The Sun. — London, England, 1870-07-26 00:00:00

vay, a hs . by 1 lives yeller riling was 'riday iscape main The spirit noli a The ;stern tative lying iid in . and Aten- pro- ;ends lueed 1 less dis ;t of orous ess to vhich a• the is be- Lit for . him mbhe us he then Jpera It was ,on of rig to rettos with )r his 3f all illiant rincess valked Fester nd the DAY. id the g en ouses rofes o the mit in o suc duty. r the THE WAR. SKIRMISH AT GA.SWILLIER, A French division is quartered at Forbach. Early on Sunday morning a skirmish took place at Gaswulier, when the French troops were driven back with the loss of ten men. There was no loss on the Prussian side. The Prussian soldiers assert that the needle-gun proved fully equal to the chasepot. On Friday the French Custom House officers opposite Saarlouis fired upon a Prussian cavalry patrol, and wounded two horses. A company of Prussian infantry has captured the French Custom House at Schrecklingen, near Saar louis, together with the treasury. The Customs officers were killed or taken prisoners. On the Prussian side one officer was wounded. A RAILWAY DESTROYED BY PRUSSIAN LANCERS. A telegram dated Saarbruck, July 24, says on Sunday morning early a detachment of 30 men of the 17th Regi ment of Lancers crossed the frontie. and interrupted the railway communication between Sarreguendnes and Ha genau, the one viaduct was blown up, and the rails torn up in several places. IThe interruption of the railway between Saarguemines and Hugenau on the part of the Prussian troops is to embarrass the communication along the frontier of Rhenish Bavaria, which might be used against them to great advantage by the French. The line is probably broken near Saarguemines. This would seem to show that the French are either not in the neighbourhood of that locality or not very much on the alert. If the breach be beyond repair, the direct line from Strasbourg, by Hugenau, Bitche, Saarguemines, Saarbruck, and Saarlouis to Treves is no longer available-1 RETIREMENT OF THE PRUSSIANS. The Emperor's departure for the seat of war is again postponed. Several journals state that his Majesty will not leave Paris until the middle of this week. Seven generals commanding in various armies of the service have been appointed as the Emperor's aides-de-camp. The Prince Imperial will have two aides-de-camp. Marshal Ma,emaho-i has arrived at Strasbourg. The correbpond , a s of the French Press generally con cur in representing the Prussians as making a retrograde movement, and manifesting an intention to await the French attack on the line of the Rhine. Latest advices state that the French base of operations extends from Strasbourg to Thionville, the centre being established at Bitche and St. Avoid, with a second line at Metz, capable of extension to the centre and to Thion vine. All the head-quarters of the various army corps are established in fortified places. Adiniral Bouet Willaumez assumed the command of the Northern squadron at Cherbourg, and hoisted his flag on board the Surveillante. He issued a very brief but stir ring address to the sailors of the fleet. Marshal Baraguay d'Hilliers has assumed the command of the army of Paris. It is stated that preparations will be commenced very shortly for placing the fortifications of Paris in a propel state of defence. The agriculturists of the district of the Upper Rhine, between Belfor, St. Louis, and Huningue, had been re quested to get in their crops as speedily as possible. Each French regiment is now provided with 330,000 cartridges. The Siecle demands the immediate reorganisation of the National Guard throughout France as a wise and necessary measure. REPLY OF FRANCE TO THE PRUSSIAN DENIAL. It is semi-officially stated that the French Government intends publishing a despatch of M. Benedetti relative to the views of Prussia on the Hohenzollern candidature in 1869, in order to reply to the denial given by Count Bismarck and Baron Thile to the facts stated in the despatch of the Duke de Gramont. It is officially announced that the French Government bein g desirous of lessening as far as possible the dis turbance of business and private correspondence has re solved to allow the unrestricted transmission of interna tional telegraphic advices provided that they shall not be expressed in a secret language. The announce ment says :—" The Prussian Government has not shown the same regard for private interests as has been done by this Government, since after cutting the direct lines of communication between France and Prussia, it now abso lutely interdicts all telegraphic communication between the Empire and North Germany." A Council of Ministers has been held at the Tuileries, at which the Emperor presided. VISIT OF THE EMPRESS TO CHERBOURG. The Empress visited the fleet at Cherbourg yesterday, and was received with great enthusiasm. An Austrian squadron of evolution is expected at Toulon. An official decree, dated the 23rd inst., has been published, appoint lug Viscount Treilhard Minister of France to the United States. The Minister of War has ordered works to be commenced to place the fortifications of Paris in a state defence. A Council of Ministers was held yesterday at the Tuileries, at which the Emperor presided. NEUTRAL CARGOES. The following Note has been addressed by the Duo de Gramont to Lord Lyons :-- •` Paris, July 23, 1870. . _ " M. l'Ambassadeur,—l have received the letter which your Excellency did me the honour to write to me yester day, asking me in the name of your Government if the decision just taken in favour of enemy's ships bound for ports of the empire freighted on French account before the declaration of war would be extended to such of the said ships as may before the 19th of this month have shipped cargoes on neutral account for neutral Ports. In adopting the arrangements referred to in the note inserted in the Journal Officiel of the 20th, the Emperor's Government had no other intention than to provide, in the interest of French coramerce for a situation not included in the declaration of the Congress of Paris of the 16th of April, 1856, as to maritime war. In fact, without an exceptional measure such as that which has been taken, the ships in question and their cargoes would have come under the application of the general principles of international law, and would have become liable to confiscation in case of capture. With regard to neutral cargoes shipped under the enemy's fiag, they are covered by the general privilege sanctioned in their favour by the declaration of 1856 , and his Majesty's Ambassador in London has been instructed to make known to the Government of the Queen, in a note of which your excellency will find a copy herewith annexed, that in case of the capture of German ships, neutral cargoes which may be found on board them will be restored to the parties interested on proof of their nationality. To go further than this and free enemy's ships for the sole reason that they are bound to s neutral port, and have put to sea before the com mencement of hostilities, would be an actual relinquish ment of the rights of war. Allow me to add, M. l'Ambas sadeur, that the line of conduct which we have adopted during the present war in regard to neutrals and the enemy's flag is strictly in conformity with that which, at the suggestion of England and in concert with her, we adopted in 1854 during the war in the East.