The Sun. — London, England, 1870-09-01 00:00:00

)400D. , Edwin Drood' [win 1)roOd" i 5 the sixth. Its ours when th e passage in i° ;Riling) mig ht only notes la 'ound, concern rested in the afforded to its - emains ; an d I himself have .eader without The Mystery erred to : ity. Its anti' ful, with the trees waving from m oving rdens, woods, garden of the me--penetrate an d preach tone tombs o f rightness dart ['lg., fluttering n Fenchurch' ad the Sere" ss, to witness )nts of which of that OW London No s a landed our remanded 3 ipon V which Ist brooked ents. It had thorough test/ d artillery 03 wo systems °f a,vour. ) be the best is little doubt the Gatling , ed i n the to the in: been exper t ' titling may be is day, for its a experiment s by stalwart ned more for iuzzle loading came round• ffn revolver . ich interior vn is half a SECOND EDITION SUN OFFICE, 8 A.M LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE WAR. BATTLE AT CARIGNAN. REPULSE OF MACMAHON. THE BATTLE RESUMED. TERRIBLE CARNAGE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS. THE ENGAGEMENT AT CARIGNAN. BRUSSELS, AUG. 31. The Etoile Beige publishes a despatch from Carignan, dated yesterday, 4 p.m., which states that an engagement commenced yesterday at noon, which was still going on. The Prussians attacked the French troops as they were marching between Carignan and Monzon. BRUSSELS, AUGUST 31. A telegram has been received here, dated Arlon, to-day, stating that a portion of Marshal MacMahon's army has been routed between Carignan and Mouzon. FURTHER PARTICULARS. FLORENVILLE (BELGIUM), AUGUST 31. An engagement teok place yesterday between Carignan and Mouzon, resulting in the defeat of the French. After the battle the Prussians entered Carignan. The losses on both sides were consider able. The Prussians captured four mitrailleuses. Afresh engagement. commenced this morning at Armigny, on the road from Sedan to Montmedy, and at 10 kilometres from the Belgian frontier. The Belgian troops are making reconnaissances on the frontier, and scouts are posted at different places along the frontier line. Stragglers have been seen in the woods which separate France from Belgium. BRUSSELS, AUGUST 31, 9 P.M. The Independence Belge publishes the following telegram from Florenville, dated to-day : "Marshal NlacMahon encamped yesterday on the heights of Vaux, advanced thence towards Mont- Tnedy, but was driven back to the point whence he started. Yesterday's engagement was, therefore, probably undecisive. "Fighting recommenced at five o'clock this morn ing, and is not over yet. The Prussians are advanc ing, and they now occupy Carignan. Marshal Mac- Mahon is returning to Sedan, where he may be hemmed in. The carnage is terrible, and the popu lation are flying, panic-stricken. OFFICIAL PRUSSIAN A.CCOUNT. BUZANCY, AUGUST 30. The army of Marshal MacMahon was attacked by us to-day near Beaumont, and was defeated and driven back towards the Belgian frontier. The French encampments were captured, and the French Were pursued for miles, the pursnit only closing through night coming on. The number of guns and Prisoners taken by us has not been estimated, on account of the great extent of the battle-field. DESPATCH OF KING WILLIAM TO QUEEN AUGUSTA. BERLIN, AUG. 31 (Evening). The Queen has received the following telegram from the King : VARENNES, AUG. 30 (3.30 p.m.) We won a victorious battle yesterday. Alacllalion was beaten by me with the 4th and 1 2th Saxon and the let Bavarian Army Corps, and was driven back from Beaumont beyond the Meuse, near Mouzon. Twelve cannon and several thousand prisoners, together with a very large 'quantity of war material, are in our hands. Our losses are moderate. I am about to return to the battle-field to follow Up the result of the victory. May God help us further in his mercy, as he has done hitherto. REPORTED JUNCTION OF BAZAINE AND MACMAHON. PARIS, AUGUST 31, 11.25 A.M. The Figaro asserts that on Monday Marshal Bazaine surprised and annihilated the cavalry of the army of Prince Frederick Charles, and that after this success, the two armies of Marshals Macltahon and Bazaine occupied positions com pletely protecting their rear guards. ENGAGEMENT AT NOUART. OFFICIAL DESPATCH. VARENNES, AUG. 30 (Afternoon.) The vanguard of the 12th Saxon Army Corps had t his afternoon a successful encounter at Nouart, in tbe Arrondissement of Vouziers, with the troops of the French Fifth Army Corps. The railway from Thionville to Paris has been interrupted between Thionville and Mezieres at two different points by detachments of our troops. STORMING OF VRIZY. (GERMAN ACCOUNT.) GRAND PRE, AUGUST 30. The Tillage of Vrizy, situated between Vouziers andAttigny, which was occupied by French infantry b ehi efly Tur cos , was yes t er d ay s t orme d an d captured 1 , 7 two squadrons of Prussian hussars. Th e v ill age .p4es high, and is a strong position. The d e f en di ng lorce were taken prisoners. Two officers of the general staff of Marshal Mac ahon were brought in by three Uhlans of the (1-n ard. [The correspondent of the limes at Berlin Se ds the following On the ,29th the village tie IT °nnti, situate on a high cliff between You and Allozey, Departm e nt o f A r d ennes, as stormed by two dismounted squadrons of Prussian Hussars. The infantry and Turcos garrisoning it were taken pris oners . O n th e Sam day, in the same neighbourhood, three lis h lans captured two officers of MacMaho n ' s staff. ~:u e vanguard o f th e 12 t h G erman Corps yesterday attacked and repulsed detachments of the French nth Corps at Nouart, Arrondissement Vouziers, Depar tment of the Ardenn es . Thd Vi onville and between Vionville and Meziere s , t o prevent Mac iahon penetrating East and proceeding to the rescue of Bazaine."] NEWS FROM PARIS. PARIS, August 30 (Evening). The Crown Prince is making forced marches to reach AfaclVabon. It is stated here to-day that the Prince is now 36 hours behind the calculation of the Prussian staff, and will not be able to arrive at the proper moment. The rumoured engagements of the last few days are believed to have been cavalry affairs be tween outposts or reconnoitering parties. In official quarters it is denied that any general or important ZRE SItTN, LONDON, THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 1, 18(iu engagement has taken