The Sun. — London, England, 1871-01-21 00:00:00

jetted Fenn V 7 him C. M. stator Lg that years. which Ls, the idle of ce did in the lid not 3e how )ss-box y did. I in the ►e slip, ►e Rev. s taken sd that if such ►able of All pro- m Mr. her the people, h, was 7orlesse at once rent on or had ,ald the wished , stated ey had igh the sign it. s to the the law is not a 111. The onus of Lded the cing the to shew the will They ) simply t parish, memory. ranee for it, with will, as nner the onus ited with this case, indidate rs to seek " eor 9 Zeitung . Servais, ice to the is dated hionvil they in- Bismarck mand for a the dis- the con ►ccredited iterests of itself ex- Bill 1] General American. i g ht hand war. is, as the nce by his ial carrias resting iii a by the A but the bullet that in,: er the res r, hand, an c i le fact"— Co itration Ga zette 4 - 3 la ws vain, , and bi cted c 00,,, delicatt. decto fl nonc e it dacabin L4TEST INTELLIGENCE. SUN OFFICE; 8 A.M. TH E WAR. GREAT SORTIE FROM PARIS • VERSAILLES, January 19 (9.5 a.m.). A great sortie was made to-day from Paris against the crown Prince's Army, with large muse , of troops. The attack was against Malmaison, Moutretout, and St. Cloud, with a view to get to Versailles and cut the commuications. The attempt was defeated, but the French are still outside Fort Valerien, on the plateau, in strong force, and the action may be renewed to morrow. BERLIN, January 20. The following telegrams have been receive] here to-day:— "THE EALPICROR TO THE EAIPILRS% VERSAILLES, January 19. "I have just returned Irom a sortie fight carried on by the French under cover of a heavy can nonade. "It led to no results." "VERSAILLES, January 19, (Evening.) " There was a sortie to-day in considerable force from Mont Valerien against the position of the sth Army Corps. "It was repulsed. " The engagement lasted from H a.m. until dark ness set in. " Our loss, so far as has yet been ascertained, was inconsiderable. "The siege artillery uninterruptedly continued the bombardment with good effect." " January 20. "The sortie of yesterday wa3 in great force, but without result. The enemy, however, is still outside Paris, on the plateau of Mont Valerien, and certainly will renew his attack to-day." SAXON SUCCESSES. LE VERT GALANT, January 20. Yesterday the 3rd Company of the Saxon Leib Grenadiers, commanded by Captain Von Friesen, and the 10th Company of the Saxon 2nd Grenadiers, commanded by Lieutenant Von Westhof, surrounded and took by surprise Groslay Farm, on the other side of the Forest of Bondy. Five officers and 19:2 men of the 114th French Regiment were made prisoners. PREPARING FOR FRENCH PRISONERS. BERLIN, January 20, (5.30 p.m.) _ . Preparations are making in several towns and fortresses for the reception of prisoners from Paris. Several railway companies have stopped the goods traffic, and are collecting vans for the transport of these prisoners. . GREAT BATTLE BEFORE ST. QUENTIN. DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH. BERLIN, January 22. The following telegrams have been recaived here to-day. " ROYAL HEADQUARTERS, VERSAILLES, January 20. " The Emperor telegraphs as follows to the Empress : "General von Goebel), at St. Quentin, yesterday again beat the enemy, Trove him into the town, and will to-clay pursue him. Thus, all the three armies for the relief of Paris are beaten. "General Werder has commenced the pursuit of General Bourbaki's army with successful engage ments. "The Ist krmy yesterday drove the advanced Divisions of the Army of the North from Beauvais to St. Quentin. "In this affair the enemy lost one gun and 500 unwounded prisoners. " General von Goeben attacked the Army of the North to-day in its position before St. Quentin. " After a battle which lasted seven hours he drove itout of all its positions, and, after an obstinate en gagement, drove it into St. Quentin. " Up to the present two guns have been capturel under fire, and 4,000 unwounded prisoners have been taken. " Divisions of the 2nd Army occupied Tours to day, meeting with no resistance. " The bombartment of Longwy has commenced to -day ." —Times 7 elegranz. The following telegrams come through Reuter's kgeney:— (FRENCH ACCOUNT.) OAMBRAI, January 18. On his march from Fins to St. Quentin General l'aidherbe encountered part of General von Goeben's 4 , 11 ny, but the Germans being outnumbered fell °ack, leaving behind a few dead, wounded, and pri soners. In St. Quentin 65 prisoners were captured by the French. BOURBAKI'S REPORT. The accounts of Bourbaki's attack and repulse .v ary considerably. The following is his own account received at Bordeaux, 18th : "I ordered to-day a general attack on the e nemy from Montbeliard to Montvaudois, en deavouring at the same time to cross the Lisaine at Liettencourt, Bussere, and Hericourt, and to ca pture St. Valhert. I also gave orders that the left wing should try to turn the enemy in order t ° facilitate the operation, but the troops which w ere destined to make this movement were threat end by an a tt ac k on th e i r fl an k s , an d they were Iged to maintain their positions. We had to con :" against considerable forces of the enemy, su pported by formidable artillery, and reinforced f,.- i' oll l all s id es . Th e enemy , i n consequence o f these alre urahle conditions, the strength of the position h 'ecupied, and the entrenchments he had erected, ;vas able to r es i s t all o u r eff or ts, but suffered serious Lea ses. lath attack we made on 15th wasreneweci on the 4' l ' and 17th, and if it has not produced the desired effect s We expected therefrom, in spite of the courage : i rayed by the troops, it has inspired our enemy v h respect, and he has deemed it prudent to remain on the defensive. fO " The weather is so bad that it renders difficult any tw ,, ;id m ovement. have decided to return to-morrow to the positions we occupied before the battle." THE SIEGE OF LONGWY. LIEGE, January 20. o; h e Journal de Liege contains a despatch from Lo on, dated yest er d a y, commun i ca ti ng a re p or t that th. lBl-7 3r ie in flames, and adding that fog prevents Is r umour from b e i ng verified. FIGHTING IN THE EAST. t h e r y es ha ve occ u rr e d i n the E a st, and 'e Prea ch scouts have inflicted severe losses on the et n illa ns• Some Francs-Tireurs, under Colonel ct e : traB captured t wo a d vance d posts , an d d rove th e 4naan army back to Monthauton. TAE GERMANS ON THE LOIRE. ta,,, ews from N evers s t ates th a t f rom 4,000 t o 5,000 xo—aaanB attacked Avallon, and bombarded the town 411 ilotir. 