The Sun. — London, England, 1870-08-16 00:00:00

OUR COTEMPORARIES---This Morning, OUR 'ARMY IN 18 7 45 AND IN 1870. The Times draws a noteworthy contrast between the strength of the English army in the present year and a quarter of a century ago. Looking to home service alone, we had in 1845, according to the Duke of Wellington's reckoning, an available body of perhaps 5,000 men. We have now at least 400000. Of artillery, in s te a d o f 7,000, we have upwards of 50,000 at home arid abroad, th e regu l ar artillery alone being nearly 30,000 strong. In short, if we take 90,000 as the strength of the Regular Army at home, and then add the numbers of the militia, volunteers, • and other reserve foicce ,s we shall find that at the present'moment we have within - these islands a larger military , force than that with which Prussia., four years ago , en t ere d t h e li sts against Austria, consolidated Germany, and raised herself to that eminence which has provoked the present war. If then all this prodigious increase .has,.atually been achieved by our twenfy-five years' p re p ar ati on , h ow can we be said t o be apreliarecf? We answer that if we have got the men, 'and, indeed, the material of war, we have got nothing else. Of that machinery which makes an effective array out of a multitude- of Men we have hardly a trace. Our militia is nearly 104;1,000 strong, not merely on paper, but on parade, Our Volunteers, with the impulse which this new alarm will give to the movement, may be reckoned at 200,000. These 300,000 men are there and they are as good men as the Prussians, who won th e battles of Weissenburg and Woerth. They have seen indeed, almost as much service, for those Germans of the first line were young conscripts enrolled since the campaign of Sadowa. But the Germans had a com plete militaiy organisation, while we have none. Our Militia is not half officered, and of its few officers not half are t ra i ne d. Our volunteer officers have no knowledge but - What, in spite of difficulties, they have contrived to pick up themselves. For neither force is there anything like staff administration, commissariat, or other supports. The result is, that on the first alarm we perceive the deficiency, , and, instead •of relying on this enormous mass of national strength, we hastily pour a few thousand men had the Line. THE ENGIickgMENT BEFOAV The Daily Hews rewatis that a :glance at the Empe ror's telegram will'shew-that no pitched battle, no contest for a - field or the honOura of ivais, momentwas for a in E question. Ac cor di ng to the mperor's statement atmy was retreating, • and the P russ i ans l earn i ng the fact came lip "to administer a blow in its rear as it left. On Sunday morning, his Majesty tells us, the French army befoze Metz was withdrawing hi order to place itself behind the :VI melte. The• operation, involving, of course, much more than the mere march of the troops, would occupy a considi3rable time ; and while it was going on the French scouts announced that the Prussian vanguard was in sight-. „It was the advanced guard of the 7th and - Ist Army Corps. The Prussians, according to the well known rule of war, attacked when almost one-half of the French army had got across the river. The Emperor says•they attacked in great force, and that the fight lasted four hours, at the end of which the Prussians were repulsed with considerab'e loss. Inasmuch, however, as the French fought retreating, and withdrew across the river, this information can only signify that their rearguard did its duty in a spirited and successful manner. The King describes the engagement as a victorious battle before Metz, and from Berlin we get the further explanation that it was fought near Pange. There is a village of this name on the Nied, between Are Laquenery and l elite, about eight miles to the south-east of Metz. - The 'Prussian Army Corps, as above mentioned, are cernmended, the Ist by Lieutenant aeneral von Manteuffel, =Attie - 7th by Lieutenant-General Von Zastrow, and have,-each a nominal strength of 25,000 infantry, 3,300 cavalky, 96 guns. It will be seen that this was an engagement of only a portion of the right wing of the German tinny; tnd is not in any sense that great general action before Metz which was expected last week. No strategic result was to be obtained, but inerely as much harm as possible to be done to the re treating army. ITALY AND ROME. The Telegraph believes that now is the time for Italian unity. Whatever may be the issue of the campaign, it is obvious that the French Empire will not again be in a position to dictate terms to the Continent ; and the Italians, no matter what may be their oth er d e fi c i en c ies , are not wanting in the faculty of appreciating the advan tages of a difficult position. If the dynasty which ex ed the Austrians from the peninsular should be deposed in France, it is by no means probable that its successors will be equally friendly to the Italian cause. If the Roman question is ever to be settled in a sense generally to the interest of an united Italy, now is obviously the time for action. Neither Republicans, Legitimists, nor Orleanists are likely to view the final act of Italian unifi cation with more goodwill than the ruler the chief glories of whose reign are Magenta and Solferino ; and if the Italians are ever to see the accomplishment of that dream which pictures Victor Emmanuel crowned King of Italy upon the capitol they must choose the present oppor tunity. THE RETREAT. The Standard believes that this rapid abandonment of French territory must be a fearful blow to the people. To have been assured that war meant the invasion of Germany —to have been promised that long as it might last, and heavy as must be its sac r ifi ces , th e war d ec l are d so suddenly would, in the first instance a t l eas t, b e f oug h t at t h e cost of Germany, and to find that in three weeks after hostilities commenced a large part of France was in the bands of the enemy, and that the French armylvas driven to adopt against Germany alone the tactics which Napo leon the First used against coalesced Europe; must be gall and bitterness indeed. Still, if the army can make its retreat without loss and without defeat fto a posi titan in which it is sure to find very large - reinforce. omits, and in which it may be expected to fight to advan *fp, the confidence which has been so sadly shaken will revive and the new levies will press forward:, to the combat with all the heroism shown by the men who, under MacMahop, fought so gallantly against overwhelming numbers equally brave and determinesi. In these circumstances the ultimate , issne of the eCy fliet may remain doubtful, but no Frenchman will admit: the slightest question as to the immediate turn affairs ,will - , take. And indeed there can he hardly any question uperr , the point. The Germans, as a people, may be more than": a match for the French. We offer no opinion upon a— point which no one is in a position to deter/Pine dogmati: tally. But it must be allowed that the French nation* arms to defend French soil is at the least strong •enough:, VI effect that purpose ; whether it can take its revenge for - the invasion of France by an invasion of Germany is another question. That the force which the laws voted last week have placed at the disposition of the French commander will be sufficient to repulse the invading armies, and to force them back over the frontier, we may not doubt if only French parties will display the patriotism due from them, and the common duty of defence against the enemy shall not be postponed to the settlement of private and personal squabbles. NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. His Royal. Highness the Duke of Cambridge arrived at Portsmouth on Monday afternoon, and proceeded in