place up to yesterday after noon. No authentic news has been received respecting the asserted junction of Marshals Bazaine and MacMahon. The garrison of Metz and the army of Bazaine are said to be well supplied. . Fifty thousand Germans are now besieging Stras bourg, and the library is entirely destroyed by the bombardment. An agitation has commenced in various dis tricts of France amongst the peasantry against the nobles, gentry, and clergy, whom the agitators accuse of sympathy with Prus sia. Disturbances from this cause have occurred at Ile et Villaine, Montfort, Hondain, Bretagne, and Touraine. PARIS, AUGUST 31. he Minister of the Interior announces under reserve that the march of the enemy upon Paris appears to be checked, and that Marshal MacMahon continues his movement without having yet had any serious encounter with the enemy. The Minister states that . Chalons appears to be evacuated, and that the National Guards of the Aisne and other departments are organising a vigorous resistance. PARIS, AUGUST 31, 1.45 P.M. The weekly bulletin of Petit Journal Official points out that France looks upon the present state of things with a degree of confidence and :energy which is acknowledged by the whole of Europe. The country is calm, resolute, ready for all self-devo tion and sacrifices. All Frenchmen understand that union is the first of their duties. The enemies of the country will find before them not only a rampart of stone formidably armed, but a rampart of patriot ism, energy, devotion, and invincible obstinacy. Paris does not as yet know whether she will have to sustain a siege, but she is ready to face firmly such an eventuality. The whole of France is rising, and everyone is armed for the defence of the country. The capital and the provinces are emulating with ardour each other's exertions and their combined efforts must give us the victory. A decree, dated August 29, appoints General de Lamotte Rouge to the post of. Commander of the National Guard of the Seine. THE PROVINCES OF ALSACE - AND LORRAINE. BERLIN, AUGUST 31, EVENING. The semi-official Proiinczal Correspondence of this evening publishes an article headed " Germany's wishes with regard to Alsace and Lorraine." The article says : " These provinces, which were torn away from the German empire, have become France's chief points of support for menacing attacks upon Germany. How should it be possible, after the glorious victories of the German army, after the reconquest of two old German provinces, and after the heavy and costly sacrifices by which our triumph has been gained, how should it be possible to avoid the irresistible conviction that the honour and the safety of Germany imperatively demand the removal of that lasting shame—a Ger man country serving as the starting point for German enslavement ? The European Powers, true to the attitude of neutrality, which they have assumed, will not arbi trarily endeavour to arrest the consequences of the war, so long as no substantial European interest is injured by the conditions of the treaty of peace. "The German people, however, is conscious that in its demand it does not aim at any preponderance over other nations, which might endanger the so called European equilibrium, but that it seeks only a firmly-established peace, which it intends to wring for itself and for other nations from the old enemy of the peace of Europe." CARLSRUHE, AUGUST 31. The Carlsruhe Gazette announces that Count Bismarck-Bohlen, the German Governor of Alsace, has provisionally installed himself at Haguenau, having previously held a consultation with Li6U tenant-General Werden, who commands the besieg ing force at Strasburg. BELGIAN NEUTRALITY. BRUSSELS, AUGUST 31, EVENING. In cowequence of intelligence received from the frontier, the Government has deemed it prudent to send troops in the direction of Philipsville, where the Count of Flanders has established his headquarters. COMMUNICATION BETWEEN BRUSSELS AND PARIS. BRUSSELS, AUGUST 31. Railway communication for travellers between Brussels and Paris has been re-established since yesterday evening, but the trains from the French capital continue to arrive very late. FOREIGN INTERVENTION. BERLIN, AUG. 31. A meeting was held yesterday of leading men of all parties convened by the Head Burgomaster, Dr. Seydel, and the Deputies Dr. Loewe and Herr von Unruh. The meeting unanimously resolved to appeal to the German people to sign an address to the King, expressing apprehensions at the reports current of foreign intervention being engaged in diminish ing the fruits of the contest, and declaring tbat the demands to be raised by Ger many for her future welfare must be demanded by Germany alone. The people renew their vow loyally to persevere until the wisdom of the King, excluding all foreign intervention, shall create a state of affairs which shall guarantee better than formerly the peaceful conduct of the neighbouring people, eztablish the unity and freedom of the whole German Empire, and secure Germany against all attack. KONIGSBERG, AUGUST 31. A numerous meeting of merchants was held to day on the Bourse, and an address to the [King was drawn up, and unanimously adopted, similar in pur port to that passed by the merchants of Berlin, and especially begging his Majesty to decline any foreign intervention in the event of negotiations being opened for the conclusion of peace. THE LEGISLATIVE BODY. PARIS, AUGUST 30. In to-day's sitting of the Legislative Body, the Minister of Marine, in answer to a question of M. Bethmont, denied that the Government had received any such despatch as that published by the Figaro, adding that he had every reason to consider the news contained therein as utterly unfounded. PARIS, AimusT 31, 6.25 P.M. In to-day's sitting of the Legislative Body, Count do Keratry brought forward a proposal for the revi sion of the appointments of officers in the Garde Mobile, and demanded that urgency should be de clared, which was, however, refused by the Chamber. The sitting was suspended until six o'clock, when it will be resumed for the discussion of M. Keller's motion. THE PARIS BOURSE. PARIS, AUGUST 31, 3.30 P.M. The Bourse has been firm. Rentes closed at 60.27, or 87c. higher than yesterday. off the coast of Lincolnshire. Cannonading had been going on for more than an hour when the