—Receive, &c. (Signed) " GRAMONT." REPORTED ILLNESS OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON. According to the Dail) News it is stated in private letters from Paris that the reason why the Emperor Napo leon does not at once proceed to the seat of war is that he is suffering from an aggravated attack of dysentery. Other reports from Palls deny, however, that this is the case. His Majesty, it is affirmed, is suffering from the complication of internal disorders to which he has been subject for several years. In some quarters it is doubted whether he will be able to join the army at all. The Morning Post says the most recent advices represent the Emperor's health as excellent. His Majesty, in a letter written to a friend in this country, received only yesterday, speaks in terms of firm conviction of the irresistible impulse of the French nation ; and, expressing his confidence in the jus tice of their cause, avows his determination to do his duty by his country. THE BRIDGE OF KEHL. At four o'clock yesterday afternoon the Prussians or Badois, or both, blew up their side of the splendid bridge which crosses the Rhine from Strasbourg to Kehl. The abutments on the Ger man side were undermined, and. three tremendous explo sions did the work. Debris flew in all directions, and scattered themselves even over the French shore. The turning portion of the bridge is not completely de stroyed, but it inclines on one side with its Point in the air. Here is one of the first specimens of the distructiveness and misery of war. Kehl Bridge Was one of the finest structures in the region, and long Probably will it be before the loss is made good. Nor Was the damage altogether confined to the bridge. The charges were so powerful that many of the houses in Kehl were much intured ; and, even at Strasbourg, the shock was felt like an earthquake. The French are very indignant at this act of destruction, though it is not at all clear how the Prussians can be expected to consult the tastes of the French. The soldiers in Strasbourg say that they will go and do likewise with the bridge of Mannheim when their victorious troops march in that direction. As a matter of fact, it seems extremely probable that, though the victorious French troops may not march to Mannheim, they will make an attempt to get there. To invade South Germany would be much easier than to run a muck amongst the for tresses on and near the Prussian Rhine. There are no very strong places in South Germany. Should this course be taken, a French army posted at Mannheim,which lies on the Rhine about midway between Strasbourg and Cologne, would divide South Germany from its great Northern ally, and have a fine position for operations on either side. There is no great number of troops at Strasbourg at present, and those which arrive speedily go off to other places. One regiment left on Fri for Bitsche another is on it way to Metz. Nevertheless there i s a great variety of uniforms visible. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY MORNING, UL Y 26, IK7O. garded as the stormy petrel of that Empire which is peace. THREATENED ATTACK UPON KIEL.—The London correspendent of the Manchester Guardian writes ---Ex pectation turns more eagerly every hour for news from the Baltic, where the first blow is likely to be struck. The eyes of naval and political men are instinctively fixed on Kiel, the finest German harbour within the Sound, and a place whose position under present circumstances is likely to make it the turning point of all the movements in that quarter. Occupied by the French, with the corps under Montauban, and protected by the - French fleet in the roadstead, it would serve as a base of operations against Hanover, and in favour of Denmark, if that little kingdom consents to accept French aid. From Kiel, in a few hours, the whole of North Schleswig might be moved to declare itself emancipated from Prussia and restored to its old allegiance. THE ENGLISH PORTS.—Nothing had been seen of foreign men of war at Dover up to Saturday afternoon. A number of German merchant vessels were waiting to take shelter in Dover harbour. A few North German ships continue to drop into the Tyne and Wear, but none are allowed to sail, and it is said that the sailors belong ing to them will be despatched to their homes if possibl. None of the North German vessels have as yet been molested by French cruisers, though it is said that there are some on the look-out off the coast. Hamburgh and the North German ports are closed, and the fleet of English steamships that used to trade with those places is seeking other employment. The declaration of war has made a great change in the business of the South Wales ports. French and German ships have been largely en gaged in carrying iron and coal to the continental markets. These vessels will now cease running, and a rapid increase of freights may be looked for. The South Wales people are hoping that coal may not be declared contraband of war. PROSPECTS OF PEACE.—One of the Times' cor respondents predicts that one 'result of this great contest will be the disarming of the Continent. It is thought that a French victory will be followed by the interposition of the other Powers and the conclusion of peace upon equitable terms. " The frontier of 1814 and the neu tralisation of the Rhine provinces (these still to belong to Prussia) were suggested as bases such as France might deem acceptable, and as Europe might think it right to in sist on Prussia's accepting in Areference to the prolonga tion 6 a struggle shucking to Ittunanity, and which brings countless evils to other countries besides those actually engaged in it. I presume it is now generally known, but at any rate it is a positive fact, that those concessions were promised to Napoleon by Bismarck at Biarritz, as the condition of his neutrality when Prussia should attack Austria. Unfortunately, when Austria had been beaten and Prussia had absorbed half Germany Bismarck could not prevail on the King to act up to his Minister's promise. It was unlucky ; and fastidious people, who think that even in diplomacy the rules of common honesty should be observed, may say that either the King was bound to fulfil his Minister's engagements, because the latter had his authority to enter into them, or that Bismarck cheated Napoleon." THE DECLARATION OF WAR.—The French de claration of war against Prussia is signed De Gourd, and says :—The Government of his Majesty the Emperor of the French not being able to regard the design of raising a Prussian Prince to the throne of Spain as anything but an enterprise directed against the territorial security of France, found herself under the necessity of requiring from his Majesty the King • of Prussia an assurance that such a combination should not be carried into effect with his consent. His Majesty the King of Prussia refused to give this assur ance, and stated, on the contrary, to the ambassador of his Majesty the Emperor, that he reserved to himself for that eventuality, as in all others, the power of taking account of circumstances. The Imperial Government could not but perceive in that declaration on the part of the King reservations (arrieres pense,es) which were threatening for France and the general balance of power in Europe. A second fact gave still more gravity to that declaration — the announcement made to all the Cabinets of the refusal to receive the Emperor's Ambassador or to enter into further conferences with him. In consequence the French Government felt it to be a duty to take steps for the im mediate defence of its injured honour and interests, and to adopt all the measures required by the position of affairs. Consequently, from this time it considers itself in a state of war with Prussia. IN THE CAMP.