The Sun. — London, England, 1870-07-29 00:00:00

y of / or cl and Dr. the Dwn s on the 'ion, tion ould did .ces - Vow hard 'hen i he lifax I so word use, ided City f an ncial Par es of med, ving ime. were ut a rued rdly tion will oubt con- may who wise ;ical e-la tem- man long in ce ging ae of M, King ad a orge 6tion .;ipal miry ship. Cling raud John rmer Lilies ~ssel, n to ecu- that ;h of d on tone toed, and the noti- din um- Sur- ving 1 be Bnry ty of or of ears ive's er at has Pro- d on L her 3sty. xty :..ity , nng t is van- The enly d to 3 be ness it is oyal 10th iary .med %1 at de fers, be and of darn to ean, vity 3nce ,the the was that the uses of of Lead lout uth, :...., is of ther d of ex- ter- lers 3ded Sup ions Dis ngs SPECIAL EDITION. SUN OFFICE, 7 o'CLocK. THIS EVENING'S NEWS. IN' PERIAL F'ARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.-THIS EVENING. THE SECRET TREATY. In the House of Lords this evening the Earl of Mahnesbury asked whether the Government could give any information with respect to an appalling letter which appeared in this day's Times, respecting the projected treaty between France and Prussia. Earl. GRANVILLE said he had received a telegram similar to tNe letter in the Times, and he had also received an answer from the French Ambassador in London, that the proposals referred to originated with Prussia, and that the French Government had positively declined to interfere with Belgium. The noble earl then read the dis patch referred to. HOUSE OF COMMONS.—This EVENING. 'The Speaker took the chair at ten minutes past two o'clock. THE FRENCH FLEET IN THE BALTIC. Mr. STAPLETON gave notice of his intention to ask the First Minister of the Crown whether contracts had been entered into with the French fleet in the Baltic to supply coal direct from this country. CHURCH-RATES IN SCOTLAND. 11Ir. WLAREN gave notice that next session he should Itsk leave to bring a Bill for the abolition of church-ratesin Scotland. WAR PRIZES. Admiral ERSKOTE asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the decree, a copy of which appears in the Times of the 28th July, and in which Prussia renounces her rights as a belligerent to capture or seize as prizes of war French merchant vessels, except under circumstances which would render neutral vessels liable to capture, was authentic : and, if the French Govern ment have sent to her Majesty's Government the i nstructions to their consuls regarding French and Frus- Irian merchant vessels, as promised to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs previous to the 21st ins Cant. Mr. OTWAY replied that he had not .a copy of the Times with him, but he did see, either yesterday or the day be. f ore, an authentic copy of the. Prussian instructions in the Timms, With regard to the second pa l rt otthe question, the Government had had no specific communication with the French Consular Office. • STEAM COAL. Mr. FOTHERGILL called attention to the quality of the steam coal in use in her Majesty's steam fleet. A long discussion followed, butno particular result was arrived at. SUPPLY. The House went into Committee of Supply on the vote of £73,150 being proposed for medical, stores for the navy service.—Mr. Russell-Gurney objected t° the estimate for the purpose of carrying out the Contagious Diseases Acts, and ho moved the reducing the vote by £3,700. He remarked that although an i nquiry had been promised by the Government into the working of the Act, steps had been taken in Southampton 94 if the Government had acted upon a foregone conclu -BLi°ll*—Mv. Childers replied that no steps had b een recently taken with respect to the extension of the acts at Southampton, anti it was not intended to make any permanent arrangements there until the in qui'? was concluded.—Mr. Henley remarked that the means which had been adopted for the stifling of " cussion both in the House and elsewhere made Ll l° Public doubt the bona files of the Government, e wanted a pos iti ve assurance th a t no s t eps wculd I2e taken to interfere with the operations of the acts until l'arliament had expressed an opinion on their merits. -- l it Childers observed that whether the acts were ex tended or altogether stopped, it would ap pear to be a foregone conclusion. So long as the acts were in force they must be put in °Peration, but he had tried to steer a middle course. Tho Vote Was then agreed to. (LEFT SITTING.) THE WAR. EXPECTED COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES. A telegram dated Paris, July 28 (evening) says General Lebrun the Adjutant-General of the army, arrived at St. Cloud early this morning, and the intelligence brought by from the frontier is presumed to have somewhat fastened the Emperor's departure. It 4 "-0 expected the Imperial proclamation to the Army of the Rhine will be issued to the troops this evening. The Emperor's departure for the seat of war is believed 11 " o on good authority to indicate the immediate com ment of the great operations prepared by the move- Inent s of different corps towards the frontier during the last week. To-d a y it was stated in well-informed quarters that a considerable French force was already in the enemy's territory, having crossed the frontier two days ago. General Montauban if still designated for the command of a corps to be disembarked on the Prussian coast, and another important expedition, report says for Southern Germany, may be entrusted to General Trochu. Admiral Diendonne's squadron is cruising between the Weser and the Elbe. The belief is still prevalent here that the Prussians are at present pursuing a defensive policy, and wish that the French should cross the Rhine before giving battle. Two hundred boats filled with troops have gonelown tile Moselle from Treves to Coblentz. A letter from Treves of the 25th speaks of Prussian concentration at Mayence. Of the movements of the French corps nothing is known beyond that large bodies of troops are leaving Metz in a north-easterly direction. I BENCH TOWNS IN A STATE OF SIEGE. An official decree, published this morning, dated July 1 27 , proclaims a state of siege at the following towns : ketz, Thionville, Longwy, Bitche, Mansal, Phalsbourg, kontmedy, Verdun, [Strasbourg, Schelestadt, New Bri -84012, Belfort, Lichleuberg, and Petite Pierre. THE FRENCH CURRENCY. The Offi c i a l J ourna l contradicts the rumour that it was *le intention of the Bank of France to obtain a forced c urrency for its notes, and says that the Bank never de nlanded such a measure, and would energetically reject it if. Proposed, as inopportune and disastrous. The Bank believes itself perfectly able, with the means already at Its disposal, to meet all requirements. PRIM AGAINST FRANCE. The Opinione National says that General Prim is trying to arm Spain against France. ASSISTING THE ENEMY. The Journal Ofwiel states that anybody furnishing the ! e nemy with money will be liable to the punishment of death. The intimation is supposed to be chiefly directed against one or two bankers, who, though foreigners by t r bl rth, • Frenchmen by naturalisation, and who have been aiding Prussia underhandedly. AUSTRIA. (th„Az Imperi a l d ecree h as b een pu bli s h e d t hi s morn i ng , e 29th, empowering the National Bank tc treat bills lupon foreign houses to a maximum amount of 36,000,000, a's Part of the cash reserve legally required for the oiroula ti°ll of its notes. w4ILITARY PREPARATIONS IN HUNGARY. tln the sitting of the 28th of the Lower House, the Pre ent of the Ministry introduced two bills, one grantinw Bu PPlementary InY th e War credit of five millions of florins required Office, the other authorising the calling co t for serv i ce, before its proper time in October, the ntingent of 1870. The House voted the two bills ;went. li, C . l 3 l :!les, Duke of Holstein-Glucksburg, the brother of --ing of Denmark, has resolved to take part in the ; Ge rman campaign against France. m "I' llast .14,4114 at the Impe r i a l Palace. arrived at Strasburg, and he is 1— ‘•;It YST AL PALACE.