The Sun. — London, England, 1870-12-10 00:00:00

ec. 9. ng, ac- Earehio r Eliza vith the it Hon. ;signed, ,ddress as now 10 Wall it, has ► days, m trial ng Mr. ngaged - Vice• it Mr. Irticles ancery 3ublish I done urious e posts Post ded by id seed ler the A any pies of 'Com m hae mge in ttterno • both ..--. argues between 3u. down reaohed• he 1 3 d" feelings• Nation. he Bill" ;radualli he game aproviag min, Vie' review of firing late tse of the - , ut war Jo ellency of fie best s cause luipment Lich pre" ply. War" adstone's s is a ) attitude tion and )etry and naintains L to the French, or to an'' the south nth great is to be vod also pedition, --tontinua ce. The " Lien- Pteresting Consider 'cry, and Le trans,- ntion. a llectud, Poems ; problem, tribution coin the 2 , ; 71 an d Char reenwell, e way of ictorious explana he usual ,alph the we than le most ffuxley'a EL great onverea lightful, 'iulture " " Work , argues Court,' on from the year. ions are suds are parents h among 3rB from " The d " Half , are all graphic ;llection. ;tch that Id in an )r " is an reader_ law who 3 battles was too " The hich are tie book sent for rmation, nues to dance of Ines are Lnism or f suiting tches of nongers, unanity, Venice, y inter , and in- d other alysis of )pening. appears ier good tion of xcellent zretted, d by so SECOND EDITION. SUN OFFICE, /30 P.M. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE W.All GERMANS MARCHING ON DIEPPE. DIEPPE, December 9. German troops have arrived at Lougueville, and . . couts have been seen at Totes. The Sub-Prefect of Dieppe has received iLfuana 4. - ‘ l °la that a force of 1,500 men is marching on the PARIS TO BE BOMBARDED. BERLIN, December 9. A. letter is circulating among the members of the North German Parliament, in which Count His klarck reiterates his denial that he is opposed t ° the bombardment of Paris. To-day it is credibly reported that at a Council of War held 111 Tuesday last, at which the King, the Crown t 7ince, Count Moltke, Blumenthal, &c., were present, e question of bombarding the city was again con ldered, and decided in the affirmative. ANOTHER SORTIE EXPECTED. HEADQUARTERS OF THE CROWN PRINCE OF PRUSSIA, VERSAILLES, December 9. The victory of Prince Frederick Charles at gleans on the 4th inst. is supposed to put an end t all chance of Paris being assisted from without. ;:' t U expected, nevertheless, that the garrison will make further efforts against the German lines, and the situation of affairs to the east of the city is con- Il idered very threatening. The French still hold 11 "le of their advanced positions upon the groat bend °f the Marne, such as Champigny, which they have 4 trongiy barricaded. Masses of German troops are *atchinc , them. • 0 Toe Germans bear the cold weather exceedingly The French deserters speak of suffering from h unger, and the discouragement which small rations eatise. The general impression at Versailles seems to be that Prussian influence is smoothing down the East e4l difficulty. A. struggle at this moment would be ,11 vexatious for Germany that whoever forced , 0 on would assuredly incur the hostility of Count 'isluarck. THE BATTLE AT BEAUGENCY. BERLIN, December 9. The French army, after the evacuation of Orleans, tatreated on the ' roads which run parallel with 11 , 18 Loire, south-westward and south - eastward. ,1 T he pursuing Germans have attacked and beaten them at Nevoy, east of the Loire, on the and at Meung, west of the Loire, on the kite clay. The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg reports that on the Bth he attacked them at Beaugency, and a gain dete ated them, with loss of six guns and 1,000 Arisoners. BERLIN, December 9 (Evening). The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin tele- IP4plios to his wife from Meung on the Bth that he 8 had a severe victorious fight with three French e ,, 4 1 5 3 at Beaugency. Six guns were taken. and 1 , 000 ri B oners. The German losses were heavy, but least 14 the 17th (Mecklenburg) division. Th e Official Staatsanzeiger says the pursuit of o th wings of the Army of the Loire is being &dinned. On the right wing the Grand Duke of M ecklenburg has by an engagement gained the posi °4 between Meung and Beaugenoy, where there is o Passage across the Loire. In the centre the 6th v "alry Division has pushed on the pursuit along 44 Vierzon road to Salbris. On the left wing the ,1 411 guard of the 3xcl A.amy Corps has fought a suc 4i. esful outpost engagement near Nevoy, eight miles ‘ C lernaan) from Orleans. REMOVAL OF THE GOVERNMENT. To uns, December 8. The Provisional Government and the Diplo. 14 atic Body will leave Tours to-morrow for Bor. "Aux. : - Uhe Government, in announcing the fact, says the o Jed in view is to ensure perfect liberty of rut (/ move for the troops in the field. There is no cause 1) anxiety, and the military situation is declared to e satisfactory. Prince Frederick Charles is reported to have been re pulsed t by General Chanzy, and the enemy is said o c onsider the state of affairs as critical. M. Gambetta mains with the Army of the Loire. THE SIEGE OF BELFORT. The att ac k on B e lf or t i s a c ti v ely going on. The town is making a defence of extraordinary bravery. The enemy succeeded in occupying Danjoutin, but Was subsequently driven out with great losses, one regiment, it is said, being. entirely cut up. The Prussians acknowledge that the siege of Bel sort costs more men than that of all the other strong holds. THE NORTH OF FRANCE. BOULOGNE, December 9. The Sous-Pr6fet of Abbeville reports that the de tachment of German troops at Picquigny was w lthdrawn to Amiens on the 7th instant. DEFENCE OF HAVRE. HVVRE, Thursday. __Prussian Uhl ans are reported within two leagues I th e p l ace, w hi c h i s occup i e d b y 40,000 troops. Th ug far the professed determination wait° resist to the utmost. 111-E FRENCH PRISONERS IN BELGIUM. BRUSSELS, December 9. the French a long debate in the Chamber the petition of prisoners of war was referred to the g• u teau des Renseignements. This is tantamount to 4, 4 • l'eJection. I'It ITSSIA AND THE LUXEMBURG TREATY. BRUSSELS, December 9. t h i lere has been very great sensation at Luxem 0' , in consequence of the declaration by which 46 : 111 1t Bismarck denounces the Treaty of 1867 og the neutrality of the Grand Duchy, on the Pre ach that it has been several times violated by the during the war. kit Tready protests against 'the step are circulating, The Governments rapidly cover e d with signatures. 1 14 . "" Governments of Holland and of Belgium t ee been no t l ess d e eply stirred by the news ; and latter, I am assured, is already taking measures o ; alg e of any accident, by concentrating military f c es With the utmost speed upon the Luxemburg I.