The Sun. — London, England, 1870-12-19 00:00:00

SECOND EDITION. SUN OFFICE, 2.30 r. m. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE WAR. RUMOURED INSURRECTION IN PARIS. BORDEAUX, December 18. The papers published here speaks vaguely; of all attempted insurrectionary movement in Paris, in which Gustave Flourens was wounded, Blanqui killed, and Gustave Flourens subsequenCy im- Prisoned, but this intelligence at present is entirely unconfirmed, and it is stated in official circles that no advices whatever have been received here from Paris. . The Germans are concentrating on the Loire, abandoning- the line of the Cher. They have left Saint Aignan, Montrichard, and have established a camp of 8,000 to 10,000 men at Cande. The alleged victory of the Garibaldians, and of the evacuation of Dijon by the Prussians, is officially contradicted. _ _ The fighting on the 14th is reported to have been very severe. The battle ' extended from Moree to Vendome. The Prussians occupied the heights on the left bank of the Loire with artillery, and held the railway and the right bank of the river. Before commencing his movement westward, on the 15th, General Chanzy had destroyed the bridge over the' Loire. The General had some engagements Yesterday with the enemy, and maintained an un broken front. His position remained good. The Moniteur states that General Faidherbe is holding the Germans in cheek in the North, and has re-occupied Nuits. The Germans have levied 2,000,000 f. from Evreux, 1,000,000 from Amiens, and 400,000 f. Fe2amp. REPORTED PEACE NEGOCIATIONS. BERLIN, Saturday. A report is in circulation in Vienna that . a Con ference respecting mediation on the part of the neutral Powers was held at the Foreign Office on Tuesday, at which Lord Blomfield was present. The basis proposed was that the neutrals should acquiesce in the annexation of Luxbmbourg and acknowledge the German Emperor, amd that France should pay 1,200 millions of francs, agree to raze two, frontier fortresses, cede a strip of Alsace, and acknowledge the German Empire. Count Mosbourg declared that France would rather pay more money than cede even a few square miles of territory. THE BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS. BERLIN, December 18. Another large supply of ammunition having been sent to Paris, it is concluded that the city will be bombarded now, that its provisions begin - to run short. This would be carrying out the recent com promise between the bombardment and the anti-bom bardment parties. The French prisoners in the province of Branden burg having lately evinced a mutinous disposition, are placed under martial law. HEADQUARTERS OF THE CROWN PRINCE OF PRUSSIA, VERSAILLES, December 17. - . The general impression here is that the siege of Paris may drag on until January, and that some hard fighting may be expected before Trochu surrenders. It is regretted that the fighting at Orleans was not more decisive, as there is still work for the Germans in that direction, which leaves the army before Paris without the support of Von der Tann, the Duke of Aleeklenburg, or Prince Frederick Charles. In the north and west General Manteuffel is quite able to hold his own, but even he cannot detach troops to Paris ; so that the rumoured calling up of large Landwehrrsupports Would seem to be justified by the position of affairs. The spirit of ,the German troops is excellent, their health very good, and with the aid of 200,000 Land wehr they may yet be able to carry out the whole programme of the German people. December 18. The question of tho bombardment of Paris is still discussed by the German leaders. They think it Wiser to make an attack on some of the outworks to the eastward of the city than to fire among the houses for intimidation trom the high ground to the Southward. _ _ _ TT Although up to this time no proposition has been received from Gambetta, theh has been a strong im pression that he should try to stop the march of the Germans on the Loire by attempting to negotiate. The German programme is• unconditional surrender of Paris, and of unqualified submission on the part of France, and every week's delay without a French suc c ess, makes it more likely this programme will be adhered tch The Germans are naturally angry at being de. layed in reaping the fruits of their victories. Masses of troops are, being concentrated at Vin cennes, as though for another sortie. BATTLE AT LANGRES. General Goltz has forwarded a report to head quarters, that on the 16th he attacked the French near Langres. After a severe engagement, lasting over three hours, the French were driven back Within the fortress. The French force amounted to over 6,000 men. 200 prisoners, two gans, and two ammunition Waggons were captured under fire. General Goltz put his loss down at one officer, and 30 men. EVACUATION OF VENDOME. A despatch from the Royal Head-quarters at Ver sailles, states the enemy were attacked on the 15th by a strong force, and on the day following they evacuated Vendome. A Ministerial despatch announces that the Duke of Alecklenburg attacked Frateval on Wednesday, and occupied it in force during the night ; but the tow n was retaken yesterday by the French. The Duke of Mecklenburg, assisted by troops of Prince Vreder.ck Charles's army, renewed the combat before Vendome. The French made a stout resist ance, the battle lasting till night. The losses of the enemy appear to be heavy. RUMOURED CAPTURE OF HAM. LILLE, December 18. It is stated here that the enemy has retaken Ham In Which no garrison had been left. GERMANS ADVANCING ON CHAUNY. the Germans have evacuated Amiens, and are falling back in the direction of Clermont. On leaving Amiens they announced that they would shortly re- turn thither. Sever. hundred Prussians are holding the citadel of Amiens. Rumour says that General Faidherbe has advanced beyond Amiens. The general reports from Corbie that the Dragoons of the North have cap tured 30 prisoners, 27 horses, with waggons loaded with arms and flour. 1,000 Germans are reported at Chauny. A battle is looked upon as imminent between Amiens and Ham. ARREST OF PRUSSIAN DEPUTIES. BERLIN, December 18. Herren Babel and Liabknecht, both Deputies of the North German Parliament, and Herr Helmer, have been arrested at Leipzig on a charge of high The Prussians have evacuated Beauvais in haste, le aving at :the' railway station an immense amount °f requisitions, and announcing that the town Would be heavily fined if they were touched. The vrnssians, on leaving, took the direction of Gisors and Gonesse. A. German column of 20,000 men was signalled on Friday coming from the direction of Soissons, march towards Chauny. The Echo du Nord believes that the object of the rapid movements of the Prussians in all direc tions is to interfere with the march of General Paidherbe. EVACUATION OF AMIENS. A despatch from Lille, December 17, states that IHE aSUN, LONDON, MONDAY ,VDECEMBER 19, 1870. THE M ONE Y _M A_ N . k ET. CITY, Two o'CLooK, The Stock Markets is very dull, owing to the approach of the Christmas holidays and the close of the year.: tlnglish railways are higher. Consols are quoted 911 to 91a. ex div. for money, and 91 13-16 to 91 15-16 ex. div. for the account. Foreign stocks are almost Rithout change. French Six per Cent. Defence Loan, par to prem. ; Italian, 55a to 551 ; Peruvian, 922 to 93/ ; Russian, 83 to 85; Spanish, 31i to 311 ; Turkish Fives, 44k to 44g. The German Loan is quoted to 1 prem. E.ELEASE' OF THE 'IRISH POLITICAL 'PRISONERS. The following letter ha§ been sent by Mr. Gladstone to Sir William Carroll, the late Lord Mayor of Dublin, as the gentleman whosename appears first among those attached to a very numerously-signed petition presented to the Prime Minister by Mr. M`Carthk Downing, M.P. : The Report of the London and River Plate Bank (Limited), to be presented on the 23rd inst., states that, notwithstanding political disturbances, together with the continued depression in fhe price of wool, and the low rate of interest current at Buenos Ayres, the regular business of the bank has not suffered any diminution. The Directors recommend the ordinary dividend of 5 per cent. for the half-year ended the 30th of September. Among the indications of the past two years of the determination of the Spanish Government to maintain " Downing-street, IGth December, 1870. " Gentlemen,—l have to inform you that her Majesty's Government have carefully considered the case of the convicts now undergoing their sen tences for treason and treason-felony. aid that they have recommended to the Crown the exercise towards them of the Royal clemency, so far as it is compatible with the assured maintenance of tranquillity and order in the country. " They will therefore be discharged upon the condition of not 'remaining in, nor returning to, the United Kingdom. "These prisoners were most justly condemned for par ticipation, either secretly or by open violence, in a con spiracy which, if any degree successful, would have Filled Ireland with misery and bloodshed; and the same principles of justice which dictated their Sentences would amply sanction the prolongation of their imprisonment if the public security demanded it. It is this last question, therefore, which has formed the subject of careful examination by her Majesty's Government, and they have been able to come to the conclusion that, under the existing circumstances of the country, the release of the prisoners, guarded by the condition which Ihave stated, willbe perfectly compatible with the paramount interests of public safety, and, being so, will tend to strengthen the cause of peace and loyalty in Ireland. the principles of financial honesty may be cited the fact of their having, upon proper evidence, given new bonds for otters destroyed. On questions of this kind a shabby' course—such as that pursued by the Italian Government a few years back—involves damage to a country which would not be compensated even if the amount iavolved were a hundredfold that which is saved. The Mexican Diario Official of the 10th ult. announces the complete recovery of President Juarez, who has re turned to public business. The Manchester Courier states :—" At a meeting of the creditors of Mr. Samuel Shaw, the only surviving repre sentative of the firm of Peter Shaw and Co., cotton spin • ners, Micklehurst-mil, Mossley. The liabilities were £23,552, of which £2o,933were secured, and that the assets were calculated at .£1,513, only a small portion of which could be realised. The subscription for the London Tramways Company will close on Tuesday for London and Wednesday for the country. " There happily appears to be a concurrence of circum stances favourable to such an exercise of the Royal prero gative of 'mercy. " Ireland is at present remarkably prosperous, and ge nerally free from turbulence or disorder. Its quiet condition shews a most marked improvement upon that which pre vailed a year ago. " Since that time Parliament has again proved, as it had done in they previous session, its readiness to confront the most difficult question of Irish legislation, with a view to sincere reforms and effectual remedies ; while it has not failed to maintain the authority of the law by conferring special and necessary powers upon the Irish Government. " These things have swelled the numbers and strength ened the hands of that great body of all parties and creeds, representing the property, intelligence, and religion of Ireland, which is on the side of order and loyalty, while they have weakened the powers of disaffection and revolution. " The earnest desire of her Majesty's Ministers is to act in all things so as to favour the advance of this healing process, and it is because they believe that the release of the convicts now suffering under sentences of imprison ment for treason and treason-felony will assist in this work that they have arrived at their present decision. That decision, they are well aware, is in accord ance with strong opinions and compassionate feel ings very widely prevalent in Ireland • but, happily, not displaying themselv e s in any popular agitation or any turbulent demands, such as would render compliance inconsistent with the due authority of Government, or afford to the evil-disposed an excuse, of which, there can not now be a shadow, to misrepresent an act which is one of pure clemency on the part of the Queen. —I have the honour to be, gentlemen, your very faithful servant, " (Signed), " W. E. GLADSTONE. 7 ADELPHI THEATRE On Saturday night last another popular favourite ret;red from the stage. Madame Celeste selected for her final appearance the part of the Abbe Vaudreuil, and that of the wronged and suffering Miami in the ever Green Bushes. Mrs. Keeley, in Betsy Baker, once again played with all her old characteristic humour and force ; and Mr. Buckstone also appeared in Box and Co; to the great graVication of the audience. At the close of the farce the curtain rose to discover the whole of the members of the Adelphi company surrounding the retiring actress. When the tumultuous cheering had sufficiently subsided, Madame Celeste, under strong emotion, was led forward by Mr. F. B. Chatterton, and thus addressed the house : Ladies and Gentlemen, —Permit me to say a few words before the curtain falls to close this performance and my theatrical career. That career I commenced at an early age in America. Soon after I appeared in London, which ever since became my adopted home—a home endeared to me by the friendships I have formad and the kindness I have at all times experienced. I have also paid several visits to America ; and five years since I ventured alone even to Australia. At home, in London, in America, and. in Australia, I never can forget the kindness, the patron age, the support the public ye afforded me, or the cour tesy and consideration I have at all times received from the Press in these countries, as well as from the different ma nagers with whom 1 have been professionally engaged. To them all I feel that a deep and lasting debt of gratitude is due, and tender them my sincere thanks. (Great applause.) But, ladies and gentlemen, one word I must speak, though that word