The Sun. — London, England, 1870-08-13 00:00:00

NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE. ALGUA AMARELLA restores the Human Hair to its pristine hue, no matter at what age. — JNO. GOANE LL and CO. have at length, with the aid of one of the most eminent Chemists, succeeded in perfecting this wonder ful liquid. It is now offered to the public in a more concentrated form, and at a lower price. Sold in bottles, 3s each; also 55., 7s. 6d., and 15s. each, nclud• ng brush. . ited Bull Wharf, Angel-passage, 93, Upper Thames-street, Lon don, E.C. JOHN GOSNELL alld CO.'S CHERRY TOOTH PASTE is greatly superior to any tooth po order ; gives the teeth a pearl whiteness, protects the enamel from decoy, and imparts a pleasant fragrance to the breath. Price lb. del Red Bull Wharf, 93, Upper Thames street, London. qIHORLEY'S HORSE and CATTLE SPICE, 1 In Penny Packets only, of all Corn Chandlers in London, and Of all Grocers, Druggists, and Corn Dealers in the Country. PARTRIDGE AND COOPER, MANUFACTURING STATIONERS, 192, FLEET-STREET (CORNER OF CHANCERY-LANE), LONDON (E.O ). THE PUBLIC SUPPLIED AT WHOLESALE PRICES, AND CARRIAGE PAID to the COUNTRY ON ORDERS OVER 20s Per ream. s.d. Fine Cream Laid Note; a cheap paper.. . 3 0 Superfine Cream Laid Note ; much approved Superfine Thick Cream Laid Note ; especially recommended 5 6 Extra Superfine Double Thick Cream Laid Note . 7 0 Straw Paper, " Patent:" adapted f or rapid writing Large Commercial Note Papers 3e., 45. 55., and 6 0 Foolscap Papers, blue or cream.......... 105. 6d., 12s. 6d., and 14 6 Outsides Foolscap Letter Paper for scribbling plain, 45.; ruled ditto, 4 6 Tinted Lined Note .., _ ..five quires for ls. 6(1., or 5 6 New Vellum Wove "Club House" 14 otie, five quires for 2s. 6d. Superfine Cream or Blue Envelopes, 4s 6d, is 6d, & 65 ed Large Blue Wove Commercial Envelopes, 45 6dl . per 1,000 Cheap Buff Colour, for circulars, &c., 3s. COLOUR STAMPING (Relief) reduced to ls. per 100, Polished steel dies sunk by the best artists in the trade at about half the prices charged by the retail houses. An ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE, containing full descrip tion, with prices of Account Books, Copying Presses, inkstands, Stationery, Cabinets, Postage Scales, Despatch Boxes, Travelling Writing Cases. Desks post free. Established 1841 PROVIDENT CLERKS' MUTUAL LIFE ASSOCIATION. Established 1840. TRUSTEES. Thomas Baring, Esq., M.P. I Thomas Hankey, Esq. B. W. Crawf or d , E sq., M .P. The report and balance-sheets of Baron this s d o e c i R a t o i t o h n s c f h o i r l dt,h3ef y P ear . 1869, exhibitin g i n f ull details the amounts assure d , ages o f the members, with particulars of the invested fund, may be had on application to the chief office, or to the - agents. The annual income from premiums is •••• • • - From interest on investments . .• The invested fund, after payment' . o . f . nll claims, exceeds 415,000 The whole of the profits divided among the members. Cash bonuses have already been allotted to the assured, amounting to £lOO,OOO. WM. TIIOB. LINFORD, Secretary. 15, Moorgate-street, June 1, 1870. £64,000 19,000 THE LATEST EDITION of "TIE SUN" supplied as soon a. published, eontaiuing 1.11 the LATEST NEWS mi SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, by II W. HARRIS, Newspaper Agent, 4, Blackfriars-road London. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN I supplied as soon as published, every Evening, by S. WTMON, newsagent, and special agent for the North-western District, 24, Delancey-street, Camden town, N W rHE LATE EDITION of " THE SUN" at W. SMITH'S Camden Stores," 78, Park-street, Camden- LONDON, SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1870. A. GENEROUS sympathy has, in the very midst of the warlike turmoil now distracting Europe, drawn together yet more closely than heretofore the English and Belgian nationalities. The Government of her Britannic MAJESTY has awakened this feeling anew by its prompt and earnest solicitude for the vindica tion of the rights of Belgium and for the preservation against all hazards of its constitutional independence. Scarcely was the outbreak of war between France and the North German Confederation realised, when her MAJESTY'S advisers took the initiative in project ing the rapid negotiation of a Treaty between Great Britain, as one of the neutrals, and the belligerent Powers now contending in arms with each other upon the very borders of the Belgian territory, by means of which Treaty the integrity of the Belgian dominion might be expressly and practically guaranteed. The course thus undertaken by the English Government in the interests of Belgium, was undertaken, it should be remembered, quite spontaneously. Unsuggested by our own Par liament, unsolicited by the Belgian Ministry at Brussels, immediately and energetically at their own instance, our administrators did precisely what every well-wisher of Belgium was hoping at least might be done, namely, they secured a substantial guarantee from the two infuriated belli gerents that come what might out of the war, no harm should at any rate come to the very State which, from its contiguity to their own possessions, was, by reason of that fact and of other important considerations, the most seriously jeopar dised. No wonder, in the presence of these most conspicuous evidences of solicitude on the part of Great Britain for the conservation of the liberties and rights of the Belgian sovereignty, no wonder, we say, in presence of these proofs positive of amity and sympathy on the part of England for the Bel gian King and the Belgian population, the King and the people should, within these last few days, have given evidence of their very hearty appreciation of the cordial sympathy in their regard manifested by our Government. The Sovereign expressed his sense of obligation emphatically enough in his speech from the throne. Since which, the people of Brussels have signalized their complete coincidence with