°ttier. THE SPANISH CROWN. 4an' bsh deputations have been received by the tich I e ss d'Aosta and Prince Carignano with to t o r.ieseses of congratulation. Most of them proceed " r enoa and Milan to present addresses to Prince utabert. ITALY. e legrams from Florence, dated the- 9th, state rit 't Bills have been laid before the Chambers con torig the Roman Plebiscite for changing the capital A b () lne, and also for a credit of 17,000,000 lire. t o ' k ill has ale been introduced deferring the question vio ue given to the Pope in reference to the ie. 6 , o l4 hiity of the personal prerogatives of the l ' er eigu Pontiff, ii, S7 ,ISUN, LONDON, BATURDAY, roteEMBER .10 ; 1B7( . THE MONEY MARKET, CITY, Two o'CLocK. On the Stock Exchange to-day business was very quiet in the absence of any definite news as to the probable course of the war. • Consols remain unchanged, and are quoted 91k to 92k for money, and 92 to 92i for the sth of January. In the Foreign Stock market Italians Of 1861 are 551 to 55- 2 ; Spanish, ; Turkish Fives, 441 to 44fi ; and French Scrip, to I prem. A communication has been addressed to the Turkish Ambassador in London on behalf- of persons largely inte rested in Turkish securities on the subject of no announce ment having yet been made of the drawing of the Turkish 6 per cent. Bonds of 1865 for the past half-year. which should have been effected last month in Paris, and the opportunity was also taken to seek for some assurance that the drawing for the loan of 1858, which should be made during the present month in London will be punc tually carried out: In reply, his Excellency M. Musurus has stated that the Imperial Ottoman Government have decided to make payable in London all the loan coupons which have heretofore been payable at Paris only, that this decision will remain in operation during the siege of Paris, and that, to soon as circumstances *ill permit, the drawing of those loans will be held iri that capital. In the meantime, the cfrawiligs of all loans appiinted to take effect in London will be duly proceeded with as in all former years. On the question of establishing a money-order system between England and the United States, New York ad vices mention that a proposal for the purpose, in response to a suggestion from America, has just been received at , Washington from the British Post-office, embracing the introduction of,a plan similar to that now in force between England and her colonies. To this, however, the Post master-General of the United States objects on the ground that there are many material defects in it, and he therefore urges the' adoption of a similar system to that now in operation between the United States and Switzer land, Switzerland and Belgium, and Great Britain. With this view he has forwarded to our Post-office a draught of a convention and detailed regulations, " which it is confidently believed will be accepted, and ratified." The Swiss system now in operation with America is said to be working admirably. No motley is sent across either way, but the two offices at Now York and Berne receive deposits and send lists of depositors to each other twice a week by mail. A letter from the depositor notifies the consignee, who goes to the office, proves his identity, and draws his money, less a small fee to the Government. These advices add that it is the desire of the Postmaster- General to establish an international money-order system to all parts of the world. Advices from the City of Mexico of the Ist ult. state that the progress of President Juarez towards recovery from his recent attack of paralysis continual The Colonial produce markets this week have been without much alteration, and a steady business has been transacted. The Glasgow Herald states :—" Advices from New York report the failure of the Northern Transportation Com pany, with liabilities $400,000, and assets $1,200.001 DESTRUCTION OF MARSHALL & EATON'S FURNITURE FACTORY AT' BETHNAL GREEN. GREAT LOSS OF PROPERTY-THIS DAY. The most extensive conflagration that has occurred in the East End of London for some time past happened in the premises belonging to Messrs. Marshall and Eaton, furniture manufacturers and Japanners, carrying on business in Mape-street, Bethnal Green. The building in which the disaster took place was- over 70 feet long, and three floors high, each of the latter containing pro perty of great value. The discovery appears to have been made by a dog belonging to one of the neighbours ; his repeated barking called the attention of one of the police-constables on duty in the district, who, thinking that thieves were breaking intolsome of the contiguous houses, went to search the district, when to his no small astonishment he saw flames curling in huge bodies round the principal factory of the firm. He at once gave alarm in the usual way and sent off for proper assistance, Mr. Inspector Edginger being present to direct the turncocks. In spite, however, of the exer- tions of the firemen under Captain Shaw and Mr. Gate house, the district ;foreman, and the salvage corps under the personal direction of Mr. Superintendent Swanston, the work of desolation continued, and the mastery could not be obtained over the flames for some time, and not before the extensive factory was burned out and the roof destroyed. Fortunately, the fireman succeeding in saving with slight damage the timber piled away upon the roof of an adjoining building. The origin of the fire is at pre sent unknown. The loss will fall upon the Commercial Union Fire-office. TERRIFIC GUNPOWDER EX PLOSION AT BIRMINGHAM. TWENTY KILLED AND FIFTY WOUNDED. CENTRAL PRESS TELE,GRAIf. A terrific gunpowder explosion, resulting, so Ear as can be ascertained, in the loss of at least eighteen lives, occur red yesterday at Wilton, four miles from Birmingham, • almost doss to the premises of Messrs. Kynock, where so many recent eitpldsidris hare taken place. The works at which the 'accident occurred belong td the Messrs. Ludlow and Co. The report of the explosion started all Birmingham at about half-past twelve o'clock. More than seventy persons were soon found to be injured; Pighteen of them, some reports say more, were dead ; and of the fifty others many are not expected to recover. All the living were removed to the Birmingham General Hos pital. The dead were unrecognizable, and were found in the neighbouring fields, in some cases headless trunks In addition to the eighteen who were killed twelve others are on the point of death. The scene at the factory where the calamity occurred and at the hospital whither the injured were removed was last evening most heartrending. The 'majority of the killed and injured are girl, and for hours hundreds of parents were clamouring in the utmost state of anxiet• to be admitted to