The Sun. — London, England, 1867-04-26 00:00:00

THE LUXEMBURG QUESTION. (From the Times' Correspondent.) LUXEMBURG, April 22. if the humorous idea of a recent author were car ried out, and, by way of increasing the European " chaos," the fate of nations were to be decided by committees of political ethnologists, what work it would give them to fix the destiny of Luxemburg ! The Walloon portion of the old Duchy is appro priately enough annexed to Belgium, but what ought to be done with the so-called German portion —the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg of the present day? The local writers admit that the Luxem burgers are of Teutonic race; but so, they say, are the Dutch. This, according to M. Groen, and . to M. Yreede, the Professor of International Law at the University of Utrecht, is no reason why Hol land should be absorbed in the Prussian monarchy ; ' and the Luxemburgers argue in the same manner that the fact of their lingo (I cannot call it a lan guage) containing, besides Fiend-i and French, a large number of German words, ought not, neces sarily, to condemn them to a similar end. What, however, are you to do with a people one of whose favourite exclamations is " Zaperlott !" who for " half-and-half" say " halef an halef ;" for " Your servant," " Vot zerviter ;" for " to pass the even ing," " soiree passiren ;" and who, wishing to con vey the idea that a man speaks " with a strong Eng lish accent," makes use of these words, "Mat engem utreerten Englenneschen Akzent ?" These' Letze burgers, with their " unverstandlisches Kauder icalsch," teach us, at all events, that language is no sure test of race. In the case of Luxemburg it is at once a geographical sign and an historical monu ment. The chief town of the Duchy is about the same distance, and that distance only a good walk, from the frontier' of Germany on the one hand and of France on the other. The country, as long as it was under the dominion of the House of Austria, was goierned as a province of the Netherlands ; but almost every strong Continental Power has had Luctriburg at some time or other, and the traces of foreign rule are to he found in.it.l language, as well as in its laws. On the question of race the ethnologists would, no doubt, sive judgment in favour of Germany. On the language question they would fight; and when men of science begin to fight, their combats, as we all know, last some time. .If the question of manners were to be considered, the Luxemburgers would cer tainly not be classed with the North Germans,whom they in no way resemble ; but rather with the French populations of Lorraine and Alsace, or, perhaps,with the South Germans of some petty, and, until now, paternally governed State, in which the inhabitants love ease, and hate the high-pressure system of go vernment as practised by Prussia. As to religion, the Luxemburgers are devout Catholics, and were included for centuries in the diocese of Treves. At present Luxemburg is under the spiritual govern ment of a Vicar Apostolic, who is Bishop somewhere in . partibus infideliurn—at Halicarnassus, I think. Duchinski, who carries his ethnological investiga tions into all the details of private life,would expect me to state what the Luxemburgers eat, drink, and avoid, whether they make their beds in the French or German fashion, whether their wine comes from the Rhine, the Marne, or the Moselle ; whether they prefer wine to beer, or beer to wine, and in the latter case whether their malt liquor is of the Belgian, the Bavarian, or the Strasburg type ; whether their clothes are made of French or of German materials and pattern ; whether the courage of the men is of a light and chivalrous or of a solid and bnsiness-like description; finally, whether the beauty of the women is oneof form and colour, or only of manner, and whether they are principally remarkable for good nature and sympathetic qualities generally, or for vivacity, conversational powers, awl love of admira tion. I art in a position to answer all these questions, besides others which M. llachinski would never have thought of putting. I accept only the one relating to the courage of the men, who, though rather noisy in their mirth, do not seem quarrel Some, and who have had nothing to fight about since I have been here. First of all, as a proof of the willingness of the Luxemburgers to oblige every one and to accom modate themselves to every taste, let me mention that they set their railway clocks by four different Meridians, and that each clock has three hands. The Prussian who has just arrived at:Luxemburg by the train from Trevcs or from Cologne, and who is, of course, in favotir of annexation to Prussia, is pleased to see that the clock marks with one of its three hands the hour according to Cologne. The French. : man from Met; looking upon the Grand Duchy as so much French territory in futuro : is charmed to fihd that the Luxemburg clocks have already learnt to keep French time. The Belgian, who, in nine cases out of ten, .thinks that the proper.thing to du with Luxemburg is to give it back to Belgium, dis covers a proof of Belgian tendencies in the existence, on the face of the Station clock, of a Brussels minute hand. I came to Luxemburg by a train which was due at one in the afternoon. It seemed to me, on reaching the terminus, that we were ten minutes late. I looked at the cloth, but at first I could make nothing of it. One minute-hand pointed to XII, the other to 11, while the hand for indicating the hour rested impartially upon I. It was one o'clock by Brussels, ten minutes past one by Luxemburg time. A French writer who recently visited Luxem burg, and declares (very incorrectly) that the Luxem- burgers praise the Prussians to those who speak to them in German, and the French to those who address them in French, might have regarded this Janus-like clock as a symbol. It is impossible, then, to decide the question of the nationality or national tendeneit s of the Luxem burgers by means of their railway clocks. With regard to some other points bearing upon this ques tion, on which I have not yet touched, I may state that the coinage of the Grand Duchy (it has a sepa rate coinage of its own) consists of francs and cen times, and that the pieces are stamped with in scriptions in the French language. I have already said in a previous letter that French is the official language, and I ought to have added that it has been so for centuries. Under the rule of the German Emperors, before the invention of eentralitatioe, when provincial distinctions were fully recognised, and when religious persecution had not yet been re placed by the equally odious persecution of Govern ment functionaries, the Luxemburgers were allowed to use the French language in all public affairs, and the Governor of the Lower Countries corresponded with the, local authorities in the tongue. When Louis XIV. took Luxemburg he found a French administration already established in the place. When, by the Treaty of Utrecht, it passed back into the hands of the German Emperors no change was made in the local government, which was still car ried on in French until 1791. In that year the Aus trian military Governor of Luxemburg took leave of the people in a very cordial letter written in the French language ; and the government of the Grand Duchy, transformed into the Departmentof Forests, then became French in a full political sense. In fact, it is only from 1815, when the Grand. Duchy was-given to Holland, until 1830, the year .of the Belgian Revolution, that French ever ceased to be the legal official language of Luxemburg. Even dur ing those 15 years French was practically the lan guage of public affairs, and in all official documents sent to Luxemburg from the Hague French and Dutch were used side by side. I have said enough about the language of Luxem burg, popular, literary, and oflieial. Let me add, however, that, as it seem: s to in ~ the extent to which French is employed in the city of Luxemburg no more proves that the Grand Duchy ought to be, or even that it