the opinions and feelings thus expressed by his Majesty in our regard, in regard to our QUEEN and our people, our Legislature and our Government, by a remark able and enthusiastic demonstration. As to the particular peril Belgium has for a long while past been exposed to, as everybody knows, that has been nothing less than the imminent risk she has run of having her rights and liberties, her integrity and independence, bartered away between her two powerful and ambitious neighbours A glare of light was abruptly thrown upon this danger for Belguim, by the revelation of the Draft Treaty. It was then seen that France and Prussia had been secretly discussing together the notion of sweeping Belgium from the map of Europe. Prussia declares that the proposi- tion came from France—France that the pro position came from Prussia. By whomsoever originated, there, howbeit, the proposition was between the two, there it was, under discussion between them, and that secretly, and therefore surreptitiously. Consequently, there, beyond possibility of doubt, much less of con tradiction, was for Belgium an imminent and frightful jeopardy. Against the recurrence of it, England has now taken the most effectual means of guarding. And of England's conduct in so doing Belgium is gratefully appreciative. According to a letter just now published by General TURR, the infamy of having originated the proposi tion for the seizure of Belgium by France, is thrown by the writer of that letter, that is by General TURK himself, entirely and absolutely on Count BISMARCK. Addressing himself to Count BISMARCK, General Tunn says, among other thine., thts—"On the 10th o f June, 1866, I had the honour to speak with your Excellency in your study in the evening; and on the 11th I passed an hour with you under the large tree in lyour garden. Your excel lency was very anxious as to the result of the war which was then about to commence. You said 4 Ah ! if the Emperor NAPOLEON only wished it, the war would give us no trouble ; the EMPEROR could easily take Belgium and Luxembourg, and regulate the frontiers of France. I proposed all this to the Emperor, BUT HE WOULD NOT CONSENT TO IT. If you go to Paris pray tell all this to his Highness Prince NAPOLEON.' This was what your Excellency said to me on the days of the 10th and 11th of Julie, 1866. " Time, place, and circumstance are all specified. The statement is sufficiently categorical. What says Count BISMARCK to all this, now that General TURK, has boldly stood forward, thus, as his accuser before all Europe ? THE action against the editor and proprietor of the Sheffield Daily Telegraph for publishing a libel on the Earl and Countess of SEFTON has, of course, terminated in a verdict for the Crown. So far as the offence itself was concerned, there could be no question whatever of exculpation in the matter. Not only did the Sheffield 7 elegraph give publicity to a pure fabrication involving the character of the heir to the Crown, but one of the staffmade matters worse by embellishing the statement so far as to involve two other persons of rank. No old woman's tale could have a more ridiculous origin than this libel. First of all the Echo published a paragraph which aspired to compromise only the PRINCE. OF VALES. This valuable news was promptly telegraphed to Shef field. A reporter of the Sheffield Telegraph had been to London, and in the classic I E MOSES and SON, CORNER of MINORIES and ALDGATE. NTE IV OXFORD-STREET, CORNER o: HART-STRENT. CORNER of TOTTENHAM-COURT-ROAD and EUSTON-ROAD. BRADFORD, YORKSHIRE. J MOSES and SON'S PRICE LIST o t • I ' GENTLEMEN'S CLOTHING. Frock Coats. Dress Caat 3. Oxford Coats. Also at other prices, Also at Also at other prices. other prices Also at other prices LI MOSES and SON beg to remind the public 11.2 j is that the cheapness of an article depends entirely on its quality, and they venture to affirm that every article sold by them is considerably cheaper than what can be obtained at any other ho Ise in England. - EI J MOSES and SON'S PRICE LIST of G ENTL: MEN'S CLOTHING CONTINUED : Summer Suits. Tourist Su its. Summer Trousers. Dress Trousers. Also at other prices. ORDERS punctual measure introd guarantee a tau Also at other prices. 10s. 6d. 12s. 6d , 15s. 6d 17s. 6d. Also at other prices. 16s. 6d. Also at other prices by post are attended to with care and [ity, and the easy and accurate system of self [need by E. MOSES and SON enables them to dtless fit. ALA MOSES and SON'S PRICE 1.41 . T of BOYS' CLOTHING : Knickerbocker Suits. 13s. 6d. 16s. 6d Also at other prices, Eton Brighton I Harrow Suits. Suits. I Suits. 15s. 1 18s. I 18s. lfls. 1 235. I 235, 265. 1 265, 265. ; 325. I ' 325. 365. I 365. 365. I 48s. 48s, Also at I Also at I Also at other prices. other prices. , other prices. MOSES and SON supply every description of ■ • clothing, ready-made, or made to measure, for all ages, all occasions, and all classes : also Hosiery and Drapery, Hats and Caps, Boots and Shoes, and complete outfits for all climates. All Goods marked in Plain Figures. Any article exchanged if not worn or injured. List of Prices, with Rules for Self-measure, Patterns, and Fashion-sheet, gratis and post-fre E. MOSES and SON'S Establishments are closed every Friday evening at sunset till Saturday evening at sunset, when busi ness is resumed until Eleven o'clock. The following are the only addresses of E. MOSES and SON LONDON. CORNER of MINORIES and ALDGATE. NEW OXFORD-STREET, CORNER OF HART-STREET. CORNER of TOTTENHAM-COURT-ROAD and EUSTON-ROAD. COUNTRY BRANCH. BRADFORD. YORKSHIRE. AT.AUDEVILLE THEATRE, STRAND.- Lessees—Messrs % H. J. Montague, D. James, and T. Thorce.