20 houses were damaged, and several warehouses and private houses were plundered by the Germans, who subsequently abandoned Avallon, going eastward. THE NORTH GERMAN LOAN. BERLIN, January 20. The subscription list for the remainder of the 50 millions of thalers of the North German Loan will be opened on the 26th and 27th inst. here and in London. The prico of issue will be 94 the same price as for the first portion of the loan. THE EXPORT OF ARMS FROM THE UNITED STATES. BERLIN, January 20 (2 p.m.) The NOrddeutsche Zeitung of to-day states, with regard to the export of arms from the United States, that, according to section 13 of the Treaty concluded between Prussia and America on the 11th of July, 1799, Prussian men-of-war are not allowed to capture American vessels carrying contraband of was to France. They may, however, lay an em bargo on it, and prevent them from continuing their voyage while war is being carried on, or they may take possession of the contraband of war after giving a bond for future payment and then release the vessels. The North German Gazette presumes that the Prussian Navy will act accordingly. PRUSSIA AND HUNGARY. A telegram from Pesth states that the Recruit ing Bill has been passed through the Lower House. Herr George Shatimirowitz put the follow ing questions to the President of Minis ters :-1. Whether any and what influ ence the Hungarian Government had exercised upon the recent Austro-Prussian rapprochement, and what would be its real bearing? 2. Whether the Hungarian Government intended, as early as possible, to meet the dangers that would thus be incurred by frustrating this alliance, which must neces sarily involve a development of German influ ence over Hungary and her neighbouring people ? 3. Whether the Government, it this rapprochenzem cannot be avoided, would take such steps so that no injury should result therefrom to the French people in their fight for liberty, and that no unworthy pres sure should be exercised by Hungary on behalf of Prussia upon the issue of the war ? PRUSSIA AND THE CONFERENCE. BERLIN, January 20 (6 p m.) The New Prussian (Cross) Gazette of this evening corrects the assertion of some newspapers, according to which Count Bernstorff would withdraw from the Conference if the representative of France, in case of peace negotiations being debated, should have no powers to agree to a cession of territory. The Gazette announces that Count Bernstorff would not in any way take part in a Conference at which the Prusso-French question should be mooted. The New Prussian (Cross) Gazette and the North German Gazette confirm the statement that Count Bernstorff has received instructions at once to with draw from the Conference in case the French ques tion should be entered upon. SPAIN. The Spanish Government has ordered two iron clad frigates to proceed from Cadiz to Vigo, to en force the observance of neutrality at that port, and to prevent any collision between the Prussian war vessel Princess Augusta and the French ship IL rmione. The Gazette publishes a decree ordering the issue of Treasury Bonds to the amount of 400 millions of reals. INDIA. CALCUTTA (via Teheran), Jan. 20 (10.35 a.m.) Yakoob Khan, in attempting to cross the Persian territory to Herat, was driven back by the Persian authorities. He then wrote to his father, ~ s king forgiveness, which was granted. Yakoob is believed to be on his way to Cabul.—limes. THE DUKE OF MECKLENBURG'S ADVANCE. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAM.) The reported commencement of the march of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg's army upon Rennis, by way of Mayenne, has caused great excitement among the inhabitants of that part of France ; and the steamer Wonder, from St. Malo to Jersey, brought over between fifty and sixty - persons who had evi dently made a most hurried flight. The number of passengers arriving in Jersey from St. Malo and Granville had been merely nominal till to-day. SEIZURE OF ARMS AT VIENNA. (REUTERS EXPRESS.) VIENNA, January 15. Yesterday morning at eleven a.m. a Commissary of Police, accompanied by an officer of the staff, made their appearance at the Western Railway Station, and demanded of the officials to see the chests, 5 0 0 in number, which had arrived from Steyr, and contained, according to the invoice, portions of machinery. The two gentlemen were conducted to the railway station at Penzing, where the chests were stowed. They had been sent from the arms factory at Steyr, and received from an Englishman, to be forwarded to the railway station at Hetzendorf, thence to be sent on to Italy. The commissary had the chests opened, and it was then discovered that they contained Chasse pots fully made. They were confiscated to the number of 13,000. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) PLYMOUTH SCHOOL BOARD. There are twenty-three candidates for the thirteen seats at the Plymouth School Board, but it is expected as the result of meetings held on the subject last night that such arrangements will be effected as will prevent a contest taking place. THE BATH SCHOOL BOARD. Twenty candidates have been nominated for the eleven seats on the Bath School Board—ten Churchmen, and ten Dissenters. The former are the Revs. Messrs. Kemble Bernard, and Douglas, and Messrs. Hunt, Gibbs, Morris, Lister, Neville, Chaffin, and King. The Nonconformists are the Revs. Messrs. Dyer and Pitt, Independents ; the Rev. Mr. Wassail, Baptist ; the Rev. Mr. Sargent and Miss Shum, Wesleyans ; Messrs. Murch and Edwards, Unitarians; Dr. Sweeney, Roman Catholic; Mr. Taylor, Moravian ; and Miss Ashworth, Friend. THE PILCHARD SEASON. The returns of cured pilchards exported from Cornwall to Genoa, Leghorn, Naples, Venice, and other Italian ports during the past season are now nearly complete, only twelve hogsheads remaining to be shipped. The total export has amounted to 6,046 hogsheads, weighing about twelve hundred and eighty tons, and purchased at an average price of £4 per hogshead free on board. The highest price has been ninety shillings, the lowest fifty-five shillings, per hogshead. Such a high average price has not been realised for many years, even in bad .seasons. Twenty-five hundred hogsheads have gone to Genoa, five Inindred to Leghorn, fifteen hundred to Naples, and eleven hundred to Venice. The average export for the last twenty years has been fifteen thousand four hundred and thirty hogsheads, vary ing from twenty-six thousand seven hundred hogsheads in 1851 to three thousand one hundred in 1859. LOSS OF A VESSEL AND ALL HANDS. Information has been received at Torquay of the total loss of the brigantine Duchess of Beaufort, with all hands. The frame of a chest of drawers, with one drawer contain ing a Bible, hymn-book, and papers, has been picked up off the Dorset coast. The Duchess of Beaufort belonged to Messrs. Whiteway and Bull of Torquay, for which port she was bound from Newcastle. She was manned by Captain Farleigh and six men. OUTRAGE IN IRELAND. On Wednesday night a farmer named Davis, residing near Foxford, County Mayo, was shot at through his bed room window after he had retired to rest. A number of slugs lodged in his head, and he lies in a very critical state. His wife was afraid to call in assistance until the following morning, thinking that the perpetrators of the outrage might effect an entrance into the house. Davis is the bailiff of an estate in the neighbourhood. 