wishes to be, anuexA to France than the extent to which French is employed in Brussels proves the s ane thing in respect to Belgium. But it mast not be supposed that French, the offi cial language everywhere, is only used as a converl sational language in the chief of the Luxemburg towns. There are whole villages of Luxemburgers who speak the same sort of French that one hears from the Alsatian water-carriers in Paris, and I have come across several shopkeepers - wh o speak French with purity. Among the upper classes the use of the French. language is a tradition and a habit ; but I was unable, without assistance, to make out how it happened that French was so familiar to men who could not have learnt it as children, and who had- no need of it for conversing with those generally surrounding them. This is the solution of the enigma :—The true capital of the Grand Duchy is not Luxemburg, its provincial chief town, but Paris. Paris is the ideal city to which the aspirations of all Luxemburgers tend. Everybody here who can afford to make a long journey goes, in the first place, to Paris, as everybody who wants to make a short journey in the neighbourhood goes to Metz rather than to the far more interesting city of Treves. The French-speaking workmen visit Paris regularly every year, returning here at the end of the season, and remaining with their families during the period of chomage until their money is spent and the time for recommencing work has arrived. Workmen of a superior kind go to Paris to perfect themselves in their particular calling, and also because Paris is, to their idea, the greatest place in the world. Young men whose parents have means, after being educated at a French or Belgian gymnasium, go to some French university to complete their studies. Those who wish for a military career enter the French or the Belgian army, but for the most part the French. The Federal contingent of Luxemburg consists (for it has survived the Confederation) of only 1,700 men, and offers no career to a warrior of ambition ; but Luxemburg has contributed its contingent of volunteers to the Belgian Legion which was formed for service in Mexico, and to the permanent Foreign Legion of France. A man must be desperately in want of military glory to enter the French Foreign Legion. A certain number of Luxemburgers, how ever, have done so, others have become naturalised in France, and have entered the French regular army. It can- be seen from the tombstones in the cemeteries that Luxemburgers were killed fighting on the French side in the Crimean and Italian cam paigns. But no Luxeinburger took part in the great German war, which was terminated without the Luxemburg Contingent of 1,700 men being called into the field at all. There is no movement on the part of workmen or students or aspirants for military fame towards Ger many ; all which proves not that the Luxemburgers are French, but most decidedly that they are not German. As for their general mode of life—to return to the minor tests in the Duchinski system—their cookery is partly French, partly German, and they drink Moselle, which is half a French half a German wine. They have French beds with German eider downs upon them. Their horses seem to be a cross between the Flemish and the old French post-horse. The men clothe themselves, but do not dress, and that personage in a recent French comedy who longed for the day when he might walk about with his waistceat unbuttoned would have found him self quite at home in Luxemburg. As for the women, they resemble in many respects the admir able women of Strasburg—amiable Germans, vivi fied by a French spirit. APRIL 23. People in England, as in other parts of the world, must have been surfeited with news from Luxemburg —I mean of incidents supposed to have happened there. Established Governments, or their agent. 4, have shown themselves as fertile in invention as the much-abused " European revolutionists," who used to concoct such wonderful telegrams about Italian, and, above all, Polish affairs. I thought on arriving here that if I did not succeed in discover ing what had, I should at least be able to find out what had not, taken plac6—what was the truth about the petitions for and against annexation to France? what about the revolt of the " Nassauers' in garrison here ? what about the proclamations in favour of annexation to France posted up on the walls at night by French agents to be torn down the next morning by indignant inhabitants? what about the black flags carried through the streets on the anniversary of the battle of Sadowa ? what about the visit of M. de Lavalette to Luxem burg? what about the visit of the Baron de Tornaco to Paris ? All I knew about the affairs of Luxemburg on reaching this city—in addition, of course, to the bare fact that the King of Holland had proposed to cc le the Grand Duchy for a pecuniary - consideration to the Emperor Napo leon, and that Count Bismark, or the King of Prus sia, had forbidden the sale, was based upon the facts suggested by the above inquiries. The scaffolding was a treacherous one, and for the most part rotten. Two petitions, one for the main tenance of Luxemburg in its present position, the other approving, by implication, the proposed an nexation to France, have been circulated and signed. As for the " Nassauers," by which was meant the Nassau regiment, forming about one-half of the gar rison, they did not revolt, nor had they anything to revolt about. I have been puzzling myself for some time to find out why this fable of the revolt of the Nassauers was spread so industriously all over Europe, but must now give it up as a bad job. With regard to the proclamations, if they were posted up at night, when as a rule it is dark, who can prove that they were posted up by French agents? Ido not see why the French Government should send agents to Luxemburg at all, for every Luxemburger you meet is a se'l- constituted French agent already. I cannot speak positively of my own knowledge, but every one that I have asked has given me the same answer on the subject—that the ad dresses in favour of France were posted on the walls and dropped about the streets by the students and other young men of the town—les jennes gears, as a class, in fact. Grave persons admit that it was very unbecoming to do anything of the kind, inasmuch as the country is still under the government of the King of Holland, but they deny that French agents were in any way concerned in the matter. If the farce of universal suffrage should really be played iu connection with the proposed cession of Luxemburg, the French will no doubt look after their own inte rests and their own ballot boxes, and without resort ing to any unfair play they might, if the question was understood to be one between entering the North German Federation and being annexed to France, count on obtaining an enormous majority. But I don't think they have made any attempts to influence the sentiments of the people hitherto, and why should they? I have bought some dozen books on the history, laws, and local religious ceremonies of the Luxemburgers. They are all in French, and three out of four contain sarcasms against the Ger mans. The two most celebrated works in Luxem burg literature are the learned description of the Grand Duchy by the Bishop of La Basse-Mouturie, and its too complete history, in eight stupendous quartos, by the Jesuit, Father Bertholet. Ido not pretend to have read either of these productions; but I have looked through Bertholet's appended " Dictionary of Illustrious Men produced by the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, whose names are not i❑troduced in this history," and I can certify that both the works I have mentioned are written in French. If the historians of the last century, writ ing at a time when the Grand Duchy still formed part of the Holy Roman Empire, used the French language, and if, as is the case, the guide-books and pamphlels of the present day are also published in that tongue, then it is really very difficult to under stand