—" Azamat Batuli " sends some notes from the Camp at Metz to the Pall Mall Gazette. The spirit of the soldiers, he says, seems to be rather too high, and it is feared that they will be too hasty in firing. "This circumstance would be a very disadvan tageous one, for the French officers themselves confess that at a distance not exceeding 400 yards the needle-gun is more efficient than the Chassepot, although beyond this they suppose the needle-gun has no chance whatever if competing with the French arm. The whole question seems, therefore, to be whether they will approach so close as this without immediately pas ,ing to a bayonet charge. The whole number of troops likely to be between Metz and Strasbourg to-night (Saturday) is estimated here as something like 1,200,000 in all the three lines. This is undoubtedly an exaggeration ; but half that number can be considered as really standing under arms in the whole of the lines. It is supposed in England that the Prussians have no mitra,illeuses ; but I heard two artillery officers stating that Prussia has them, although not in so great a quantity as France. They were complaining of the great mistake commit ted by the delay of action as the mitrailleuses are daily increasing in numbers in the Prussian army. A decidedly weak point of France is the horses. All I have seen yet are very poor animals, and even these are so scarce, in this neighbourhood at least, that a beast usually worth not more than 400 francs is now sold at 1,200 francs. In Prussia hardly anything of this kind can ever take place, for Russia and Hungary would supply as many horses of the best possible quality as could be required." FRENCH EXPECTATIONS.—The "French" corre spondent of the Times speaks of the general expec tation in France that South Germany would not side with Piussia. There was, he says, an all but univer sal impression—which even the Government appears to have shared—that we should find allies in Southern Germany and in those provinces which Prussia so violently annexed. A trace of this belief will be found in that paragraph of the Emperor's proclamation which speaks of the desire of France to respect and promote the independence of the German peoples. Up to within the last f ew d a y s con jectures and calculations have been indulged in here as to the probable conduct of Bavaria, Saxony, and Wurtem berg, and now that Frankfort, the most unwilling and ill-used of all Bismarck's conquests, acknowledges Prussia as the champion of Fatherland, Frenchmen still cling to the hope that the first successes of France will b e a s i gna l for the oppressed nationalities of Germany to claim inde pendence. The China mail has arrived at Galle, and brings full confirmation of the reported massacre of the French consul and others at Tientsin. The marriage of Miss Emily Washington Ilib bert with Mr. William Martin Edmunds, of Worsborough Hall, Yorkshire is fixed to take place on Wednesday, August 3. A. marriage is announced between Mr. Stephen Gore-Langton, eldest son of Mr. W. H. P. Gore-Langton, M.P. for West Somersetshire, and Miss Mabal Graham Montgomery, daughter of Sir Graham Montgomery, Bait , M.P. THE ARMY.—The report of the Royal Commis sion appointed to consider the question of over-regulation prices will, we believe, be ready for issue within a few days. In consequence of the railway collision near Staf ford, which we reported on Saturday, the Irish mail was four hours late at Holyhead, and great anxiety was felt in Dublin at the non-arrival of the steamer. The Marseillaise,— that is to say, the paper formerly edited by M. Henri Rochfort—is dead. M. Rochfort writes the elegy of the deceased, which appears to have collapsed for want of funds caused by the war. _ _ _ _ --- The American Fenians are expecting that England will be involved in the European war, and the president of one of the Fenian factions has summoned a convention, to be held at Cincinnali, on the 23rd of August. Irishmen are reminded that " England's difficulty will be Ireland's opportunity." DREADFUL ACCIDENT ON THE PARIS AND LYONS RAILWAY.—Le Gaulois publishes a brief despatch to the effect that an accident has occurred on the Paris and Lyons Railway, by which twenty-five persons have been killed. The accident is stated to have happened at Bellegarde, near the Swiss frontier. No other details are given. The Glasgow Herald says Captain Vivian has re ceived the appointment of Financial Secretary at the War Office, which is one of the new berths created by Mr. Cardwell's bill. The other office created by Mr. Card well's bill, that of Clerk of the Ordnance, it is understood is being kept open for Sir Henry Storks, who will be formally installed as soon as he can obtain a seat i ll Par liament. We are informed that Mr. William H. Seward, the late Secretary of State of the United States, intends to make a voyage to China. He will leave San Francisco on the ist of September. He will visit Yeddo and Pekin, and will probably continue his travels around the world, remaining some little time in India. Mr. Seward is now about seventy years of age. His health is still good. His nephew, George Seward, who for ten years has filled the post of American Consul-General in China, will accompany him from the United States to China. An explosion of coal gas took place on board the Phare, in the South docks, Sunderland, on Friday night. The vessel had taken in a cargo of gas coal, and was pre paring for sea, the hatches being battened down, when. the mate went into the store room, with a candle, in search of the side lights, and the gas which had accumulated im mediately exploded, the flames shooting up as high as the masthead. The hatches were blown off, the deck planks started ; a seaman, named Alexander, who was engaged lashing the boat, and also the mate, were burnod about the face and hands. [ADVERTISEMENT.]—HoIIoway's Pills and Ointment — Debility Consumption.—ln no diseases are the results of the :. I terative and tonic influences of these invaluable Pill np , e'lies more apparent and more gratifying than in that fecne, condition of the body which precedes consumption. A change for the better is observed ere this treatment had been followed for a week, and the improvement steadily progresses, the encroaching emaciation and mental de pres ion gradually gives place to health, strength, and chee:fulnes. The Ointment should be rubbed most dili gently between the shoulders, on the chest, and left sides at least twice a day. The Pills should be taken nightly the r.;r should be sought, solids eaten, slops avoided. This treatment duly followed will soon arrest both cough and feverishness. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE MASSACRE IN CHINA.. Intelligence has been received at Hong Kong stating that the Chinese at Tien-tsin rose against the foreigners the 21st of June, and murdered the French .Consul and the Sisters of Mercy. They also destroyed the Consu late and the Cathedral. It is rumoured that the French Minister and several Russians have been murdered atPekin. Great excitement prevails in Nankin, and her Majesty's gunboats Opossum and Dwarf have been despatched to the north. At Shanghai the Volunteers have been called out, and the troops here are ready to proceed to the north at a moment's notice. The French authorities have sent despatches to Saigon to call up troops. War appears inevitable. THE APPOINTMENT OF MR. FRELING- HUYSEN A telegram from New York says Mr. Frelinghuysen has not yet accepted the post of United States Minister in London, and the press express doubts as to his ac ceptance. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) THE WAR Three failures in the cotton trade consequent upon the war panic were announced on the Liverpool Exchange yesterday. In one case the liabilities are said to be about .C 150,000. Private letters received in Liverpool state that the Em peror Napoleon's inability to proceed to the front at pre sent arises from dysentery. An order has been received in Leicester for the first conscription of Germans to leave to-morrow to join in the defence of their fatherland. The captain of a vessel which has just arrived in the Tyne reports that he passed eight French war vessels on their way to the Baltic. A steamer, apparently a French war vessel, was sighted last night about six miles from the mouth of the Tyne. She has white sides and painted ports, and was lying in the 1 rack of vessels from across sea, and those leaving the Tyne for German ports. OUR COTEMPORARIES—This Morning. THE FRENCH FLEET. The Dover correspondent of the Daily News, writing last night, says :---" The French fleet from Cherbourg passed up Channel to-day about noon. The fleet con sisted of eight ships of war, and was accompanied by a couple of steam tenders. The vessels passed Dover about four miles from the shore, under steady steam, and were last seen steaming along the back of the Goodwins." THE MOVEMENTS OF THE FRENCH ARMY. The Official Journal says : —`• Contrary to the in terdiction of the Government, certain journals continue to give news of military movements to the great detriment of the national cause. The Government hoped that its appeal to their patriotism would have been heard, and it would regret being forced to apply the law. Temporary Suspension of the Mail Service froM South ampton to New York.—The North German Lloyd being unable, for the present, to provide steam vessels for the conveyance of mails weekly from Southampton to New York, the mails for the United States, which have hitherto been made up in London on the morning of every Tuesday, will not be despatched until further notice, and all mails for the United States will be forwarded by the Cunard or Inman packets. AFFAIRS IN PARIS. PARIS, SUNDAY. M. 011ivier's latest " liberal " procedure has been rapidly consummated. On Thursday the Corps Ldgislatif passed a Bill giving the Executive full powers to pro hibit, as they may think fit, the publication of news re lating to the war. This measure is a most formidable and complete engine of tyranny. Its wording is so vague as to be, like many other Imperial measures, of abso lutely boundless application. The punishments for in fringing the Ministerial decree are severe. A fine of from £2OO to £4OO may be inflicted for the first offence, and in case of a repetition the sinning journal becomes liable to six months' suspension. Plainly, then, by the passing of such a bill, the Government has baen entrusted with the power of completely silencing the press on the subject of the war. And, not only has the Government obtained the power, but it has begun to use it. Yesterday appeared in the Journal Officiel a curt decree, signed by M. 011ivier, and conveying the short and sweet information that hence forth is prohibited the publication of any account whatso ever of the movements of troops, and the operations of the land and sea forces. As it stands, this odious measure, the work of a " con stitutional Government," is worthy of anything done in the most restrictive days of the Empire. It has excited universal suspicion and discontent. The French jour nalists and politicians are not very exacting in the matter of publishing intelligence ; they do not claim that absolute liberty of giving everything to the light which the English press has so long enjoyed. It was conceded in the Corps Legislatif on Thursday, and the press generally assents, that some restriction should be laid down. But here is absolute prohibition. The Journal Officiel will publish a bulletin of events, and the Public will have to content itself with whatever this report may contain. It may not unreasonably be anticipated that the official bulletin will excel neither in quality nor quantity. It will not tell much, and the pub lic is certain to disbelieve what it says. The dis closures of the last four days have more than ever weakened the faith of the French people in official records of events. Nor could a certain measure of freedom be prejudicial. Harm may be done by di vulging the position of troops and the like ; but nothing can be lost by the description of events some little time after they have taken place. If a battle be fought at Sierck, say, and the French win, the seat of operations would be at once transferred some miles into Prussian territory, and the narration of what happened at Sierck could have little or no bearing upon the subsequent transactions. Of course much depends upon the rigour with which the decree is enforced and the atti tude of the press itself. Meanwhile the papers almost all condemn M. 011ivier's decree. The Journal de Paris says that the proprietor of the Journal Officiel will be the only gainer by this proceeding. The Avenir National planly says that the Government will have France know nothing but what it chooses to tell her. The France holds that the enforced silence will be found in practice ten times more inconvenient than the worst indiscretions which the press could com mit. " Under existing circumstances the silence of the journals means unnecessarily prolonged anxiety of families who have relatives in the army ; it means carte blanche for strategists in cafes and dealers in false news." The Liberte, which has been one of M. 011ivier's warmest supporters, says that the Premier is now judged, and that his condemnation will be speedy and decisive. The Debats expresses a hope that the Government will not press their power too far. The Siecle does the same. Owing to this decree, and the inactivity on the frontier, the journals wear the most lamentable appearance. A long account of the " Marseillaise " appears in the Figaro ; another paper has a history of Prussia's growth as a nation—a fine topic to excite fervid wrath; and a third yet devotes itself to patriotic exhortations. The Emperor is still here. He presided at a Cabinet Coun cil this morning. The Patrie says it has received important news from Hanover. A levy, en masse, has been ordered, for the purpose of preventing the Hanovarians from rising in favour of the French, by de priving them of all • their able bodied men. The levy gets on very slowly, adds the Patrie, and we may expect great events in Hanover in the course of the next month. We certainly need some restriction on the publication of such gross untruths as this. Another paper rays there is great enthusiasm in Denmark n favour of France. Popular feeling there will soon con strain the Danish Government to take side with the enemies of Prussia. THE FRENCH