telegram wss despatched. The Sarrebruckener Zcitung says that the Prussian siege guns at Metz are nearly all in position. The water works at Gorze, for supplying Met; have been put out of operation by the Prussians. The Queen of Greece has been confined of a girl, who is called Alexandra. A cunference of German bishops opened yesterday. at Eichstadt Fulda. Its deliberations, which are for the purpose of arriving at a common elusion respecting the decisions of the (Ecumenical Council, are to be secret. (REUTER'S TELEGRAM.) AMERICA. (By Atlantic Cable.) NEW YORK, AUGUST 30. The Cunard steamship Java, and the National steam. ship France, arrived out to-day, the latter at 5 a.m. Gold closed at 116 i ; the highest quotation during the day was 1161, the lowest 116 i. Sterling exchange on Lon don, 109 i ; United States 5-20 Bonds, 1882, 112 a ; ditto, 1885, 111 ff ; ditto, 1867, 110 ; United States 10-40 Bonds, 1867, 109; Illinois Shares, 136; Erie, 21. Cotton, middling upland, 19i. Petroleum, standard white, 26i. Flour, extra State, $5 75c. to $5 95c. Corn, new, $8 7c. INDIA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN (HEAVY) MAILS. MALTA, AUGUST 31. The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Tanjore, arrived at seven this morning, and left at two this afternoon for Southampton, where she may be ex pected about the 9th proximo. THE MASSACRE AT TIENTSIN. A private letter frOm Cheefoo, dated the 30th of June, 1870, gives some details of the dreadful massacre vhicl took place on the 21st of June. It has been sak that 'the consul fired at Chung How, or al one of the Mandarins, and that he killed a servant of the Yamen, but fortunately for the cause of truth a Frenchman named Courtraix was with the Yamen in the next room, where he, too, had fled for protection, and he declares that up to the last there was no shot fired, and that he saw the first wound inflicted on the consul by a soldier with a spear. M. Courtraix also witnessed the consul advance in a bleeding state to the Yamen's door, and also saw the first of the brutal murder o M. Fontanier. Meanwhile, the mob, after allowing the French consul to go towards the Yamen, immediately broke open the con sulate and murdered Monsieur and Madame Thomassin, and the Abbe Chevrier, and another Catholic priest. Simultaneously with the assault on the French consulate, the mob and soldiery surrounded the hospital of the French Sisters of Charity. Having set fire to a portion of the building, they entered the gates, and dragged all the Sisters of Charity out into the street. Their labour of love amongst the poor of Tientsin for six years was thus crowned in bitterness and earthly shame, by the very people whom they had succoured, and fed, and clothed, and . tended in the hour of sickness and pestilence. No sooner had the mob and the soldiers glutted their thirst for human blood on the unfortunate sisters, than they burnt the entire hospital. Nearly a hundred orphan children, who had been received into the orphanage attached to the hospital perished in the flames. The mutilated members of the dead sisters were thrown into the burning ruins, and thus, together with . the little children they were charitably nurturing, was the holocaust Completed. AFFAIRS IN ITALY. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) ROME, AUGUST 26. The Pope went yesterday to pay a state visit to the Church of St. Louis des Franceau, according to annual custom on the feast of that saint. Many persons had predicted that the Tope would not go on the present occasion, but it appears on the contrary that he was re solved to do so, although far from well, lest the omission should wound the feelings of French Catholics. The church has been newly restored, and everywhere the Fleur de lys has re-asserted its pre-eminence ; in the windows, altar decorations, and the beautiful marble pavement, which has 'been entirely renewed. M. de Banneville, with his full suite of attaches in official costume, awaited the Pope's arrival at the door with Mgr. Level, rector o; the parish, and the clergy attached to the ehurch. All the French residents and visitors now in Rome were present, and the Pope retiring to the sacristy admitted a great number of persons to the honour of an audience. He was remarkably affectionate and cordial to all the French laity, and evidently most desirous to remove the impressions of his being Prussian in his sympathies dur ing the present struggle, or insensible of tde great devotion of the French nation to his cause. I was placed very near 'him, and thought him looking fatigued and anxious, but not ill, and his voice and step were as vigorous as ever. General Balmier returned from Viterbo last night. All is perfectly tranquil in the province and on the frontier ; no incident whateyer has oocurred to indicate any move ment *on the part of the bands or the Italian troops. All depends on the events in France, and a very sudden decision may be cc me to at any moment as to their oceu pation. The Chambers in Florence have been prorogued, and the Ministry is in possession of the fullest powers, and cannot be held other than responsible for anything which may take place, as it is now stronger (owing to the panic of a Republic) than any Italian Ministry since Cavour's time has been. Private letters from Munich state that the cholera is breaking out among the German army, and especially among the Bavarians. Yesterday the King of Naples telegraphed to Rome for the cholera prescriptions, which proved efficacious during the epidemic at Albano in 1867, and it is taken for granted they are for the use of the Bavarian ambulances, in which the Queen of Nables takes an active interest. It is affirmed that Francis 11. assisted at the battle of Froschwiller with the Crown Prince of Prussia. The French horse contractors are busy in the Prussian campaign, and have bought a .great number of horses at 800 f. each, of excellent quality, being nearly half the price given in England, when the last French remount averaged 1,200 f. The Council will hold no more general congregations, it is supposed, till November, for all, or nearly all, the fathers have dispersed, the Orientals leaving after the session yesterday, which was on a chapter of discipline. The Pope is most eager to carry out a very severe re form of the