what need there can be to stimulate the Luxemburgers in their very evident inclination towards France. There have been officers and non-commissioned officers here, however, from the neighbouring forti fied town of Metz. The officers, after sending their cards to the proper authorities and requesting per mission to see the works of the fortress, were natu rally enough refused. But the new forts protectity* the railway, and other military buillings erected by the Pru sians were sketched all the sane. Indeed, though printed notices are exhibited forbidding the approach to certain points in the fortifications, there are no sentinels to enforce compliance with the in junctions. The garrison is said to be at its mini mum ; and this would certainly seem to point to at least the possibility of a painful solution of the Luxemburg question. A better sign still is that of late no additional works have been constructed, and that no new artillery has been brought into the fortress. French functionaries, too, have visited Luxe burg in their offidtl capacity, and with the view of reporting to their Government on the condition of the Grand Duchy generally. A Prefect from a neighbouring department, who h s large estates here, was the first to arrive. Spin minor officials came with the special view of st.fdying the com- THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EV EN 1N G, APRIL 2G, 1867. mercial relations of Luxemburg, and of devising means for lessoning the shock that its trade would receive from the country's being suddenly trans ferred from one Government to. another. The in habitants, on being told by their French visitors that their birthplace, and they with it, had been sold, felt mortified as well as surprised, but a cer tain number of persons seem from the very first to have looked upon annexation to France as a good escape from a forced entry into the North German Federation. The Government of Luxemburg (which consists of three directors-general, one of whom is president, with the title of Minister of State) had neither been consulted, nor was it informed of the cession to France until after it had actually taken place. When I say " actually had taken place," I am • adopting (temporarily) the opinion of some Luxemburgers, who are convinced that the Act of March 27 between the King of Holland and the Emperor of the French was signed, and declare that they know it, and even explain how they came to know it. Persons of this way of thinking maintain that the transfer to France is only a question of time, and that time a few weeks ; and they ask how French officials could have come here with the ac knowledged view of taking possession unless Count Bismark's consent to the transaction had been ob tained beforehand. This, they say, explains Count Bismark's per fectly true statement that the Luxemburgers have no wish to belong to Germany ; and they declare that the report of their having carried black flags about the streets on the anniversary of Sadowa was intentionally spread in order to' discredit them in the eyes of the North Germans, and thus reconcile the latter to an entire separation from them. This seems queer on all sides ; but it is certain that the lie is used as a weapon in connection with this Litz etaburg question, though it is often difficult to un derstand with - what particular aim it is being em ployed. As for M. de Lavalette's reported visit to Luxem burg, it has not taken place. Neither has the Baron de Tornaco, Minister-President at Luxemburg, been to Paris, as some French and Belgian papers have asserted. It seems to have been thought that after the deci sion of the Dutch Government to keep clear altoge ther of the Luxemburg affair, and consequently to cease to represent it diplomatically abroad, M. de Tornaco would proceed to Paris as Envoy from the Grand Duchy. All he did, however, was to go to the Hague, where it is believed that he did not suc ceed in obtaining an interview with the King. From this it is concluded that his Majesty, like so many of the Luxemburgers, looks upon the arrange ment with France as a settled affair, and wishes to hear no more on the subject. Otherwise the local Government would naturally protest against a ces sion of any kind, to no matter what Power. A Minister is somebody in Luxemburg a Sub-Prefect is next to nobody in France. To-day it is announced that M. Fohr, Director- General and Judge, will go to Paris to represent the interests of the Grand Duchy; and that M. Jonas, IZegistrar-General, will proceed on the same mission to Berlin. The Baron de Tornaco remains at Luxem burg. The Luxemburg Government has for some time past been kept fully informed of all that takes place in connection with its affairs ; and a telegram was received from Paris this morning by a person in authority stating that the cession to France would be carried out with the consent of Count Bis mark, who, if his conduct in the matter was not ap proved, would resign. Senders of telegrams, how ever, like the receivers, are sometimes deceived. Railway and other Companies. METROPOLITAN. The general manager of this company, Mr. Myles Fenton, states that the number of passengers con veyed on Easter Monday last over the Metropoli tan and Hammersmith and City lines was 101,493, against 87,662 on Easter Monday, 1866, and 66,232 on Easter Monday, 1865, showing an increase of 13,831 passengers over Easter Monday in 1866, and of 35,261 over the same day in 1865. d'Exploitation had been merged into a larger com pany, the Societe Generale d'Exploitation de Che mins de Fer, under a strong and influential body of shareholders, and the directors bad every reason to be satisfied with the arrangements. The report of Mr. A. W. Chantrell, the managing director in Belgium, 'stated that the works on the Roulers and Ypres line had been commenced, as well as those of the Dix 'nude and Nieuport. The works on the Courtray and Denderleeuw had also been recently com menced, and the first section, as far as Audenaerde, was expected to be ready by the end of this year. The Imperial decree approving the convention signed between the Minister of Agriculture, Com merce, and Public Works and this company for the concession of the line from llazebrouck to the frontier of Belgium was granted on Dec. ,19 last, and there was reason to expect that the construc tion of the Poperinghe and Hazebrouck junction would not be long delayed. The capital account showed that £599,554 had been expended. The revenue account showed that £17,262 bad been re ceived, including a balance of £1,124 from the pre ceding account ; and the expenditure, including interest on bonds and preference capital, amounted to £10,228, leaving, as above, a balance of £7,034. Euphrates, leaving the Deyvsim . between them and the Turkish forces at Erzingow and Erzeroum ; and the Russians would then move through an Ar menian population, if not favourable, at least not directly hostile, and exercise at every step an influ ence over the Kizzilbash, who would themselves be sufficient•to hold in check a large army seeking to take' the short route of their rugged mountains. But, besides, the country is in a financial point of view well worthy the Porte's attention, the hills abound ing in iron, copper, lepd, and even silver, and pro ducing gall nuts, and other natural productions— all unknown to the Turks. Passing on through other districts, the Consul found, with some ex ceptions, caused by oppression that is unchecked, a prosperous population in the Erzingau Sanjak and the Kharput plain. In this great plain there are villages every half hour, and all available lands groan under orchards, grain, and cotton ; the poor emigrate for employment to the cities, and the people, therefore, are prosperous, the Christians purchasing land of the Moslems freely. At Diarbekr he found that, after five years of losses by locusts first, and then by cholera, the Tchetchen immigra tion, unfortunately advocated by the Pasha and sanctioned by the Porte, is proving disastrous to the province. The loss in cattle alone has been