The Sun. — London, England, 1870-12-20 00:00:00

~,,I, .•••••••••••••'''. reholders in ie City Ter m.p., in the •t, of Whi ch ipts for the 1 15s. 6d., 'son tickets, 20,948 hY; iditure had to revenu e r ward, if° le interest ;, 230,8 0 remain °, a dividend ing forwar d . itors during se of abo ut placed in ° a be opene d tival will b° 311 the final , ' mpany were HERS OF e Salisbury ;ct subsoil? sed peassu Ls had beers That a cow' the peasant e their net n. secrete:. ttee. 3. Th" ners' clubs/ A corn an city to th is t purpose ° he collectioe at the Gene' ; w ith mal l at corn an 5. That the ;ain the loan ng contribly n. He said o produce an and Franc e, ;fits to heti} CES AT ration of the as passed off oys marched Hall to the 'hem. They Ld dispersed . same hall to some firino aimed. Th e ry, and in dary." , the Derry cession frog' bcen Or: 3r, five reel' appearance ;, warned the t their Pro ;a of a Pr °. fternonn t he , all suspend disturbarw e ere smashed , e treets.' Th b other moll" Rea, of Bel conveyed to 3 custody for were let out A son of the ) Apprentice latholics and )N OUR )NA.RCV. 7' 11, before the case of til e trial. It Haag d been re' ninal Coa t i Ly n , Edvtel; •ard, Jos Pd Hodges,. ;stablishlng's, ice Con- 1 1:° 11 a ty, 1869, Man,„ ircums tale e; consequelless e rs' n. the r ar. The 0 1 11 5 m . ton apPV' ret Mr. D. SeY r defendants. motion for on the plea; :vidence, au" lasted fifteen winding the mist be very ration wohl" jt had been d had been ild have telli e Lord Cl'le health an,„ ona l distoru t corrected Tue an d to e ed. A d°s e, but a c o lt i nv alid, improv e I ce ne Udine' iasons, sys i n crea.sf e ;aide to SPECIAL EDITION. SUN OFFICE, 7 Pad. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE WAR. CAPTURE OF NUITS. VERSAILLES, December 19. An official report has been received from General Werder, announcing the capture of Nuits on the evening of the 18tb. He states that 6,000 prisoners were taken, and that the French were pursued on the following day in a south-westerly direction. The 10th Army Corps carried on the pursuit as far as Epinsay, taking a few more prisoners, and one of the colours of the French. On the 17th an engagement took place between Le Poislay and La Fontenelle, where the French had assembled a force of 10,000 men. The Germans were again victorious in driving the enemy from his position. The Germans ale now advancing on Chateau Renault. SEIZURE OF FRENCH HOSTAGES. At Dijon the Prussians have taken forty of the principal householders as hostages, and sent them off to Germany. NEWS FROM PARIS. A. despatch feom Auxerre, dated the 18th, states that a balloon descended on the 17th in the depart ment of the Marne, bringing news from Paris. No fighting had taken place since the Ist of December. M. Gambetta had communicated by aid of pigeons with the authorities in Paris, but the population of the city were not at all discouraged by the news communicated. A. settled determination prevailed to persevere with the strongest resistance to the last. • The utmost tranquility prevails throughout Paris. Provisions were by no means scarce, so that the means of holding out for a considerable time existed. ENCOUNTER NEAR HAVRE. Intelligence comes from Bordeaux that on the 19th the Francs:tireurs of Elbosuf attacked a party of sixty mounted Germans near Havre, of whom ten were killed and a great many wounded. STORMING OF NUITS BY THE GERMANS. A telegram from Bordeaux of the 18th, states that Nuits, 14 miles south of Dijon, has been re occupied by the French ; and a telegram from Baden reports the recapture of the place by the Germans. General Glumer, commanding two brigades of Badish troops, marched yesterday (Monday, December 19) aga!nst the town, and found it occupied with considerable hostile forces. A serious engagement ensued, and in the end the military station and town of Nuits were stormed. Very few details are given. No prisoners or guns are mentioned, and the French are said to have withdrawn at nightfall. The fact that Prince William of Baden, brother of the Grand Duke, took a prominent part in the fight, as attested by his wound, shows that importance was attached to the possession of the place. It is by no means improbable that the force opposed to General Glumer, was partly composed of Gari baldians, Nuits being only five and twenty miles from Autun. The following official despatch has been re ceived : " General Glumer marched to-day with the Ist and 2nd Brigades against Nuits, where he encoun tered considerable hostile forces. A. serious engage-. ment ensued, terminating by the storming of the railway station and the town of Nuits. The enemy withdrew at nightfall. Our losses are about 300 men killed and wounded. Prince William of Baden was slightly wounded in the cheek." THE SIEGE OF PARIS. HEADQUARTERS OF THE CROWN PRINCE OF PRUSSIA, VERSAILLES, December 19. The arrival at Versailles of a deputation of the North German Parliament to congratulate King William on the change of style from Confederation to Empire is regarded as a good omen for the mili tary events which may soon be expected. The destruction of the Army of tho Loire is thought cer tain ; and though Paris may resist, it is not believed that France can struggle on much after the end of the old year. _ _ This, at least, is the Garman opinion. There is, of course, a chance that fighting may be indefinitely prolonged. The obstinate endurance of the French may hold out until April. BRUSSELS, December 19. Late accounts from Versailles state that the suddenness and largeness of the new call upon German manhood is considered to indicate most clearly the fact that Moltke has found the besieging army far too weak to invest Paris. Thoughtful men at headquarters say that one or two sorties like the last, with better plans and more men, might almost force the German commanders to raise the siege. It is for the defensive, not the offensive, that the huge levies of Landwehr are coming up— to strengthen the German' lines, and not to attack Paris. The conviction gains ground that the besieged force is more than three times as numerous as the besiegers, and that this fact constitutes an element of great danger. The New Prussian (Cross) Gazette of the 19th says that all-the causes which rumour has recently assigned for the delays in the bombardment of Paris are totally incorrect. The excessive difficulties ex perienced in the transport of war material will shortly have been overcome, and then further action will be solely guided by supreme military considera tions. The Kreuz Zeitung reports that all difficulties of transport to the bombardment of Paris will speedily be removed, and that military considerations will decide the question when the bombardment will take place. The constant escape of youths from Lorraine to join the French armies is reported here. KING WILLIAM AND THE GERMAN EMPIRE. BERLIN, December 