1 1 11 E SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1871. THE BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS. The special correspondent of the Daily News at the headquarters of the Crown Prince of Saxony forwards the following by special despatch : LE VERT GALANT, January 17, The chief tiring to-day was on the east, from the two batteries between Pont Iblon and Dugny, although all the others were moderately active. On the way here 1 saw one shot firedfrom Drancy, and several from La Bois siere. The guns in the new batteries, already vaguely referred to, are in position. The complement of ammu nition is being rapidly filled up, and on the 19th it is hoped that everything will be in full work. A trivial attack was made last night on the German outpost in the front of Rainey. The French came from Bondy, which they must have occupied for the occasion, as it is ordinarily deserted. At times to-day there were symptoms that a sortie was meditated in the direction of Avron, for which the Germans are ready. There is no truth in the statement that the Germans are sapping up towards Rosny and Nogent. The weather is fine, but the roads are bad. MARGENCY, January 19, (Morning.) During yesterday the bombardment on the south-east and north-eastern fronts continued with unabated, if not increased,vigour. Drancy was wholly silent to-day ; Bois siere fired two or three shots; Aubervilliers was moderately active ; the other forts were quite passive. You are not to expect till the day after to-morrow any announcement as to the northern complement of the bombarding circle. The expectation of a sortie in front of Rainey had ceased. Prince George of Saxony spent the night here with his elder brother on his way from Versailles, and proceeds this forenoon to Le - Vert Galant, where General Narhof commanded during his short absence. There has been unusually heavy musketry firing yester day and during the night in the neighbourhood of Argen teuile ; but, so far as I have learned, the St. Denis forts have been quiet. There were great rejoicings and copious libations of champagne all round the . front yesterday in honour of the ceremony at Versailles. Several fires wore observable inside Paris last night. WRECK OF A STEAMER, The steamer City of Aberdeen, from London, went on the rocks at Portletheii, about eight miles south of Aber deen between 12 and 1 o'clock on Friday morning. A thick fog prevailed at the time, but the sea was not rough. The passengers and crew were all saved, and the steamer was not much damaged, but having gone ashore at high water, there is little hope of getting her off again. She is a fine new vessel. The official inquiry at Liverpool into the loss of the brig Mary, which struck on Lundy Island in December last, while on a voyage from Cardiff to Bordeaux, termi nated on Thursday. The court considered the master, (John Day) to have been in default, and suspended hi certificate for three months. THE LATE EXTRAORDINARY JEWEL ROBBERY. On the 12th inst., a daring robbery of costly diamonds and jewels was effected at 4, Upper Berkeley-street, Portman-square. An assistant from Messrs. London and Ryder's went to the above address with £2,500 worth of diamond ornaments, to show them to a lady and gentle- The assistant was rendered parthlly insensible man. by chloroform, bound with leathern straps, and thrown on a sofa. When he recovered, the lady and gentleman had left, and some of the jewellery and diamonds were missing. On Tuesday night, Martha Tarpey, a girlish-looking woman, was brought up at the Leamington Town Hall, charged with having, in con. junction with her husband, committed the robbery. They had lodged at Windsor Villa, Campion-terrace, since last June, and are well known among the Leamington tradesmen. Whilst under examination she appeared greatly distressed, and in a very nervous and excited state. Mr. James Unitt Parkes, assistant to Messrs. London and Ryder, described how the robbery of the jewels was effected, as already published, and said they consisted of two diamond collette necklaces of large single stones, one opal and diamond cluster pendant, one diamond shell centre pendant, and three diamond rings. Their value was 22,500. He positively identified the prisoner as the woman who assisted the man to commit the robbery, and had picked her out from five or six others at the police-station. Mr. Superintendent Lund deposed that, from an advertisement which had appeared, and other in formation, he had for several days kept a watch on Windsor Villa, where the prisoner and her husband had been residing since last June. He went to the house shortly after ten o'clock the previous night, and found her in the front room, reading a letter. He told her who he was, and that he wanted to speak to her, when she said, " How dare you come into the house of a lady ? I request you will leave the room immediately." The prisoner began reading the letter, the envelope of which lay on the table, and bore the Ostend post-mark. He saw her countenance change, and snatched at the letter, which he obtained, but it was torn into fragments. He had, however, been able to decipher it. He produced to her a letter, addressed " Mr. T. Thornton, Poste Restrant, Ostend, Belgium," when she said, " Yes, that onght to be posted ; it is a letter for my husband, under cover to a friend at Ostend." She then began to cry, and he told her he should have to take her into custody on the present charge, and cautioned her in the usual way. She then exclaimed, " Oh, my God ! what will become of my baby ? • Where is my husband ? Shall I ever see him again ? I do not care about being punished, so long as my husband is not, for he is not strong enough to bear it, as I am." He then read a letter to her, which had arrived from her husband from Antwerp by the mid-day post on Thursday. She then said, " Mind, you, I am alone to blame in this transaction ; my husband would not have done such a thing if I had not tempted him to do it."