enormous, not only from over-work in transporting the immigrants and their baggage, but also from the undiscriminating tastes of this half-famished people. Unsupplied with proper rations by the Government, they devoured every four-footed beast that fell into their hands, whether killed in the usual way or dead from natural causes ; oxen, horses, dogs, donkeys, buffaloes, and camels—nothing came amiss to them. Within the last three months of 1866 more than 5,000 beasts of burden were lost to the poor agricultural classes of the province, and timber to the amount of more than £2,000 sterling in value from one district alone. Many of the owners of cattle gave them up, and never attended to re claim, being in fearof corvee. Artisans and labourers have been dragged from their homes 80 miles off to build the homes, Government offices, and huts for the new city, leaving their families and business at a season when their presence was absolutely neces sary, and for which the nominal dole, promised but not paid them, can be no compensation. The Con sul thinks it hardly likely that a race like these new subjects of the Porte, accustomed for the last fifty years to a life of war and plunder, will at once quietly sink down into the comparative inaction of an agricultural life in a colony, composed entirely ,of themselves, headed by intelligent, clever men, formerly officers of the Russian army, and retaining all their old Tchetchenais associations of war, battle, struggles for freedom, and belief that riches and plenty are dependent solely upon the single strength of their arms. Nor will the knowledge they are hutted in a country that for centuries has been abandoned by the Turks—if, indeed, it was ever really subject—from their sheer inability to held their own against the Arabs, contribute to their loyalty, particularly if put to the test of taxation and conscription. The Consul trusts that the Go vernment will not, by withdrawing its support, prematurely drive the Tchetchens to brigandage for subsistence ; and he strongly advocates the placing a permanent regular force at Ras-el-Ain to awe the Bedouins and force peaceful habits upon the im migrants. The absence of resistance on the part of the Arabs to the establishment of a foreign colony in a country which they regard as their own is en couraging. The Pasha is a man of great persever ance. If the new colonists should turn out the re-- generators of this most fruitful portion of the Turkish Asiatic dominions, and, by constantly me nacing the Arabs, force those useless people to their proper localities, the arid deserts beyond the Euphra tes and about Nejd, foreign settlers might be at tracted, who would serve as a counterbalance to possible or probable rebels. The Consul has seen no country so well calculated for pasture and agricul ture, more particularly cotton. • There are thou sands of acres of rich virgin soil completely under the natural irrigation of the Khatioor and its sources, in a level country practicable even at present for every kind of wheeled conveyance to Mosul on the one side, and Aleppo on the other. A railway, so long talked of, between the Mediterranean and Per- sian Gulf would find its shortest route through Ras el-Ain and other districts, which it is proposed to colonise with Tchetchens and others now under Arab .nfluence. SMUT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. - TIMES.—SO far as M. Paulin Limayrac and the Constitutionnel may be taken to be the expression of the Emperor Napoleon's mind, it would seem easy to acquit the French Government of all blame in that unfortunate matter of Luxemburg. France, we are told, seeks no quarrel ; she neither offered nor intended any provocation. She only compliins of-Prussia's dog-in-the-manger policy. She cannot conceive why that Power, which made so good a job of its last year's venture, should grudge its neigh bour a little business in the same line, and stand in the way of a bargain in which France was ready to pay down hard cash. France looked upon the Grand Duchy as no man's land—a mere waif thrown upon her borders by the great wreck of the old German Confederation, art " unconsidered trifle," which she might as well "snap up" as anybody else. The question, no doubt, lies on the very terms set down in the Constitutionnel.- Long before the Luxemburg quarrel presented such terribly serious aspects as it has now assumed, when the very name of the Grand Duchy hardly conveyed to mist men a distinct idea, it was Count Bismark who, volun tarily and gratuitously, from Ys place in the North German Parliament, informed the world that the King of the Netherlands, by the dissolution of the old German Bund, recovered the full sovereignty of his out-lying territory, • that the Luxeniburgers showed no sympathy with the Prussians, and no wish to be incorporated in the new Confederacy, and that, for his own part, he, Bismark himself, was desirous to break off all connection with non-German Poten tates. It is true that, in the same breath, the Minister expressed a confident hope that "Prussia's undoubted rights would never be challenged," but it was hardly to be suppose i that the same Power should put forth claims to mere bar r a c ks and store houses, after so distinct a renunciation of the ground on which those buildings stood. That Prussia could continue to be at home in a place which was, with her consent, to become French territory was a con ceit which Count Bismark could not hope to pass off even as a sally of Brandenburg humour. The mo deration and liberality of the Count's answer to Herr Bennigsen at that juncture took the world by sur prise, and was naturally construed into a confirma tion of the vague surmises connected with Bis mark's visit to Biarritz. Those rumours, as we all remember, were that the neutrality of France during the late war had been purchased at that famous interview by a promise of Prussia's connivance at an eventual French annexation of Belgium, or that a partition of the Nether lands territories, and the advance of France and Germany on either side to the Scheldt; had been hinted at between th e. two secret nego tuitors. All this conjectural edifice. had no other foundation r than the fact of France's neutrality. The transfer for Luxemburg, had it been peace fully effected, might have been looked upon as a first step towards the fulfilment of the alleged bargain. But, hOwever earnest Count Bismark may have been in his engagements, he either h ceased, or wished to appear to have ceased, to be a free agent when called upon for performance. Events were too rapid, and German patriotism was too rampant for him. National enthusiasm was the holy water and the Fade retra by which the fiend was baffled when he Came forth and claimed his bond. Under suc h provocation there is something almost angelic in the temper with which the semi official organ, assuming to speak in the name of the Imperial Government, assures us that France" puts aside every claim," and i:; willing to allow the ques tion to be considered as a European one. Europe, we know, or the three mediating Powers, England, Russia, and Austria, are supposed to have come to the conclusion that Prussia has no longer a right to the place she has for above half a century occupied in the Grand Duchy, and have sent a note to Berlin conveying their views on the subject. Count Bis mark, however, has a habit of being from home at the right, moment, and the official answer has been put off for a few days. In the Minister's absence, however, the North German Gazette intimated that ‘. the Prussian garrison would never be withdrawn from Luxemburg..." Possibly, however, that decision may have to be reconsidered. There has been in this affair something like precipitation on-all sides. :The matter has too soon been suffered to get beyond the control of statesmen. The French, who, only a few days ago, had hardly heard of Luxemburg, found out all at once that the existence of its fortress. in German hands was an insult and a menace to themselves ; while the Germans, who, in