clergy, secular and religious, throughout the Catholic world, and there is no part of the work of the Council to which he attaches more importance than that which regards the morals of the ministers of religion. The Defence is the great lion of Civita Vecchia just now, and the English sailors are an example in conduct and discipline. Captain Salmons has courteously allowed visitors to go on board the ironclad from twelve to four, and many English and Romans have availed themselves of this permission. She came from Malta, and appears destined to remain for several weeks here, which in the present most unsettled stase of matters, is a most satis factory measure to the English residents in Rome. We have daily and nightly alarms of a Piedmontese occupation, but I believe they are reports industriously propagated by the revolutionary party for the purpose of keeping the troops constantly on the qui wire. It is now three days since we have received fresh intelligence from the seat of war, and great anxiety is felt on the issue, which will be the key to events in Italy. Prince Napoleon has arrived in Florence, and left again for Paris. He is understood to have urged on Italy the necessity of giving a contingent, and to have failed in the negotiation. An apartment is being prepared for his wife, the Princess Clotilde of Savoy, in the royal palace at Turin. Emile 011ivier has also arrived in Turin. His flight from Paris at so critical a moment is the subject of severe comment from the French press. His life was, it is said, in danger, so great was his unpopularity. The council held a general congregation yesterday mcrnino- ° , and to-day Most of the oriental bishops com mence their vacations, and have left Rome with the Armenian Patriarchs. The Giornale de Roma contains an official denial of the assertion of the Nord (Russian) that " the Vatican had thrown itself into the arms of Russia." " The Vatican," says the Giornale " only throws itself into the arms of the Divine Founder of the Catholic Church.'? The attitude of the Pope is one of perfect impartiality, and he has daily attended the public prayers for peace. FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE. On Wednesday morning a fire broke out on the pre mises, No. 35, Exmouth-street , Clerkenwell, occupied as the bakery shop of the Aerated Bread Company. The flames having first attacked the bakery, soon spread to the house attached, and, notwithstr.nding the great quantity of water poured on it from several engines of the Metropolitan fire brigade, the fire was not subdued until the back pre mises and part of the front were destroyed. Shortly after daybreak, upon some of the firemen entering the back room of the ground floor, the body of a lad who had been missed by the occupants of the house ? was found ter ribly burned. THE BANKRUPTC Y OF THE O'DONOGHUE. The case of the O'Donoghue, M.P., was brought be fore Mr. Registrar Hazlitt in the London Court of Bank ruptcy yesterday, M. Flews, who appeared for the bank rupt, stated that, although his client wasjidomiciled in Ireland, and his principal residence was there, he had been made a bankrupt in an English court. The question might, therefore, have been raised whether that cour t had any jurisdiction ; but his client had de termined not to do anything of the kind, but to deliver himself unreservedly up to his creditors, several of whom resided in London, where he, compulsorily to some extent, had taken up his temporary residence for the more convenient discharge of a great public duty. He intended to submit a full and truthfui statement of his affairs, and to make such a pro posal as might be considered most beneficial to the in terests of those to whom he was indebted. This, now ever, from various circumstances, could not be done until the beginning or the middle of the month of October, when a suggestion for private arrangement would be made 2 • and it was to be hoped that hi s H onour would consent to the annullment of the bankruptcy.—Mr. Davis said that the creditors whom he represented did not appear in any hostile spirit ; and he regretted the extreme step which had been taken, and would be prepared to concur in any reasonable arrangement. The Registrar remarked that although there was something unpleasant associated with bankruptcy, there was no disgrace attached to it : and he trusted that when the arrangement was sub mitted to him he should not feel called upon to withold his approbation from it. THE LATE MANAGER OF THE CRYSTAL PALACE. —The remains of Mr. R. K. Bowley, general mana g er of the Crystal Pal ace were buried yesterday in the Nor, wood Cemetery. The sons of deceased were the chief mourners, and in the carriages which formed the cortege were Messrs. Grove and Wilkinson, the secretary and deputy manager of the Palace. At the cemetery g ate the procession wa s augmented by the directors of the Crystal Palace, the members of the committee of the Sacred Harmonic Society, and the majority of those constituting the staff over which the late general manager presided. The carriages of the directors, of Sir Michael Costa, Mr. Mitchell, and Mr. E. T. Smith, formed a contingent of the funeral procession, THE BATTLE OF TUESDAY The Prussians - if they had the least inkling of the inten tion of MacMahon to march upon Metz could not fail to dispute the passages at Mouton, Stenay, and Dun; and hence the French General found one decided advantage in selecting Sedan for his principal base of opera tions—since, commanding both banks of the Meuse, a successful advance thence would take in flank and rear the Prussians disputing the bridges higher up, and open the passages to the French columns march ing Meusewards through the Northern Argonne. On Tuesday morning MacMahon was encamped on the heights of Vaux, - whence he marched forward on the road to Montmedy. But at noon lie was attacked by the Prus sians, and "driven back to the point whence he started." Not many details of the northern battle have yet been received ; but its obstinacy may be inferred from the statement that after seven hours of combat the cannonade still raged, and that on both sides the losses were considerable. It would seem that the principal fury of the fight was on the side of Carignan ; the village, with its bridges, giving the command of both banks of the