The Sun. — London, England, 1870-08-06 00:00:00

,ATEST INTELLIGENCE THE BATTLE OF WEISSENBIiRG The French official account of this affair is as follows : Three regiments of General Douay's division and a bri gade of light cavalry were attacked this morning at Weis senburg by very superior forces massed in the 'woods which adjoin the Lauter. The troops resisted the enemy's attack for several hours, and then fell back on the Col du Pigonnier, adjoining the road to Bitche. General Abel Douay was killed, and one of our guns, the horses having been killed and the carriage broken, fell into the enemy's hands. Marshal M'Mahon is concentrating the troops at his command on the spot." Another account, dated Paris, August 5, 6 p.m., is as follows:—" This morning, the Corps d'Armee, under the Crown Prince, surprised three French regiments. After making a Vigorous resistance, the French retired. Marshal Mac-Mahon immediately assumed the offensive. The conflict is still going on. Public opinion loudly de mands its revenge." An official telegram from Metz, dated August 5, 4 p.m. says that Marshal M`Mahon, with his corps d'armee, .occupies a strong position. Telegraphic communication exists with all the army corps. The piece of artillery taken by the enemy at Weissenburg was a cannon. The special correspondent of the Standard, telegraphing after the engagement, says :--" I have just returned. A eanguinary affair has taken place at Weissenburg. Two brigades of M`Mahon's corps, when marching forward, met four Prussian divisions. A fearful fight ensued. The advantage was on the Prussian side. General Douay was killed. Marshal bl`Mahon has since gained a strong Position. THE PRISONERS CAPTURED AT WEISSEN. BURG. According to official reports received at Munich, the number of prisoners captured in the engagement at Weissenburg was 800 men, amongst whom was eighteen officers. THE PRUSSIAN ARMY OF THE FRENCH FRONTIER. The Official Carlsruhe Gazelle of yesterday says : "According to advices received here a division of the Baden army advanced yesterday morning to the south and crossed the French frontier. The head-quarters are at Lanterburg. By a reconnaissance, which was made yesterday on the left bank of the Rhine, near Seltz, it was ascertained that there were only a few French there. Our troops took possession of 30 boats and brought them in safety to the right bank of the Rhine. They lcst one lieutenant and two men killed, and one man wounded." THE RUMOURED CAPTURE OF SAARLOUIS. The rumour current in Paris of an attack on Saarluis has not been confirmed. It is asserted that the head quarters of the King of Prussia are at Coblentz ; those of Prince Frederick Charles at Kreuznach, and those of the Crown Prince at Mannheim. The Berlin correspondent of the Telegraph says that a second Government bulletin was issued yesterday, with regard to the action at Saarbruck on Tuesday, correcting the first account of the affair. It admits that the Prus sians had two officers and seventy men killed. On tit* bight of the same day the French troops advanced on the Bide of Sarreguemines in greatly superior force, but were driven back by the Prussians with heavy loss, the Prus sians standing their ground splendidly. SKIRMISHING ON THE RHINE. Official intelligence, dated yesterday, 11 a.m. says : " Advices from St. Louis announce that about 500 Bavarian infantry from St Blaise and Sackingen have encamped on the crest of the hills at Diffingen facing Huningue. In consequence of this move went Swiss troops immediately approached the frontier line, and occupied positions. During the night of Wednesday five trains passed 11 P the Baden line, stopping at Hallingen, Lorrach, B chopfheim, and Zell. Twenty thousand men are daily expected, and are supposed at present to be concealed in the Black Forest, in order to be able to march upon that Part of the Rhine which it is believed the French will cross. On the first and second instant the enemy fre quently passed through Lauterbourg. A detachment of the 11th Mounted Chasseurs have had a skirmish with Prussian Hussars, near Oberlauterbach and Wingenbach; the latter lost three killed andseven wounded. The French had one horse wounded. ANOTHER BATTLE IMMINENT. A telegram from Paris, dated.yesterday afternoon, says great tattle on the frontier is considered imminent, or may be proceeding at this moment. Many rumours to the latter effect ttre circulating this afternoon. The French were throwing grenades up the Neukircher railway station on Thursday. THE BATTLE OF SAARBRUCK. ot The Journal Officiel of Thursday evening publishes General Froissard's report of Tuesday's engagement. ro The French loss was six killed, and 67 wounded. The is French took 14 prisoners, and the Prussian loss is roughly estimated at 250 killed and wounded. It appears beyond doubt that the deadly effects of the mitrailieuse at long range produced a great impression on the morale of the a E enemy. The special correspondent of the Times says that a trustworthy neutral spectator at Saarbruck gives these details :—" The French made some prisoners. No guns were lost. There were 40 men killed and 60 wounded. The French numbered 20,000; the Prussians 6,000. By Wednesday midday the French had not occupied the town. The artillery decided the action. There was but little infantry and no cavalry employed." n of 7, ed THE EXPORT OF CORN. General Vogel Von Falkenstein has issued a notifica tion, prohibiting the shipment of cargoes of corn in North German ports for direct exportation to France, this being a Modification of the previous prohibition. On Thurs day afternoon the Queen gave an audience to Prince Gurtschakoff. DENMARK AND THE WAR. 13 Y a provisional law the Finance Minister is em Powered to issue bonds to the amount of five millions of thalers, redeemable on the 31st December, 1872. GERMANS IN FRANCE. The Prefect of Police in Paris has issued an edict; rendered necessary by the " internal manoeuvres of certain foreign residents against the safety of the State," in which he calls upon all all persons natives of Germany to Present themselves within three days before the Commis sary of Police, in order to obtain permission to reside in Prance. This edict does not , apply to naturalised foreigners, or to those previously authorised to remain in Prance. THE ATTITUDE OF RUSSIA. The Moscow Gazette says :—"The actual war will have most important consequences, that will bear in the highest degree upon Russia. Not only do the consequences affect our political situation in Europe, but also our home affairs. All our questions are still pending, and all the false positions c reated by our p o liti ca l s h or t com i ngs w ill b e placed in full light. To-day the solution of these questions depends °ll us ; to-morrow, whichever may be the Power Which shall accgre the preponderance in Central Europe, t hey may possibly slip from our hands and create serious e U l barrassments to us. The Polish lie and the German he, which can disappe ar t o -d a y f or ever , if we lik e t o face them seriously and nearly, could become real forces soon after. At the present moment, much more t han at any other time, Russia is in need of the action of able and honest men ; more than ever, she wants her national politics to become the truth. It is high ti me that our vaccillating policy should cease on our frontier ; the time has arrived to apply energetic mea sures to put an end to the German lie as well as to the Polish one." RUSSIA AND BELGIUM. The Journal de St. Petersburg contains the following c— " Thursday being the fête-day of the Empress, there was a reception of the members of the Diplomatic Body. On the Belgian Charge D'Affaires being presented, the Em peror and Empress expressed to him in gracious terms their thank s for the cordial welcome given to the Grand Duke -Vladimir by the Royal Family of Belgium during his stay at Brussels. Their Majesties said they perceived therein a fresh proof of the friendly feelings which the Belgian nation and its Sovereign had ever mani fested towards Russia, and which could but increase the respect and consideration acquired throughout Russia and Europ e by a young Sovereign, who, following in his fathea's footsteps, had been able, with so much wisdom, t° uphold the position of his country, by basing the rights guaranteed to it by treaties on the strict observance of the duties imposed upon him. TG. 5. 'rincess ttended •ked on ernoon, n• some Ird her Max- p, and for her ited to seven lb,' ac- pia, att) 1 vell) 2 er— ion) 3 Tam- aer) 1 ex.) ice) 2 rill) 3 and iiss tier) 1 lis) 2 im) 3 on) 1 Lm) 2 ra) ck) 3 ction, tie it) 1 31c) 2 DO) 6) 3 ran. T FIE SUS, LONDON, SATURDAY MORNING, AUG UST 6, 1 rs 7o, THE AMERICAN GENERALS. There is no truth in the report that Generals Lae, Johnston, and Sheridan had offered their service to France or Prussia. STRANGE NEWS OF A POLICE INSPECTOR. Information was received on Thursday night at the Bow-street police-station that Inspector Brennan, who is now away on leave, had been captured by the Prus sians as a spy and shot. It is to be hoped the latter part of the intelligence will prove unfounded. Standard. Letters from Metz speak of the great success of a bat talion of military workmen intended to repair any rail roads destroyed by the enemy. The Eastern line has done a great deal for this scheme, sending 600 volunteers, and giving many carriages for the conveyance of material. The Path Journal states that according to a statistical table there are in Paris at this moment 80,000 Germans, of whom 8,000 are Prussians. Of that number 1,500 have left, mostly young men, In consequence of peremptory orders to join the Landwehr. There consequently remain 6,500 Prussians in the French capital, A telegram in the France is thus worded :—The Prince Imperial in person fired the first shot from 'our mitrail lenses, which literally mowed down the Prussians. Vive le Prince Imperial ! The master of the screw steamer Merthyr, just arrived at the Penarth Dock, reports passing a French ironclad on the 3rd instant, off Brest, with the German three-masted schooner Laura in tow, in charge of a prize crew. At three p.m. yesterday five frigates of the French fleet, together with several small vessels and one advice boat, passed to the south of Korsor. In consequence of several cases of cholera being re ported from Taganrog, the Turkish Government has ordered all arrivals from the Sea of Azoff to undergo quarantine. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS. PILOTS AND THE WAR. At the Tyne Pilotage Board. held yesterday afternoon at South Shields, Mr. J. C. Stevenson, M.P., presiding, the following letter from Mr. Shaw Lefevre to the Clerk of the Pilotage Board was read :—" lam directed by the Board to acquaint you for the information of the Tyne pilotage authorities, that her Majesty's Government, having regard to the existing state of war between France and Prussia, are of opinion that the following instruc tions should be at once issued to the pilots in your district : -- British pilots are not to pilot ships of war of either belligerent except in British waters within three miles of the shore, or to do more than to pilot such ships into or out of British ports or roadsteads, when they are not engaged at the time in any hostile operation. But ships of war in distress may always be piloted out of immediate danger. lam accordingly instructed to request that you will immediately take the necessary steps for making these instructions known to the pilots." THE OPERATIONS ABOUT SAARBRUCK. The Standard correspondent at Metz gives a summary on the various operations before Saarlaruck, commencing ' with a little battle on Tuesday. Writing on Wednesday he says of this fight :—lt was a serious affair, the move ment having for its object—first, to begin the operation on the River Saar on a strategic plan ; secondly, to as certain the strength of the Prussian forces in a fortified camp commanding Saarbruck ; and, thirdly, to obtain at once possession of the rich coal mines of the neighbour hood. Saarbruck is a town of 9,000 inhabitants, on tl. e Saar, and without fortifications ;it is accessible by a bridge, on the French side of the frontier, at nine kilometres from Forbach. At ten o'clock on the morning of yesterday the second corps d'arinee, com manded by General Frossard, started from Forbach, and in a skirmishing way marched towards a Prussian forti fied 'camp, commanding the valley around Saarbruck. Two regiments of the line and a powerful body of artil lery snaking their way across a large rivulet com menced the attack on the entrenched camp, the artil lery being exposed to a strong fire of the enemy. In two hours' time the brigade succeeded in dislodging the Prussian troops from their strong position ; the French artillery occupied the summit of the camp, and directed a strong fire on the bridge of Saar, where Prussian ambus cades were posted, and both sides of the bridge flanked by Prussian tiralleurs, who fought with energy, and showed themselves up to the mark as good soldiers. At that moment Colonel Merle with his regi ment (the 3rd), tinder cover of the artillery, and protected by the increasing fire . of the French batteries, made a movement to turn the left, and after a short engagement with the enemy, forced the Prussians to retreat on the town. It was now about half past twelve. The Emperor and the Prince Imperial, fol lowed by two generals and six officers of their staff, had just arrived on horseback, and advanced to within 800 yards of the Prussian needle-gun. There they stood braving the danger of bullsts whirling around their heads. The little Prince, slightly over come at the sight of the bodies of two dead soldiers, was seen raising his kepi to the bullets, saluting his baptism of fire, It is difficult to understand why the Emperor and his son exposed themselves at such a range to the fire of the enemy. Whatever may be the reason the fact is certain. Colonel Merle's movement being successful, the French