the re constitution of their country, had left the Grand I Duchy out in the cold,' are now quite sure that its stronghold is the key to the gates of Berlin. There is — not much that can be taken as serious in any of these assertions. The importance of fortresses in the issues of modern warfare has been reduced to its true proportions. Fbrtresses may be of avail to small States unable otherwise to take the field, as the Dannewerke and Duppel were to Denmark, but only for a short and puny effort ; bat the destinies of empires are decided by the shock of vast masses in the open, and under the walls of their capitals. What goad were Josephstadt and Koniggratz, or even Olmutz itself, to Beuedek, when Sadowa wai lost ? Or where would have been the use even of the Quadrilateral had thc Archduke Albrecht been worsted at Custozza, and Cialdini been enabled to cross the Alps-to Vienna? The pretext of the fortress deceiVes no person ; and if it were indeed true that France renounces all hopes of the territory, and that Prussia; acknowledging the repugnance of the people to her rule, is willing to release them from all German allegiance, if it were true that the question is reduced to the mere ram parts of the cifadel, the solution would qnly be too obvious. What Prussian pride might refuse to the peremptory demands of France might with a good grace be granted to the representations of friendly Powers. The demolition of the fortress of Luxem- burg may be an impracticable and, perhaps, au un desirable undertaking. But a more lausible arrangement suggests itself. The destinies of the Luxemburgers should be left iu their own hands, and, whether they declared in favour of an indepen dent Government or voted for re-union to Belgium, the fortress should by all means be made over to the latter kingdom. The danger in all these con templated changes presses most heavily upon that free but defenceless Belgian community, and the first tramp of warlike feet in the apprehended out break would do away with the inviolability of that neutral territory, if there is any State on the Con tinent to which we are really bound by clear engage- ments, that State, as we learn from Lord Stanley, is Belgium ; and, however indifferent we might other wise be to to the havoc WhiCh the two great rival nations might, in the indulgence of their mad passions, inflict upon one another, we can hardly • help wishing that their difference should be termi nated in the manner which could best screen our Belgian friends from their neighbours' ambition. The degree of authority that the mediating Powers May exercise ou the interested parties will depend on the earnestness and unanimity with which they go to work. France, if we may believe M. Paulin. Limayrac, shows sufficient deference and complai sance. She even holds aloof from the negotiation, not to embarrass the .mediators' actions, and seems willing to await their award. Notwithstanding any amount of blustering, we should not expect to find Germany more intractable. Bismark has at all times shown himself a deep gamester, fully competent to reckon the terrible odds. He is not the man to be led astray by the mere outcry of beerhouse enthu siasm. He is fully aware that in many of the newly annexed districts loyalty to Prussia has struck no very deep roots. He knows full well what reliance may be put on the fidelity of his Southern allies. However desperate he may have seemed in his ven tures, there has . always been method and calculation in his audacity. Had not Austria's trial been Italy's opportunity, it is questionable whether Prussia would ever have struck a blow for German supremacy. There are but few instances of a big bully fairly and deliberately coming to blows with another equally big. A single-handed encounter with France offers Prussia hardly any chance of certain success, andif she looks round about her and sounds the disposi tion of Denmark, Austria, and other countries, except, perhaps, Russia, she must see how far more numerous than the friends who would back her would be the enemies arrayed against her. If the mediating Powers know how to. make the best of all these circumstances, they will have, perhaps, a less arduous task beiore them than is gene rally imagined. Whatever may be the mood of the would-be belligerents, the neutral Powers should never forget that they are three against two. Inde pendent of the sacredness of their peace-making mission, they should feel how easy it is for Might to throw its weight into the scales with Right. There was a moment, as the world is aware, in which a decisive attitude on the part of France would, in the summer of last year, have damped the warlike ardour of Prussia and Austria, and pre vented the hostilities out of which the present com plication arose. Only those who undertake to curb other people's ambition should themselves be inaccessible to all covetous longings. "He who is without sin let him cast the first stone." The want of the policeman has long been felt in Europe. But how can the office be intrusted to any one who is not above the temptation of his neighbour's pockets? Had Russia nothing to gain and Austria nothing to retrieve by war, it is not likely that a cannon could be fired on the Rhine without their permis sion. HERALD. Despite their abusive language and their violent resolutions, the meetings that have been held to denounce the Government and the Reform Bill afford abundant testimony to the wisdom of the one and. the popularity of the other. The assem blages are not formidable in point of numbers, and they are so insignificant in point of influence and character as to show plainly that the true feeling of the country is against them. The resolutions them selves point to a similar conclusion. It is found im possible to get up a demonstration in favour of any practical counter-proposition. The mass meetings of Birmingham and Leeds do not . express their ap proval of a £5 rating limitation, or their preference for a rental qualification ; they demand that which they know no. Government will propose and no Par liament will ever concede—that which is popularly understood by the phrase " u n i versa l su ff rage. " L ast year similar meetings passed vo t es o f con fid ence i n the late Government and sati s f act i on w i t h t h e £ 7 franchise; this year they confine themselves to de clamations that have no practic a l sense a t all , an d demands in which their leaders refuse to concur. It i s plain, then, that the agitation out of doors is wholly unreal and artificial ; that it i s con fi ne d t o t hat class which has not and never w ill h ave any practical weight in English politi cs — t h e c l ass w ith w hich wild declamation passes for argument, and abstract dogmas for statesmanship—the class of t h e orists and .revolutionary dreamers. There is no sober, thoughtful, orderly opposition to the Minis terial measure ; no genui ne support of Mr. Glad stone's obstinate . adherence t o th e f atal error o f 18 32 and the fiasco of 1866. W e are ent i t l e d to assume that the practical political sense of the nation is con tent with the Reform Bill of Mr. Disraeli ; and we assume th's the more confidehtly that its opponents direct their attacks not so m uc h aga i ns t the mea sure as against the men by w h om i t i s b roug h t for ward. They dare not cope with the provisions of the bill, and the reasoning by which those provisions are maintained ; they prefer to elicit clap-trap cheers by panegyrics onl4lr. Gladst one , t h e f r i en d o f t h e people, and denunciations of the. Ministers, the inveterate enemies of reform. " Codlin's the friend, not Short." This is the substance of all that Mr. Forster and Mr. Stansfeld have to say; this is all that Mr. Bright can urge, beyond a deliberate misstatement of the nature of the measure, and an appeal to local preju dice and local circumstances. Coarse personal abuse, false personal charges, vulgar railing, or impudent imputations of fraud and collusion, as unfounded in fact as unscrupulous in assertion, form the staple of