—THlS EVENING, at 7 30, CUPBOARD LOVE, by F. Hay. Alter which, at 8, a new and original Comedy, in Three Acts, entitled TWO ROSES, by James Albery. To conclude with the the new and successful Burlesque, DON CARLOS ; or, The Infante in Arms. Supported by Messrs. H. J. Montague, H. Irving, G. Honey, W. H. Stephens, and T. Thorne ; Mesdames Nelly Power. Amy Fawsitt, T Lavis, and AtNewton. Doors will be open at 7. Overture at 7.80. RUPTURES-BY ROYAL LETTERS PATENT WHITE'S MOC-M AIN LEVER TRUSS tPcrfected and Exhibited in the Great Exhibitions of 1851 and 182), is allowed by upwards of Five Hundred Medical men to be the most effective invention in the curative treatment of HERNIA. The use of a steel spring, so often hurtful in its effects, is here avoided—a soft bandage being worn round the body, while the requisite reisting power is supplied by the Moe- Main Pad and Patent Lever, s fitting with so much ease and close ness that it cannot be detected, and may be worn during sleep. A descriptive circular may be had, and the truss, which can not fail to fit, forwarded by post, on the circumference of the body, two inches below the hips, being sent to the manu facturer, Mr. JOHN WHITE, 228, Piccadilly, London. Single Tress, 165., 215., 265. 6d., and 31s. 6d. Postage, ls. A Double Truss, 4s. 6d., 4?5., and 525. ed. Postage, Is. Bd. An Um bilical Truss, 42e. and 525. 6d. Postage, ls. 10d. Post-office Orders to be made payable to John White, Post office, Piccadilly. NEW PATENT ELASTIC STOCKINGS, KNEE-CAPS, &c., for Varicose Veins and all cases of Weakness and Swelling of the Legs, Sprains, &c. They are porous, light in texture, and inexpensive, and are drawn on like an ordinary stocking Price 4s. 6d., 7s. 6d., 10s., and lee. Ae.eb. Postage, 6d._ _ _ JOHN WHITE Manufacturer, 228, Piccadilly THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 13, 1870 THE WAR.—TELEGRAPHIC NEWS. All im portant events telegraphed DAILY, from 8 a.m. to (3 p.m., to Newspapers, Clubs, Exchanges, and Reading Rooms, for THIRTY-NINE SHILLINGS per QUARTER prepaid. Two or more telegrams sent every day. Commercial News and Markets on moderate terms. CENTRAL PRESS, 112, Strand, W.C., and 2, Telegraph-street, E. C. OPERAS, THEATRES, AND AMUSEMENTS. PRINCE OF WILES' s—A 7.30. Quite by Accident. M.P. Dearest Mamma. QITEEN'S-At Seven, Dly Wife's Dentist. 'Twixt Axe and Crown. VALIDE VILLE —Cupboard Love. Two Roses. Don Carlos. CHRISTY MINSTRELS, St. James's Hall, Every Night, at 8 ; Wed nesdays and Saturdays, at 3 and 8 all the year round. Zo Lower, GARDENS, Regent's-park. Open daily (except Sun days). Admission, ls. on Mondays, 6d. Children under twelve, 6d. MADAME TllssAures EXHIBITION, Baker-street, from 11 a.m. till 3.0 p.m., and from 7 till 10 p.m. Admission, ls.; extra 6d. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE THIS DAY. Morning ... ..... ....19 after 3 i Afternoon ........33 after 3 r t i o, r ipv:_str 444 it lA, 4, EVENING EDITION. precincts of the Divorce Court had heard (from a brother of the craft) who, in addition to the person age mentioned in the Echo, were likely to figure in , the forthcoming sensational suit. The matter is not traced further to its source; we are not informed who told this news to the brother reporter, nor who told the person who told the brother reporter, who told the Sheffield 7elegraph reporter, who told the Sheffield Telegraph sub-editor, who made use of the intelligence. However, the Sheffield Telegraph reporter departed from London and arrived in Sheffield in the nick of time to catch the telegram containing the Echo paragraph, and the embellishment brought from the Divorce Court was straightway added, and appeared in print. Nothing could be worse. If this species of publication could be practised with impunity, all security for private character would be at an end. Nevertheless it is hard to punish the editor of the Sheffield Telegraph for an offence in which he had no share. He was absent when the unlucky in discretion was committed ; and he afterwards exerted himself to repair the mischief. The mere fact that he is the editor and proprietor of a journal in which the fruits of some other person's' recklessness happen to appear without his knowledge, ought not to com promise him. The law by which all the faults of a serial were heaped upon one person is obsolete and unworthy of this age. As sentence has been post poned until Monday, it will be well if the high personages concerned take care that Mr. LENG suffers no serious infliction. Such a pushing of matters to extremes would certainly appear malevolent. It is impossible to stigmatise these calumnies too strongly; but quite enough has been done to ensure great future care on the part of the press, and this is all that can be needed. TOPICS OF TEE DAY. THE BELGIAN CONVENTION. Lord Shaftesbury does not share in the opinion expressed by certain members of the House of Lords with regard to the convention entered into between this country and Prussia and France for securing the preservation of the Treaty of 1839, by which the autonomy of Belgium was guaranteed. Lord Shaftes bury thinks that the Treaty has re-affirmed the covenants of 1839, and has thus . placed them in a new aspect. In the next place the Treaty of 1839 was signed by the hand of an Orleanist Sovereign; the present convention has received the assent of the de facto ruler of France. Therefore the expressed and written concurrence of two dynasties is a further guarantee for the preservation of the agreement. But beyond this, the mere momentary assurance that the monstrous and wicked scheme expressed in the project of the secret treaty will be deferred is sufficient to make him thank her Majesty's Govern ment for the policy they have pursued. RECRUITS FOR THE ARMY. The number of men who are offering themselves for enlistment is increasing daily. The places in London in which the recruiting sergeants have taken up their quarters are besieged by candidates, and the streets in the neighbourhood are crowded by men and youths anxious to don the red coat. The majority of the recruits are composed of what may be called town people, but there is also a fair sprink ling of agricultural labourers, fresh from a purer atmosphere than has been enjoyed by the pale-faced city denizen. While a respectable looking and well dressed