The Sun. — London, England, 1870-11-18 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN GOSSIP.-THURSDAY. Whilst we were all speculating as to what General Aurelles de Paladine would do next week, after his victory, came an intimation of interest which completely throws the war into the shade. The Russian circular has created a fever of excitement which each day's news serves to strengthen. Most people knew, indeed, that some move of the kind would come sooner or later. But the method adopted by Prince Gortschakoff, the tone of his missive, are unpardonably, alarmingly, insolent. It surpasses any of Bismarck's per formances, is not unworthy of Menschikoff, and may justly be classed for barefaced immorality with that neat announcement by which the Ecuador Government some time ago made itself famous—to wit, that the inability of a State to pay its debts furnishes an excel lent reason for repudiating them altogether. It is not to be supposed that such a document would be issued to the world unless Russia were prepared to go great lengths. There can be no doubt of Russia and Prussia working together in this affair. It has been said that no treaty between the two Powers is in existence ; but, though I do not profess to know anything on this point, it is certain that an excellent understanding has been come to. When the war with France broke out Austria was arming, and apparently watching her oppor tunity. Prussia applied to Russia for the meahs to keep this formidable southern neighbour in check. The tearing up of the Treaty of Paris was the recompense which Bismarck naturally offered, and which the Czar naturally demanded. It was needful to make some arrangement of the kind. Not only was a revision of the Treaty acceptable to the Czar's Government, but it was necessary to do something to satisfy public opinion in Russia, which is vehemently opposed to Germany, and public opinion is becoming a power even at St. Petersburg. The fact that some affiance exists is in one way favour able to peace. The German Austrians will not lightly hazard a war in which Prussia may join against them and take the German provinces. On the other hand the temptations to a war against Russia are very strong. Austria has at all times an interest in repressing Russian advances. Very little would have induced her to join in the war of 1854-5. Tha incentive is stronger now than then, for Austria has ceased to be a German Power, and her interest in repressing Russian influence among the Sclave peoples is greater. The Hungarians are very earnest in this policy. The Poles would be delighted by a war, for is there not the prospect for them, and, indeed, for Austria gene rally, of liberating Russian-Poland, and making another powerful federalised Austrian State? This magnificent prospect of retrieving late disasters cannot fail to tempt Francis Joseph, averse though he is to war. It is said that Austria does not desire to increase her nationality difficulties. But she has already a Polish difficulty, and the liberation of the down-trodden Russian provinces is a not unpromising way of getting rid of it. Moreover, there is the conviction that the Austrian army, large, reorganised, and well in . hand, could beat the Muscovite forces. With the assistance of England and Turkey, it is difficult to ima gine how Russia alone could prevail. These considera tions do not necessarily infer a war. But it is clear that very much depends on the exertions that England may make to avoid a serious result. • But for this Eastern question, something more, I have reason for believing, would have been done to bring about peace, notwithstanding the lamentable failure of M. Thiers's visit to Versailles. The advisability of a joint representation by the Powers was certainly under discus sion. The position of Austria, however, proved an in superable difficulty. Count Beust was willing enough to embark in negotiations; but the Prussian Government would have none of the Vienna Cabinet's assistance. The ambiguous attitude as sumed by Austria at the opening of the war led Count Bismarck to meet the Vienna intervention proposal with a rebuff which precluded all possibility of its repetition. Many and powerful reasons tempted Francis Joseph's Government to join France in July. The army was got ready. A single French victory would, as Napoleon himself believed, have brought about a march through Bohemia. The victory, however, proved to be t,n the other side. A telegram in this morning's papers says that armistice negotiations have been reopened, but mere rumour is the only authority for this statement. The late negotiations have now sunk into obscurity. If they merit a place in history at all, it will be for the remarkable amount of " bulling" and " bearing "to which they gave rise. The uncertainty respecting the result lasted so long as to afford the Stock Exchange operators an opportunity of rare attractiveness, to which they did full justice. From the first proposal of an armistice by the English Government to the beginning of M. Thiers's enterprise about a week elapsed, and from the journey to Versailles to the final rupture, another week. During this period prices were sent up and down with a facility rarely enjoyed even in Wall-street. The final and complete settlement of an armis tice was announced at least once ; the imme diate probability of such a settlement more than once. These unfounded reports were not mere Exchange rumours; they came from some source so,apparently trust worthy as to induce the Times one morning to express the utmost confidence in the issue of the negotiations. Yet there never was any great hope of an armistice. M. Thiers only reported himself as favourably impressed with his first conference ; the second quite undeceived him. _ _ -- The Edinburgh Review has quite equalled the success of its rival, the Quarterly, and has reached its third edition. The announcement about the Premier's article gave an immediate impetus to the sale; the condemnation of the Premier in the newspapers completed the good work. But did Mr. Gladstone really write " Germany, France, and England?" The evidence of the article itself is strong, and it is scarcely probable that a question of such importance would be permitted to remain unsettled, if Mr. Gladstone were able to contradict the statement current respecting him. Doubts are, however, ,freely expressed. It is said that another member of the Government wrote it, that his son wrote it, that the Premier wrote some other article which he did not and could not write ; and, finally, I am told a story, for which I cannot vouch, though I have reasons for not disregarding it, to the effect that the enfant terrible wished to publish such thoughts, but desired the secret of their authorship to be kept even from the editor and publisher, and that the truth was dis covered by accident. However this may be, the Germans are thoroughly convinced that Mr. Gladstone is the writer, and a fine time of abuse their j ournalists are having of it. They call the article a bad one, in a literary sense. Whoever may be the writer, it is certain that the composition, as a literary work, is of a high order. The task of estimating the military events of the period I leave to your other contributors : but the moment seems propitious for a