Chiers, was evidently disputed with much obstinacy, for we learn that it was burnt, and that only after the battle was over and the French forces driven back, did the Prussians enter it. Just about nightfall the battle first began to turn in favour of the assailants—probably when the French had been driven out of the blazing streets of Carignan—and the French commanders must have then seen that the battle was lost, for, according to the correspondence of an evening contemporary, the Emperor Napoleon, who awaited the result at a farm house two miles in the rear of Carignan, at once set out for Sedan. It would appear, indeed, that, like several previous actions of the present war, the Battle of Carignan closed only when night fell ; but then the French were in retreat, or in " rout," towards Sedan, leaving four mitrailleuses in the hands of the conquerors. Next day, indeed, by another account, the battle was resumed newly on the ground on which it closed; but the majority of the reports make the Prussians clearly, victorious on Tuesday; and at any rate MacMahon was on Wednesday in full retreat. The news is at all points favourable to the Germans. Even so far west as Vizry, a small village standing on the steep eastern verge of a plateau three or four miles north of Vouziers, we bear that a French force, consisting chiefly of Turcos, was stormed and captured by two squadrons of Hussars, and the garrison made prisoners. The main interest, however, is for the moment on the Meuse, near Sedan and Mouzon. Fuller details, as we have said, are required before we can justly estimate the result of Tuesday 'a victories ; but' we shall err very strangely if it is not the complete failure of MacMahon's attempt to reach and deliver Bazaine at Metz. Aheady the victorious Prussians are following the retreating troops of MacMahon towards Sedan, full sixty miles away from the Moselle fortress ; and therefore all strategical as well as all tactical co-opera tion on the part of the imprisoned Mar shal is now totally out of the question. The advantage of the narrow Meuse valley between Sedan and Montmedy, and the difficulties of the Argonne passes, have alike been energetically turned against the French. The fighting is probably not yet over ; for the French commander knows that his only hope lay in success in front, and that the terrible Crown Prince, whom he has such good cause to remem ber, still lies in wait for him on the way back to the Marne—by whatever route he may march. To all human appearance the faint hope that ever shone upon MacMahon's desperate march shas vanished—the disaster which we have constantly held him to court environs him on every side ; he has been beaten all along the line, and thrown back upon neutral territory.— Telegraph. The telegrams seem to leave no doubt, combined with the previous items of information, that it is indeed MacMahon's army which has been defeated. It is important to observe that Beaumont, near which the official Prussian despatch describes the action as having occurred, is on the left bank of the Meuse, about half-way between Stenay and MOuzon, while Carignan is on the right bank, half-way between Sedan and Montmedy. If we interpret the despatch rightly, Mac- Mahon has been attacked on both banks, while his forces were only partly across the Meuse. He has been met as he marched from Vaux towards Montmedy by a force on the right bank, and the action took place which our cor respondent describes on Tuesday, and was continued yes terday. But there was only a portion of his force over the river, and that portion remaining on the- left bank was attacked on Tuesday, routed, and driven back upon Sedan. These aro apparently two entirely distinct actions, though going on simultaneously. That at Carig nan was probably fought by the troops of the Crown Prince of Saxony sent to check MacMahon's progress, while that at Beaumont was brought on by the advanced forces of the Crown Prince. In this case MacMahon is evidently in the most imminent danger. If, indeed, he has allowed himself to be attacked on the right flank while facing towards Metz — if he has allowed half his army on either bank to be overwhelmed by superior forces, no words can be strong enough to express the blame which should attach to his bad generalship. MacMahon started from Rheims on the evening of Monday, the 22nd. On Tuesday, the 30th, eight days later, he is caught in the very worst position in which an army can possibly be taken, astride a great river, close up against neutral territory, into which, if he . is driven, he is destroyed. He had barely seventy miles to march from Rheims to the Meuse. Unless he were certain that he could perform the distance in very much less than eight days it was madness to attempt the movement. He must have calculated on a much more rapid march. We cannot believe he would have been guilty of so gross a blunder as to make such slow marches inten tionally, or to attempt such a movement unless he had reason to suppose that he could get clear of the Meuse before the Crown Prince could possibly be on his flank. He started from Rheims on Monday, the 22d. It was not till Wednesday, the 24th (we have it from the pen of the Times special correspondent) that the Prussian head-quarters at Ligny, eight or nine miles south-east of Bar-le-Due, knew of the evacuation of Chalons ; yet so slow has been MacMahon's march that we abandoned the idea that he was really endea vouring to cross the Meuse, and so slow have been his movements that the Crown Prince, over whom he had two days' start has been able to strike him on the flank. It is inconceivable that MacMahon attempted this march, unless he was led to believe that he could do it in two or three days less time than it has taken . . We cannot but suppose that his intendance to have been in fault, or that the demoralised condition of his troops was such that long marches were found to be out of the question At all events, a fatal blow has been struck, if these ac counts are not exaggerated. If, indeed, MacMahon has been driving along the left bank of the Meuse to Sedan, then his last hope is gone. But we have yet to be assured that MacMahon's whole army was here. The Prussian despatch, which speaks of the vast extent of the battle-field, seems to indicate as much. If, indeed, MacMahon's whole army is driven up to Sedan, then we shall see him hemmed in at Mezieres, as is Bazaine at Metz, and the fate of the two great French armies is , sealed.