FLEET. CHERBOURG, July 22. The fleet is ready, and more than ready, having been under steam for three days. The vessels could weigh anchor and be off in less than an hour, and the crews are not to be allowed to land again. Matters have, in fact, only been awaiting the arrival of Admiral Bonet Willaumez, who made his long-expected appearance this morning, and paid a semi-official visit to the fleet, of which he will take full command to-morrow. He is a fine, vigorous man, devoted to a sea life, but with little of the traditional brusquevie of the sailor. He has obtained some distinction in his profession, having become known through his expeditions to Senegal, and also for his labours in the improvement of torpedoes and other articles of maritime warfare, while naval prefect of Toulon. He has also contributed some very good articles on the French navy, and on Battles by sea and land, to the Revue des Deux lifondes. After the departure of the fleet, the next consideration will be the providing of transport ships for the troops. Two of these are ready, but more will be required, for every day fresh detachments of Marines arrive at Cherbourg, numbering altogether about 8,000 men. General de Vassoigne, who is to inspect them, and afterwards take the command of the corps, is expected to-morrow. The delay in the arrival of Admiral Bouet-Willaumez, and the tardy organisation of the Marines, at one time gave rise to a rumour that fresh ne gotiations had been opened, and that there was a chance of peace. Equally unfounded was the report that there had been a naval engagement between the Imperial and the Prussian ironclads off the coast of Holland. The only French vessel of any note now afloat is the Hirondelle, which is charged with the duty of surveying the squadron of Prince Adalbert. Nothing has been heard of the Hirondello for some days, so it is concluded she has followed the Prussian vessels to the Baltic. According to some accounts the marines when fully enrolled will amount to 15,000 men. M. BENEDETTI.—M. Benedetti was born, the son of a Greek father, in Corsica ; and in 1848 was Consul of France at Palermo. On the Continent he is re• THE " TIMES" AND THE TREATY The Times says Mr. Gladstone admits that the Govern ment had considered the matter, and had thought it inex pedient they should at once tell all they could tell. There is something behind which considerations of public duty require should be withheld, at least temporarily. The nature of that something can be easily guessed. It can be no other than this—that the Government are in possession of evidence which leaves them In no moral doubt that the Draught Treaty we yesterday published is authentic, although they, have abstained from confess ing as much until the Powers implicated have an oppor tunity of explaining their participation in thematter. The revelations contained in this document reduce to compa rative nothingness the value of any correspondence that may have been conducted in ignorance of it. The com munications Mr. Disraeli described as the discordant state ments conveyed in broken telegrams of public declarations made by Foreign Ministers of State, and by men greater than Ministers, sink into insignificance by the side of it. We are brought face to face with overtures for the partition and absorption of kingdoms for which no parallel can be found in European history since the military domination of the First Empire. The unanimous opinion of England will support and echo Mr. Disraeli's judgment on such proposals. One part of the .proposed scheme does, however, preserve a semblance of respect for legal rights, if it overrides the constitutional independence and self government of minor Powers. The King of Holland would certainly have been no free agent had the King of Prussia consented to join the Emperor in pressing him to sell the Duchy of Luxembourg ; but the transaction would have been com pleted under the form of a voluntary transfer. No such pretence occurs in the Fourth Article of the projected agreement. The extinction of Belgium— " a calamity,' as Mr. Disraeli described it, under any circumstances — would under such circumstances be a crime as far surpass ing in its guilt the partition of Poland as the peace fulness, the sobriety, the constitutional freedom and order of the Belgian kingdom contrast favour ably with the perpetual internal dissensions and intrigues of which Poland was the theatre. A project for a treaty of this kind does not suddenly start into existence ; it may be suddenly revealed to the world ; but the Power promoting it could scarcely have submitted it to the other side until after the latter had been gradually led to a state of mind presumed to be favourable for its reception. If denials of the accuracy, of the treaty more or less guarded, must it be expected, it is possible that recrimi natory revelations may also be made. We only hope that the Powers concerned will, at whatever sacriffce of feel ing, give to the world such full and accurate explanations of the history of the projected treaty as our Ministers ex pect and as Europe has a right to ask. THE SECRET TREATY. The Telegraph, speaking of the secret treaty published yesterday says :—" The present juncture is not a time when we should shrink from looking facts boldly in the face ; and if the document is authentic, we owe it to Prussia that not England but Germany is now the object of French hostility. Meanwhile, until further informa tion, the Telegraph must decline to accept so extraordinary a statement without more positive proof than any which has been yet adduced. The queries to which this sensational piece of intelligence gave rise in Parliament last night elicited little in the way of either corroboration or refutation from her Majesty's Ministers. Indeed, on the face of the thing, it was impossible that the Govern ment could either deny or affirm the report upon the spot. It is difficult to understand why Caunt Bismarck, if he was in possession of a document so damnatory, and so certain to rally English sympathy to the side of Prussia, should keep it secret ; or why, if he wished to make it public, he should do so through the medium of a foreign news paper. On the other hand, it is unlikely that a paper like the Times should jeopardise its reputation by publish ing a document of such a character without solid ground, and, in the absence of further information, her Majesty's Ministers have no more means of weighing the value of these conflicting improbabilities than ordinary men. Doubtless the document will form the subject of com munication with the Courts interested in its disclosures - and no time will certainly be lost in allaying the public apprehensions aroused by the statements to which circulation was given yesterday. Whether Prussia ever proposed to annex Holland and France negotiated for the seizure of Belgium, are facts which the English public is eager to learn, and that promptly. In either event, a direct attack was made upon the interests and the safety of England; and it is necessary at this crisis that we should know by the light of the past what is the position of England for the future. THE ALLEGED SECRET TREATY. In referring to the treaty, the Standard says :—" At first sight the ' treaty' looked like a poor squib— the work of some Englishman unaccustomed to the employment of the French language, utterly ignorant of what we may be excused for