The Sun. — London, England, 1871-01-31 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE SUN OFFICE, 8 A.M. THE WAR. THE CAPITULATION AND THE ARMISTICE. BERLIN, January 30 The German Emperor is expected here shortly.' Paris is to pay a contribution of 53,000,000 thalers. The Bonapartists are agitating for the convention of the Senate and the Corps Legislatif. Their negotiations with Count Bismarck continue, and are becoming an importaut feature of the situation. The statement of some German papers concern ing the terms of Peace are premature and incorrect. A telegram from Royal Headquarters, Versailles, says that the occupation of St. Denis and the forts took place without any incident occurring. VERSAILLES, Sunday Night. "An armistice of 21 days' duration has been con cluded with the Government of Paris, and, it is believed, with the provinces also. " Paris is to be permitted to revictual herself. "It is supposed that the result will be peace. " The railways (Orleans, Nemours and Orleans, Alencon) are to be opened to the French for the purpose of provisioning Paris, and also the rivers Seine and Marne, and the roads to the south and west. "All the forts are to be occupied by the Germans, and all war materials to be placed in their hands. Preparations are to be made at once to carry out these arrangements. " The Garde Mobile and Corps of the Line are to lay down their arms, but not to be sent as prisoners to Germany. 4 ‘ Mont Val6rien is to be occupied by the 46th Regiment at three to-day. The French marched out before noon."— Times Telegrams. THE NAPOLEON DYNASTY. BERLIN, January 30. It is stated on good authority that the ma jority of the French officers now captive in Germany are iu favour of the re-establishment of the Napoleon dynasty, which they believe will be the certain sequence of the reign of anarchy in France. The fact that the country flourished to such an extraordinary degree for nineteen years under Napoleon cannot bnt tell greatly in his favour should his claims come into competition with those of the House of Orleans. The Treaty uniting Bavaria to the German Empire was signed yesterday morning. The demonstrations of joy at the capitulation of Paris are even louder in the provinces that in the capital of Germany.—Telegraph Telegram. The following telegrams come through Reuter's agency : THE SURRENDER RECEPTION OF THE NEWS AT BORDEAUX AND LILLE. IMPERIAL HEADQUARTERS, VERSAILLES, January 30. The distress in Paris is very groat. The French having in the course of the war in terrupted and blown up most of the railways, the transport of provisions from a distance is very diffi cult. The most urgent wants of the city are for the present supplied by the German army from its own stores. BORDEAUX, January 29 (1 p.m.) The Paris despatch from Jules Favre, announcing the conclusion of an Armistice, is publicly posted here, and causes great consternation and grief. Large groups are collected, and some demonstrations have already been made. Several battalions of the National Guard are op posed to peace. Public meetings are now being held, and it is expeoted that views will be expressed by the speakers in faVour of resistance. M. Picard and M. Simon are named as the members of the Government, of whom one is coming to Bordeaux ; it will probably be M. Picard. Evening. A. large political assembly was held this afternoon in the Great Theatre, when a unanimous protest against the armistice was passed, and a resolution was voted demanding—firstly, the maintenance of power in the hands of Gambetta ; secondly, war outrance ; and, thirdly, the assembling at Bordeaux of a committee the members of which should be elected by Republican associations in the principal towns of France. A. deputation conveyed the resolution to M. Gambetta. Afterwards a demonstration wee made before the Prefecture in honour of Gambetta. Members of the deputation addressed the crowd, saying that M. Gambetta could not appear, because he was indis posed physically, but much more so morally. He Will take time to come to a decision before speaking in public. Besides, it was necessary for him to re cruit his powers, in order to be able to devote hith self wholly to the safety of the Republic. The crowd replied by cries of " Vive Gambetta ! " " Vive la R6publique I" Although great excitement prevailed, there were no disturbances, and material order was Preserved. January 30. A despatch received from M. Mignin at Paris, dated the 27th instant, urges the Delegate Minister of Commerce at Bordeaux immediately to make ar rangements at the different ports for cargoes of alimentary cereals being forwarded to Paris to re victual the city. He also urges above everything that wheat and flour should be sent. LILLE, January 30. The impression caused here by the