the carriage of Lord Templetown, commanding the south district, to the dockyard, where he met his Royal High ness Prince Arthur, who had crossed over from Osborne in the morning, to pay a visit to the Crocodile, 3, Indian Iron screw troop-ship, Captain G. H. Parkyn, now lying alongside the southern jetty of the dockyard. Their Royal Highnesses afterwards embarked for Osborne. _ Some extraordinary rumours have been current at Portsmouth during the last few days. It is stated that Slr. Robinson, the master shipwright, chief engineer, and storekeeper, has been "called over the coals" by the Ad miralty for the delay which took place in supplying the stores required by the Channel fleet. Some months ago, it is stated, the dockyard officials were informed that the Bellerophon would be sent home from the Mediterranean for a refit, and that she would require new boilers. In pursuance of the policy. of " economy," tho discharge of skilled workmen continued until a recent date, and the result is that there is not the requisite staff to construct the boilers, while we hear, also, that there are no materials for the work in store. The Woodlark, 3, 160 horse-power nominal, th e on ly wooden vessel building at Chatham Dockyard, is ordered to be discontinued for the present, the whole of the ship wrights and other hands being withdrawn from her, and placed on the several iron-clad ships now building and fitting at Chatham, in order to hasten forward their completion and equipment. The most forward A the armour-plated ships now at the port is the broadside ship Sultan, 12, $,226 tons, 1,200-horse power, fitting in the harbour alongside the dock yard, which has several hundred mechanics and workmen employed on her in bringing her forward for commission, the Admiralty being desirous of despatching her to join the other vessels of the Channel fleet by the earliest pos- Jible date. On Monday there was a further entry of workmen at Ohatham Dockyard, the hands eAgafted being smiths and a iron shipwrights, for employment board the var i ous Son-clad -clad vessels which are now hail luir , th e utars t dvity being now observable at the dockyard thsrshi; building department. . - - Recruits continue to be sent up to Chatham from the `various recruiting districts,several hundred recruits having p.rrived at the garrison during the past few weeks to join the various British and Indian depots, the Royal Engl.- - neers, and the Royal Marines Light Infantry. Mr. Patrick Cumin, barrister-at-law, has been appoint e d an assistant-s ecretary to the Corninit:ee of D ounoil on Education. Arrank•ement s have been completed under which tracings on linen of architectural or mechanical designs will be allowed to pass to Belgium at the book rate of postage. METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.-..Lord Robert Montagu, M.P., has at the suggestion 9f friends in Lon ion, become a cantate for th e c h a i rmanship o f the Metropolitan Board o Works. The noble lord, it may be remembered, acted as chairman of a committee of the Rouse of Co coons in the question o f th e profitable uti isation of the sewage of the metropolis and of other :arge towns. THE Housn OF COMMONS.—Sir Denis Le Mar chant, clerk of the House of Commons, will retire before The Session. The patronage belongs to the C rown . salary is two thousand pounds a year. It is believed :hat Sir Erskine May will certainly succeed Sir Denis m , d that Mr. Palgrave will succeed Sir Erskipe ail_ First Mork Assistant, with a salary of 21,700. Air, Poetic liwaite, Principal Clerk of the Journol g I , OO P, 541•0 re** jum 321110 3, 4 'mooed utm, THE WAR. BATTLE BEFORE METZ. DEFEAT OF THE PRUSSIANS. • A later telegram from Earls states that the Uorps of Generals Ladmirault and Decaen took part in the battle. Marshal Bazaine proceeded in person to the spot. T - lie following telegram hai been received by th e Minn3ter" of the Interior fromthe Prefect of the Vosges, dated "EPINAL,_ Aud. 15 (9 A.M.) " Bitsch is not taken ; the plape holds out." A telegram from Berlin, however, gives a different version to this affair. It says's ; The Queen has received the following despatch from the King, dated Herny " A victorious battle has taken pkce before Metz, in which our 7th and Ist corps d'armee were engaged. No details have as yet been received. I proceed immediately to the battle field." Another telegram from the same place, dated yesterday 6 p.m., says :—" According to a communication from Prince Pleiss, the Military Inspector of the Society for the care of the Sick and Wounded, yesterday's battle was fought in the direction of the village of Pange, on the road to Metz. The villages in the neighbourhood are all abandoned by the inhabitants." The following is a telegram from the correspondent of the Daily News "BERLIN, AUGUST 15. " A. , victory was gained by the Ist and 7th German Army Corps at Metz on Sunday. To-day it is expected that a general battle will take place, or that the French will retreat. The Xing of Prussia has gone to the battle-field." SECOND BATTLE BEFORE METZ. REPORTED GERMAN DEFEAT. The correspondent of the Daily News, telegraphing from Luxemburg yesterday at 6.55 p.m., says :-- " There is a rumour here, the accuracy of which I have no ' means at present of ' veri fying, that a great battle between the French and the German armies has been going on all day along the entire line from Metz to Nancy. It is said that at leaSt 100,000 of the Germans have been forced back to the Moselle. The Morning Post has the following :—" We understand that telegrams received in London announce . that yes terday a great battle was raging: Whether the French, on crossing the Moselle after the engagement of Sunday, drew up and offered battle to the enemy, or whether the PruSsians by any new move brought about the conflict, we are not yet informed, nor have we any tidings of the issue. A few hours will no doubt dispel all uncertainty." THE PRUSSIANS AT TOUL. A despatch from Toul, dated the 14th inst., 6.45 p.m, states that about two•p.m. the Prussians were signalled to be within 1,500 metres of the town. A reconnaisance in force was made by the cuirassiers and gendarmes and came upon 200 Prussian lancers. One gendarme waskilled. An officer with a flag of truce demanded the surrender of the place, which was energetically refused, and the officer re tired. The attitude of the population is excellent. The ramparts are being manned by the Mobile and National Guards. THE INVESThMNT OF STRASBURG. The French official despatch says :—" From intelli gence received from the'rpper and Lower Rhine Depart ments, the enemy's Jorces do not appear seriously to intend undertaking the siege of Strasburg. They are chiefly endeavouring to isolate the besieged, and have, it is said, blown up tfie railway bridge to Bgle, near Fegens - - helm. It is also believed that the forces in front of Stras burg are not very considerable." DISTURBANCES IN PARIS. ue following mums are given in a subsequent despatch —" On Sunday evening, about four o'clock, a band of about two hundred individuals, many of whom were armed with revolvers, attacked the post of sapeurs-pompiers on the Boulevard de la Vilette. The sentinel on duty was fired at and killed. The rioters seized four or five muskets. Several policemen and two or three persons passing by were wounded by their fire. One little girl was killed. The police, however, succeeded in arresting the ringleader and many individuals of the band, arms in hand. The rioters shouted Vive la Rdpublique !' and invited the people to follow them to the Corps Ldgislatif. The crowd were exasperated, and energetically sided with the police, shouting Ce sont des Prussiens 1' Mort aux Prussiens !' The rioters immediately scattered in all directions, and were pursued by the police and people for several hours." The Gaulois states that among the persons arrested was one man who stated himself to be English, but had a strong German accent. He had an English passport, and ,some sovereigns and gold Fredericks. The police have seized several clandestine depots of arms in Paris within the last few days. f '...E4.r4L- uniaue.lN UYINIUN IN TIIE CORPS - , 7;. LEGISLATIF. :. 