batteries directed at once their fire on the town. The projectile, set on fire the railway sta tion and four different parts of the town. The Prussians were in full retreat ; the mitrailleuses were at work, but on an order of the Emperor they were stopped ; owing, it appears, to the destruction they would have wrought among the inhabitants of Saarbruck, who were retreating with the Prussian soldiers. Before three o'clock the French were masters of Saarbruck, having lost only a few soldiers. I have not been able to ascertain yet the losses of the Prussians, but they are comparatively large. I do not think the engagement has had the importance it was thought at first. Although three regiments only have been engaged on the side of the French, 80,000 men were at hand. The Prussians do not seem to have been more than 3,000 at the most. Writing later on the same evening, this writer observes: —" Saarluis, on the Saar, is surrounded by the French. The 3rd Corps d'Armde, with Marshal Bazaine, on the right ; the 4th Corps, with General L'Admirault, on the left. I have been shewn and had in my hands this morning a sketch of the engagement of yesterday, made with the pen by the Prince Imperial last night, after his return from the combat, and given by him to the son of Baron Lambert, Mr. Tristan Lambert, who is a great friend of the Prince's, and who has volunteered as a private in one of the regiments of the Guards for the campaign. This sketch is marvellously exact and precise, the march of the corps de cirm.e.,e, the encounter, the bridge, the spot where Ise stood during the affair, with the Emperor—all seems life in that little rough sketch, which no doubt will become some day an historical document. In one corner of the sketch are written these lines : " A mon and Tristan Lambert. Le 2 Aout, apres avoir vu le feu pour la premiere fois." (His signature.) And on Thursday morning the correspondent of the Standard writes :- —All the army is marching forward, the Imperial Guard in the direction of Boulay. A great affair is expected. Marshal Lebceuf has just started. Saarluis will, I expect, be shortly the theatre of a great struggle. After all the affair at Saarbruck was very sanguinary for so short an engagement, Eight French soldiers and two officers were killed ; forty wounded. The mitrailleuses made a terrible havoc among the Prussians. Two entire companies of a Prussian regiment were detsroyed. Fifty prisoners have already arrived a• Metz. as a highway to many steamers towing upwards barges and hoys filled with cattle and provisions, and there is an immense mass of rolling stock and loe,omo tive material collected about the railway stations. It is very prohadle that long before this the details of the skirmish at Saarbruck, of which we have just heard, have been published in London. Here we are told that the French attacked and oc cupied the position at 11 o'clock and remained there till two o'clock, when they were driven out with great loss by an inferior force of Prussians. The French, we are informed, lost 700 in killed, wounded, and pri soners, to 87 on •the side of the Germans. It will be curious to read the version of this affair from the other side. THE MITHA ILLE USE AT SA A RBRUCK.—Aprolonged shout from the division. Yive l'Empreui 1 The Emperor is there. The cannonade is formidable, and continues all along the line. A Prussian battery, at the entrance of the wood of the village of Arneval, is pounding away at us ferociously. A section of infantry makes a , rapid oharg,e and partly turns it. The Prussians are off. The cannonade grows weaker. I hear a noise as of close thunder. It is the first discharge from the battery of initruilleuses. We reach the heights above Saarbruck, the mitrailleuses peppering away all the time. It is per fectly frightful. A battalion of Prussians is retiring in good order by the quay of the Saar,in the town, and making its way towards the bridge over which the railway passes. The battery of mitrailleuses, 1,600 metres off, covers them. The officer coolly regulates his piece. A con tinued crash. The battalion scatters. "Eh ! " says the Lieutenant-Colonel de M., eyeing me complacently, and as much as to say, " NV hat do you think of that ?" I hold out my hand to him. All the other officers of the battery surround us. Another battalion has shewn itself. It takes the road of its predecessor. The terrible engine is prepared. Another minute to secure the right adjust ment. " Fire !" The second battalioh disperses like the first. A few balls are sent after them.—Cori espondent of the Daily News. SCHENGEN.—The most interesting place on the map in the whole of this neutral territory, which pene trates, like a wedge, into both the hostile countries, s Schengen, a little village on the Luxemburg frontier, commanding a view of Perl, in Prussia, on the left, and Sierck, in France, on the right. Schengen, moreover, is really a place of some small military interest, since at Sierck there is a fort, and was, until Monday, a large camp : while Perl, though not a regular outpost, is visited daily by Prussian Hussars, who, yester day, seeing that the French had abandoned Sierck, rode down to their late camping-ground, and afterwards entered the village and performed the notable feat of destroying the telegraph. The French Corps which has just left Sierck, and is said to have marched in the direc tion of Sarreluis, consisted of a division of infantry, with cavalry and artillery, numbering about 13,000 men. It formed part of the Fourth Corps d'Armee,whose head-quar ters were, until Monday last, at Thionville. On that day, however, the greater part of the troops at Thionville left ' for the open country. and, like those at Sierck, are sup posed to have marched towards Sarreluis. The French, then, are no longer in force along the Luxembourg fron t tier, nor have the Prussians any large body of troops in the immediate vicinity of the Grand Duchy—nowhere, in fact, nearer than Treves and the villages surrounding it. They keep watch, however, along the whole line of the Moselle, from Treves to Wasserbillig, and from Wasser billig, where the Moselle begins to form the frontier 13( ' tweeze Prussia and Luxemburg, to Schengen. —limes Cor respondent at Luxemburg. SWEDEN BADLY OFF.—Now let us take an im partial view of tha military condition of Sweden, and we shall see that she is by no means prepared for war, nor able to enforce due respect for her neu trality. According to the statement made by the Minister of War, on the Ist of November last year, the stock of the new Remington muskets in the magazines was 52,000 ; and as he estimated the number that would be got ready this year at about 22,600, the very utmost that can be expected is 75,000. At the end - of 1869 there were five millions of ball-cartridges for this description of gun, and if two and a half millions more be made this year, it is still a long way off from the ten 4 millions that the Minister stated to be absolutely required for the service. The field artillery is still worse off, as there are only twenty-five batteries with 153 serviceable guns; and with regard to the fortresses, there is not one that could withstand a siege, nor could even Carlserona, which has always been considered the strong est place in Sweden, hold out for a week. Switzerland and Belgium enjoy a guarantee for their neutrality, and independence, notwithstanding which they have made preparations to defend themselves if attacked, and it be- . hoves Sweden to be prepared for unforeseen contingencies and unexpected events that may take place any day with war going on in the Baltic. —Letter in the Daily News. GOOD NEWS OF THE GERMAN ARMY.