fellow is to be seen here and there, the majority of the recruits seem to have been in the last stage of do-nothingness, and not a few would have been worthy of a place in Falstaftls regiment when it marched through the country. The better educated men are attracted to the Royal Engineers owing to the inducements held out by that portion of the service. In this corps the proportion of non commissioned officers• is greater than in the infantry or cavalry, and these officers have also a chance of obtaining clerkships in the War-Office, while trades men have additional pay. Altogether the army will be easily augmented, and if this will lead to in creased imperial taxation, a decrease may be looked for in the poor-rates. m•dern artillery and the military engineering of our fonfathers. SANITARY STATE OF ARMIES. The Lancet says that the world in general knows Title about the sanitary condition of the belligerents inthe Continental warfare. The various accounts wlich reach us concerning the_ progress and events of the war make it more than ever clear that " physical energy in the soldier, lightness of field equipment, and efficiency of. transport. are elements essential to success." The physical training of the so:dier and the preservation of the highest state of physical energy of an army are foremost points in military economy. The world is full of the Prussian successes, and it may be interesting to notice the report of Majpr Bostock, published after the Bohemian campaign of 1866. In this he states that the Prussian army is generally healthy. The soldiers' constitutions are not undermined by colonial duty in tropical climates as with us, and there is scarcely any drunkenness. The Prussian infantry soldier uses an easy, well-adjusted knapsack, and his limbs are not overburdened with martial clothing. In the opinion of Prussian medical officers and other competent judges, the Prussian system of medical administration is good and effective. In the French army, on the other hand, the operations of the medical officers are interfered with to an injurious extent, and the existence of a system of intendance has a prejudicial effect. The Lancet regrets the delay which has taken place in sending out some of our military surgeons to the belligerent armies because we cannot afford to lose that experience which a campaign alone can give. It is desirable to know the working of the newly-organised military system of Prussia. Then there is the question of the new arms and projectiles in relation to the gravity of wounds to be considered. It is also desirable to ascertain the influence which railroad travelling may have on the wounded in modifying treatment or deferring surgi cal operations; and besides these, there are many questions of surgical or pathological interest. and the post is held next in esteem to the Secretary ship of State. The names ofßancroft, Everett, Dallas, and Adams, all stand high in their own country. Mr. Motley, like Mr. Bancroft, is a distinguished historian, and he has proved that the gifted man of letters can also be the enlightened diplomatist and the dignified and courtly representative of a great nation. THE MARTINI-HENRI RIFLE. An abstract of the reports on the Martini-Henri rifle has been prepared by the special committee on the subject. The merits of the rifle appear to have been very fully investigated, twenty-one questions of practical detail having been submitted to the officers at the time of the issue of the experimental rifles in 1869, and the replies to these questions are given in order. They are generally unanimous, and afford a good test of the practical working of the weapon. The general criticisms contain several suggestions as to the probable causes of the misfires, which were very frequent. The committee have no doubt that the main cause was the weakness of the spiral springs as originally issued. If future springs are made of the strength originally approved by Mr. Martini, these misfires will, th©y believe, cease. Several objections are made in the reports to the breech mechanism. The committee specify these and give their own opinion. They think that to obtain the full advantage of rapidity in a breech. loader the gun should be at full cock at the moment of completing loading. There is not necessarily danger in this, it the soldiers are' properly trained. The Martini-Henri Rifle, does not, they consider, require a cover, any more than the Snider or the Enfield. The weapon is generally objected to as too long, and the com mittee are inclined to think a shorter rifle would be more serviceable, and would es pecially be preferable for the naval service. One report condemns the bullet as too light, but this is not supported, and there are one or two other points of detail to which the committee direct atten- iinn. One report suggests that the continuous explosion of powder will wear away the groovings, and they note this for trial. On the whole, the general verdict is favourable. THE TOWN OF STRASBUEG. The news that the victorious German army had invested Strasburg was received with surprise in many quarters, from the great reputation of the fortress, which is ranked among the strongest in Europe. It is the central point of the Rhine frontier defences and is unquestionably a very strong posi- tion. It is situated on the river 111, about a mile and a half from the Rhine, and has a circuit of six miles. Die town is surrounded by a wall strengthened by bastions, bulwarks, and ditches, part of the outworks towards the Rhine being constructed by Vauban him self. Five hundred guns are required for its defence, and its ordinary garrison is 6,000. Sluices by which the neighbouring country can be inundated form an important part of the defensive works, and there is only one side of the fortress which cannot be laid under water, and on that side the glacis is ruined. Strasburg has played a part in the military history of the country ever since the days of Julius Caesar, but it owes its modern