19, (8 p.m.) On the reception of the address of the North G-er nun Parliament at the Royal Headquarters, Ver sailles, his Maje* having thanked the deputies by Whom it was presented, said : "The request addressed to me by the King of Bavaria, to re-establish the dignity of Emperor of the old German 'Reich' has filled me with deep emotion; but you know that, in this question, which affects such highly esteemed interests, and memories so greatly Cherished by the German nation, my own feelings or my own judgment cannot influence my decision. Only in the unanimous voice of the German Princes and Free Towns—only in the united wish of the German nation and its representatives—shall I recog nise a call from Providence to which, relying. upon God's blessing, I could conform." THE NEUTRALITY OF LUXEMBURG. We are able to state that the freedom of decision relative to the neutrality of Luxemburg which Count Bismarck has claimed for the North German Con federation referred only to such militaay operations as might be j udged necessary during the continuance of the present war; and not to any politioali action. rim SUN, LONDON, TUESDAI, DECEMBER 20, 1870 THE MONEY MARKET. CITY, Two o'cLooK., Business in stock markets is not extensive, but quota tions are well sustained. Consols, 91 13-16 to 91 15-16 ex. di v. Foreign stocks also are dull. Egyptian, 77,1 to 78 ; Khedive Seven per Cents., 70i to 711;' French Defence Loan, a die, to i; prem. ; Russian of 1870, 83 to 85 ; Spanish Three per Cents., 33 4 to 31i ; Turkish Five per Cents. of 1865 is 44; to 44, and ditto 1869, 50a to 50k. The North German Loan is prem. According to the Madrid telegrams the statement of Senor Moret, the Finance Minister, confirms the advices regarding the falsehood of the various reports recently circulated by adverse speculators, and indicates a full in tention on the part of the Government, as regards its foreign debt, to uphold the restored honour of the corm-, try. It appears that the deficit of the last two years has amounted to £3,220,000, and that to meet certain existing internal engagements an issue at intervals of 12 per cent. Treasury bonds to the amount of 29,000,000, redeemable in 18 months, is proposed. The bonds of the new Buenos Ayres 6 per cent. Loan of Messrs. C. de Murrieta and Co. are now advertised for delivery against the fully paid-up Scrip. The price stands at 90k, being 23 prem., the market having acquired great firmness from the limited amount available, coupled with the fact that many investments have lately been made in exchange for other stocks by persons in fluenced by the consideration of the security being free from all ,possible European or American war contin gencies. The Stock Exchange will be closed on Saturday and Monday next. The corn market will also be closed on Monday, and Lloyd's will be closed in the afternoon at two o'clock, instead of five. The Liverpool Journal of Commerce states :—" Among the local firms who have this week filed petitions for liquidation by arrangement is that of Messrs. Ridley, Son, and Co., engaged in the Newfoundland fishery trade, a meeting of whose creditors is fixed for the sth of January." At the meetings of the Bank of London and National Provincial Insurance Association and Family Endow ment Association and Annuity Society, the plan of re construction of the Albert Life Assurance Company, which has been proposed by Mr. James Thomson's Com mittee, was agreed to, subject to such modifications as may be decided upon by the Court of Chancery. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) BANQUET TO MR. ASLIBURY, A banquet in celebration of the return to England of Mr. James Ashbury, owner of the yacht Cambria, which won the Atlantic race, was given in Manchester lakt night. The American Consul was present, and responded to the toast of "The President of the United States." Mr. Ashbury stated that he expected that the Americans would comply with his request to sail the race with the selected champion yachts of both nations. THE LUXEMBURG QUESTION. LUXEMBURG, December 19. In the Chamber to-day, M. Servaia, the Minister of State, said that the note of Count Bismarck had arrived. It contained nice complaints, based upon incorrect information. The rumours of nego tiations at the Hague were without foundation. His own words had been misrepresented by the newspapers. A telegram had been received from the King of Holland approving in every respect the course pursued by the Luxemburg Govern ment, and declaring that the Treaty of London must be defended, and the honour and indepen dence of the Grand Duchy. The Minister added that until his note had reached Versailles, and the reply had been received, he could not lay any of the papers before:the Chamber. The next sitting of the House will probably be on Thursday next. There is a strong patriotic feeling here. BERLIN, December 19. Germany will probably accept arbitration in the setlement of the Luxemhurg question. The re ported negotiations between Holland and Nasshu are unfounded. Annexation is, however, popular. The Kreuz Zeitung denies that Prussia has any designs on Luxemburg, and affirms that it has been resolved to,submit to arbitration the complaints of breach of neutrality and the claims for compensation on that account. SPEECH OF THE KING OF WURTEMBURG. BERLIN, Deoember 19. The King of Wurtemburg, at the opening of the Parliament at Stuttgardt to-day, said the brother hood in arms had stimulated the desire for political unity ; and he exhorted the members to discuss the Federal Treaties with regard to the future development of the relations they estab lished. THE ALABAMA CLAIMS. NEW YORK, December 19. ,According to the New York Tribune General Schenck is instructed to demand the payment of the claims of American shipowners for vessels lost, with interest added ; the reimbursement of the expenses incurred by the United States in consequence of the depredations of the Con federate cruisers which sailed from England ports; and the recognition of the principles of neutrality heretofore insisted upon by the United States. The Tribune: says " Negotiations will be carried on in a firm and friendly manner. General Schenck will demand nothing extortionate, and will make no threats of non-intercourse, and demand no re paration which Great Britain will not willingly accord. The New York World congratulates the country on having secured an envoy whose manliness affords a reasonable guarantee that he will neither presume upon, nor be cajoled by, the conciliatory spirit re cently manifested in England. THE RUMOURED ARMISTICE. There is no foundetion for the renewed report that negotiations have been set on foot, with the counte nance of the neutittl Powers, in order to bring about an armistice, with a view to the summoning of a Congress, and the termination of the war between France and Germany.