hangs reluc tantly upon my lips. If on these boards I have had to deli neate scenes of sufferinc , and pain, believe me no word ever yet seemed so hard to utter, so full of sorrow, as the word " Farewell" this night—no separation ever ap peared so keen as that which comes upon me now. I have to say farewell to you, my friends and patrons, who have ever given me your support ; to you, my brothers and sisters of the same profession, from all of whom I have always received the most unvaried kindness and consideration. Farewell, then, one and all. May every happiness and success in life attend you ; and, in the more familiar language of my native land, I most grate fully and respectfully say, ' Adieu.' " Immense cheering followed, amidst which the curtain descended. ). Tovey. eseriptive bottling, the press 7. Franco e is the 11 graPe- n i' on tbs g and de of by the charming t as it is. ictiveness , and—from Le south, lions in 611 being ling an d through it ations. In 40,000,0 i. Blael' Verzeng 1 the rest all about ourselves); T. Th the tirage is full of nues even ?.r cont., ill rut or raw. •aids, he cork, rocege of candy an of the ex• it in hand• dth string. And thus what Mr• the wine of 871. Post Office We have st praise of rading cora only repeat with which npiled. As cent correc which the icing Master v. 23rd, has r Directory, ). 62. member for , is inserted and Court l Nov. 28th, and Clerical . Corbally), Li, has been 1 2,174, and caused alto• , and 2,15 8 • 30 of Lords, )ffice, whose :movedfrorri ties " is also s vastly in' Le additional s. The last ent numbers Cho work is rectory, and to the enter s and highly 'FILE. !ommissiOner te of the new dious edifice ction in St. stablishment ster-General, t was obliged The cere- espects, was her principal ments of the 3 secretary: F. Hills, the lenthall, Mr. Dr. Waller Postmaster - Mr. R. W. Chetwyna Mr. John Ir. Farmer, office ; Mr. Department Messrs. EC Mr. F. Salle listriet; Mr, ald, clerk of e. The neW Lr fronts, two in's-le-GI and 144 ft. long- - A-street. It )ft. above the of Portland will be orne' upper storeys mr centre en' t of a Doric ,blature of the vas paid 00 ial year 1869 - about half —A. rumour. a-law of Lora w, is about to the chairman' aw, in which be ready once R.—A man, man at Stour' that town, at )dy was drol' :ut off. It 10 ! a train on to rain. Unfor 1869 11,0 0 Ireland ; the 3 fish, 12011). ; rld in Billinge' aeries in 1869 ; of the value of Lue of £17,400; i 0 The Wardell decided not to o expenses a t ' for aiding the e has been fel ege, who hal e , entertainmen t saved will be LOUGH.—Th ° Lthl meeting' J [r. . F. Fai r the South 13 9 1 t of the CO'l" he application ,übscription of pleted in two iat indemnity hat an annual [RE...--At the a publican, Jeover. The at Burnaston, panning. 00 ngton, and so .eached a datY, his pockets of ank for £6 OO. :e against the e Byles to ta° Tra AND CI; preparation !l e vice Gazettel.„ r 0 ural laws ition, and by l-soleeted CO U ith a delicat;, heavy doct e , Co.. lloin owl's Cacaoirle, treason. ARREST IN RUSSIA. A telegram received via Berlin, December 17, states that the St. Petersburg correspondent who sent to a foreign paper a summary of President Grant's letter to the Czar, concerning a possible co operation of Prussia and America, has been banished to Olonetz. The letter being private, its publication is regarded as constituting an offence against the person of the Emperor. The Moscow Town Council, having in their con gratulatory address on the ,Blaelt Sea question, peti tionOd the Czar to add liberty of the. Press, tolerance of all religions, and other reforms to the blessings he has conferred upon his subjects, their address has been returned with a reprimand. December 18. The offer of the Imperial Oro n of Germany to King William has awakened fierce animosity at the Vienna Hofburg. The delay in the convention of the Black Sea Conference is occasioned by France wishiLg to lay her own case before the meeting, a design objected to by Prussia. THE LUXEMBURG QUESTION. LUXEMBURG, December 18, The answer to the Prussian Note was despatched on the 17th for Berlin. All the charges made by the Prussian Government are denied. BERLIN, December 18. The Prussian Circular on the Luxemburg affair reserves to this Government the right of exacting an indemnity for injury suffered. It is probable that negotiations will be opened with a view to define and vindicate this claim. In official circles here, the demand that Prussia should submit her Luxemburg grievance to the Powers is met by the reply that Lord Stanley, in the sitting of the HOLM of Commons on June 14, 1867, denied the obligation of the signatory States to interfere in the event of an infraction of the Treaty. According to the Prussian Gazette, Count Bis marck's circular concluded as follows : "Hip Majesty's Government, therefore, no longer considers itself bound in its military operations by considerations connected with the neutrality of Luxemburg, and reserves to itself the right of pro secuting its claims against the Grand Duchy for the damage inflicted upon it by the non-observance of neutrality." PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. We believe that negotiations are again on foot to bring about an armistice, with a view to the summoning of a Congress, and the termination of the war. These pourparlers are countenanced by the neutral Powers, and their issue will mainly depend upon the decisions to be taken at Versailles. —Morning Post. THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY IN LONDON. ST. PETERSBURG, December 17. The appointment of Count Orloff as Ambassador to the Court of St. James's, which was made some time ago is cancelled. Baron Brunnow, who had been appointed to Paris, is now appointed to London. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) DEPARTURE OF HER MAJESTY FOR OSBORNE. Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by their Royal Highnesses the Princesses Louise and Beatrice, and Prince Leopold, and attended by the ladies and gentlemen of the Royal suite, left Windsor this morning at a quarter before 11 o'clock, and proceeded by special train, via Slough and Reading, to Basingstoke. From thence they will travel over the South-Western Railway to Gosport, where the Royal party will embark on the yacht Alberta, to cross over to the Isle of Wight. They are expected to arrive at Osborne shortly before two o'clock. THE JEWISH ABDUCTION CASE. At the Cardiff Police-court on gaturday, the hearing of the case in which the Rev. N. Thomas and Mrs. Thomas were charged with perjury, which had been adjourned from Friday, was resumed. After further evidence for the prosecution had been called, the magistrates retired to consider whether they would call upon Mr. Ingledew, the solicitor for the defence, to reply. After an absence of about an hour, they returned into court, having decided to hear the defence. Mr. Ingledew replied at great length, and argued that at the most there was but a sus picion, and they would not be justified in sending the defendants for trial on such a charge, under such circum stances. The summons was dismissed, but a certificate of dismissal was refused the solicitor for the defence. Each side will bear their own costs. THE BARNSLEY RAILWAY ACCIDENT. ANOTHER DEATH. Robert Gregory, another of the sufferers by the railway disaster at Stairfoot, near Barnsley, died on Saturday, after great suffering. An inquest was opened.on the body the same evening, and after evidence of identification had been given, it was adjourned. THE RELEASE OF THE FENIAN PRISONERS. 