see the dead, to discover if their Children were daltitigelt Witt: This; how ever, • was resolutely refused, and indeed the corpses are so frightfully mangled and torn to pieces that recognition is almost impossible. The heads and limbs of several were blown completely off from the trunks of their bodies, and the scalp of one was found at a distance of thirty yards from the place where lay the head to which it belonged. Skirts, petticoats, and frag- - - ments of stays were picked up dissevered from the bodies which they had clothed. At present the authorities, pro bably because they cannot . do so with any degree of accu racy, refuse to give the names of the killed. The work of identification cannot be completed till to-day. The explosion is said to be the most disastrous that has ever occurred at Birmingham. The demand for ammunition has lately been so great that manufacturers have had to employ inexperienced hands to enable them to complete their orders. The following is a list of the injured :—Anna Conway, Emma Williams, Lolly amith, Kate Carroll, Ann Bragg, Lucy Hilliard, Caroline Bunn, Sarah Mc Kenna, Emily Shelley, Char lotte Morgan, Mary Ann Hatchford, Elsa Brown, Mary Ann Cross, Louisa HatlOy, Elizabeth Clarke, Anna Ren shaw, Elizabeth Alcock, Ann White; Emma Hanson, Maria Shelley, Jane Hickman, Sarah Hemson, Mary Knighton, Mary Ann Wheat, Ann McGavon, Margaret Burns, Ann Eacles, Emma Turner, Rose Ward, Alice Winterton, Mary Ann Bennett, Elizabeth Taylor, Alice Ward, Selina Green, Louisa Jones, Clara - Siviter, Harriet Newton, Elizabeth Noakes, Ann Brookes, Sarah Wil liams, Bridget Kingston, Mary B arcott, Mary Ann Reeves, Fanny Clarke, Jane Burton, Mary Ann Wood man, Elizabeth Crowshaw, Elizabeth Nicholls, Mary . Ann Bradley. During the night two more persons have died, making the deaths up to this time twenty. It is now thought that thirty more will succumb. One woman who was terribly burnt is expected to be prematurely confined. Several of the girls were so charred that their clothes fell off them, and blankets had to be procured to remove them into the hospital. After the explosion a dog was observed running out of a shed with the arm of a woman in its mouth. , iessrs. Ludlow, the proprietors of the manufactory, have announced to the hospital authoritieS that they will pay all the expenies incurred on behalf of the persons injured. THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE. PESTH, December 0. Count Beust has replied to Prince Gortschakoff's Notes in friendly terms, declining the discussion of international points, and leaving everything to be settled by the Conference. it is► expected that the Conference will meet in the first week of January. The question of the Dardanelles will be discussed. It is not yet decided whether Faance will attend. Count Andrassy will probably represent Austria. The prevailing feeling here is pacific. PVRA, December 8 (5.10 p.m.) General Ignatieff, the Russian Ambassador at the Porte, now assumes a very decided attitute. 'lhe Phare du Bosphore, the Russo-Prussian organ here, continues to publish strong articles against England. Notwithstanding all the efforts of the Peace party, popular feeling grows more warlike, The Funds are firm, with considerable speculations for an expected fall. BERLIN, December 81 The notice of Russia that she does not consider herself as any longer bound by the Treaty which obliges her to observe the neutrality of the Black Sea has not been, itis asserted here, more favourably regarded by any of the Powers that signed the Treaty of 1856 than by Turkey. The Government of the Porte, it is affirmed, has repudiated the idea that 3he has been in any way endangered by the step of Russia, and the rela- tions between the two countries have of late been rearranged on a new basis in the most friendly Way. Since recent events have weakened the influence of France at the Ottoman Court, the good under standing thus established between Russia and Turkey is represented as being very favourable to the pre servation of European peace. THE EMPIRE OF GERMANY, BERLIN, December 9 (3.36 p.m.) France has assented to the Black Sea Con ference, in the hope of finding an opportunity of submitting her own case to the consideration of the Posifers. Upon the King of Prussia assuming the imperial dignity in a few weeks the Crown Prince and Crown Princess will probably be called Imperial Highness. All Federal officials will be called Im perial officials instead of Royal as hitherto. The King will return home after the capitulation of Paris, even though the war should continue. The German conditions of peace are likely to be come much more ,oppressive if the French do not give in shortly. To-day, in the Reichstag, the President read the Bill proposed by the Federal Council, in pur suance of which the North German Confederation is to be in future styled the German Empire. The Presidency of the Confederation to belong to the King of Prussia, who will internationally repre sent the Empire, declare war, make peace, alliances, and treaties, and accredit and receive Ambassadors. The first reading of the bill will be taken to morrow. Herr Delbruck will transmit the proposal to the North German Parliament, which, it is held certain, will all but unanimously ratify it. _ _ The third reading of the Treaties with the South ern States provoked a protest from the extreme mem bers. Herr Liebknecht asserted that the House accepted the Treaties simply because it appeared to betray its own impotency. He compared the Empire to an assurance society a2ainst Democracy ; but here he was called to order. The Treaties with Baden, Hesse, and Wurtem berg were passed against a minorit) of four or five, and that with Bavaria by a majority of 195 againsi thirty-two. The Reichstag will probably close on Saturday the Landteg has been convoked for the 14th. CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES. The Montreal Gazette (Ministerial paper), in dis cussing President Grant's Message, shews the in consistency of the President's complaints with the Treaty of 1818, and says that the fishery rights must be maintained. It adds that Canada is always ready to enter into arrangements for a settlement of all matters in dispute, but cannot submit to a demand of the stand-and-deliver order. The Montreal Herald and Independent says that the enforcement of the fishery law is the exercise of an extreme right, but trusts that there will be sufficient good temper and right feeling on both sides to get over the existing difficulties. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) VISIT OF HER MAJESTY TO LADY CLARENDON. Her Majesty the Queen, attended by the Hon. Horatio Stopford and. Lord Charles Fitzroy, left Windsor Station at twenty minutes past ten o'clock this morning, and proceeded by special train on the Great Western Railway to Watford, to pay a visit to Lady Clarendon, at Grove Park Her Majesty will return to the Castle this after noon. THE OXFORD TRIAL EIGHTS. The animal Oxford Trial Eights race was rowed yester day afternoon from Abingdon Lasher to the Cottage at Newnham. There was a large attendance of spectators, though the weather was bitterly cold, and snow fell. Mr. Houblon's crew was constituted `as follows :—Bow, No. 2, H. R. Cook, Trinity, 11st. slb. ; No. 2, T. E. Armistead, Exeter, list. 61b. ; No. 3, E. Cornby, St. Mary's Hall, 12st. llb ; No. 4, P. C. Kay, Wadham, 12st. 11b. ; No. 5, E. C. Malian, Worcester, 13st 41b. ; No. 6, E. Giles, Christchurch, 12st. 61b. ; No 7, J. W. Banbury,Brasenose, 12st. ; stroke, T.H. Houblon, Christchurch, 10st. 101 b.; coxswain, W. J. Wilson, Wad ham. Mr. Furmeaux crew comprised--Bow, M. G. Farrer, Brasenose, 10st. 101bs. ; No. 2, F. Slater, St. John's, list. 61bs. ; No. 3, A. Davenport, Balliol, 12st. 2lbs. ; No. 4, R. S. Milciiison, Pembroke, 12st. 91bs. ; No. 5, H. E. Burgess, Brasenose, 12st. 31bs. ; No. 6, H. J. Boddington, Queen's, 11st. 61b3. ; No. 7, R. Lesley, Pembroke, 12st. 11b. ; stroke, W. M. Furrneaux, Corpus, 11st. 101bs. ; coxswain, H. K. Claughton, University. Mr. Houblon's crew won the toss, and took the Jerk• shire side, which position is considered to give an advan tage of about a boat's length. Mr. Furmeaux's crew, which was slightly the favourite, got off a good start, having been effected with a quick stroke, and soon obtained a lead of a quarter of a boat's length ; this was increased to half a boat's length at the railway bridge. Here, however, Mr. Houblon quickened hid stroke, and soon reduced the gap, getting level with the other boat at the bend. A splendid race then ensued for 100 yards, when Mr. Houblon's crew drew ahead, main tained their advantage to the finish, and won the race by half a boat's length. Time, 8 min. 21 sec. PROVINCIAL SCHOOL BOARDS. The elections • for the Maidstone School Board took place on Wednesday. The result was ascertained yester day. The Board is to be composed of nine members. There were twelve candidates for the seats. Of the successful candidates, five—Messrs. Fremlin, Balston, Clifford, Case; and Bnne—were nominated by the Church party, and head the poll. Only one pronounced member of the Liberal party is returned--a Mr. Wells. Among the non-Churchmen are the Rev. G. D. Watts (Inde pendent), I\ll.. George. I iaker (Wesleyan and Conservative). The workingman candidate is rejected. This election, therefore, skews a victory for denominationalism. A special meeting of the Bury St. Edmund's Town Council was held yesterday, to consider a memorial from the Dissenting Ministers and leading Nonconformists of the town to ask for the establishment of a School Board for the town. Counter memorials wero presented from the clergy and others pointing out that the Dissenters had established no school ; that the Churchmen had done their work well, there being sufficient schools for the neigh bourhood. The Council decided aghinst a School Board. The Bradford Gas Company have agreed to sell their undertaking to the Corporation for £210,000. The Musical Standard says that Mrs. C. A. Barry, a well-known American vocalist, has received a very flattering offer to sing in oratorio in London. The Law Times announces that a Welsh County Court Judgeship has become vacant by the resignation of Mr, Johneff. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-TIIIS DAY. A LUCKY ESCAPE.—Anne Cain, a miserable-looking woman, about 30, who last week was brought up at the Westminster Police-court, charged with the double offence of begging, and attempting to commit suicide in the police cells, was brought up again ,before Mr. Arnold. The prisoner was seen by a constable to go down several areas and beg of the servants, and at length she was apprehended near Eaton-square. She was taken to the station and had to be searched by force, when some broken victuals and money were found on her. She was placed in a cell 'and gave way to violent paroxysms of rage and grief, in one of which she placed her stocking round her neck, and had it not been for the timely arrival of the constable on reserve at the station, who found her black in the face. The surgeon was fetched and restoratives were administered, but prisoner was long before she re covered, and appeared very ill and weak before the magistrate ; the police, however, were of opinion that the prisoner was not so bad as she pretended, and this was exemplified when the prisoner, hearing she was going to be remanded, suddenly revived, and asked his Worship to deal with her at once. The officers from the Mendicity Society attended, and stated that they could not prove any convictions against the prisoner, although they knew her well about. Mr. Arnold, finding the prisoner was in a miserably wretched condition, sent her in charge of the police to St. Luke's Workhouse, Chelsea. A RUFFIANLY BLACK MAN AND HIS SPOUSN. —Robert Cummings, a black man, aged 32, was charged before Mr. Paget, at the Thames Police-court, with violently assault ing an Irishwoman named Ann Delahunty. The woman said that the black man had been lodging with her a few days, and he came homelast night mad drunk, and demo lished all the things in her house, tables, chairs, clocks, chimney ornaments, and everything of the slightest value was involved in one general wreck. Having broken up everything he began to knock and kick her about, and finally laid her among the debris of the broken furniture. She estimated her loss at £2O. The prisoner shid the things partly belonged to him. Mr. Paget : How is that ? The.prisoner: Why, I married her six years ago. The complainant said that she was not married to the pri soner. She forgave him, and only wanted him to keep the peace towards her. A policeman said the prisoner committed a similar act a year ago, but complainant did not appear against him. After some recrimination, Mr. Paget directed the chief clerk to bind over the prisoner to keep the peace towards his wife, and said if you ill use her again I will commit you for six months whether she for gives your brutality or not. DEATH OF MR. BRASSEY. General regret will be occasioned by the announce ment we have to make to-day of the death of Mr. Thomas Brassey, which took place on Thursday last, at Brighton, where he had recently been staying foz the benefit of his health. The immediate cause of death was asthma, from which he has suffered for sane years. His death was unexpected. So recently as Thneaday be had contemplated visiting his son, Mr. Henry Brassey, M.P. ' for Deal. Thomas Brassey was horn in 1806. at Boughton, in Cheshire. The fi rs