calling the literature of treaties. It looks to us so still, and we have not the slightest hesitation in saying that no such document could ever have emanated from the French Foreign Office. The diplomatic traditions which were its glory may have died out; the bright, clear, sharp, yet delicate style, may have been lost as completely as the Rose Du Barry, at Sevres, but it is impossible that any French diplo matist could draw up a treaty so incorrect in form and expression as that which the Times published yesterday. But our contemporary pledged its reputation to the au thenticity of this apparent invention, and, naturally enough, the public and many eminent members of Parliament, confiding in the declaration of the con ductors of a leading English newspaper, sup pressed their doubts and assumed its correctness. The journal quoted believes that the Times published the treaty to stimulate hatred of France in England, to give fuel to a flame which has already flared but too much, and, what is worse, to hurry England in actual hostility against France. There is but one motive that could impel England to intervene in this contest, and that is the maintenance of the independence and neutrality of Belgium. Both belligerents had protested their resolve to respect that independence and neutrality; the English Government declared itself satisfied on that point. All this hubbub and virtuous indignation because our contemprary could not get the Emperor to aid it in a trade speculation. The Post would like to arrive at the King of the Bel gian's estimate of this ridiculous document. He is a statesman of great acuteness, and it would be interesting to learn, after his experience of the conduct of France, what he thinks of this doggerel treaty with its absurd provisions. The Post does not hesitate to say that he would not think it worth the paper it was printed on. If, indeed, it had foundation in fact the course of Eng land is marked out unmistakably. This country would go to war for the obserbance of its Treaty guarantees towards Belgium and for the preservation of Antwerp from French occupation. But this fact is known to a neighbour who has ever shown himself solicitous not to woudd our susceptibilities. We might, therefore, be somewhat careful reciprocally to spare his sense of honour. It is unworthy of us to assume that this clumsily-phrased treaty, which starts by setting forth the King of Prussia as the first contracting party, and which, therefore, ac cording to diplomatic usage, is of Prussian origin, which is written " in the oriental language," in French that will not stand the scrutiny of any scholar, has had its birth and inception in the Frenco Foreign-office. The Times may ultimately regret the haste with which in this age of sensation-mongering it has pledged its reputation to the authenticity of thia trash ; but, what is of far more im portance, such evil proceedings as these and this ready belief in the dishonour of a friend must tend to disseven those ties of cordial trust and friendship which up to this time have proved of such mutual advantages to France and England. The Daily News considers that the treaty so completely expresses what everybody believes to be the favourite policy and cherished design of the French Empe ror, that its invention would involve no exertion of the imagination, and any scribbler could draw it up. It is worthy of observation that ' neither Eall Granville nor Mr. Gladstone ventured an opinion about it. The Foreign Secretary went a little further than the Prime Minister, by saying that he had seen it for the first time yesterday morning. The public may be asked to suspend their judgment, for, as Mr. Gladstone and . Earl Granville tell us, the two Govern ments named in it will be compelled to speak But even while suspending judgment we may note that if the English public was to hear of this proposal at all it must have been by one party to the secret reveal ing it to the world. That party was only likely to be Prussia, and the document before us has this much evi dence on its surface of being the Prussian copy—that the King of Prussia is named first in it, and the Emperor of the French second. It may, too, be noted that the actual declaration of war would liberate Prussia from obligation to keep the secret any longer. But then comes the difficulty of the medium. If Prussia made it known at all, why was it not made known to the Government ' • and why is it not included in the docu ments which were laid on the table of Parliament on Friday night ? It may be, of course, that Prussia pre ferred to wink at its surreptitious publication, and that it was communicated to our contemporory the Times for the sake of making a strong, sudden, and startling impression. If this were the object of its publication in such a manner the object has certainly been attained. MURDER BY A CONVICT At Dorset assizes yesterday, before Mr. Justice Willes, Thomas Cliffe, a convict at Portland, was sentenced to death for the wilful murder of a warder named Bly, by striking him on the legs with a shovel on 20th April, from the results of which blow he died on the 15th of June. THE RETURN OF THE PRINCESS OF WALES. H. M. S. Penelope arrived yesterday afternoon in Grims by Roads, and will proceed today to Copenhagen to join the Victoria and Albert, in which his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales left on Saturday to fetch home the Princess. THE PRICE OF TIN. The tin standard is again lowered £4 per ton all round. Present prices are for common, 1165.; for superior com mon, 1175.; for fine, 118 s.; for superior fine, 119 s. per cwt. IRISH SYMPATHIES WITH FRANCE. A meeting was held in Eyre-square, Galway, on Sunday, presided over by Marcus Lynch, J.P., to sym pathise with the French in the present war. The temperance band was on the ground, and a tricolour flag 'floated over the gathering. The meeting was a failure as only about 300 persons were present, and none of any note. SELLING A DONKEY AS HUMAN FOOD. A butcher named Ragg is wanted at Leicester by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ; and also by the Metropolitan Police. He is wanted by the former for cruelty to a donkey; and by the latter for dressing the meat of the animal, sending a portion of it to London, and selling the other part in Leicester market as human food. The donkey was entered to run at Market Harborough Athletic Sports, but being fat it was unable to do so. On return• ing in the evening, it was run over, and one of its fore legs was broken. It was taken home, and Ragg had it shot ; but instead of boiling the meat down for the dogs, as he had promised to do, he dressed it, sent some up to London, and disposed of a portion of the remainder in Leicester market on Satv-day last, at the rate of one shilling for three pounds. Ragg cannot be found. THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE. The Missionary Committee Review met yesterday the President in the chair. The secretary read the minutes of the committee during the year. Thanks were voted to the Bible Society for the Scriptures in the Fijian language ; to the Tract Society for 1,900 copies of the " Pilgrim's Progress "in Fijian. The congregation in Italy is to be formed into two districts, under one general superintendent. In consequence of the cession of the Gambia territory to France, the secretary was charged to watch and apply to the Colonial