—Daily News. THE REVOLUTION IN VENEZUELA. News from Caracas, to November 25, respecting the revolution in Venezuela, has reached London to-day. General Venancio, of the party of Guzman, had captured Coro, after seven days' fighting. General Bulgar's army is marching on Maracaibo. The Revolutionary fleet was anchored off Puerto Cabello without coal. The triumph of Guzman was considered an accomplished fact. STORM IN THE ORKNEYS. WICK, December 20. A severe easterly storm has broken out, preceded by terrific surf, along the whole coast. Several fishing boats are missing. One is known to have foundered in Sinclair Bay, and two men and a boy are drowned. NAVAL AROFIITECTURE. We are authorised to' announce that the committee referred to in Mr, Childers' recent Minute, who are to consider the recent designs of her Majesty's ships, and to advise the Admiralty " whether, with reference to the present state of the science of naval architecture, and the requirements of naval warfare, the principles which should regulate the form and type of war ships to be built for this country are fully satisfied by these designs, and by the improve ments recommended in them, or whether any further mo difications are desirable," will consist of the following members :—Lord Dufferin, chairman ; Sir William Thomson, F.R.S., Admiral George Elliot, Rear-Admiral Ryder, Rear-Admiral Hornby, Rear-Admiral William Houston Stewart, C. 8., the Rev. Dr. Woolley, vice-presi dent of the Society of Naval Architects ; Professor Ran kine, F.R.S., member of the Council of the Society of Naval Architects ; Mr. Fronde, F.R.S., Captain Hood, RN., Captain Goodenough, R.N., Mr. G. W. Rendel, Mr. Peter Denny, Mr. G. P. Bidder, C.E., Mr. T. Lloyd, vice-president of the Society of • Naval Archi tects ; and Lieutenant Colonel Pasley, RE., secretary. THE ARMY OF THE LOIRE. The Echo du Nord of the 19th says :—" The left wing of Prince Frederick Charles's army entirely separates the base of operations of the Army of the Loire, divided into a First and a Second Army. Whilst the Prince is endea vouring on the right bank of the river to cut off General Chanzy's retreat, Bourbaki is executing on the left bank a hazardous plan of operations. If both Generale are enabled freely to carry out their movements, General Chanzy, reinforced by the Army of Le Mans and Cona—about 25,000 men—could give battle between Blois and Vendome ; whilst Bourbaki, continuing his march upon .Fontlinebleau, or even on the East, would form a junction with General Faidherbe and advance on Paris. General Trochu, informed of this new plan, would endeavour to break through the Prussian lines, and the memorable action which took place at the commencement of the month would recommence, although, it must be admitted, with less chance of success ; General d'Aurelles' army, which had advanced within a few leagues of Paris, being to-day driven back upon Tours, whilst the troops of Prince Frederick Charles, the Duke of Mecklenburg, and Man teuffel hold the same strategical position, although like wise further from Paris. Supported by their =ales around the capital, and with their face to the provinces, they are moved by one will, and carry out the skilful plans of Moltke ; it is tbo perfection of united command and passive obedience to instruc tions which must not be departed from; they are ordered to accomplish an object at any price. Whilst we are isolated in the North, in the South, and at Paris — scattering our military resources, allowing ourselves to be led away according to circumstances, deprived of a supreme head to guide us—we squander those sublime elements which, well directed, might still bring victory to our flag and drive the invader from our country. But it is certainly not by following such tactics, and operating by single 'corps, that we shall turn the fortune of war in our 'favour. General Faidherbe, after passing La Fere, threatens the communication of the Fourth German Army before Paris and Manteuffel's Corps occupying the Seine Inf4rieure. Threatened by this danger, Manteuffel will certainly concentrate his forces on the banks of the Seine. With the 30,000 men who have left Havre in pur suit of the enemy and General Faidherbe's Corps com bined, a fatal blow could be given to the enemy, and his base of operations towards the West and North be de stroyed. The appointment of Count Orloff as Russian Ambassador to the Court of St. James's, which was made some time ago, is cancelled. Baron Brunnow, who had been appointed to Paris, is now appointed to London. An examination of assistant-surgeons, to qualify for promotion, will be held at the Naval Medical Depart ment, Admiralty, Somerset House, on Tuesday, the 3rd of next month. Commander W. H. Moore, R.N., on the reserved half-pay list, who has been granted the nav a l p ens i on of £5O a year, is over eighty years of age, and entered the navy on the Ist of January, 1802. ROYAL GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATION. Mr. and Mrs. German Reed last night resumed their popular entertainment at this Gallery, entitled " Ages Ago," which was performed for the 312th time, and in which they were assisted as heretofore by IViiss Fanny Holland, Mr. Arthur Cecil, and Mr. Corney Grain. The neatly written little legend was as well received as ever, and the various songs which are freely interspersed throughout the dialogue were heartily applauded. The second part of the entertainment was to have consisted of a musical sketch, entitled " Baden-Baden," described as " a warning in several jodels collected by Mr. Corney Grain," illustrative of the adventures of Mr. and Mrs. Tiptoe of Tiburnia ; but pleading an attack of nervous ness he begged to be allowed to substitute another song, which permission the audience good-humouredly accorded, and a metrical version of the " Lady of Lyons " was offered by Mr. Grain instead; who accompanied himself upon the piano. The final part of the programme was the farcical sketch, by William Brough, entitled "The Two Rival Composers," in which Mr. German Reed and Mr. Arthur Cecil represented the competing musicians, and Mrs. Reed the part of Pamela Dibbs, " a friendless and forsaked middle-aged maid of all work or no work," which evoked shouts of laughter, and Mrs. G owl, whose unexpected arrival brings the story to a close. The room was well filled, and this latest addition to the programme seemed to be thoroughly appreciated. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Tuis DAY. A BATCH OF PICKPOCKETS. Three lads, named Douglas Cane, John Shean, and Samuel Bywater, were charged before Mr. Newton, at the Marlborough-street Police-court, with attempting to pick pockets in the Tot tenham-court-road. Police-constables Hill, 111 E, and Nickolls, 184 E, saw the prisoners in Tottenham-court road, amongst a crowd of persons, principally females, and after watching them for three-quarters of an hour, and seeing them try several persons' pockets, they took the prisoners into custody. The prisoners said the officers had made a mistake, and that they were only selling lights and papers. Cane said he was only selling papers. Hill said that was tot the case, and that he saw Cane purposely push against a lady. He had cautioned Cane before, and he knew the prisoners to belong to a gang of ' thieves. Mr. Newton said he had no doubt the prisoners as stated belonged to a gang of young thieves, and com mitted them each for a month with hard labour. THE LATE ELOPEMENT AND ROBBERY.—Mr. James Edwards, of No. 9. Cotton-street, Poplar, applied to Mr. Lushington, at the Thames Police-court, to-day for a warrant to apprehend Mrs. Cummings, who, he believed, induced his wife to leave her home on the 28th of last month, when she took with her 170 Australian sovereigns. Mr. Lushington : You were bcfore my colleague, Mr. Paget, last week. Edwards : Yes, I was, sir. I have since ascertained that Mrs. Cummings and child came over from Australia in the ship Dover Castle, and arrived here in September. I arrived here in the Crusader a few days before them. They soon discovered me out. I was induced to marry Bridget M`Knight, whom I had known in Australia. Mrs Cummings came to my house on the 28th November ; and after she had been closetted with my wife for half an hour they both left together. Mr. Lushington : You have no evidence that Mrs. Cummings took your money. Ed wards : No, sir ; but I believe she induced my wife to rob me. Mr. Lushington : You can not charge your wife with robbery. If you can prove that Mrs. Cummings had any of your money you can proceed against her. Edwards believed that his wife and Mrs. Cummings were in some suburb in London. Mr. Lushington : In what suburb ? Edwards : I really don't know, sir. I have some information conveyed to me by letter. Mr. Lushington said he must decline to grant a warrant, and advised the appiicant to consult the police on the subject. Edwards said he would capture Mrs. Cummings, and never leave the pursuit of her until he fell in with her. He then retired. SERIOUS CHARGES OF FORGING AND UTTERING.—Mr. Thomas Joseph Smitherman, a builder, of 144, Brompton road, was charged at the Westminster Police-court with uttering two forged acceptances for £7O and £24105., well knowing them to be forged and counterfeit. Mr. G. F. Powell prosecuted, Mr. W. Smyth, solicitor, of Roches ter-row, defended. Mr. Powell having opened the case, stated that the defendant and prosecutor had large deal ings, the prisoner being what is termed a " till fixer," as well as a builder. They had done busi ness for four years, and had had many bills and money transactions. The prisoner changed his account from the Suburban Bank to the Imperial Bank, Fulham road, and late in November took the two bills, one for £7O and another for £24 10s., and requested money on them. Mr. Phillpot, the manager, remarked that it was rather singular of a new customer, and requested time for inquiries. He made inquiries and ascertained they were both forgeries, and impounded them. Mr. John Wilson, the prosecutor, said the bill for £24 10s. was a forgery. Prisoner was remanded. SHOCKING MURDER AT HALIFAX. A horrible murder was committed at Halifax early on Sunday morning. The victim is Mr. William Crabtree, a master printer, in Waterhouse-street, and the facts made public by the _police are as follow :—At half-past five o'clock Police Constable No. 34 was on duty in Water house-street, and heard the sound of r e p ea t e d blows fall ing heavily, followed by a scream for help, proceeding from the premises occupied by Mr. Crabtree. Turning into a court adjoining the house, the constable knocked at the door belonging to the up-stairs apartments, which were occupied as a dwelling by Mr. Crabtree and his family. In a few minutes the door was opened by some one in the house, by whom is not at present stated, and the con stable, running up stairs, entered C ra bt ree ' s b e d r oom. Upon the bed lay Mr. Crabtree, dying, his head having been frightfully battered with a heavy weapon. A son aged about 12 years, was also in the same bed, but uninjured. The eldest son, aged about 20 years, was standing in the room when the policeman entered, and near him was found a bar of metal employed in the printing trade, which bar had apparently- been used to inflict the heavy blows, The next step taken by the constable was to run for Mr. Hodgson Wright, surgeon. In the absence of the constable, the eldest son went to the police office at the Town Hall, and reported what had occurred in his father's house. Mr. Crabtree died at nine o'clock. The police apprehended the eldest son, Walter Crabtree, on suspicion of his being connected with the murder. The young man was a partner with his father in the business in Waterhouse-street, one of the principal thoroughfares of the town, and he was known as an active member of Sunday-school classes. The other inmates of the - house appear to have been a third son of the deceased (a boy) and a relation who acted as housekeeper.—Man chester Guardian. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAM.) An inquest was held yesterday on the body of Mr. William Crabtree, master printer, Halifax, who was fcund murdered in bed with his face and head beaten in with some heavy instrument on Sunday morning. A verdict of wilful murder was returned against his eldest son, Walter Crabtree. • LIVERPOOL ASSIZES. At the Liverpool Assizes yesterday, Edwin Swift, who in May last committed a murderous outrage on his master, Mr. Procter, a Liverpool publican, was sentenced to ten years' penal servitude. At the last assizes Swift was sentenced to penal servitude for five years for robbing his master on the same occasion, but, through some tech nical flaw, escaped indictment for the main outrage. MURDER AT SALFORD. A footman, named Alexander McCale, having on Satur day evening assisted the police in apprehending a collier, was subsequently followed by a dozen men and kicked to death. Seven have been apprehended. THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF EDINBURGH. At a meeting of the members of the Royal. College Surgeons of Edinburgh, held yesterday, it was resolves by a large majority to discountenance mixedclasses for the study of medicine. SALISBURY AND THE EDUCATION ACT. The Town Council of Salisbury, after a lengthened dis• cussion yesterday, resolved, by a majority of twelve tc eight, to apply for the establishment of a School Board. SUICIDE) OF A COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER. An inquest was held at Camoridge last night on the body of Mr. Blenkie, a commercial traveller, of Hull. who jumped out of the window of a coffee-house on Sun. clay, and was killed on the spot. The evidence showed that the deceased had suffered from delirium tremens, and had made a previous attempt to cut his throat with a penknife, which was found covered with blood. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that deceased corn milted suicide in a fit of temporary insanity. MR. WILLYAMS, M.P., ON PUBLIC MATTERS. Mr. E. , Brydges Williams, Al. P., speaking at St. Columb last night, defended the economical measures adopted by the Government, believing that they were fully justified in what they had done by the voice of the country at the last election. He, however, condemned the policy of discharging skilled artisans from the dock yards, holding that their services ought to have been retained at any price. The army, he thought, ought not to number more than 100,000 men. MR. GRAVES, M.P., AND THE VOLUNTEERS. At Liverpool, last night, Mr. S. R. Graves, the senior member for the borough, distributed the annual prizes to the sth Lancashire Volunteers, one of the most popular and efficient of the local corps. There was a distinguished company present, including the . High Sheriff and Mrs. Rigge. Mr. Graves, in the course of his speech, spoke of the general belief in the necessity for army reorganisation. 'The • time had gone by when ws could hope to repair at , tho end of a campaign the errors made at the commencement. He would favour a more compulsory system if necessary. They had no sympathy with those who wrapped themselves up in their sense of insular security. We should have an army able to defend our diplomacy abroad, and our colonies. He had great faith in a powerful militia, and hoped an early Act of Parliament would strengthen that force. THE REPRESENTATION OF MALLOW. It is 'stated that Mr. Walters, M.P. for Mallow County, cork, will accept the chairmanship of Monaghan to make :oom for the Attorney-General for Ireland. RESPITE. Edward Greatley, who was sentenced to death at the last Manchester Assizes for the murder of his'wife in Sal ford. has had his sentence resulted. COUNT BISMARCK AND THE CONFERENCF. A telegram from Berlin, dated December 17, gives the following note, addressed to Count Bernstorff by Count Bismarck on the 3rd December : Versailles, December 3, 1870. I communicated to your Excellency, in my telegram of the 26th ult., the invitation which I, under the same date, had addressed to the Courts of Vienna, Con stantinople, Florence, and St. Petersburg, request ing the same to empower their representatives in London to assemble at a Conference with the re presentatives in that city of the signatory Powers of the Treaty of the 30th of March, 1856, in order to discuss the questions which are in connection with the communi cation made in the circular of, the Imperial Russian Cabinet dated 19-31 October. This invitation was issued after the Royal Cabinet of Great Britain had assured me, through Mr. Odo Russell, of its assent : and I had also reason to assume that the Cabinet of St. Petersburg was also ready to accept, it. I can now give your ExcellendSr further intelligence relative to the acceptance of orce pro imals by the several Cabinets. The Royal Militate!' itt St. Petersburg was enabled, on the 27th November, to inform me by telegraph of the assent of the Itftefial Russian Cabinet to the invitation. The Royal Italian Government, on the 28th November, empowered the Minister of his Majesty at Florence to inform me of its willingness to take part in the Conference at London. On the Ist December the Grand Vizier declared to the Royal Minister in Constantinople that the Turkish Am bassador in London was already in possession by telegraph of instructions in reference to tha adhesion of the Porte to the Conference. On the 2nd inst. the Austro-Hun garian Chancellor, who at the time was in Pesth, caused the Royal Minister in Vienna to be informed that the Go vernment agreed with England on the subject of the Con ference. I therefore request your Excellency to acquaint the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs with the de clarations of the various Cabinets, and to express our satisfaction at the general acceptance of the proposal for a Conference, which I can regard as assured. At the same time, your Excellency will express the hope. that the •Cabinet of Great Britain, at whose place of residence the Conference is to meet, will now take in hand the further t a h rr e a r n e g p e r m e s e e n n t t a othe t f ves o na f l t t h t e e and, n Powers to a naming the assemble. n day, invite (Signed) BISMARCK. It appears that it is the Union Bank of London whose directors have forbidden the clerks to marry on a smaller salary than £l5O per year. " One of the Clerks" writes to the Times to deny that there is any intention to protest against the order. BEET-ROOT DISTILLATIONA-- A very valuable book on this subject has just been published by Messrs. Barral and Co. of Basinghall-street. It is the report of Dr. Voelker, F.R.S:, and certainly there cannot be a, subject. of greater importance to the agricultural community. That the cultivation and distillation of beet-root is highly pro fitable, has been proved beyond dispute by Mr. Robert Campbell, of Buscot Park, Berkshire, who, through the instrumentality of the Messrs. Barral, erected one of the largest "Savalle " stills in this country on his estate, which is now yielding a large and handsome return. It is really surprising that such extraordinary fine spirits can be sp economically produced, and, when it is taken into consideration that the refuse of the beet forms fine food for cattle, the extension of beet root distillation becomes a matter of the highest importance. We com mend the report of Dr. Voelker to the attentive consider. ation of the agricultural community. THE CHRISTMAS NOVELTIES.—At this period of the year the displays made in various large establishments in London of Christmas no velties are peculiarly elegant, and none certainly presents a more beautiful appearance than those of Mr. E. Himmel in the Strand and Regent street. On no former occasion has the show been more tasteful than that which is now attracting thousands of admirers ; and certainly a greater treat cannot be given to those home for the holidays than a visit to Mr. Rimmel's Christmas Exhibition. There are to be found the most elegant conceits in every variety of shape and form. Fii,ns of the most exquisite design, albums discoursing the sweetest music, glove boxes, floral invitation cards, perfumed satchets, and a thousand other elegant trifles that make the prettiest Christmas •presents imagthiable abound on all sides. The ornaments for Christmas trees are of such boundless variety that it is impossible to give the faintest idea of their beauty, and so reasonable has the price for these pretty objects been fixed that competition seems out of the question. Another very tasteful idea is the variety of crackers and bon-bons displayed ; some contain the sweetest of perfumes, others the prettiest of flowers, and some the most humourous articles of