The Sun. — London, England, 1870-12-05 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE. SUN OFFICE, 8 A. m. THE WAR. REPULSE OF THE FRENCH BEFORE PARIS. TELEGRAM FROM THE KING. ROYAL HEADQUARTERS VERSAILLES, _NC. 4. No further attempt has been as yet made by the enemy to break through the German lines. The losses of the Saxons from the 30th ult. to the 2d inst. amount to from 1,500 to 2,000 men. The 104th, the 106th, tho 107th, and the 108th have fifteen officers killed and sixty-three woundlA. The number of French prisoners amounts to 3,000 Men. BERLIN, December 3. The following official despatches have been re ceived : " VERSAILLES, December 2. " To QUEEN AUGUSTA' " No fighting yesterday. " To-day the points on this side of the Marne, which were still occupied by the enemy—namely, Champigny and Brie—were retaken by Prussians, Wurtembergers, and Saxons. " WILLIAm." " VERSAILLES, December 2 (Midnight.) " After the battle the day before yesterday the Paris Army kept possession of the villages of• Brie and Champigny, situate on the Marne, and under the fire of the forts. " To-day at dawn these places were taken by us. " Towards 10 a.m. the enemy again advanced With :superior numbers against our defences be tweenyie Seine and the Marne, and, after a severe conflict, which lasted eight hours, he was victoriously repulsed by troops of the 12th and 2ud Army Corps and the Wurtemberg Division. "A. Bavarian reconnoitring detachment, sent out by the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg yesterday, be tween Orgeres and Patay, fell in with vastly supe rior forces of the enemy, who was advancing. The Bavarian detachment fell back. "The Grand Duke's army this morning, at nine o'clock, was forming to advance, when it found itself vigorously attacked on the line Orgeres and Beignaux. " The enemy, consisting of the 15th and 16th Corps, was beaten back and driven beyond Loigny by the 4th Cavalry Division, supported by the Ist Bavarian Corps. "Meanwhile the 22nd Infantry Division, sup- Ported by the 2nd Cavalry Division, stormed Poupry and advanced to the immediate neighbourhood of Artenay. " The enemy lost many hundred prisoners ; 11 guns were taken. " Our lose was not inconsiderable, and the enemy's lossivery large." CHAMPS, December 2. This morning the German troops, consisting of the 12th Royal Saxon Army Corps, the Wurtembergers, and the Second Prussian Army Corps, commenced an attack on the French, with a view to retake the 'villages of Champigny and Brie, which had re- Itained in their hands since the 29th of November. This was accomplished at eight o'clock. Afterwards there was a great sortie by the French from Paris. The German troops fought for four hours under a terrible fire from the forts Nogent and Itosny and the batteries of Mount A.vron. The French retired at 3 o'clock, leaving several hundred prisoners in the hands of the Germans. _ _ Brie is now free from troops belonging to either array. There were great losses both on the part of the French and Germans. The Saxon Regiment of Chasseurs and the Bth Saxon Regiment fought most gallantly. Nearly all their officers were killed and wounded. The fight was altogether a moat severe one. DEFEAT OF THE LOIRE ARMY. VERSAILLES, December 3 (10.5 a.m.) The Duke of Mecklenburg utterly defeated the French near Axtenay yesterday. The Germans took 12 guns. The report of the Dyke of Mecklenburg is as follows : " JANVILLE, December 2. " At eight o'clock this morning, our troops having advanced, a battle commenced in the direction of 13 azoches les Hautes. At 9.80 the enemy, after a heavy fight with the 10th Infantry Division, fol lowed by the Ist Bavarian Army Corps, and sup- Ported by the 4th Cavalry Division, was driven beyond Loigny. _ _ _ "The 22nd Infantry Division, supported by the 2nd Cavalry Division, took Poupry by storm. The e nemy was driven back to Artenay. The 16th French Army Corps 'was beaten near Loigny, and the loth near Artenay. Many hundred prisoners and 11 guns were taken. "The loss sf the enemy is considerable. Our loss cannot yet be estimated, but is much smaller." 'Pouts, December 3. The following official report has been issued by the Government here : " The movement of the Army of the Loire being continued, yesterday a number of engagements were fought, which, however, did not result in any ap preciable advantages to either party. In one of them General Sonnis was wounded and made prisoner. This incident for a while retarded the march of the 1 7th Corps. We are holding our positions. The s P l rit of the troops is excellent." "In the East, Autun has been twice attacked by the enemy, and he has been each time re- Pulsed—on the second occasion with important le ases. "There is nothing fresh in the North. A retro grade movement of the enemy appears to become evident." The France says that the result was indecisive, and that the fighting will be continued to-day. The battle was long, obstinate, and bloody. Torits, December 4. The Moniteur says that the movements of the Amy of the Loire are being conducted with extreme Prudence, and that the position:of the French is good. E ngagements succeed each other almost without in terruption, upon a vast line of battle, and there are alternately successes and reverses; but the French Purace their object all the same, and the generals, well supplied with everything that is necessary, will Successfully carry out their plans. I) RPEAT OF THE FRENCH AT ORLEANS. ROYAL HEAD-QUARTERS, VERSAILLES, December 4. Yesterday P r i n ce Frederick Charles, with the 3rd and 9th Corps, drove the enemy near Chevilly I`ll,l Chillenes, into the Forest of Orleans,. capturing w e cannons. THE GERMANS IN THE NORTH OF FRANCE. A. despatch from Lille, dated December 4, says : The Prussians seem to have evacuated Amiens, and to mask their movements by flying columns. 444 St night th e y bl ew up th e b r id ge between Albert an d Ache ux , w hi ch would i n d uce an i n t en ti on t o 8 ° ear , " a retreat, and not an advance northwards. nolo 1 y . TLE, Dec• 3 ' 3eatrice, went t Bert Hall of Art In. Horatio St°}' Dec. 4 '. opold, and Fr u ' oe 3 morning in OR late has been as' )1y take p °ll la ce het iniversary Uf Princess Loo' ge t wedding Pre sen a at Balmoral ace. HE STAG)iceum :—Early - id Sons will 1 311 . . b. Lord Broug b .,' be one of g re '7 iesis of Speci es ' L shortly aPII by Mr. Dar w t point of vies iphic Dictionarl implete Code „ A fcl d Postal Cml r Frank Bolton' words. and .1 011 _, 1 / in be expr essed ted number reden's "P Fr by Mr. Society's EssAY 6 edition of t ' li t nged, has O le :, . Lilly, the w e . disposed of don is annouacti _de and Time s : a hat the so-eaul: ..4 , kview was eell' ut ough not with° minens-Sherr i l; ;ag,ement at TOP"' it fast recove.: ticipated, be al ) fter Christeno- 4. ; '.eyloff is abou t 0 Sea-Girt Shore, rnor Fo xper, that .ar t liiv , ebrity as in Gly n (De nt find an opeoi° iey is en P °4 ; to America 0 (4 ig to London pera here. has been &Willi' of Music inlSi c , i '. ;o give a valua ble Iretoribus stud ent in the institution 'EL LIGEN CS ler of the Nad° )f captains. e Captain Corr aracter, and th ° to attend before any of the Lords Chief at Ports' Japanese nava/ Duke of Weliq —Captain G. v „' r Henry Bark l i,' . It is propo se " id Norfolk jac k April next. , he Admiralty 11 ', s not at preseo v al for raising 11° lmet for office r° Che, material wd a worn by o fficeP we a spike at the officers will ha ve her chip-strap' he Treasury t h 9 , uld be allowed to oles.