The Sun. — London, England, 1870-12-15 00:00:00

SPECIAL SUN OFFICE, 7 r. m. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE LONDON SCHOOL BOARD, the first meeting of the London School Board took Ilace this afternoon in the Council Chamber of the Guild -4411. Mr. Alderman Cotton acted as chairman on the e asion. On his right hand sat Miss Garrett and Miss '• Davies. The other members of the Board were seated ° la both sides of the Chamber in the same manner as in t he Rouse of Commons. Alderman Cotton thanked the meeting for having elected him to the chair. They would now have to elect a Permanent chairman. . professor Huxley, himself a candidate for the post, 'wed that no salary should be given to the chairman. Lucraft seconded the motion. He thought there 'Add be sufficient honour in the appointment, and he thought a gentleman ought to be ashamed to ask for a glary to drag uninstructed children out of the gutter. The Rev. J. Mee would leave open the door for future c onsideration. He suggested the words "at present." Mr. Huxley and Mr. Lucraft agreed, and the proposal t hus amended was agreed to. t .A discussion then ensued with respect to the qualifica "us of the various candidates for the chairmanship, Which ended in Lord Lawrence being elected to the im portant office. THE WAR, FIGHTING IN THE NORTH. LILLE, December 15. A fresh Prussian corps has been hastily despatched from before Paris to oppose the advance of General Paidherbe. Several engagements have taken place between Ham and La Fere. Two hundred Prus sians were captured between Ham and Flavy. A Prussian column of 2,500 men from Erchea appear ing before Ham an engagement took place, lasting all the morning. Fighting has also taken place at 4 -obigny. ' GERMAN RETREAT. HAVRE, December 14. The Prussians have returned from around Havre. Rumours are in circulation that the French have gained some important victories, but nothing cer tain is known. MORE ENGAGEMENTS ON THE LOIRE. BORDEAUX, December 14. The Moniteur states that reinforcements are re- Peatedly arriving from the East and West of France, and are being dispatched to the French generals, in Order to render impregnable, several important Positions. These reinforcements are equally divided among the two armies of the Loire: the Prussians have arrived at Montrichard and liamorantin. Several engagements have been fought between the different army corps encamped on the line of battle extending from Le Mans beyond Vierzon. No mails from Belgian since the sth, none from Lngland since the 7th ; and none at all from Tours. CAPITULATION OF MONTMEDY. HEADQUARTERS, VERSAILLES, December 14. The fortress of Montmedy, which, since the Ger- I nans were called to the Chiers by MacMahon's march to Sedan, has so often been summoned to surrender, has not kept up its reputation under a Serious siege. The Germans opened fire from their breach bat teries early on Monday last, and to-day the place Was surrendered to General Kamecke, of Metz. THE DEFENCES OF PARIS. BERLIN, December 14. The Paris forts are almost silent. A number of guns have been removed from Forts Issy, Vanvres, and Valerien ; but a monster cannon, newly Placed on Valorien, fires 9,000 paces. Several tlitachments are being stationed by General Trochu tZ stop deserters. The Germans are entirely ignorant of what is going on in the city. It has, however, been ascertained that all intercourse between the city and the troops outside is sus- Pended. At night Paris is in darkness, there being 11 gas. Th e captured steamers on the Loire are manned by German sailors. THE DEFERRED BOMBARDMENT. With reference to the suspension of the bombard- Meat of Paris, the Berlin official .Provinzial Come ePonclenz of the 14th says: " Explanations concerning the facts and intentions in question cannot be given without detriment to military operations. The people should, however, rest assured that only military views are allowed to weigh as to the course to be pursued, and that the supreme object of the war and the interests of our army are the paramount considerations kept in view. As regards Paris, our Commanders will not fail, at th e right moment, in what may be requisite folly to ensure both immediate and future military success." TEM REPORTED CAPTURE OF LA FERE. The report from Lille to the effect that La Fere had been retaken by General Faidherbe is prema ture. A. subsequent despatch states that La Fere Wag not attacked at all. NEWS FROM BORDEAUX. A telegram from the new French seat of Govern- Ment, dated Tuesday, gives the following its of news :—lt is asserted that the French have retaken the railway junction at Vierzon. A. rumour is current here that the Prussians have occupied Blois, but the only facts positively known are those received from Tours, and dated Sunday last. When the Prus einns arrived before Blois, on the left bank of the river, the bridge over the Loire being broken, they sum lzuned the town to surrender, and to restore the bridge under a threat of bombardment. M. Gam u l etta, who was present in the town, formally refused the .demand. It is asserted that the , tt ° o Ps and artillery concentrated at Blois were a position to' repulse any further attack. °Mcial despatches dated Alencon, December 12, stated that the Prussian cavalry stationed at -V erneuil have left the town. The Prussians evacuated Dreux, and are proceeding to Versailles Ohartres. They occupy Conches. Fifteen hlans entered St. Jean de Losnis on the 12th. A. d etachment of Prussian' infantry has halted outside th e town. 4 ltras AN]) ANIMUNITION FOR FRANCE. The Erie steamer, from New York, has arrived " Cowes with arms, ammunition, and war materials lo r Prance. REWARD FOR BISMARCK. BERLIN, December 1.4 (1.21 p.m.) Count Bismarck will probably be created Duke. THE MILITARY FORCES OF AUSTRIA. PEST; December 14. General Benedek, in answer to Count Apponyfs q u estions as to the military resources of Austria, stated that since 1868 the army had been increased, 1 14 that it now num bered, including Landwehr, 1 '2 52 )376 men. The number of breechloaders was ' 037 ,000 and 150,000 more had been ordered. There was an increase of 378 in the number of guns. Considerable sum s were n ecessary, in order to corn jete every branch of the service. The Govern -41. silt was qu it e rea d y to agree t o a C o mmittee of 1 a n ; 1114 7. There was applause when General.Bene "lL eat down, after giving these explanations, 'ORY. Anthony to montk ur is has its comp's,- Anthony ry striking: tive litera ntrast pre France and Oernent of in nature tanglement elf interest :the human Yet, froo ;fusion, not; ie frightful but the• linger ea t of Emily' )y, even in - gin George, of the story ioldina, in membrance Emily, the save, is cer- really no ig baseness yell hnagin- I-sharper, r lives upon ho borrows nd again by 3oundrel as recounted, bed, whose ? , .d. And