9 "wor - tis used by M. Gamb e tt a i n th e s itti ng o f th e , I;6gislAtif which were so muc h a ppl au d e d b y.t h e C ;j ay . d b ~:: e Galleries that the President threatened to irr jr ; . ouse cleared, were as follows :—" There mustlst? . ?;MiSunderstanding, nor surprise. It is n eces : spay to knp•F whether we must now care for the safety of the country * Qr. for the safety of the dynasty." NAPOLEON'S FETE. - The North German Gazette of last evening, in a leading article, says :—" To-day is Napoleon's fête, and, as France no lOtiger celebrates it, let us add one more to our calendar, and celebrate this, the last of Napoleon's feasts." THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE. The Vienna Official Journal of yesterday denies as ab• solutely false the statement of the Berlin Post that Count Beust, impressed by the late events, had taken steps for the convocation of a diplomatic conference, having for its object the re-establishment of peace. The same journal also denies that Count Beust had sent a circular to this effect to the Austrian •representatives at neutral Courts. TIIE NKUTItALITY OF DENMARK. The official Berlingske Tidende of yesterday contradicts a statement of the Daily News of the 7th instant, that thq French fleet had been supplied with provisions near Helsingfors. THE SITUATION AT P SUNDAY. At length we have had an explicit declaration from the Minister of War, on the subject of the army and the leader. The public mind had been much exercised during the latter part of the week by a decree appointing Marshal Bazaine to 'the command of the second, third, fourth, and sixth army corps. Of course, the only inference to be drawn from this announcement, which was dated the 9th, was that the remaining corps were placed under the guidance of some other general, • and that the control of the Imperial forces remained divided. Count Palikao, it must be owned, has cleared up this uncertainty in the most ex plicit manner. In yesterday's sitting of the Corps Legislatif he announced that by a decree of the 12th the %decree of the 9th had been superseded. Marshal Bazaine was invested with the command-in-chief ; there was no one above him, no one co-ordinate with him ; his jurisdiction extended to all the army corps. 'On this - plain , statement one deputy exclaimed 'that the -country would feel re-assured., • Every body echoes that acknowledgment. The journals are almost unanimously congratulating each other on two concessions to'public opinion —first that the command of the army is now undivided, and secondly that the one ruling mind is not that Of- the • Emperor Napoleon. It does not follow that Bazaine will 'be able to arrest the Prussians. But in unity of 'purpose lies the only hope of so doin ; and at all events Bazaine can do no worse than the machinery, whatever it'may have been, that directed the army previously. This, therefore, is an item of good news. Unfortunately there is very little news of any other kind, and that little is not good. From all points we hear of the French falling back, and of the Prussians coming forward. The armies of Steinmetz and Prince Frederick Charles entered France at the northern end of the frontier adjoining Germany,•and the Crown Prince at the southern end; and from these two extreme points the different THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST German corps are sweeping round in two semi circles towards a centre of junction beyond Metz and Nancy. Part of the Crown Prince's army has, in fact, already entered Nancy ; poor MacMahon's "chawed-up " corps having fallen back upon Chalons. Another large portion of the South German host has advanced per pendicularly from the Vosges up to Château Salim. This place lies between Metz and Nancy, but some leagues nearer Germany, so that the three towns form a triangle Metz and Nancy lying at the north and south points, and Château Salins at the eastern point. Well, the main body of the Crown Prince's army is supposed to be (nothing is certainly known of the Prussians) at Château Salins, and therefore must be within very easy reach of the other two armies. But a portion of the army of the Crown Prince is further ad vanced into France. Nancy, as already stated, has been occupied, and squadrons of cavalry have been seen at Pont-h-Mousson, on the Moselle, directly between Nancy and Metz. The French commanders seem.to have decided to fall back and fight further in the interior. Indeed, 'Bazaine's army must fight or retreat immediately, or a German advance through Nancy will cut it off from France.- These backward movements are, no doubt, the best for the interests of the nation, but it is not surprising that they render us terribly gloomy here. Already the army that was to take Berlin has abandoned more than one-fifth part of France to the enemy. More stirring scenes, very clearly presaging what will happen if the army be beaten again, took place in the Corps Legislatif at the last sitting or two. In the early part of the week M. Jules Favre proposed that a Committee of Defence be appointed to take measures for the protection of the country from the dangers which menace it. This was, indeed, a serious scheme. It meant nothing more nor less than the esta blishment of a Directory which would supplant the Em peror. The commission (d' initiative parliamentaire) to which this question was submitted proposed to reject it by eight votes to seven. On this advice there issued a debate on a matter of form—the Left wishing to pass more quickly to the final consideration of the proposition ; and in the angry conversation which took place M. Gambetta very plainly laid before the Chamber the real question at issue, and the true nature of the designs of himself and his colleagues. " The point is to learn," said he, "whether we have made our choice between the safety, of the country, and the safety of a dynasty." The audience displayed so much feeling at this and other expressions of the kind that fell from the members of the Left, that it was decided to resolve the Chamber into a secret com mitee to consider the matter. What happened during this unreported debate has to some extent oozed out, and it would appear that the Left behaVed with its customary noisy indiscretion and want of tact, and that it displayed, as usual, both its want of a leader and its determination not to submit to the control of one. A. great opportunity presents itself to the Republicans now. But they do not go the proper way to utilize it. The War Minister, on the other hand, conducted himself sagely. He did not enterinto the meiitiof the question. He contented him self_with the constitutiohal aspect of the case, observing that as a Minister . of the Emperor he could not listen to a proposition which amounted virtually to dethroning his master. Nevertheless the result was by no means so favour able to Napoleon,' as 'it would have been in happier times. The proposal for a committee of defence was rejected, but as many •ai sixty deputies voted in favour of it. As the Left. proper does not number above thirty, several membeis of the Left Centre must have joined the Repub lican ranks. That such a scheme should receive so much support is exceedingly significative of the state of public feeling. M. Rochefort once more begins to excite attention. His time was up on the eighth, but he has not yet seen the outside of his prison. The Government is keeping him to expiate an