—The three letters referred to in the evidence of Mr. Lund were also put in and read. The first was dated Ostend, Tuesday, eleven a.m., and the most important parts were as follow : —" The boat did not leave Dover until about four this morning. This will, I sun afraid, delay me a day. We had ultimately a good passage. . . . I start for Ghent at 12.5, hence Antwerp, and will write you as soon as ever I touch the first proceeds, &c. The more I think about the notes the less I fear them. Even if they think of them, I believe now they can never trace them from their first source. Keep up your spirits, my own darling, and I shall return, certainly as soon possible. . . . . They describe your dress in the Daily News as light brown, with green trimmings,' so clearly that they have little recollection of us." It concluded, "your ever fond Michael." The last communication from her husband was dated " Antwerp, Wednesday, 2 p.m.," and in it he said :—" My progress from Ostend was thus—To Ghent two hours, but could not dispose of anything, therefore came on I have been walking about since morning., but could not do anything. I asked for the £2OO parcel, £l6O at one place, but they simply laughed at me. Finally, I have decided to go to Rotterdam to-morrow morning at 7.35. I will try there then, and if I cannot do anything will come home at once. My money being nearly gone I was obliged to dispose of a single one of the £2OO lot. I asked £6 for it, which I thought about the market value ; but, after some bargaining, sold it for 85f., about £3 Bs. They said it was a good one, but light, only one grain ; but, generally speaking, this is not the place to get anything done, there are so few jewellers. If I succeed in Rotterdam in time for post I will send you something if possible. They tell me, on account of the war, there is little demand for diamonds, and that they have depreciated much. If I succeed at Rotterdam I shall be able to get back by Saturday ; but I fear not before. I intend to get a small pair of scales, and see what I can make out with regard to their value. One fact is clear—it will be more difficult to get rid of them than we thought." This letter, too, concluded with ex pressions of endearment, and was signed "Michael.', The prisoner was then remandod to Marylebone Police court, where she was formally examined yesterday, but nothing of importance additional to the above was elicited. Superintendent Williamson handed in the depositions of the Leamington witnesses, and having expressed a confi dent hope that the man would be in custody in the course of a day or two, asked for a remand for a week, which was at once granted. The Convocation of Canterbury, wltich stands adjourned to Friday, the 10th of February, will not meet for business till Tuesday, the 14th of February. The clerical journals at Rome calculate that the pontificate of Pius IX. has alrerdy in its length surpassed that of all his predecessors excepting St. Peter himself. CRYSTAL PALACE.—One Shilling Day.—Friday, January 20, 1871.—The admissions by season tickets were 1,826 ; ditto on payment, 2,010 ; total visitors, 3.836. The Dowager Marchioness of Lothian has, says the British Medical Journal, been under training recently at one of the metropolitan hospitals as a nurse, and pro poses, it is stated, to devote herself to works of charity. CATTLE DISEASE.—A very alarming outbreak of the foot and mouth disease has occurred this week in Mr. Superintendent Young's division of Buckrose, East Riding. On one wold farm near Flixton no fewer than twenty-three straw yard beasts, all heifers, have taken the disease. In Kellington, also, the cows are attacked, there being three in one place. During the late storm the disease had disappeared. Messrs. Turquand and Harding, the liquidators of Overend, Gurney, and Co. (Limited), have issued a report shewing that the indebtedness has now been reduced to £162,504. The assets and securities still to be realised represent a sum of £599,689, but there is no possibility of arriving at a trustworthy estimate of the ultimate result, The total amount paid by the contributories in respect of three calls has been £2,042,061. FUNERAL OF Mn. PAUL BEDFORD.—The remains of the late Mr. Paul Bedford were on Thursday interred in the family grave at Norwood Cemetery. The hearse was followed bylour mourning coaches, the first of which was occupied by Miss Bedford, Mr: PauL Bedford, jun., Mr. Charles Bedford, and Mrs. Wright ; whilst the second held the representatives of the Dramatic Fund, Mr. Benjamin Webster, Mr. Bennett, Mr. George Bel more, and Mr. Donald King. Captain Bedford, the Rev. Dr. Horace Roberts, Dr. Canton, Mr. Billington, and Mr. Toole followed in the third and fourth coaches. A large number of the friends of the veteran comedian and members of the dramatic profession had assembled at the cemetery to pay the last tribute of respect to his memory. LORD CAIRNS ON WAR.—Lord Cairns presided on Thursday at the annual festival of the Warehousemen and Clerks' Schools. In proposing the toast of " The Army, Navy, and Volunteers," the noble and learned lord observed that the largest aggregation of national wealth, without due protection, must indeed be little or nothing more than baits to the ambitious and covetous. He added : I feel a great deal of confidence when I say that I do not believe from one end of the country to the other there is a single man who does not detest war. I don't believe people in this country ever hated war more than at the present moment when we are witnessing with horror and regret the centinuance of a war devastating the fairest fields of the Continent, and reducing to nothing the efforts of that civilisation on which we have so much prided our selves. At the same time, gentlemen, there is an old proverb that the best way to maintain peace is to be pre pared for war if it should arise. I greatly mistake the temper of this nation if I am not right in saying that they do not more detest war than they are determined that so far as in them lies they will take the necessary steps to be prepared for war, in case war should be our fate, GOSSIP AMONG THE BESIEGERS. An occasional correspondent of the Standard, thus writes from Versailles, January 16 :—The latest on dit is that Jules Favre has accepted the " sauf conduit". offered him by Bismarck, and has also asked permission for his two daughters and son-in-law to be allowed to accompany him, has a more important business in Versailles than in London. If the . Neutral Powers really wish for peaee, now is the time to strike, for the iron policy of the Federal Chancellor is never likely to be more malleable than at present. The French, though their words are hopeful, in their hearts despair. Even Chanzy must have lost all hope now that his entrenched camp at Conlie has fallen into the hands of the Prussians, who have inflicted another disaster on that portion of the Army of the Loire which retreated on Laval. Whatever the fate of Franca may