Liberal harangues. Could there be a stronger testi s mony to the unanswerable force of Tory arguments and the unimpeachable honesty and equity of the Tory Reform Bill ? Evidently the old word has once more been passed along the Radical ranks--" No evidence for the defence ; abuse the plaintiff's attor ney." The speeches of Mr. Forster and Mr. Stans feld are significant both in their omissions and their admission. Both are in some sense representative men, both are extreme Radicals, both have some practical experience in politics, both are warm per sonal friends of Mr. Gladstone. It is noticeable that neither has much to say against the bill or in favour of the defeated amendment. The former, i indeed, seems to prefer the ratepaying franchise to the rental limit, which he frankly admits to have been formally and finally condemned. He voted for the amendment ; but he must, in so doing, have had a struggle with his conscience, for he cer tainly does not approve of the scheme of which that amendment formed a part. He commends the Con servative Government for having done away with limitations based on accidental distinctions of value, and placed all householders on one footing, though he thinks that the conditions imposed on all are too l speaks stringent and unequal in their operations.iAs often—unhappily not always—his wont, like a man of sense and of business. He understands the question with which be .deals, and when he lleases he can support his views, but not by the sense ess appeals to abstract theory which suit the mob, but by the arguments which influence practical men ; not by reference to imaginary rights of man, but by such considerations of policy and prudence as have had weight with his own mind. He holds extreme opinions ; but he is not a man of extreme mind. His habit of thought, his manner of regarding political subjects, are those of a businesslike and often a statesmanlike intellect, not . those of a fanatical imagination. Wherever the interest and rights of Ihate; the Conservatives too heartily to speak of them, ' lived n s i' el lv f i e s t o e h I l c o o n ar a ()L n candour con spirators,closely with their white men only are concerned Mr.. Forster is capable of judging and arguing on practical grounds, and his speeches in Parliament upon the question of Reform have certainly contributed to throw light upon some important points. Mr. Stansfeld is a clever men,latt unhappily on this subject he is led into injustice and absurdity by . two of the dominant defects of his character. He is vindictive ; and he a p i e l r d h c a o p i s it e t v es e y n . to A tii n ii d ik h and associatoeefdhtahlisitm SOUTH LEICESTERSHIRE. The half-yearly general meeting of this company was held yesterday at the Enston Station ; Colonel Bigge in the chair. - The report of the directors stated that the dis posable balance on revenue account for the half year ending the 31st of December, 1866, was £3,941, out of which the directors recommended a dividend at the rate of 41 per cent. per annum. The London and North-Western Railway Company had given the requisite three months' notice of their intention to exercise the option given to them by the agreement of the 2d of August, 1863; of purchasing . this company's undertaking upon the terms con tained in the agreement and sanctioned by Parlia ment. The report was adopted. On the motion of Mr. J. ADDISON, a vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. LLANELLY. A Wharncliffe meeting of this company was held yesterday at the offices, Great George-street, West minster ; Mr. J. Biddulph in the chair. Mr. Markby, the solicitor, read the head of a bill for granting further powers to the Llanelly Com pany, and to enable them to give their dock as se curity for £50,000, which the Harbour Commis sioners of Llanelly intended borrowing from the Loan. Commissioners, with the view of securing better harbour accommodation for that place. After a long discussion it was agreed, on the motion of Mr. HELEN, seconded by Mr. FOWLER, that the bill be approved, with the exception of the part relating to the agreement with the Harbour Commissioners of Llanelly. LLYNVI AND OGMORE. A WhArncliffe meeting of this company was held yesterday at the Great Western Hotel, Padding ton ; Mr. A. Macgregor in the chair. The Solicitor read the heads of a bill, authorising the company to raise additional capital to the extent of £lOO,OOO, with the usual borrowing powers, and to sanction traffic arrangements with the South Wales Mineral Railway Company. The CHAIRMAN said the necessity for increased capital was caused by an incorrect estimate of the amount required for new works in connexion with the harbour and decks at Porthcawl, and for ad ditional rolling stock. The necessity for additional rolling stock implied the fulfilment of their expec tations as to the increase of traffic, and he believed it was likely to exceed their expectations. The works at the port were almost completed, and their prospects when completed were exceedingly good The inner basin would have a depth of water of 29 feet at spring tides and 18 feet at neap tides. A resolution approving the bill was carriei, and the proceedings terminated. WEST FLANDERS. The report of the directors states, in reference to the claims of the preference and original share holders to the division of any Stun that might re main for dividend after paying the interest, 51 per cent., on the preference shares and Bs. 9d. (or 5 per cent. on £8 155.) to the original shareholders, that the question had been submitted to eminent law yers in England and Belgium, and the opinion of all of them, varying somewhat in positiveness, was in favour of the original shareholders. The statutes of the company provided that in the event of a dis pute between the shareholders the question should be submitted to three arbitrators in Belgium, whose decision should be final. A holder of 'preference, shares having raised the question, it had been sub mitted, with the usual form,dities, to three arbitra tors appointed by the Tribunal of Commerce at Bruges. The decision of the arbitrators was in favour of the original shareholders, and the direc tors hoped that this 'decision, according as it (lid with the best opinions they could take, had finally set the question at rest. The statement of accounts fur the past half-year showed that after providing for the fixed charges, there remained a balance of £7,034, out of which the directors proposed to pay 4s. 9d. per share, payable as usual on and after the 15th of May next, and to carry forward a balance of £6BO. Since the last meeting the directors had paid £1,231, the balance due for carriages and trucks, thus closing that account, The Societe WESTERN SHAREHOLDERS' ASSOCIATION. It appears that the objects of this association are to impress upon the directors of the various com panies the abandonment of some or all of the schemes for extension now projected by the respec tive companies in the present session of Parliament, and, if consilered advisable; to obtain the sanction of Parliament to the abandonment of any unpro fitable scheme to which either company may be considered to be pledged by Parliament. The chair man, Mr. R. Brent, and the hon. secretaries, Messrs. 