—The last of the summer con- Zt: takes place to-morrow (Saturday), when Mdlle. Zn. di Murska, Mdlle. Lewitzky, Madame Sinico, Mr. W e i- , l l.i nley, signor Foli, and other artists, will sing. The w e ,, e ,. 1 .. 8110 w drawing to a close has been attended by up palace 01 .60,900 persons.. The new war court at the tr act • increases in interest. Among . the most at eh lye objects are the fine collection of rifles (including ci: BB ePots, needle guns, Martin-Henries, &c.), the sir wiitt, armour plates of the Prussian ironclad Konigd pho;:ni, the models of Moncreiff and other guns, an nat e graphs of th e F renc h an d Prussian commanders and exienlen, and of places of interest on the Rhine. The °llion receives important additions daily. THE FATAL ACC DENT TO THE LATE HUN. F. CHARIERIS. THE INQUEST-THIS DAY. This morning Mr. Bedford, Coroner for Westminster, held an inquest at St. James's Vestry Hall, 'Piccadilly, on the body of the Hon. F. Chbrteris, eldest son of Lord Elcho, M.P., who was shot in the forehead last Friday while examining a pistol. The jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was adduced :—• Colonel Charteris stated that he was uncle to the deceased, who was 26 years of age, and gene rally enjoyed good health. The deceased was usually very careless in the use of fire arms, and had frequently been remonstrated with by members of the family on the subject. He (witness) dined with him on the Wednesday previous to the acci dent when he seemed in his usual health and spirits. Thomas Skillett deposed : I have been valet to the deceased for ten months. On Friday last I called him at eight o'clock in the morning, and took his breakfast up about half-past nine. At ten o'clock he asked me to fetch him a copy of the Times, and I went out for the purpose of procuring one. On my return, as I did not see deceased in his room, I put the paper on the table, and left it there; when I went out the housemaid was in the house. There were also the two Misses Charteris and a French nurse maid. When he asked me to fetch the paper he appeared perfectly calm. He did not give me any other orders for the day. I put the paper down in the library, and had just got down stairs when I was called by the housemaid, who said she heard the deceased groaning. lat once went up stairs, and found him lying in the little room next the library, on the floor. The Coroner : Did you observe anything near him? Witness : I saw a pistol lying on the seat of the closet adjoining the little room. I did not hear any report of firearms. I afterwards examined the pistol, and found that one of the chanibers had been discharged. I did not examine all the chambers, but I saw that several of them were loaded. I knew the pistol ;it was kept in a glass cupboard in deceased's bedroom. The pistol produced is the same. There was a little smoke in the room. The pistol was not generally kept loaded. I know this because I occasionally examine and clean it. About a month ago, when deceased went into the country he took it with him, and I examined it when he came back. It was not then loaded, neither was it when I saw it in the month of May. The deceased was going to breakfast alone in the library. When I discovered him on the floor I first felt his hands, but found I could do nothing. He did not speak, and I sent to 17, Arlington-street, for Dr. Illingworth. I also ran myself for Dr. Coulson, who returned with me. Colonel Charteris, the deceased's uncle, and Sir William Ferguson were also sent for at once. By the Jury : The deceased had apparently fallen for ward after receiving the wound. Eliza Edwards, the housemaid, deposed to hearinc , the deceased groan as she was coming downstairs. She did not go into the room, but gave the alarm and called the last witness. Mr. Walter Coulson, 29, St. James-place, consulting surgeon, said : I was called to the deceased about five minutes past ten on Friday morning by the valet, and I found him lying on his left side on the floor of the apart ment adjoining the library, with his left arm thrown back wards and behind him. He was breathing stertoriously, and was quite insensible. The left side of his head was in a pool of blood. I turned his head round in order to see where the wound was inflicted. I discovered that the bullet had entered the left orbit, above the eye and immediately below the inner side of the eyebrow. I at once sent for Sir William Ferguson, who came directly. I had previously observed a pistol standing against the wall in the library. We had the patient re moved from the small room into the library, and together we carefully examined the wound. We discovered that the bullet had penetrated behind the nasal bones, had in flicted an injury on the right eye, and had also injured the right side of the brain. I was sure from the first it was a fatal case. There were no traces of powder about the face and this being so it was clear that if powder was used the pistol could not have been held very close to the face. The eyelashes and eyebrows were not scorched. It was generally the case when persons committed suicide that they held the muzzle close to the face, and there were always marks of powdet. The absence of such marks would therefore go to show that the pistol went off accidentally. The injury to the brain by the bullet was the cause of death. Mr. John Wyatt, Surgeon-Major in the Coldstream Guards -deposed : I know the deceased well, but had not attended him professionally before the accident. I saw him several times just before that occurred. I cannot say he was in exactly good health, as he had been troubled with an affection of the eyesight and had also a chronic affection, which had resulted in considerable general debility. He, however, was not depressed in spirits in consequence, but was of a cheerful disposition. The Coroner : In the course of the conversations you have had with him has he ever intimated anything which would cause you to suspect that he premeditated self-destruction ? Witness : Certainly not ; quite the reverse. On the last two occasions of my seeing him he was at Wimble don, where I had charge of the medical department. The deceased took part in the shooting, and on both occasions expressed a wish to be able to see some part of the encounter between the French and Prussians in the pend ing war. He said he believed a visit to