t r a ilway contract signed by Mr. Brassey was in 1836, when he toot ten miles on the Grand Junction line between Birming ham and Liverpool, now incorporated with the London and North-Western Railway. The Penkridge Viaduct, on the same line, was his next great work, and at this date Mr. Brassey accompanied the late Mr. Locke, the eminent engineer, into the southern dis tricts of England, where he executed large portions of the main South-Western line and many of its branches. Ho constructed a large portion of the Western of France and the Paris and Rouen railway, which, in turn, led to his contracting for important works in Belgium, Hol land, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Savoy, Italy, and Aus tria, with all of which countries his name will ever be intimately associated. A fair idea of the magnitude of Mr. Brassey's operations may be gathered from the fact that in 13 years, from 1848 to 1861 inclusive, he made, either by himself or in association with others, 2,374 miles of railway, at a contract price of £27,998,224. Mr. Brassey is stated to have suffered during the panic of 1866 to the extent of more than a million of money. But it is perhaps quite as extraordinary that in 1869 he is understood to have been a richer man than during any former period of his career. THE FRENCH RETREAT ON HAVRE. In a private letter from Honfleur of December 7 we read :—" On Monday unpleasant rumours with regard to Rouen found their way. into the town, and people looked grave and anxious. It was said that the Pruesiaoss veers close to Rouen—perhaps in it.. In the event's!? some oft)► eers from the army at Rouen, arrived in &este, See ' brought the Istelligeace that Rosen 444% etilTele dared, and that the army gee* ft tl retrea on Honfleur. On Tuesday awning 4,be; tower presented a sad appearance. From ea) e: hour in the morning to the evening, and all 'th the night, soldiers of the line, Cavalry, Artillery, Mobilee, and Francs-tireurs were continually arriving. The poor fellows had marched fifty miles on insufficient food, ani with heavy knapsacks and rifles, weighing together pro , bably about sixty pounds. Foot-sore, knocked up, and disheartened. a more pitiable sight it would be difficult to imagine-I,mbulancee, carts of baggage, tired soldiers, artillery, and horses; all in disorder, and apparently with out any attempt at organisation. Honfleur received the troops hospitably, and the poor fellows behaved admi rably, and were most thankful for what was done for them. Onepoor woman, alaundress, told me she had entertained seven at her own house for the night. What the number of the troops really was it is impossible to say—probably it might be about twenty thousand. There were about twenty or thirty cannon and field-pieces. During the whole of Tuesday and to-day, when the tide served, the troops were passed over to Havre in steamboats and lighters drawn by tugs. General Briand was, lam told, among the officers who arrived here. To-day the troops appear to be in better spirits. It is said that the Prue sians are in pursuit, and are at Pont-Audemer ; but whether this is true or not it is quite impossible to ascer tain. All I know is that I have seen an avant-garde going out this morning in that direction, with the view, asj hear, of defending the barricades at Figuefleur, in order to give time for the rest of the troops to embark for Havra. The Prussians on the other side of the river are said to be at Yvetot, or nearer to Havre than that. Havre appears likely to offer serious opposition, and the battle in that neighbourhood will probably take place at Harileur, which is just opposite to Honfleur. I have only to add that the Mobiles here are a fine set of men, have im proved much in their drill, and would, I have no doubt, in time make first-rate soldiers—but the difficulty is the time." (ONSTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) GREAT FLOODS AT TYNEDOCK. Yesterday morning, a little after nine o'clock,, an alarming flood took place at Tynedock, similar to that which occurred about a month ago, but more serious in its effect. The heavy rain and snow of the last few days having accumulated, the drainage from the high land forming the North-Eastern Railway was proved insuffi cient to carry off the extra influx of water into the river Don. As a consequence the c,alvert, which was under repairs, burst open ,again. Great volumes of water rushed out, quickly flooding the houses, shops, and warehouses, to the depth of four or five feet. Police were soon at work rescuing, the inmates of the house, many of whom had to take refuge on their roofs. Large quantities of furniture were swept into the flood. Pigs and domestic animals were floating about dead. A bed was discovered in the midst of the water with the dead body of a man, who sunk under a colliery accident, by which both hislegs were broken. The goods in shops were entirely destroyed. The Post Office was flooded, and telegraphic communication stopped. The travelling mail for South Shields was much impeded, the horse at some points having to swim. Great indignation is felt against the authorities of the Great Eastern Railway Company, the time being ample to repair the recent damage. No lives are reported lost. TREAT FAILURE AT BRADFORD. The failure of Churton, Bankart, and Hurst, with lia• bilities estimated at £60,000 is announced. COLLISION AT SEA : TWO BARQUES SUNK NINE MEN MISSING. A collision between two barques, resulting in the destruction of both ships, is repory from Queenstown. Captain Williams and eight seaman, part of the crew of the barque Caradoc, lauded at that port early yester day morning, by the steam tug Warrior, of Liverpool, The Caradoc left Liverpool bound for Singapore, on Wed nesday, the 7th instant. When about seventeen hours out she came into violent collision with another barque. She immediately began to sink. The crew book to the boats at once, and only just in time. They were able to save nothing. Two boats were launched : into one of them the captain and eight of the crew got ; the carpen ter and eight other sailors took to the other. The last named boat is still missing. None of the crew of the Caradoc knew the name of the ship which they struck, but they supposed that she had kone down, and their supposition was correct. The American ship Emily MeNear, bound for Liverpool, has picked up her crew, and find that she was the Norwegian ship Ansgar, bound from Liverpool to Philadelphia. • The Church _Review is informed, on very good authority, that the judgment in the Purchas case has been already drawn up by the Lord Chancellor, and that its delivery may be expected in a few days. Dr. Balfour Stewart's friends will be glad to know that his case has hitherto presented the most favourable symptoms, that there is no trace of any inrerpal internal injury, and that he is getting on as well as could possibly . be expected. He is at- present at. the King's Head Hotel, Harrow. SORTIE FROM PAIRIg; The following is from the diary of " A tesfeged ItetsC , .:lent in Paris,'Y Published in the Daily NOVI unciet date December 4'.