—The 1109 1 ! / ened by the add; 11 then be place d Somerset, ItS' at the School of ship Challenger: e in command 0; , may be expect e' larY next. The Valentine Baker th Hussars, vibe e Prussian force° day last still L the head-qufir Ite respecting the 3ed in bringi 4 iblishment. T he nth regard to the assured that on e ), was 300 shor t so still, neither ry possible exec, 'PLY. ensures are being wider, which 110 and the manufac" r our great guns s of the Gover n. es of this powder Ite trade. The e" powder hav e mins. In appear vhencc its natne. than that of t he in upon the gun/ ; and even wit h it is at present. of all our head a corresponding weapons. 'r elieve, be fix& is, 301 b. ; fa 10-inch glio' -inch guns, 8 511/ ' ; 're) 1201 b.: t hee ms are capable of rain !due to the e with the small et ge-grain powde r is resulting fro m ill be very coosi' Day,—Satar , ,y season ticke t° sitors, 8,490. Alpha, of Su" at Hebburiu- 011 ,', from Hanibtlit'e ;hies of the TY,,,,,11 could reach 1 the vessel, al l , L'he cause of 0 . 1 Ive originated 1 :, ) , ad a very n arr , L understood to al of the oil 13/1 Cacioine contail Caaoine and is the roost (1° ~,, day. Cacaolne , oil is removed,lo,'4, bs.—Prepared sts, 112, Great dle-S treet ; at tb el —ALA T, Extensive movements are taking place to secure the safety of the fortified cities in the North. The Prussians in the North are fully retreating. They have left Albert and the neighbourhood, and it is said that they are proceeding towards Rheims. FIGHTING NEAR AUTUN. A French despatch, dated Lyons, December 3rd, announces that fighting has been going on all day from Arnay-le-Duc. General Cremer is rapidly pursuing the enemy. ANXIETY AT THE • PRUSSIAN HEAD QUARTERS. Private telegrams fram Versailles concur in stating that there is great anxiety at the Prussian Head quarters about the result of the fighting round Paris, and that the general staff are by no means so sure about the result as they represent in the official telegrams. The Germans have lost very heavily. OCCUPATION OF ABBEVILLE. Abbeville has been occupied by the Germans, and hey are also reported to be marching in the direc ion of Doullens. AN ACCOUNT FROM LILLE. It was officially announced at Lille on Friday evening that the sortie of General Ducrot has been successful, and that he is endeavouring to effect a junction with General d'Aurelles de Paladine's THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE. BERLIN, December 3. It is considered certain here that the Conference for the purpose of settling the Black Sea question will be satisfactorily arranged. PESTH, Decembez 2. Promising advices have been received from Constantinople. The Porte is likely to accept the Conference upon the conditions proposed by Austria and England. In the sitting to-day of the Budget Committee of the Austrian Delegation, Count Beust defended his policy, and spoke with marked emphasis in a peaceful sense. He also spoke favourably of the proposed Conference, as being likely to secure the independence of Turkey, and deprecated all meddling with ques'ions con cerning the reconstruction of the German Con federation, as being entirely removed from his thoughts; The general aspect of affairs, however, would make it incumbent upon the country, if it wished to preserve its existence and its position, to be watchful and extremely cautious, because the chances of peace grew always in proportion with the resolute readiness to go to war whenever war becomes really necessary. Count Beust left for Vienna to-night, to see Baron Nowikoff on the subject of the Russian question. (CF.NTR,AL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) THE WANDERING BALLOON. Two more packages of letters dropped from the Paris balloon, which was seen in the Channel on Tuesday, have been washed ashore, and brought to Falmouth. They were found at Cadgwith, near the Lizard. They have been sent to London. No tidings of the balloon itself have been received, and it is feared that its occupants are drowned. rriE7stlN, LONDON, MON - DAY, DECEMBER 5, 1870. nations before the Germans were ready to attack All Monday a dead silence was kept by the Government respecting what was going on ; but to day a little of the good news has been allowed to get abroad. I confess, however, I do not participate so earnestly as some people in a cheerful view of the French position. It seems to me that the Prussians are simply falling back in order to draw on their opponents, and that when they have done so to a certain extent a rush will be made to cut the Army of the Loire in two, 'and each wing will be beaten by the immense Prussian force massed against it. All depends, and must depend, upon whether Trochu can make anything like a successful sortie from Paris. If he can do so at at the proper time to co operate with the Army of the Loire, all may yet be well. If not—if General de Paladine is drawn on towards Paris until he gets within reach of the army round that capital—nothing can possibly save him. And, to add to the danger of the present crisis, not only will the Prussian army now in the Somme be able to detach a large portion of its forces down towards Paris and the Loire, but I hear, from undoubted authority, that the German army of the Baltic, which is 140,000 strong, and is composed of fresh troops. has been ordered on to France at the rate of 10,000 men a day. army. At Trembloy, in the Ardennes, a skirmish occurred between the enemy and some Francs-tireurs, in which the latter were victorious. The German telegram asserting that the French had demanded an armistice of six hours for the burial of their dead is incorrect. On the contrary, it is said that the Prussians demanded a suspension of hostilities, which was only granted for two hours by the French. WAR NEWS VIA BERLIN. BERLIN, December 2 (11.24 p.m.) The semi-official Nord Deutsche Zeitung flatly contradicts the rumour that Count Bismarck in tends to conclude peace with Napoleon. General Voigt Retz, Commander of the Tenth Army Corps, states that at Beaune-la-Rolande he had 11,000 men against 31,000 Frenchmen, who attacked his flank to prevent his effecting a junction with the German main body. The National Zeitung relates that a few days ago the French . officers detained in Belgium were invited to assemble at M. Zachard's, the French Envoy at Brussels, where they met M. Richard, the French Army Inspector, who in the name of his Government asked them to break their parole, fly to Fr;nce, and re-enter the army. Officers were wanted, and they would be immediately promoted. Many French officers have fled during the last few days from Germany. Bishop Mermillod, of Geneva, retracts the accusa tion published in his name by a French priest that allurements to heresy are held out to French prisoners in Germany. 