old, and, as it was supposed, forgotten offence. •If , they. similarly exact the penalty of all his misdeeds, hard will . he the fate, of the former Paris idol, for at least two years' imprisonment has gathered up against him at different times, not to speak of untold sums in fines. Clearly, however, the Government is doing wrong. As a deputy, M. Rochefort is inviolable, except against a law passed by the Chamber. The Chamber did pass a law sanctioning six months' imprisonment, which has just expired. But it sanctioned nothing more, and therefore the retention of the Paris deputy is illegal. Of course there can be no doubt why he is kept. The 9-overnment does not want such a man in the streets at this critical time. He might do mischief. Below the Re publicans who are attempting by quiet means to get rid pf the Emperor, there is a lower stratum, a residuum, as Mr. Disraeli would call it, who would like nothing better than a fair chance of polishing off the Empire by means of a street fight. ' If we are to believe the Figaro, this class has already set kwork to bring about this much wished-for dissolution. t tells an alarming story of the seizure of arms. About three o'clock on Friday afternoon, it says, a man was passing along the Rue Poissonire, apparently bending under the weight of a box, resembling a hat-box, which he carried by the handle. Passers-by noticed his movements with some curi osity. A police officer approached, asked him what he carried, and on his hesitating to reply took him by the collar. But the man, who was young and vigorous, shook himself free by a sudden movement, and, dropping his load, made his escape. A baker, however, threw himself upon him, and notwithstanding his resistance and a horrible bite on the cheek which the fugitive gave him, succeeded in keeping his hold till the arrival of the police, who took him to the station on the Bonle varde Bonne Nouvelle, to which the suspicious box had already been removed. This was opened in presence of its bearer, and found to contain 12 daggers, 12 revolvers, and 600 cartridges. On being questioned, the prisoner stated that his name was Larg nieu, that he was 23 years of age, and lived at Belleville. During the interrogatory M. Fouquetol, a peace officer, remarked that an individual who had slid furtively into the station was taking down the name of the man who had been arrested. He was at once asked who he was, and what he did there. ' You are taking the name of the man,' the officer said ; ` are you a journalist ? If so, I shall march you back between four soldiers to the office of the newspaper.' As he refused to answer, M. Fouquetol gave orders for his arrest, and it then appeared that he was a valet de chambre who had been out of situation for three months ; that was all that could be extracted from him. He was sent with the first prisoner to gaol, and meanwhile, upon a report that other arms were concealed in the same neighbourhood, a rigid search was instituted. In a few minutes afterwards, in a courtyard in the 'Rue d'Argent, a second case of arms was found, and at the moment that it was being carried off 'a man said that the box had , been brought out of the house where he lived, 37, Rue d'Abouklr, and there might be others there still. And, in fact, M. Fouquetol disco vered before fong, in a room in this house, belonging to a lodger who was absent, a third box, filled, likee the two others, with daggers and revolvers. The revolvers are of Belgian manufacture, and very good ones. The daggers are tremendous instruments. FROM THE FRENCH ARMY, (FROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT .OF THE CENTRAL PRESS.) • . CHALONS, I have just arrived here in full retreat with the d6bris of MacMahon's corps. Up to Friday it was at Nancy in a, terrible state of confusion and disorganization, Und it 'lasi since left to give way to the Prussians. Some two or three days ago it was evident that the French intended to make no stand at Nancy, for on Thursday several trains left for Marshal Canrobert's camp at Chalons-sur-Marne—the total number . of men departing on that day amounting to several hundreds. Since then the migration haS progressed much more rapidly, and at length behold us " all here." Whilst at Nancy great efforts Were made to restore MacMahon's first corps as much as possible. The gendarmes were worked like horses, enL deavouring to fetch up the Stragglers who swarmed in all directions round about Nancy. I fear their success was not proportionate to the intensity of - their efforts. The break-up was too great to be restored in a few days.. Now that we have arrived at . Chalons we hear that Nancy was first occupied by only four soldiers ! So complete was the desertion that these . four solitary enemies walked in and appropriated a considerable town in the centre • .af, France, without , meeting the slightest hosqlity. The fact is that not a soldier reejoi . .4;l. w i'u the plaCe. The inhabi tants of course would have been equal to four Prussians; but the Maire thought neutrality the best course. If he disposed of these four, what would become of him and his fellow, citizens when a more formidable garrison arrived ? Yesterday four or five thousand men of MacMahon's ''unhappy' first corps came trooping along the dusty road from Nancy to Chalons. It was a deplo rable: sight ; brave men thrown away. Although just a week -had elapsed since the crushing defeat of Woerth or Freisehwiller took place, no reorganisation had been effected. There were no regiments, no battalions, no companies ; horse and foot were mixed up together. It will be a herculean task to reform, strengthen, and put such a mob into line again. I have been to look at the Garde Mobile. Eighteen battalions of the Seine Department are encamped here. They look very well; the country air and exposure have •already bionzed them like veterans, and they keep up a Martial gait and demeanour. It is no secret, however, that more is needed to make them competent to meet • the Prussians. They are badly drilled, or rather not drilled at all; but their progress is rapid, for. Parisians are not slow in learn ing. A more important defect is their weapons. Chassepots enough there are not, and it has therefore been needful to serve out the old stamp of rifle, heavy and useless. If these troope are to form line against the Prussians, it will be absolutely necessary to give them breechloaders. It would be mere butchery to expose these half-trained young men to the assault of the Prus sians with no better protection than the raise rable old rifle. You have probably heard that OM Garde •Mobile behaved very. badly in the first days of their encampment at Chalons". So they did, but, I am bound to say that their conduct is unexceptional That misbehaviour.. was only foolishness and impatience of military control. The discipline is very good at present. • .2 • now. 110 W WOERTH WAS LOST. The Patrie gives an account of the movements of the first corps d'arm6e under ,MacMahon during the battle of, the 6th, and the retreat., According to this state ment, when the Marshal and his staff arrived at Strasbourg, they found nothing whatever in readi ness.. There was no encampment, no ambulance and every branch of administrative service was painfully incomplete. Was this the fault of the Ministry or of the Intendance ? Whoever was to blame, the Marshal set to work to organise his divisions, and as soon as they were. in something like order he moved towards the northern frontier. On the evening of the 3rd all the divisions of the Ist corps had left Strasliourg and had taken' ug their p6sitions in - Saulz, a. 