yet, the tale nor is for one servant of h its devious and then manipulated ►denap, o discover in s cheek of a L le through the way with the eorge Hot ; displa) l3 c l -edged clap' ut never for by a hairs- Stubbers, -e imagined, at could be ;pitch could he hand so have stated r, this brit' Hotspur of isibly so be— gard to. Buell otherwise not only or evading and. ative litera and rapidly Anthonyat among the VICH. Science and tudents who L the Royal was made is' factory in • having con the platform 2ers and the Zuskin, who, i address on nee of habits es of free air nimals. At, n amid lona ose, and said distributing I. He did so ved that the ble for their ich had been d them these the kingdom• on had made the increase s was most tow 810, and 3r cent. above he year 1868 remarkable. ind of classes 3 was 15,010. le. He was were no less the examina a 27 Queen's -Muting thew at of Mr. H. the Queen's silver medal a. He must this, as also prizes to the to Professor mer returned 'naked them to him. 1 1 ° acere satisfac• only trusted ad to further dents, as well la he left the JIC EN OE. at Standford nto Woolwich ness has been been ordered ;, the North re to be ready a quartered been supplie d e exception of —ln view o f tt London - Ilry have been ; will be under magistrates. anual report men's Suffrag e results. Inte r le extension o favour of tho fiat during th© staining 2, 0 firmer measure, 2no less than a its annua l pwards of one Sir Llewelly n L3r yachtsmen; the club collie' hundred an,, A Commons, itraight, MY llusion to the Lithe recent .s who was to r aken an insur surance C° llv which, at tit e .£1 000 'for his of Die; aicy for a II" - nt at Brockleii 1, two ano u „ ° 'f killed, one is satisfaeto%', irnitful in ar o who have the dal insuran IHE SUS, LONDON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 187 C. THE MONEY MARKET. CITY, Two o'CLocx. The arrangements of the settlement Are nearly all that has taken place on the Stock Exchange to-day. There seems to be nearly a total cessation of business, but the discount market is firm at about 2i per cent. Railways are firmer. Consols are quoted 911 to 911 for money and account. Foreign Stocks present scarcely any change. French Defence Loan, dis. to prem. ; Italian, 55 to 554 ; Russiah, 83. to 85 ; Spanish, 31 to 314 ; Turkish Five per Cents. of 1865, 431 to 43/ ; and ditto of lag, 50 to 501. The New German Loan is still steady at about 1 prem. It is understood that the London applications for the North German Loan have exceeded the £3,000,000 to be allotted. The Spanish Financial Agency has announced the pay ment of the coupon due the 31st. inst. on ,the 3 per cent. Consolidated stock, into which the various denominations of Spanish bonds circulating in the markets have been unified. An application, it is said, has been made to the committee of the Stock Exchange that the, three issues of this stock of 1867, '69, '7O, which are similar in every re pect, and dealt in separately, should henceforth be quoted together in the official list, following the precedent , adopted with the various Portuguese loans. Meanwhile I it appears that the committee have fixed for the first time an equal making up price on the three issues for the settlement of to-morrow. The report of the Ceylon Company (Limited), to be presented on the 20th inst., recommends an interim divi dend for the six months ended the 30th of September last at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum. The directors of the Ebbw Vale Steel, Iron, and Coal Company (limited) have declared an interim dividend of 10s. per share. With regard to the Japanese Loan, notice has been given that by an Imperial edict dated the 29th of June, 1870, the Oriental Bank Corporation have been appointed agents for that Government, Mr. Lay having ceased to be Commissioner. Vice-Chancellor Bacon has appointed Mr. James Ford, of Moorgate-street, official liquidator of the Nevada Freehold Properties Trusts. _ The half-yearly interest on Peruvian Six Per Cent. paid up Scrip, due on the Ist of January next, is adver tised for payment, as also the interest due on the French , Ap paid-up scrip. (CENTRAL kREBs TELEGnA3IS.) ITHE EARL OF DERBY ON THE MILITARY SYSTEM, The Earl of Derby last night performed the ceremony of distributing the regimental - shooting prizes to the Ist Lancashire Rifle Volunteers at Liverpool. His Lordship, Who is the honorary colonel of this regiment, spoke highly of its efficiency, and complimented its officers upon the exertions they had made to bring it to its present position. Upon the general question of army and volunteer organi sation, Lord Derby said that the secret of successful organisation was that men's hearts should be in the service. He hoped that when the mili tary arrangements of this country were re-or ganised the free and spontaneous character of the volunteer system would not be changed. He ridiculed the idea of. the whole of the able-bodied male population being drilled year after . year for the purpose of forming an army on the Prussian model. The position of England was totally different to that of continental nations. She had no frontiers, and the utmost force she could be called upon to repel was only one which 'could be carried across the channel by a hostile fleet. To his lordship it appeared that a nation was intended to be something more than a camp, and a system which carried on war not by compa ratively limited armies, but by the whole mass of the people ; indicated not an advance, but a retrogression of civilisation. To put aside all other considerations, it was cheaper to pay the fair market value of the labour a nation required than it was to take it by force. MR. GLADSTONE IN LIVERPOOL. The Premier and Sir Thomas Gladstone were in Liverpool yesterday, attending the marriagc; of Miss Gladstone, daughter of Mr. Robertson Gladstone, of that town, to Mr. Thornewill, corn merchant, of the same place. THE DERRY APPRENTICE BOYS. At an aggregate meeting of the Derry Apprentice Boys and their friends, held last night, it was resolved to ignore the proclamation of the magistrates, forbidding the usual procession. STRANGE ACCIDENT IN A TUNNEL. As a goods train was being pushed up a steep incline in a tunnel connecting the Midland, and Manchester, Shef field, and Lincolnshire railways at Sheffield, last evening, some of the forgmost waggons got off the line, and were dashed against the side of the tunnel. Others laden with valuable goods were driven with great force over the debris al the engine was propelling the train at full speed. The tunnel was completely blocked up, and considerable damage has been done to the rolling stock. The engine driver and fireman escaped uninjured. • FORGING BILLS OF EXCHANGE. John Ward Sampher, shoe manufacturer, of Stafford, was yesterday committed for trial, charged with forging and uttering