11. S. Ellis and R. M. Daw, state that they have forwarded copies of memorials, signed by numerous influential shareholders, to the directors of the Lon don and South-Western Railway Company, the Bristol and Exeter Railway Company, expressing their opinion that it is most undesirable to assist the formation of the Devon and Cornwall and other pro jected railways in the West of England, excepting the extension from Okehampton to Lidford ; urging that every facility be given to the public for the interchange of traffic between the various Western railways. They also state that a deputation from this association has already had an interview with the dir, ctors, in reference to the various extensions pro jected or supported by the London and South- Western Company, at which interview the directors signified their d es i re t o postpone as long as possible the construction of such branches and extensiops as are partly made, and to enter into no engagements for the construction of other branches and lines ex cept such as are absolutely necessary. SINGAPORE GAS (LIMITED). The directors state, in their report, that the profits of the company for the half-year ending Dec. 31 were £990, which, together with £25 from the pre ceding half-year, made an available balance of £1,016, out of which the directors recommended a dividend at the rate of 3f per cent. per annum on the amounts paid up on the original capital, free of income tax, leaving a balance of £5l. Mr. E. J. Wells, the manager, states in his report that the ad vantages of gas over cocoanut oil for illuminating purpos-s was fully appreciated by all classes of resi dents in Singapore. The total increase of lights for the half-year was 798. The collection of the gas ren tal had been satisfactory, and the profits on the fit tings and sundries, and also the sale of the residual products, had fully answered his expectations. The total number of lights fixed at the eud of the half year was 5,310. The revenue account for the half year showed that £4,332 had been received, and £3,342 expended, leaving a balance of £990. THE TURKS IN ASIA. Mr. Taylor, her Majesty's consul for Kurdistan, h%s transmitted to the Foreign-office a report on a recent tour he has taken in various provinces of Asiatic Turkey. Leaving Erzeroum, and passing through the Terjau Kuzaer, he found a generally thriving population, though interfered with by thievi,h neighbouring tribes. Some villages were at the moment assailed by a party of . Circassians, not to be confounded with the Tchetchens, though characterised, like them, by a system of wholesale pilfering and brigandage. Backed by powerful personages, they had represented to the councils of Erzeroum and Erzingau that these villages were deserted, or had only a few inhabitants who har boured robbers ; and so carelessly are many impor tant matters disposed of that without further in quiry these Circass ians obtained an order making over the villages an d surroundin g lands to them. Passing on to that pa rt of the kaimak amlik of Erzin gau,which lies south of the Kara Su (Erzeroum branch of the Euphrates), the Consul came to the Deyvism, a country which is eine mass of high mountains, and generally impracticable. He de scribes them as inhabited by the unruly and intract able Kizzilbash Koord race, the majority of w h oa) may be called independent, as, secure in their inac cessible or difficult mountains, they pay what duties they like, refuse recruits, and disobey sub-governors other than those of their own race approved by themselves. Their mountains, as attested by tradi tion and numerous ruins of old churches and build ings still existing, were at one time thickly peopled by an extensive and exclusive Armenian population, subsequently ejected by the Kizzilbash. The latter hare since existed there, in this independent state, for at least 400 years. There are two races, the Seyd Hassanaulees, the descendants of older moun taineers, and the Deyvsimlees, a later immigration, and they are generally at war with one another, but always ready to unite against an enemy hostile to their general interests, and are prubably able to bring 25,000 matchlocks into the field. Their numbers, combined with a hereditary hatred, derived from their religious views, for all Moslems of the Suuin creed, whom they designate as Turcos, are large enough to be a constant source of uneasiness to Government, and to intimidate the peaceable villagers of other sects. in their neighbourhood, or within reach of their in •defatigable thieves and brigand bands, who levy black-mail froth each village and ravage the public roads between Eggin and Arabkir and Erzingau and Erzeroum. The chiefs are rich in their own rude way, but the great majority hopelessly poor, from t of sheep,agriculturalutt er, a n produce money on,l the large amount they areyearly oblig e d to g ive their d a a ghas, n certain w ho tak a e m a o ufinft hof their a la n n u a u s a ni ll , y ed . h T ris h t e i i a r n religion i s dp a a ( c m u n ri i s o m u s , ma and x d t t u h r e e of yw 0 I s r ship the sun, large stones, and trees, and profess many other doctrines originally derived from the Kerametta and Assasins, who rose in the third cen tury of the liejret, common to the Noseyrees and Druses of Mount Lebanon and other parts of Syria. 1u this jumble of religions Ali holds the first place, but they regard our Saviour with particular respect, as they in fact believe that he and all the prophets and holy men, from Adam to Ali, were but different incarnations of the Deity. Ali, as coming last, they reverence most, and style him " The word, the uu created, begotten of light, the lion of God, the per— fect and the just truth." They are totally ignorant of reading and writing, and therefore generally fanatics in their f a ith, an d in religious matters obey implicitly th e gu id ance o f t h e i r spiritual chiefs, called Deydees (sayers) an d S e y e ds, w ho preside at their prayer meeti ngs , w hi c h are held with a secrecy which has given occasion to scandalous rumours unfounded in fact. The later immigrant race, the Seyd Hassananlees, are more civilised than the 01 ler, and more desirous of knowledge, and have profited by the teaching of the indefatigable American missionaries .at Kharput ; one of the most influential chiefs and his followers have really imbibed Protestant doctrines. But the real Deyvsimlees, the older mountaineer race, do not partake in such sentiments, and the Consul fears they may yet cause disaster to the state to which they are ostensibly subject. lle says there is no doubt, that in spite of the loyal teaching of tL Americans, the. , whole Kizzilbash, as a race, are everywhere disaffected ; and they are to be found in other districts, and up to Constantinople. In the event of a Russian aggression upon Turkey, the enemy might take the easy route of the _rich Talley of the Diyadiu branch of the wild fancies and credulous assertions, that he is 3 ready as Signor Mazzini himself to believe in ima ginary plots and secret treaties concerted by others.- Signor Mazzini used to tell us of treaties between Austria and Russia, between France and Sardinfavr, containing compacts of unheard-of villany ; k ne e in what pigeonhole they were lodged, and could nate the breadth and colour of the tape with which were tied. So Mr. Stansfeld has imanined a CO..' pact between the Conservatives and th;Adullarniteel in virtue of which a restriction of value is to be ad ded to that of ratepaying—so that Mr. Gla,dstone'a re; strictive proposition may be combined with that the Government, and the franchise confined not on,,i); to ratepayers but to householders of more than rental who pay rates. This shameful c ompact I t the price of Lord Grosvenor's support. We are told why the majority of the resolute partisans 01 r' ' s ; strictions on both sides of the house, voted ag 3i , n d the Government, for little difficulties of this kle never disturb the implicit faith of a Mazzinian be" liever. However, notwithstanding Mr. Stansfeld re; peated asseverations, we venture to tell him, o n °, u own responsibility, that the charge he has so reckless.ifs made is utterly unfounded ; that Ministers . wee ld ,` r t . soon abandon the first of their propositions — t he Fury sonal payment of rates—as that second and co -etle principle of the bill—the removal of all absolute 3° , 0 arbitrary exclusion ; and that if Lord Grosvenor proposition were accepted it would not hav e t the effect which he supposes, but would still lea ve , small householder free to achievehis own enfranc h r. tv i ment. Apart from this ebullition of spiteful crab-11'1i or unscrupulous malice, Mr. Stansfeld's sP eee and, in a less explicit manner, Mr. Forster s als ° ' indicate a disposition to take a course the very posite of that insisted on by Mr. Gladstone and Bright. Instead of denouncing the bill as hel l; lessly bad, and wishing to reserve the vote of 13th, they accept that vote and conceive it to be business of the Liberal party to try to improve tu of bill in 'committee, retaining the personal paym ent rates as a settled question. They use stronger lag.; guage than is at all just or consonant with tbel real meaning, and indulge in useless insult and Pro vocation, by way of reasserting the suprema c Y their party ; but what they really intend is it seeelT that the two years' residence should be reduced to one, and that the case of the compound househo lder .s should be met by some compromise more favou rabl t e than that contained in the bill—for instance, tba t. l as Mr. flibbert proposes, the tenant should be allowed to pay only the reduced rate which he re ; covers from his landlord, instead of the full 011 . e This is clearly the proper and the only legititaa'n policy of the Opposition. Any further attacks e s the integrity of the bill would be simply fa cti l, and mischievous. But they are entitled to rne h i o . 