attire, that are sure to provoke the most hilarious mirth at the Christmas parties at which they are introduced. Altogether Mr. Rimmel's display is, at present, one of the sights of London, and a visit either by old or young will be sure to be repaid by the admirgtion evoked and pleasure experienced in viewing the many elegancies which now become necessary in the shape of Christmas presents and New Year's gifts. RESIGNATION OF MR. BRIGHT. We are authorised to state that Mr. Bright has re signed. The wish of Mr. Gladstone and of his other colleagues, warmly expressed from time to time, has alone withheld the late President of the Board of Trade, up to the present date, from a step which in his judgment .was and is still necessary for the complete recovery of his health. It is, on all political grounds, whether of foreign or domestic policy, a matter of sincere regret to Mr. Bright to sever the official tie between himself and the Administration. THE SIEGE OF PARIS. The special correspondent of the Daily News at the Headquarters of the Crown Prince - of Prussia, Versailles, sends the following, under date De. cember 15 :—The cold weather gives way to mild, rainy weather, and the snow disappears, and there is mud upon the coats of those who have slept on outpost duty. The weary siege, oc investment, or whatever we may choose to call it, drags on with an ever-lengthening chain for the French. How they do it we cannot say ; but certain it is that they manage to keep up their spirits, and to persuade themselves that they are going to win some kind of ultimate success. It is sad to see a nation struggling on in face of such great disasters, wgen the loss of its regular army has brought it to the point of bending old men and boys, fathers of families, and men of social rank, to fight the very prime of its opponent's 'fighting class. Defeat has . brought France into the position towards Germany which Germany once held towards France, in regard to one quality of her troops. In the first start there were the well-taught and thoughtful young Germans pitted against swarthy Zouaves, half-savage Turcos, and profes sional soldiers of the Emperor's Guards. Then came the French defeats; the Zouaves and Turcos who were not killed were dragged away to prison ; the profes sional Guardsmen were starved into surrender ; and France fiercely refused to acknowledge " ac complished facts." Peasants and . artisans, old Legitimists and red-hot Republicans, rushed into the hopeless struggle. We began to see the fine young soldier of Germany, in the prime of life, dashing down the frantic resistance of the French "bread winners." We began to see men of ancient family, haters of Napoleon, and friends of the white flag with golden lilies, fighting side by side with admirers of Henri de Rochefort. It was a wild rally in support of the National cause, and it brought an army to Orleans which might be counted by hundreds of thousands. You have seen how that army was worsted by the Ger mans, and you will feel how deep must the suffering be to France when such a force shall be fcllowed up and de. stroy ed. The French cannot afford to risk their whole manhood on the chance of turning the crimson tide which bears them away. They are resisting an enemy who occupies a third of their territory, and who, when he fires a volley among them now, is slaying men who can ill be spared. No wonder that rumours of peace, of submission on any terms should be rife among the invaders. It is clearly seen by the practical German mind that France ought to submit, that Alsace and Lorraine should be yielded up to save the sinking ,ship. These things are seen by the Germans, and only the desperate impulse of French Republicanism enables the war to be continued. Count Bismarck's policy is now pretty clear. He must take Paris; occupy the rest of France, and reoganise the French Government with the help of au assembly elected after all further fighting has been given up as hopeless. To haggle about terms with Paris unsurrendered would not suit the stern simplicity of the German programme. THE ARMY OF THE NORTH. In a communication from Arras, December 15, the special correspondent of the Standard writes :—Strange to say, notwithstanding the immense drain on the popu lation and the awful loss of life, I find as the war goes on, ho matter how adversely for the French, a new and still finer set of men spring up to replace their fallen country men. The new recruits that I have seen everywhere in the North are taller, healthier, and better built men than their predecessors. It strikes me most forcibly that new, and now only, is the real blood and bone of the country coming to the front ; and with the 1,500,000 men that are declared on paper to be under arms, and which number I am in clined to believe is not grossly exaggerated, they ought, with proper handling and practical camp drill in large manes, to drive the Prussians over the Rhine before two months. There is not the slightest doubt or question as to the feelings of the nation throughout the entire North. I have visited most of the large towns, passed through numberless vil !ages, mixed with the people constantly, from the highest military and civil authorities down to the pro prietor of the humblest cabaret, and I am more than ever convinced that there is but one thought and one fixed determination in the hearts cf the whole French people, land that is never to rest till they have had a terrible re venge for the pitiless, exterminating scourge into which the war has developed since the capitulation at Sedan. The Prussians have made a great and fatal mistake. Had they proposed an honourable peace at that period they would have achieved, with the most unprecedented success, what they declared to be their sole intention—a war with the Emperor, not with the French nation. They had the chance, such as no king dom or empire has ever yet had, of adding a double crown to their reputation by their moderation and humanity. But what have they done ? They are scourging a suf fering nation to such an extent as to reap a harvest , they never anticipated. There is a subtle change stealing over the French, and no one who lives in the country can fail to mark it. Notwithstanding eleven great battles lost in nearly a month, and the overwhelming defeats they are daily sustaining ; not withstanding the' perilous isolation of the capital, and their whole country overrun by the enemy, the war of extermination is day by day resulting in a purification of the country. The nobler and higher qualities which have always been their attributes, but which have been dormant under a long and fatal prosperity, are silently but surely developing. Paris has proved in the teeth of a universal scepticism, and by the cruellest of all probations, a self-denying and self-sacrificing patriotism that has amazed the world. The otd, superficial life seems