feeble protest against the English style of judging French affairs through Philistine spectacles. A week ago the Army of the Loire was pronounced a myth ; it has since given the Germans a palpable fright, and estab ilished its claim to at least respect. Great part of this result is due no doubt to Aurelles de Paladine, but at east as much is owing to Gambetta, whom our sharp sighted countrymen have derided as an idle visionary, because he issues high-falutin proclamations. A friend of mine, who has had opportunities of seeing Gambetta in his new sphere, testifies to his ability and energy in prac tical affairs. He is a man whom fatigue never overcomes, and whose capacty is equal alike to small details and great principles. The facts speak for them selves. The Imperial disasters left France with only a dozen regiments of the Line, of which some are in Paris. Artillery, equipments, officers, and every mili tary requisite were wanting. TO prepare a respectable force, 150,000 strong, out of the rawest materials—men who had never handled a rifle, and had never expected to quit their homes —with cannon yet uncast and officers untrained, with a nation profoundly depressed by misfortune, and one fourth of the country in tho hands of the enemy—sucb was the task set Gambetta and the generals. When the Republican Minister arrived at Tours he found a chaos. Everything was in ' confusion. Everybody marked him as their prey. The Red Revolutionists wanted him to try a little energy of the Robespierre type ; inventors desired him to try their plans for extinguishing the Prussians wholesale ; quiet townspeople earnestly wished him to make peace ; fathers and widows begged him to let oft just their particular children from the horrors of war. My friend tells me that on one occasion a small farmer met the Minister on the staircase, and laid two or three bags of money at his feet. He had two sons whom he had bought off from the conscription for the Line, but who were, according to the rule, enrolled as Mobiles, and were then with the army of the Loire. The father said the money represented all his available wealth. Parting with wealth is,most bitter to a French peasant. Yet he waa willing to give it to ram= even one of the intended frIE SUN, LONDON, FRIDA.Y, NOVEMBER 18, 1870. V.-PAYMENT OF THE NATIONAL DEFT, (BY THOMAS DE MESCHIN, M.A., LL.D.) The general rate of wages may rise from three causes :- 1. A cheapening of commodities forming the staple of the labourer's consumption. 2. Increased productiveness of labour. 3. An increased] share or proportion of the product of his own labour. The general rate of wages may fall from three opposite causes : 1. An increase in the price of those commodities which form the staple of the labourer's consumption. 2. Diminished productiveness of labour. 3. A lessening of the share or proportion of the product of his own labour. Ist. The amount of the rate of wages may have risen from the cheapening of those commodities which form the staple of the.labourer's consumption—a peculiarly bountiful harvest may have lowered the price of all the prime articles of the labourer's consumption—unrestricted importation of the necessaries of life may make them more abundant ; in short, if, from any source, the supply of sustenance be increased, the fund for the maintenance of labour will to that extent be enlarged. 2nd. The rate of wages may have risen from the ir creased productiveness of labour, in the production of those commodities directly or indirectly consumed by the labourers. If the whole people received a thoroughly sound, intellectual, industrial, and moral education, this would vastly increase the productiveness of labour, and augment wages. The people, therefore, have a direct interest of the gravest moment in selecting the right men on the Education Boards throughout the country. It may be remarked, if the reformatory schools should succeed if imparting to juvenile offenders diligence, skill, and cha. racter, the productiveness of labour will thereby be increased; also, if industrial education were imparted to all workhouse and ragged school children, it is impossible to predict to what extent such effort would increase the production of the country. 3rd. Wages may rise from an increase in the share o r proportion which the labourer receives of the product on his own labour. The rapid accumulation of capital in a country tends to lower, profits and advance wages ; the reverse happens on the rapid destruction, or unproductive consumption, of capital ; in this case profits rise and wages fall. This almost always happens when the Governmen t comes into the money market and effects a loan. When McCulloch regards wages from this point of view he calls them proportional wages ; but proportional wages are very far from being an index to the amount actually received; in fact, these may be very high, and the amount of the actual rate of wages very low ; the proportion may be at once great and the amount small, or vice versa :—e.y "During the last four or five Years," says Mr. Senior' " many a hand-loom weaver has received only Bs. 3d. fo; producing fortnightly a web that the capitalist has sold for Bs. 4d. A coal merchant often pays his men £2 a week, and charges their employers £2 10s. a week for their ser vices." Here the weaver's wages are 4s. lid. a week while the coalheaver has £2, although the weaver receive, 99 per cent. of the value of his labour —the coalheaver but 80 per cent. In the weaver's case the proportion is large and the amount small; in the coalheaver's it is just the reverse. But when all other things remain the same, the proportion of profits rise—as in the case of a loan—not only are the proportional wages diminished, but the actual amount is lessened pro Canto. As to the causes which produce a decline in the rate of wages : Ist. Wages may fall from an increase in the price of those articles which form the staple of his consumption. This may occur when there has been a very great apparent rise in wages, as during the late French war, wages, esti mated in money, rose 100 per cent ; while estimated in commodities they indicated a decline of between 30 and 40 per cent. 2nd. Wages may fall from diminished productiveness of labour, which would happen in case of a diminution in the bodily vigour of the people; or should anything lessen the ratio which adults bear to the whole population ; or should anything deteriorate the education and intelligence of the people ; or an increase of continued strikes ; or if any large portion of machinery for industrial purpose s be destroyed during a popular commotion. 3rd. The amount of wages may fall from7the share or proportion of the produce:of his own labour being lessened. This happens when a large portion of the capital of a country is destroyed, either by being laid waste by an enemy's sword, or when a Government abstracts a large part of the circulating capital of the country by loans. Owing to the many elements of disturbance which per petually affect the general rate of wages, before one could speak decisively as to the effect produced by a given cause, an intimate knowledge of the condition of the various branches of industry, would be an essen tial pre-requisite. I have ahewn a priori that a loan has a tendency, in fact does, lower wages. This was borne out by the fact that during the late war with France wages fell very considerably. Thus, accord ing to Young, in 1770 wages were nearly Is. 3d. a day, and in 1812 they were about 2s. sd. ; but, notwithstanding this apparent rise, estimated in the commodities that those sums could purchase, which is the true measure of value, wages had fallen very considerably. Thus, while they had experienced a rise of 100 per cent., wheat had risen from less than 50s. a quarter to above 110 s., shewing a rise of above 115 per cent. Butcher's meat had also risen in a greater ratio, the rise in that being 146 per cent. Butter had risen 140 per cent., and cheese 153 per cent., giving a gross rise in those four prime articles of subsistence of 1381 per cent., and making a decline in wages to the enormous amount of 38} per cent. Such are the facts as to wages. Now let us see what effect loans have had upon interest. In the reign of William 111. the rate of interest during the period of borrowing was 8 per cent. ;on the return of peace it sunk to 5 per cent. All the first year of the seven years' war the rate of interest was 3 per cent. ; the second year it rose to 3} per cent. When the Government took by way of loan 11 millions the next year it took £3,500,000, and interest rose above 4 per cent., and in the last year of the war (the Government borrow ing every year) it rose to 10 per cent. Before the American war the rate of interest was 3 per cent. ; in the second year of that war it rose considerably above 4 per cent., and in the seventh year of the war rose to 5i per cent. In the late French war, the first year the rate of interest rose to £4 3s. 4d. per cent. ; the next year it was above 4i per cent. ; in the fifth year it had risen to £6 15s. 102 d. We quote the following passage from Mr. J. S. Mill : " If the capital taken in loans is abstracted from fund s either engaged in production, or destined to be employed in it, their diversion from that purpose is equivalent to taking the amount from the wages of the labouring classes. Borrowing in this case is not a substitute for raising the supplies within the year. A Government which borrows does actually take the amount within the year, and that, too, by a tax exclusively on the labouring classes : than which it could havo done nothing worse if it had supplied its wants by avowed taxation ; and in that case the transaction and. its evils would have ended, with the emergency ; while by the circuitous mode adopted, the value extracted from the labour is gained, not by the State, but by the employers of labour, the State remaining charged with the debt besides, and with its interest in perpetuity. The system of public loans, in such circum stances, may be pronounced the very worsa which is still included in the catalogue of financial expedients." [Pol. Econ., book v., chap. vii., p. I.] He goes on to remark that there are two cases in which loans are not chargeable with the pernicious conse quences : Ist. When what is borrowed is foreign capital. 2nd. When it is capital which either would not have been saved at all unless this mode of investment were open to it, or after being saved would have been wasted in unproductive enterprises, or sent to seek employment in foreign countries. "To this extent the loan system may be carried, with out being liable to the utter and peremptory condemna tion which is due to it, when it overpasses this limit. What is wanted is an index to determine whether, in any given series of years, as during the last war, for example, the limit has been exceeded or not." " Such an index exists, at once a certain and an obvious one. Did Government, by its loan operations augment the rate of interest?" So long, he goes on to say, as loans do no more than absorb capital falling under the second above-mentioned exception, "they prevent any tendency to a fall of the rate of interest, but they cannot occasion any rise. When they do raise the rate of interest, as they did in a most extraordinary degree during the late war, this is a positive proof that the Government is a competitor for capital with the ordinary channels of pro ductive investment, and is carrying off not merely funds which would not, but funds which would, have found productive employment within the country. To the full extent, therefore, to which the loans of Government, during the last war, caused the rate of interest to exceed what it was before, and what it has been since; those loans cannot be relieved from the severest condemnation." We take our stand on what is here laid down by Mr. Mill, and mention that experience has always shewn that when ever the Government have carried on a war by loans they have raised the rate of interest—e. g., in the seven years' war the rate of interest was raised from 3 per cent. to nearly 5 per cent.; in the American war of 1776 the rate of interest was raised from 3 percent. to 5i per cent.; and ui the late war arum 3 per cent. to above 61 per cent. Mr. AIL" goe4 on to say ;—" if it be objected- that victims to Prussian science. This is one example. Any thing approaching to a levee en masse must be difficult under any circumstances. It is difficult almost beyond conception in France, where the peasantry are convinced that any resistance after the capture of the regular army must end in mere slaughter. Some of our own dear officials in such a situation might make neat proclama tions, but would they make an army ? In the windows of the photograph sellers the Marquis of Lorne of course competes for popularity with the ever green leggy actress es and dancers. The demand for the carte of this pleasant, but certainly not remarkable looking young man, is enormous. One London house has given an order for 60,000 copies. It is very questionable whether a Serenity from Germany would have commanded equal popularity. But how did the engagement come about? is the question discussed in social circles here. It is only the first step that costs, but how was the first step taken, and the heir of the Campbells dream of aspiring to the hand of a princess? The truth is, lam told, that whilst the young people displayed a decided inclination to fall in love, the process of losing their hearts was rather facilitated than hindered. The public has obviously grown impatient at the constant German importations of late years. The Queen divined that an English marriage would be popular ; and so it un doubtedly is. Mr. Tallerman, manager of the Australian Meat Agency, appears to have solved the difficult problem of a cheap dinner. The success whith has hitherto attended his efforts to provide good wholesome penny dinners has been so great as to induce him to convert the extensive premises, in Norton Folgate, into a dining hall and cooking depot, for the sale of dinners prepared exclusively from Australian meats. The hall is about 75 feet long, and capable of dining about 300 persons, It is tastefully decorated with pictures and vases, will be fitted with marble slab tanks, and altogether will form a comfortable restaurant. The kitchen has been fitted with a powerful steam apparatus, capable of cooking for ten thousand persons at one time. The boilers are double banked, to admit of the steam circulating between the inner and outer skins, and thus the food is cooked without danger of being burned. This institution was inaugurated on Tuesday evening by a dinner given by Mr. Tallerman to a large number of gen tlemen interested in the prosperity of the working classes, amongst whom were Drs. Letheby and Lankester. The dishes fairly represented those which are to bessold to the public, at one penny and two pence per plate. They con sisted of soups, entrees, pies, puddings, croquets, &c. Some of them were too salt, but were of excellent flavour, and appeared to be composed of wholesome and nutritious meat. No beer will be sold or allowed to be brought on the premises, but a large breakfast-cup of good coffee will be supplied for a penny. It is to be hoped that the success of this experiment will lead to a more general consumption of a meat which is at once, sound, nutritious, and cheap. The subject irrisistibly leads one to think of a large number of our Mends who would be only too glad to get a supply of Australian meat. How Mr. Tallerman's dinners would be welcome in Paris at this moment ! The news from the besieged is ominous. They are organising rat hunts on a systematic plan. Some adventurous. Parisians, including, I believe, an editor, have already tasted rat. They find it excellent. "It combines the flavour of chicken, with the after taste of rabbit." It would not do to say Vive le rat! for the exclamation would scarcely accord with the design of killing and eating the unfortunate animal, but it is not improbable that Paris will be greatly indebted to the denizens of the sewers before the siege is over. Judging by present experience one would be inclined to predict that the time of sensational dramas is past. The London theatres are now in full swing, and it is already apparent that, with one or two exceptions, the most "legitimate " form of entertainment is that which pays the best. At Drury Lane the de cidedly sensational play of " Amy Robsart ' " draws," but this result is not attained elsewhere' The performances at the Holborn and at the Surrey em brace an ingenious epitome of the most approved situa tions of late years. Yet the chances of the profits at either place yielding a fair percentage on labour and capital are but indifferent. Where the best audiences attend there is to be found a species of entertainment which is at least free from the water, precipice, or railway tunnel element. Mr. Henry Mayhew, of „ London Labour and London Poor " fame, is, I hear, to have the editorship of the Morning Advertiser. He can hardly fail to improve upon the preceding system of management. The post is one of difficulty. The editor of the Advertiser has to reconcile two very incongruous duties, but Mr. Mayhew will pro bably not fall into the mistake of neglecting the one and misapplying the other. The competition for this appointment was severe, and three other gentlemen, Mr. Glossop (of the North British Daily Mail), Mr. Barnet, and Mr. Walter Wood (of the Standard), ran Mr. Mayhew hard. Mr. Mackenzie has retired from his post as chief sub-editor of the Telegraph, lately filled by Mr. Harrison. Mr. Ellerthorpe, formerly of the Hull and Edinburgh press, succeeds him. Mr. Delane, editor of the Times, has left the war and warlike complications to their fate, and is now quietly studying the Brindisi route in Italy. Some of the London papers, after the enormous expenses attending the war, are beginning to display retrenching proclivities now that the pressure of hos tilities is taken off. The correspondence of one journal has averaged some £2OO a week since the lighthearted campaign commenced. Yet if the Russian embroglio come to anything there will be no remission. Everything must be begun de novo. So inefficient is the present supply of intelligence from Russia that we are kept almost entirely in the dark as to what happens there. The only Russian correspondent of merit contributes to the Morning Post. Mr. Anthony Trollope will write a Christmas story, entitled "Christmas at Kirkkby Cottage" for " Routlege's Annual." " Histories" of the war are already beginning to appear —presages of the flood of bellicose narrative which will shortly overwhelm us. Count de la Chapelle, who has acted as French correspondent to the Standard, is in the field, and some of the customary serial impostures with " splendid engravings," &c., are announced. The completion of " Her Majesty's Tower," by Mr. Hepworth Dixon, will appear shortly. Lovers of first-rate popular art will be glad to learn that the Graphic is prospering. Its war illustrations have told greatly in its favour, and the position of another well-known journal in the same line is by no means so secure as it used to be. An international chess tournament is contemplated in connection with the exhibition of next year. The last tournament brought players from all parts of the world, including Prince Ourousoff from Russia. Those of your readers who have read the wonderful child's book, "Alice in Wonderland," will be pleased to learn that the exquisitely absurd songs in it have been set to music, of a kind easily learnt by youngsters, and just the sort children will enjoy. The setting is must appropriate, solemn 'enough to remind one of the very didatic verses they parody, and yet light and en joyable. The work is published by Weekes and Co. The composer is Mr. William Boyd. While the battle of Balton was taking place, the Garde Mobile of Loire-et-cher was drawing back, when General Barille came forward, sword in hand, and exclaimed, "I will shew you how to march against the enemy." He infused spirit into the soldiers, rallied them, and cut a passage through the Bavarian regiments. A Mobile in the camp at Lathenay writes to complain of the hardships he and his companions are called on to endure. They have to sleep under tents while the barracks stand empty. He would not object to this, since there would not be accommodation for all at once, but thinks they might be allowed to take it in turns to sleep in the barracks, as the cold weather is beginning, and the men's health is getting seriously affected by the constant sleeping on the ground. A very large number of the French officers captured in Metz have in some way or other escaped. Numbers of them have passed through Tours, and others are met tra velling on various lines of railway. From Lille an hussar officer declares that when he escaped an order of the day had been published by the Prussian generaj commanding at Metz in which it was stated that more than 700 had got away. The Swiss Federal Council have forwarded a letter to Count Bismarck, arguing against his decision not to allow the diplomatists shut up in Paris to comznunic ate with their Governments. Admitting the abnormal cha racter of the present case, they remark that of the 30,000 Swiss resident in Paris at the outbreak o f th e war, a great number were compelled to remain by business and family relations. Assuming that 10,000 are still there, they ask whether such a colony can be deprived of their accustomed representative and adviser at a moment of such peril, especially as the German residents have been exposed to danger and tumults. The Council wish him to stay, not to engage in diplomatic business during the siege, but simply to protect his couutiymen in so extraordinary a situation. It was on this ground that the Council ordered their ambassador to share the horrors of a. siege. interest only rose because profits rose, I reply that this does not weaken, but only strengthens the argument. If the Government loans produced a rise of profits by the great amount of capital which they absorbed, by what means can they have had this effect unless bylowering the wages of labour ? " . " If the Government had abstained from taking this capital by loan, and had allowed it to reach the labourers, but had raised the supplies which it required by a direct tax on the labouring classes, it would have produced the very same economical effects, in every respect, which it did produce, except that'we should not now have had the debt. The course it actually took was therefore worse, by the whole of that great fact, than the very worst mode that it could possibly have adopted of raising the supplies within the year." I do not advert to the case, which he supposes, of a Government raising a loan from capital seeking foreign investment ; for if this capital, which leaves this country every year for foreign investment, were intercepted by the Government, the rate of interest would rise there, and drawing other capital engaged here in production, but at a lower rate of interest, would quickly raise the rate of interest here. Then as to " the capital which would not have been saved at all unless this mode of investment were open to it," I must confess I cannot see how the in ducement to save would be strengthened except by a higher rate of interest, however. We are very far re moved indeed from that state in which capital will be consumed solely because there is no mode of investment open to it. But the grand test is—does a Government loan raise the rate of interest ? Now, I think a challenge might be boldly thrown down to the advocates of loans to produce a single instance in which Government raised loans for several successive years without raising the rate of interest. At all events, during the last hundred years no Government has been able to do it. Dr. Chalmers says, the common notion is that in calling for the whole amount in one year, you require what is either impossible or very inconvenient ; that the people cannot, without great hardship, pay the whole at once out of their yearly income, and that it is much better to require of them a small payment every year in the shape of interest, than so great a sacrifice once for all. It need scarcely be said this continues to be the staple argument of all supporters of the loan system. To this Chalmers answers—" The sacrifice is made equal in !either case. Whatever is spent cannot but be drawn from yearly income. The whole and every part of the wealth produced in the country forms, or helps to form the yearly income of somebody, The privation which is supposed must result from taking the amount in the shape of taxes, is not avoided by taking it in a loan. The suf fering is not averted, but only thrown on the labouring classes, the least able, and who least ought to bear it, while all inconveniencies, physical, moral, and political, produced by maintaining taxes for the perpetual payment of the interest, are incurred in pure loss. Whenever capital is withdrawn from production, or from the fund destined for production, to be lent to the State to be ex pended unproductively, that whole sum is withheld from the labouring classes. The loan, therefore, is in truth, paid off the same year; the whole of the sacrifice necessary for paying it off is actually made ; only, it is paid to the wrong persons, and, therefore, does not ex tinguish the claim; and paid by the very worst of taxes, —a tax exclusively on the labouring class. And, after having in this most painful and unjust of ways, gone through the whole effort necessary for extinguishing the debt, the country remains charged with it, and with the payment of its interest in perpetuity." Such is the testimony of two of the ablest writers on the subject sine the late war, both men of enlarged and profound views,—seldom agreeing on other subjects, yet united in the utter and preremptory condemnation of loans which raise the rate of interest. The advantages, there fore, which the operative classes would derive from the payment of the National Debt are— 1. A portion of the annual revenue of the country would, by being paid to the fundholder, be converted into capital, and thereby augment the circulating capital and raise the general rate of wages. 2. Upon the extinction of the Debt the industry of the country would be relieved from an incubus of taxation of above £26;000,000 a-year. 3. They would be able to compete on better terms with foreign labour. 4. In future wars (if such should happen) we should be able to raise the whole revenue within the year with out resorting to loans, which are tantaniont to a tax upon wages. LAW AND POLICE. BIGAMY IN THE ARMY.—Thomas Carroll, a private in the Grenadier Guards, stationed at the Tower, was charged, at the Westminster Police-court, with bigamy. Evidence was given that the prisoner was married to Caroline Warren on June Ist, 1868, at St. Martin's-in the-Fields, and on the 24th of February, 1869, was again married to Mary Ann Hawes, at St. Luke, Chelsea. Both wives - were present with their children, and the second wife said he had been a good husband and kind father to his child, and she did not wish to hurt him ; she had not taken these proceedings. Samuel Dannerall, 140 11, proved apprehending the prisoner at the Tower ; when told the charge he said " All right, and would have married five others had I the chance." Prisoner said he should say nothing, but reserve his defence for the jury, and he was fully committed for trial. ROBBERY FROM A LAUNDRESS'S CART.—Robert Oakes, 20, describing himself as a general dealer, was charged before Mr. Knox, at the Marlborough -street Police-court, with stealing from a cart a large bundle of articles of the value of 305., the property of Caroline Conture, laundress, of 10, Louisa-street, Kingsland-road. The prosecutrix said that on the previous night she left her cart, in which there were several bundles, in the care of a lad, while she went into a house in Compton-street, and shortly after she was called and told a bundle had been taken out of the cart. John Margell, a young man, living in Tichfield-street, said that seeing three young man go behind the cart and take a bundle, he followed them, and spoke to a constable, and he took the prisoner, who was one of the three, into custody. Police-constable Ellis, 125 C, said that on stopping the prisoner with a bundle in his possession, and asking him what he had got he said it was some washing, and that he was going to take it home, but he could not tell him the name of the street or the number of the house where he got it from. He afterwards said he got at No. 16, High-street, but that was found to be untrue, and he (the constable) then found that the bundle had been stolen. Sergeant Pope, C divi sion, asked for a remand, staiing that on going to the prisoner's lodgings in New Church-street, Strand, he found several diapers with the name of Defries on them, which the prisoner's wife said he had brought home, but which she knew nothing about. Mr. Knox remanded the prisoner. SMUGGLING TouAcco.—George Acres, a seaman, aged 25 years, was brought up at the Thames Police-court, charged with smuggling 4 lbs. of tobacco. He was de tected leaving the ship Argus, in the London Dock, by an officer of Customs named Sharp, and 4 lbs. of tobacco were discovered ingeniously concealed about his legs and other parts of his body. He said he had the tobacco for a smoke. He was told he ought to have paid duty,aud was fined £l, the single value and duty of the tobacco, which was confiscated. IMPUDENT SHOP ROBBERIES.—Sarah Harrison, aged 67, was charged at the above court with stealing a piece of beef, the property of Mr. George Goldstone, a butcher, of No. 11, St. Leonard's-road, Bromley ; and Thomas Dris coll, of No. 1, Charles-street, Millwall, Poplar, was charged with stealing half a pig's head, the property of William Fraser, from outside the shop, No. 99, Three , Colt-street, Limehouse. Both parties were caught in flagrante delicto. In each case money was found on them sufficient to havo paid for the meat they had stolen. They were each sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment and hard labour. In consequence of the threatening aspect of affairs in the East, merchants are now refusing to charter Russian ships. TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF LYSTON HALL, THE RESIDENCE OF COLONEL F. PALMER.—On Tuesday night last this ancient and beautiful structure was entirely de stroyed by fire. It appears from accounts that hair() reached us that it was first discovered by the colonel him self, who happened to be at home at the time, in one of the upper rooms of the mansion. He immediately raised an alarm, and the Melford brigade and engine were quickly on the spot, those of Sudbury, under Superin tendent Wright, arriving shortly after. Both corps promptly got to work ; but although most strenuous efforts were made, it was impossible to make the least impression on the flames, as from the time the fire broke out until the building was completely gutted it was one blazing mass, which was visible for many miles round. No lives were lost. All the heirlooms were destroyed, as well as a greater part of the valuable furniture and plate ; but it is believed that all are fully insured. Colonel Palmer is a son of Sir Ralph Palmer, and nephew of Sir Roundell Palmer, Q. C., M.P. CACAOINE.—Cacoa nibs on the removal of the oil fall into powder, and this powder is cac4oine. Cac4oine contains neither sugar nor any other admixture whatever. Cacaoine makes one of the lightest, thinnest of warm drinks, and is the most de sirablo of all for use in the later hours of the day. Cacaoine, by reason of the ingenious method by which th e o il i s removed, pre serves all the fine natural flavour of cacao, nibs.—Prepared only by James Epps and Co., Homoeopathic Chemists, 112, Great Rus sell-Street ; 110, Piccadilly and 48, Threadneedle-s treet ;at their Work* for Dietetic rreptiratiOns, Etistou-read,—ADM THE WAR AFFAIRS IN LYONS. LYONS, Nov. 13. The military prospects of Lyons are encouraging, and the authorities seem determined to lose no time in making their preparations to resist the threatened attack. The Prefect of the Rhone has established a Committee of Bar ricades, whose duty it is to superintend the construction of all street obstacles and defensive lines in the neighbour hood. All good citizens are desired to assist the committee in their labours by every means in their power, and the civil and military authorities are desired to protect and support them when necessary. The first legion of the Mobilised National Guard has left the town, and they presented an excellent appearance. They were all men of from 2:5 to 35, robust, active, well-equipped, and well-armed, with a good, soldierly appearance, and a fair supply of artillery. A ha;f-battery with breech-loading guns accompanied them. There was a grand review before they left, by the muni cipal authorities, and the fair dames of Lyons presented them with a banner. They marched towards the east, numbering about 4,000 men. Three more regiments of equal strength will be forthcoming from the department lof the Rhone. The first battalion of the Lyonnese Mobiles have been felicitated by Colonel Denfert, the commandant of Belfort for their conduct at that place. The investment went on in the regular fashion, the commandant being summoned to surrender in due form by General Der Treschow, who politely requested Colonel Denfert to reflect whether it would not be well to spare the citizens the horrors of bombardment and in cendiarism. Colonel Denfert responded with equal courtesy, observing that the retreat of the Prussian army was the only means of averting the siege which he could see consistent with honour and humanity. General Cluseret, the illustrious American mischief maker, was expected to arrive at St. Etienne a night or two since, and the Prefect of the Loire, determined to prevent a repetition of former disturbances, posted a detachment of National Guards at the railway station, with the view of carrying out his immediate arrest. Whether he was forewarned, or whether a lucky destiny guided him, is not known, but it is certain the Transatlantic hero did not set foot in Lyons. The most interesting topic of the day is the reported conjunction of Generals Michel and Garibaldi to act against the corps d'armde besieging Belfort. The French army has effected a movement which has taken the enemy by surprise in the rear, and a battle is imminent. All the Prussian detachments on the frontier of the Jura and especially at Delle, have fallen back hurriedly towards the interior. If the French succeed in carrying the pas sage of the Vosges, and cutting off the communication, the position of the Prussian corps which occupies Dijon will become dangerous, for on the left bank of the Saone there is another French corps, and a retreat might inflict heavy losses on them. The country people occasionally shew a very un worthy spirit. The Mayor of Perause, a little village near Belfort, instead of giving warning to a French detachment stationed near of the presence of two IThlans at the Mayoralty, invited the intruders to his table, and gave them a most hospitable reception. He has been arrested by orders of the Commandant, and will have to explain his conduct before a Council of War. He is not the only mayor in the Vosges who has shewn a lack of patriotism. The Prefect of Isdre has just issued a decree prohibit ing the completion of the statue of Napoleon I. at Grenoble, erected two years since in honour of the return from Elba. Certainly the present moment, when another Na poleon is contemplating another visit to Elba, would not be a very opportune one for achieving the enter prise. Colonel. C. Garibaldi, the son-in-law of the General, is now in Lyons, where he is engaged in forming a marching brigade, and completing the staff of the Garibaldian corps. This staff is not all that might be desired. There are many foreigners in it, Poles, Hungarians, Americans, who came eagerly forward to offer their services without asking any recompense, and equipping themselves at their own expense. This last piece of self-devotion was rather inconvenient, for their appearance is consequently irregular and eccentric enough. Great expectations are formed of Colonel Garibaldi, and the troops have much confidence in him. It is, therefore, to be hoped that he will soon succeed in reducing his motley enthusiasts to efficiency and order. MORE ABOUT THE STRANGE STORY. The Daily News Tours correspondent forwards a report respecting the remarkable " N." or " M." intrigue, which throws some light both on that affair and on the general conduct of Bourbaki and Bazaine: —General Bour baki did riot come to Tours spontaneously. After leaving Chislehurst he went to Brussels, and proposed to return to Metz, but on crossing the French frontier he received an order from M. Gambetta to report himself at Tours. Ile obeyed without hesitation. On his arrival here he was asked authoritatively how he came to leave Metz, and what he went to do in England. The General answered that Marshal Bazaine told him that a person named Regnier had come to Metz with a message from the Empress Eugenie, who desired to see General Bourbaki, and that the Marshal wished him to go. Bourbaki objected strongly to leave his command, and said he would not leave it unless the Marshal gave him a written order. That order was given, and thereupon Bourbaki, without difficulty, passed through the Prussian lines in the Geneva uniform of an ambulance surgeon, There was little occasion (I observe parenthetically) for the disguise, since it is very obvious that Bourbaki, whether he knew it or not, was a tool in the hands of an agent jointly employed by the Bonapartists and the Prus sians. When he arrived at Chislehurst, the Empress, Bourbaki said, seemed surprised to see him, and denied that she had sent for him. If the soi-disant M. Regnier's story be true, the Empress could not have been surprised at seeing General Bourbaki, because if she did not person ally give the strange busybody his commission, she was aware of it, did not oppose it, and only objected that the enterprise was difficult and dangerous. The " N." or " M." pamphlet reproaches Bourbaki for not having given to the Empress the - explanations which were expected of him. When M. Gambetta had heard all that Bourbaki had to say about Chislehurst, which, as you see, • was next to nothing at all, he asked him what he thought of Bazaine. The answer was at first conveyed by "making a face" expres sive of disgust. On being asked what that face meant, Bourbaki said, •" Bazaine thinks of himself alone" (ne songe qu'a lui). Gambetta then asked Bourbaki whether, if he offered him a command, he would accept it, and give his word of honour as a soldier that he would loyally serve the Republic. Ile said he would. On being asked whether he would accept the command-in-chief of all the French armies, ho declined, but said he thought ho might be useful in the north. Thereupon M. Gambetta, who knows that generals cannot be improvised, and was anxious to secure the services of a man of Bour baki's valour and capacity, resolved to trust him. FRESH MEAT EXHAUSTED IN PARIS. In a letter dated Royal Headquarters, Versailles, No vember 12, the special correspondent of the Telegraph says:—Yesterday was a sad day for the Farasians. It initiated a new phase of the privations inflicted upon them by the German investment of their persecuted city, and brought them one step—a gigantic stride, rather — nearer to that capitulation which they themselves are be ginning to regard as inevitable. The rations of fresh meat hitherto punctually issued by the authorities, were stopped yesterday ; and salaison, or salted meat, was sub stituted in their stead. This significant token of approach ing hardship has not failed to elicit from the organs of public opinion a violent protest against the prolongation of the • defence; accompanied by an exhausted Jer miad, addressed to the soi-disant Government, in which its members are pulled to pieces with the scathing irony and cruel logic which are so pecu liarly characteristic of exasperated French /itterateurs. I never doubted for a moment that, so soon as real want made itself felt in the ranks of the middle classes, a vigorous reaction would take place in favour of " submis sion to destiny ;" and, sure enough, the Figaro - which has hitherto, so to speak, been written with a civic dagger imbrued in Prussian blood—which has published more foul-mouthed vituperations, has expectorated more frantic exhortations,burlesque in their extravagance, which has propagated more lies'than any other Parisian newspaper—has now, convinced by the irresistible eloquence of salt junk, turned sharply round upon the Committee of Defence, denied its gods, swallowed its own words in preference to pickled horse, and turned the stream of its abuse from the Prussians to its own countrymen, splashing all kinds of Frenchmen with an equal douche of bitter condemnation. Figaro urging capitulation ! Figaro preaching morals ! Figaro vilifying the defenders of Paris, and by inference, if not directly, exalting the virtues and qualities of France's enemies ! It is incredible—or it would be so, but that the worker of the apparent miracle stands revealed in the first few lines of the second leader printed in yesterday's issue of the paper—" ii n'y a plus de viande fraiche! Had the Journal des Debuts, or even the Cinistieutionnel, come to And Ocimated our. render, one would not have been so much surprised ; but the Figaro—the Prussian-eater, the gore-quaffer, the suggester of plans for the annihilation of German armies through the patriotic self-abandonment of female patriots—the preacher of resistance to the death, to the last paving stone, to the last bottle of petroleum — t he : prophet of carnage, to whom the poniard and the bowl seem to come as handy as the pen and the inkstand ! Well, wonders never will cease. General der Tann is said to bey greatly enraged at hiS defeat, and swears to return to Orleans. German reports of the late battle on the Loire admit that the French fired much better than usual. A despatch from Besancon states that from the 9th inst. the trains have ceased to run between Besancon, Dole, Belfort, and Mouchard. It is rumoured that a general (name not given) has been dismissed fur incapacity, in making a false movement ea November 9th, which prevented the certain capture d 5,000 Bavarians. • A commission of Judges of Instruction is now sitting; in Tours to collect evidence against Marshal Bazaine. ° ll ' the 12th an officer newly arrived from Metz was under 0 amination for four hours. When the news of the recent victory of the French Orleans became known on the Vienna Exchange there INTO' a grand manifestation of sympathy for the victors, which lasted fully ten minutes, during which time all busine' 3s. transactions were interrupted. Forty-seven Milans are reported to have arrived at Die; mours on the 13th, where they were surprised and capture° by Mobile Guards of the Seine-et-Marne the same nigh t ' after a fight lasting one hour. The plan of removing some of the sick and wounded from Metz to Berlin has been abandoned on ac count of the prevalence of typhus, smallpox, hospita l fever, and other contagious maladies. It is asserted that M. Jules Simon, Minister of Pub ll° Instruction, has officially informed M. Arago, Maire of Paris, that he is about to propose to a public meeting 1/ project for erecting a statue to Baudin. There has been an excieng chase' off the Norfolk coaA between a French ironclad and a Prussian merchant vessel. The Frenchman fired 25 shots at the Prussia° which, however, got clear off, and made for the north. The battalion of Franc-tireurs of the Sarthe, whose commandant has been dismissed for want of energy before the enemy, has just been dissolved and disarmed by te e : orders of the superior general commandant of the forces eI the West. Count Moltke's reported illness proves to be without serious foundation. The general has had a slight cold' accompanied by some symptoms of fever. He has, how ever, never missed a military council nor otherwise been withheld from the performance of any of his duties. Intelligence has been received per Brazil mail that the - - French advice steamer Le Curieux had captured the Ger man barque Wanderer, bound from Liverpool for Rosario- The master of the prize, Captain Ernst Hiemann, and the crew were taken in Le Curieux to Bahia, and sent to Europe in the Gironde. The barque was expected at Bahia. The French recruiting sergeants will probably woo have completed their voyage round the world ; they are trying her luck in almost every country of the globe,. Among the later arrivals there to defend the "holy soil of France " there are some 200 Albanese, who arrived 01 Marseilles, armed with their long rifles and daggers, enc l. clad in their fantastic national costume. On Wednesday information was received at Gre s Grimsby of the capture of the North German Lloyd' s ' steamers Hansa and Leipsic. The Hansa had 78 passen gers when captured and the Leipsic 20. The French have' also captured and burnt the bark Juno, of Dantsic. Th e ' English bark Red Cross Knight, of Swansea, for Val' paraiso. was fired at three times by the French fleet near Heligoland. She shewed her ensign and was then ordered for England. Commandant Leperche, the aide-de-camp of General Bourbaki, was unwilling to agree to the capitulation of Metz. He assembled some officers and soldiers, and lea them out to cut a passage through the ranks of the enemy In all probability some of these brave men would have got through had not treasonabl9 information betrayed them to the enemy. Commandant Leperche took r efuge in Aux-sur-Moselle, but two days afterwards his retreat was betrayed, and he was taken to one of the prisons of Fort Plappeville. The Daily News Versailles correspondent says it is cer tain that if Paris be . taken instead of surrendered on terms agreed upon between King William and the present Provisional Government, that Government will hence forward be considered by the Germans as non -existing , and they will themselves install another Provisional G° - vernment, preparing the re-establishment of the EmPir e by means of the captive army. The Senate and the L gislative Body are at hand for the purpose. The francs-tireurs of Lisieux took part in the action at Saint Laurent des Bois, near Marchenoir. They three times repulsed the enemy, and killed a captain of Prus sian cavalry. The wife of one of the francs-tireur s happened to be on the spot when the engagement began- She did not like remaining a passive spectator of it, and asked for a revolver, with which she played her part 111 the affair. The revolver was afterwards given to her by the Commander Lienard as an acknowledgment of h er bravery, and she took it home to Liseux with a prayer book and cartridge-box found upon the Prussian captain. The recent telegram from Arlon stating that the born' bardment of Thionville had commenced on the 1 2 t 11 instant would seem to be incorrect. A private letter froze Metz, dated the 14th, says : " Yesterday I understwa that a farce was to be enacted here—that Thionville was to be bombarded for an hour and then surrender 1.19 mutual consent. It did not come off, but they are going to begin on the 20th. All the French materiel is being taken from Metz for the investment of Thionville. and I fancy that it cannot hold out long." The fact of the bolo' bardment having commenced is also contradicted by 5 Metz journal, Le Messin, of the 14th. Emile de Girardin, formerly editor of the Liberte, 1 10 addressed a letter to M. Gambetta, in which he says that after the capitulation of Sedan he proposed to the MinistrY as the wisest course the restoration of the Constitution of 1848, the election of a President of the Republic, and the nomination of a Legislative Assembly. He now proposes that one of the diplomatic body should go to Tours to pro pose an armistice for four days, without any conditions* during which time the Constitution of November, 1 848 ° might be revived, and a President elected; During thos e four days Paris and the departments must have full free' dom of correspondence. More evidence of the mismanagement under the Buy pire is coming to light. For a long time every one Wow dered, but no one knew, where the immense number of Chassepots, said to have been in store when the war broke out, could have gone. It now turns out that the Chass e. pots not only existed, but are turning up here and therel s wonderfully large numbers, from the most unlikely places. At the small fort of La Fere, in the north, no fewer than 20,000—one correspondent says 60,000—0 f those rifles hav e been found, together with the materiel for an entire army corps. In the same fort no fewer than five complet e batteries of field artillery were discovered. These stores have been of infinite service to General Bourbaki. [ADVERTISEMENT.]-11olloway's Ointment and rills.-- Influenza, Coughs, and Colds.—ln diseases of the throat and chest, ever prevalent in our changeable climate , nothing so speedily relieves, or so certainly cures, as these inestimable remedies. These disorders are too often neglected at their commencement, or are judiciously treated, and in either case disastrous consequences result. Whatever the condition of the patient, Holloway's remedies will restore, if recovery be possible ; they will retard th e alarming symptoms till the blood is purified and whe n nature will consummates the cure, gradually restoring strength and vital nervous power. By persevering ill the use of Holloway's preparations, tone is conferre d first on the stomach and by it on the system general, Thousands of persons have testified that by the use e ' these remedies alone they have been restored to health after every other means had failed. BIRTHS. On the 14th inst., at Larkbeare, Exeter, the wife of J. C. Bowing, Esq., of a son. On the 15th inst., at Cheadle, Cheshire, The wife of Capt. T. H. Sykes, of a daughter. MARRIAGES.j On the 15th inst., at Bournemouth, John 0. Vandeleur• 4th Battalion Rifle Brigade, of Ballinacourty, eldest son of the late Colonel Vandeleur, 10th Hussars, to Frede rica Jane, fourth daughter of the late Charles William Beauclerck, of Winchfleld House, Hants. On the 15th inst., at Saint John's, Brixton, James IL Young, Esq., of The Gardens, Peckham, to Georg/Da Sophia Catherine, the eldest daughter of the Rev. pr. Mansfield, vicar. DEATHS. On the 15th inst., at Highfield House, Roupell-park , Streatham, William Nicholas Rogers, Esq., aged 39.. On the 15th inst., Dennis Cutler, of the Broadway, Ron' mersmith, aged 67. London : Printed by GIDEON ACLAND BOYCE, °I No. 112, Strand, Printer, and Published by him at THE SUN Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County of Middlesex. Friday, Number IS, 1870 Va 011 He Sic 7 Op i