'little town near Weissenburg, and the vicinity, from whence they com manded the valley - which extends along the left bank of the 'Rhine at the foot of the Vosges mountains. Those divisions which were stationed at Haguenau, Soultzet, and Reichshoffen, had their communication's secured and occupied good positions, but the unfortunate Douay division, which was to the extreme front, was too far from the others to be properly sustained in face of au enemy whose strength was not accurately known. On the afternoon of the 4th, the Duke of Magenta left Strasbourg with his staff and arrived at Haguenau, in- _ . tending subsequently to make Reichshoffen, the central position, his head-quarters. On reaching Haguenau, how ever, the first thing he heard was that the 2nd Douay division, which weak and isolated, had been left far too much in advance, had been attacked and crushed by the enemy, and its brave general killed. On hearing this disastrous intelligence, the general ordered an immediate advance to Reichshoffen, where he arrived at 1 a.m. Two hours later he set out on horseback for the north-east, to reconnoitre being anxious to take up a strong defensive position im mediately, as he was uncertain what the strength of the enemy was, and how soon they might profit by their recent advantage to attack him. He found the position he wanted some four kilometres to the south-east of 'R,elchshoffen, near the village of Freischwiller. To make this position secure it was necessary to occupy as well the woods of 'Niederwald and the hills at Eberbach, but the Marshal had not enough men for this. His position was in the shape of a Z, the houses of Freischwiller forming the front line, and the rivulet of Sauerbach, on which stand the town of Woerth, flowing before it. The same evening, about five o'clock, news was brought to the Marshal that the Prussians were reconnoitring the French position. On the 6th the --Prumslans moved northwards, and their artillery began to occupy the heights of Woerth, in face of the French centre,at the dis tance of about two kilometres. The attack was soots begun by the Prussian right, which concentrated a power ful artillery fire on the French centre.' Their fire, which was well directed, did great damage ; and` meanwhile they were busily engaged in massing their men on their left, perceiving that the Marshal's weak point was his right "wing, which he had not, as mentioned above, enough men to strengthen properly. The French right was soon obliged to retreat before the advancing force which quadrupled theirs,and the Marshal made an attack on the Prussian centre in the hopes of making a diversion, but he had not enough men to sustain it, and, after a struggle of six or seven hours, the French General seeing it was hopeless to retrieve the fortunes of the day with.his weakened forces, ordered their retreat. The Prussians followed in pursuit, but not very closely, and the Ist corps, greatly diminished by an attack that had better never have been begun if it were not to be better sustained, reached S,averne on the morning of the 7th. • PRIMITIVE COOKING. —The Prussians carry no tents, and when the men arrive at the end of their day's march they select the driest and most convenient piece of 'ground they can find, and set to work at once to bivouac. Some go for wood; which in this country—a very woody one —is not far to seek. Some go for water, while others un load the bread and bacon waggons: Others out trenches for the fires to boil the soup for supper. . That,soup is the mainstay of the German as of the French, and, indeed, of most Continental armies. The Prussian troops I have watched make this toup"vdry simply; Each man carries. a kind of deep saucepan without a handle, which serves as ket tle, water-bucket; and ; in fact, generally makes itself useful. , Into this pot is put pretty much whatever comes to hand, and a savoury mess: at least for hungry ,men, is soon made.—Daily 1V elos Correspondent. • IHE YIELD OF W OFRTFI.—IN ever nave 1 ballet a sight so extraordinary as I came, on by the little stream. let the Sauer, which flows by Gunstett. At an angle of the road, by a vine plantation, there had been evidently a sanguinary combat between the infantry ; but a little beyond it lay the scene of a cavalry charge, the relics of which formedthe strange spectacle lam writing of. There were heaps of cuirasses still bright, and brass helmets with plumes which had been taken from the dead, wounded, and prisoners, and piled at intervals along the road. Between these lay saddles, swords stuck in the ground, horse trappings, valises with "8 " and "6" on them, here and there single cuirasses, dead horses, helmets, swords, muskets—the ground trampled, the vines beaten down—pools of blood—a foul, sour smell every Where ; this literally for two miles on each side of the road. In the village itself was a pile of 30 or 40 cuirasses and helmets; then another pile of the same. Further on, mixed up with these " trophies" of the hapless Cuirassiers, we came m the signs of disaster to a regiment of lancers—staves with red and white streamers in all directions, lancer shakos, saddles, valises, and tunics—blue laced with white. One would think lancers and cuirassiers had all fallen to gether; but to whatever regiments lance and cuirass belonged, it was plain they had been routed and de stroyed. One remarkable circumstance is this—not a cuirass was pierced by a bullet. I looked most narrowly —others did the same. And yet what had been the fate of the wearers? That is a problem I cannot solve, nor could anyone else ; but it is plain that the Cuirasseurs were annihilated. It is said that one regi: went charged a battery and got in among the guns, but was smitten by the infantry on the flanks with a leaden shower that beat them to the earth never to rise again— unhorsed, or dead and wounded,. the unhurt all taken in a few seconds. This sort Of. work was visible for quite two miles along the road.—Tintes' Correipondent with the Army Of the Crown Prince. WHAT FRENCH RUSTICS THINK. —No contrast can-be `mate complete than that offered by Paris and the rural districts of France at the present moment. I have been passing backwards and forwards from town to country, and can judge _well. Paris has recovered from its panic after the affair of Woerth ; it is now full of life and hopes and . fears. But In : our villages there is a dull, blank look of misery and.resignation which it is painful tc witness. Soldiers leave Paris in uniform singing more or less gaily patriotiC songs; but each individual soldiez leaves his village in hjs blouse and wooden shoes with a heavy heart. At every railway station may be seen groups of snrrowful rustics from different hamlets, waiting for the. train which is to take them off to the camp. What is to become of the fields when all the stout young labourers are gone ? The tillage of the land seems with our peasants to be an object of anxiety quite independently of the people the land is to feed. " Why did gou not tell us that the FlAiseite meant war? We would never have said ' Yes '" they querur'usly repeat. They were told so, but now one has not the heart to remind them of it. The Liberal Empire has passed away, and so has the Empire of PlBiscites. That institution has becorne associated in the rustic mind with war, and any attempt to appeal to it again would be hopeless.-- French Correspondent of the nine& CRUELTY TO Tif WOUNDED.