—l wrote to you in a great hurry last night in order to catch a Lilloon which was to have gone till morning, but whose departtife has been deferred as the wind was not favourable. I am ndif able to give some more accurate details respecting the affair of Friday, as I have had an opportunity of talking with several of the officers who were on the staffs of the different generals en 'engaged. After the Prussians, at 4 a.m., had surprised *hole bf the French line from Brie to Champigny, they Pushed fdrv)ald a heavy column between the latter place and the Marne, tilite:e etrtflanking, their opponents. The column advanced about hrig:enty up the horse-shoo formed by the bend in the river, mid vidUkl liaVe got as far as tift" bridges of Joinville, had idt Giederal*, TaviS opened fire upon it from a small redoubt , he had built in advance of Joinville, and from 40 field guns which he rapidly pleaed in position. Reinforce ments were then brought up nncier General Blanchard, and the column was at length.forced batik; fighting hard, to Champigny. Yesterday afternoon most of the troops in the horse-shoe crossed over the river; and are now either in the wood of Vincennes or in other portions of the line between the forts and the enceinte. General Trochn has returned to the Louvre, and General budrat, I hear, yesterday evening expressed his regret that he had liiiblished that foolish manifesto, in which he declared that if tie did net conquet he would die; for, not having done either, he felt the awkwardness of re-entering the city. Both DuCrot grid Trochn freely exposed themselves; the latter received slight wound in the back of the head from a piece of a shell which struck him. All the officers were obliged to keep well in advance of their soldiers, in order to encou rage them. The brunt of the fighting fell to the line ; the Mobiles, as a rule, only behaved tolerably well ; the Ven deans, of whom muchovas expected, badly. I happened to mention to my military informants that I had yesterday stated that some of the marching battalions of the National Guard behaved well. This they insist wag not the case. These battalions shewed so unsteady a front even at a comparatively safe distance from the scene of action, that it was thought unadvisable to push them forward. The only battalion engaged was that from Belleville, and it very speedily fell back. I have always prophesied that the Parisians would not fight. Ido not believe in men who hunt for pretexts to avoid 'military service—who are so very fond of marching behind drums and vivandieres inside a town, and who, in some way or other, manage either to avoid going out of it, or when forced out, avoid all danger. NEWS FROM PARIS: PARIS, December 6. The Journal Officiel of yesterday announced that the troops recrossed the Marne, and are encamped in the wood of Vincennes. The plan, the execution of which hae been for the last four days so vigorously carried out, now enters upon a new phase. The day before yesterday, in broad daylight, our troops came down again in excel, lent order towards the Marne, • whilst the enemy did not dare to molest them. The forts kept good watch. The fatigues so courageously endured by the young army of Paris required a short rest. The cold is much more severe and piercing on the hills than in the open country, or inside Paris. The fight had lasted during the whole day, and strict vigilance was necessary to avoid an unexpected attack, as was the case on the morning of the 2nd instant. Therefore no sleep was possible ; added to which, anyone indulging in sleep on the hard ground in such a temperature would have risked being frozen to death. These and strategical reasons caused the movement,which will lead to fresh engagements, as announced in the order of the day of General Ducrot, the true meaning and import of which has been perfectly understood by the Parisian population. Some papers suppose that we have abandoned the posi tion of Champigny. This is not the case ; on the con trary, we are assured that our troops remain strongly established in those positions. The number of German prisoners taken from tile battle Sold now amounts to more than 800, many of thin aro de tained in the forts. . No serious affair has taken place since the 2nd inst., but that does not prevent our generals preparing for the new stage of the struggle upon which we are now about to enter. The Prussian staff is reported to shew uneasiness at the prospect. The enemy, who has in all directions to go over enormous distances before facing us, begins, indeed, to feel that he will soon be exhausted in marches and and counter-marches, if we continue ever so little suct cessively to attack him on several opposite points. The immense circle round which he has to manceuvre grows daily' more extended, in consequence of our conquering advanced positions after each engagement ; and therefore the increasing difficulties of quickly concentrating troops which threaten General von Moltke's plans. must be contemplated at Versailles with some legitimate fear. Paris, on the cbntrary, perfectly understanding what is going on, co-operates by all the means at her dis posal with the views of her skilful and gallant governor. The work of general organisation, equipment, and the artillery works are pushed on with fresh efficiency and vigour. The military resources placed at the disposal of battalions armed by private industry are so to say inex haustible. The zeal displayed by the population in assist ing the victims of the conflict also deserves special atten tion. The following notice on this subject has been pub lished in the Journal Officiel of this morning : " The appeal addressed to the population of Paris by the Government of the National Defence relating to the convalescent wounded had hardly been placarded on the walls of the capital when numerous patriotic offers bad already reached the hospital administration. At nine o'clock in the morning the registration of such offers began and continued till night. Fiftedfi clerks were hardly sufficient to register the earnest offers of the citizens ; 1,392 beds were offered during this first clay. The Government of the Defence require all citizens good for service to be placed unfler the common law. No sub stitutes, more or less disguised, will be,in the ranks of the Mobilised or Sedentary National Gu awrd." The principle of equality is laid down in the following order of the day of the