to have died out, and a terrible earnestness and latent power ha, been brought to life, that one day, sooner or later, will demand a heavy reckoning. I notice the change wherever I go. The people are no longer the same. They are being taught a bitter lesson, but they are most surely profiting by it. There is but one idea in the mind of every Frenchman- an entire sacrifice of pleasure, of property, and of life, though the strife should last till themext generation, to drive once and for ever the Ger mans from their soil. TIM, ANTICIPATED BOMBARDMENT: The special correspondent of the Telegraph sends the following from Frankfort, dated December 19:—You may rely on my statement when I tell you that some recent reports from Versailles about the coming bombard ment of Paris are erroneous. There can be no bombard ment at present. It would take a month to render it possible. The German chiefs have believed so strongly in " short commons " and their effects, that nothing is ready save the batteries. The guns already brought up do not exceed in number 500, and most of them are only 21-pounders, which would be useless against such forts as Mont Val6rien. If the besiegers laid siege in detail to all the forts, such small ordnance might prove effective, as it did at Strasburg; but for a bombardment they must have gams equal in calibre to those mounted in the French forts, or the bat teries would be knocked to pieces half an hour after they opened fire. The forts have fronts armed with twenty to twenty-four guns, mostly 70-poun ders, of much greater range than the Krupp 24-pounders ; and, with the exception of Mont Val6rien, each fort is covered by the fire of two others, so that batteries opening on any one fort would be exposed to a concentrated fire from 60 or 70 guns. It is generally felt that the throwing of a few shells at long range into Paris would be absolutely useless the fact being also intelligible that the two monster guns lately mounted on Valdrein can reach Versailles. The Prefecture, the residence of the King, is under fire from the advanced works of that fort, and shells from the main work have fallen near the Marly Aqueduct, a distance of more than four miles. The French have lately constructed works a mile nearer to the German lines, and moved forward the same guns ; the new works are only four and a quar ter miles from the Prefecture, the Chateau, the Hotel des Reservoirs, and the Ye ry centro of Ve r sailles, and the range of ie gm ,s is known to be 41- miles. From the ocular demonstration of a trustworthy informant, I am able to assure you that four or five days since the guns intended for the bombardment were still in the great artillery park at Villacoublay, except a comparative few which had been removed to Ile mounted on the German works of defence against possible sorties. Regarding the working of Mr. Baxter's purchase department. a correspondent writes to us :—" -V cooking galley was lately put on board' H.M.S. Wolverene at Sheerness, but on the ship's way down Channel, en route for Plymouth it was found that it was too small for the wants of the crew, and on arriving at the last-named pore' an application was made for a larger one. It will scarcely be credited that there was none in store, and the only way by which the Wolverene could be sent to sea was by render ing another ship useless for the time being. The alley of the Pallas (one of our armour-clad first-class reserve ships) had. to be taken out and fitted into the other vessel. OUR CO iIdii.PORARRL;---This THE RESIGNATION OF MB. BRIGHT. The Times thus alludes to the announced resignation of the President of the Board of Trade I—The country will hear with regret that Mr. Bright has been obliged to .re sign his office. They will lament the loss time sustained by the country, but they will be equally giik ved on Mr. Bright's account. The late reports of his illness seemed to hold out a promise of his recovery within a moderate time, and we have all been hoping that there was at least a definite prospect of his being re Stored to health. His present decision must, we fear, be regarded as evidence that these hopes must be disappointed. It will be readily understood that Mr. Gladstone and his colleagues have done their utmost to induce Mr. Bright to spare himself and them so unwelcome a decision. The temporary loss of his services, indeed, was a misfortune: but both his colleagues and the country would have pre.. ferred to wait any reasonable length of time if this separation could have been avoided. Retirement, how ever, is thought necessary for the recovery of Mr. Bright's health, and we can well understand that to a man of his energy the mere fact of his nominally holding an office, however completely .his colleagues might relieve him of a responsibility, would be a constant obstacle to the mental repose he needs. A complete release from care offers, at all events, the best opportunity for com plete recovery, and Mr. Bright carries with him into' re tirement the hopes as well as the good wishes •of his 63untrymen. He has been withdrawn from public life before the commencement of the Session, and at the most momentous crisis of the century, The Ministry hay e peculiar cause' to lament his loss ; for in the difficult decisions they have to make they can ill afford to dispense with the support of Mr. Bright's authority. It is satisfactory to be formally assured that "on all political grounds, whether of foreign or domestic policy," he is still at one with the Aministration, so that, although he has been compelled to sever his official con nection with them, they ss.ay still claim the support of his personal influence. Englishmen, remarks the Daily News, without distinc tion of party, will share the regret with which we an nounce the resignation of Mr. Bright. Brief as his active Ministerial career has been, it has been fruitful of results. He has left his mark upon most of the great measures which have been passed by the Ministry to which he belonged. The Irish Church Bill had in its main features been foreshadowed by him in op position. Some of the most important clauses of the Irish Land Bill embody a scheme which is known by his name, and which, long denounced as involving Commu nism and spoliation, was supported in the House of Lords by the Marquis of Salisbury, and was the only part of the measure which was passed in that assembly without a division. His name was a tower of strength to the Government during his absence. No doubt in the coining Session his former colleagues may count confidently upon his support as an independent member. Possibly the time may come when restored health may enable Mr. Bright to return to the Ministry. In the meantime it is the weaker for his absence. Its original construction left the Radical or advanced Liberal party insufficiently represented in the Cabinet. Subsequent changes have not tended