—I learned some particulars about the German army which are at once surprising and satisfactory. From one regiment alone eight hundred men have been sent back to Frank fort, their presence at Mayence being necessary. Another regiment marched into Mayence with five hun dred men unarmed and in their ordinary dress. The services of these men were at once dispensed with, and the men returned to their homes. I mention these two cases as having fallen within the compass of my own observation ; but I am told on good authority that they are not exceptional. Taken by themselves, these facts may appear insignificant, or, being misunderstood, they might be cited as betokening a deficiency in the supply of arms and accoutrements. But their signi cance lies in this, that they indicate not only the strength of the German army, but the readiness of the German people to take the field. Both of the regiments in question were at their full war complement without the addition of the 800 and 500 men respectively. Had not the response to the summons been so general there would have been room and to spare for all who came. As it is nearly every regiment has a reserve instantly available wherewith to fill up vacancies caused by losses in battle. Thus the effective strength of the army can be kept up to its present point without summoning any other class to take the field.— Daily News Correspondent at Frankfort. GERMAN OPINION OF I3ISMARCK.—The treaty which France is said to have desired to conclude with Prussia has produced less sensation in Germ any than in Belgium and England. It has been reprinted in the newspapers, and articles have been written upon it, but the public pays little heed to revelations contained in it. The belief is general throughout Germany that Napoleon 111. would do anything in order to become master of the Rhenish Provinces, and that Count Bismarck would not hesitate to promote the aggrandisement of Prussia. There are many Germans who would characterise these two men by the words which Byron used when making a very free translation of . Arcades ambo--" blackguards both." Both have a natural turn and a highly cultivated taste for intrigue. Now this is not regarded by Germans as a virtue. As a people they plume themselves on their honesty and uprightness. They are slow to sanction any conduct which is not en tirely fair and above board. They are prone to manifest a wholesome contempt for tactics which diplomatists are wont to call Macchiavelian, and which ordinary men stigmatize as treacherous. It is because Count Bismarck has the reputation of delighting in playing an under hand and unfair game, that his countrymen look upon him with suspicion and distrust. While profiting by his policy, they have great difficulty in per suading themselves that they are justified in so doing. Thus it is when Count Bismarck comes forward in the character of an injured and overreached Minister, but little sympathy is displayed towards him, and the indignation against the Emperor of the French is less vehemently manifested than it might otherwise have been.—Daily News Correspondent at Frnkfort. SERIOUS ILLNESS OF MR. ELLIOTT.—At the Lam beth Police-court yesterday it was announced . that Mr. Elliott, the senior magistrate of the court, who has dis charged his duties for more than twenty years, was seriously ill. Mr. Flowers, of Bow-street, has been sitting for Mr. Elliott during the last week. THE NEW LAW COURTS.—The Telegraph says that, thanks, in great part, to the indefatigable exertions of Mr. Ayrton, the erection of the New Law Courts will soon be commenced. The Royal Commission has signed the report approving of the plans for the building ; the ground will be cleared immediately ; and, probably, in about three weeks preparations will be made for laying the foun dation. ABDEL KADER V. COUNT BISMARCK.—TIIH" Gaulois has the following :- -"Count Bismarck shrinks from nothing. With an astounding effrontery he has actually demanded the aide of Abd-el-Kader against France. Here is the reply of the Arab chieftain: —" Let Heaven be praised. Excellent Sir,—He to whom you have sent the offer to march against France—the most glorious and most gracious of nations — and to lend to you the help of his glorious sword. ought for very contempt and disdain to abstain answering you. May our Arab steeds lose their manes and tails before Abel-el-Kader-Ben-Mahi-Eddin fail in gratitude to the most potent Sovereign Napoleon lll.—whom God protect. May your arrogant and unjust country be buried in the dust—may French arms be red with.the blood 0" Prussians—that their pride may be punished. Such ib the prayer of God.'s servant, Abd-el-Kader-Ben-Mil* Eddin.' " I\l PE 1: IA I_, l'A 1A Al ENT. lIOUSE OF LORDS.-FRIDAY. The Lord Chancellor took his seat on the woolsack at five o'clock. The Earl of HARROWBY proceeded to call the attention of their lordships to the change recently introduced by the Charity Commissioners into the endowments for the benefit of the poor. The Court of Chancery, his lordship stated, had always hitherto held that such endowments were not applicable to pers )ns in the permanent receipt of parish relief. The earl moved that it was not expe dient that the principle laid down by the courts should be overruled, as inevitably tending to convert endowments intended for the relief of the poor to the relief of the rate payers. The LORD CHANCELLOR thought it would be a waste of time to raise such a question s the more so as there had been but one complaint made against the mode pursued by the Chtrity Commissioners ; upon which the motion was withdrawn. The fallowing bills were read a third time and passed : —Factories and Workshops, Gun Licences, Forgery, Census, and East India Contracts. Earl DE GREY gave notice that the Commons' amend ments to the Lords' amendments to the Education Bill would be considered on . Monday next. Their lordships adjourned at ten minutes past six. THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE. The death of the Rev. Jas. Tibyman was announced yes terday morning. An address to the French Conference was read, and the name of the Rev. Gervase Smith was set apart for the office of Secretary to the Metropolitan Chapel Building Fund. The Rev. William Arthur moved the thanks of the Conference to Sir Francis Lycett, for his great liberality in giving fifty