bills of exchange to Lloyds' Banking Com pany. The forgery was for a very considerable sum. THE LUXEMBURG QUESTION. BERLIN, December 15. The King of Holland has made the declaration that nothing will induce him to give up Luxemburg. Prussia, it is said, has made a demand for a money indemnity from Luxemburg. BERLIN, December 14, (1.21 p.m.) There is reason to believe that the King of Rol and, who is likewise Grand Duke of Luxemburg, has been for some time aware of the intention of Prussia to recede from the Luxemburg Neutralisa tion Treaty unless the French Consul were prohibited from assisting the escaped prisoners to return to France and re-enter the army. It is denied in Prussian official circles that there is any analogy Between the denunciation of the Black Sea and the Luxemburg Treaties. Russia, at the time the alleged infractions of the Black Sea Treaty were committed, never favoured us with her opinion that the Treaty had been invalidated, but, waiting ;her opportunity, denounced it when the Powers were otherwise engaged ; but Prussia re ceded from the Luxemburg compact the moment it was violated, in order to inform the Luxemburg Government they had forfeited the neutral action accorded them, and would be henceforth regarded as responsible agents. BilmssELs, December 14. Count Bismarck complains in very strong terms,of the conduct of the French Vice-Consnl in Luxem burg. M. Servais, the Minister of State in Luxem burg, das declared to the deputies that he warned the Vice-Consul, but did not dare to interfere with his proceedings. He warned him even before the capitulation of Metz. THE MINISTERIAL . CRISIS IN HOLLAND. THE HAGUE, December 14. Yesterday evening the Minister of Marine in formed the Second Chamber that he and the Minis ter of the Interior had not been successful in their endeavour to form a Cabinet, and had sent in their resignation. The. Liberal member Jonckbloet said that the Ministerial crisis had now lasted since the Bth of November, or rather the end of October, and that the circumstances of the moment required its speedy termination. The Luxemburg question might prove dangerous, and colonial affairs required serious atten tion. There was, he contended, no political reason for the crisis, which was due merely to personal differences in the Cabinet; and he hoped that the Crown would take speedily some decisive measure with regard to the formation of a Ministry. THE EASTERN QUESTION. ST. PETERSBURG, December 15. In reply to Prince Gortschkoff, Count Bengt, in his last note, says :—" Austria adheres to the Con ference without previously adopting any resolution as to the questions to be discussed. She is only animated by the desire to insure peace in the East, and to effect a lasting settlement of, the subjects 'of dispute now prevailing, and at the same time to spare the national suscep- tibilities of Russia without weakening the guaran tees which had been judged necessary by the Powers." An Imperial manifesto has appeared ordering a levy to be made of six men in every thousand of the male population. RECRUITING IN RUSSIA.. ST. PETERSBURG, December 14. An Imperial manifesto and ukase, signed yes terday, has just been published. It orders that the recruiting on the new plan is to begin in February and end in March, and, is to be con ducted with all speed. Six recruits are to be taken per thousand souls, and one and a half per thousand, besides, in the western provinces, to fill former deficiencies. All young men under 21 years of age, students in the higher Government academies and teachers of primary schools in Poland, are exempt. The sum of money for which exemption may be purchased is 570 roubles. CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES. WASHINGTON, December 13. General Butler has presented a petition to the House of Representatives, signed by 2,000 citizens of Gloucester, praying Congress to demand an in demnity for the losses entaiied upon American fisher men by the action of Canada, ;and to declare, as a retaliatory measure, that commercial intercourse with Canada should cease. This petition was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. CHARLES LAFITTE AND COMPANY. The arguments in the case of the claim of £150,000 by Monsieur Charles Lafitte against this company were con eluded yesterday. The Master of the Rolls reserved his judgment. THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT BARNSLEY, The inquest on the bodies of the fourteen persons who lost their lives in the collision between a goods train and a passenger train at Stairfoot, near Barnsley, on Monday, was opened at Ardsley on Tuesday afternoon. Witnesses identified nearly all the deceased ; and Mr. S. Bowring, the station master at Stairfoot, described how the waggons dashed into the passenger train just as it was about to start from the station. The detached waggons of the goods train had come a distance of two miles before they met the passenger train. The inquiry was adjourned. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAM.) Up to a late hour last night no further deaths had oc curred amongst the passengers in the railway collision at Stairfoot, near Barnsley. Several of the sufferers, how ever still lie in a condition that is exceedingly critical. Amongst the worst cases are those of Mrs. Burkinshaw and her child, and Mr. Thomas Hammond, of Ardsley. It is now ascertained that not less than 30 or 40 persons are injured by the accident. THE TELEGRAPH SERVICE. A fire broke out at Leeds yesterday morning, shortly after one a.m., in a house, on the roof of which was a standard carrying several telegraph wires, lately the pro perty of the United Kingdom Telegraph Company, but now belonging to the Post Office. The standard was burnt, and the wires severed. Communications between. London and Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aber deen will, in consequence, be delayed during the repair of the mischief. The premises in which the fire originated, occupied by Messrs. Broadhead, picture dealer's and frame makers, were totally destroyed. The damage is estimated at £lO,OOO. The chairmanship of the County Monaghan has become vacant by the death of Mr. Charles Shaw, Q. a A writ for a new election in the County Meath, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the late Mr. Corbally, will be issued on Monday next. John Murray, a stationcr at Leeds, has been fined £5 for personating a voter at the recent election of a School Board for that town. Tho promoters of the Norwich election petition hale given notice that they do not intend to claim the seat for Mr. Huddleston, Q.C. ; the recriminatory charges of the Liberals will thus not be gone into. The Town Council of Bradford on Tuesday agreed to purchase the undertaking of the local Gas Company for the sum of £210,000, which is equal to a payment of £95 for each original £25 share. Mr. Herbert Paul Richards, 8.A., and scholar of Bailiol College, Oxford, was yesterday afternoon elected to the vacant fellowship at Wadham College, Oxford. There were seven candidates. The Chester Courant states that Earl Grosvenor, heir of the Marquis of Westminster, was confirmed by the Bishop of Chester, in the chapel of the right rev. pre late's palace, Dee Side, on Saturday week. The Atlantic Cable Company of New York will, according to the Finunciei, early in the ensuing summer, lay a cable between Neiv York and a port in Holland, and it is stated that this Cable is to be specially con nected with the lines that communicate with Russia, via Denmark. TIIE MARQUIS OF CHOLMONDELEY PREACHING AT CREWE.