—The cruelty dis played towards the wounded is the cruelty of wild 70. =mans. u pwaras of twenty peasants have been tried by court-martial for mutilating and dispatching the wounded, have been found guilty, and have been shot. Of their guilt no doubt could be entertained, because they were taken red-handed. • A member of a court-martial, before which some of these peasants were tried has -just arrived from. the front, and has communicated to me the particulars of what occurred. A middle-aged peasant and his son a boy of 14; were put on their trial. A deaconess, that is, a Protestant sister of charity, gave evidence to the effect that a few yards from the spot on which she was binding up the wounds of a soldier the peasant hacked a groaning, wounded Bavarian to pieces with a scythe. The lad was found deliberately cutting the throat of another wounded man. The father, being found guilty, was sentenced to be shot. The decision as to the punishment to be inflicted on the lad was postponed. It is creditable that no summary vengeance was taken in any case. Each of the peasants had a fair trial. Of course, the soldiers are infuriated at the way in which the inhabitants behave. Even the members of the Sanitary Corps are not spared. Several have been killed by shots fired from the windows of houses while they were going on their errand of mercy. The badge on their arm of a red cross on a white ground afforded them no protection.—Prussian Correspondent of the Daily News. WAR TOPICS. In looking over several hundred exchanges every day, we cannot help seeing how largely the American press sympathises with the Germans in their struggle against the French Emperor. Nearly all the leading journals of the country—those which control public opinion and express themselves according to their convictions—have taken ground against the pretensions of Napoleon his aggressive designs and policy of interference. re would not by any means justify, or attempt to justify, Prussia for the way in which she treated Den mark, violated her treaty in reference to Schleswig-Hol stein, and imposed her power upon Frankfort. The action of Bismarck's Government has at times been exceedingly high-handed and arbitrary, in regard to foreign policy as well as internal administration. But, notwithstanding these things, Germany deserves the moral support of the world in resisting the aggressions and interference of the French Emperor. _ _ _ Although the steamships from German ports to Ame rica have all been stopped, on account of th e war , thee will be no great difficulty about Americans 'in Germany returning to this country if they desire to do so. The English steamships have not all yet been withdrawn from the ports on the NOrth Sea and the Baltic. Ham burg, for example, was still open at latest advices. The ports of Holland may easily be reached, and there the traveller can take ship for England and thence for America. Or, again, the American resident in Germany may turn his course southward till he reach Genoa or Leghorn c n the Mediterranean, or Venice or Trieste on the Adriatic and at either of these ports he will find steam shipA running to England.. The French Minister of War has informed the press of Paris that he would only admit newspaper correspondents to the army on condition that they would not print any thing that was untrue. Thisis admirable ground to take, and we must admire General Le Bceuf fur his courage in taking it. The War Minister has recently explained the meaning of his remark by an order forbidding the publica tion in any way of any account of the movements of the French army or navy. What could be more delicately sarcastic than this ? It will be a suprising thing if the Republican and anti- Napoleonic parties of France do not find an opportunity of action before the close of the present war. The fact that all parties—excepting M. 'Tiers—have rushed wildly into the war-at the present crisis, is no more a proof of the inherent strength of the Napoleonic dynasty than the . plebisciturn, was. In case of a short war, with A great French defeat, the empire would certainly be destroyed. In case of a long war, with varying fortunes, we may expect to see the Imperial throne totter to its fall. Then for the Republic ! _ . One of our city contemporaries thinks that Napoleon has been influenced in making war by the short crops of France this year, and that, after he has conquered Prussia, he will demand from her an immense contribu tion of brea,dstuffs. This is the very ablest view of the war question we have yet seen. " Feed or fight," said Red Cloud to the authorities at Washington a few weeks ago. The present war must add largely to the already gigantic debt of France. As soon as war was declared the Minister of Finance asked for a supplemental credit of 500,000,000 f., and this is likely to be but a small part of what will be needed. The debt of Prussia is very the smallcoir of o.ny of the Great Powers of Europe.—New York Tribune. MARKETS. LONDON CORN EXCHANGE, MONDAY.—The rapid progress made with harvest, and the generally favourable condition in which the grain has been carried, has had a depressing effect upon the trade, and this has been intensified by the probability of large supplies being thrown on the market. During the past week Wheat was pressed for sale, and prices receded Ss. to 4s. per qr. Spring corn also was easier. The import of foreign and colonial produce into London last week comprised 69,494 qrs. of wheat ; 17,202 qrs. of barley ; 130 qrs. of malt ; 209,955 qrs. of oats ; 12,000 qrs. of rye ; 338 qrs. of beans ; 20,651 qrs. of peas ; 120 qrs. of tares ; 485 qrs. of linseed ; 5,618 qrs. of rapeseed ; 23,792 qrs. of maize ; 33 qrs. of sundry ; 25,077 barrels and 1140 sacks of flour. The market was only moderately supplied with old English wheat, but there was a good show of new qualities in, generally speaking, good condition. There was a thin attendance of mil lers, and the actual business concluded was trifling. Buyers were unwilling operators, in consequence of its being believed that hostilities between France and Prussia will not be prolonged much longer. Prices were nominally 2s. to 3s. per qr. lower. A similar reduction took place in the value of foreign wheat, for, which there was scarcely any inquiry. With barley the market was moderately supplied. The demand was heavy, and prices gave way is. per qr. There were a few samples of new on offer, of variable quality. Prime samples were scarce and dear. Malt was dull, on former terms. With oats the market was extensively supplied. Sales progressed heavily, at 2s. per quarter decline. Beans were quiet, and prices . were ls. per quarter lower. Peas were in limited request, at ls. per quarter decline. Maize w4s- dUll, and easier. Flour was neglected, and country and fogeign quali ties were 2s. per sack and barrel lower. Town rates were un altered. The new English wheat on sale ruet.ibelth but little inquiry. White sold at from 48s. to 545.; an lathers at from 445. to t,ls. per quarter. METROPOLITAN CATTLE 3/lARKVerATIIRDAY.—The total imports of foreign stock into London last week amounted to 12,075 head. In the corresponding week in 1869 we received 10,679 ; in 1868, 11,398 ; in 1867, 12,940 ; and in 1866, 17,292 head. There were increased supplies of both beasts and sheep on sale here to-day, stock having been forwarded under pres sure of the increasing scarcity of food. Many of the animals were in a half fat state, and the general Condition was inferior. There were fair arrivals from abroad, those from Tonning being numerous and of good quality. It is expebted that the North German trade will be suspended duripg ,the continuance of the -blockade by the French. navy just announced. Firm markets are looked 'for, in 'consequence. The - deinntl for beef to-day WaS -not active,-and priees of all inferior stock tended down wards. Really choice beasts were scar p e,. and commanded the extreme rates of 'Monday last„ viz., S. 6d. per 81b., tho Ugh an occasional' advancei on that figure was realised. Heavy Lincolnshire-fed beasts maybe _quoted -at 4s. 10d. to ss. per . 