to correct that fault. Mr. F orster, it is true,' has been admitted to the Cabinet ; but Mr. Forster's elevation only balances, if it balances, con cessions to the more Conservative section of the Liberal party. The new President of the Board of Trade should be a man of varied and ample official experience, and of tested administrative capacity. We venture to say that if the incipient divergence between the advanced Liberal party and the Government is to be prevented from widening into alienation, he should bring into the Cabinet the weight not merely of achieved Parliamentary position, but of declared sympathy with those newer and larger ideas of policy which it is the special mission of the present Government to reconcile with old forms and venerable institutions. The Telegraph says : Take this man for all in all, and granting occasional defects of temper, we cannot wonder that his countrymen regard him with honest pride. Every one knows how he was born and educated, and how he became one of the very few leading Englishmen. As an orator, he has no living superior. The Premier, and possibly one or two more, may contest with him absolute pre-eminence in the faculty of public speech ; but when the circumstances of his career are reckoned up, the name of Mr. Bright will remain as that of one of the greatest orators who ever adorned the House of Commons. On the other hand, we should doubt whether Mr. Bright, as an administrator, was the equal of men intellectually far inferior to him. We doubt if on many occasions he did justice to his opponents. Had he done so, and • seen both sides of the question with equal force, would he have been the great Reformer he has proved himself through all the incidents of his active life ? Upon another point Mr. Bright was singularly deficient, and that was his appreciation of foreign politics. He did not thoroughly understand the Continent. Again, in matters connected with our military and naval armaments he was a very unsafe guide. To the last he persisted in supposing that men would act from the same motives as himself. Just before the outbreak of the Russian war, there is no doubt that Mr. Bright and his friends did unutter able harm by leading the Russian Emperor astray as to the intention and wishes of the ..English people. But, when we have made these and all other drawbacks, where shall we turn to find his counterpart or equal? May many years of happiness and tranquillity be his, although he has now retired from public life ! The middle classes of this country may search for many a. long day before they find so true a representative as John THE ROMANCE OF WAR. The Morning Advertiser thinks that from the moment the first step was taken towards Paris from Sedan. the Genius of King William deserted him. Yet how tempting was the promise that drew him on ! The armies of France were conquered; the greater part prisoners, the rest demoralised, scattered, and put to flight. Accounts from Paris, and the previous character and de meanour of that city, encouraged the Germans in the belief that at the very sight of their victorious legions, and at the first sound of their trumpets Paris would surrender herself a graceful and graceless but facile prey. But the King and his advisers made a wrong calculation. Paris has astonished him, them, the world, and herself. She is stronger than ever, and probably provisioned for a period that will last long after the powers of endurance of the besieging army have commenced to fail. What a wonderful story what a romance of history and war ! It is possible that both Emperors — for such we may call the King of Prussia now— may be prisoners in each other's territory. He of Prussia may possibly ere long stand in a position similar to that of Napoleon 111. after his first defeats, with a victorious nation closing round him for the death -grapple; and with revolution in Fatherland. For the French, _disputing the advance of the Prussians mile by mile, and yielding only to stand again at bay, strewing the fields and roads with their own and German corpses, have by their desperate and prolonged resistance brought it to this, that the German armies are sensibly diminishinc , and being worn away by constant engage ' ments. It probable that the Germans cannot fire a shot into karis. Their loss from the Owns of the forts must have been constant. They can bring up no guns to silence the French sailors' and marines' can nonade. The roads, too, are heavy in France at this period. At least two months ago, Dr. Russell spoke ominously of his Crimean experience, of bad roads when „ heavy guns and supplies had to be brought up. But what were six miles at Balakla,va, compared, with three hundred now? It is a terrible and significant fact that the last levy or ban of the Landwehr has been made in Germany to supply the ravages of war in the German ranks. CRYSTAL PALACE.—One Shilling Day, Monday, December 19, 1870.—Admission by season tickets, 1,435 ; ditto on payment, .474 ; total visitors, 1,909. The Court Journal understands that the Royal marriage will take place early in March. The Prince of Wale's rectory of St. Mewan, Corn wall, has become vacant by the death of the Rev. R. T. Wilson Taylor. It is worth about £3OO a year. Miioza Kaglon-Bey, the well-known Tartar pro fessor and Orientialist, died at St. Petersburgli on the 9th of this month. A ten-mile foot-race was run in the City Grounds, Manchester, on Saturday, in the presence of several thousands of persons. There were three competitors, the winner being George Hazell, of London. EXETER AND THE EDUCATION ACT.—At a meeting of the Exeter Town Council yesterday morning, it was resolved to make application to the Education Department for a School Board to be formed for that city ; with a further request that the number of such Loard should not exceed fifteen. There is already school accommodation of 3,600 children, hut only 3,000 attend. Accommodation for 5,000 will have to be provided. FORTHCOMING TRIALS.—A. contemporary says ; An action for libel and slander, by the widow of the late Colonel Pownall against his two sisters, will be tried before the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, on Wed nesday, Sir John Karslake, Mr. Philbrick, and Mr. Straight representing the plaintiff, and Mr. Serjeant 3al lantine and Mr. Bennett the defendants. It probably will be remembered that the Misses Pownall cha--;ed their sister-in-law with poisoning her husband, and ca used • an inquest to be held upon his body, at which it was con clusively proved that the decea,sl officer died 'from natural causes, and the jury so found. The great 'rich borne case will positively come on in the early pw t of 1871, and is sure to engage a large share of public atten tion. Those who espouse the cause of the plaintiff are very sanguine of success, and declare that they are in a position to make out an uuwwerable case,