thousand pounds to this fund. A petition signed by the President on behalf of the Conference to the House of Lords in favour of a census of religious accommodation and attend ance, but asking nothing with respect to re ligious profession or creed, to be forwarded to Lord Shaftesbury immediately, was adopted. The following are the principal changes of stations. The Rev. Germinus Burgess, to Islington; Rev. Walford Green, to Hackney ; Rev. R. S. Ellis, to Chelmsford ; Dr. Kessan, to Uxbridge ; Rev. Charles Crawshaw, to Brixton. Hill ; Rev. Charles Kelly, to Wandsworth ; Rev. John M`Kenny, to Brighton ; Rev. James Fisher, to Tow;ester ; Rev. William Mearns, to Rochester : Rev. Thomas Rayner, to Tipton ; Rev. R Kent, to Ely ; Rev. G. Meadows, to Ulsworthy ; Rev. J. Pratt, to Kingsbridge ; Rev. Joseph Mole, to Collington ; Rev. David Griffiths, to Malvern ; Rev. Francis Landfast, to Redruth ; Rev. William J. Dawson, to Bodmin ; Rev. F. Balls, to Barnstaple ; Rev. S. Ripsdale, to Weston-Super-Mare ; Rev. John E. Coulson, to Cheltenham ; Rev. Samuel Naish, to Rosh ; Rev. John Broadbent, to Wednesbury ; Rev. Joseph C. Woodcock, to Bradford; Rev. Joseph Binns, to Wellington, Salop; Rev. John Lambert, to Alderley Edge; Rev. Ebenezer Jenkins, to Southport. The German Patriotic Fund in Liverpool has now reached £4,000, about half of which sum has been sent to Germany, for the relief of the sick and wounded. At the annual meeting of the Royal Insurance Com pany, held in Liverpool on Thursday, a dividend of 10s. per share, free of income tax, was declared. The directors' report, which was unanimously adopted, stated that the results of the past year were highly satisfactory in both branches of the business. At York assizes, yesterday, Sir Henry. Edwards was put upon his trial for bribery at the Beverley election. After an elaborate opening by the Attorney General, and the examination of several of the principal witnesses, Mr. Justice Brett stopped the case, expressing the opinion that the evidence adduced did not trace bribery to Sir Henry. The jury, therefore, returned a verdict of not guilty. Another case, " the Queen v. Burrell," arising out of the same election, was withdrawn. A telegram received by a steam ship-owner, at Hull, dated Konigsburg, August sth, 1.45 p.m., states that the order against the exportaticn of wheat, has been with drawn. NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. Mr. J. B. Crossland, one of the assistant constructors of the navy, has been on an official visit to Chatham dock yard for the purpose of ascertaining the progress made in the construction and fitting of the ironclad ships Sultan, Glatton, Cerberus, and Rupert, which are in various stages of progress at that port and dockyard. The official visit of Mr. Crossland to this dockyard revives the rumour, current for some time, thatit is not the intention of the Admiralty to fill up the vacancy in the office of Chief Constructor of the Navy, by the retirement of Mr. E. J. Reed, C. 8., the duties of which are, it is under stood, in future to be carried out by a commission con sisting of Messrs. Barnaby, Barnes, and Crossland, the former assistant constructors, with Mr. Wright to repre sent the engineering department. Mr. N. Barnaby being the president of the board. The entry of additional workmen at this dockyard still continues-32 additional workmen having been taken into the yard yesterday. Recruiting for the whole of the corps at this garrison is now proceeding briskly, and the novel spectacle is to be witnessed of the troops, with their drums and fifes, marching through the streets beating up for recruits, the standard for whom is reduced to 5 feet 5} inches, and for growing lads to 5 feet 5 inches. The Royal Marines are likewise briskly recruiting, and every effort is being made to get the men recently discharged to rejoin. The Monarch, 7, iron screw turret-ship, armour-plated, Captain John E. Commerell, C. 8., V.C., went out of Portsmouth harbour yesterday morning, and will, after shipping her ammunition to-day, sail to join the other ships of the Channel Squadron. MR. BRISCOE, 14I.P.—There has been a slight im 3rovement in the above gentleman's health during the last 'ew days ; bu, he is still in a very weak condition. CAPTURE OF A GERMAN SHIP BY A FRENCH FHl- GATE.—Yesterday afternoon intelligence was received in Liverpool of the capture of the Prussian ship Lannia by a French frigate, which afterwards towed her prize into Havre. The Lannia arrived at Queenstown a week or two ago from Wilmington with a cargo of turpentin resin, and other stores of a naval character, and which are contraband of war. During the vessel's detention at Queenstown waiting for orders, we understand that the French consular agent at that port had kept a close watch upon the ship. As soon as it was ascertained that the captain of the Lannia had received orders, and that his ultimate destination was a German port in the Baltic or North Sea, the departure of the Lannia was at once tele graphed to the French Admiralty. This is, we believe, the first capture yet made by the French crnisers of a German merchantment. THE LATE SIR R. HARVEY.—A curious letter ob tained publicity yesterday. It was addressed by the late 'Sir R. Harwy to Mr. T. L. Taylor, in August, 1864, and described the considerable wealth of which the writer then supposed himself to be possessed. Sir Robert observed— " Besides £250,000, my private fortune, I have bought of my brother his life interest in the personal property of my father, which property was valued at £350,000, and for which I gave my brother, in bad health, £60,000. This property has, from improvements in invest ments of my father, become worth £14,000 a year to me. My father left me, besides all his landed property, the income for five years to accumulate, and the accumulations to be for my benefit, so that in " another year I have all this increased income--say £4,000 a year at least net. Besides which, at my mother's death—an event hourly expected—l come into £3,000 a year more, Then I have my marriage settlement and other matters connected with the bank, so that I am below the mark in saying my income is £40,000 a year." These statements were, probably, in the main correct, although Si,r Robert had a tendency to -somewhat exag seraote hits resources. HOUSE OF COMMONS.-FRIDAY. The Speaker took the chair at five minutes past two o'clock. THE MILITARY FORCE OF ENGLAND, Sir H. VEKNEY gave notice that on Monday next he should ask the Secretary of State whether, in the opinion of H.R.H. the Commander-in-Chief, the military forces granted by Parliament, were sufficient for the protection and defence of the country if it should unhappily be at war, taking into consideration the magnitude of the forces employed in modern warfare. THE COST OF THE CRIMEAN WAR. Mr. LAMBERT asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the cost to the nation of the Crimean war, and how the money to meet it was raised. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER replied in general terms that £40,000,000 was raised by an increase of the funded debt, and the rest was raised by taxes extending over the years the war lasted, and afterwards to the amount of something like £40,000,000 more. TILE ROYAL DOCK AT HAWLBOLINE. Mr. MAGUIRE asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, considering the necessity which had arisen for demanding a supplemental vote for the defence of the country, it was the intention of the Government to press on the works of the royal dock at Hawlboline, so as to secure its completion in a shorter period than five years from the present time, as now estimated. Mr. CHILDERS said that the rate of speed at which the works had been carried on had been accelerated to a con siderable extent. and it was the intention of the Govern ment to still further increase it. THE SECRET TREATY. Sir G. JENKINSON asked the First Lord of the Treasury ' whether, in view of the proposed Secret Treaty between France and Prussia, the existence of which had been sub , stantially admittad by both those Powers,,and considering that the independence of the Kingdom of Belgium had been guaranteed by Great Britain, in conjunction' with other Powers, he would state for the information of the House whether, in the event of any attempt being made by either of the belligerent Powers to carry out the provisions of that proposed Secret Treaty, so as to interfere with the independence of the kingdom of Belgium, her Majesty's Government would take imme diate and effectual steps to enforce the Treaty of 1831, and whether they had taken any, and if so what steps, and with what result, to secure the co-operation of the other Powers who were parties( with Great Britain to the Treaty 'of 1831, and especially as to the twenty-fifth article of that treaty. Sir JoHN GRAY begged at the same time to put the question which he had privately given notice of, namely, whether or not it was true that the second article of the Treaty of 1839 declared the Treaty of 1831 not to be obli gatory upon the five contracting parties. (Hear, hear.) Mr. GLADSTONE : There is no doubt whatever that the treaty of 1831, to which the hon. baronet's question refers, has passed entirely out of existence. (Hear, hear.) The treaty of 1839 is that under which the relations of the contract ing powers as to Belgium arc at present regulated. With respect to the question of my hon. friend I think he will almost have anticipated my answer. (Cheers.) It would be impossible for me to state either the acts or the in tentions of the Government in a matter of this very grave character in answer to a question. (Cheers.) I stated to the House upon a former evening, and it has been stated in the other House with somewhat more fulness since, that the Government have taken into consideration the whole state of the case in relation to the circumstances growing out of the projected treaty, as it is called, and that they have adopted steps which appear to them best calculated to establish confidence and security. I am afraid I cannot at this moment add anything to that statement. (Cheers.) I hope it will serve to shew the House that the Government are sensible of the gravity of the case. We shall be most desirous of communicating information to the Houses of Parliament at the very earliest moment, and I have the hope that we shall be able to communicate such information in an authentic manner within a day or two, before the separation of Par- liament, . Subsequently, on the order for going in committee on the Appropriation Bill, Sir G. JENKINSON said he feared that the member for Kilkenny would create a very erroneous impreSsion both in that House and abroad if it were supposed that the statement were allowed to be made and uncontradieted that the Treaty of 1831 was entirely abrogated, and therefore that there was no duty incumbent upon this country to stand by that Treaty in defending Belgium. He feared it would do great injury. He wished to know whether he was in order in bringing the matter forward. The Speaker replied that the hon. baronet could only speak on matters connected with the bill. Sir GEORGE JENKINSON said he should be sorry to move an adjournment, as the the member for Kilkenny had sug gested to him, but the point raised was a most important one. A statement had been made in another place, and he had hoped that it would have been confirmed in that House. He trusted that it would not be allowed to go forth that they did not intend to defend Belgium. (Cries of " Order.") Mr. GLADSTONE : Perhaps I may just state that no such statement has been made. Certainly not by myself. Sir GEORGE JENKINSON : By the member for Kilkenny. (Loud cries of " Order." EXPORTATION OF HORSES. Sir HARRY VERNEY asked the First Lord of the Treasery whether, considering that the present large exportation of horses would raise the price of horses to ourselves beyond the usual amount, and that it may cause embarrassment to us in case it should become desirable to increase our cavalry, artillery, and transport corps, her Majesty's Government would take into their consideration the propriety of stopping that exportation. Mr. GLADSTONE, in reply, said that her Majesty's Government had no intention of interfering with the ex portation of horses. (Hear, hear.) They did not believe, except in a state of circumstances of the very gravest kind indeed, they would be justified in interfering. He could not help thinking that his hon. friend had to a certain extent been misled by the rumours which were abroad. He did not know what the total number of horses in this country was; but they certainly must be counted by mil lions. Since the Ist July, 1870, this great demand for horses had occurred, and up to the present time the total exportation of horses from the United Kingdom was 1,288. (Laughter.) CONSOLIDATED FUND (APPROPRIATION) BILL. On the order for going into committee on this bill Sir James Elphinstone condemned the state of the navy; but Mr. Childers replied, shewing that there was no foundation for the hon. baronet's statement. The bill passed through committee. THIRD READINGS. The Stamp Duties Bill, Stamp Duties Management Bill, Inland Revenue Bill, Repeal Bill, and Foreign En listment Bill were read a third time and passed. ECCLESIASTICAL TITLES ACT REPEAL BILL. This Bill passed through committee. OATHS OF ALLEGIANCE ON NATURALIZA TION BILL. The above Bill, the object of which was to remedy an omission in the Naturalization Bill, was read a second time, and went through Committee. STRATEGY OF THE CAMPAIGN. We believe the French will adopt an advance by Saar. bruck and Zweibrucken on Neunkirchen and Homburg. It is extremely unlikely that they will advance in force down the valley of the Moselle, where they would be liable to be attacked in flank, and driven into the river. Saarluis, a strong fortress, bars the next line. Then we come to the line which we have indicated for the left and right wings forcing the Saar with