Office in consequence of the complications of war. Florence is not occupied at present. A sketch of Wesley's life, and rules of the society are to be published in Chinese. New arrangements had to be made by increase of home income. The first resolution was moved by James S. Budgett, London, recognising the progress in the past and the prospect of progress in the future. It was seconded by W. Arthur, who said the year was remarkable from the great change in religion, and affecting the belief of hundreds of millions in the Eternal God in Heaven and the Infallible man on earth. Just in the midst of this a thnnder clap bursts forth, bringing into contact two of the greatest nations upon earth. Above French thunder and Prussian thunder a voice was heard promising peace in the future. Six thousand members had been added to our mission churches during the year. They were, therefore, sure of success with the hearts and the efforts of working men and women at home; and the working missionaries abroad. The Friendly Island had contri buted £5,689. Mr. John Chubb spoke of the importance of juvenile collectors, who raised £9,000 annually. The President, in putting the resolutions, said that 500 had been added to the signatures of the churches in Ceylon. Sir Francis Lycettt believed it wise to defer occupying Florence with missionaries for a year, but thought that eventually not only Florence but Rome itself should be occupied. He anticipated great results from the fact that so many native missionaries were being raised up.—Rev. Mr. Cox, missionary from China, said that progress was slow in that country because of the economy of the committee in London.—Rev. Charles Prest said that soldiers converted at home were learning the languages of India in order to preach to the natives. — Mr. Waddy moved the return of Mr. Arthur to London. Mr. Bunting thought the application for the appoint ment of Mr. Arthur should be left to the Conference.—A reference having been made to the existence of debts to the amount of £20,000, it was announced that Mr. James Head would give £2,000 towards the liquidation of the same.—Two sums of £5OO, as well as smaller amounts, are promised.—The conference opens to-day at nine o'clock. COLLIERY ACCIDENT. An accident occurred yesterday morning at Scowcroft's Trinchbone pit, Kersley. Two men were drilling in the pit, when one of them got through the hole with a naked light. A tremendous explosion followed. Thomas Walkden, of Falmouth, was blown away some distance and killed ; his waggoner, John Shaw, of Kersley, was frightfully injured, and is not likely to recover. DISASTROUS COLLIERY EXPLOSION AT LLANSAMLET-NINETEEN LIVES LOST. An explosion of fire-damp has taken place atLlansamlet near Swansea, in the Charles's pit, the property of Air. C. H. Smith, resulting in the death of 19 persons and in the injury of five others. The explosion took place about five o'clock on Saturday evening, when there were 50 men in the pit. The utmost consternation prevailed at the surface, no such explosion having taken place there for thirty years. Steps were at once resorted to to ascertain the extent of the casualty, and by two o'clock on Sunday morning the whole of the men in the pit, except one, were brought out, the one that was left being brought up at a late hour. Nine teen of them were dead, and five more or less injured. The following is a list of the killed :—David Boddicombe, aged 27, married ; William Thomas, 26, married; William Leyshon, 44, married ; Thomas Williams, 27, married ; ThomasJ. Williams, 48, married ; Evan Rees, '23, married ; Daniel Evans, 30, married ; Thomas Williams, 18, single; John Evans, 22, single ; D. Evans, 17 ; Edward Rees, 16 ; William Rees, 14 ; William Watkins, 14 ; John Ley shon, 14 ; John Llewelyn, 14 ; Thomas Phillips, 21; John Powiey, 1t ; David Thomas, 16 and Wm. Williams, 26. The noise of the explosion was heard for more than a mile. The pit has always been considered safe and well-venti lated, and the fearful disaster is, therefore, the more dis astrous. The pit was worked with naked lights, and it is supposed that a "fall" had taken place in an old work ing near the cutting, and the gas had been driven on the lights. The men had just descended for changing the shift; .both sets were, therefore, in the pit at the time of the accident, _ - Mr. Charles Austin was the correspondent of the Times who was placed under arrest by the French at Metz. THE IRISH DEMONSTRATION. The Times, speaking of the Dublin demonstration in favour of France, says the confusion of ideas among the assembled patriots was not less remarkable than the con fusion of party emblems, of party cries and tunes. The most enthusiastic defender of the Emperor's policy will scarcely be prepared to join at the present moment in the cheers for " France, the pioneer of liberty," and of the twenty thousand men who took part in the demonstration probably not one really weighed the meaning of these brave words. At a moment when despotism has received a new lease of life in France, and the nation rushes into a war of avowed aggression, Ireland takes the opportunity to salute the representative of France with cheers, which, if offered for an alien Government, would bring down condign punishment upon the populace of Paris. But the honour to France was an insult to England, and with the organisers of the demonstration this merit condoned all absurdities. THE WAR AND THE HARVEST, The Telegraph remarks that the drawing away of two millions of men from the fields of harvest to the fields of carnage, together with the necessity for feeding the war like ranks, must have its effect upon the food markets of Europe. Of course, with Russia open, and with the cer tainty of gathering its own good stock of bread-stuff, Ger many will get on very well; while France—if, as we are told, her own crops have failed largely in the South and West —has the wheatfields of the world open to her for money. But, although neither the blockade of the Baltic ports, nor the devastation of fields and the frightening away of supplies in the vicinity of war, will interfere much with the commissariat of the two Powers, a great deal — everything, in fact—must turn upon the railways which supply the commissariat from behind. An army such as that we may now see on either side of the Saar is an insatiable devourer of all the necessaries of life. It soon exhausts the utmost capabilities of the spot upon which it pitches ; and then it can live only by the artery of communication which binds it to its base. Sever that and the monster is in danger of death from inanition. Thus, while war is now a keener science than of old, the pressure of these mo dern struggles, which are waged with hosts each as large as the population of a first-class city, makes itself felt in the rear, and that very quickly. Already travellers say that at Strasburg, Metz, and neighbouring places, a loof of bread is as hard to buy as if it were an exotic luxury ; and before long Paris and Lyons will feel these economical effects of " glory," to be followed by heavier taxes, desperate conscriptions, and general stag nation of trade. NEUTRAL SHIPS, In referring to the declaration of the Emperor that the treaty of Paris will be abided by in cases of neutral ships, the Standard says it was agreed in 1854 to recognise in favour of neutrals the exemptions arising from both doctrines, inconsistent as