be, that of the French Republic is doomed. What, after all, has resulted from the bombastic effusions and professions of Gambetta and his colleagues? Where are the strong young saplings that were wont to spring at his magic voice from the long-buried root of Republicanism ? Let any impartial observer of the late battle-field say who have really stayed the tide of invasion —gentlemen with the blue hood of old France flowing in their veins, rem nants of the regiments which formed the standing army, and sailors and marines of the late Imperial navy, commanded by Generals, Legitimists, Orleanists, or Im perialists ? It is a mistake to think that because I ssy has not been occupied by the Prussians it is notibsilenced. The approaches to all the forts around Paris are undermined, and it is not likely that the besiegers will attempt to storm Issy or any of the outlying defences of Parisi. They will, in all probability, • content themselves with advancing their parallels, until they can reach all parts of the city with their guns. The . damage already done to Paris may be inconsiderable, but the ultimate result must be obvious to all: The question is—is the glory of holding out a week, even a month longer, worth the ultimate misery it must entail? There is but little doubt that both besieged and besiegers are kept well-informed of what is going on in the ranks of the enemy. Spies who have known the environs of Paris from their childhood can now carry on their nefarious traffic almost with impunity. It has been already proved that men are not wanting among the defenders of the capital who are willing to sell the parole and countersign for a five-franc piece; while among the besiegers the Bavarians and others, not so strictly disciplined as the soldiers of Prussia, are apt during these cold nights to foregather round a fire and. forget their duties in the glass they love. When peace is concluded between France and Prussia another conflict will commence, and, although carried out on paper, it will probably be pro tracted with firing, and England, to whom walking-sticks are of as much use as weapons of' war, will probably sac rifice her taxpayers for the benefit of other nations—the. battle of the guns.. For and against every gun and rifle a hundred instances deducible from the present war will be forthcoming, not one of which should be relied upon as affording satisfactory data. The fact is, the merits of a firearm rest more in the man than in the weapon itself. For its wounding properties the Prussians have the greatest respect for the &Lidera, but I believe they, as a rule, consider that the " Wendels," used by the Bavarians, has less defects than any other weapon of the merits of which they have had an opportunity of judging. THE FOREIGNERS IN PARIS.-NOTE COUNT BISMARCK. BERLIN, January 20 (10 p.m.) On the 17th inst. Count Bismarck addressed a despatch to Dr. Kern, the Swiss Minister in Paris, in answer to a letter addressed to Count Bismarck, under date of the 13th inst., and signed by the American and Swiss Ministers and Representatives of other foreign States. These diplomatists asked that their com patriots should now be allowed to leave Paris. Count Bismarck replies that this claim is not well founded, from the point of view of international law. He reminds the Foreign Ministers of the Prussian Notes of the 26th of September and 4th of October, pointing out the danger of remaining in Paris, and says that neither law nor custom obliges a beleaguering force to give notice of operations which it intends carrying out. People ought to have prepared to see Paris bombarded, if it prolonged its resistance, and no right or justifiable pretext can be urged against the course the Germans have pursued. For months the neutrals in Paris had the option of leaving the city, and certAinly as far as the German commanders are concerned, there is no foundation for the statement contained in the letter of the Foreign Ministers of the 13th, that neutrals had been pre vented escaping from the dangers of the siege through the obstacles placed in their way by the belli gerent parties. The facilities allowed to the members of the Diplomatic Body will be con tinued as an act of international courtesy, although even this is difficult, and disturbs the operations of the German army ; but there is now only one way in which their numerous compatriots can be released -fr)m the dangers connected with the siege, and that is the capitu lation of Paris. Count Bismarck, in conclusion, observes that, of course, buildings in which there are women, children, and invalids are not intentionally fired at, but that from the cmstruction of the fortress, and the great distance of the German batteries, the damage which is accidentally inflicted cannot be avoided--Reuter's Tele gram. THE WORKING CLASSES AND THE WAR.—On Thursday evening a meeting of the Workmen's National Peace Association was held at the Bell Inn, Old Bailey, for the purpose of considering what course shall be recom mended by the association to the working classes to take in reference to the agitation now going onamong certain political parties, which, in the opinion of this association, is likely to involve this country in foreign difficulties. The chair was taken by Mr. Galbraith. Mr. Cremer said there had been several large meetings in the provinces, namely, at Bolton, Pres ton, and other places--at which resolutions against any war policy had been carried by large majorities. A lo ng discussion ensued as to the best way of counteracting the war advocacy now going on. On the motion of Mr. Lucraft, it was resolved to • call a public meeting at the Freemasons' Hall, after the opening of Parliament namely, the 14th of February —to protest against that movement. It was then resolved that a deputation of three— namely, Messrs. S tainsby, Pratt, and Cremer—be asked to represent this asso ciation at the peace meeting at the Lambeth Baths. On the motion of Mr. P. Dean, seconded by Mr. Babbs, it was resolved,—" That this council, feeling assured that the views of the working classes are not in favour of the war policy now being advocated by a section of our countrymen, expresses its regret that such extreme views and demands should be put forth in their name, being convinced that the realization of such demands would be detrimental to liberty and the best interests of the people." Several otner speakers addressed the meeting, who, while expressing strong sympathy with France and all suffering by the present war, yet advo cated a strict policy of neutrality and non-intervention. Mr. Evans next called attention to the propoSed Jules Favre demonstration, at which it is intended to carry the Union Jack bespattered with mud. He deprecated