the left, and turning it with the right ; and afterwards there is no line available across the rugged frontier of the Pala tinate, till that which leads by Weissenburg on the fortress of Landau, which was never a probable line of advance, and is still less so now that the Crown Prince has seized Weissenburg. By this ex haustive process, then, in the same way as by the method of observation, we arrive at the conclusion that the French, if they advance, will advance by Saarbruck and Zweibrucken. But will the French advance ? There are not wanting many who believe that they are pur posely delaying, in order to exhaust the strength of Prussia. It is no secret that Prussia must suffer, and does suffer very severely, under a prolonged state of war. Her crops are not reaped for want of husbandmen ; her trades, her arts, her manufactures, stand still, while the tradesmen, the artists, the manufacturers are in the ranks of her army. Her troops have no shelter tents, as have the French, and it cannot fail to be that these men, called away, as many of them are, from the desk, the counting-house, and the factory, are less able to bear exposure than the French soldiers. Thus it may be that the Emperor, balancing the advantages of striking the first blow against the advan tages of prolonging Prussia's difficulty, has decided in favour of the latter. And it may be that Prussia, aware of her own weakness, and seeing through this policy, has hastened her troops from their valuable stragetic defensive position on the Rhine to her frontier, in order to anticipate the Emperor in the attack.—Standard. WAR NOTES. ADVICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.—The correspon dent of one of your London contemporaries got himself into trouble through his own gross imprudence and in temperance of language at n public table. He was de nounced to the Grand Prevot, General de St. Sauveur, by four French journalists.' Hawks do not gene rally peck out hawks' eyes, and the conduct of the French newspaper gentlemen in thus betraying a col league seems, at the first blush, of the shabbiest nature ; but the incriminated journalist had certainly done his ut most to court denunciation. He had already been twice arrested for foolish conduct and more foolish talk ; and this time it might have gone hard with him. Several of his colleagues waited on the Marshal-General and at their intercession General St. Sauveur consented to his being released, on condition that he should quit Metz by the evening's train ; but later in the day, the circum s t ances o f th e case h av i ng b een re ported to the Emperar, Napoleon 111. wisely, generously, and graciously ordered him to be immediately and uncon ditionally set atliberty. The gentleman in the Prison Mili taire had taken care, to days after his arrest, to write a can did statement of his case to the,British Ambassador in Paris, and, by return of post, he received a reply from Lord Lyons, stating that the entire circumstances would at once be laid, and laid strongly, before the French Government. The admirable promptitude displayed by Lord Lyons may have had some influence in determining the Emperor to clemency ; once for all, I must state that, as a rule, it has been and will be their own fault if newspaper correspondents get into trouble with the authorities. I have been "interviewed" over and over agaitt by gendarmes, and bidden to produce my " papers," and give an account of them ; but, having complied with these requirements, I have not been in any way molested. The three golden rules to observe just now are—first, to keep your eyes open ; next, to re frain from treating your soldiers to drink and asking them silly questions ; and, finally, if you cannot speak any French save that of Stratford-atte-Bowe, to hold your tongue altogether.—Telegraph Correspondent at Met:. IN THE DARK.—The letter of the Times corres pondent from the Prussian head-quarters shows seriously the great difficulty experienced in getting news from the Prussian side :—All day and all night we jogged on, and all next day, passing tnrough Brunswick, Hanover, Minden, and Hamm, till at 8.30 we reached Cologne. There a copy of the Times of Monday told us more than we hitherto knew of the position of the army and of the chiefs. There is no news here to be learnt front the frontier. The heat is very great, early as it is in the day. Bingen is alive with soldiers, commissariat waggons, and all the moving apparatus of war, and the Vic toria Hotel is like a barrack, The Rhine serves DfA N FINANCE. On the motion that the Speaker leave the chair, in order that the House might go into committee on East India Revenue accounts, Mr. FAWCETT moved as an amendment That this House regrets that the Indian Budget is introduced at so late a period of the session, and is of opinion, considering the. present position of Indian finance, that it would be expedient to appoint a select committee early next session to inquire into the adminis tration of the finances of India." The hon. member for Brighton supported his motion in a speech of considerable length, and he attacked the Indian financial policy most savagely. When he made a " hit " two or three Indians, whose dusky forms were very conspicuous in the gallery of the clock, seemed immensely gratified, and smiled at each other very significantly. Mr. Fawcett • spoke of the great confusion of the Indian accounts. Au expected surplus became a heavy deficiency, and a heavy deficiency suddenly grew into a considerable sur plus. The hon. member was very severe on the way in which the Duke of Edinburgh's expenses to India were paid. What, he asked, would be thought if an Indian prince visited this country, and after being entertained munificently by the nobles, in return for their hospitality made them presents which it was afterwards discovered the country had to pay for, toge ther with a portion of the prince's retinue. The amount might be small, but the smallness was an illustration of the melancholy meanness of the transaction. Mr. W. FOWLER seconded the motion, but took excep tion to the manner in which Mr. Fawcett had attacked the Government, as if they alone were responsible for the state of affairs complained of. The system had been inherited by the Government with all its difficulties. The hon. member considered the imposition of a war-tax and a salt-tax upon the people of India for public works was perfectly unjustifiable. Mr. GLADSTONE thought that the course which had been pursued by the two speakers was a reversion of the practice of the House. The discussion of the questions of Indian Finance should have been reserved until the statement had been officially made. He admitted that the subjects which had been mentioned were most im portant, and well deserved attention. The right hon. gentleman denied that the Indian Budget, although introduced so late, was passed over lightly. Nevertheless, lie wished they could introduce the statement at a more appropriate time. His ex perience told him that so long as domestic legisla tion was active it would be impossible to discuss the ques tion of Indian finance before a late period of the session. If it were desirable to discuss the subject when there was a large attendance of members and the mind of Parlia ment was not fully engaged, the first month of the session united these two necessary conditions.