rAputation to Louis XIV., whose great engineer, Vauban, contributed, as we have said, to the design. It has formed part of the French dominions. for the last two centuries, but still maintains the appearance of a Prussian town, and the Germans have an im mense advantage in knowing the place thoroughly. Great numbers of Germans have left the town since the war broke out, after living there for years, and of course the - strength of the garri son and the weak points of the • defence are familiar to them. The long drought, too, has greatly reduced the water in the 111, so that an im portant part of the defensive system will be seriously weakened. Great interest will be excited in the siege, which will test the relative strength of SILENT PREPARATION. We have it on the authority of a trustworthy correspondent that the practice of allowing large pro ' cessions in Ireland has already borne far more impor tant results than have even been dreamt of by those who have permitted them, and that more serious designs than that of merely making popular displays have been quietly and secretly at work. The Irish Executive would, probably, be a little surprised to hear it boasted, that there are at least 20,000 able and stalwart fellows, already as drilled as the Irish Militia, willing to fight for the Fenian cause in Dublin; yet this we are assured is the fact. In other Irish cities the martial music poured forth by bands men who now openly clothe themselves, be it stated, in the national colour green, and the flaunting of gay banners, and the esprit militaire of the procession, supposed by outsiders to have been brought together for a harmless and innocent purpose, have not been without their effect, but in Dublin plans have been in most vigorous operation and it is there the movement has been most successful. We are informed that the men who boldly stopped the traffic in the principal thoroughfares of Dublin on Tuesday night were mostly of the better class of workmen. Their marching was almost perfect, and the clear voices of the " Marshalls," whose'directions they were intent upon following, were never attended to with confusion. It is understood that this mode of drilling is henceforth to be resorted to oftener than ever, in fact as often as three times a week in the Irish metropolis, and the "centres" are in great hope that in a short time organisation and stratagem will have been so far successful . in Cork, Kerry, Antrim, Limerick and Tipperary that these cities will be able to produce as large a number of skilled followers as are now in the capital itself'. Although Great Britain may have very little to fear from any Fenian force that is ever likely to be mustered, bloodshed, international exasperation, and trouble might be saved by prudent and timely vigilance. That the proper steps in this direction have not yet been taken in Ireland, we are led to understand is too manifest. MR. AYRTON'S DICTATORSHIP. Whatever may be Mr. Ayrton's deficiency in tact, no one will deny that he has a profound belief in his own infallibility. By sheer dint of pushing himself to the front, by speaking in season and out of season, in fact, by puffing himself out to most unreasonable dimensions, he succeeded in persuading the House of Commons that he had a mission. In au evil hour Mr. Gladstone took this Old Man of the Mountains upon his back, and like an evil genius he hangs to the Ministry with a persistency that neither ridicule nor persuasion can touch. Fresh from his Kensing ton experiences, Mr. Ayrton has entered upon a new crusade, which bodes ill for the peace of mind of the hapless gentlemen who have the care of his correspondence. In 1868 Mr. E. M. Barry was 'selected by competition as the architect of the new National Gallery. An Act of Parliament was passed to acquire additional ground in Trafalgar square, and the public congratulated themselves that at last the art treasures of the kingdom were in a fair way of having a worthy home. Mr. Ayrton, however, appears on the scene, and what was thought to be settled, dissolves before the presence of our Philistinic }Edile. From the motion just submitted to Parliament it appears that Mr. Ayrton is dissatisfied with the arrangement made with Mr. Barry, and on the 17th of December last the archi tect was asked for an approximate estimate of the amount of his claims. To this Mr. Barry replied that all he had hitherto done would constitute a portion of the service, which, when completed, would entitle him to 5 per cent. commission on the cost of the building, but that he was unable to separate his charges. Mr. Barry, evidently aware of the drift of the official communication, expressed a hope that the question of not being permitted to carry out the work would not arise, as no pecuniary consideration would be regarded by him as a compensation for losing the hard won opportunity of earning a lasting fame and reputation by connecting his name with the great national work of the New National Gallery. As might be expected, the First Commissioner deemed it unnecessary to enter into these views, but Mr. Ayrton would not have been himself if lie had not stated that he could not concur in them. What with Mr. Penrose, Mr. Stevens, and Mr. Barry, the First Commissioner will be able to enjoy his holidays. THE RETREATING AMERICAN MINISTER. Even amid the exciting topics which are now en. grossing the political world, the retirement of a man like Mr. Motley deserves not to pass unnoticed. It has been remarked that a great distinction exists between the diplomatists of the old world and the new. The Ambassadors of European States are mostly men who have been trained from their youth up in the atmosphere of protocols and treaties, where as the Americans, with something like contempt of the formalities and punctilios which serve to "disguise men's thoughts," have taken men from the study, the counting-house, or the office, to compete with theßenedettis and Bismarcks,the Granvillesand Gortschakofls of