'The evening edition of the Irish Times publishes the following special telegram from Mr. McCarthy Downing, M.P. for Cork :—" Skibbereen, Saturday. The Prime Minister has written to me saying that the Cabinet have decided on the immediate release of the Fenian prisoners. Some of them, however, are to reside abroad." THE APPRENTICE BOYS AT LONDONDERRY, There was great excitement in Londonderry, yesterday, but little disturbance. The Apprentice Boys, in great number, marched from Corporation Hall to the Cathe dral, the latter place being crowded. The Rev. Mr. Scott preached. The Boys afterwards walked through the principal streets, headed by their governor and Lord Antrim. A number of boys and females hooted them. The constabulary and military occupy_ the streets. The effigy of Lundy is not to be burned to-day. At one time the Apprentice Boys demanded admission to the walls of the city, but were forcibly pre vented from gaining access to them by the military and the police, the rear part of the procession and a number of Roman Catholics coming into collision. Brick bats and stones were freely thrown, but no one was seriously hurt, and the disturbancb was speedily quelled. Several arrests were made:' The notice of Lord Lawrence, which appeared in our publication of Saturday, was taken from the Rock newspaper, ansinot, as stated, from the Record. The health of Sir Roderick Murchison has so much improved that he is now pronounced to be out of danger, although 4s complete recovery will be some what slow. The American r lkgisOr says qWe doubt of its truth, but the report comes from verygood sources, that an AMerican firm in New York. named Fisher and Parish, has obtained the privilege of introduciiig our street railway, or horse cars, in London, Liverpool, Glas gow, and other cities of Great Britain." Speaking of the unfriendly feeling of the Germans towards England, the correspondent of the Manchester Guardian says :—" Lord Augustus Loftus, who six months ago was extremely popular at the Court and in society at Berlin, and who it is known does not conceal his personal admiration and liking for Count Bismarck, has of late found his position so changed that he has sent his family to England, and taken a country house some miles from Berlin, in order to be out of the way of disagreeable collision with acquaintances that once were friendly and agreeable." CONCENTRATION OF FRENCH TROOPS AT • VINCENNES. The special correspondent of the Daily News at the headquarters of the Crown Prince of Saxony, at Margency thus writes under date December 12 :—The defenders of Paris, for the first time since the 30th ult., have been to day rather lively on their side of the section of the northern environment in this neighbourhood. Perhaps they were anxious to display to the chiefs of the Maae Army their scornful repudiation of the ultimatum which Bismarck is reported to have tendered. Early in the morning Argenteuil the unfortunate was subjected to a brisk cannonading from the batteries about Nanterre and Corbevoie. The damage done was chiefly to stone and lime. I have only heard of one casualty among the Prussians, and-a native was killed in his bed by the bursting of a shell. There was a lull ar the morn ing advanced, but the firing was rep umed about noon,.and was quite warm for a couple of hours. There was an unwonted amount of musketry fire between the posts on the opposite sides of the -river all the way from Epinay down to Besons. Accompanying a com patriot who had spent the night with me in Margency, I rode through Argenteuil about one o'clock, when one would almost have imagined that quite an engagement was going on close by, so heavy and continuous was the firing. Mont Valerein was speaking at intervals in its gruff tones, not, however, in_ our direction, but to ward Bougival. It was evident as we rode along the bit of road outside Argenteuil, which commands , so capital a view of the adja cent French positions on the peninsula, that the enemy were on the alert for something or other: One could see armed troops coming out from Colombes toward the left, and there was a continuous popping from the French posts among the poplar trees on the other side of the Seine. Presently the bugle began to sound, at first faintly and fitfully, but soon with a louder swell, and then the sound of a military band's music was borne towards us on the wintry wind. It was not easy to form a conjecture as to the - nature Df the French movements. Whatever they were the fire directed against Argenteuil and its vicinity was probably meant to cover them. It may be that they are massing troops on the peninsula, on which are the villages of Gennevillers, Corbevoie, and Nanterre, and at the neck of which stands Mont Valerien, with a view to a sortie somewhere from it as a base after their failure on the other side of Paris. If this is their design, it is indispensable to its fulfilment that they establish pontoon bridges over the river in the face of the Prussian fire, and without so strong a support from their awn fort guns as that under which they debouched over the Marne. There the crossing of the river was compa ratively easy since they had never lost foothold on the further side ; but in the direction to which I now refer, the Seine all the way to the bend above St. Germains marks the line of demarkation between French and Prussians. I hear no more talk of the removal of the once abandoned project, which had for its object getting over the river at Besons. No further effort has been made by the French to repair the bridge there, and the boats which 'appear designed to supplement the deficiencies in the means of crossing have been to all appearance rendered useless by the Prussian field artillery. The French fire lulled again. for half an hour towards two o'clock, but was visibly renewed soon after that hour. It was then chiefly directed towards the base of Mont d'Orgeinont, and between that eminence and Argenpuil. Along this line runs a road passing between , ,Mont d'Orgemont and a lower eminence near Epinay. Coming out opposite St. Gratien this road is a very near cut between Enghien and Argenteuil, and was extensively used both by wheeled vehicles and horsemen in the early days, when as yet the French on the other side of the river were not so close not so waspish. Now, even on a quiet day, this road is danger ous, a single horseman almost instantly drawing copious fire. To-day it was hopeless in the shell fire, and I had to return to headquarters by Sannois and Soisy. It may amuse folks at home to know that this road is familiarly known as " Cockalorum Strasse," from having been ex tensively used in the early days of the siege by a couple of individuals of the " Cockalorum" order of corres pondents who had their country seat in • Enghien till poetic justice in the shape of Prussian soldiers, who held not Cockalorums in reverence, made their abandon ment of the quarters advisable. There exists among the Germans a suspicion that Ducrot's proclamation is meant as a ruse, and that he has not abandoned so fully as he protests his design of utilising the foothold which he yet has on the other side of the Marne, at Joinville, for sortie purposes. Some colour is given to the sus picion by the unquestionable fact that French troops in great force are still lying around and under Fort Nogent, and towards Charenton it would seem that the French on their side suspect that the Germans find the batteries on Mount Avron so inconvenient as to stimulate to efforts for effecting their silence, for the Mount remains garrisoned by a French force, guessed at not under 6,00 0 bayonets. T he y are assiduously engaged in the strengthening of their position in the neighbour hood by enlarging existing defences and erecting others. I cling to the impression that there will be warm work in the vicinity of *hich I speak within a few days. UNEXPECTED GOOD FORTUNE.—A: rare piece of good' fortune has lately 'befallen •au old lady living .at Bosham, in West Sussex, and who was known to the inhabitants of that place as " Madame Idle "—the title of Madame being bestowed upon her. from the fact that she had spent part of her life i.Paris. She lived upon a small income that placed her just above the seafaring population from whom she sprang . , and amidst whom she lived. A short time ago she received a letter, which, not 'being able to read herself, she took with her on her next visit to the neighbouring city of Chichester, and asked one of the tradespeople with whom she dealt to decipher it for her. He did so, and- found it was a letter from the solicitor of the late Marquess of Hertford, who died a short time ago at Paris, to the effect that his lordship had left her by his will an annuity of £B,OOO a year ! She has since come into the receipt of this handsome provision for life, and has provided out of it for her relatives, who were in a humble position of life. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—THIs DAT. ALLEGED VIOLENCE OF • THE POLICE.—An Irish labourer, named James Lynch, appeared for the second time before Mr. Paget, at the Thames Police-court, to answer a charge preferred against him by Macdonald, a constable of the H division, for assaulting him on Friday evening last in Leman-street, near the station-house in that street. While it was raining fast on Friday evening, the prisoner was rolling about very drunk and making a great noise. The constable laid hold of him and led him towards the station-house. The prisoner struggled and struck right and left, and kicked the constable, who was soon joined by the reserve man, James Sorrell, 30 H, from the station-house. The police-constables turned the prisoner over and carried him in a quiet and gentle man ner to the station-house. The prisoner was unhurt, and he preferred no complaint of ill-usage. His dress was also perfectly clean, but a man named Clarke, foreman cooper in the dock, said the prisoner was knocked down repeatedly, kicked, and trampled upon, and that he was dragged across the road in a most barbarous manner. Mr. John Budgett, jun., surgeon, saw the whole affair, and said no violence was offered to the prisbner, and that he was treated humanely and with proper discretion. Mr. Paget had no doubt of what had happened, and was not sorry he had adjourned the case for the attendance of Mr. Budgett. The evidence of Clark was worthless and untrue, and. in a fit of excite ment got it into his head that the police were ill-using a man who was very disorderly and violent, whose clothes were not soiled, and upon whom there was not a mark. He sentenced the prisoner to seven days' imprisonment. PICKING POCKETS IN WESTMINSTER ABBEL—Three well dressed women, who gave the names of Jackson, Thompson, and Phillips, but who refused their addresses, were charged, at Westminster police court, with picking pockets in the above Abbey on Saturday last. From the evidence of two detectives, who are specially employed in the Abbey in consequence of the numerous robberies com mitted there of late, they watched the prisoners acting in concert, and from their manner they were suspected, and followed to a public house in the neigbourhood. After leaving a detective searched the closet and found three. purses, one containing money and the others emptied of their contents.—Remanded for inquiries. THE MEETING OF PARLIAMENT. We understand that Parliament will be summoned to meet for the despatch of business on Tuesday, the 7th of February. _ Shortly after the assembling of Parliament impor tant estimates will be submitted for the approval of the House of Commons, with the object of increasing the efficiency of the naval and military forces of the country. THE DEMOCRATIC DEMONS FRATION. A public meeting, convened by the International Democratic Association, and numbering about 4,000 persons, was held in Trafalgar-square yesterday afternoon, to make a " solemn recognition of the the French Republic by the people, and to condemn the policy of the British Government." Platforms were erected, at each of which resolutions were unanimously carried expressing sympathy for France in her struggle for liberty against despotism ; and protesting against the indifference shewn by the British Government to the sufferings of our tried ally, the French nation. M. de Fonvielle addressed the meeting, and stated that he had authority for declaring that the watchwordof the Republic would be " No surrender." A Cabinet Council was hold on Saturday at the official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury in Downing-street. The Ministers present were—The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, the Lord Chancellor, Earl de Grey and Ripon, Viscount Halifax,, the Ri g ht Hon. H. A. Bruce, Earl Granville, the Earl of Kimberley, the Right Hon. E. Cardwell, the Duke of Argyll, the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, the Right Hon. Hugh Childers, the Right Hon. G. J. Goschen, the Marquis of Harting ton, and the Right Hon. W. E. Forster. MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS.—The Premier leaves town to-day for Hawarden Castle. The Earl de Grey left on Saturday for Nocton Park. The. Earl of Kim berley has gone to Kimberley Hall, Norfolk. The Earl Granville went to Windsor on Saturday, and returns to town to-day. ,The Marquis of Hartington returned on. Saturday to Chatsworth. Vis Count Halifax'left town on Saturday for Mickleton Hall, Yorkshire. The Right, Hon. W. E. Forster left on Saturday for Weybridge, the Chancellor of the Exchequer for Caterham, the Right Hon. H. A. Bruce for St. Leonard's-on-Sea, and the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell for his seat in Surrey. The Duke of Argyll, the Lord Chancellor, the Right Hon. Hugh Childers, and the Right Hon. G. J. Goschen remain in town. Mr. E. B. Michell, 8.A., of Magdalen College, Oxford, has brought 'out a work on the state of Paris, where he has been confined during the siege. Mr. Michell has given his work the title of " Siege Life in Paris, by One of the Besieged." THE TRUE CONDITION OF PARIS. - - The correspondent of the Telegraph sends the follow Ir.;; from Frankfort, dated December 18:—I have just re. ceived important intelligence concerning the condition of Paris, ,on which you may place absolute trust. My information comes from people who have just left the city. ' and who knew the whole facts. Paris is not in any want whatever. There is plenty of everythin'g save fresh beef, mutton, poultry, 'eggs, and fish. The salt fish has scarcely been begun. Of horse there is enough to last r couple of months; of bread, wine, and all sorts of pro• duce there is an ample supply to last three or four months. Everything in the way of comestibles and drinkables has been taken possession of by General Trochu, who declares that he considers the whole population to be the " Army of Paris," and as such to be provided for by the Military Commissariat. No idea whatever is entertained of surrender. The reverses sustained both by the Paris Army and by that of Orleans are looked upon with per fect calm and equanimity. As to the Army of Orleans, • the Parisians say it is doing them the best possible service by drawing a large German force away from the neigh. bourhood of the capital. All they ask is to be left to des; with the investing army, which they feel confident of being able to vanquish in a short time. They are satisfied with Ducrot's sortie and its result, for they say it has proved to them how weak the Germans are, and how easily their lines may be broken through when th 9 proper time comes. There are no longer any civilians in Paris. Every man is armed and undergoing some sort of training. The regular troops, or what is called the " Army of the Field," are about two hundred thousand strong, are in immense spirits, very well fed, and thoroughljecon, fident in their ability to stand their ground when ever they meet the Prussians. Another sortie, on a larger scale even than the last, maS , be expected very soon. Of ,course my informant will not even hintin what direction. Some of the theatres have been opened—it having been recognised that amusements were desirable for the morale of the bourgeoise, who found thelongwinter evenings horribly dull. In the French capital you can get most things you want with great readiness. You can jump into a cab and drive wherever you please, and pass your time infinitely more agreeable than in Versailles. As to the cab horses having been eaten, that is a fiction. From the appearance of the minor and personal traffic,-no one would notice that any diminution - had taken place in'the number of horses employed within the city for purposes of transit. I am told that, if there should be no bom bardment, Paris can hold out for two or three months without enduring very great sufferings. The mortality is large, but nat so much as to create any alarm. There are no epidemics, and, as for people dying of want, no case of that kind has occurred. Outside Paris the French have pushed out their front in every direction, and made the circle of investment much larger, and consequently much weaker. Where, two months ago, in the dim distance there were lines of outposts under the shadow of the forts, there are now field works, batteries, and clouds- of marksmen well forward, commanding roads that a little time ago were entirely out of range. The Germansahave also enormously strengthened their positions, and their lines are now actually a fortified camp, and as nearly as possi ble impregnable. The question is whether there are men enough to hold them. The besieging force is not supposed to number in all two hundied thousand men. THE GERMANS AGAIN AT DIEPPE. The correspondent of the Daily News sends the follow ing from Dieppe, December 15 .—The Germans revisited this town yesterday, about five o'clock. General von Goeben, with staff detachments of different brigades, numbered in all upwards of six thousand. Of course, their appearance was looked upon as unwelcome by the French, but the latter, remembering how well the detachment that was here last week had behaved, gave the usual expressive shrug of the shoulders, as though determined to bear i‘ as philosophically as pos sible. The streets were soon full of cavalry, infantry, carriages,waggons, guns, and vehicles of every description. The town crier or drummer announced that the inhabitants were to prepare to receive the men and their horses, there being 500 of the. latter. Before dusk every man was billeted, and each horse had found shelter and food. General von Goeben and staff took up their quar ters at the Royal HoteL Sentries were mounted at all the principal public buildings, but the French flag was not hauled down from the Arairie. At dusk a pro-.. clamstion appeared, ordering every person who possessed a horse to take it to the cattle market" this day at ten o'clock under penalty of the pains of a court-martial, and 100 francs fine for each hour they were late at the rendezvous. The horses selected were to be paid for at such a price as might be fixed upon them by the com mission appointed for the purpose. All the boot makers of the town were at the same time and under the same penalties ordered to take all the stock of men's boots and shoes they possessed to the Town-hall at twelve o'clock to-day. Towards eight o'clock the town was as quiet as usual, and not a sound was heard in the streets. The following day the few remaining guns on the fort near the harbour were spiked, the shells which -were found in the magazine close by were emptied of their con tents and the empty shells forcibly dashed against the beach and broken to fragments. Some 3,000 old flint muskets which had been destroyed at the Chateau last week by the 27th Regiment, were this afternoon burnt in the court-yard of the castle. Just at this time much ex citement was caused by the appearance of a steamer in the distance, which proved to be the Dasher, 2 guns, sent by the Admiralty to protect the English, and take home such of them as might be unable to pay their pas sage back to the mother country. The Prussians fired a blank gun at her, to which she replied, running up her colours, and in a few minutes after she was safely moored alongside the steamer belonging to the Newhaven Com pany, which leaves this evening with a full cargo, consisting of, among other things, crates of mis seltoe for the English festivities. If I remember aright, the licence of saluting a lady under the misseltoe is of German origin, and it was amusing to see the several sentries posted along the quay with a twig' of it in their muskets. I am, with many other English here (amounting to some 400 persons) very glad to welcome the Dasher ; it is quite neces sary we should have liome such protection. There