that act as degrading the working classes themselves, and he was quite sure the larger part would have nothing to do with it. Mr. Osborne, one of the Jules Favre demon stration committee, said that a very large section of their own committee was also opposed to this use of the flag, and many were trying to get it omitted. THE NEW G-RRMAN EMPEROR. The special correspondent of the Daily New 3 telegraphs the following from Versailles, January 19 :—As I have already briefly announced to you, the Gerinam Empire was proclaimed yesterday. The ceremony took place in the Valerie des Glaces. Kaiser William was cheered with extraordinary enthusiasm by the victorious soldiers who thronged the gallery from end to end. Detachments of many different regiments were present, drawn up on either side of the gallery itself, or in the apart ments leading to it. • The,- whole body of staff officers, courtiers, reg,imeat.d .)ffieers, and Government official, —ere ranged - opposite the men On the other side of the gallei, v . It was a very brilliant:scene. The German standards were grouped at the western end of the gallery. In the centre an altar was fitted up for the per formance of the Lutheran service. Before the altar stood the Emperor, with the Crown Prince at his right hand, and the princes of Ger many in a semi-circle behind him. At the altar stood several Lutheran clergymen, the army chaplains in full canonicals, &c. On their right was a-military band. The ervice was made more than usually impressive by some excellent singing and music. A short but able sermon was preached, in which the political situation was boldly touched upon. The Imperial party afterwards moved to the end of the gallery, where the standards were. His Majesty made a speech, stating that he accepted the title of Emperor at the wish of the people and the princes of Germany, and to secure the national union of the Father land. The Crown Prince spoke next, and at the end of his speech cried in a firm voice, " Long live Kaiser Wil helm!" Thereupon arose such a shout as the gallery has seldom heard. Helmets and caps were waved aloft ; the band struck up the National Anthem; the enthusiasm was irresistible. BERLIN, January 18. King William's proclamation to the German people, in which he accepts the Imperial crown for himself, his descendants, and Prussia, was first communicated this morning to the two Houses of the Landtag. In both, the members rose in their seats, as is habitual here when the King, under his own signature, speaks to the Landtag. The two Presidents replied to the communication in -short speeches of a strictly formal nature. The real reply of the representatives of the people will be embodied in addresses ; and committees are to be elected to prepare a- draft of them. Shortly afterwards extra sheets of the smaller papers published the text of the pro clamation all over the city. Though everybody was pre pared for the King's acceptance ; and though this very ISth of January, as the anniversary of the first King of Prussia, had always been expected to bring the proclama tion, the excitement produced in the streets was very great. The extra sheets were almost torn from the hands of the newsboys. Groups were formed at every corner, and shouts were raised of "Read the proclama tion aloud." It was rather instructive to watch the coun tenances and gesture 4 of the crowd while the reading was proceeding. The great majority of the Berlin people, being very strong and uncompro mising Radicals (though not Rebublicans), it might have been expected that their curiosity would chiefly be to know what the proclamation had to say about the future political character of the Emperor. Was King William ready to be a constitutional and peaceful Emperor or not? The final passage, which appears to contain some assurance of this kind, was everywhere re ceived with marked applause. But so war; the pledge that the frontier should be secured for all time to come ; which means the incorporation of Alsace with the Empire. When night set in, such houses as were prepared for an illumination at once lighted up. The flags, among which the black, red, and gold device prevailed, had been produced before. The real illumination, I run told, will however lake place to-morrow. Towards six o'clock I passed along 'tinter den Linden, where the move ment of the masses had become great. Bands of boys, each with a black, red, and gold flag and a trumpet, came marching one after the other in the central avenue, singing "The Watch on the Rhine." A dense crowd stood round the statue of Frederick the Second, in front of King William's Palace, incessantly cheering Queen Augusta as the Empress of .the Germans. I saw nothing, however, of her Majesty, and believe she did not appear at the window to return thanks, though her drawing-room was lit up. A.DDRI?33 TO THE NEW GERNIA.N EMPEROR. • BERLIN, Jannary 20. The text of the address to be presented to the Emperor of Germany, on the part of the Prussian Chamber of Deputies, is as follows :—Most High, Most Mighty Em peror, Most Gracious King and Lord. The most gracious message of your Majesty communicating the re newal and acceptance of the title and dignity of Emperor of Germany, has been joyfully received by the Prussian Chamber. We are full of gratitude that by God's gracious guidance it has been vouchsafed to your Majesty to restore the German Empire. At your Majesty's call representatives of Germany will shortly assemble in Parliament. We finally adhere to the convic tion that the representatives of the race whose sons, obey ing- the patriotic appeal of their King, emulated other Germanic races in effort and valour to conquer the enemy, will not disappoint us in the peaceful work of a national Parliament. After the mighty struggles and combats of a whole generation, political unity, and a position worthy of a great nation, fall to the lot of our Fatherland as the fruit and prize of this tremendous war, so fertile in noble sacrifices, and which, according to all human foresight, is now approaching its end by the overthrow and exhaus tion of the enemy through your Majesty's glorious leader ship. It is not Germany that has provoked the struggle ; Germany does not seek the humiliation of her vanquished neighbour, but will always be ready to lay down the sword as soon as protection is obtained, together with na tural and artificial bulwarks, against renewed attacks, through the reacquisition of frontier territory lost in times of disunion and weakness. Secure against France, Germany would constitute the best guarantee for a last ing peace in Europe. With respectful assent and joyful thanks we salute your Majesty's noble language, which, pervaded by devotion and fidelity to the Fatherland, pro mises to the German nation, under the Imperial sceptre of your Majesty and your Majesty's successors of the exalted House of Hohenzollern, a bounteous future in the sphere of national prosperity, freedom, and civilisation, and peaceful emulation with the great civilised nations of the world. Of this work of peace, a precious share will fall to the representatives of the Prussian people, in the strict fulfilment of duties left to them by tradition, in devoted readiness for sacrifice for the com mon German Fatherland, and in full recognition of the high task imposed upon the German Parliament. May it be granted to your Majesty, under God's gracious guidance, soon to return home victorious and crowned with fame, at the head of our brave armies, to rule far many long years in peace as Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia, supported by the gratitude and affection of a faithful people I tiN INFATUATED CLERK AND A GIRL OF THE PERIOD.