81b: . From Lincolnshire; Leicestershire, and Northampton shire we received' about I,2so'short-horns ; ;from other parts of England; about 550 of various breeds ; and. froM Scotland about 40 Scots and crosses. In the . sheep market little animation prevailed. The general quality of the stook war. inferior; and rather more money *vas demandeect for good mutton: Prime Southdown and half-bred wethers may be quoted at ss. 6d. to ss. Bd. per 81b. Lambs were nominally unchanged. Calves were in fair request on former terms. Pigs were unaltered in value. LIVERPOOL CATTLE MARKET, MONDAY.—The supply of cattle at this market to-day was larger, of sheep less than last Monday. The demand for good beef was very brisk, at full prices. Middling no change. Sheep and lambs made rather more money. Prices—Beef, 6did. to Bd. per lb.; mutton, 7d. to Bd. per lb.; lambs, Md. to Bd. per lb. There were 2,424 cattle and 12,242 sheep in the market. METROPOLITAN MEAT MARKET, MONDAY. -The market has been moderately supplied with meat. The trade .has been rather more animated, and prices have ruled firm. Per 81bs. by the carcase. Inferior beef, 3s. 6d. to Is. 10(1.; middling ditto, Is. 10d. to 45.; prime large ditto, 4s. 2d. to 4s. 6d.; prime small ditto, 4s. Bd. to 55.; large pork, 4s. to 4s. 4d.; inferior mutton, 3s. 6d. to Is. Bd.; middling ditto, 3s. 6d. to 45.; prime ditto, 4s. Bd. to 55.; veal, 4s. to 4s. Bd. ; small pork, ss. o ss. 4d. ; and lamb, ss. to 55..8d. MANCHESTER COTTON MARKET, MONDAY.-This market continues quiet, with little attempt to do business. Since Friday prices have been rather easier, but the business done last week has relieved the pressure to sell, and prevents any sudden fall in value. Another Prussian victory before Metz is announced, and people are anxiously awaiting details, in case it should influence prices up or down. Pending this both buyers and sellers suspend their operations. LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET, MONDAY.-Opening re port : Imports per bill of entry, 3,348 bales. This market opened very quietly. There is anxiety for news from the seat of war. The sales will probably be 10,000 bales. . Prices are still irregular. Closing • prices :-This market' opened to-day with a very quiet appearance; but with the further advices from the seat of war a firmer feeling set in, and a larger 'business was concluded ; prices being quite steady at Saturday's quotations. The sales are 12,000 bales, of which 3,000 are for speculation and export. T o arrive American basis of middling bales, October-November shipments, 81d.; Dholle rah fair new merchants June shipment, Cape, 71, 71, 71. LIVERPOOL STOCK EXCHANGE, MONDAY.-This market is very firm to-clay, but idle. London and North- , Western, 1251 to 1251 • Midland, 1241 to 1251 ; Berwick, 1381 ; Great Western, 651 to 651 ; Five-Twenties, 861 to 87 ;* Luxembourg, 111 to 111 ; Erie, 171. LEEDS STOCK EXCHANGE, MONDAY.-The markets were strong here to-day. North-Eastern, 1391 ; Midland, 1251; to 126 ; Sheffield, 421; Great Eastern, 341 ; Caledonian 741 to 75 ; Illinois 13. GLASGOW STOCK EXCHANGE, MoNDAY.—Railways : Cale donian, 74 ; South-Western, 118 ; • Great Eastern, 33i to 34, 31, 4i, 41 ; Great Western, 66 ; Brighton, 361 to 36i ; Lo n d on an d North Western, 1251 ; Sheffield, 42} ; Aletropolitan, 63 ; 126 ; North-Eastern Consols, 139 i to 1391 ; North British, 33. COLONIAL AND FOREIGN PRODUCE MARKETS, MONDAY. the markets business still continues on aliniited scale, but without ally material alteration in priCes." There is very little doing in sugar, and prices rule with a ddwnward tendency.' Coffee is in , moderate • request at steady quotations. In rice and saltpetre there is scarcely anYthing, reported. Tin quiet but firm. Straits, £129 and £lBO.. . Other metals inactive. Oils experience a slow sale. Linseed; 30s. London, 295. Hull spot, 295, 3d, last three months. The valUe of Dutch butter is slightly reduced, fine Friesland being sold at 1245. to 1265. Tallow—Market quiet. Y . C, spot 445.' 3d.; town tallow, 455. Stock, 34,109 casks, against 23,136 casks last year. BOROUGH HOP MARKET, MONDAY.-The hop market has continued brisk. Choice English, . however, have been scarce and dear, but other qualities have been in limited request. The accounts from the plantations continue very favourable, and a good crop may now be confidently reckoned upon. Last week's import was confined to 100 bales from Antwerp. Mid and East Kents, £6 6s. to £9 95.: Wealds, £6 to £7 10s. ; Sussex, £6 Is. to £6 10s. ; Bavarians, £5 ss. to £7 ; French, £4 10s. to £6. Americans,£2 ss. to £3 10s. ; and yearlings, £1 Is. to £2los. per cwt. GLASGOW PIG IRON MARKET, MoNDAY.- This market is steady to-day., Business was done at Ms. ld. to 515. 3d. cash, Closing sellers at 515: 3d. cash.; buyers, 515. lid. • CLYDE CRUSHED SUGAR 'MARKET, MONDAY. --The business was small at this market to-aY. The prices were steady. THE WAR FEELING IN AMERICA. Americans in general discuss the fiubj ec t, as we said they, would, with the utmost impartiality, and read homi lies indeed to their fellow citizens of German birth, who have taken up the matter with enthusiasm. Many native Americans cannot, as wa also predicted, sympathise with eithir side to a monarchial quarrel. Were the struggle that l of an oppressed people against an E m p eror , th e ease would differ ; or were it that of a weak nation repelling the invasion of a strong neighbour ; but he war of the Confederacy has taught Americans that rebels are not always justified in a revolt, an d th a t a welak nation may be very wrong in the contest it has provbked. While the intelligence published by the press is singularly full and comple'se, the New York Tribune taking the lead, through the excellence of Mr. Smalley's arrangements the same impression pre vailed as in England, that the French would invade and ! win the first battle. Even the German citi zens, who had the firmest faith in the ultimate result, were prepared to begin with invasion and defeat. It was teought almost impossible, after the publication of the Secret Treaty, that England could escape ; and it was predicted that, with Great Britain involved, all Europe would follow. The direction events have taken, from the vigOur of the German attack, has upset all such calcula tions, for the picture was even more present to every mind on the other side of the Atlantic than on this of a triumphant Napoleon dealing dreadful blows as he pressed on to Berlin.—Anglo-American Times. DANGEROUS RESERVOIRS. The catastrophe which makes the turning incident of Mr. Charles Reade's latest novel, " Put Yourself in his Place," viz., the inundation of the town of Hillsborough by he bursting of a reservoir, may have seemed to many readers somewhat improbable. But a precisely similar disaster happened in England some years ago, causing the loss of many lives, and the last mail brought an account of a calamity which recently befel the town of Rhymney. A violent thunderstorm so flooded the reservoir of the Rhymney Iron , Company, from which the town was supplied with water, that it first over flowed and then burst its embankment, carrying away a house just underneath. This reservoir was two miles from the town. The volume of water rushed down the valley, sweeping everything before it—ho rses , ca ttl e , an d human beings, j ust as we had it described for us in Mr. Reade's picturesque pages. For miles we are told, articles of household furniture, and' carcases of pigS and sheep, could be seen floating on the stream. The town itself was reached and houses in it flooded. and dkuilaged. Apart from the-loss-of life, the damage to property, of course, is great in such accidents, not to speak of the injury it causes to agriculture. And with such fatal precedents before them, it seems strange that the constructors of reservoirs in England do not take greater precautions against these disasters. In this country, so far as we know, no similar catastrophe has ever taken place. Floods we have had, disastrohs to life and property, but always from the rising