the Rhine would do him a great deal of good. He spoke of it in the most cheerful tone, and did not speak about fire-arms. He left Wimbledon in good spirits. The Coroner : You say you never observed anything to cause you to suspect the deceased would commit suicide. Could you express a belief that he would nct do so? Witness : The thought never entered my mind. Having had experience in gun-shot wounds throughout the Crimean Campaign, I think it is impossible the pistol could have been held close to the eye when it was dis charged, because if it had been there must have been marks of powder, and further, the bullet must have penetrated completely through the temple. He was also inclined to think it must have been an accident, because a right-handed man would scarcely have shot himself on the left side if it was an in tentional act. The result of the post-mortem examination went to confirm the impression, as they found the brain was perfectly healthy. Colonel Charter's said there were several gentlemen present who knew the deceased intimately, and could speak to the general cheerfulness of his disposition, if necessary. The learned coroner, however, said he thought they had plenty of evidence before them. The jury would have no difficulty in deciding that the deceased met with his death by a wound caused by the discharge of the pistol. That was clear from the medical evidence but then came the anxious and distressing question, they had to determine —was that wound inflicted by the hand of the deceased himself, with the intention of destroying his life, or was it the result of an accident. To ground such a serious verdict as that of suicide, there ought to be some distinct evidence to satisfy their minds that it was such, and if there was an absence of that con clusive testimony which was necessary, they would then have to consider if there was any evidence which would justify them in saying the wound was inflicted acci dentally, because if so their verdict would be one of accidental death. They had still, however, a third course open if they were not satisfied under either of the two heads he had mentioned. They had still an open verdict left them. Of course if they thought it was a case of suicide the act of felony would be excused if the evidence pointed to the deceased's insanity at the time. The learned coroner then alluded to the various facts elicited, and said they, to his mind, all pointed towards an acci dent, and it seemed a likely solution that whilst carelessly examining the pistol it had gone off, and inflicted the wound as stated. The jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of "Accidental death." The V Coroner said that with such evidence he did not see the jury could do otherwise. The result of the inquest, he was sure, would be a source of great comfort to Lord Elcho and his family. They had the deep sympathy of the public, and he was sure the verdict would be universally approved of. The Foreman said he wished to express on behalf of the jury their deep and heartfelt sympathy with Lord and Lady Elcho under their sad bereavement. The proceedings then terminated. The Lancet says the fears entertained from the first that this unfortunate young nobleman's recovery was hopeless have been confirme d. He died at 12.30 p.m. on Thursday It appears that the bullet passed in at the left orbit below the inner end of the eyebrow, crossing and damaging extensively the ethmoid bone, leaving the nasal bones uninjured. Then, entering the right orbit, as was apparent from the extensive effusion of blood in the eyelids, it had probably been deflected into the cranium, where it inflicted fatal lesion on the right hemisphere of the brain. This, in the absence of a post-mortem examination, seems borne out by the paralysis of the left side, which supervened very shortly after the injury. Mr. Walter Coulson first saw the patient, and immediately sent for Sir William Fergusson, when the wound was carefully examined, and they at once pro nounced it of a fatal nature. The patient has been seen daily . by Sir William Fergusson, Surgeon-Major Wyatt remaining in the house in constant attendance. PROJECTS OF THE GOVERNMENT.—The London correspondent of the Manchester Courier writes :—"There is a rumour afloat that the Government mean to propose a considerable supplementary estimate for the purpose of 'mobilising' the militia, or, at least, bringing it up to its full strength. If that be so, I believe occasion will be taken by the Opposition formally to direct the attention of Parliament and the country ,to the extensive reductions in the strength of ll arms of our military forces—considerably surpassing it is said, what the House of Commons approved of when the army estimates were moved. And if that opportunity is not afforded, the Opposition will make one for itself. The Times is beginning to open its columns to letters and communications in that direction, which is an ominou' sign for Mr. Cardwell. The Government is doing its best to push on the estimates, and when all the money has been got, you will find the session suddenly shut up with a remarkable alacrity. There is a talk of the prorogation being fixed for Tuesday, the 9th, but I hardly think that the business will be huddled up by that time. Were this treaty business satisfactorily explained away, it would be an unmixed advantage if the House of Commons could be got rid of. The friends of peace and neutrality are kept in a perpetual tremble lest some unlucky, indiscreet speech should commit us in some way or other, Foreign nations, unfortunately, don't understand the exact composition of our House of Commons, An M.P, is an M.P. in their eyes, and a }Viands, or anybody else of equal loquacity and ignorance, might do more harm in ten minutes than all the tact or knowledge of a Gladstone or a Disraeli oould remedy in a week. FHE MONEY MARKET AND ( Kit(JIAL NTELL CI EN CE. CITY, Two O'CLOCK Business on Stock Exchange almost entirely suspended. Fortnightly accounts absorbing attention. In Foreign Bonds and Railway Stock business is limited, the quota tions being almost nominal. Consols are now 891 to 891 for money, and 89i for account ; Three per Cent. Reduced, 891 to 89! ; New Three per Cents., 891 ; India Five per Cents., 1091 to 1091; ditto Four per Cents., 15 10 prem. In the Foreign Market Brazilian Bonds of 1865 are 86 to 87; Egyptian Seven per Cents. of 1864, 81 83; ditto of 1868, 69 to 68 ; Spanish of 18C", 23i to 24 ; ditto of 1869, 23i to 231 ; ditto Quicksilver, 681- ; Peru vian, 83 to 85; Turkish Five per Cents. of 1865, 37 38 ; ditto of 1869, 47 to 48 ; and Five per Cent. Italian of 1865, 80. The Railway Market—Metropolitan are 66i to 67 ; Great Eastern is 32; ; London and Brighton, 35 ; Caledonian, 731; South-Eastern 65 to 651; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, 39; to 41; Great Northern, 115 ; ditto (A), 122; North Eastern; 133 1 to 134 ; London and North-Western, 1224 to 1231; Midland, 1221 ; Lancashire and Yorkshire, 1261 to 127 ; Great Western, 62. Canada Five per Cents. are quoted 98 to 981 ex div. ; New South Wales Five per Cents., 98 to 98k ex div. ; New Zealand Five per Cents., 93 to 94 ; Queensland