is, I regret to say, a very strong dislike to us at the present moment, and I hope the Government will allow her to remain until the war is over, or a better feeling exists. General von Goben has given orders for the free departure and arrival of the steamers from England, and, at the same time, for such other English ships as may come into the harbour, and the Dieppe post men perform their functions as usual; but they are not much troubled in delivering English correspondence, which is generally a week or ten days late in arriving. The French submit very patiently and submissively to the indignities of the occupation, and on the other hand the conduct of the Prussian troops is praise worthy in the extreme ; they are as friendly and sociable as their position will admit—giving alms to the little beggars, dividing their rations of sausage and biscuit with others, kissing the children, and doing all in their power to make their unwelcome presence as little galling as possibX At an early hour on Friday morning the Long Range Mill, Waterhead, near Oldham, was destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of from £B,OOO to £lO,OOO. The mill belOnged to the Mayor of Oldham, Marriages are announced between Lord de Tabby and Mrs. Smith. Barry, and between Mr. Nevile Sher brooke, of Oxtonhall, Notts, and Lady Alice Curzon, daughter of the Earl of Howe. The former alliance is expected to take place in January. The marriage between the Marquis of Ailsa and the Hon. Gertrude Stuart, youngest daughter of Lord Blantyre, which was announced in the various London journals last week is now contra dicted. We understand that a marriage is arranged between the Earl of Desart and Miss Preston:—John Bull. A. case of some importance has been tried at the Birmingham Police Court which excited the more interest on account of the recent explosions. Mr. John Cox, a percussion cap manufacturer, was charged with carrying on the manufacture without the license required, and within the distance of .fifty yards from a dwelling-house or building wherein persons not' connected with the manu facture are employed. After a lengthened examination, a nominal fine of 10s. and costs was inflicted, this branch of manufacture carried on at the works being harmless, the dangermis part being manufactured in a duly-licensed establishment. SIR FRANCIS GRANT ON ART SCHOOLS.-011 the occasion of presenting the prizes at the art schools of South Kensington, Sir Francis Grant made some appro priate remarks. He said that he gladly undertook the office, as it enabled him, as President of the Royal Academy, to shew the interest he felt in the important institution before him. He felt the greatest interest in the progress of these admirable schools, and, indeed, in all those established in connection with the Kensington Institution through the country. It was impossible to overrate the benefits they might achieve from educating a whole nation, and supplying broadcast a knowledge of the first principles of art. The future of this country would shew the value cf these schools, and if the effects of their labours was to produce greater :Akin in the, departments of decorative art those who had Ueen instrumental in organizing the schools would have deserved the gratitude of the country. It was time that .Something was done in this respect for hitherto England had been behind Continental nations in taste and skill. In addressing the students Sir Francis Grant explained some of his, views on the subject of art. He thought that students should not be kept too lon g at *Chalk drawing , and that too -Much •copyihgi must be avoided or they might merge into mere copyists With respect to the female students he declared that he had peculiar views regarding the "strong minded women," but he rejoiced to think that painting, which depended so much upon good taste, and was well suited to refined women, offered them opportunities for at tainin g H distinction. e warned the male students that, though they had been fortunate enough to gain the three gold medals on this occasion, the ladies were progre ssin g so well that they threatened to surpass their male competi tom in the race for fame. The President's address was most favourably received, and he concluded amid loud cheers. OM% CO I'EMPORARIES---This "Morning RELEASE OF THE FENIAN PRISONERS. The Times, in commenting on the letter of Mr. Glad stone announcing the release of the Fenian prisoners, says :—The Government have taken, advantage . of the approach of Christmas to send a new message of peace and goodwill to Ireland. "The Government," says Mr. Gladstone, "have recommended to the Crown the exer- cise of the Royal clemency so far as is compatible with the assured maintenance of tranquillity and order in the country." The English public will be heartily glad that the Government have felt themselves in a p4sition to make this concession to Irish feeling. Our letter from Dublin this morning illustrates the capacity of the Irish for misapprehending facts ; but there never was a more complete misapprehension than that which has been put forward by the extreme Irish party on this sub ject. The English Government, if not the Eng- lish people, have been represented as entertaining an almost vindictive animosity a o ,inst the prisoners con- victed of political felony. The stories of their maltreat- ment, which have received so wide a circulation, afford a strange illustration of this belief. All the while, it may safely be said, there has not been a man in the rest of Great Britain who has not been lamenting the necessity of punishing our fellow-subjects offences. The country has, for political indeed, fully recognised the necessity, and has firmly supported the Government in the unwelcome course it has been its duty to pursue. But from the moment when Irish juries vindi cated the authority , of the law by convicting the prisoners, up to the present hour, we Fhould all have rejoiced if it could have been deemed consistent with the interests of Ireland itself to remit the penalty which had been justly Incrred. The time has come, in the opinion of the Glffernment, when this general desire may be indulged; and the pleasure felt at this decision by all classes of the Queen's subjeats will be only second to that which will doubtless be entertained by the immediate associates of the prisoners. The Daily 1V etos remarks : We congratulate that great body of the people of Ireland who, themselves loyal and peaceable, have so long waited in hope of the day when this amnesty might become possible ; and we alio congratulate the Government that they have found themselves at last justified in taking this course, which they had promised that they would take when the:state of the country made it fitting so to do. It was time to show that there was no weakness in the generous temper of the Government. The firm though conciliatory refusal of Mr. Gladstone in October, 1869, to the numerous petitions for the immediate release of the Fenian convicts, declared explicitly that while he and his colleagues were proceeding, and would still proceed, in the course of really liberal Irish legislation and administration, they would not merely not yield to clamour or turbulence, but not even to demands in themselves not wholly unreasonable, as long as they were _ _ supported by clamour. But Mr. Gladstone in England, Mr. Fortescue in Ireland, continued cool and resolute to maintain the law, but not to alh for special and excep- tional powers till they had shown what the existing law could and could not do, and till they were prepared to prove, as they did prove by that masterly piece of constructive legislation, the Irish Land Bill, that they were not faltering, and would not for one moment falter, in their undertaking to win Ireland Ireland back to England by justice and sym- pathy. Observant and thoughtful men who visit Ireland —not only those who like Sir William Mansfield, return after many years' absence ; but those, too, who compare its present condition with that of only two or three years since—bear witness to tho striking improvement not only in the land but in tho people. Their very demeanour, more cheerful, more respectful to those whom in their peasant-lae simplicity they do not grudge to call their betters, is sheaving that the Church Act and the Land Act are helping to make them feel that a real change is passing upon them. In all things the time is propitious, and we repeat that we con gratulate the Government and the Irish people that the amnesty is granted. THE LUXEMBURG QUESTION. The Telegraph says :—Luxemburg is no more going to drag us into war, through the difficulties raised by her alleged non-observance of neutrality, than 'Russia is through her tampering with the neutrality of the Black Sea. The fact having become known, that the question of the Prussian protest against the Treaty of 1867 was to be considered at the meeting of the Cabinet on Saturday, the public naturally felt a keen anxiety to learn what might be the course adopted, and there were not wanting anticipations of a sufficiently alarming nature. It is needless to say that we could not share any such appre hensions, since we knew that Count Bismarck's announce ment was really of a less sweeping Lind than that made by Prince Gortschakoff, and we saw that it might not be without some warrant arising from the exigencies of war. The Grand Duchy was accused of the same grave offence which Count Bernstorff had charged against England—that of " aiding and abetting" the enemy. We were not so neutral and passive as we ought to be ; we sent to France rifles and ammu nition to be employed in the slaughter of German soldiers —thus, at least, nil-4h° indictment against this country. lu the same spirit itiva,s alleged that the little dpendericy attached to the Crown of Holland had in various ways shown itself partial and the reverse of indifferent. Luxemburg had refused a passage to wounded German troops through her territory, had assisted the French in provisioning. Thionville, and had neg lected to detain French soldiers who took refuge beyond the neutral frontier. We have no right to assume without examination that the charges are absolutely base less ; but their very nature shews 'that they probably admit of explanation. We have had our own experience of the difficelties of neutrality. We know that the Eng lish Government and people have, from .the commence ment of the present calamitous contest, resolutely determined to stand aloof ; yet we have not escaped vehement censure from both belligerents, and we can readily understand that poor little Luxemburg. placed as she is between France and Germany, is peculiarly ex posed to suspicion. We now learn from the Luxemburg Minister, what his representative will tell King William at Versailles, that, if there has been any infringement of neutrality, it has been against both the will and the en deavours of the authorities; and thus the affair is handed over to the treatment of diplomacy proper, with every disposition, we believe, on all sides to arrivelat a rational and friendly settlement THE VALUE OP.TREATIES. No one can pretend, remarks the Standard, to mistake the signs of the feeling, which are equally palpable in the impudent threats against Luxemburg as in the deliberate measures taken by the German commander at Dieppe, to render the presence of his troops as burdensome as pos sible to the English residents. The complaints of the ex portation of guns to France—complaints which the German authorities must know to be false in substance, and to be of no legal force even if they were true—can only be meant to keep up an irritation in the German mind against England. It is universally believed, in spite of the existence of the " Quaker Government," that Eng land is the only obstacle to the complete triumph of the Bismarck policy, and the consolidation of the German influence as supreme on the conti nent of Europe. This is the danger, which those who admire the German character and those also who do not must equally admit. How is it to be met, aill by what influences turned aside? Are we to accept the Bismarckian programme in full, and follow submissively after Von Moltke'scar of victory? We have almost done this already, and yet we perceive that we have not propitiated the German poweas ers. he Ger- What more must England do to thoroughly a pp e t man rage and to secure to ourselves peace? We have exhausted all those pacific arts which we were told were henceforth to temper the quarrels of nations. We have invited peace by reducing our own already feeble armament to the lowest possible state. We have endeavoured to substitute arbitration for war. We have promoted the rational settlement of disputes by treaties and conventions, as w e were advised was the better course. But what is the precise value of these guarantees now? Do we not see treaties broken, and the right to break them claimed, every day by the Power which happens to be presently strongest in arms ? How can we rely upon arbitration again as a substitute for war, when we find that the most solemn compacts are to be binding only at the pleasure of the nation wiThrn they most nearly affect ? No better guarantee can any treaty have in the future than the Treaty of 1856 was supposed to have secured. It is only three years since we congratulated ourselves on having prevented a great war by the neutra- Dation of Luxemburg. These great diplomatic achieve ments are no* se) much wastepaper. They have gone to utter wreck, and left Europe in a more dangerous condition than before. They did not prevent, they only put off, .the inevitable arbitrament of the sword. Any treaty which we could make to-morrow would be subject to the same fate. It is certain that we can never more rely upon treaties, and that if we enter into them at all again we must be prepared at a short notice to teaintain the en. gagenaMit,by force of anus. COLISWE 'OF. PRECEPTORS.-A meeting of the Council' of this Corporation was held on Saturday last. The Rev. James Hunt, M.A., deputy head-master of Faversham Grammar School, and Mr. D. Morris, of Worcester, were elected members of the College.