of streams, swollen by spring tide freshets, or tide waters, raised un usually high by storms. An inundation from the bursting of a reservoir is, we believe, unknown - to us There seems no good reason why it should sulbe equally unfamiliar in England, unl ess we are t o pose gross and constant ignorance or carelessness in the location and construction . of reservoirs in that country. It may be well to observe. that the flood at Rhymney was only one of a series throughout the country, caused by unusually severe thunderstorms, which are ascribed to the extreme sultriness of the weather. We have 'furnished the conditions, are we to have the same effects ? Perhaps our meteorologists can tell. If so, they will re der a ag gileater service in putting farmers on their guar d ainst these violent convulsions of nature, than by prophesytig: more hot weather or registering the fluctuations of the thermometer. New - York Times. THE MIGRATION OF BUTTERFLIES OVER THE ISTIIMUS. Very useful and salutary lessons have been taken from the habits and instincts of the lower animals. We all remember how the busy bee was made use of 'in our school tasks to point out the value of industry and perseverance, as well as the ant from time immemorial, for its foresight and wisdom. Brunel, one of our- greatest modern engi neers, is said to have taken a hint from a species of boring mollusk in constructing and , overcoming the difficulties met with in the Thames Tunnel ; and another animal, when wounded in its contests with the snake, has pointed out the plant to be used as an antidote. The butterflies, so gorgeous in coleuring, yet fragile in form, although apparently useless as regards man, have, notwithstanding, had their wonderful Meta morphosis taken as explaining the mysteries of life, death, and resurrection. Somewhere about the end of June or beginning of July there appears annually on the Isthmus of Panama myriads of a very beautiful species of butterfly. Its general colour is a deep velvety black, crossed with bars of golden green, with the posterior wings prolonged i n t o t wo tail-like elongations with white tips. It is the Urania Leilus of naturalists. While out on the bay we lately noticed a few species flitting eastward, as usual over the water. In some years they are few, while in others they come in clouds, like dry leaves driven before the east winds, and so thick and near the earth that boys amuse themselves by knocking them down with branches of trees. No; ob stacle can make them deviate from their .east course. On coming against the base of hills, houses or high walls they rise upward until they can pass over. We have seen the swallows occasionally prey upon them for the sake of their thick moth-like bodies (which in the females are filled with ova) leaving the beautiful wings strewed on the beach. Where they come from and whither they are going is yet a mystery. We have seen them occasionally alight on a flowering tree, which bota- , nists call cordia, apparently to enjoy its flowers-and take a rest ; fanning themselves when in repose ith their gold striped wings, like a young beauty after the fatigues of the ball-room. We have been unable to ascertain how far north the geographical 'distribution of -this species extends, . but it is • mentioned in Madame Merian's account of the butterflies of Dutch Guiana, although neither in her work nor in any more modern have •we seen its peculiar migratory habits spoken of. We should be glad if any of our readers, living to the east of Panama, about the river and valley of the Bayano, would inform us whether thpy had ever noticed the species in question, and if so, whether as a resident or periodical visitor to . the neighbourhood• we would also beg a similar 'favour from our intelligent friends in the- Central American Republics. We: should ' thus be enabled 'to get at the geographical range of this beautiful migrating butterfly. In visiting the museums of natural history kin Europe, one is not only struck with admiration at the immense variety of animal life displayed ; but also with regret at how little is known of - the • life and habits of those that are foreign. What are the conditions that render this - species exceedingly - npnierous in one season and very few the next, have yet to be found Out.. It is now well ascertained thA' the numbers of animals of any species does not depend at ad on threir Prolific increase, but upon 'its adaptation to the conditions of its life. The scientific study of butterflies has led Mr. Wallace (whose book on the' Malay 'archipelago- we noticed some time ago) to deduce veryimportant confirmations of the " theory of natural- seleCtions ; " not the least _interesting are those peculiarities in form and colouring which become to them a defenfe against their enemies. We have noticed: similar contrivances among many of the other Butterflies; of the Isthmus, alth s tugh not to the same wonderful: extent as Mr. Wallace's inquiries led him to find out' among the Butterflies of the Island of Sumatra. He gives the following account of them in his new work on con- , tributions to the theory of natural selection." lie says :---- " I myself had the good fortune to observe scores of kallima paralekta in Sumatra • and to capture many of them, and can vouch for the accuracy of the following details ; These butterflies frequent dry forests and fly very swiftly. They were never seen to settle on a flower or a green leaf, but were many times lost sight of in a bush or tree of dead leaves. On such occasions they were generally searched for in vain, for while gazing intently at the very' spot where one had disappeared, it would often suddenly dart out; and again vanish twenty or fifty yards further on. On, one or two occasions the insect was detected re posing, and it could then be seen how completely it assi milates itself to the surrounding leaves. It sits on a nearly upright twig, the wings fitting closely back to back, concealing the attennae and head, which are drawn up between their bases. The little tails of the hind wing touch the, branch and forma perfect stalk to the leaf, which is supp - otted in its place by the claws of the middle pair of feet, which are slender and inconspicuous. The irregular outline of the wings gives exactly the perspec tive effect of a shrivelled ieaf. We thus have size, colour, form, markings and habits, all combining together to pro duce a disguise which may be said to be absolutely per fect ; and the protection which it affords is sufficiently -indicated by the abundance of the individuals that possess it."—Panama Star and Herald. Colonel Wilson, RE., is about to resign the Pro fessorship of Fortifications at the Royal Military Aca demy, Woolwich: Major Stuart, R.E., will be promoted to the vacancy. BIRTHS. On the 12th inst., at Welfield, Builth, the wife of E. D. Thomas, Esq., of a son. On the 12th inst., at Fermoy, the wife of Capt. Radford, Royal Dragoons, of a son. MARRIAGES. On .the 13th inst., at'North Bow, Richard Henry, only son of "Jenkin Jenkins, 'of Laleston, Glamorganshire, to Clara Eliza, the eldest daughter of Robert King, of 25, Birchin-lane, and Cobom-street, Bow-road, London. On the 11th inst., at the Catholic Church, Islington, Da vid Pratt Stocks, third son of David Stocks, Esq., Fife shire, N. 8., t o Eli za b e th S um ner, eldest daugter of Peter Orr, Esq., of Highbmy. DEATHS On the 12th inst., at Silverbirch, Sydenham-hill, Sarauel •W. Little, Esq., aged 57. On the 12th inst., at Winchelsea, Sussex, John Purkiss, Esq., late,of.Distaff-lane, St. Paul's, E.C., aged 85. • • London : Printed - by GIDEON ACLAND BOYCE, of • No. 112, Strand, Printer, and .Published by him at THE SUN Office, No. 112 Strand, in the Precinct o f th e Savoy, in the County' of Middlesex. - - Tuesday, August 16, 1870, . i /