1.15 p.m. The King of Prussia has invited the Kings of Bavaria, Wurtemberg, and Saxony to Versailles to be present at the entry into Paris. Preparations are making to embody 150,000 more Landwebr men, in case France continues the w a after the capture of Paris. The Moscow papers inveigh against the German press for censuring the denunciations of the Treaty of 1856. The sale of the German Petersburger Zeitung has been subjected to special restrictions because it sup ports Germany against France. — The exceptional position accorded to Bavaria under the new Federal Treaties has made a bad im pression in Wurtemberg, whose Government and people, as they have sacrificed their independence to unity, object to unity being impaired by another minor State. THE MILITARY POSITION. BERLIN, December 4. The military position is deemed critical in well informed circles. Apprehensions of the final result are entertained. General Manteuffel has been ordered to Paris. The opposition in Parliament to the Bavarian Convention is increasing, and it probably will not be ratified without amendment. It is asserted, on excellent authority, that Count Bismarck declares be will retire from office unless the South German Convention is adopted un altered. LIBERTY OF THE SUBJECT IN PRUSSIA. BERLIN, December 4. A long discuseion took place in yesterday's meeting of the Reichstag on the late imprisonment of Jacoby by General von Falkenstein. Herr Dunker opened the subject in an exhaustive speech. He proved that the constitutional laws of the country were not suspended during a state of siege, and demanded why citizens should be impri soned without a trial. The President, Herr Delbruck, replied in sub stance that Count Bismarck could not be held res ponsible for the acts of military commanders who were answerable to the King alone. Herr Winthorst defended General von Falken stein because his desire to flee the prisoners was not permitted to be carried out by the higher authority. _ The majority of the speakers palliated or gently condemned the action of the military chiefs, but ex pressed no sympathy for Jacoby. Von Falkenstein was present, during the debate, in the Royal box, and afterwards in the House, but he did not speak. The reading of the new Constitution was post poned till to-morrow. INDIA. CALCUTTA, December 3 (via Teheran). Yakoob Khan is reported to have been utterly beaten on the Seistan border, and to be anxious to make terms with his father. The Ulwar affairs are settle•l. The Council has been formed, with Major Cadell as Political Agent. TERRIBLE RAILWAY COLLISION IN CANADA. TORONTO, December 3. A terrible collision between two trains occurred this morning on the Grand Trunk Railway line near Brighton. Three persons were killed, one was fatally injured, and eighteen cars and two engines were completely destroyed. TIIE MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS LOVISE.—TIIO statement that her B,cyal Highness Princess Louise's marriage is to take place on the 10th of February is in correct. No time for the ceremony has yet been definitely settled. A shocking accident has occurred at Siemen's steel works, near Swansea. A red hot steel ingot, weighing 12 cwt., fell upon an old man named Lewis, and settled across his head and neck. It was removed with great difficulty, and the old man died soon afterwards. CRYSTAL PALACE.--This being cattle show week extra entertainments will be provided to attract visitors to the Palaec. On Wednesday and following days the great Poultry and Pigeon Exhibition is . held. For this a very large number of specimens will be collected, prizes to the value of over £7OO being offered in the various classes. On Tuesday and Thursday operas will be played (" Sonnambula" and " Der Freischutz" respectively). On Monday (to-day) and Wednesday, the Mexican athletes will perform, and on Saturday a concert will be given as usual. ANOTHER ACCIDENT FROM AN ESCAPE 0 F GAS. An accident, supposed to have been caused by an escape of gas, has occurred at Hitchin Ferry, near Southampton. A widow woman, who resided there with her grandson and granddaughter, not appearing as usual yesterday morning, the house was broken into. At the foot of the stairs the granddaughter was found in an insensible condition and the grandmother and grandson dead in their beds. The granddaughter, on recovering,conrious ness, said she was awoke early yesterday morning by hear ing her grandmother struggling and her brother moaning, and was proceeding down stairs for assistance when she became insensible. An examination of the house has shown that there was a leakage into a cupboard from one of the gas company's mains. COLLIERY ACCIDENT. An eXplo.sion of firedamp occurred at Briton Ferry, South Wales, on Friday, in the lower level of the Earlswood Colliery. Seven men were seriously injured. It is supposed the disaster was caused by the men beating off fire-damp with their coats, and that in passing through it came in contact with the open light of the men working near the commencement of the level. FEVER ON BOARD THE TRAINING SHIP IMPREGNABLE. . Scarlet fever has broken out on board the training Ship Impregnable, at Devonport, and a considerable proportion of the boys are said to be affected. THE NEW FLYING SQUADRON. Rear-Admiral Seymour hoisted his flag on Saturday night on board the Narcissus as commander-in-chief of the new flying squadron. FUNERAL OF THE HON. J. F. STUART WORTLEY. The .funeral of the hon. James Frederick Stuart Wortley took place at Wortley on Saturday, the body having beembrought from London on the previous night. Amongst those present were Lord Wharncliffe and the Hon F. S. Wortley, brothers of the deceased, the Marquis of Drogheda, and Lord Robert Grosvenor. The pall bearers were gentlemen living on the Wortley estate. The funeral was a private one. FATAL ACCIDENT AT A COLLIERY. On Saturday two men, named Fletcher and Marshall, were killed by an extensive fall of the roof in a coalpit, at the Agnes Colliery, Barnsley. Marshall's body was recovered two hours afterwards ; but Fletcher's remains were not got out until three o'clock on Sunday morning, owing to the repeated falls of stone.