—On Thursday, at the Liverpool County Court, before Mr. Serjeant Wheeler, a young man named Thomas Gibson, apparently about five or six and twenty years of age, described as a clerk, residing at the Somerset Hotel, Monument-place, London-road, brought an action against Sarah Clifton, a good-looking fashion ably-dressed young woman, residing in Lord Nelson street, to recover the sum of £l5, the value of a diamond pin, detained by her. It seems that the plaintiff had been living with the defendant, and had spent a good deal of money on her. She took the diamond pin in question from him, and did not return it. He had been desirous of marrying the defendant, but she refused, preferring to return to a gentleman she had previously been living with. The defendant told her artless tale. The gentleman with whom she was living left her for a fortnight, and she went to live with the plaintiff. She went with him to London, and after a timebegan to get tired of him. He grve her presents of jewellery, and she wanted to get all she could out of him. He tried to make her fond of him by gifts. He gave her the pin, that she would swear, and he never asked for it back again. She never hid it from him, but at night placed it on the dressing-table. The jewelry he gave her was principally of a cheap description. When she came back to Liverpool she went back to her old love. She left at the station the plaintiff's clothing and two opera glasses. The plaintiff sent her money to London to pay her expenses when he wasnot with her. When witness was taken to the detective-office she had to pay for the cab in which she was taken. The first time she was asked for the pin was when the private detective asked her for it. She had the pin at the detective-office, and it was given back to her when the matter was explained. Miss Clifton was the name she went by at present. Her real name was Sarah Martin. She had no other name, but had been called sometimes "London Maggie." She had gone by the name of Mrs. Carr. She had lived with Mr. Carr, but would rather not say anything more about him, as he was the cause of her living her present kind of life. She did not know that Carr got his living by passing bad money (crying). She did not know that Carr had been sent to Warwick Gaol for that offence. She had known nothing of his whereabouts for two years past. She never saw the pin until the plaintiff gave it to her. She supposed he had bought it for her. The learned judge, after review ing the facts of the case, gave a verdict for the defendant with costs. OUR GOTMVIPORARIES—This Morning LOUIS BLANC ON THE WAIL The Times says : —M. Louis Blanc is, no doubt, an excellent patriot; but his language is that of a reckless gambler. - One s t a l e being lest, he thinks all the rest should follow. His letter to M. Victor Hugo proclaims war without end. There arises, however, sonie doubt in our mind as to the right M. Louis Mane may have thus to dispose of his country's destiny. France, we may be told, is all of one mind with M. Louis Blanc. She has risen like one man ; she shrinks from no sacrifice ; there is not one citizen in the country who is not as willing to give life and substance for the cause as M. Louis Blanc him Self. Is this so sure? The Times then referring to the age of most of the French prisoners taken during the sorties says : Had mere French lads of 16, after nine days' drill, and without officers to lead them, been able to oveicome Von Moltke's veterans, what nation would any longer have been burdened with standing armies? Had M. Gambetta, by merely stamping his foot on French soil, raised up real soldiers, instead of impressing " men with muskets," there would have been an end for ever of the empire of "brute force" in the world. But, alas ! we knew only too well that war in our times is a matter of science and discipline. Had even the mere material elements for an army been forthcoming in France, there was not that basis of order without which an arnw "Ist become a mob. All social cohesion, all gov,Tumont was at an end. France has nowhere a man; or, what comes to the same thing, she had no faith in any of her men. Yet M. Louis - Blanc thinks that France ought still to fight; that she will fight':; that she is actually fighting. He labours under a delusion. With so great a disproportion of means to the end a nation cannot be said to fight - . She would be merely attempting self-destruction. And France is not really bent on suicide ; she is dragged to the slaughter by men who refuse her a hear ing, and who claim the right of killing without consult- hig her. THE HORRORS OF BOMBARDMENT. The Telegraph, in commenting on the 'present position of the siege, and hopelessness of the French resist ance , says : —Fatigued, annoyed, and exasperate 1 by this pro. longed and obstinate refusal to surrender, the Prussians have resorted to their last argument—that of bombshells —and much sooner than was expected, in a bombard ment which ostensibly was to be confined to the outer defences, shells from the German batteries have been thrown into the most densely-populated districts of the French metropolis. This work has now been going on for a whole fortnight, and, in all probability, will rather increase than diminish in severity. It is shocking—it is revolting—to learn that such historical edifices as Notre Dame, the Sorbonne, the Pantheon, and the Invalides, have been stricken, or are in danger of being' stricken, by projectiles ; but it is absolutely horrible and appalling. to • hear that on the average fifteen guiltless civilians, many of them women and children, have been slain every day by the explosion of shells in the houses or in the streets. What have these poor people done? They never hankered for the German Rhine ; they never thirsted