—Standard. NAVAL ENGAGEMENT. At half-past ten o'clock this morning two large vessels were seen from Seaford, firing at each other, GAIETY THEATRE. The entire change of performance at the Gaiety has resulted in the greatest success. Notwithstanding the excallence of the acting of Mr. Morris the Anglo-Dutch performer, as Peter Spyke, an additional attraction was required, and this has been effected by the production of Offenbach's comic opera " Barbe Bleue." Mr. C. Kenny has prepared the work for the English stage, and on the whole the work has been performed in a satisfactory manner. The principal part, Boulette, is sustained by Miss Julia Matthews with more than ordinary effect, and her greatest admirer could searcely have predicted the success she has achieved by her spirited rendering of the character. Miss Losiby as Flourette also deserves the highest commendation both for her singing and acting, and Miss Tremaine as the imperious Queen, Clementina, shows rapid progress in her profession. The Blue Beard of Mr. Beverley is not perhaps quite so good as it ought to be, but doubtless the novelty of his position at present somewhat interferes with his real abilities. Mr. J. D. Stoyle as the King infused great spirit into the part, and Mr. Perrini as Oscar sang the music with much taste and effect. We must not omit a word of praise for. Mr. A. Cook, who, as Popolani the sorcerer, contributed greatly to the success of the piece. The opera has been most sumptuously put upon the stage ; every detail has been attended to and carried out with the most lavish expense. The scenery, dresses, and appointments are all exceedingly bright and beautiful, and the whole production is one that entitles the management to the greatest praise, The opera is undoubtedly the best thing that has yet been given at this elegant theatre, and a long and highly successful run will certainly be the reward of the energetic lessee and manager. CRYSTAL PALACE.—The fireworks this evening will commence at eight o'clock, the blowing up of the Bridge of Kehl forming the chief attraction. The number of visitors yesterday was 5451. Lord Eliot, eldest son of the Earl of St. Germans, is to be raised to the Howe of Lords, where he will sit for the hereditary barony of Eliot, OUTWARD INDIA AND CHINA MAILS. The Delta, from Southampton on the 20th instant, arrived at four, and left at 10 on Monday morning for Alexandria. BRINDISI, AUGUST 3L The Adriatic and Oriental Company's steamer Il Pricipe Tomas°, 80 hours from Alexandria, arrived here with 35 passengers. Letters will probably be delivered in London on Saturday morning, September 3. AMERICAN MAILS. BREST, AUGUST 31. The Transatlantic Company's steamer Lament arrived hex e at 10 this morning from New York, with 109 passen gers, and $32,212 in specie. QUEENSTOWN, AUGUST 31. The Cunard Royal Mail Steamer Tripoli, arrived here from Liverpool at 11 a.m. to-day, and having embarked mails and passengers, she proceeded for Boston, on receipt of the former, at 4.30 p.m. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) MR. MUNDELLA, M.P., AND HIS CONSTITUENTS. Last evening, Mr. Mundella, M.P., delivered his annual address to his constituents at Sheffield. In review ing the work of the past session he dwelt at some length on the Education Bill, and criticised its principal features, as well as its defects. The Irish Land Bill and other measures were also touched upon in the course of his address. With regard to the forthcoming session, the hon. member expressed strong hopes that time would be found to deal with several measures for the especial benefit of working people, such as the Truck Act and the Mines Regulation Bill. He also trusted an im portant change would be made in the licens ing system. Having just returned from a jour ney through Germany, he gave some account of the scenes he had witnessed as illustrating the horrors of war and the intensity of the struggle. As to the atti tude of England, he hoped a strict neutrality would be maintained. He trusted the people of England would not be lashed into a war frenzy, for he considered that it would be most unwise to attempt to keep pace with the armies of Europe in strength. It was impossible for England to do it, and it would be foolish to make the attempt. Germany had a great national army, in which all male persons from twenty to fifty years of age were liable to take part in defensive warfare, whilst France had spent millions upon a professional army. He would not venture to say what would happen to the German army now in France. He could not tell what France might do in her agony and despair. Her troops were as brave as any in the world, and every man would fight like a tiger robbed of its cub ; but his belief was that no Frenchman, so long as this war lasted, would ever set foot upon German soil. It was to be noticed that the facilities for railway locomotion on the Continent were immense, so that vast bodies of troops could be moved with great despatch. Directly war broke out between France and Germany, only the fronti:x line formed the division be tween the two countries, and trains could carry troops from one country to the other with the utmost expedition. But with England it was different, Her geographical position was such that Englishmen had to thank Provi dence that they were surrounded and encompassed by the inviolate sea. To effect an invasion an enemy must first encounter the strongest navy in the world, and even if we were conquered, which was an impossibility, the people would rise as one matt to drive the invader back into the sea. What was required was not an augmentation of our forces, but a better organization. Especially he advocated the abolition of the system of purchasing commissions in the army. With better organisation England need have no fear of a foreign foe, and this was all that was required in the present emergency.