--The Marquis of Cholmondeley preached in the Primitive Chapel, Heath-street, Crewe, on' Thursday evening. The spacious building was crowded by a most intelligent and attentive audience, attracted by the high reputation which the noble marquis has attained as a preacher. 'The noble preacher took for his text Galatians in., 10 and 13,—Crewe Guardian. , POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Tnis DAY, A GENTLEMAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT.—Mr. Charles Hunt, of No. 74, Tavistock-crescent, Westbourne Park, and who had previously given name and address as Capt. Hunt, Brickban Hall, Morton, Kent, was charged before Mr. Knox, at the Marlborough-street Police-court, with behaving in a disorderly manner at the Portland-road Railway Station. Mr. White, superintendent of the Metropolitan Railway, watched the case. Inspector Joseph Armsbury, of the Metropolitan Railway, said that on the previous evening his attention was called to the prisoner, who was on the platform of the station using grossly obscene language, and who, he was informed, had insulted a lady. The lady came to him and claimed his protection, stating that the prisoner had very much insulted her. He took the prisoner into a room, and he gave his name and address, and then went out on the platform mid began cursing and swearing, and said he would fight, any of them, and asked the lady who she was, and as his language became very bad he had to give him into custocly. Mr. Joseph Luckie, poulterer, of Nu. 117, Great Portland-street, deposed that on the previous evening he was sitting in a recess at the station, when a lady told him the prisoner had annoyed her, and asked to be protected, on which the prisoner said, " You call yourself a lady, you are not, you are only a woman," and on his expostulating with. the prisoner, he said, "What the devil is it to you," and called him a "—City clerk " and other things, and on his telling the prisoner he had better go away he threatened to knock him down. Mr. Richard Tabb, relieving officer of St. Marylebone, proved hearing the prisoner make use of very bad lan guage, and on his advising the prisoner to go away. he said he would fight any -- amongst them. He (Mr Tabb) told the inspector that if he did not have the prisoner locked up he would, as his language was very disgusting, and the pri soner then said that he had been nine years in the Army, that he had plenty of money, and that he would fight anybody. The prisoner said he had been drinking out and taken a little too much to drink, and his temper got the better of him. He did call the witness a clerk, and was sorry for doing so, and if he had insulted the lady he would give a written apology if it would be accepted. He had been locked up all night, and had not been well lately. Mr. White said the lady was unable to attend that day. Mr. Knox said the prisoner talked of having been locked up • all night, and had he been locked up for a month it would have served him right, as he had not only insulted a lady, but abused those who protected her. The highest penalty he could impose was a fine of 405., and that he should impose. If the lady thought proper to take out a summons against the prisoner she could do so, and he (Mr. Knox) would pursue the matter to the end. THROWING TEMPTATION INTO THE WAY OF ILL-PAID WORKPEOPLE.—A poor needlewoman named Sarah Work man, was brought up at the Thames Police-court, charged with illegaq pawning five pairs of corduroy trousers, belonging to a man named Samuel Flewett. He prepared the materials and converted them into trousers by machinery, and the prisoner was entrusted with them to finish them. She was to receive 31-d. for finishing each pair of trousers. She pawned the trousers after they were finished, some for 35., and others for 3s. 6d. each. It was elicited from Flewett that he received Bd. per pair only for making the trousers. The prisoner said she could not live on the wretched pay she received, and being very poor raised money on the trousers. She meant to redeem them the first opportunity she got. The magistrate fined her 205., and 15s. 6d., the sum she had raised on the five pairs of trousers, or the alternative of six weeks' im prisonment, with hard labour. VISIT OF THE QUEEN TO FROGMORE. • Yesterday being the ninth anniversary of the death of the late Prince Consort, her Majesty, shortly after eleven o'clock, accompanied by their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince and Princess •Christian, Prince Arthur and Prince Leopold, Princesses Louise and Beatrice, and the ladies and gentlemen of the Court, left Windsor Castle, and proceeded through the private grounds of the palace and the park to the Prince's mausoleum, which is situated in the gardens in the rear of Frogmore House. Her Majesty and the Royal Family having assembled within the mausoleum, a special service for the occasion was commenced by the Hon. and Rev, the Dean of Windsor, the choral part being sung by the choir of St. George's chapel. Her Majesty and the Princesses before leaving the mausoleum laid wreaths of immortelles upon the sarcophagus. After the Royal party had retired, by command of her Majesty, the domestics of the Royal household and their families, and also the Castle trades men,r i w n er e e , b p y e rn a t visitinge d the to h ew respectmausoleum. Theto the general memory pub l o i n f w t h e e r r e not admitted. THE CHARGE AGAINST SIR WILLIAM RUSSELL, BART., M.P. At the Mansion House yesterday, the charge under the Bankruptcy Law against Sir William Rhissell, M.P., was proceeded with. Mr. Metcalfe was counsel for the prosecution, and the Hon. A. Thesiger for the defence; and Mr. C. R. Mayhew and Mr. George Lewis for persons interested in the case. Mr. Thesiger proceeded to address his lordship on behalf of Sir William Russell. He said the matter was one of great public interest, for it had become the prac tice of persons wishing to obtain ...moiLey to put in force the criminal law instead of going io acivil court. The intention of the legislature was to prevent persons under colouring of carrying on a certain trade