superior commander in chief of National Guards of the Seine : "The General Commanding in Chief learns from various sources that in some battalions men called to serve in the field companies caused themselves to be re placed by men of sedentary companies under such• condi tions as will tend to nothing less than the introduction of the plague of - substitutes into the National Guard. Desirable as it may be thatiNational Guards of field com panies, who are placed in exceptional family circumstances, should find among their comrades men willing to take their places, yet it cannot be allowed that wider cover of exchanges, real substitutions should be effected. The commander-in-chief orders the chefs de battalion absolutely to oppose this practice, which in one battalion, the number of which it is needless to state, has resulted in the admission of a married man, father of five children, into a field company, as the sub stitute for a young unmarried man. The commander in chief also reminds the chefs de battalion that they have no right to transfer a National Guard of a field company into a sedentary company, as some of them have done. He orders them immediately to send those men back to the categories to which they belong. This is a monstrous abuse of power, which would deserve to be severely punished if not prevented. "The General Commanding in Chief, " CLEMENT THOMAS." The Journal ' Qificiel of to-day publishes the following under date of Dec. 5, 4.10 p.m.:— " Vice-Admiral La Ronciere to the Vice-Admiral Saisset at Noisy. " Commander Poulizac has just returned from a re connaisance vigorously pushed forward in the direction of Aulnay. He sends me the following message :-- "' In carrying three posts of the Soissons Railway I have fortunately not had , one man wounded. Seven Piussians fallen the spot. Our men bring back thirty sacks,' forty helmets, two muskets, saucepans, blankets," &c. ' " The quantity of powder spent by our soldiers during the severe fight of Friday last is said to amount to the enormous number of 100,000 kilograms. It has been Calculated that an average of 250 rounds were fired every minute. Great movements of Prussian troops were ob served during yesterday. Immense convoys were directed to the north. "Mont Avron, which we occupy, has become a real ad vanced post, armed with powerful marine artillery, pro tected by powerful barricades. Neither a surprise nor an attack from the enemy is to be apprehended on that side." The workmen employed by the committee for the con struction of barricades proved very useful in the nights of Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. They hastily constructed formidable barricades in Champigny, which enabled our Mobiles to maintain themselves there the next day until they were relieved. Those courageous workmen helped also during the battle to carry away the killed and wounded under the enemy's fire. Four special trains, consisting of one hundred and sixteen trucks, with seven hundred head of cattle, on Thursday, left Aberdeen for the London Christmas market. Fifty more trucks, with three hundred head of stock left yesterday. This number is in excess of that of last year. OU.I co .it;rOEPOR.A . RIZr. I ) - --This Diorning THE GREAT SORTIE FROM PARTS. The Times, referring to the present position of affairs before Paris, asks —What has been the result of this struggle of three days' duration ? Strategically, it must be answered, nothing. Undertaken with great hopes, with something like an assurance that the ArTily of the Loire was advancing victoriously to join hands with the Prrisou of Paris, it has ended in a great slaughter on both sides, while the Army of the Loire has faded away egg's in the obscure, distance after a crushing defeat. The lesson of the sortie seems no other than this—that , there is necessarily a certain degree of elasticity in the environing ring, so that a sudden blow struck at it in force makes it yield a little without breaking, but that it contracts again almost as soon as the blow has been given. It woUlci be foolish to attempt to conceal the truth that Central Trochn struck with an.effect which was felt atthe time, aid it Would be as foolish—perhaps we should say criminal—to conceal the truth that he shewed himself unable to follow' up the blow so as to break through. What would happen if he could contrive to make a sortie with partial success now is a queslitia that may be answered with much confi dence as to whether it is to be from any point of view desired. in the absence of a sustaining force out side, success in breaking out would apparently mean the utter ruin of all those who adflisved it. The garrison of Paris is thus placed in an awful dilemma, between starva. tion within and a more violent fate -without ; and the Provisional Government must possess strong resolution itself, and have acquired a strange mastery over the temper of Paris, if it is able to withstand the ;counsels of despair. If. GAMBETTA AND PEACE. The Doi!, News says Gambetta pronounces that the time has come for the struggle to cease, his verdict may well be accepted. The Government of the National Defence has spared no pains to execute the mission which was informally, but, in the circumstances, not the less truly and legitimately, conferred upon it. Its members were authorised to carry on War for the deliverance of France. They have no power to conclude peace. They did not come into ex istence for that purpose. If they think that they have exhausted all the'resources at their command, they may well ask the nation, through its accredited representatives, to judge of the situation for itself, and to determine its course. Whatever may be the issue of the struggle, France and history will, we doubt not, declare that the Government of the National Defence, while no doubt committing many errors of speech and action, Yet deserved well of the country. It did what it could, and more than the coolest observers thought possible: If it could not give France victory, it restored to her her self-respect, and the respect of her con- querors. The Telegraph says ,—''ester day currency was given to a rumour which had been floating about the City for settrai days. The public was told that M. Gambetta bad at last hung out the white flag, had demanded an arthistice from the King of Prussia, and had couched the itmlication in such terms as to make sure of a favourable :reply, There is not the slightest reason to believe that the report is true. The best sources of information offer no warrant what ever for the statement, which seems to be a mere story, generated by the idea that the failure of - Dacrot's sortie, and the defeat of D'Aurelles de Paladin, had bent the stubborn will even of the Dictator him self. It would ho difficult to