—A vote of confidence in Mr. Mundella was cordially passed. CHASE OF VESSELS OFF PLYMOUTH BY A FRENCH MAN-OF-WAR. The paddle-wheel French man-of-war which captured the North German barque Julius off Plymouth on the 22nd of August has returned to her former station in the channel, after having conveyed her prize to Cherbourg, and was last evening plainly seen off the Hoe. She bore down on three merchant vessels, all of whom hoisted the colours of neutral Powers, and she sheered off. As the evening closed in she was in full chase of a large ship which appeared to be running from her, and was there fore, probably, a German vessel. AID TO THE SICK AND WOUNDED. A meeting was held in the Sheffield Town Hall yester day for the purpose of devising means for succouring the wounded on the field of battle. The subscription list is being well filled; and the funds are to be forwarded to the National Society. A meeting called by the Mayor of Bristol, • composed of ladies and gentlemen, was also held yesterday in that town, for the purpose of affording relief to the sick and wounded in the war. It was resolved to estab lish parochial organisations throughout the city and neighbourhood, so that a complete canvass might be made. Already over £5OO has been sent to the Mayor of Bristol, besides large sums collected in churches and chapels. The wholesale druggists have resolved to send large quantities of material, which the Midland Railway Company will convey free. FORMATION OF A SCHOOL BOARD FOR SHEFFIELD. A special meeting of the Sheffield Town Council was held yesterday, and steps were taken to secure the for mation of a school board for the borough. DISTURBANCES AT SHEFFIELD. There was a disturbance at New Whitting, near Sheffield, on Tuesday, arising out of a dispute as to a right of way through some property belonging to Mr. William Fowler. A number of men broke down a gate; but were driven back by 100 men, some of whom were armed for the purpose of protecting Mr. Fowler's property. In the fight which ensued several were injured. The police were powerless against so many. THE CITY OF BOSTON.—ACTION FOR LIBEL. The action for libel, in which Messrs. Inman and Co., owners of the City of Boston, sought to recover damages from Mr. B. G. Jenkins, law student, on account of a letter in the Times, saying the vessel was overloaded, ter minated this evening in a verdict for the 'plaintiff damages £250, by consent. The case has lasted two days. At the meeting of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce yesterday, it was resolved again to memorialise the Government to issue an order in council for the pro hibition of the export of munitions of war. At the half-yearly meeting of the West Cornwall Rail way Company at Penzance, yesterday, Mr. Jose presiding, dividends were declared at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on preference shares, and 2:1 per cent. per annum on ordinary shares. One-eighth of the de benture debt of the company has just been converted into debenture stock at 4i per cent. per annum. OUR COTEMPORARIES—This Morning THE STATE OF FRANCE. The Times once more insists that the most discouraging symptom in the present condition of the nation is the lack of intense, feeling that is apparent all around. Officials may accun3ulate sheep and oxen in the "Bois," the bakers may store up flour, and the streets of the wine-market be lined with hogsheads of wine ; well-to-do families may provide themselves with provisions : but all these materials for sustaining resistance must avail little if the spirit and energy of resistance be wanting. The worst thing that can happen to France would be that she should come out of this war with her military prowess dis credited and her political regeneration unaccomplished, audit seems possible that this double misfortune may before the country. The plans at present favoured by the Empress-Regent and her advisers point to such an end. Should the enemy approach the capital, the Empress and the leading Ministers will retire, probably to Tours or some other place beyond the Loire, and Paris will be left to General Trochu. Another step will thus be taken to wards the temporary dismemberment of France. At pre sent the French nation is in three parts, represented at Paris, Sedan, and Metz, and the retirement of the Government from the capital would cut it up into four. When at length peace may be agreed upon, the fragments of the nation may be re-united, and all will go on as before. Such seems the prospect contemplated by the existing Government so far as it forms a definite conception of the future, and it is not impossible that it may be realised. Whether it will or not must depend upon the effect that may be produced by the collapse of Marshal MacMahon's army. This might kindle a flame that would purify France from the evils that oppress it, as fine gold is tried in the furnace. But in the absence of such a regeneration following such a misfortune, the prospect of the nation is unpro mising enough to give its best friends grounds foa anxious disquietude. OUR MILITARY ORGANISATION. The Standard disputes Lord Elcho's broad conclusions that " Mr. Cardweli's conduct of military affairs is in the main sound and calculated to inspire army reformers with confidence and hope." That administration cannot be sound which produces the fruits which Lord Elcho describes. According to Lord Elcho's statement, the total regular army of Great Britain, the army which is the last result of the combi nation of " diminished expenditure" with " increased efficiency," the army which is to maintain the first line of the home defence, to assert our national position in the world, to enable us to discharge our treaty obligations to Belgium, and to defend the colonies, consists of 50,870 infantry, 10,654 cavalry soldiers, with 6,539 horses, and 180 guns. Our companies of infantry have scarcely more than a third of their proper numbers. Our batteries of artillery are at half their war strength. Our cavalry is little more than half mounted. So much, then, for "increased efficiency." Of the new reserves, for which the War Minister has taken so much credit, it is shown that only 2,000 men, that is those of the first class, are available for the filling up of the cadres of our cavalry and infantry regiments. The second class, consisting of 19,000 men, are old pensioners, not liable to foreign service, and who have no regular. place in the line of the British army. 