disposing of goods that they had obtained on the assump tion that the goods were wanted for the ordinary course of trade. He was prepared to shew that the defendant never did the acts imputed to him. They had on the part of the prosecution to prove that Sir William Russell was a trader, that he obtained the goods, and, thirdly, that he disposed of them otherwise than in his trade. A case had been put against Sir William as if the proceedings were at Nisi P r i ns i n st ea d of a criminal charge. When the latter was made, counsel should be particularly careful not to press unduly against an accused. But this had been done in the present case and the prosecution seemed particularly desirous of gratifying their private grievances more than public and commercial'morality. ' In reference to the letters which had been produced, Mr. Thesiger said that in only one instance was there the smallest trace of a suggestion that Sir William Russell was the purchaser of these rails. The case was adjourned till Monday. At the Lord Mayor's suggestion, Hutchings and other witnesses are to be called. We are informed from the General Post-office to-day that the wires phsaing through Leeds, which were yesterday reported to be damaged by fire, have been re paired, and the communication restored. A grant of 50 guineas has been made by the Mercers' Company to the funds of the Refuge for the Destitute, Dalston. The marriage of Lord Guernsey and Miss Edith Williams, daughter of Colonel Peers Williams,. is appointed to take place on the 10th of the ensuing month. • WRECK OF. A BARQUE. Yesterday morning, during a fresh breeze from the S. S.E. , with a heavy fog and misty rain, the barque Forest Flower, Rymer master, of Scarborough, from Almema for Newcastle, with lead and grass, got upon Corton Sand, and struck upon a sunken wreck, The crew of sixteen hands were taken off by the lifeboat and taken to the Sailors' Home. She is upwards of 500 tons register, and laying upright, with canvas on her, and bearing to S.E. If the weather continues fine, efforts will be made to get her off. SUDDEN DEATH AT A RAILWAY STATION Yesterday morning, as Mr. George Livett, of Cam bridge, was proceeding by train to Royston, he was taken suddenly ill, and being removed to the waitiug-room, shortly afterwards expired. The deceased, who was 65 years of age, took an active part in electioneering matters in Cambridge on the Liberal side, and was a member of the corporation for a great number of years. THE EXPLOSION AT WITTON. Emma Williams and Selina Green, two of the persons iniuredby the explosion at Witton, died in the Birmingham Hospital yesterday. The number of deaths resulting from the accident is thus increased to 36. Twelve more cases are looked upon as likely to terminate fatally. THE BRIGHTON SCHOOL BOARD. The School Board for Brighton was elected yesterday. It comprises six members of the Church of England, three Congregationalists, one Presbyterian, one Wesleyan, one member of the Society of Friends, and one Roman Catholic. The poll was headed by a lady. FIRE AT PRESTON. Yesterday afternoon the cotton mill in Church-street, Preston, was totally destroyed by fire, the flames also spreading to an adjoining building, and causing consider able damage. It was only with difficulty that the opera tives managed to effect an escape, many of them having to jump out of the windows. An old man named Lingard was nearly trampled to death in the rush triat was made down the stairs when the first alarm was given. CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER AGAINST A MASTER. _ A blacksmith, named Lownsborough, living at Bee ford, near Driffield, has been committed for trial by the coroner's jury for the manslaughter of a lad, 17 years of age, named Frank Walker, who was in his employment. The evidence disclosed that deceased had been frequently kicked and beaten and otherwise ill-treated. Walker, before he died, deposed that on one occasion the prisoner had burnt him with a hot shovel. ASSAULT AT A GUNPOWDER FACTORY. At the Ashton Petty Sessions yesterday, John Walton, aged 16, was charged with assaulting a- girl named Elizabeth Powell. Both of them were employed at Kynock's cartridge manufactory. While she was en gaged in sorting a quantity or Chassepot cartridges he began to smoke, and when she expostulated he swore at her. The manager, therefore, dismissed him. The next day defendant waited for complainant and assaulted her. The important was fact elicited. by the magistrates that within three or four yards of the cartridges upon which complainant was employed, and where defendant was smoking, a fire was kept. The magistrates assuming this statement true, said Kynock was guilty of criminal negligence in permitting it, and hoped Government would inquire into it. The 'defendant was sentenced to 14 days hard labour. THE IRISH CHURCH At the meeting of the Cork Diocesan Synod, held yesterday, it was stated that out of 159 clergymen who had replied to a circular sent them on the subject of COM ; mutation, 144 were ready to consent to commiite their livings. THE EDUCATION ACT AT STAFFORD. At a meeting of the Stafford Town . Council yesterday, it was resolved to apply to the Education Department for leave to elect a school board. COLLISION IN QUEENSTOWN HARBOUR. As the screw steamer Fire Queen, belonging to Messrs. Harrison, of Liverpool, cotton laden, from Orleans, was leaving Queenstown harbour, where she had coaled. on her way to Liverpool, she ran into the barque Dry dens, belonging to Mr. Drydens, of North Shields. The barque, which was carrying a cargo of wheat from Odessa, was struck on the starboard bow, and immedi ately sank in the harbour, which she was just entering, in ten fathoms of water. The Fire Quecn had to be put back and grounded, her fore compartment being full of water. Both vessels at the time of the collision were in the charge of branch pilots. Fortunately no lives were lost. SHIPPING CASUALTIES. Last evening the Cordelia, an American vessel bound from Liverpool to Barcelona, with a cargo Of machinery, put into Queenstown in a leaky condition. The crew of the ship Pomona, 1,260 tons register, from Liverpool to America, were brought to Plymouth la st ni g ht by the Salcombe brig Apphia. The Pomona sprung a leak last Sunday, in severe weather, and when she had nine feet of water in her hold was abandoned, the captain and crew, twenty-five all told, taking to the longboat, when they were picked up by the Apphia. The Pomona had a valuable general cargo on board. CRYSTAL PALACE.—One Shilling Day, Wednes day, December 14th, 1870.—Admissions by season tickets 1,397 ; ditto on payment, 381; total visitors, 1,778. LONDON SCHOOL BOARD.