—The right hon. gentleman said he did not, however, object to the prin ciple of the motion of the hon. member for Brighton. Mr. Fawcett, after some remarks from Colonel Sykes, withdrew his motion, and the House went into com mittee. Mr. GRANT DUFF proceeded to make his financial state ment to a very thin House, and not having concluded at ten minutes to seven, according to the forms of the House, progress was reported, and shortly after the sitting was suspended. At nine o'clock the House re-assembled, and the Under Secretary for India resumed his speech on a few words he said the story he had to tell was this : Deficit in 1867-68, deficit in 1868-69, - small surplus or equilibrium in 1869-70, and an equilibrium in 1870-71. This was not a brilliant state of affairs, but he believed that in the near future there would be very great im provement. The necessity of a radical change in many respects had been impressed upon the Govern ment in India," not merely by despatches and discussions in that House, but by the discovery sud denly made by themselves, and the calculation which they sent in 1869 to the Secretary of State was unmistakeably erroneous. The result of that discovery was a feeling which evidently took hold,of the Government of India, that the state of things which had declared itself was un fortunate and injurious to the whole Government. The discussion on the budget was continued until half past one, when the House resumed. The other orders were disposed of, and the House adjourned at five minutes to two. OUR COTEMPORARIES—This Morning, THE BATTLE OF WEISSENBURG. The Daily News considers the nature of the country on the French side of Weissenburg, and the position of the French fortified posts, do not favour the opinion that the Crown Prince thinks of making the scene of his first battle the base of his next operations. The French communications lie opposite the other extre mity, or right, of the German line, and even if Phals burg were not before him at Weissenburg, and Stras burg on the flank of his supposed line of march, he would be foolish to cast himself loose from his communi cations to lead his men by the longest way round the French army. But if it be true that Prince Frederick Charles is at Treves preparing to attack the French left between Metz and Thionville, then one of the reasons for this attack, which must convince the French Commander that he has a reso lute antagonist on his right, is apparent. The Crown Prince will probably, in that case, have effected a most serviceable diversion. Henceforth we may look for an exchange of really hard blows. The French Em peror cannot afford under present circumstances to consult merely military interests in the movements he orders. The moral effect of this defeat at Weissen burg must be wiped out at whatever price it may be neces sary to pay. It is understood that Marshal MacMahon was just returning from a long and serious conference with the Emperor when this unexpected blow was struck, having probably carried away with him a plan of the campaign. Whether this untoward event will in terfere with that plan or not, all we know of the character of the French army bids us look for a serious attempt to avenge this defeat. ENGLAND AND BELGIUM. The Telegraph remarks that the language of the Treaty of 1831, by which the new kingdom was established, is very instructive. Great Britain, Austria, France, Prussia, and Russia, agree that the enumerated provinces shall forma State "independent and perpetually neutral ;" and by the 25th Article the contracting parties " guarantee to his Majesty the King of the Belgians the execution of all these articles preceeding." This document was not executed by Holland ; but eight years later the King of Holland was induced to sign other trea ties with the Great Powers, and with Belgium, by which the independence of that kingdom was declared anew. Certain articles were drawn up setting forth its boun daries, the share of public debt which it was to bear, and similar arrangements ; and then follows an article so im portant that we give the English version of it in full:— " Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, his Majesty the Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, his Majesty the King of the French, his Majesty the King of Prussia, and his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, declare that the articles mentioned in the preceding article are con sidered as having the same force and validity as If they were textually inserted in the present Act, and that they are thus placed under the guarantee of their said Majesties." England has thus deliberately, by two successive solemn acts, first in 1831 and subsequently in 1839, guaranteed the independence and neutrality of Belgium ; and if she were now to draw back from the undertaking, we might for the future consign all treaties to the waste-paper basket as soon as they are executed. THE ADVANCE OF THE GERMANS. The Times calls attention to a general advance of the Germans from their second line on the Rhine to their more advanced line between the Saar and the Lauter. Prince Frederich Charles came from Cologne across the Eifel Mountains,and from Coblentz up the Moselle toTreves and Saarlouis. The Crown Prince moved onwards from Ras tadt and Mannheim, across the Rhine to Germersheim and Landau ; while the King, or General Steinmetz under his orders, brought forward the centre by Kaiser lantern and Birkenfeld to Saarbruck. The German tactics, so far as we can perceive, aim at enveloping the French army before Metz in the coils, as it were, of the three great German armies. It is the whole effective strength of - Germany attempting a close wrestling match with the whole effective strength of France. The action which seems so imminent, which has, indeed, already begun, and is now, in all probability, in progress, has been medi tated and matured for several days. it may take more than one day to bring it to a partial decision on every point on which it is fought, and to a general and final decision on the main point, which, in the event of the Germans being successful, ought to be before Metz. But a great battle such as this must needs he a great drama with a variety of episodes. It will have to be fought all along the line from Treves to Lauterburg—a line of 100 or 110 miles in length. THE HEALTH OF VISCOUNT MIDDLETON•—The Very Rev. Viscount Middleton, remains in a very pre carious condition at his seat Peper-Harrow, Surrey. I. 7 sterdsy no hopes were entertained of his recovery. Oft LOO to Sour each o 15) en of 1 was lead, lgth ; Two ite, Ils) / ce) 2 nt) a lc) 1 at) 2 7) 3 ceus, t) (t)