'ln addition to these we have some 20,000 militia, who have been enlisted on condition of being liable to be, transferred to the regular army in case of emer gency. But these, as Lord Elcho observes, are not trained soldiers. As to the extra 20,000 soldiers which Mr. Cardwell was compelled to ask for, in view of the present critical state of affairs on the Continent, the very fact that they were so required proves, as Lord Elcho justly contends, the utter unsoundness of the system of reserve which had been introduced by Mr. Cardwell, especially for occasions of emergency like the present. Speaking of the difficulty of officering the Militia, the Daily News remarks that the promotion in this body is very uncertain, and seems wholly to depend on the caprice of Lords Lieutenant and colonels of regiments. A subaltern who does not happen to have influenee has small encouragement to !make himself efficient, because, however hard he may have laboured to render himself a useful officer, he is always exposed to the risk of having somebody else promoted over his head, or a new man brought into the regiment at once as his superior. In a military force in which this can be, and frequently is, done, we cannot be surprised that any approach to zeal among the subalterns should be want- ing, and that many who, under another system, would be ready to join it, now keep themselves aloof. It is this peculiarity which principally causes the disinclination of Militia officers to avail themselves even of the advantages they at present possess for learning their duties. It has been suggested that a number of non-commissioned officers of the Line should be granted commissions in the Militia. The adjutants of all the Militia Artillery, and certain of the Militia Infantry, Regiments were non•commis sioned4 officers either in the Artillery or the Line. On the limited scale on which it has been tried the experiment has succeeded, and these officers have all along proved the salt of the corps into which they were introduced. There is every reason to antici pate that the plan, if extended, would be of great benefit to the service. JEOPARDIZED CATHEDRALS. The Telegraph gives expression to fear for the cathedrals of four towns—Strasbourg, Rheims, Metz, and Paris. Of course the besiegers will not point the guns at the towers, for Germany would unite with the whole civilised world in the denunciation of such vandal ickedness. But, as we see from the siege of Strasburg, the best of artillerists cannot ex actly circumscribe the range of havoc wrought by his projectiles. A stray shell may shatter to atoms the deli cate lacework of Strasburg spire, or smash the magnifi cent stained glass of Rheims. Either of these towns may be set on fire, and, as the old St. Paul's of London attested, flames do not spare the mightiest creations of the architect. Or when the towns are bombarded at night, and when the 'shells are pitched half at random, the great churches may be made a mass of ruins before the • besiegers find what havoc they have wrouglit. And whatever mischief may be done to Rheims or Strasburg is done for ever. Money and skill, it is true, might repair the rents in towers, or even cunningly imitate the soft and sombre glory of oriel window ; but, after all, the result would be only patch-work, and only imitation. The value of Rheims and Strasburg springs in great part from the fact that they link the present to a darkly remote past, of which they are the saintliest symbols, and of whose holiest longings they give the most vivid revelation. We prize the temples of mediaeval religion, not merely because they bear the stamp of incomparable beauty, but be cause they wed us to the past by the tie of consecration. Their beauty we might copy ; their wealth of historic links we could never produce. If Westminster Abbey were levelled to the ground we might rear a building exactly the same in form, and give it even the mellow hue of age ; but, although we could reproduce the grand sweep of nave and rich beauty of arch, the structure would not be the Abbey of history—the coronation and the resting place of our Kings the Church which is sanctified by the dust of the greatest among Englishmen. As the holiest symbols of a great past, the Gothic cathe drals stand under the guardianship of civilisation itself, and hence the whole world of educated and religious men looks with dread to the desolation which war may work at Strasburg or at Rheims. THE IRISH PRESS. The Dublin illornmg Mail regards • the Second Empire as doomed, and considers the decline of the Emperor's power as dating from the moment when he listened to the particular advisers of the Empress. The Irish Times, re ferring to the inactivity of the French fleet, suspects that a cold reception awaits the Admiral an his return to France, should he not retaliate in kind for the destruc tion of French towns. The Freeman's Journal contains a letter from the Secretary to the Empress, dated Tuesday, and conveying her Imperial Majesty's thanks for the press donation of £4OO, for the relief of the French wounded, and for expressions of attachment to France and to the Imperial family, BLOC ADE OF THE NORTH Gazette, G published GERMAN POlasEit'S.ln night, a supplement to the Lond on it was announced that the commencement of the blockade of the ports, harbours, and creeks of the North German Confederation, by the naval forces of his Majesty the Emperor of the French, in the Baltic Sea, dated in effect from the 19th day of August, and that the previous announcement of the 15th day of August, as the date of the commencement of the blockade, was erroneous. COMMUNICATION WITH FRANCE. The report brought to Dover by the mail-boat on Tuesday afternoon that the passenger traffic from Paris to Calais had been interrupted and cut off is, we are happy to say, an ex aggeration of the facts. The facilities for passenger traffic are diminished and are liable to further interruptions, but passengers in considerable numbers are still using this route: The report also from Dover that the tidal boats between Folkestone and Boulogne will be discontinued from the Ist of September is incorrect. The tidal services via Folkestone have been slightly interrupted in consequence of the great traffic on the French line near Paris, but the boats have performed their passages as usual between Folkestone and Boulogne, `and will, at least for th e p resen t, con ti nue t o d o so. — Times.