—Mr. R. B. Litchfield, 8.A., of the Inner Temple, is one of the candidates for the post of Secretary to the School Board. The friends of education know Mr. Litchfield as one of the founders and the Treasurer of the Working Men's College, in Great' Ormond-street. Mr. Charles Mackeson intends to offer himself as a candidate for the Secretaryship of the Metropolitan School Board. Mr. Mackeson's name will be known as the Editor of " Low's Handbook to the Charities of London," of his own " Guido. to the Churches of Lon don," and as the author of " A Digest of the Ritual , Blue Book." HAVRE AWAITING THE ENEMY. ! The special corresponderit of the Telegraph j writing from Havxe under date of December 13 ; says the Tours Oovernment is, it seems, determined that Cherbotrg shall be properly strengthened.. Yon know already how Gene.. ralßriand - was ordered to transfer thither some of the troops at pteseiit in Havre ; and how that officer, with a complacency which may lead him into trouble, bent be: fore the storm which the decree of the Govermtent had excited, and, departing himself, left behind in Havre the forces he had been desired to transfer to Cherbourg. Well, scarcely have we forgotten this incident, when down comes• another order from AL Gambetta that 4,000 men should be at once despatched to Cherbourg. En parenthise I may observe that these importunate, demands of the Tours Government very strongly bear out the opinion I have expressed, that the German advance upon Havre is but a feint. No sooner was the decree of M. Gambetta made known in the town than it created the' wildest excitement. The Municipal Council was called together, and, with AL Guilleanard, the plucky old mayor, at its head, passed a number of resolutions strongly con demnatory of the action of the Government. Meantime the news had reached the population and the troops. About five o'clock a deputation from the National Guards waited upon M. ' Moucher, the commandant, and earnestly requested him to prevent the departure of the troops. M. Moocher, after thanking the officers for their praiseworthy zeal, stated that the question was just then being deliberated upon by the Municipal Council. Shortly after, when that body had arrived at the decision to which t have above referred, the Commandant posted a proclamation through the town positively stating that no troops would be allowed to leave, The crowd, however, had by this time largely increased, and were determined not to rest satisfied until they received the most unmistakeable evidence that their wishes were complied with. A cry went forth that the Municipal Council was assembled in the hotel of the Sous-Prefet. Thither the concourse of people directed themselves; a tricoloured flag being carried in front. On the way they meet a battalion of Gardes Mobiles. "Vive la Mobile ! " immediately cry a hundred voices. The young soldiers no less heartily respond " Vive la HaliP3l " Then bands strike up a favourite air, and the men wave- their kepis, placed on top of their bayonets. Arrived at the Sous-Prefecture, AL Ramel comes out and makes a speech. " I give you my word of honour," he says, " that as long as Havre is menaced I will not allow a soldier or a cannon to depart. . . . . . Havre will be defended with all its strength—will be de fended a outrance. We will fight to the death, step by step. We will not leave a street or a house undefended. " Citizens," he asks in conclusion, " are you ready for a heroic defence ?" "Yes, yes, we swear. it!" shout back in answer a thousand voices. " Then count on me, as I count on you," replies M. Ramel. Great enthu siasm; but still the crowd win see the Municipal Council. They are at the Hotel de Ville, it is whispered. Thither immediately the human tide sets. The venerable old Mayor comes out on the balcony ; and then there is another speech, and more enthnsiasm. and cries ad libitum. The Mayor is r'ive'd and M. Moucher is vive'd, and M. Ramel and the Republic, and everybody and everything, until at last, tired with shouting, the crowd disperses. The news has just arrived that Versailles is occupied by the Frerch, that Bismarck is a prisoner, and that 200 guns have been taken. Every one is wild with excitement. Colonel Mocquard who commands the celebrated corps of Francs-tireurs, has just announced his determination to cut his way to Paris to-morrow. I heard him this moment say that on his way he would burn Rouen to the ground, as a retribu tion for the disgraceful conduct of its inhabitants and de fenders. Captain Mocquard is a man of his word. I need not say I place but very little reliance in the news that has created such joy in Havre : yet the report meets you on all sides. The bitter truth will not long remain unknown. The correspov dent of the Standard, at Havre, sends the fallowing, under date December 13 :—For the last few hours Havre has been in a fool's paradise, owing to an unauthenticated report that the French had not only made a successful sortie from Paris, but that they had retaken Versailles, and that Bismarck was a prisoner in their hands. Another version stated that in the battle, which had taken place outside Paris, 80,000 Prussians were hors de combat, and 30,000 had been made prisoners. These preposterous stories were actually believed, and the people here are just now con vinced that this tremendons news must perforce involve the evacuation of Normanby, and the retreat of a Prussian corps from St. Rornain is actually set down as corrobora tive evidence. It is possible that Trochu may have made a successful sortie, but from all the information I can gathea, the reports current here must be set down as belonging to the regions of romance. Early this morning rather heavy firing was heard in the .direction of Gonfreville-POrcher. The French outposts, on the other hand, have from some unaccountable reason evacuated Mortivilliers, where a • Prussian force appeared yesterday and made a requisi tion of flour, but otherwise behaved decorously. After the Prussians had left with their booty, the Franc-tireurs came down from Gainneville and attacked the rear of the enemy, but with what success I do not know, for although Montivilliers is within a walk from this the scare here is such that no one is allowed to go there.g dare say I might find my way through the French lines; but it would be next to impossible to return. The service of reconnaissances on the part of the French is, to put:it mildly, open to improvement. It is ludi crous to find so-called military operations confined to a military promenade between this place and Harfleur. The French still hold Acteville, but they have evacuated both Rouelle and the heights beyond Montivilliers. That they should have done so without being attacked is utterly incomprehensible—but it is presumable that the military authorities have a plan. Let us hope it may prove a practical one. AROUND PARIS. In a letter, dated from Lagny, December 9, the specia correspondent of the Daily News at the headquarters the Crown Prince of Prussia