exaggerate the reckless ness of those who thus raise up the hopes of peace.. The offence is cruel to `Germany, which is sick of the war, and cruel to France, which is eager to buy peace at any prim less extravagant than the loss of national honour. Those persons who are scandalised by the sight of a people fighting for its own existence, and who have seen what we have called their " craven counsels " un heeded, are naturally ea cl. to detect the first note of submission. But that note has yet to be sounded. We should all welcome such a peace as France might accept with honour, and as might promise to be enduring. But there are worse things than war, and among those things is craven submission to high-handed wrung. In fighting against a Power that seeks the drknemberment of France, the people are displaying a gallantry and a quiet endurance which are worthy of their best days, and which extort hearty, if reluctant, tributes of admiration from all who are not blinded by passion. The French are proving themselves to be made of better stuff than we had imagined. The iron of the Empire has, after all, not entered deep into their soul. Paris has assuredly astonished those who knew the gay city best, and thoge Who knew it worst; by the tenacity and heroism of its resistance, which will make these past 'months live in hAtory with the most heroic epochs of its annals. LUXEMBURG AND PRUSSIA. Although the Standard entertains no doubt that the Prussian Government has " intentions " with regard to Luxemburg, it cannot bring itself to believe that it has made the notification to the Luxemburg Government to the effect that it holds itself no longer bound by the Treaty of 1867, which telegrams from Brussels and Amster dam announce. That the Government of the Grand Duchy has allowed its neutrality to be violated, says the Standard, by the French is a statement which we believe has no foundation ; and if it had, that fact would not dispense the Prussian Government from the obligation of respect ing a neutrality not established in the interest of the Government of Luxemburg, but of Europe. The Treaty of 1867 places, as we have said, the neutrality of Luxemburg under the guarantee of England, Austria, Russia, Italy, France, and Prussia. Not to respect that neutrality on the part of Prussia would be to break the faith pledged to the great neutral Powers, and to justify—nay, in some sense to necessitate—war against Prussia. Of course, under the circumstances, there is no chance of such a coalition ; but still it appears to us quite impossible that Prussia, which has no immediate purpose to serve by any violation of the neutrality of Luxemburg, can have taken a step which is a defiance to all the neutrals who are not privy to it. No doubt to treat England thus de haut en bas would create a great (10111 enthusiasm in Germany ; but Count Bis marck knows that Germany has nothing to gain, tub much to lose, by alienating and embittering Englikh public opinion. The effect would be worth the cost. Whatever designs the Prussian Government may have with respect to Luxemburg, these stories of 9, renuncia tion of the Treaty of 1867 must be ass ur ed, until the contrary is proved, to have no foundation‘at the best but in some complaints against the Luxemburg authorities. CRYSTAL PALACE.—One Shilling Day, Friday, Dec. 9th, 1870. Admission by season tickets, 911; ditto on payment, 1,347 ; total visitors, 2,258. THE SEWING MACHINE.—A true English poet has written immortal lines on the Sofa. Could, not the Needle inspire equally delightful and undying verse ? In its early mid elementary form it was simply a thorn or piece of pointed bone, wherewith our primitive Eves united the summer leaves, or the inelegant Skin to cover or adorn their persons. Princesses and classic dames of antiquity have dignified the needle, while royal and titled ladies of more modern times have deigned to employ it, making it their solacing occu pation, and their stylus whereby they lastingly recorded their fair names on the page of time. Evidences of this abound in their ancient tapestries and needlework—mute memorials of the patient work of maiden and matronly beauty—silently proclaiming female skill and womanly devotion in a labour of love. The shining needle makes the tiny things for the new-born babe, the flowing robe of the bride, and the solemn shroud that enwraps the dead. But although we possess the shining needle in its old simplicity—a wondrous and finely-tempered shaft of steel—necessity, that prolific parent of invention, has endowed that little busy lance with a working power and capacity almost beyond conception. By bringing to its aid a few wheels and pinions, its wonted alacrity has become a crawl, and its former results a scornful atom beside the magnitude of its present hourly production. Amplified by inventive genius int) a complex instrument, the needle has come forth fully armed—armed like Minerva from the head of Jupiter ; armed tobring a thousand-fold its textile spoil to the service of humankind. The familiar needle has progressed into a sewing machine, and, as such, is rapidly becoming a household friend, firmly taking its position as an elegant article of domestic furniture. As there are several well accredited machines of varied excellence in the market, it is a perplexity with many to decide which of them is the best. To such doubters may safely be recommended that most useful and really elegant new lock-stitch sewing machine, known as the " Little Wanzer," having just obtained two prizes in America for excellence, and also first and only prize at the Industrial Exhibition held recently at Sydney. As evidence of the perfection and superiority of this machine, vast quantities have been sold in nearly all parts of the world. This machine is the result of several years' untiring labour and patience, combined with a liberal expenditure of capital. It is, therefore, presented to the public with the highest claims for that general preference which its predecessors have already obtained over every other similar invention. In asserting for the " Little Wanzer" Family Sewing Machine unrivalled advantages, it is sufficient to state a few of its capabilities. It will sew the coarsest cloth and all the finer fabrics, even the most delicate muslin, the change of needle or thread requiring no alteration in the mechanism. The machine will braid, bind, gather, fell, and tuck. The machine is pretty in style and finish, and,when needful, readily assumes the appearance of a niece of drawing room furniture. In short, for its simplicity and manifold capabilities, the rapidity and quality of its work, and for its perfect finish and substantiality, the " Little Wainer" Sewing Machine claims to be the best and cheapest in use. ~JS'.