'i l e if they can, its more obnoxious details ; and t 7 he success would not be a reason for abandoning bill. On both the points raised we think then~ wrong. Especially absurd does it seem that, wil e . ratepaying is made the test of enfranchisement , man should pay 10s. and one 7s. on houses of eclu 3 value in the same street, merely because at a pr.r, vious period the rates on the latter were paid if s the landlord. It is clearly just that all ratepaYe 0 who claim to vote as such should stand on the Om, footing ; that there should be no excusals, wh etheh total or partial. But the matter is one for d isc fe sion, and perhaps for compromise ; and t . t Liberals are willing to act in a fair and loyal *al,: to accept the bill and to try to make the best of L' it will become the duty of Ministers to meet thew in a like spirit, and endeavour to settle all bedis puted details as equitably and liberally as 0 ; 1 a done without sacrificing any essential princip o necessary precaution. In the meantime, if this is w t be the policy of the Opposition, let them disconef„ themselves at once and peremptorily from the graceful attempts at a renewal of the outrages " `, - et last year, which are avowedly in preparation ; , them prove their sincerity and good faith by r e p diating and reprobating those breaches of the ' a ce which are directed to overawe the respectable clas s 0 . and influence the action of Parliament by bringll i f the ruffianism of London in close and unfriendly proximity to its undefended wealth, and use th e fit best endeavours as good citizens should, to Preve a painful collision and avoid the necessity of bring . ing to justice the ringleaders in riots and disorderl whose avowed purpose makes it impossible to tre i e ',, them with the lenity which English law nomme n shows to disturbances untainted by actual sedition; While the Liberal party in Parliament remain uhdie the suspicion of complicity in the rowdyism of Al.; Beales and his associates, they can hardly otP ee d that their good faith should be taken for graute or that the consideration due to loyal Parliarnen te % opposition should be conceded to men who are least willing to profit by, if they have not direct encouraged, an attempt to intimidate a Parliarneed tary majority by raising fears for the peace a ° security of the metropolis. COUNTRY MARKETS. BIRMINGIIAM—TxtrRsDAY. At to-day's market there was'a limited supply of wil i e . 3 ,l which realised an advance of is per qr. o n both Enß l ` r . and foreign. Barley and oat s 6d t o is per qr. hig" (3 Beans and peas firm. BRISTOL—THURSDAY. " On our market to-day English wheat was in very - ;,,ft supply, and sold readily at fully as much money. Forol_a not active, but fully as dear as on this day se'nnight, ‘, 1 1, 1 r in some instances rattier more money obtainable. A trade doing in barleys, at late prices.. Supplies of oats lido. usually short, and Gd per qr. advance was readily. 11 ' 3 Maize 6d per qr. dearer. BURY ST. EDMUNDS —WEDNESDAY. The quantity of wheat offering at our market to-dal All large, and the trade was firm, at fully late .prices• other kinds of grain realized quite as much money. GAINSBOROUGH—WEDNESDAY. Only a small show of wheat to-day, and little busingst doing, at last week's prices. Other kinds of grain Wi th alteration. MANCHESTER—THURSDAY. t s At our market this morning IN heat and flour Inere limited demand, and sellers were firm in asking ful l 9 l3 „ot vious rates. Oats were ld per 451 b, and oatmeal 1p load dearer. Beans is to 2s per qr. advance on the c.,011 rency.of this day se'nnight. Indian corn without Ili' alteration. EDINBURGH-WEDNESDAY. Wheat on the top, Os Gd up Barley on the top, Os Gd down average ,average `2s Od tiP Os td uP " Oats on the top, same average, is 4d illi• Beans on the top, 2s Od up average, 1s 7d ' I P Total supply and sales. Wheat • 727 qrs sold 02 Barley 638 qrs sold 58 2 Oats 1125 qrs sold 49 8 Beans Bl qrs sold 7 1 Average prices. Wheat, G2s Gd 1 Oats, 82s 8d Barley, B9s 9d 1 Beans 48s id _.„tro Town-made flour sells as follows :—Whit e , 50s Od; v-• superfine, 54s Od; superfine, 52s Od; fine, 48s Od. GLASGOW—WEDNESDAY. tb° To-day's market was w e ll a tt en d e d. Wheat on, 6 4 spot realized last week's extreme rates. Flour advanec u ip,l to is per sack. Barley, beans, and peas without raat e ; change. Oats improved 6d per 2641 b ; oatmeal, Gd , per 2801 b. Indian corn nominal from want of supply THE PREPARATIONS OF FRANCE.—The Fe e correspondent of the Independance Belge, writing 011 ,7 0 { 23d, says :—" No mystery prevails here on the subj ect the preparations of all kinds which are being made to 131;;; vent the Government from being taken at a disadvaoaof - should a war break out. We are told of the despatc h to several hundreds of pieces of artillery from the sout h a Strasburg. Gunboats (in frame it is to be supposed) 1111 4 also been forwarded by railways to an unacknowle d fi ge a destination. Very great activity pervades the Marine -v t ,"; partment, and all the chiefs of the military service at the various ports attend theldinistry to receive their orders . - is also reported to-day that a squadron may possiblybocte; spatched to the Baltic as a squadron of observation, ° V ° „ - f without any declaration of war, but that may be but on° " a. the rumours to which little importance should bo attaolie Neither do I think we should attach much weight to statement that England and Russia would raise object {o to the employment of a French squadron in the Balt ic the event of war. It appears evident to me that after; II ing agreed with France on the subject matter out of scl.l.citi a conflict may arise, they would not seek to quibble W.' her as to the means of bringing it to a speedy terminati° Births. ito tt , DIARDON —On the 21th inst., at 7, VasEall-terrace , s sington, the wife of Thomas T. Mardon, Esql of daughter. NAPIER—On the 24th inst, at Beechholme, Winibled°lloi common, the wife of Major-General W. C. E.•NaPier' a daughter. NOORDEN—On the 24th inst., at 27, Bedford-square, W'CI" the wife of P. E. Von NoOrden, Esq.. of a sUu. Marriages. ,feb , BELL —SHIELD —0 n the 23d inst., at the Episcopal ( 2, 1 1 1 of Itotheszty, T. Hugh, eldest son of J. Lowthian Washington Hall, county Durham, Esq., W youngest daughter of John Shield, of Ashburn, • s ASre° JOHPNSTON—A Hi MAN-- On the 23d inst„ at 2 60, a c' G e orge -street, Glasgow, William Johnston, E' 41. 1 ttio count tint, Glasgow, to Elizabeth Smith, daughter ()" late William Aikman, Esq. Deaths. Whir S WARBRECK—On the 24th inst., at Sowerby, nea r Thomas Swarbreck, solicitor aged 70. 0 19 HEATH —On the 24th inst., at 63, Hackney, Mr. Henry Heath, aged 5 2 . MogßE—On Easter Sunday, at 2, Forres-st il re i e c t i ; d::sb' very suddenly, Katurali, wife of Mr. H. B. London: Printed and Published by WILLIAM 112 of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE Sas Office, N of Strand, in the Precinct of the Sayoy, in the Coun t y iliddlesex,—Friday, April 26, 1867.