thus writes on the scene around Paris :—This place is opposite Versailles, do to say, with Paris lying between them and the besieging lines, stretching round to right and left. Lagny is the terminus of the German railways in France. It is here that wounded men from the front are put in the trains which take them home, and that the French prisoners ' change their weary' tramp along the highway for a quicker means of transport to Germany. I never saw a town so thoroughly occupied. The streets are full of soldiers and camp followers. The railway station is blocked with German goods. There are engines from Germany, and carriages from Ger many. Station clerks, traffic managers, and telegraph operators are of the same nationality as the rolling stock. Parks of waggons are formed round the town, waiting to be loaded and to start in slow procession for the front. Columns of waggons are constantly winding down to the river and over the temporary wooden bridge, and up to the station. Some come empty, others bring queer assortments of " souve nirs " which the drivers have collected along their line of march. All of them go away full of stores for the victualling of the German army. Stores are sent by the Government and bought on speculation by private persons. The small merchants from Germany are in their glory. Cheese and butter, boxes of cigars, and cases of " dry goods," are supplied at a profit to all who choose to buy. The hungry and helmeted patriot can have them ; so can the humbled foe. You would smile to hear the chances of the 'war discussed in its very midst from the commercial point of view. Such. and such an event will make butter go up at Versailles. The recent battles on the Loire had • made cigars likely to be wanted in that direction. Come what may, your small merchant will be ready. He is firm in his views of the French, tells them his mind, and bullies them freely. He has hungry eyes on Paris. What openings there will be when the city has fallen. A fortune may soon be made, for everything in the cheese and cigar line will be fabu lously dear. As the time of stirrender approaches, half Germany will ho prepared to enter in triumph at the heels of the army. The German terminus in France will have more and more trade, until the day when the trains can sweep on into the capital itself, and then Lagny will suddenly subside into a sort of oil region settlement where the oil has failed. T remember describing to you a carriage of the Interna tional' Society, shewn • last summer at the St. Peters burg Exhibition. It was on the very same model on. which are formed a dozen that I hive seen start for Germany to-day. Nurses and orderlies move from l.atrorm to platform of the train, which has its coo!, i 4-N. an, in true Pacific Railroad style. Every care is taken to bring the stretchers gently to the sting •$ that will sustain-them in their places, one above the other. By sad experience, the whole thing has been organized until their is nothing to be wished in way of travelling gear. The wounded are kindly and promptly sent on their way without a moment's delay or confusion. Ido not say that all the trains are as comfortable as the model train which I have just chanced to see, but the system is now in capital working order. A Bavarian train; . next on the rails, though not quite so smart to look at as its predecessor bound to North Germany, is in first-rate condition for practical work. The , sufferers can lie on their backti Mid smoke Lae cigar of peace whilst they are swiftly ral off towards home. Better than country waggons this ; better, ton, than the best of postchaises. Our own ambulance is busy among the mass of isufferers on - all sides. One large division is down at Orleans, doing goixl work, where work is sorely needed. Another division remains at St. Germain, ready to help near the French capital, and of this division I met a waggon yesterday, which had completed half its journey round Paris, in the opposite direction to that in which I am riding. There was a pleasant thrill in seeing the old flag, side by side with the red cross of the society, pass through this oil-region " depot," and in feeling that, let Frenchmen and Germans say what they will about our neutrality, we are doing a good deal more for foreigners than they would be likely to do for us if we were having thousands wounded on, our shore of the Channel. It is no merit to be rich, but it is an approach to merit to spend some of one's riches properly ; and poor old Jonn Bull, who is catching many a knock fn foreign opinion for being so very neutral, may comfort himself that his heart is better than his head. I glory in our heavy cumbersome waggons, and strong Woolwich har ness. We import anything light or fantastic, anything new-fangled and American of aspect ? Not we, if we know if. These waggons of the English amublance are fit to undertake a three years' campaign. THE BATTLES OF CHEVILLY, CERCOTTES, AN 1) ORLEANS. The special correspondent of the Standard, writing from the headquarters at Versailles, December 9, gives the following account of the battles around Orleans : Captain Hozier has this morning arrived from Orleans, having been, during the eventful week. which closed with the capture of that city, at the headquarters of Prince Frederick Charles. He has had a fearfully hard time of it, not hav ing slept in a bed for nights. He joined the Prince himself at Pithiviers, and found him just on the point of riding out to the battle-field; which is already known as that of Beaune-la-Rolande. With the ebbing and flowing fortunes of that day you are al ready acquainted. The attack of the French was directed against the 10th Corps, which the Prussian Prince intended to use as his reserve, and which the French evidently thought to be isolated, and peculiarly open to assault. How hot was the fighting of that day, the densely-arrayed bodies of the slain, and mainly of the gallant assailants, remained to testify. But their courage, besides costing them dear, failed to thwart os alter the German plans. On the 2nd the Grand Duke, by concentrating his forces, was enabled to drive the assailants of the previous day back to Batay and Artenay, the Prince concentrating, with the object of lending aid, if needed. It was not required. The Grand Duke commanded on the right ; on the left the Prince himself. The Bavarians formed the Grand Duke's right ; the 17th Division (in contact with the Prince's right), his left ; whilst the 22nd Division consti tuted his reserve. The 9th Corps, touching the 17th Division, was the Prince's extreme right ; the 3d his left ; the 10th his reserve. The main point of attack was Chevilly. Once in the day a desperate attempt was made by the French to turn the Grand Duke's right flank, and the Bavarians gallantly baffled the attempt, and in doing so got round south even as far