the day. As a general rule the shrewd sense and natural ability of American diplo matists have proved fully equal to the demand, for if they have not the prestige or experience of trained diplomatists neither are they selected from con siderations of family, or influence, or party alone, as is sometimes the case among ourselves. The American Minister to England has always been an honourable specimen of his countrymen, for the Americans, with that keen interestin the old country which, whatever their animadversions upon us, ,they always feel, invariably insist that the American Envoy to England shall be a man of the first rank, HER MAJESTY. OSBORNE, AUG. 12. The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, attended by Lady Churchill, and her Majesty walked in the grounds this morning with Princess Louise. Princess Beatrice also went out. Prince Arthur dined last evening on board her Majesty's yacht Victoria and Albert with the Prince of Leiningen and the officers of the yacht. Prince Leopold drove out yesterday, attended by Mr, Duckworth. The Duke of Manchester has left England for the seat of war. His grace will be allqwed to remain at the Prussian head-quarters. _ _ The Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's have pre sented the Rev. Alexander Wilson to the vicarage of Tottenham, Middlesex. The cruise of the Mediterranean Squadron in the Atlantic has been given up in consequence of the war, and it is probable the Prince Consort and Bellerophon will return home. The 7 ablet says about 160 Bishops are still in Rome. The Schema on Oriental Affairs and Missions has been distributed among them ; but no General Con gregation will be held till November. The Duke of Norfolk has decided to erect, entirely at his own expense, an imposing Roman Catholic church, adjacent to his baronial castle at Arundel. The church is to be commenced forthwith, and is to be completed in two years. At the Manchester assizes on Thursday, Joseph C. Ryan, George Bielenberg, William H. Cook, Lewis Cohen, and Robert C. Ogden were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, with hard labour, for conspiring to defraud. Their mode of operation was that us ua lly practised by members of the "long firm." The Cambridge borough magistrates have con victed a scholar of Clare College for extinguishing a public lamp at the back of the college, and fined him 40s. and the costs, or fourteen days' imprisonment. Defendant complained of having been handcuffed, but the mayor told him his case was a bad one, especially for a Long Vaca tion man. _ Her Majesty, with their Royal Highnesses Prin cesses Louise and Beatrice and Prince Leopold, attended by the ladies and gentlemen of the suite, will, according to the latest arrangement, leave Osborne next Tuesday, the 16th instant, and return to Windsor Castle. Her Majesty will probably leave Windsor for the north next day. The Prince and Princess of Wales drove to Perth on Thursday morning from Dupplin Castle, where they have been staying since Tuesday. Their royal highnesses left Perth by train at twelve en route for Abergeldie. They were accompanied to the station by the Earl and Countess of Kinnoul and Viscount Dupplin. A large crowd was assembled, and their royal highnesses were cheered. BRITISH TRADE IN DM. Cheering symptoms of a revival in the trade of the British Isles are testified to by the Commissioners of her Majesty's Customs, who have issued their annual report of the commercial transactions of last year. The declared value of British and Irish exports in 1869 was over 190 millions, against 179 millions of the previous year. This sum, it is stated, chewed a full increase of 5 per cent., not only over the exports of the previous year, but also over the three previous years. The Commissioners admit that owing to the still depressed condition of the cotton and woollen trade, there was a considerable falling off in the exports of cotton and woollen manufactures and yarn, as compared with the quantities of 1868. The number of tons of coals exported was also less. In almost all other articles of importance, however, there was a decided increase, so far as exportation to foreign countries, and not to British possessions abroad, is con cerned. There was a decrease in quantity of the produce sent to the latter. The imports into the Praia' ides in the last yelir chew an increase of about 25 per cent. over those of 1868, in fact the highest value hitherto known, for imports to the United Kingdom was attained. ENGLISH AND AMERICAN CITIZENS. One of the last conventions between the United States and this country signed by the late Earl of Clarendon, was that made to regulate the conditions under which British subjects can enter into the freedom of American citizen ship, or American subjects into the rights and liberties of British citizenship. This convention has now been published, and • it may interest people of both countries to know the terms of it. It is stated that any subject of America, after taking oath as a naturalised citizen of the British Isles, will be held in all respects as an English subject by both countries. Exactly the same, provisions are made with respect to subjects of the United States. Privilege of renunciation will be open to all subjects of either country who have hitherto taken the oath of naturalization in the other country for two years after the 12th of May 1870, notwithstanding such former natnraliizaton. It is further ordered as a general rule that if any subjects naturalized in either country should wish to take up their residence in the one in which they have heretofore not been living, they shall be at liberty at any time to become naturalized citizens of the new country which they have adopted. PROPORTION OF INSANITY. It has been ascertained that the proportion of insane to sane persons in America is one in every 262 ; in Scotland it is one in every 574. In the agricultural districts of England the proportion is one in 820, while in London it