Six per Cents., 102 to 102/ ex div. ; Victoria Five per Cents., 98 to 981 ex div. ; and ditto Six per Cents., 107. Telegraph Shares—Anglo-American, 80 to 82f ; British Indian, 7 to 71 ; China, 44 to 4 dis.; Falmouth, 91 to 91; French Cable, 15 to 151; and Construction and Main tenance, 224. In American Securities, Five-Twenty Bonds are quoted at 814 to 824 ; Ten-Forties, 78 to 81.; Erie Shares, 15 to 16.; Illinois, 99 to 100 ; Atlantic and Great Western Consolidated Mortgage Bonds, 19 to 20 ; and ditto De bentures, 25 to 30. In Bank shares Affiance are quoted 12i ; Anglo- Austrian, 15 4; Chartered Mercantile, 26 to 28 ; Consolidated, 4 4 ; Imperial Ottoman, 11 to 104 ; London and County, 494; London and Westminster, 5961; London Joint Stock, 32 ; and Union of London 37. In Miscellaneaus Shares Berlin Water Works are quoted 12 ; Viceroy of Egypt 7 per cent. Mortgage Loan, 68 to 7i ; National Discount Company, 101 ; and Peninsular and Oriental Steam, 40. Four additional failures have been announced in the Stock Exchange, making a total of 30 failures since the war panic. Few of them have been for large amounts, the greatest losses having been met by brokers and dealers, who from their 'own means or by the assistance of friends have been enabled to fulfil all their engagements. A meeting of the creditors of Mr, Magnus, of the Pimlico Slate Works, was held on Wednesday, at Dyers' Hall, Dowgate-hill. The liabilities are £35,411, and the assets £47,641. It was resolved that Mr. Magnus should carry on his business as heretofore, and that time should be given to realise the property without sacrifice, and the creditors paid in full. Mr. Magnus's propositions were agreed to without a single dissentient voice. The meeting was unanimous in expression of sympathy with Mr. Magnus, and deep confidence in his honour and integrity. Mr. Herbert Farren, secretary to the Valencia Slate Slab Company, Limited, was unan ously appointed trustee. At an adjourned meeting of creditors of Messrs. Joseph Long and Co., Manchester, the resolution accepting the offer of 2s. 6d. in the pound was confirmed. According to the Manchester Courier, Messrs. Cooke and Son, grey cloth agents, have found it necessary to call a meeting of their creditors. The liabilities are not large. The Bank of France return this week shows a diminu tion of £2,800,000 in the stock of bullion, and an increase of £7,640,000 in the bills discounted, and £2,280,000 in the notes issued. The directors of the London and County Bank have decided on paying the usual dividend of 6 per cent., with a bonus of 2} per cent., being together 8} per cent. for the half-year ended June last, and equal to 17 per cent. per annum, carrying forward £7,000. The advices from Buenos Ayres by the present mail are to the Ist of July, and bring no new commercial intelli gence. Money had become abundant at the compartively low rate of 8 per cent., and the National Internal Bonds were firm at 691. In the southern part of the province a raid of Indians had caused the death of many persons and a great loss of cattle. From Brazil the chief intelligence on this occasion re lates to a frost which had occurred in the provinces of Minas Gsraes, San Paulo, &c., such as had not been experienced for 30 years, causing much destruction among the tobacco, cotton, and coffee plantations. The Liverpool Journal of Commerce states :—" To-day there has been great anxiety. On the Stock Exchange several failures were announced, and among them Messrs. Bold and Lawrence, Jones and Townley, C. W. Fry, T. S Todd, Thomas Morecroft, Taunton and Co., W. R. Martin, and Powles. There was a meeting of creditors to-day for the choice of a trustee on the estate of Mr. Henry Thompson, provision dealer. It was stated that debts to the amount of £28,693 had been proved, and Mr. John Blease, in face of considerable opposition, was ap pointed trustee. The public examination has been fixed for the 27th proximo." The Committee of the House of Lords unanimously decided that the Government should purchase the Jersey and Guernsey Telegraph. The annual report of the Birkbeck Building Society declared a bonus of £1 per share above the 5 per cent. interest allowed, and in addition to the bonuses previously allotted, being equal to upwards of 15 per cent. per annum for the last ten years. Messrs. Rothschild have announced that the bonds of the Spanish Quicksilver Mortgage Loan are now ready for delivery. MARKETS.-THIS DAY T EIE S UTiN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 29, 1870. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. GOODWOOD RACES.—This DAY (BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) STRAFFORD STAKES. Cheesewring Bide-a-Wee. Ramahoo MARCH STAKES, Gladness Ushant St. George. Eight ran. CHESTERFIELD CUP. Soucar.. Tabernacle Border Knight. Sixteen ran. NASSAU .STAKES. Agility Waif ..... Cestus. NURSERY STAKES. Anton ......... Rose of Athol Hepatica f Sixteen ran. QUEEN'S PLATE Paganini... Cauldron... .• . DUKE OF RICHMOND'S PLATE. Heather Bell Vestminster Brambridge..... .............. . . Ethht ran. BETTING ON THE COURSE. ST. LEGER. 900 to 400 agst Kingcratf (taken) 15 to 2 agst Macgregor (taken) 1000 to 60 agst Tabernacle (taken) 20 to 1 agst Sunlight (taken) 30 to 1 agst Normanby (offered) 40 to 1 agst Alexander (taken) LONDON GAZETTE-THIS EVENING. DOWNING-STREET, JULY 28. The Queen has been graciously pleased to make the following appointments to the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George. To be Ordinary Mem bers of the Third Class or Companions of the said Order : —Lieutenant-Colonel Howard Craufurd Elphinstone, R. E., C. 8., Governor to His Royal Highness Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert. Donald M`Lean, Esq., Member of the Executive Council of the Colony of New Zealand, and Minister for Native Affairs in that colony. MARK-LANE, Quietness has been the feature of the grain trade at Mark-lane to-day. There has been a moderate supply of English wheat on sale, including some additional samples of new produce. For all descriptions the demand has been quiet at above late rates. With foreign wheat the market has been fairly supplied. Sales have, progressed slowly at drooping prices. The show of barley has been moderate, without being active ; the trade has been firm. at full quotations. "A DIVORCE SCANDAL." TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—We notice in your evening edition of yester day a paragraph headed• as above, and which is in accurate in one or more important particulars. The respondent, Mrs. Eaton, is not, as you state, the daughter of the canon referred to, but of a gentleman residing in Tasmania, and the marriage in question took place in that island, not at West Kirby. Your reporter is correct in stating that the co-respondent, F. A. Campbell, is a Rear-Admiral in her Majesty's Navy. We shall feel obliged by your insertion of this letter. — And are, sir, yours obediently, the petitioners' proctors, NELSON AND SON. 6, Godliman street, Doctors'-commons, 29th July, 1870. DANGER OF THROWING FUZEES IN THE STREET. Two serious fires occurred this morning through the dangerous practice of persons smoking throwing the re mains of lighted fuzees into the street. One happened in the premises of Mr. G. A. Christmas, a florist, No. 257, Camberwell-road. In the course of a few minutes the front shop and the first floor were in flames, and the fire quickly extended to 257, belonging to Mr. T. P. Hubble, a dyer, as well as to No. 353, in the occupation of Mr. E. Field, a furrier. The flames were not subdued until two houses were partly destroyed, and the last named greatly damaged by fire, water, &c. The principal loss will fall upon the County Fire Office. The other fire took place at No. 71, Marylebone-lane, belonging to Mr. G. Fuller ton, a tobacconist, and Mr. J. W. Edgar, a gas fitter. The shops were in a blaze before an engine had time to arrive, Both shops were burned out ; and the rest of the buildings seriously damaged. CRYSTAL PALACE. ONE SHILLING DAY. THURSDAY.—Admissions by season tickets, 2,725 i ditto on payment, 4,527. Total visitors, 7,251 Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales will start from Copenhagen to-morrow, and may be expected to arrive in London on Monday evening or Tuesday morning. Tile inhabitants of a small German town named Osierode have, as we are informed by the Ind@pendance Beige, offered a reward of 10,000 thalers "to whomsoever shall take the Emperor Napoleon, alive dead." The service which these patriotic burghers demand in return for their thalers is not without perils. ADMIRALTY, JULY 26. In accordance with the provisions of her Majesty's Order in Council of the 22nd February, 1870, the undermentioned officers have been placed on the Retired List of their respective ranks :—Paymasters : Frederick Gransmore, from this date. Joseph G. W. Hoare, from the 22nd inst. Mr. Gransmore has been al lowed to assume the rank of Paymaster-in-Chief from the date of his retirement. Assistant Paymaster George W. de L. Willis, from this date. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-THIS DAY. FREQUENCY OF CONVICTIONS FOR WANTON. CRUELTY. — John Green, a cabdriver, was summoned by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, at the Marlborough-street Police-court, for wantonly flogging a horse. Sir Henry Hoare, Bart., deposed that on the afternoon of the 9th inst., while in Albemarle-street, his attention was called to the defendant, who was driving a four-wheeled cab, by seeing him violently lashing the horse, which was going at a moderate pace, there being !ilo fare in the cab, and the horse having done nothing to justify such treatment. Young, an officer of the society, said the defendant ad mitted hitting the horse two or three times. The de fendant said that he only hit the horse two or three times, and smacked his whip a few times. Sir H. Hoare said he felt bound to state that defendant was very civil when he spoke to him. The magistrate said the treatment of horses by some men was very bad, and he never could understand what delight men felt in tormenting horses. The defendant will have to pay 205., or 14 days. The above offence appears to be very prevalent, about half a dozen cases of a similar kind had in the past fort night been prosecuted by the society to conviction at the instance of Sir Henry Hoare. MURDEROUS ASSAULT.—Margaret Buckley, aged 22, a strong, noisy woman, was brought before Mr. Lushington, at the Thames Police-court, charged with savagely assault ng and wounding William Fowler, a labourer. The par ities were in a public-house in Shadwell, yesterday after noon, and a good deal of beer drinking was going on. The complainant had been treating several friends, and at last he said he would be twopence to any other person's two pence for another pot of beer. The prisoner then began to abuse him because he would not pay for beer for her, and without any provocation took up a quart pewter pot, with which she struck him a murderous blow on the head with it, inflicting a severe wound, from which blood flowed freely for some time. Mr. Lushington said the prisoner was in danger of being sent to the Central Criminal Court on a charge affecting her life, while she used such ;dangerous weapons. She was a turbulent and savage woman, and had com mitted a very brutal and unprovoked assault. He sentenced her to two months' imprisonment and hard labour. EXTRAORDINARY CONDUCT OF MARINE STORE DEALERS. —John Young was charged, at the above Court, with stealing an iron air grating, the property of Mr. Thomas George Pearson. The prosecutor is laying down new gullies and gratings in the neighbourhood of Limehouse, and has a great deal of property necessarily exposed there. A police constable named Thomas Norman, a detective of the K division, saw the prisoner call at several marine store dealers' shops, and learned that he had been offering an air grating for sale at the price of old iron. He could not get a purchaser for it. Norman arrested him, and obtained from him the name of the place where the air grating was deposited. It was worth 555., and at the old iron price it would not have obtained as many pence. It was identified by Mr. George Harvey, time-keeper to the prosecutor. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and hard labour. THIS MORNING'S NEWS. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) BUSINESS IN LIVERPOOL. The increasing downward tendency in the cotton mar ket is causing, and if it be not arrested numbers of firms will be ruined. Two more failures were reported on the Stock Exchange yesterday, though the general tone of business was better. PARTY EXhIBITIONS IN IRELAND. Judge Fitzgerald, in opening the commission of the Ty rone Assizes yesterday. strongly condemned the con tinuanc e of party exhibitions, and said that if they were persisted in with the same manifestations of ill-will as heretofore it would become the duty of the judges to ad vise the Government to place the Tyrone under the pro visions of the Peace Preservation Act. NEW GUMMI:ATI:AND ASSIZE COURT AT ALYMOUTH. With full civic pomp, in the presence of a very large concourse of spectators, many of whom were from neigh bouring boroughs, yesterday afternoon, was laid at Ply mouth the foundation-stone of the new Guildhall and Assize Courts, and public buildings about to be erected. The cost of the same is estimated at £40,000. There was accommodation for many hundreds provided by raised platforms. Mr. Alfred Rooker, as chairman of the build ing committee, requested the mayor (Mr. Luscombe) to lay the stone, which he did amid the cheers of the assembly and the ringing of the bells of the adjacent church. The building is to be completed in two years. IRISH SYMPATHY WITH FRANCE. The associated trades of Limerick have called a monster meetineon Sunday next to express sympathy with France. The chair is to be taken by a leading Nationalist. Extra police are being drafted into the city. FAILURE IN BRADFORD. It has been ascertained that the liabilities of Messrs. Hallewell and Crabtree, wool, merchants, Bradford, whose failure has been already announced, are not likely to ex ceed one hundred and twenty thousand pounds. One hundred thousand of this amount has been incurred on behalf of the Constantinople Arm, and the assets will greatly depend upon the realisation of that estate. The claim of the Bradford Banking Company against Halle well and Crabtree is under ten thonsaud pounds. It is not expected that there will be a creditors' meeting until about the middle of August, FATAL ACCIDENT TO A LADY. At Adderley, Cheshire, yesterday, a married lady, named Carvell, riding in a pony carriage, was thrown out upon the road by a sudden starting of the horse, and the carriage overturning, she was instantly killed. OUR COTEMPORARIES—This Morning. PRUSSIA AND ENGLAND, The Post says the article in Count Bismarck's or gan the North German Gazette, which accuses England of be coming an arsenal on the French frontier for the use of France is a direct threat to this country. The accu sations it contains are thoroughly unfounded, after Count Bismarck's usual fashion, but the menace is genuine and unmistakable. It is the fulfilment, of the Projet de Trnite conceived in the broin of the Chan cellor of the North German kingdom, and dictated by him, in his own bad French, to M. Benedetti. That France is not desirous of acquiring by brigandage the territory of weak, peaceful, and. inoffensive neighbours is proved by the fact that she fights Prussia. That England is steadfast and honourable in her neutrality is shewn by the attitude of her Government and people. It remains for North Germany to struggle with France more fairly on the battle-field than in the domain of intrigue, for if Prus sia ventures to violate neutrality of Belgium, tne ffrst to resent the outrage will he the Power whose " trade " and prestige the Berlin papers threaten to extinguish. Our neutrality, if not armed, is none the less watchful, and if the sea is touched, this country will know how to main tain its European position. EARL GRANVILLE'S STATEMENT. The Times says nothing could be more flattering to Lord Granville than the reception in the House of Lords yes terday of his statement on the negotiations preceding the Declaration of War. Lord Granville was simple and natural, without in any degree departing from the dignity of his position, and his narrative was clear and succinct. without seeking perspicuity and brevity at the cost of omitting the difficult and obscure parts of the history. These critical Peers do good service to the State in their peculiar line, and so long as Lord Grey plays, with his great ability, the part of a candid friend, and Lord Salis bury supplies candour without the pretence of friendship, Ministerial errors will not pass uncorrected. Their silence was a negative tribute to Lord Granville's successful per formance of his duty. Those who did speak praised him with warmth and generosity. Lord Russell approved everything that had been done with something of the satisfaction, if we may not say benignity, proper in a veto. an who had first installed Lord Granville at the For eign Office nearly twenty years ago. The Times goes on to say. It is probable that nothing could have prevented a war already resolved upon, but a more direct remonstrance at the earlier stages of negotiation would have warned the Imperial Government that the total want of sympathy they now resent with surprise would certainly await them if they proceeded to extremities on such slender, if not imaginary, ground s of provocation. Lord Granville apparently inclines. to the opinion that but for the affair at Ems war might have been avoided, and he yesterday quoted a vivid passage from a dispatch of Lord Lyons in support of this view. Lord Malmesbury, on the other hand, avows himself of opinion that it had ve r y little to do with the result, as the war was a fore gone conclusion between both parties. It is too certain this has been a fixed idea with many Frenchmen these four years past, but it may still be true that without this spark the explosion would not have occurred, and through mere lapse of time the warlike elements of this genera tion would have lost their strength until they finally dis appeared. The Daily Art ws remarks that the chief importance of Earl Granville's speech, and all the importance of the two speeches which succeeded it, was in reference to our own position as a neutral nation. Perhaps the best compliment to the attitude of the Foreign Office is conveyed in the complaints which are urged against it. When M. Lavalette complains to Mr. Gladstone that Lord Granville is " cold, very cold," and the Prussian Government on their side accuse us of unfriendliness, the public will probably feel that the atti tude of the Government is all that can be desired. Every body feels that there is both inconvenience and danger in a neutral attitude. Each belligerent is sure to de dare that they who are not with him are against him, and each thinks that mere common justice to his enemy is disfavour to himself. But the tone and temper of our neutrality are not to be judged so much from the guarded and reticent speech which so well became Earl Granville's reputation for tact, discretion, and temper, as from the tone of Parliament itself. There is not a statesman on either side of the House of Lords who was disposed to stand up in the debate of yesterday and declare that under no cir cumstances would England go to war. France knows perfectly well that we should never allow her to make Antwerp a Cherbourg on the Scheldt ; and. even if the Emperor was willing to negotiate a treaty with. Prussia, allowing him on her side to occupy Belgium, he would probably have waited till we were engaged else where before he marched his armies across the frontier. The Telegraph says Lord Granville's simple statement was rendered impressive by the weight of its own matter. Most of the facts, it is true, have already been made known by the publication of the diplomatic papers ; and the Foreign Secretary did not say a word to throw light on the question which is in all men's minds—the question, What share had France and what share had Prussia in the originating of the proposed Treaty, the substantial authenticity of which has been so much debated, and the importance of which will make it historic ? That inquiry Lord Granville did not answer, probably because the Government can have reeeived no further information from any of the Powers which proposed to become contracting parties ; but Lord Malmesbury justly said that the country would expect ample explanations on an early clay. So far as regarded the share which the representa tives of England have taken in the negociations, Lord Granville's statement won the unstinted eulogies both from Lord Malmesbury as the representative of the Con servatives, and from Lord Russell as the representative of the independent Liberals. Meanwhile our duty is to be strictly neutral. We must be neutral, because this war, so far as it has yet gone, has touched no interest of England; but as Lord Russell urged last night the neutrality of England alone is not sufficient; it must be accompanied by that of Denmark, Holland, and Belgium. Either of these countries might do irreparable mischief by plung ing into the war; and this country must spare no pains to keep all three out of the conflict. England must be neutral, but her neutrality must be of the most dignified and vigilant sort ; and to give her position due effect she must be well prepared. The Post, speaking of Lord Granville's statement last evening, says as though it contained that was new it was eminently satisfactory, and was freely accepted by all par ties in the Huse as a fair and candid exposition of a foreign policy which, if it was not crowned with success, was, at all events, eminently calculated to attain such a result. If other Powers, continues the Post, should unfortu nately be brought within the vortex, it might be difficult to say how long Great Britain could remain neutral. Denmark, Belgium, and Holland are all in dangerous contiguity to the belligerents, but it would be im possible to overrate the interest which we take in seeing their neutrality maintained by their Govern ments, and respected by the hostile Powers. Above ail, it is the duty of her Majesty's Government to allow no misunderstanding to exist as to the course which this country would deem it necessary to pursue in the event of the independence of any of those States being seriously threatened bd either of the belligerents. The Standard considers that Earl Granville's explana tion gives us no information of which we were not pos sessed before, except indeed it be the announcement of the dissatisfaction of both belligerents with the attitude of the English Government. France finds the noble Secretary for Foreign Affairs cold, and is disappointed that he and his colleagues and the English people have not shown her more goodwill. Prussia, on the other hand, complains through Count Bismarck that Lord Granville should have made a pro posal which the Chancellor of the Confederation could not recommend to his Sovereign, but which that Sovereign, something more tender-hearted than his Minister, some thing more impressed with the responsibility which falls upon him who says the word which leads to war, was, to his credit, ready to accept. Lord Granville, and the Standard thinks fairly, interprets this dissatisfaction as some proof that the Government has done its utmost to maintain a strict and honest neu trality. The correspondence shows that it did its best to avert war, and the declaration made yesterday by Lord Granville must be accepted as a pledge that, the w ar having broken out, the English' Government, whilst thoroughly mindful of the obligations and the interests of England, will maintain that careful neutrality, which will enable it to intervene most successfully with its good offices whenever the opportunity offers. We have the solemn assurance of the French Go vernment that it will respect the neutrality of Belgium, of Holland, and of Luxemburg. If we have not assurances quite so distinct from . the Prussian Government, we are bound to assume that it aot in the same manner. Even assuming that such promises aro mere masters of course, and that both Powers are ready to break their solemn engagements if they see any advantage likely to arise from it, we may be sure that neither will lightly give its antagonist the benefit of the alliance of the country whose neutrality it injures, or pro voke the possible antagonism of the great Powers now re maining neutral. THE WITHDRAWAL OF FRENCH TROOPS FROM ROME. The Dublin Freeman, commenting on the reported with drawal of the French troops from Rome, says We have good authority for stating that on thq wiry clay that war was proclaimed by France the Roman Government was assured that it would have no effect on the relations between the French and Pontifical Governments. As long as the Pope required the presence of a French force in Rome it would remain there. The Emperor had pledged himself, and in giving the pledge he only refiectv.cl the universal feeling of France, that the indepqudtanc'e of of his Holiness should be maintained cquto Qua coute. If he wished for the withdrawal of the French garrison it should he withdrawn, hut as long as that wish was un pronounced, a French garrison was to continue in Rome. Telegrams from Rome to Eondon announced the hostile feeling to France which pervaded the Roman Court. They were all pro-Prussian. The very bq.o understand ing subsists between the Pope ancl this Nmperor. There is no Prussianism in the ya,tic A i l heyond those respects for a friendly Power which the Holy See always dis plays. And as Prussia governs directly between three and four millions of Catholics, and indirectly about thir teen millions, the relations between it and the Holy See are important. _ - Mr. Alexander Mohan, Tecovder of Derry, was seized with a fit of apoplexy while attending the Tyrone Assizes on Thursday, and died in a few hours. OUTRAGE IN InELAND,--On Tuesday night 20 or 30 men met Mr. Arthur Parke, of Longford-house, in the county of Leitrim, and his agent, Mr. Johnston. The men were armed with bludgeons and stones, and assaulted Mr. Parke and wounded him so severely that he hay not nee been able to be removed to his house. Twq leaders were arrested. This is the third tine I*. P.arkes lif e has been attempted, solely , ;t ids, sad lo,ecaufie h e i s favourable to Methodism, HOUSE OF LORDSHI'Hu4spAy. The Lord Chancellor took his seat on the woolsack at five o!clock, at which hour there was a .very full attend ance of peers. The space before the throne was crowded, and the galleries were occupied by a number of ladies. The statement prothised by the Forein Secretary with respect to the Franco-Prussian war was the cause of the unusual attendance in the House. Count Bernstoff, the Prussian Ambassador, occupied a seat with a party of ladies in the peeress's gallery. THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR. Earl GRANVILLE advanced to the table and said—ln accordance with the promise he had made to their lord ships he would proneed to make the statement, although he had nothing that could be called new to communicate. He should not occupy their attention for any long period, and he was glad to say he had no eloquence or oratory to indulge in. He then referred to the two precedents for a similar statement when negotiations to prevent war had failed. The first was in 1823, when Mr. Canning, in a magnificent speech, announced the failure of the nego tiations between France and Spain ; and the secon was in 1854 on the outbreak of the war in the Crimea. He quite agreed that Parliament had a full right to know what was now doing, and he should assume that their lordships had read the papers that had been presented. He had also stated the result of a conversation he had , had with M. Lavalette, and, practically, their lordships were fully acquainted with all the matters to which the Governments had been a party, The position of the Government was a most difficult one. They found them selves, as it were, in an inflammabie building full of ex plosive materials, with matches lighted ready to set them on fire. The time was short, and the urgency pressing, and the affair full of delicate points to meddle with. Their efforts had been successful up to to a certain point, and it was lamentable after that to have to find their failure subsequently full and complete. The noble earl then referred in warm terms to the exer tions of Mr. Layard which had prevailed to so great an extent with the Spanish Government, and with Prussia, that they had withnrawn the candidature of the Prince of Hohenzo lern. The efforts of Lord ,Lyons in Paris had been most indefatigable, and he had succeeded in delaying the declaration of war at least for five days. He then proceeded to refer to the interview of the French Ambas sador with the King of Prussia, which he described as a most regrettable incident, for he believed that neither party had the idea of offering insult to the other, although he would not go so far as to say that if it had not occurred the war would not have taken place. Her Majesty's Government then ad dressed themselves to reconcile the feeling now excited between the two countries. They suggested that any de claration of the King of Prussia renouncing the candida ture of the Prince of Hohenzollern should be made to England as a neutral Power and mediator. This was de clined by both, and England then appealed to the article of the Treaty of Paris for a reference to a conference of the Great Powers. This was rejected by France, and not accepted by Prussia. Hostilities having been declared, there was only one course open to the Government to pur sue, and that was to observe a strict and impartial neu trality. He was glad to say the Government had received the most friendly acknowledgments of good offices from all the Powers. It was, however, true that there had been subsequently remonstrances that this im partial attitude was favourable to one or other of the bel ligerents. Mr. Lavalette had represented them as being very cold, very cold—(laughter)—the Duke de* Gramont had said there ought to be more goodwill, and Count Bis marck had also felt to a certain extent aggrieved, but as these complaints came from all alike, he felt that it was a tribute to their fairness. He vas quite aware of the re sponsibility that fell upon the Government, and he was sure that their lordships would agree with him that without going into what it might be the duty of the Go vernment to do or not to do for the honour and safety of the country, it would be their duty to preserve an attitude of calm and dignified impartiality, so that when the time arrived that the friendly offices of England might be so licited, that influence might be exerted with the greatest and he hoped the most successful effect. (Cheers.) The Earl of MALMESBURY strongly approved of the course of the Government, and sympathised with the noble earl on his finding himself involved in such a deli cate and difficult matter so soon after he had received the seals of- office. He was sure the Government might fully rely upon the support of Parliament. • Earl RUSSELL expressed his approval of the course taken by her Majesty's Government, and he regretted that the well-meant efforts of the noble earl had not been so successful as they deserved to be. He hoped there would be no violation of the neutrality of Belgium, in which case a grave case would arise as to the course of the Government, and it would therefore be their duty to see that the forces of the country were placed on an adequate footing. We were now on the eve of the most formidable war that the present generation had ever seen, and no one could say what would be the eventual result. Under the circumstances he hoped the Government would think it their duty to raise to the greatest strength and efficiency the naval and military forces of the country, and thus stand forth armed sufficiently to meet any eventuality. (Cheers.) The subject then dropped. CLERICAL DISABILITIES BILL. This bill passed through committee, and was reported with amendments. INDIAN FINANCE. The Duke of ARGYLL then made a statement with re spect to the finances of India. The original estimate, he said, for the past year that was made in the month of March was that there would be a small surplus of £52,000'; Instead of that it became evident to the Government of India in September last that there were material errors in the calculations, and that instead of there being a small surplus, there was a deficit of a million and a half. They at once took steps to provide 'for this contingency by reducing expenditure and increasing taxation, and the result of these steps was doubtful ; but he was glad to say that last week Lord Mayo had telegraphed to him that the deficit had wholly disappeared, and that there was likely to be a surplus of from one to two hundred thousand pounds. The annual revenue of India was in round numbers 48i mil:ions. The interest of the debt was 5i millions, and as long as the money market was favourable they were enabled to pay it off and re-borrow at 4-i per cent. The loss on the guaranteed rating was 1 millions. The cost of collection was £7,399,000, and there was little hope of reduction of that item. The cost of the civil Government last year was £12,649,000,, which would be reduced to £12,352,000. The coat of the army was about 16i millions, an item which could not be re duced with safety ; and the surplus available for public works, £2,778,000. The deficits, he said, were solely to be attributed to the expenditure on public works, and were it not for these sources of outlay there would be a large surplus. The noble duke having expressed regret at the necessity for fresh taxation, laid certain papers connected with Indian finance on the table. Their lordships adjourned at a quarter to ten, THE FRANCO-ALGERI kX CABLE. The ship William Cory arrived at Bona on Wednesday night, having successfully accomplished the submersion of the Franco. Algerian Cable. The shore end was laid yester day, in order to permit the immediate working of the line. INDIA. The Ameer of Cabul has seoulvd the allegiance of the Khyber chiefs, who have xiAdwtaken to keep the Khyber Pass clear. A Calcutta talerarkl says :—Mr. Stephen is preparing , a scheme fox. reforming the Indian judicial establishments. lii minute comprises the separation of the executive from the judicial services. He proposes a supplement to the penal code, pros iding punishment for manslaughter by negligence, seditious languae, and treasonable con spiracy. CRIME IN THE CITY OF CORK. Judge Keogh, in opening tho City Assizes at York yesterday, told the grand jury there were absolutely no serious cases to be tried, save charges of riot and intimi dation arising out of the trade strike. That movement to hiri seemed most injurious to the workmen themselves. He attributed the absence of prosperity and progress in the city to these constant riots, demonstrations, and meetings to express sympathy. The whole concern was so nonsensical that it was difficult to imagine how the people engaged could avoid laughing at one another. FATAL ACCIDENT. An inquest was held yesterday, at, Lon g hb oroug h, on Thomas Midgley, aged eighteen, k shunter in the employ of the Midland Railway Q4,lvany. On Wednesday evening the deceased wiket tAgaged in shunting some trucks along the main linQ Vlual the horse took fright at an ap proaching train on the down line, and ran into the six foo.tway, Midgley, who had hold of the reins, was knocked down by the engine and his head badly crushed,. causing concussion of the brain, He died instantly.. Verdict accidentally killed,