as Giday. But for the most part the tactics of the French were defensive ; and, assisted by the heavy battteries of position so well served by the marines, they made the work of the assail ants, if not too great for their resolution, at least arduous and costly. Night, however, which comes so early at this season of the year, - and which might well fall upon drawn battles, saw the first French line abandoned. Five villages blazing in unison, the fair result of deadly and mutual fire, shed a lovely, if lurid, light over the • snowy prospect ; and by their assistant flames the victors read in deserted entrenchments and surrendered guns the measures of that day's success. But the morrow —after a darkness not too long for rest or respite — brought them face to face with another iron rule. , Chevilly had been won ; but behind it stood Cercottes, and behind Cercottes again were the lunettes and batteries of Montjoie. If ever a hard day's work was set an army flushed, yet fatigued, with victory, it was the work of that unsabbathlike Sabbath. Would Orleans be reached before the frosty stars once more glittered upon their weakened ranks ? There are eighteen marine pieces in position at Cercottes, six to the right and twelve to the left, and another twelve stood ready to defend Montjoie ; whilst the intersection of four railways just north of Orleans itself was known to have been turned to tremendous purpose. Yet, with all the excellence of their position and its adjuncts, or, perhaps, in spite of them, the French, it is said, fought but ill. Their guns were admirably served, but there was no heart in the infantry,' and when an entire battery was carried in splendid style by a battalion of Jagers at the point of the bayonet, there were no serried lines ambitious to retake. Before twelve Cercottes had been carried, and late in the afterneon Montjoie ceased to resist. But five o'clock came and•utter blackness descended upon victors and vanquished, though the latter, as they retreated, kept up a sullen fire. But the darkness was not for long. At seven up rose the moon, not a moon quite at full, but clear, and brightening the frosty air ; and with it came the cry of " Forward !' All the world knows the rest. It was one hour after midnight when the Orleans railway station was stormed, and then resistance was over. But those two hours of intervening darkness had served the fugitives well. There were three if not four bridges by which the army could cross the river, whose name it had lately so proudly borne, and from that fatal five to seven it had felt its way across them. The moon, too, did not last till morning, and by Monday the feet of retreating thousands had trodden the ground's coating of snow into hard, treacherous ice, and the splendid cavalry gathered to wreak the Prince's ; purpose floundered about when their road should; have been straight and swift. " Some men have no luck, the Red Prince must have thought bitterly to himself. , He is known to think, and the whole world that knows likewise thinks it of him, that he would handle cavalry as it has rarely been handled by man before, had he but the chance. There was another war and another occasion, in which an old King's whim or clemency stood be tween him and the proof of his ability, and now;: the very Skies intervened and robbed him of the chase. Most men would count ten thousand prisoners as a hand some bag ; but he had made it bigger in his mind, and he must have cursed that slippery frost. Still the good round myriad, 77 guns, 40 taken in position, the rest in the open field, was no mean spolia opima, and would fairly grace a triumph at our capitol. THE FRENCH AND GERMAN LOSSES. Writing from the Royal Headquarters, Versailles, on the 10th, the special correspondent of the Telegraph says :—. Since the morning of the 4th, which witnessed the inex plicable retreat of a semi-victorious army under the com mand of a leader who had sworn "to the nation" to re turn to the capital only in the old Spartan manner, no, offensive operations have been undertaken by the garrison. of Paris ; except the occasional grunting of " cannon shot off " against the field works that rise magically from day to day along the Prussian lines, and gradually hem in the, doomed city within a rind of heavily armed .batteries,, According to a letter fro in Paris, of the 7th, which fell' into the hands of the General Staff yesterday, neither Trochu nor Ducrot has entered Paris since the 30th of November, but both have stuck to the troops established' in the outer rayone of defences. This looks as if they still entertained the project of attempting to break through the German positions. God help them if they repeat their experiment, either in the direction of the Marne Peninsula or in that of Versailles ! I firmly believe that the section of the investing circle held by the sth Corps and the Guard Landwehr is absolutely impreg nable; nay, I will go so far as to say that, could besiegers and besieged change sides, and the gallant but imperfectly trained Moblots take the place of the har dened Prussian legions entrenched between St. Germain and Meudon, nothing short of a miracle would enable the assailants to drive their enemies from the line in question, To our right, again, the weak places have been made strong. The unlucky Wurtembergers have now been . materially reinforced by thei r brothers in arms of other German lands ; and large drafts are on their way from the Father land to fill up the ghastly gaps that four days' bitter fighting has made in the . ranks. , The losses on both sides have at length been est i mated ; and the King has received official returns respecting the German killed, wounded, and missing. The total, I re ' gret to say, is about five thousand men—whilst the French casualties amount to . more than thirteen thousand. A mong the officers k illed on our side are a number of gentlemen belonging .to the chief noble families o f Prussian Saxony and S ilesia. To give your readers a notion of the appalling tribute paid by the Prussian aris tocracy to the cause of Germany during the present war, I may mention that a friend of mine, belonging to a house as well known in Northern Germany a,s that of Leigh is in Devonshire, or Percy in North: m berland, has already to lament ten near relatives bear:ng his own title and surname—four killed outright, :,nd six dangerously wounded. Of the nine colonels ccu manding regiments of the Guard (foot), who left Berth , in July, not one has escaped the dread penalties of glory. Several regiments d'e/ite—which always get P into the hottest places—like our Household Brigade and High landers—have lost two-thirds, some even three-fourths, of their officers. It is rumoured still that a plebiscite is going on in Paris—Peace or War ?—but I am in posses4on of nQ trustworthy. information on the eubielct‘4,,,