for Luxemburg; they were never rude to German Majesty in the Kurgarteu at Ems ; they never crossed Bismarck's path, or disparaged.Moltke's strategy. We prate about the hideous rites of Moloch, the canni balism of the South Sea Islanders, the frightful human sacrifices of Mexico, as having been swept away by Christianity and civilisation ; but here, within a stone's throw, so to speak, of our shores, within trumpet hail, as it were, of this happy island, there is going on every day a human sacrifice as dreadful and dismal as ally which the history of war can furnish. Can Anglicans or Catholics, can Quakers, or Jews, or Mahoineta,ns all over the world, although the hands of their rulers may be tied, do nothing to implore that this awful tragedy should cease? Let it he that there is a God of Battles. Let it be that " Slaughter is God's daughter ;" that war is an inevitable necessity, and that soldiers must do their duty. Let it be that Paris has brought bombardment on herself by fortifying her con fines and trenching herself about. But for the sake of our common humanity, this day of wrath and cruelty ought not to elapse without some effort by force of national protest that would direct the unfailing consideration of the German Emperor towards the sufferings of the help less and the innocent. THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY'S CORONATION. The Standard remarks :—lt has been settled by German politicians that King 'William I. of Prussia is to be crowned Emperor 'William I. of Germany. But where? That, we are told, is the universal question from north to south, from east to west, of the all-conquering Fatherland. It might more wisely be asked—when ? The writers who affect to find in the history of the old Sovereign's exaltation the materials of an Arthurian romance, giving heroism and poetry to his character, and prophecies of glory to his son, are, it seems, discounting the future. It will be time enough when France has fallen, for Germany to rise above Europe, with her cluster of crowns, and her double handed sword, as representative of the ancient Power which was drowned in kindred and conflicting blood. To all who are not blinded by the successes of a moment, it must appear that the forth coming coronation of the First William, or his son, must be at best but a phantom pageant. Gorgeous and splendid no doubt it will be—should it ever take place—and some antique halls of the Teuton land will witness a blazon mediaeval in its exuberance and pride. Yet, when we overlook, taking errors into account, the claims put forward for the new Emperor's choice of the city in which he will assum the purple, they astonish us by their contrarieties. These assert a right, because their nobles and burghers enthroned former 'Monarohs ; those, be cause they buried them. And it is not a little remark!, able that Berlin, the capital of Victory, urges no pretence whatever. There are five suppliants. One—Worms—has made William I. a citizen before adorning him with the gem of Empire —a compliment which, probably, he will appreciate at its full worth. Another—Frankfort—has rather indiscreetly hinted at certain concessions that might be acceptable. The chance of Frankfort has been, we should say, on this account, somewhat impaired. Still the metropolis of the old constitution can scarcely have its free and Imperial history treated with utter contempt. There is one other city grey with age which was expected to raise a claim. Spires, rerrited to have been the winter quarters of Julius Caesar in Germany, the source of the apellation " Protestant," th e scene ofnearly forty Diets, and the residence of many a Germanic Emperor. Singular to say, Berlin, although she has registered a claim, has been less noisy, and less peremptory, than any of her rivals. Her assumption is, however, as a matter of course, that she is still to retain her rank as the capital of the Emperor's, or the King's, or the Emperor-King's dominions ; and why should a Sovereign be crowned anywhere except in his own metropolis ? The question is nothing to us ; but it is agitating not a few millions of minds in Europe, which, we feel inclined to say, may, after all, be reckoning upon a little more German glorifi cation than may be gained by the war. Whichever city wins the choice, and magnifies itself by placing " the likeness of an Imperial crown " on the brows of William 1., or his son, will the promoted Monarch be expected to mope amid the spectral relics of Nuremburg or Worms, or, renouncing them after a visit of courtesy, to re establish his state in Berlin, thenceforth to the chief city of Germany? THE COMING SESSION. Reviewing Mr. Stansfeld's speech at Halifax, the Daily Sews observes :—Mr. Stansfeld bids us e.43ect great things of the Government in the present year. His programme of their measures, should it be fully carried out, will make a hardworking and fruitful session ; and we hope the measures themselves will be such as will need no apologising for to Liberal constituencies. A free .vote by Ballot is one of the things Mr. Stansfeld looks forward to, and it is one of those things which the Government has only to ask and have. The whole question of om Parliamentary Elections is ripe for legis Lotion. The Marquis of Hartington's bill of last year was scarcely adequate to the occasion. It professed to deal with only a part of the whole question, and even with that it dealt timidly. We have learned much since them. An Elections Reform Bill must of necessity be a more complete measure than that of last year now we have had experience of the School Do and Elections. The University Tests Bill is another of the measures Mr. Stansfeld foreshadows. Mr. Gladstone has been already urged to make the measure of this year fuller than that of last year, by in cluding clerical fellowships in its provisions. A Licensing Bill, and possibly a Supplementary Education. Bill, are also named as among the measures of the year. Though Mr. Stansfeld's speech must, of course, be taken as the view of the most advanced Liberal in the Administration rather than that of the Government itself, we have no doubt that what he asked of the Liberal party, is what the Government is prepared to lead that party to accomplish, The war, and the questions which arise out of it, will not absorb the whole time of Parliament. It may be our privilege as a neutral nation to, mediate between the combatants and to nAke peace ; every effort in that direction. will be made, and we hope may be made success fully but it is satisfact3ry to know that while attend ing to the lousiness of our neighbours we shall not neglect, our own. this ad low to .e's) per- kson itor, that could and 3day and o get t the him Lance a at He r the