresario, states that the cause of the financial failure of last year's undertaking was reliance on the star-system ; and as Mdlle. Nilsson, during the best period of the season, was unable to sing. from illness, the general public failed to recognise the excellence of the ensemble in the works in which the prima donna did not appear.—Madame Parepa, having failed in her endeavours to establish an English Opera-house in London, is about to return to America with a touring troupe of singers from this country. — The Italian Opera Company is expected at Calcutta in two or three weeks, and the performances are to begin in November.—Atheneum. THE NORWICH BANK FAILURE.—Mr. R. Allday Kerrison and Mr. R. Kerrison, the surviving partners of the Norwich Bank, applied at the County. Court to pass on the accounts rendered by them in regard to the bank ruptcy. The trustee did not oppose and stated that Mr. Allday Kerrison had, to the utmost of his power, pro moted the realisation of his property for division among his creditors. His Honour :—That being the case he is entitled to pass. The unfortunate proceed ings are known to all the world, and I am glad that, under the new act of Parliament, there has been so speedy a dividend. In so gigantic a case of misfor tune it seems creditable to all parties. I sympathise with Mr. Kerrison, who has acted as everybody who has known him would have expected him to do. He has the sym pathy, I believe, of the public also, certainly he has my approbation in every way.—The bankrupts then passed. — Mr. Reeve said he was glad that his Honour had decided that Mr. Kerrison was entitled to pass on his accounts, and that he had conducted himself like a gentleman. The trustee had made the most searching investigation into the accounts, and Mr. Kerrison perfectly satisfied him. — Mr. Coaks said certain legal questions had arisen in the administration of the affairs of the trust which of necessity altered some of the accounts filed by Mr. Kerrison. Kerrison was not responsible for these alterations ; they were the result of legal principles applied to the matter at issue. With these exceptions the accounts were perfectly correct. The bankrupts would have to pass an exami nation and swear to the accuracy of these accounts ; there fore it is necessary he should protect that oath by informing the Court that in the ultimate winding-up of this matter certain amendments will have to be made. The accounts which have been filed are the best which could be filed according to the knowledge and belief of Mr. Kerrison at the present time. ADVERTISEMENT.—HoIIoway's Ointment and Pills. — Security against Bad Health.—With the cool, shortening days of autumn, maladies will be made manifest unless the blood be pure and the skin be active. Eruptions, blotches, and more formidable skin affections may be successfully subjugated by the use of Holloway's deter gent Ointment, when it is aided by moderate doses of his purifying Pills. Hoarseness, sore throat, chronic cough, enlarged glands, and stiff neck w ill b e a t once re li ev ed by rubbing this cooling Ointment upon the skin overlying or adjacent to the afflicted parts. Diptheria, formerly called malignant sore throat—an old disease under a new name—is effectually met at the outset by the antiphlo gistic and detergent influence of these celebrated medica ments. ' BIRTHS. On the 12th inst., at 34, Grosvenor-street, Lady Vernon, of a daughter. On the 13th inst., at Farnborough-hill, Hants, the wife of Captain Hugh Chichester, R.H.A., of a daughter. MARRIAGES. On the 13th inst., at St. Botolph, Bishopsgate, Charles Frederick Chubb, of Stratford Toney, Salisbury, to Elizabeth Hill, only daughter of William Golding Finch, of Bishopsgate-street. On the 13th inst., at Otterburn, Henry Fellows, Esq., of Beeston, Nottinghamshire, and Lincoln's-inn, banister at-law, io Emily Hope, only daughter of Thomas James, Esq., of Otterburn Tower, Northumber/and. DZATHS. On the 14th inst., at Suffolk Villa, Compton-road, Isling• ton, William Andre, Esq., aged 64. On the 13th inst., at Bredgar, Kent, Ashley Ruck, Esq., aged 55. London : Printed by GIDEON ACLAND BOYCE, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, and Published by him at THE SUN Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County of Middlesex. Monday, October 17, 1870. t ( ~,e --- tto tot au/