—At Oldaaill Pit, in connection with the same collieries, two labourers, named Buckley and Thompson, were seriously injured by a similar fall from the roof. THE FRENCH PROSPECTS. The special correspondent of the Telegraph, writing from the Royal Head-quarters at Versailles, November 29th, says :—Probably the same bad fortune that has attended the French throughout the whole campaign will wait upon their efforts now. Had such an army as that under Aurelles de Paladine been in the field before the surrender of Metz, there is but little doubt that it could have raised the siege of Paris, and compelled the investing troops to fight a pitched battle. Metz surrendered just in time to allow Prince Frederick Charles to interpose his three Corps between the relieving forces and the beleageured town. It is probable that the state of Paris will necessi tate a course of action on the part of De Paladine which, if it could have been delayed, and conducted in concert with the other French armies in the field, might have been more effectual, and would have had, at least, a better chance of success. In any case, the ultimate re sult is not doubtful. The fresh levies of France, however brave they may be, and animated, as they certainly are, by a spirit of honourable and high resolve, cannot stand against the veteran troops opposed to them, inured to hardship, accustomed to danger, and bold with the confidence engendered by unqualified success. Neither is there much likelihood that a sortie can now be at tended with a favourable result. The Germans have strongly entrenched and fortified their positions— places that a few weeks ago were tolerably open are now almost impregnable to attack ; and an issuing force will find its troops arrested and hurled back, like waves of the ocean beating vainly against a rock-bound coast. The general opinion here, among those who ought to know, is, that Paris must sur render in a week or ten days at most, and cer tainly, to judge by the letters of your correspondent and others who have bravely stuck to their posts in the unhappy city,things must be in a very bad way indeed. Still there are, probably, private stores hoarded away, which when they are " requisitioned " by Government, as they certainly will be, will serve to put off the evil day for a little time. All accounts also agree in stating that there are plenty of breadstuffs, and wine in abundance. That such a diet will en tail an immense degree of misery, and produce much disease and death, is, of course, certain ; but it is probable that a population which has shewn so much devotion and patient courage will continue to hold out for some time upon bread and wine. The strong men will not be so much affected ; but it is terrible to contemplate the sufferings that will - ensue to the young chil dren, the weak women, and the sickly and aged men. Fuel is becoming very scarce. Cold starves as well as hunger ; and the intensity of winter's frosts will have as much to do in bringing about capitulation as the actual scarcity of food. Still, I do not agree with those who think the end so very near. It was generally supposed that the city would fall without any further effort on the part of the garrison, though this supposition has been disproved ; and equally mistaken, I think, are those who expect to see the Germans in Paris before Christmas Day. MORE GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS. Writing from Tours on the 29th ultimo, the correspon dent of the Telegraph says : —On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday there were engagements more or less partial along the line, which, by the way, is every day shifting, but which yestdday extended from Moutargis on the extreme French right to Beaumont. The French having on Saturday and Sunday repulsed the enemy about Le Mans, the Prussians made a rapid flank move ment to their left, and in twenty-four hours had massed an immenst, force close to Etampes, evidently in tending to make a very determined attack upon Orleans. But General Aurelles was too quick for them. Instead of leaving in Le Mans the troops already there, he brought about 45,000 men down to Tours by one line, and thence pushed them up by another lino to Pithiviers and Moutargis, where they yesterday attacked the Prussians that were in their front, driving them back and taking 300 prisoners, besides one gun. For two days (Sunday and Monday) Tours resembled the London Bridge Station on occasion of Easter Monday Review — everything being multiplied by fifty. Day and night for forty-eight hours the arrival and departure of troops con tinued without intermission. The movement was accom plished in time, and the French army reached its de*ti- THE FIGHTING BEFORE PARIS. The correspondent of the Dail? News at the head quarters of the Crown Prince of Prussia, writing on the Ist inst., says :—The sortie of yesterday against the Wurtemberg division on the ground east of Paris, be tween the Seine and Marne, resulted in leaving the French in possession of the villages about Brie-sur- Marne. It is intended to retake these villages at any cost: At one time the French had occupied a line right and left of Ormesson, but they were driven back with loss from their most advanced position. The Wur temburgers were supported by a brigade of the Second Pomeranian Corps—the old corps of the Crown Prince — and by part of the Sixth Corps. Both sides fought hard, and it is said that the French, led on by dismounted officers of rank, shewed something of their traditional fire. Had not the Wurtembergers been very steady whilst being slowly driven back, and had not the Prussians come up promply in support, the line of investment might here have been broken. As it is the French have merely gained a better foothold for making a future spring. Their great want is space to de velop forces, and if they can hold the vantage ground of yesterday, they will have more space to eastward than formerly. The 30th was also signalised by a very hard fight to the north of St. Denis, where the French sallied out against the sth Prussian Corps. The attack was re pulsed with loss and some prisoners taken, but it cost the Prussians dear. Seventeen officers are known to have fallen. The return of rank and file hors de combat has not yet been sent in to Versailles. News from Prince Frederick Charles makes it ;clear that the Army of the Loire has been beaten in recent encounters, so much beaten that it can not hope to maintain its position north of the river. The French are said to have fought desperately and saved their guns; while the official accounts published in Ver sailles say one Prussian gun was lost. Heavy roads, and the fatigues of the invading army from long marches, pre vented a complete triumph, as the French were able to extricate themselves by a rapid retreat. They will, how ever, be vigorously followed up. All is quiet to-day on the southern front of Paris, but the first shells were fired into the city yesterday from the Bavarian batteries near Chatillon. It is said this firing beyond the ramparts was an accident, and the Crown Prince of Prussia ordered that no more shells were to be allowed such length of range. If the French try any more sorties, there will probably be a sharp attack on the outlying defences of Paris. NOTES FROM AMERMA, THE DIFFERENCES WITH ENGLAND. The correspondent of the Times, writing from Phila delphia on November 18th, sends the following intelli gence :--`' The American mission to London still gives the President a great deal of trouble. General Schenck, after considering the appointment tendered him for about two weeks, is understood to have finally declined it, justly concluding that to go to London now would be to go into a sort of political exile, where a man can earn no laurels in the present condition of diplomatic relations, but is sure of losing his chance of future political preferment at home. General Schenck prefers to remain in Congress for the balance of his present term, and trusts to the chances of a contested seat and the favour of his party majority to get there ultimately for the next term. The President consequently is again without a Minister ; and, not de siring to have Mr. Motley remain in London any longer, the Secretary of State has recalled him, and Mr. Ben jamin Moran, the efficient Secretary of Legation, is to be temporarily made Charge d'Affaires. Mr. Motley's friends in this country, led by Senator Sumner, are quite indignant at this, and they threaten that Motley will remain in defiance of the President, and that the Tenure of Office Law can be invoked for his protection in this disobedience to the President's orders. That law, passed to trammel President Johnson, is still on the statute-book, and, curiously enough, was originally pro posed on account of the differences between Johnson and Motley when the latter was American Minister at Vienna. That Mr. Motley, however, will fac tiously remain in London, in spite of a recall, seems very improbable, notwithstanding the great anxiety on the part of many persons to get him into an open quarrel with the President. He has too much good sense to remain where he is not wanted, and besides, the contest about the London Mission is more between Grant and Sumner than between Grant and Motley. At present the President has no new Minister in view, and emphatically declares that no ap pointee's name shall be disclosed until the appointee ac cepts. He is tired of the frequent failures in this matter, and the consequent unpleasant comments of the news papers. The American Government is anxious to have several questions brought at once to the attention of the English Government, among them the fish ery disputes, and these matters it was not thought judicious to intrust to Mr. Motley, because he would not remain long enough to complete them. An additional treaty between the United States and Great Britain upon the subject of the suppression of the slave trade has been promulgated at Washington. General Butler, who is now making himself the special champion of the anti-English feeling in the United States, has prepared a speech against England, in which he will unbosom himself to his heart's content at Boston on the 23rd of November. Butler wants a spirited demand for Ala bama reparation, and redress for the ill- treatment by Canada of American fishermen. He thinks a vigorous onslaught upon England is necessary to save the Republican party, and also hints at the acquisition of Canada. Of the latter a correspondent of the New York Evening Post writes that if it is accomplished the country will have to change flags, and, therefore, ought to have cheap bunting. The duty on imported bunting is at present almost prohibitory, and was made so to please a Masssa chusetts member who was interested in a bunting-mill. General Sherman, commander-in•chief of the United States' Army, reports that the strength of the army at present is 2,488 officers and 32,382 men, of whom, how ever, under the Act of Congress reducing the army, 211 officers and 2,382 men must be discharged by the Ist of January, 1871. The American steamer Lloyd Aspinwall was last week illegally seized by a Spanish cruiser on the coast of Cuba, and the claim of her owners for reparation was referred, by consent of the two Governments, to a commission for arbitration. The commis sion consisted of Mr. John S. Williams, of Williams and Guion, representing the United States ; Senor Ceballos, a Spanish merchant in New York, repre senting Spain ; and Dr. Roessing, North German Consul- General at New York, as umpire. The vessel, after being seized, was detained three months at Havannah, and then released on a peremptory demand by the United States. The two commissioners disagreed as to the award, and the case finally went to the umpire, who decided that $19,700 in gold for damages should be paid by Spain to J. M. Begun. and Co., of New York, the owners of the vessel. Large cargoes of arms and munitions of war continue to be shipped from the United States to. the European belli gerents, chiefly, however, to France. The steamer Lafayette sailed this week with a cargo valued at $817,253, and the total shipments of arms since the beginning of the war from New York have amounted to $6,182,000. The Government does not interfere with this traffic, regarding it as thoroughly legal. The military stores were nearly all formerly the property of the United States, but were purchased by private indi viduals, by whom they were sold to the agents of France and Prussia. The agents of the Russian Govern ment are said to be appearing in the field in this country as purchasers of military supplies, and there are rumours of negotiations on behalf of Russia for the purchase of one or two American.vessels. She wants vessels of high speed, and the steamer Florida (formerly the Wampanoag) is Indicated as one that she desires. This is a steamer of 2,000 tons, carrying twenty-one guns, and she has lattained a speed of seventeen knots an hour. The United States, it is understood, will not now sell any efficient ironclad vessel of the navy." THE EASTERN QUESTION. EARL GRANVILLE'S REPLY TO PRINCE GORTSCHAKOFF. The following is the reply of Earl Granville to Prince Gortschakoff's note of the 28th of November. EARL GRANVILLE TO SIR A. BUCHANANI FOREIGN OFFICE, November 28, 1870. Sir,—The Russian Ambassador has read and given to me a copy of a despatch of Prince Gorts chakoff of the date of 8 (20th) November. It is not necessary for her Majesty's Government to recur to the important question of international law raised by the circular of Prince Gortschakoff, as they have nothing to add to the declaration on that subject which they have already made. His Excellency has been good enough to appeal to my knowledge of facts which his Excellency states prevented that consultation and agreement with other parties to the Treaty which Russia would have preferred. I am aware' that suggestions for Congresses to settle other Europetim questions have been made and not adopted. It has also been stated to me that intimations have been given to some of my predecessors that, in the case of certain contingencies, which, however, have never oc curred, such as the possession of the Principalities by Austria, Russia would feel bound to call in question some of the provisions of the Treaty of 1856. But lam igno rant of any occasion on which Russia, the party most interested, has proposed in any way to this country that a relaxation of the Treaty should be taken into consideration. I cannot, therefore, admit that the Imperial Government can justify this proceed ing by the failure of efforts which have never been made. The courteous language in which Prince Gorts chakoff's despatch is written, his assurance of the manner n which he would have preferred to open this question, and his declaration of the strong desire for a cofirmation of good relations between the two nations, particularly important at this time, encourage her Majesty's Govern ment in the belief that the obstacle to such relations will be removed. They observe that his Excellency describes the declaration which has been made by Russia as an abrogation of a theoretical principle without immediate applieatiort. If these words are to be construed into an announcement that Russia has formed and stated her own opinion of her rights, but has no in tention of acting in conformity with it without due con cert with the other Powers, they go far to close the con troversy in which the two Governments have been en gaged. Her Majesty's Government have no objection to accept the invitation which has been made by Prussia to a Conference, upon the understanding that it is assembled without any foregone conclusion as to its results. In such case her Majesty's Government will be glad to consider withperfect fairness, and the respect due to a great and friendly Power, any proposals which Russia may have to make. You will read and give a copy of this despatch to Prince Gortschakoff.—l am, &c. (Signed) GRANVILLE. OPERA COMIQUE. • On Saturday last another change was made in the pro gramme of this pretty little house, the first part of the entertainment being French as heretofore, but the second consisting ofjan English operatic burlesque. The principal French piece was Sardou's "Le pr6s St. Gervais," in which, it will be remembered, Mdlle. Njazet made her debut at this theatre sustaining the role of the Prince de Conti, and it is only necessary to say that her acting was as near perfection as possible. The burlesque is an adaptation of Donizetti's " L'Elise d'Amore," adapted expressly for this house, by S. Gilbert, but bearing, nevertheless, a very suspicious resemblance to Dr. Dulcamara, which was pro duced some years ago at the St. James's. In its present form the piece has been plentifully supplied with new music by Mr. C. Steele, the chef d'orchestre, and serves the pur pose of introducing to the London boards two fresh artistes—Miss Geraldine Warden, who comes to us from America and Australia 1 and Mr. J. W. Turner, who sang the tenor music: Miss Warden's voice is a rich soprano, and was used with good effect it the part of Adii'a, "The glixir of Love" is tastefully placed upon the stage, and the scenery is all that could be wished. The pieced announced for representation during this week are "Le Tigre de Bengale," " Les Pistolets demon Pbre," and "The Elixir of Love." NEWS FROM INDIA. We have received the Indian papers to date November 12th, by the Brindisi Mail. We extract the follo wino; heads of intelligence from the Bombay Gazette and the Times of India ! The number of candidates for matriculation under the Bombay University, is this year 901—an increase as com pared with last year. The total number of deaths from snake-bite in British India during 1869 is stated to have been 11,416. This total, large as it is, is, however, derived from very inadequate returns, so that it is considered more than probable that the annual deaths from snake-bites are not fewer than 20,000. His Highness the Maharajah of Vizianagram has ordered out from England a steam launch, whieh he has informed the Benares municipality, he will give them as a present in remembrance of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh's visit. The launch is to be called the Alfred. The Maharajah has further proposed to erect a Town Hall at Benares at an expense of Rs 20,000. These munificent gifts have been suitably acknowledged by Sir William Muir. Madras is to be honoured early in December by the presence of two distinguished visitors—no other than General Tom Thumb and his wife. Mr. Forsyth has entirely recovered his health. He ar rived in Murree on the 29 of October. Mr. Shaw, who parted company with Mr. Forsyth at the head of the Karakosh river, in order to explore all the country to the north of the Shyok, has arrived at Leh. As Syud Burgosh, the new Sultan of Zanzibar, is stated to be adverse to British interests, and there will probably be complications through Syud Toorkee, his elder brother, who has lately been victorious near Muscat, H.M.S. Nymphe, Commander Adams, has been ordered to proceed immediately to Zanzibar, and she will probably leave on Saturday next. Mr. Willoughby, of the 21st Fusiliers, and Assistant Inspector of Musketry, fell from his horse in coming from the Ranges on Tuesday morning, November 1, re ceiving severe injuries. He appears to have fallen suddenly, his head coining violently against the ground,. and the D accident happeninc , opposite the Chief Commissioner's residence, Cubbon Road, he was carried into the house and received every kindness and attention. He was immediately seen to by Dr. Bird, of the 17th N. 1., and afterwards by Dr. Lougheed, the surgeon of his regiment. As the symptoms were more of concussion of the brain than sunstroke, he was able to be moved to his own house, on Wednesday morning comparatively re covered. The Englishman states that Messrs. Thomas Wilson, Sons, and Co , of Hull, are going to establish a regular line of steamers between Calcutta and London. The court-martial on Ensign Gilbert, of the 60th Rifles, at Madras, began its investigation on the Ist inst., and when it met to resume on the 2nd, it was obliged to ad journ sine die on account of Mr. Gilbert being laid up with fever. At the hearing Ensign Gilbert pleaded not guilty. Colonel Kennedy, as prosecutor, made no opening state ment, but appeared as a witness, and began the actual business of the day by deposing a long statement regarding the circumstances on which the charges of insubordination were based. The Colonel, it appears, was practising his battalion at the attack and defence of field works, in preparation for a sham fight which was to take place two days afterwards. In the course of manoeuvring the command was given to form line on the leading com pany, and, the movement having been carried out, the colonel rode along to inspect the alignment, and dis covered that where Ensign Gilbert's company was placed a hollow was observable in the line. Thereupon a series of commands was delivered by Colonel Kennedy, which was not - responded to in the usual manner d and which, owing to so me (su pp osed or actual accompanying rudeness of manner or tone, induce Ensign Gilbert to turn towards his commanding officer, and in reference to a given order distinctly exclaim, " be d—d if I do," and ultimately , when arrested, fling down his drawn sword on the parade-ground. Lieutenant Wellman, of the 85th Regiment, Meean Meer, has met with an accident, which it i feared will p ro bably prove very serious. By a fall from his horse his spine has been injured. A. BRUTAL FATHER. A little motherless girl, fourteen years of age, Anne Elizabeth Connor, drowned herself in the canal at Mile end, about a month since, and her body having been found Mr. Richards, the deputy-coroner, held an inquest upon it on Friday. The cause of the crime was clearly proved her father's brutal treatment. This m an (John Conner, lithographic printer, living at 14, Salisbury-street, Bow,) was not ashamed to say that for the last eight years he had frequently flogged his daughter. About a month ago he struck her on the arm with the leg of a chair, and he threw a loaf of bread at her head, because the landlady had told him she had stolen apples. She then ran out of the house, and he never saw her alive. He had threat ened to break her back, but he had never scalded her. John Connor, aged 11, brother of the deceased girl, said his sister was severely beaten on the night she left home. About a fortnight before she was so frightened of her father that she said, " I will go and drown myself." Upon that night she left home, and she returned in three hours, when she said, "Johnny, I went to the canal to drown myself, and I put my hand in the water to feel if it was warm, and it was very, very cold, and I did not like to jump in, but it will do as well another night. Mary Anne Gamble, the landlady spoken of, said that the girl had never stolen apples. She was a very good girl. She was once so frightfully beaten by her father that the witness was " upset " and became ill for three weeks. The jury returned a verdict " That the deceased drowned herself while in a fit of temporary insanity, brought on by the brutal beating of her father, and the jurors request the coroner to publicly censure him for his conduct." The father was then formally censured for his conduct. He rejoined, the reporter says, in language of a most revolting character. OUR COTE THE EASTERN QUESTION. 'his Mo: By Lord Granville's reply to Prince Gortschakoff'so Note of the 28th of November, the Times observes, the matter of the Conference which presents the new phase of the Eastern Question appears to be satisfactorily settled. Russia has committed no act amounting to a breach of the Treaty ; she only announced her in tention to violate the Treaty at some future time ; but, in the meanwhile, she thought she might right herself with the Neutral Powers by asking their permission to do so. Clearly, when she finds herself in presence of those Powers at the Conference, she will have to fall back from the position taken up in her first Note. Her mere appearance at the Conference implies a wish for conciliation; defiance might better have been attempted at a distance. We trust, says the Times, it will soon be difficult to account for the alarm this untoward incident has created in this country; we seem to have forgotten that dogs seldom bark when they mean to bite. Had Russia meant to go to war at once, she had no time to lose in preliminary negotiationg. Had her Note been followed by an attack on Turkey, her offence would hardly have been less flagrant than the attack without the Note. The Note would only have added insult to injury ; ; it would have sounded An unnecessary alarm ; we should have been forewarned, and, consequently, foroarmed. Were it only for the interval elapsing be. tween the declaration of War and the outbreak of hos tilities, Russia would have deprived herself of the advan tage derivable from an unexpected blow. Any pretext for a quarrel with Turkey would, no doubt, answer Russia's purpose just as well, The ' neu trality of the Black Sea was sufficiently safe. For many years to come Turkey would, at all events, be able to hold her own on those waters, for she would at the utmost require very little help, which would cheer fully be lent by any of the naval Powers having an interest in the free navigation of the Mediterranean. What longings Russia ;may still harbour for the possession of Constantinople and the Straits we deem it idle to inquire. But since the Crimean War we think she must understand that conquest in that quarter is no longer practicable by sea. The solution of the Eastern question, if Russia meditated it, would have to be sought in Danubian lands, and there the complication of interests constitute a tangle which the sword cannot easily cut asunder. THE SIEcIE OF PARIS. The Daily News thinks that for the moment all hope of seeing Paris relieved must be abandoned. The Army of the Loire and the Array of the Capital have not joined hands. Indeed, at the very time that General Ducrot was making gallant efforts to get away from Paris by the south-eastern roads towards Fontainebleau, the Army of the Loire was in retreat. For the first time since the Delegate Government began to issue its summaries of the events of the war, the official telegrams from Tours are marked by a gravity and an apparent honesty which )lave almost a touch of sadness in them. There is scarcely an attempt to conceal the fact that the Army of the Loire has been defeated, and forced to fall back upon Orleans. The only consolation offered by the official announcement to the country is, that General d'A urelle has been able to occupy • and divert a large section of the German forces which otherwise would have been opposed to General Ducrot. That is true enough ; but if the forces already round Pails are sufficient to imprison Trochu and Du crot, there is not much for France to be thankful for. On the very day, indeed, on which Ducrot was attacked in Brie and Champigny by the Germans, the Bavarians assumed the offensive in the south, and a "long, obstinate, and bloody battle" was the result. News from Tours, dated yesterday, now tells us that this battle decided the Army of the Loire to fall back on its entrenchments outside Orleans ; while the Germans had advanced as near to them as Pithiviers and Artenay. So ends, for the present, the great preconcerted movement which had been intended to make last week memorable for the French arms. Paris has made its first great sortie, and failed. The Army of the Loire has not advanced to its aid. Count Moltke has survived a combination in which an attack by the Army of the North was probably intended to have been included. Will Paris now seek to free herself by her own unaided efforts ; or wait until fresh armies are again ready to advance; or capitulate? • The Telegraph says :—When the news becomes known that, so far from having effected a junction, the Army of the Loire has been defeated and the Army of Paris has been driven back under the walls of the capital, the public mind by a natural reaction, may believe the conflict to be hopeless. In like manner, the population of Paris are certain to be dejected by seeing the killed and wounded brought back int o the city, and by the knowledge that the grand sortie on which such hopes were built has failed to pierce the Prussian lines. And, if it is true that the provisions of the besieged capital are well nigh exhausted, and that there is a powerful party within its walls iii favour of capitulation, then the passage of the Marne may be only the beginning of the end. Without disputing the weight of these arguments, we must point out that the very facts to which we have al luded are capable of an opposite interpretation.. Even taking the gloomiest view of the reverses sustained by the French armies, it is impossible to deny that both on the Loire and on the Marne they for a time held their own against the Prussians. Now, the position in which the besieging army is placed renders uninterrupted success on the field of battle essential to its very safety. During the last few days the Germans may have won real victories, but many such victories, so hardly fought, so dearly won, are almost as fatal as defeats. The whole question is, whether the French can go on attacking the German lines of in vestment from without and from within. If they can, no matter what may be the result of each contest, the position of the Prussians must become untenable, and they must be driven to the alternative either of raising the siege or of attempting to capture Paris by assault. It should be remembered that the engineers who constructed the fortifications of Paris, acted on the assumption, not that their batteries could render the approach to Paris impossible, but that under the shelter of their guns the garrison could sally out in comparative safety against any invading force. Down to a very recent day it was thought that Paris was practically without an army which could venture beyond the walls. The result of Wednesday's battle has shewn that such is not the case, and that, thanks to the respite which the Prussians have granted to their enemies, General Trochu has had time to form an army not inferior to the besieging force iu numbers or even in efficiency. Hence the problem, as we read it, stands thus : Can the French, whether in or out of Paris, hold their own for a few weeks longer ? Time must shew. But, be the result what it may, it is well for France and the world that a gallant nation has proved itself still to be possessed of the qualities which Lave given it a great historic name. FRENCH RESENTMENT AGAINST ENGLAND. As France gains strength, she finds breath, says the Standard, to accuse England of indifference worse than hate, of the malignant suggestiveness of a portion of her press, and the outrageous comments and advocacy of her official orators engaged in airing their principles after a manner utterly unknown to foreign politicians. The bitterest resentment against the English people finds expression now in Paris, and unfortunately the French neither can nor will believe that the English masses have deeply sympathised with them in their cala mities, and prayed for their success at fast ever since the capitulation of Sedan, whilst a feeling of indignation pervades this entire kingdom at the cruelty of poltroonery which applauds the cruelty of brute force. It is, indeed, a singular anomaly that the disciples of meekness and lamblike submission on the part of this country, who constitute the un-English element; of our political and social life, are all the votaries of conquest, ferocity, and the rule of blood and iron elsewhere. Does Russia want a British apologist ? She finds one in the philosophic economist, with his millennial theories for home consumption. Does Prussia require an. English champion to uphold Bismarck and advertise in the lan guage of eulogistic approval the death trade of the despot who desolates German homes in order to ravage France? That champion appears here in the shape of a preacher of non resistance, of selfish is olation and passive dishonour. Nay, should any armed foreign brigand threaten England, forthwith he enlists the sympathies of the drab dema gogues, who are always ready to assert that England is in the wrong, and to shew cause on behalf of her assailants and her foes. Despite of the wishes and the predictions of such persons, coupled with their insulting recommendations to yield to German demands, Paris has closed her gates, and continued to fire her guns. The admonitions, the ridicule'', and the counsels of these noble Britons have reached the eyes and ears of Frenchmen with no effect have that of engendering resentment against England, not only for deserting an ally, but insulting him in his misfortunes and hounding on his foes. Mr. Reverdy Johnson has written a letter advising those who are seeking indemnity under the Alabama claims to withdraw their demands from the Government of the United States, and appeal directly to the British Government.