they are to allow with France that " free ship, free goods," and with England that a neutral cargo can in no case (except when contraband of war or blockade) be lawfully confiscated. On the conclusion of the war, those principles were embodied in a Convention which further abolished privateering, and declared that blockades .must be effective. It follows that neutral ships cannot be detained on the plea that they are carrying enemy's goods; and that while an enemy's ship, laden with neutral merchandise, can be carried into port and condemned, the cargo must be released. The Em peror retains, of course, the right of blockading the Prus sian ports, provided he blockades them effectively, so that it may never be possible for vessels openly to run in unmolested (which is the fair construction of " preventing access"). But he waives his right to seize Prussian goods, not being contraband, in Spanish or American vessels, or the goods of those Powers in Prussian ships ; and he abides by his engagement not to seize Prus sian merchandise in English, or English in Prussian ships. When the German ports are actually under blockade every vessel bound for or from a German port will be liable to capture and condemnation, and all direct trade with Ger many will be as completely interdicted as if the Conven tion of Paris bad never been signed. Even then, how ever, that Convention has an important bearing on the large indirect trade which is certain to be carried on through Russia, Belgium, and Holland. As it is no French cruiser can inquire to whom a cargo be longs, or where it was originally obtained. She can only look to the flag, the port of lading, and the destination of the vessel ; if these be innocent she can seek no further. It is clear that an incalculable amount of vexation and loss is thus spared to neutral shipowners, a great relaxa tion of the original laws of war made in favour of com merce between belligerents and neutrals, and a fruitful cause of dangerous disputes removed. JOURNEY OF THE PRINCE OF ‘S• ALES. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales passed off Elsinore at 10.30 a.m. yesteriay, and is expected at Co penhagen at 12.30 p.m. GREAT DISCOVERY OF DIAMONDS. PLYMOUTH, July 24.—The Cape Mail steamer Norseman arrived here to-day. Startling news had been received of extensive diamond discoveries on the Vaal. Considerable numbers of diamonds had been found—some of them very fine gems and a rush was being made to the diggings. At present the land was in dispute between the Free State, the Transvaal Republic, and a host of native chiefs, and diggers paid nothing for digging, but the Free State had just proclaimed it Free State soil, and it was expected a small royalty would shortly be demanded by that Go vernment. It is believed diamonds to the value of £lOO,OOO have been picked up by Europeans alone. The diggers are all armed, and turn out promptly on any threatened Clare invasion. MELANCHOLY DEATH OF TWO GENTLE MEN. Mr. James Bradshaw, of Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich, and his friend, Mr. Henry Godolphin Clarke, of Queen's College, Cambridge, arrived at Lowestoft yes terday on a pleasure excursion. They engaged a bath ing machine opposite the Wellington Esplanade, and swam out some distance, although cautioned not to do so, as there was rather a heavy sea on. Mr. Clarke was seen to hold up his arms and heard to call for assist ance. Mr. Bradshaw, who had been making for the ma chine, retnrned to assist Mr. Clarke, but after a few mo ments they both sunk. A boat was launched by some beach men in order to go to the assistance of the two gentlemen, but the first attempt to launch the boat proved fruitless, and it was upset, valuable time being thus lost. Even tually the bodies of both Mr. Clarke and Mr. Bradshawe were recovered. Mr. Worthington and Mr. Clubbe, surgeons, were promptly in attendance, but the efforts made to restore animation proved unavailing. FALL OF RAIN. At seven o'clock this morning there was a tremendous downpour of rain, accompanied by heavy peals of thnnder and frequent flashes of lightning. The Hon. Francis Charteris was still alive at six o'clock this morning. Upon inquiry, we were informed that he continued much in the same way as yesterday. The Queen, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince and Princess Teck, and a number of other friends sent in the course of yesterday to inquire after the condition of the unfortu nate gentleman. AUSTRIA'S POLICY DURING THE WAR.—VIEENA, July 19.—The Government here has decided, in order to pre serve the strictest neutrality during the war, not to make any military preparations. The troops are to remain at their present stations ; all that will be done is to com plete the prescribed number of artillery waggons, so as to provide for unforeseen contingencies ; this, how_ ever, will cause no excess in the peace establishment of the army. It is proposed to convoke the Reichsrath as soon as possible. The report which has appeared in some English papers as to an understanding having been arrived at between Count Beust and the Duke de Gra mont in anticipation of the war is a pure investion.— Eastern Budget. The Post is authorised to contradict the announce ment that the Dean of St. Paul's has appointed his brother-in-law, the Rev. H. A. Taylor, to the living of Tottenham, and also to state that he never had any inten tion of so doing. THE FIRST SHAVE.—A story has been told with with considerable circumstance, names and dates being given, of two English steamers having been brought to, off Heligoland, by a French iron-clad on Monday week last. The Frenchman vessel is said to have fired shotted guns across the bows of the Tyne and the Southwick. That the tale may be true in some respects is possible, but the iron-clad cannot have been French, as at that date no French ship of war was in the waters of the German Ocean. _ _ 'rIlE NORWICH CROWN BANK.—The following may be considered to be the present position of the Nor wich Crown Bank :—The sum provisionally accepted from Messrs. Gurney's, Birkbecks, Barclay, and Buxton for the transfer to them of the bank is £21,000 for the goodwill, and £21,000 more for the premises of the central bank and the branches. The unsecured partnership liabilities of the Crown Bank are estimated at £1,677,447, while the partnership assets are estimated at £1,040,000. There are certain heavy brokers' claims against the private estate of Sir R. Harvey ' • but even if these are admitted it will produce £lOO,OOO. The private estate of the Messrs. Kerrison will also realise another £lOO,OOO at least. Taking the worst view of matters, the assets of the bank thus amount to X 1,240,000, to meet liabilities of £1,677,000. The liquidation of the affairs of the bank is expected to extend over at least three years. The dividend to he received by the creditors can scarcely be less than 12s. 6d. in the pound, and may be 15s. D UNV I I,LE and Co., Belfast, are the largest holders of whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is r ommended by the medi,al profession in prefert•uce to French brand . , up. plied in casks and cases for home use or exporfalion. quotations on application to Messrs I)UNVILLE & t 0., Royal Irish Dis tilleries, Belfast ; or at their London Offices, 4, Beaufort Buildings, Strand, gr.e. It DAL 'aphy ►t the nenc- war stu -3f the be as that iends t the Ipera Lcees-