is one in 400. It will be seen from this that insanity prevails to a greater extent in cities than in the country. Singularly enough it has been computed that in countries where a despotic government is in power insanity is rare, as in Turkey, China, and Russia. Insanity is uncommon in Spain out of the large cities. Some curiosity prevails in certain quarters to ascertain whether the recent Spanish revolution has increased the rate. THE TRIAL AT BLOIS. It may not be generally known that during the last fortnight,while the war has been raging between France and Germany, the Imperial policy has been carried out in the probecution of the political prisoners in the palace of Blois. Fifty-three out of the five hundred who were charged on the preliminary in dictment of the Public Prosecutor with conspiring against the life of the Emperor have been brought before the Court. The Procureur-G6n6ral made it known that there were three distinct plots against the Imperial dynasty and the safety of the State. The riots of last autumn and winter were said to be parts of the same conspiracy. The excitement and can fusion which prevailed on the occasion of the funeral of Victor Noir greatly increased the number of per sons captured on the charge of sedition. It has taken months to follow out the examinations of these charges, and the result has been that more than four hundred of the accused persons have been set at liberty. Among the curious incidents at the trial at Blois was the interruption, by the President, when the counsel for the prisoner, Megy, spoke of him as " Monsieur." The counsel retorted that the other day the Presi dent had complained of the prisoner, Pierre Bonaparte, not being styled " Prince." Out of the fifty-three prisoners thirty-seven were fully acquitted, the sixteen who remained were sentenced to diffe rent terms of imprisonment, ranging from fifteen to three years, with the exception of two, who were condemned to twenty years' imprisonment, one with and one without hard labour. e'-=7l; 4 ?', - 4 ' 5 ; r• ihAVS) „ el) c ourt .2- - Camb. Coats. LITERATURE. Sir Richard. ByPHugh Neville. 3 vols. Hurst and Blackett. The earlier volumes lead the reader to suppose, that the history of Sir Richard Merivale and Mary Grey is to prove the one exception to the accepted rule that " the course of true love never does run smooth." With these favoured lovers all is at first couleur de rose. Sir Richard Merivale, at the close of his minority, finds himself the independent master of Merivale Court, and twelve thou sand a year. He is, of course, handsome and accom plished, " of a kindly and generous disposition, ever will ing to take the world by the hand and believe it honest ; slow to do an injury, but quick to avenge one. His was a passionate, impulsive nature, open frank, generous, and free." Sir Richard falls in love at first sight with the fair daughter of his confidential agent and friend, Mr. Grey. His affection is returned, and " all goos merry as a marriage bell," notwithstanding the artful manoeuvres of George Merivale, of Elton Hall, who wishes to secure the wealthy baronet for his daughter Charlotte. George Merivale is perhaps the best drawn character in the story. He is a perfect master of the art velvet glove in his case, indeed, covers a hand of iron. Charlotte Merivale, his daughter, is worthy of her of concealing art, and is remarkable among his friends and family for the bland courtesy of his demeanor, but the parentage, and enters with all her heart into her father's ambitious schemes. The rival heroines are each peerless in a different way. The dark-eyed Charlotte is radiant and queenlike, but the fair Mary is " beautiful as a dream, with more of heaven than earth in her face " "two living pictures, each perfect hi its different concep tion, faultless, the spiritual, and the passionate." As we have already said, during the first two volumes the loves of Sir Richard and his betrothed run so smoothly that the experienced reader is disposed to regard the story as uneventful, but the third volume dissipates such an idea. A crowd of incidents and a whole tragedy of emotion are compressed within its pages. The story, which had lingered on its way, suddenly developes in interest and excitement, and reveals an artistic power in the writer, of which the preceding chapters contained little indication. Sirßichard Merivale, enriched with every virtue under the sun, finds them all rendered nugatory by one malignant fairy. Jealousy takes possession of his heart, kind friends are at hand to deepen the impression. The love so lavishly expressed in passionate speech and tender epistle (of which, in fact, the reader had become almost weary) is not proof against this enemy. It is a love apparently without confidence on either side. Iliac ilke lachrymcs. We must not say more, fair readers must seek for themselves the issue of the tale, and while they amuse their leisure with an instructive story may learn a profit able lesson from the ambitious Charlotte, the imprudent Mary, and the over hasty impetuous Sir Richard. A SUGGESTION. TO THE EDITOR OP " THE SUN." SlR,—During the present unfinished state of the Spit head forts, and considering the facilities with which an enemy might make an attack on Portsmouth, I venture to make the following suggestions; the carrying out of which would, I think, prove inexpensive, and be immedi ately available for defence, from the fact that the site of the proposed battery is in a measure ready to hand. I allude to the Esplanade at Southsea, connecting Southsea Castle with the garrison of Portsmouth. In rear of this Esplanade let excavations be made for the reception of twelve guns on the Moncrieff principle ; these excavations might be made by the garrison of Portsmouth, assisted by the convicts at that station. The work would not occupy a month. The guns might be stored in Southsea Castle or Portsmouth for transmission in a few minutes. In the absence of regular artillery they might be manned by Volun teer artillery. The value of such a line of defence would be incalculable, a batter a jZotte d'eau parallel to and com manding the anchorage of Spithead, the Spit channel, and the harbour channel; at a few hundred yards distance from the sea it would be nearly invisible. The covered way or parapet, ready to hand, would afford a safe communica tion from the garrison to Southsea Castle. The same plan might be adopted to connect Southsea Castle and Eastny Fort, and that fort, with Fort Cumberland, forming a com plete cordon round Portsmouth ; on the Gosport side also to connect the forts of Blackhouse and Fort Monckton. The latter would give with the esplanade guns a most de structive cross fire. Apologising for trespassing cn your time, but being well acquainted with the locality, I ven ture to offer these suggestions as being economical to exe cute and efficient for defence.—Yours obediently, DANIEL MTAY, Late Captain 55th Foot and Denbigh Militia. 79, Tavistock-crescent, Westbourne-park. ROYAL 'VICTORIA YACHT CLUB REGATTA. The race onFrida,y was for the Vice-Commodore's Cup, round the Isle of Weight, for which a large fleet was entered, and amongst them some of the fastest vessels afloat. At ten precisely the starting gun was fired, the .course being to the eastward, with a nice fresh breeze from the north-east, and a young flood tide running to the westward. The Nab Light was passed as follows : H. M. S. 9 46 35 Gwen&liue M. S. Yleiad and Rose of lone Devon 9 47 0 Guinevere .. Oimara ... 9 41 5 ... 9 55 5 ... 9 45 35 The course from St. Catharine's to the Needles was against a flood tide, but the Guinevere arrived at the Needles at one o'clock, the Fiona being second, but here the wind fell to a calm, and the vessels getting jammed by the tide, which on rounding the Needles would then be against them, as it would rim out until after four o'clock. At the time this report was despatched none of the racing vessels were in sight. Speaking of the suspension of specie payments by the Bank, the Times says that looking at the universal pro pensity of the French population for hoarding in times of disturbance, and the increasing momentum of the drain from the Bank, the resolution now adopted can hardly be considered premature. The war demand, coupled with that on the part of the people, would, in the course of a few further days, have caused another heavy diminution, and the panic, then inevitable, would probably have swept away the balance. It is better that it should remain, so far as the exigencies of the war may permit, in the vaults of the Bank, to serve as the foundation for a resumption of pay ments at the proper time, than that it should be dis persed for months or years in hiding-places through out the country. The effect of the suspension on other countries must be to lessen the demand for specie. The Standard observes that the suspension has long been regarded as only a question of time. The general derangement of commerce from that circumstance, as well as of the extension of time for paying acceptances, has, however, strengthened the opinion that English securities will soon be in greater request by foreigners, as the safest media for in vestment, and that mest Continental stocks will be more or less prejudiced. Renewed operations for a rise have consequently taken place. TILE POSITIONS OF THE ARMIES.-111 a letter from Berlin on Tuesday, the correspondent of the Standard says :—The German forces are regarded as consisting of three armies. The first, under General Von Steinmetz, has. at the present moment its head-quarters at Sulzbach, its; outport3 at Forbach and Saarbrucken. The second, undue Prince Frederick Charles, has its head-quarters at Bliesea-tel, and its outposts at Saargemund. The third * under e:nnmand of the Crown, Prince has its head... quare;:. uerth. Of course, a single day suffices irt such in , as these to make the outposts of the morn ing the head-quarters of the evening, but the details I have given will enable anyone in possession of them to follow and almost to anticipate the course taken by ti:ese three co-operating armies in their march. The following is believed to be the die posititn of the corps d'arrnee of the French. On the' north, forming the extreme left wing, is the 4th - Corp', under Ladlnirault. This is by Thionville. Frosatti's corps, the nd, was to the south-east of Forbach, but must blow be considered to have fallen considerably further back. Near him, b u t on his right, is Marsh Ba,aine, with the Corps. It must be taken tali be hetween St. Avoid ;old Metz. Near St. Avoid,: Mc._ wise, is the cave' ;of the reserve. All these corpoi r.re under the co- ::and of Bazaine. South of them come) the nth •wider General de Pally, near to Bitsche and ~nd it, to the right, the Ist Corps of M`Mahon - ,11 the Ist and the sth, however, being under M`Mahon's direction. The 6th, 7th, and Bth Corps, commanded by Canrobert, Douay, and Bourbaki respectively, but all under the direction of the first of them, compose thd reserve. The Tablet says Victor Emmanuel's abdication and retirement to Turin is currently reported, and an apart ment in the Royal Palace there is being prepared for the Kin's wife, the Contessa Mirafiores and her children, a circumstance which tends to confirm the rumour. Prince Humbert, on the other hand, is coming more prominently before the public, and is preparing to take the supreme command of the Italian army, three divisions of which are to be ranged along the Roman frontiers. Fiona THE EUROPEAN WAR THE SUN, which is Published Every Morning at Eight o'clock, with SOME HOURS' LATER NEWS than any other paper, will always give the LATEST .N EWS of the WAR, and of all other events. 9s. 6d Tc repr, cross Voss Ge of Po Th ties Pren infon corps enem seize( move Th ago o "I by de Some thous a blo ous 1 def ec tea is COT Seder itself «n forty Las atorc hand retr( they seen. ties I qual it co his 1 been cab app a su yen unfi day sum sen, chi( surL for •