news of the Armistice is one of complete stupor. It was gene rally believed that Paris had sufficient provisions for another month, and people were impatiently expecting a Sortie on a large scale. The news of the Capitulation instead of a great battle, though evidently creating satisfaction on account of the cessation of bloodshed, is also the cause of much irritation at the manner in which the public has been deceived. Public opinion is very undecided at present, as the probable bases of peace are un known, and the ultimate feeling will depend upon the c onditions of the treaty. if the German demands are too exacting, a lasting hatred against Germany 1 : 11 1 ensue, but if honourable conditions are offered, t he resentment of the people in the North of France ' w ill probably soon disappear. It is rumoured that the Prussians have invested A bbeville, notwithstanding the Armistice. C ommunication with Paris is not yet restored. BRUSSELS, January 30. A _ln French c i rc l es i n B russe l s t h e news o f the inistice has b een ra th er f avoura bl y rece i ve d , an d 7 relief. Gov ernment quarters there is a great sense of eli cE The terms of the eA r mi s ti ce are cons id ere d moderate,er and a goo d i m p ress i on h as th ere b y b een l. a ted. News of the manner in which the capitu 17on of P ar i s h as b een rece i ve d i n t h e F rench de btrtinents is an x i ous ly awaited ; it i s sa id th a t th e )reasion i n th e N or th o f F rance i s rat h er favour able. The Propagateur de Lille received here, does not ttil ade to the capitulation. The Memorial de Lille 84 0 he tc The event, although foreseen, falls like a AsavY blow upon all hearts, but the honour of France a th e ave d• Whatever may be the conditions imposed, Y will certainly be hard for Frenchmen to bear." STATE OF THE CAPITAL. t h Pre al Veraailles, by Lombard telegram, we have e followiug :—The excitement in Pane produced by the capitulation of the forts is abating, and tran quility prevails in all districts except Belleville. The garrison of the forts have been quartered partly in the barracks and partly in different public buildings in the city. A division of the regular army fully armed, anti the Sedentary National Guard are preserving order. Nearly all the inhabitants who immigra,ted from the left bank of the river have returned to their domiciles. Provisions from the outside are pouring in. GENERAL DUCROT POISONED. VERSAILLES, Jar aary 30 (2 p.m.)' Jules Simon is going to Bordeaux. A rumour is current that Ducrot has poisoned himself. THE FRENCH ELECTIONS. Information has been received at Brussels that Paris and Angouleme intend to nominate the Duke d'Aumalo as candidate for representative to the National Assembly. The election of the Prince de Joinville by the constituency of Cherbourg is said to be assured.—Lombard Telegram, Lame. have on of their .ve a entry esty'a privi what spirit are is t the ies for of my Lselves egards on me y time rariety 6 more pro these here veness. Eve one ,e from )re will lged by 6y with SEED ield at a, Lord 1, from heir at ler that Meetion ye been ,dy been o Lord to the g regret he corn n, I feel ed until averance English e of the d to cor namittee arrange for the financial lonations of which dition to. old strike lequences war, had nade the Ley would 'elated by Is rolling ,ppearing• nittee had d been in Sties so as the Com- I Lindsay, broad, for he French ation, and istribution future was ciety they necessity, f hundreds ) would be ►dship per• bot, MY Nos unani- Mr. J. B• - " That it to assist ill ~ or age nt m added to 3solution ao iderina the prospect of advantage 3 executiv e cpedient for rumeutabt 9 be utilised after sonle of subscriP; en received, 1, which 110 P Vernon fo r o a close• THE SUN, LONDON, YUESDA , JAN tiAlt Y 31, IZS MEMBERS OUT OF TOWN. At the annual soirée of the Manchester Conservative Working Men's Association, on Saturday night, Mr. Hugh Birley, M.P., and Mr. Cawley, M.P., contended that the Conservative party had no desire to expend money lavishly on the army and navy but to place them in a thorough state of efficiency, so as to ensure peace at home and respect abroad. Resolutions were passed ex pressing dissatisfaction with the peace-at-any-price policy and false economy of the present Government, and a con fident belief that the next general election will place the supporters of !the Liberal Government in a considerable minority in the House of Commons. Mr. E. M. Richards, M.P., addressed a section of his constituents at Llandyssul on. Friday. The hon. gentle man reviewed the work of the last session, and then referred to the one absorbing theme of the national defences. He is not in favour of any increase of expen diture under this head. A. vote of confidence was passed in the hon. gentleman. A resolution was also carried, deal /ring the desirability of a Tenant Right Bill for Wales being introduced into Parliament. The meeting was held in the Tabernacle Chapel, and the hon. gentleman spoke from the pulpit. SIR FRANCIS GOLDSMID, 11. P., ON PUBLI C AFFAIRS. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAM.) Sir Francis Gbldsmid, M.P., was present last night at the annual dinner of the Oddfellows of the Reading Dis trict. In replying to the toast of " The Borough Mem bers," he remarked that he had to perform a doubloS task, namely, that of responding for himself and his brother member, Mr. Lefevre, whose absence they all regretted. Reverting to the war, Sir Francis drew attention to the positions of France and Germany. Looking to the latter, he said he had noticed that there had grown up amongst the people a sort of ambitious feeling for political power, and an aspiration for union. King William saw this feeling spreading amongst the people, and he, an ambitious monarch, seconded by an able Minister, had taken advantage of the opportunity, and the result had been the establishment of a monarchical Government in Germany. He blamed the Germans for the war, and, though King William had been eminently successful and had been rewarded by being created Em peror, yet he (Sir Francis Goldsmid) could not but think that the attainment of the ambitions of the King and the German people had been purchased at a very high price. The Prussian Government was grasp ing and ambitious, for had they not raised their small kingdom to a powerful empire by crushing Denmark.? He was opposed to the acquisition of territory by the Germans, which he could call nothing but rascality. (Applause). He felt greatly for the populations of Alsace and Lorraine. Looking away from Germany to France, the hon. member argued that all the trouble which that unhappy country had been called to pass through had been brought about by the Emperor Napo leon, a man who only gained his position by shooting men in the streets, and driving from the country the most intelligent and thoughtful men she possessed. He trusted that Prussia would be generous to France, and that France would profit by the lesson she had learnt. It was also to be hoped that no harm would come to England, who, as all were aware, was not very much liked by the victors. Sir Francis then proceeded to allude to the Irish Land Bill, which he thought he could safely assert had been found to work well both as regarded landlords and tenants, and to the Education Act,which, he thought could be carried out without any serious difficulty. In reference to the navy, he was in favour of its being increased, but thought in dealing with the army it would not be necessary to follow the example of Prussia, a country which, possessing no' adequate navy, required to keep up a very large army. In the English army there was a great want of reorganisation, and he trusted to see an entire abolition of the purchase system. (Applause.), MR. DIXON, M.P., AND MR. MUNTZ, M.P., AT BIRMINGHAM. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAM.) Last night Mr. Dixon, M.P., and Mr. Muntz, M.P., addressed their constituents, in the Town Hall, Bir mingham. Mr. G. B. Lloyd, the mayor, presided. The following letter from Mr. Bright was read to the meeting : "My dear Mr. Wright,—l thank you for your kind letter, and for the notice of the meeting, and for the invi. tation to it. I regret very much that I cannot yet have the pleasure of visiting Birmingham, and of being present at your annual meeting. It is a great disappointment to me not to be able to meet my constituents as usual before the opening of the session ; but I am still so far from my ordinary state of health that I dare not attempt anything that would involve me in labour and excitement. I can only trust to the kindness of my friends in Birmingham for that forbearance upon which I often feel I have already trespassed too far. I have worked hard in public and parliamentary life for twenty-seven years with one inter val of rest rendered necessary by illness; and now I am forced from a like cause to indulge in another period of cessation from labour. If my constituents feel that their interests suffer from my absence from Parliament, and that I am unduly taxing their patience, I should most readily resign the trust they have committed to me for twelve years past. If_in their kindness and forbearance they will wish me to retain the honourable position of one of their representatives, I shall retain it in the hope of being able to serve them with earnestness and fidelity when my health shall have been restored. I have good reason for believing that a few months more of rest will enable me to return to work without danger or inconvenience. