The Sun. — London, England, 1870-07-16 00:00:00

IMPERIAL RLIAME NT. HOUSE Q - F LORDS.-FRIDAY. The Lord Chancr;ilor took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock, at w:nich hour there was a very full attend ance of peers, THE nF,,CLARATION OF WAR BY FRANCE AGAINST PRUSSIA. - - i'he Earl of MALMESBURY said the anxiety that existed with respect to the position of matters between France and Prussia was very great, and under such circum stances he hoped he should be pardoned in transgressing the rules of their lordships' House in asking a question of the noble earl the Secretary for Foreign Affairs relative to an announcement that was made in the evening papers, to the effect that France had declared war against Prussia. He would only ask the noble earl whether he had received any official information on the subject. Earl GRANVILLE said he had no official communication of the statement made in the French Legislature that afternoon, but he had no reason to doubt the truth of the telegram received through Reuter's agency, and it was with the deepest concern and regret that he gave credence to the intelligence that war had been declared between France and Prussia. He did not think their lordships would wish more than that all the information necessary to enable them to form a judgment of the conduct of her Majesty's Government would be laid before them as soon as it was possible to deal with the great mass of papers now before them. NAVAL RETIREMENT. The Duke of SOMERSET moved for copies of any corres pondence betweeniflag officers and the Admiralty relative to the last scheme of retirement. The noble duke took objection to the scheme, but the Earl of Camperdown said he believed the order in Council generally met with the approval of the service, and with respect to the cor respondence there would be no objection to its produc tion.—Earl Grey said Ms information on the subject was directly opposite, as he had been informed that general discontent and objection existed with respect to the order referred to. THE IRISH LAND BILL. Their lordships then proceeded to consider the Com mons' reasons for disagreeing to certain amendments made by their lordships to the bill.—Earl Granville moved that the first amendment be not insisted on.—The Duke of Richmond said the effect of the motion of the noble earl was practically to restore the scale of compensation to that at which it stood when first introduced into their lordships' House. As he did not think the amendment of sufficient importance to insist on, he did not propose to ask their lordships to adhere to it, although he believed that the scale as altered by their lordships the best arrangement. The alteration of the duration of the lease from 21 to 31 years he disapproved of, as he was strongly in favour of the shorter term, but he did not propose to ask their lordships to insist on the amendment. With re spect to conacre, the amendment that had been made by their lordships' proposal in the House of Commons en tirely altered it from its meaning ; but he should not ask their lordships to reject even that amendment. With re spect to permissible registration for improvements he must ask their lordships to insert another amendment, and also that affecting the conditions of ejectment. After a short discussion, the whole of the amendments, with the exception of those mentioned by the noble duke, were given up, and a committee appointed to draw up the reasons for insisting on the alterations mentioned. In reply to a question from the Duke of Manchester, Earl GRANVILLE defended the transfer of the settlement of the Gambia to France, and said it would be difficult to show that this country would gain any advantage by re taining it. The other bills on the order were forwarded a stage, and their lordships adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—FRIDAY. The Speaker took the chair at ten minutes past two o'clock. FRANCE AND PRUSSIA. Mr. DISRAELI asked the Prime Minister whether he could inform Parliament what in his opinion was the Cause of the present disturbed state of Europe. It seemed to him that the time had arrived when that question was strictly legitimate. There ' had been two causes mentioned by public rumour for this unhappy state of affairs. One alleged cause was that a German Prince had been a candidate for the throne of Spai n . He could not induce himself to believe that in the nineteenth century, with its extended sympathy, its elevating tendencies, anything so degraded and so bar barous could occur, as a war of succession. (Great applause.) But they had very recently had an , authoritative statement from a Minister of France Which at once disposed of the pretence that any preten- Men by a German prince to the crown of Spain could be the cause for the present state of affairs. But there was another cause alleged, and it was this, that between the two allies of her Majesty, between whom these unhappy 'Misconceptions seemed suddenly to have arisen, there had been for a long time many causes of misconception and Misunderstanding, much jealousy and distrust, and many questions as to their relations with other countries of Europe, which had been left open and unsettled that there had been a resolution in some quarter to bring about a precipitate settlement of this question. He ven tured to observe that if there were truth in these state ments, any foundation for the circumstances to which he had alluded, the cause of controversy between these two allies of her Majesty was purely a diplomatic question. What he wanted to bring under the consideration of the Government and the House of Commons was that both these powerful States, between whom the misunderstanding had arisen, had within only a few years solicited the advice of, and prayed for the influence of her Majesty to be exercised on their behalf. They had done more than that. They had entreated her Majesty to enter into engagements—perilous engagements—with the view of furthering their interests, securing the peace of Europe, and of giving them an opportunity of a happy termination of all questions of difference between them. Under these circumstances he must express his opinion that whatever might be the political competence of France and Prussia at this moment, to declare and ca.ry on war, and no one could question that, neither France nor Prussia had a right to enter into any War without consulting Great Britain. He wanted to know from her Majesty's Government whether, in the representations which they had made—and he had no doubt they had made them with great zeal, energy, and anxiety —to the Courts of the Tuileries and Berlin, that view of the case had been put forth. He made no doubt of the zeal of the representation which had been made as to England being heard, but they had arrived at a moment when it was not sufficient to dilate upon the horrors of war, and the blessings of peace. It was not sufficient to dilate upon the abstract principles. He be lieved a public announcement on this subject would have a beneficial effect upon Europe, and it was the duty of the Government to bring under the consideration of both France and Prussia the peculiar claims which Great Britain had upon their confidence, upon their trust, and upon a reasonable deference to her councils. He repeated that he wanted to know whether this view of the case had been set before the two States, and whether they had been reminded of the great sacrifice and the great exertions which at their request and instigation only a short time ago the Queen of England made in order to advance their interests, to secure the peace of Europe, and to give them an honourable opportunity of terminating their dispute. Before sitting down, he ven tured to express his individual opinion that the ruler of any country who disturbed the peace of Europe incurred the greatest political and moral responsibility—(great applause)—which could fall to the lot of man. They heard superficial remarks about military surprises, cap tured capitals, and the celerity with which results might be brought about at this moment, which were not expected or contemplated. These the right lion. gentleman said, were relics of a by gone age. In the last century such melodramatic catastrophes were frequent, and they were effective, 'but they lived in an age animated by a more temperate spirit and thought. A great country like France, or a great country like Prussia, could not be ultimately affected by such results, and the Sovereign who trusted to them would find at the moment of action that he had to encounter, wherever he might be Placed a greater and more powerful force than any military array, and that was the outraged opinion of an enlightened world. (Great applause). Mr. GLADSTODiE : Sir, it is not for me to follow the right hon. gentleman over the whole of his remarks, for he I am sure will agree with me when I say that at this peculiar moment he enjoys a freedom—he in common with every other member of this House enjoys a freedom— which does not belong to the advisers of the Crown. (Applause.) At the same time, sir, adverting to the impressive words with which, the right hon. gentleman closed his speech, I may say that it is the opinion of her Majesty's Government, and, as it appears to me, it is his opinion too, that there is nothing in the circumstances, nothing in the differences - - which have lately appeared, THE SLJi, LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 16, 1 8 which will justify, in the judgment and conscience of the world, a breach of the general peace. (Applause.) With respect to the questions which the right hon. gentleman has put to me, they are, as I understand them, these two. He asks if I can inform Parliament what in the opinion of the Government is the cause of the present disturbed state of Europe. I think, sir, that for those who have official responsibility, and for those who have duties in relation to the foreign powers, which official responsibility entails, it would be better I should avoid reference at the present moment to any cause which may have contributed to bring about the present menacing state of affairs other than those which have appeared. The right hon. gentleman also asks me whether her Majesty's Government have thought it part of their care to bring before the two great states now engaged in communications that appear ap proximate to hostility —to bring before these two states the peculiar claims of Great Britain to be heard in regard to their disputes, and the full recognition of her title to offer friendly offices with the view to a settlement. Sir, I am bound to say neither of these two states has in the present state of circumstances shewn the slightest disposition to impatience of the representations of Great Britain, or the slightest indisposition to allow her to exercise whatever title she has of friendly intervention, or to put upon us the necessity of resorting to argument drawn from any special juncture in former off airs for the purpose of making good that right. (Applause.) I may say that the title of friendly offices on the part of any one State of the civilised world towards another State really has been placed upon a foundation by a great Europe . an Act of recent times, which does not admit of its being brought into dispute. I refer, of course, to the product of the Conference of Paris in 1856, whereby it was recognised in the most solemn manner by an assemblage of the representatives of the great Powers of Europe to be the duty of each of these Powers, at least as a general rule, in case unhappily of any contro versy arising with a neighbour, to submit that controversy to some friendly adjudication, before having resort to the last, and melancholy, and horrid extremity of arms. (Applause.) Sir, with respect, therefore, to the question of the right hon. gentleman these are the answers which I should give to him. Respecting the actual state of affairs, we have no decisive intelligence to communicate to the House, but I am sorry to say that the tone of the communications and transactions thus far between the two great powers has not been on the whole favourable. The point, however, is now, sir, very near at hand at which things must take a decisive course, either in favour of peace or war. Any function which we can discharge, any office that we can render, necessarily limited, we shall rep der. But I have the hope that when the time comes, and it probably must very soon arrive, at which it will be our duty to explain in detail that which it is now not less our duty to withhold, the House may be of opinion that her Majesty's Government have not fallen short of the obligations incumbent upon the representa tives of England, and likewise have not gone beyond them. (Great applause.) . . . Mr. Horsman was proceeding to continue the discussion, when the Speaker called him to order. Mr. S. Beaumont also attempted to speak on the subject but he too was called to order. breathlessly for the shock —knowing not what "'a day or an hour may bring forth. THE MORNING POST. The Post says the first question which was everywhere asked last night on learning the news of war was-- " Shall we be involved in it ?" To that question it is easy to give a satisfactory answer. The rup ture between France and Prussia—as matters now stand will oblige an immediate Proclamation of Neutrality on the part of the English Crown. That neutrality, it need hardly be said, we shall m ost scrupulously maintain. Nor is there any prospect of our being directly or indirectly engaged in the conflict so long as Treaty obligations are observed and"guarantees to which we are a_ party re spected. The Post has reason to believe that assurances on this head are not wanting, and that the neutral posi tion of Belgium and Luxembourg will in no way be interfered with. territories with fire and sword, impoverish their subjects, and encumber themselves and posterity with a crushing debt for such flimsy causes of quarrel as now agitate Paris and Berlin. Never was war less justifiable. WESTERN MORNING NEWS. The Western, Morning News says it is already clear to unbiassed minds that this precipitate resort to hostilities is a great crime. For the due apportionment of the guilt we must wait for a few hours. According to present appearances, the balance is heavily against France. Her conduct throughout has resembled that of a bullydesirous to pick a quarrel. She has left no room for an honour able concession. There is too much reason to fear that the Emperor Napoleon has rushed into war only to evade granting a Constitutional Government. If this he the case, the war now declared is one of the most gigantic crimes on record. The success of any intervention by a European congress is almost hopeless. Nevertheless, we infer from the cautious language of Mr. Gladstone and Earl Granville that we shall continue our mediation. Meanwhile, or if that should fail, England must observe a strict neutrality. We must not suffer any Lairds to imperil peace by sending out Alabamas to involve us in new difficulties, and bring upon us new demands. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE ALABAMA CLAIMS. President Grant has sent to the Senate copies of the diplomatic correspondence relative to the Alabama claims, which shews that Earl Clarendon, on the 6th of May, in response to Mr. Motley's proposition to re-open correspondence, stated that her Majesty's Government considered it neither useful nor expedient to continue s controversial correspondence in which there was so little hope of one Government convincing► the other. :THE NEW, AMERICAN MINISTER TO ENGLAND. Mr. Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, of New Jersey, has been nominated Minister to England, vice Mr. Motley. Mr. Frelinghuysen has been Senator from New Jersey, is a moderate Republican, but not a very.-prominent man. The President has sent to the Senate copies of the diplomatic correspondence relative to the Alabama claims, which shows that Earl Clarendon, on the 6th of May, in response to Mr. Motley's proposi tion to re-open correspondence, stated that her Majesty's Government considered it neither useful nor expedient to continue a controversial correspondence in which there was so little hope of one Government convincing the other. DECLARATION OF WAR BY FRAN CE. ADVANCE OF TROOPS. - FALL IN THE FUNDS. France has declared war. The resolve was made known to the French Chambers yesterday, when M. 011ivier read a communication which had been drawn up by a Council of Ministers. The declaration of war, and the statement that troops on both sides were marching to the frontier had an immediate effect on the funds, and Rentes fell to 65fr. On the previous night demonstrations were made in favour of war. Along the Boulevard, from the Grand Hotel to the Porte St. Martin, there were crowds of people, singing the " Marseillaise " and shout ing " Vive la Guerre." Hostile manifestations were also made before the residence of Baron Werther, the Prussian Ambassador. On the same evening the Emperor was cheered on leaving for St. Cloud, and cries were heard of " A bas la Prusse." Last night, according to a telegram from the correspondent of the Standard, a manifestation in favour of war on the Boulevard des Italiennes threw the Petite Bourse into confusion. The manifestation was made by a couple of thousand young fellows, singing snatches of the " Marseillaise," and shouting " A Berlin ! h Berlin !" to the well-known tune of "The Lampions." The police abstained from interfering, and the mani festation gang was generally applauded by the people in the cafes. • The corresyondent of the Post says there was great ex citement in the streets. Flags were exhibited, and the crowds were shouting "Au Rhine." Troops were leaving for the frontier. The Ministers and the military were working with the Emperor very early. The French Chambers met at one yesterday when a com munication was simultaneously made by the Government to the Senate and Corps Ldgislatif explaining the situa tion of affairs, and terminating by a declaration of war against Prussia. The Government announced that this declaration is pre cipitated by the circular of the King to the Prussian agents abroad, which Firstly, confirms the affront to M. Benedetti ; Secondly, refuses to guarantee the renunciation of Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern, and Thirdly, restores to him his liberty to accept the crown of Spain. The Constitutionnel published an extraordinary edition yesterday with an article signed by M. Mitchell, announcing the declaration of war. The article says that the King of Prussia has brutally attacked the slumbering recollections of 1814, and concludes as follows :—" Prussia insults us ; let us cross the Rhine. The soldiers of Jena are ready." THE TRANSFER OF GAMBIA TO FRANCE. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Sir JOHN HAY called attention to the supposed preparations for transferring the colony of the Gambia to France. The debate which ensued was a very long one.—Mr. B. Cochrane declared that the cession of the colony would create distrust throughout our colonial possessions.— Viscount Sandon pointed out the importance of Gambia as -a naval coasting station.—Mr. Monsell assured the House that there was no intention to dispose of the colony without consulting Parliament. — The right hon. gentleman promised to furnish Sir John Hay papers relating to the subject; and that having been the object of the hon. and gallant baronet, he withdrew his proposition. THE CIVIL SERVICE. The House went into committee on the civil service estimates, and several votes were granted. The sitting was suspended at seven o'clock. When the House re assembled at nine o'clock, the attention of the Speaker was drawn to the number of members present, and a " count out " was the result. OUR COTEMPORARIES---This Morning. THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR. THE TIMES. The Timea avers that the greatest national, crime that we have had the pain of recording in these columns since the days of the first French Empire has been consum mated. War is declared—an unjust, but premeditated war. This dire calamity, which overwhelms Europe with dis may, is, it is now too clear, the act of France—of one man in France. It is the ultimate result of personal rule. It is now too evident that nothing short of an amount of humiliation to which no powerful nation could submit would have given Prussia a chance of escape. The opportunity for showing the wonders of the chassepot - and the mitrailleuse was not to be resisted. France flattered herself that she was marching to certain victory. She gave no time for diplomacy to stay her arm or to baffle her of her prey. The reliance of the Emperor on one Minister was so manifest that the very man whose wondrous pliancy and complacency have been most conspicuous during his tenure of office—the Keeper of the seals, 011ivier—was mystified and thrown off the scent. He was kept so completely in the dark with respect to the real mind of the Ruler on this important matter, that he was proclaiming Peace in the lobbies of the Legislative Body at the ♦ery moment in which his col league of Foreign Affairs was throwing out broad hints from the Tribune about the necessity of " further nego tiation " with Prussia. THE DAILY NEWS. The Daily .News believes that had France not been resolved to quarrel the explanations given by King William, and the steps taken by him in disavowing the candidature of Prince Leopold, would have been deemed amply sufficient for her honour, and more than sufficient for her safety. The second demand avowed by M. 011ivier in the Corps Legislatif was one with which no nation could comply without disci edit. To demand of King William that he should engage beforehand to refuse his authorisation, should the Crown be offered at some future time to Prince Leopold, was grossly indecent and insulting. It was perhaps a. little unfortunate that the King of Prussia refused to see M. Benedetti, especially as it is King William's habit to see and speak to political and other personages in a very na tural and unofficial way ; but a Sovereign has at any rate a right to arrange the time and manner of an interview with the Representative of another Power; and any gentleman will refuse to see another when he knows that his proposed visitor is the bearer of an insult ing and hectoring demand. France has hectored Prussia, and Prussia would have at once acknowledged her as the arbiter of Europe had she yielded to the hectoring. But her curt refusal in no way lends even the colour of justification or the shadow of an excuse to the action of the Emperor and his Government. The decla ration of war is therefore utterly inexcusable on the part of France. She has put herself in the wrong before the public opinion of Europe. In the corn of history her action will be treated as a crime—a crime against civilisa tion, against humanity, as well as against the peace and good order of the world. THE TELEGAPH. The Telegraph considers the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen candidature was only a later version of Sadowa, of the refusal to give compensation, of the military alliances with the South German States, of the hesitation to fulfil France's favourite Article in the Treaty of Prague, of other incidents that have made France angry and Prussia confi dent. Thus the war of 1870 is the direct inheritance from the war of 1866. It is the temper, the rivalry, the resent ment of 1866 that we now find breaking forth in the declaration of war at Paris ; and, while we must condemn France for giving way suddenly and disastrously to her pasaions, we should at the same time remember that during four years she has restrained those passions with no ordinary forbearance and success, in face of many provo cations. Regarding the present war, therefore, as merely the sequel to that so abruptly concluded four years ago, the Telegraph is constrained to anticipate that it will not remain within its present limits. Mr. Gladstone last night, in the House of Commons, spoke, in terms warrantably grave, of the " peculiar claims of Great Britain to be heard as to the disputes " of France and Prussia. It must be obvious that the event of yesterday opens tremendous possibilities of convulsion and change, which cannot, on the spur of the moment, be calmly and fully recognised. No more ominous, no more cala mitous occurrence has startled Europe, since the days of the First Napoleon, than the outbreak of war between the forty millions of France and the forty millions of Ger many. When such stupendous forces, aided by all the deadly accelerative agencies of .modern civilisation, are set in hostile movement, we caw do . lfttle more than wait THE STANDARD. The Standard says it looks as if both powers are de sirous to precipitate a struggle which both are convinced must come, and probably a great many people will find some consolation from . the announcement of this terrible, for terrible it must be, conflict in the same consideration. It was, humanly speaking, hardly probable that many years should elapse without the occurrence of such a struggle, and the temptation to exclaim, the sooner the tempest begins the sooner will it be over, to find some. compensation for the violence of the storm in the hope that it will clear the atmosphere, is natural enough. But a war that has not broken out, con tinues the Standard, is always a war which we may hope will be avoided ; and we must confess, with all our old belief, that this war between France and Prussia must come sooner or later, and in spite of the quasi conviction which we have entertained since this question arose that it would produce this war, we feel that a fearful calamity has fallen upon Europe. To attempt to measure the length or to gauge the slaughter of this conflict would be premature now. It is enough, it is too much, to contemplate the slaughter and the ruin which must be worked in a conflict to which even the bloody war of 1866 will appear, by comparison, but child's play. The people of both countries are eager for the fight, the Governments have been long preparing for it ; engines of destruction never before employed will be largely used; and we may not hope for even the sad, but still in one sense satisfactory, termination from exhaus tion. Worst of all, no one can say that France and Prus sia will next month be•the only belligerent Powers. SHEFFIELD INDEPENDENT. The Sheffield Independent of to-day says " The declaration of war is one of the results of the growing weakness of Napoleon. The avowed occasion of the war is utterly gratuitous. The French Government sought and found it, in spite of efforts made by all other nations to preserve peace. The baffled ambition and the mortified vanity of France, which could not bear the unity of Germany, have at last broken all bounds. This week witnesses the first act of a tragedy—not to be brief, and probably of unex ampled destructiveness—of which, as far as we can guess, it seems the overthrow of the Napoleon dynasty will be the end." NEWCASTLE CHRONICLE. The Newcastle Chronicle points out that Englishmen will think of the disgrace to civilisarion involved in a war which, so far as it is any thing beyond a war of temper, is one of aggrandisement, and they will blush for the folly of the French people in sanctioning and for the wickedness of the French Government in perpe trating such a crime against humanity, liberty, civilisa tion, commerce, and peace. Inexperienced as he is in the horrors of invasion, every Briton will compassionate with the manliest tenderness the sorrowful fate of the innocent millions on whom chiefly the brunt of the great calamity will fall. THE SCOTSMAN. The Scotsman says that " the approaching conflict is war for the sake of war, not war for any of the great objects, the high ambitions, the intolerable provocations, the virtual necessities which sometimes, more or less, excuse that dread appeal. It is merely to test which is the stronger. War, therefore, to which no end can be confi dently foreseen but the exhaustion and humiliation of one or other of two of the most proud and powerful nations of the earth. Europe has not heard news so dismal, or entered on a vista of which the close is so far beyond view or conjecture for more than two genera tions." " The Emperor of the French," the Scotsman adds, "must have wished and intended war. He must have been waiting his chance to make a spring. It is hard to see that this is a good chance.; certainly it is not a fair one. This is said here, and will be felt almost everywhere,without any friendly feeling towards Prussia, a Power which has of late years shown itself selfish, dis honest, hard, and greedy. If in the course of the terrible contest we are about to see begin, Prussia should suffer in dignity and in territory, there are few in this country who would view such results otherwise than a righteous retribution, or have any regret, but that justice should not have come upon her from a source with purer motives and more legitimate authority." YORKSHIRE POST. The Yorkshire Post considers that " the declaration of war by France proves that the objection to Prince Leo pold was but a pretence, and that the real cause of offence was something altogether very distinct from it. The feelings which have prompted the French to this des perate act are, undoubtedly, wounded pride, and some kind of vague instinct of self-preservation. The present strife is the natural, we might almost say the necessary, consequence of the war waged with still less justification against'Austria. The jealousy, perhaps the fear, of Prussia created a kind of morbid feeling, and under the belief that Prussia was only waiting for an opportunity to reduce her neighbour to the level of a second-rate Power, it has been foreseen that the time must come when the prevalent feeling would find vent, and France and Prussia refer their pretensions to the dreadful arbi tration of the sword." The Post adds—" The manifest policy of this country is to observe a dignified reticence, and leave the two parties to themselves to fight out this quarrel." IRISH TIMES. The Irish Times remarks " that almost from the first it was felt that a collision was inevitable. The candida- ture of the Prince of Hohenzollern was but the pretext for a quarrel. The brusque, and even rue, reception given to the French Ambassador by the King of Prussia was perhaps the consequence of the furious outbreak of the Duc de Gramont." The Irish Times asks, "Is the Rhenish frontier to be acquired ? Can England stand aloof if Holland and Belgium be assailed? and will Spain be content to be merely a spectator of a war to which she has given origin? Time can alone decide this, and reveal sorrow and misery,which an appeal to the sword entails." CORK EXAMINER• The Cork Examiner deplores the outbreak of war as the direst calamity that could befall European society, and "considers it a reproach to a civilised age that the two first powerful nations of Europe, foremost in intel lectuai progress, . and representing the highest develop ment of the two great branches of Christianity, to rush into sanguinary conflict for the gratification of insensate international hatred, without having a single material interest imperilled to justify their strife. It deems France to be the aggressor, and considers her whole course of action inspired by the hope of being able to strike a deadly blow at an unprepared adversary." NORTHERN WHIG. The Northern Whig says, " We see as yet but the first scene of this new and great drama. The plot is not yet unfolded. There is much that is mysterious—much which is not yet revealed, but which will be revealed as ths action proceeds. So far as the interests of the United Kingdom are concerned we may at least feel some satis faction. The sea happily rolls between us and the com batants. Though every state on the continent of Europe may have some anxiety lest it may be involuntarily and almost unconsciously drawn into the melee, we may be very certain that our Government, with Mr. Gladstone at its head, will do the very best to al , oid incurring the danger of war. We are friendly with both France and Prussia. We have scarcely a wish as to which power shall be vic torious. They will both lose much—that is certain. It may be assumed, too, that when the war terminates France will be as far as she now is from the Rhine. " DUBLIN FREEMAN. The Dublin Freeman commenting upon the impending wnr, says : "Diplomacy has many resources, but it has no remedy against the ambition of kings and the madness of States. It is suggested that the'Great Powers should convey to France their disapprobation of her policy, and that the Emperor would probably yield to their joint re monstrances. No Power would venture on such a danger= ous course. All the powers sympathised with the views of France when the candidature of Prince Leopold was first commenced, but when he was withdrawn France had really no cause of quarrel. The negotiations appear to have been kept open in the hope that King William or some lucky accident might afford France a ,fresh pretext for feeding her grudge, and France estimated rightly. It is a melancholy reflection that one of the most deliberate wars in which nations have ever been engaged—for such would be the collision between France and Prussia — should be dependent on treaties of etiquette and apolo _gies demanded and refused. Governments are not so mad as to sacrifice hundreds of thousands of lives, invade whole THE COUNCIL AT ROME. A telegram from Rome says that six hundred and one fathers were present when the vote on the Infallibility dogma was taken. Many absent fathers were recalled in all haste by the Court of Rome in order to diminish the numerical importance of the Oppo sition. The general aspect of the assembly was much agitated ; 48 fathers gave votes of non-placet, in cluding Cardinals Mathieu, Schwarzenberg, and Rauscher, and the Archbishops of Paris and Grenoble. Another meeting of the Council is to be held, with the object of reclaiming dissentient votes, after which the date of the next public sitting will be fixed. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAM.) THE WELSH FASTING GIRL CASE. The trial of Evan and Hannah Jacobs for the man slaughter of their daughter Sarah was continued at Car marthen yesterday. As on the previous day the Court was densely crowded, the speech of the counsel for the defence and the reply of Mr. Hardinge Gifford being listened to with marked attention. The learned Judge summed up in a very elaborate manner, and asked the jury to pay particular attention to all the facts of the case. He ruled that although the girl might have been. and probably was, a consenting party to the fraud, yet parents were bound to supply the wants of their children of tender years, and if the prisoners, in order to at oid detection of the fraud which they had entered upon, refused food to the girl they were guilty of manslaughter. The jury after about half an hour's deliberation found both prisoners guilty, but recommended the wife to th merciful consideration of the Court, as they be lieved that she acted under the control of her husband. The Judge said he entirely concurred hi the verdict, and he should adopt their recommendation as regarded the wife, because it was just possible that she was under the control of her husband more than had appeared. Still both had been guilty of an aggravated offence, for no doubt they both asssisted in this fraudulent deception on their neighbours and the public, and in order to carry it out they risked the life of their child, and she died. The male prisoner was sentenced to twelve months' im prisonment with hard labour, and his wife to six months' imprisonment, also with hard labour. FIRE IN CHATHAM DOCKYARD. The galvanising factory at the Ohatham dockyard caught fire about half-past eight last evening, in conse quence of the composition boiling over. The building was entirely gutted, but the fire was extinguished before it had communicated with the large store adjoining. The damage is about £5OO. REPRESENTATION OF ROCHESTER. A large open air demonstration was held at Rochester, last night, at whiph Mr. Roberts, of the Reciprocity As sociation, spoke for nearly two hours in support of the re peal of the free trade system. He announced that Mr. Charles James Fox, of the new City Club, would shortly appear as a candidate, specially in support of the protec tion of British Industry. RAILWAY COLLISION. About six o'clock an up goods train and an empty waggon train came into collision at Swinton Junction, on the Midland main line for Doncaster. A guard and stoker were seriously injured, and were taken to the hos pital. Several waggons were smashed, and the line was blocked, and trains were delayed four hours. The points are supposed to have slipped, and caused the accident. NORTH AND SOUTH WALES BANK. The proprietors of the North and South Wales Bank, Liverpool, at their annual meeting yesterday, agreed to a dividend and bonus at the rate of 17i per cent. per annum. They also resolved to present Mr. John Ravens croft, who has been chairman of the board of directors for twenty years, with a testimonial of the value of £5OO. THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW. The trials of fixed steam-engines, bone-mills, churns, root-pulpers, and chaff-machines occupied yesterday ; but there yet remains a hard day's work for the judges to-day. The award of the judges will not, it is thought, be made known to the public before Monday morning, as the judges are somewhat bebindhand owing to a delay on Monday. Cattle are fast arriving for the stock show, which commences on Monday. The number of admis sions yesterday by season tickets was 502, and by payment 117. THE ROYAL YORKSHIRE YACHT CLUB REGATTA. This regatta was continued on the Humber yesterday for the piece of plate, value 25 guineas, presented by the club. The Banshee, Coralie, Azalea, Sappho, and Ivy competed. The Coralie came in first easily, but allowing tonnage, the Ivy takes the prize, the second prize of £lO being won by the Coralie. There was another race for a piece of plate, 50 guineas in value, for which the Rambler and Vampire entered, the latter winning by nearly an hour. The protest lodged in Thursday's race has been decided against the Nellie. A THIRD REPRESENTATIVE FOR BRISTOL. A letter has been received in Bristol, from Mr. Morley, saying that ho and Mr. Hodgson were agreed in the ap plication for a third member for the city, and that they will do their utmost to get one. Mr. Morley adds, there Was no intention on the part of the Government to deal with the vacant seat this session. The Law Times considers that the objection to Mr. Tillett's return for Norwich because he purchased a show of hands at a previous election will not bear legal scrutiny for a moment. The election, it considers, is per sectly valid. A contemporary understands that a gentleman at one of the Royal dockyards has been offered the post of Chief Constructor of the Navy, vacant by the resignation of that office by Mr. B. J. Reed, C.B. Mr. Baxter's commission agent for the purchase of coals, has been on a mission to Portsmouth during the last few days, and had several interviews with the heads of departments. The manufacturers of Blackburn and district have resolved to give the advance of wages demanded by the cotton operatives—that is, to restore the 5 per cent. de ducted in April, 1869. Diarrhea is rapidly increasing in fatality in London. The deaths from that cause last week were 258 against 192 in the week preceding. Ten cases of choleraic diarrhoea, or simple cholera, were also returned. Mr. Cardwell has informed the vestry of the parish of Chelsea that no steps for the removal of the Knights bridge Barracks to Chelsea are in contemplation by the Government. TEXT OF THE COMMUNICATION. The following is the text of the communication drawn up at the Council of Ministers and read in the Corps Legislatif by M. 011ivier _ _ " Gentlemen,—The manner in which you received the declaration of the 6th inst. afforded us the certainty that you approved our policy, and that we could count upon your support. We commenced, then, negotiations with the foreign Powers to invoke their good offices with Prussia in order that the legitimacy of our grievances might be recognised. We asked nothing of Spain, whose susceptibilities we did not wish to wound. We took no steps with the Prince of Hohenzollern, considering him shielded by the King of Prussia ; and we refused to mix up in the affair any recriminations upon other subjects. The ma jority of the Powers admitted with more or less warmth the justice of our demands. The'Prussian Minis ter of Foreign Affairs refused to 'accede to our demands, pretending that he knew nothing of the affair, and that the Cabinet of Berlin remained completely foreign to it. We then addressed ourselves to the King himself ; and the King, whilst avowing that he had au thorised the Prince of Hohenzollern to accept the candi dature to the Spanish Crown, maintained that he had also been foreign to the negotiations, and that he had inter vened between the Prince of Hohenzollern and Spain as head of the family, and not as Sovereign. He acknowledged, however, that he had communicated the affair to Count Bismarck. We could not admit this subtle distinction between the chief of the family and the Sovereign. In the meanwhile we received an intimation from the Spanish Ambassador that the Prince of Hohenzollern bad re nounced the Crown. We asked the King to associate himself with this renunciation, and we asked him to engage that, should the Crown be again offered to the Prince of Hohenzollern, he would refuse his authorisation, Our moderate demand, couched in equally moderate language, written to M. Benedetti, made it clear that we had no arriere-penste, and that we were not seeking a pretext in the Hohenzollern affair. The engage ment demanded the King refused to give, and terminated the conversation with M. Benedetti by saying that he would, in this as in all other things, reserve to him self the right of considering the circumstances. Not withstanding that, in consequence of our desire for peace, we did not break off the negotiations. Our sur p rise was great when we learned that the King had re fused to receive M. Benedetti, and had communicated the fact officially to the Cabinet. We learned that Baron Werther had received orders to take his leave, and that Prussia was arming. Under these circumstances we should have forgotten our dignity and also our prudence had we not made preparations. We have prepared to maintain the war which is offered to us, leaving to each that por tion of the responsibility which devolves upon him. (En thusiastic and prolonged applause.) Since yesterday we have called out the reserve, and we shall take the neces sary measures to guard the interest, aud the security, and the honour of France." An animated discussion followed, in which M. Thiess, the Duke de Gramont, M. Jules Favre, and M. de Kdratry took pact. M. Jules Favre called upon the Government to communicate the documents which passed during the negotiations, and especially the Prussian despatch addressed to foreign Governments admitting the refusal of the King of Prussia to receive M. Bene detti. M. Buffet opposed the demand for papers, and M. Jules Favre's motion was rejected by 164 votes against 83. . . The Constitutionnel of yesterday says that Marshal Prim took a very active part in the negotiattons for the pacific solution of the question of the candidature o Prince Leopold, and that the Spanish Cabinet and Senor Olozaga also made every effort to maintain peace. The Constitutionnel adds, as far as Spain is concerned, all diffi culties are removed. The majority of the persons who formed the procession in the Boulevards last night were students from the Quartier Latin. The cries raised were : "A bas la Prusse !" " A bas Bismarck ! " " Vive la guerro !" and " A Berlin !" CALLING OUT THE GARDE NATIONALE MOBILE. During the sitting of the Legislative Body in the even ing Marshal Lebceuf presented a bill calling out the whole of the Garde National Mobile, and also a bill permitting voluntary enlistments for the period of the war. The urgency of the discussion of these measures was unani mously voted. RECEPTION OF KING WILLIAM AT BERLIN. The King arrived at the palace at a quarter-past nine last night, and was received with indescribable enthusi asm. Upwards of 100,000 persons were assembled from the railway station, at the Brandenburg Gate, to the palace, cheering and singing the national anthem. Public feeling is most enthusiastic and determined. Ad dresses have been received by the King from the mer chants of Bremen and 'Stettin, expressing readiness to make the utmost sacrifices for the defence of the country, and giving approval to the most energetic steps that may be taken for the preservation of the national honour. ATTITUDE OF BELGIUM AND HOLLAND. The Independance Belge says that a rumour is current in political circles that in view of the present critical situation the Chambers will be shortly convoked. The Dutch Government has informed the Cabinets of Paris and Berlin that in case of war it will observe a strict neutrality. • A Dutch correspondent telegraphs :—" Much anxiety is felt in Holland as to the state of affairs. The papers recommend an alliance with Belgium. " On Thursday two Ministerial Councils were held. M. Roest, the Foreign Minister, has resigned, and is re placed by M. Thorbecke. The army is to be mobi lised." We hear from Brussels that the King, who was to leave for the camp of Beverloo on Thursday morning, has changed his intentions, and remains for the present in the capital. Six classes of the soldiers on furlough have been recalled to their regiments, and the order for the complete mobilisation of the army is expected. France and Prussia are said to have both communicated to the Belgian Government that Belgian neutrality would be respected. Little reliance, however, is placed on these assurances. The camp of Beverloo, which was to be abandoned on the 17th of this month, is for the present to be maintained. THE GERMAN PRESS. The German papers all maintain that tone of dignified reserve and just indignation which has marked their policy from the outbreak of this dispute, and the Cross Gazette says that in common with other journals it had cherished a belief that the French people would soon recover from the excitement into which they have been thrown by the latest phase of the Spanish question ; but as this hope, at present, does not seem likely to be realised the menacing expressions of the Duke de Gramont, in his reply to Cochery's interpellation, must be looked at in a different point of view. That the Emperor Napoleon, in giving Gramont the portfolio of Foreign Affairs, only sought to obtain greater facilities for disturbing the peace of Europe, was feared in many quarters when this impor tant post was conferred on a statesman who wag chiefly distinguished for hastiness of temper and his animosity to the new order of things in Germany. The confused, presumptuous, and exciting speech made by the Duke to the representa tives of France only serves _to confirm all the apprehen sions expressed at the time of his appointment. lie is not a minister of peace but a servant of personal Govern ment, who pauses at no responsibility, and does not shrink from a repetition of the war of the Spanish Succession, in direct defiance of the principles which havehitherto guided the policy of France." The North German Correspondent observes :—The Governments of Germaaiyare imperatively bound to repulse with firmness and boldness such un heard-of requirements, and it is an encouraging symptom that in doing so they liave the public opinion of this country behind tbm. If bounds are not set to these arrogant pretensions of France, neither Germany nor any other neighbour of the French will ever be secure fromthe dictatorial interference of that Government in its affairs." The Berlin Bourse Gazette holds that the candida ture of the Prince was a matter for Spain only to decide. The honour of Germany must be protected from an unprovoked attack. The Magdeburg Gazette observes that Spain is not a dependency of France, and if it should choose a Prince of Hohenzollern for its King, French intervention would be an unbearably arrogant pretension, in support of which a legal title will be sought in vain. The Wescr- Zeitung says :—" The most favourable interpretation that can be put on the procedure of the French Cabinet is, that it has found, in the candidature of the Prince von Hohen zollern, a welcome pretence for picking a quarrel with Ger many, and initiating a campaign on the Rhine. It must, therefore be assumed that the Imperial Cabinet wishes for war with Germany, and regards the present moment as specially favourable." The Cologne Gazette has the following :—" The German papers cannot understand what interest Prussia is sup posed to have in placing a Prince of Hohenzollern on the throne of Charles V., as it seems likely to be, if any thing, a disadvantage to the country. They are content with expressing their disapproval of the arrogant tone of the French Government, which shews an unparalleled want of tact if it is not intended to provoke a war, and in other respects they contemplate the wild and excited be haviour of Paris with much of the bearing of civilised Europeans when an Indian war dance is being per formed." The foregoing extracts were, of course, all written before the declaration of war. The Pall-Mall Gazette is informed that the Prussian youth in London counting-houses who are liable to tho first conscription (of whom there are a great numb* have received notice to report themselves. THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN DIFFICULTY. The Franco-Prussian complicatiori has produced a feel ing of gloom and great anxiety in Liverpool. Several Prussians engaged in business there have been summoned home. At a banquet given by the Mayor of Liverpool yesterday to the officers of the Danish and Norwegian frigates at present lying in the Mersey his worship ex pressed the hope that however cloudy the aspect of con tinental affairs might be, the flags of the countries repre sented at his board might ever be united in friendship. The sentiment was received with loud applause. THE PRUSSIAN FLEET. When the Prussian fleet left Plymouth on Wednesday last it was given out by the officers on board, and at the local consulate, that the destination of the fleet was Ma deira. It has transpired that on the arrival of the fleet at Plymouth it was met by a Secretary of the Prussian Em bassy, who delivered to Prince Adalbert despatches, im mediately on receipt of which the fleet proceeded to Kiel, taking with it English Channel pilots. THE ENGLISH NAVY.--In view of the immediate pro spects of war, Mr. E. d. Reed, it is stated, has offered his services to the country. The Government have, we are informed accepted, and to-day will most probably see the Chief Constructor of the Navy reinstated in that office. ALARMING ACCIDENT TO THE HOLBORN VIADUC I'. A serious accident occnrred at a late hour ast night in connection with the Holborn- Viaduct. About half-past 12 o'clock taro young teen, passing along the Fairingdon-road under the Viaduct, were ealled to by the watchman who hat - box on the. west side s and who said be thought a eeiver had burst at the rear of the new building at that corner. Taking his lantern they went tinder the Viaduct and distinctly heard the noise of rushing water, ap parently in the vaults. The aid of the police was at once sought, and . the watchman • was advised to go to the Guildhall police-station, which he die. A sergeant and an inspector of police arrived on the spot almost immediately, as did a turncock, vaho was sent for. The latter gave it as his belief that the main water pipe in the subway had burst, but itt was impossible for him to do anything to stop the (tow el water without communicating with the authorities at the New River Head, Sadler's Wells, to which place he at once set off. Soon afterwards the foot pavement between two of the pillars under the Viaduct gave way with a loud rumbling noise, water 'saving previously forced its way up into the road. The aperture thus made was appa rently abaut ten or twelve feet deep, and from this for about a quarter of an hour time water rushed with great violence down the road into the drains as in the case of plugs being drawn for a fire. At the expiration of this time half-a-dozen men in the employ of the New River Company arrived. Their first effort apparently was to stop the water from flowing into the fractured pipe above by cutting off the supply at the main junction—this being, so far as eould -be seen in the confusion, accomplished by turning the stream into the sewer through an aperture extemporised for the purpose. Barricades were as soon as possible erected to keep back the crowd who had begun to assemble. After some considerable time had elapsed the rush of water was stopped. Great alarm pre vailed, and all sorts of rumours were widely spread that the Viaduct itself was giving way. CRYSTAL PALACE:-..0110 shilling day, Fri day, July 15th, 1870.—Admissions by season tickets, 1,526 ; do. on payment, 3,054 ; total visitors, 4,580. ATTEMPTED MURDER IN IRELAND.—A man named M`Mahon, deputy-master of an Orange lodge, has been fired at near Enniskillen. It is said that he has since died. Four persons have been arrested. COMING SCANDAL IN HIGH LIFE.—It is highly probable that the last act of a very melancholy domestic drama will be played out before Lord Penzance next term. The parties are high in posi tion in society, and numerous names well known about town are mixed up in the mattor. Four men employed by the Lcndon and North- Western Railway Company, one of them as a guard, were on Thursday sentenced at the Kirkdale sessions to nine months imprisonment, for stealing goods from a van at the Kenyon Junction. The Portuguese Consul-General at Bangkok, a hale man and an excellent swimmer, while bathing in the River Menam, suddenly sank from having come into col lision with an electric eel, and was drowned. The Siamese say such deaths are not uncommon.—Nature. Mr. Richard Greaves, of The Cliff; Warwickshire, whose personalty has been sworn under £lOO,OOO, has left £lOO to the Rev. C. Voysey, expressing a hope " that the day of persecution for religious opinions will speedily close." MR. W. H. SMITH, M.P.—At the usual weekly meeting of the London and Westminster Working Men's Constitutional Association, held on Thursday, a resolu tion was passed, in which thanks were:conveyed to Mr. W. H. Smith, M.P., for his earnest and successful endeavour to preserve to the public for recreative purposes the full benefit of the Thames Embankment as reclaimed at the expense of the ratepayers. MYSTERIOUS CASE IN NORFOLK.—SIR R. H ARVEY SHOT.—Sir iii Hid Harvey, near-Norwich Ba r o ne t, i s lyi ng dan gerously from the eff e cts aRt residence of a gunshot wound received yesterday. The condition of the hon. baronet is considered critical. The wound or wounds appear to have been occasioned by two shots from a re volver. When the hon. baronet was in his shrubbery at Crown Point, some workmen heard two explossons, and on going to the assiltance of Sir Robert found him very badly wounded, and carried him into his residence. The sad occurrence has created a profound sensation. CRYSTAL PALACE.—In addition to the usual Saturday concert to-day there will be a grand display of fireworks. In the concert, which will commence at half-past three, Mdlle. Nilsson, Madame Sinico, Madame Trebelli-Bettini, Signor Gardoni, Signor Castelli, and M. Faure will sing. The fire works, commencing at nine o'clock, will include the great cataract of fire, the Egyptian salute of 200 coloured lights, extending the whole length of the terrace, the grand illumination of the park and fountains, the large coloured shells, magnesium balloons, &c. Extra trains will run as required from the termini. an, ye [or, ent be ood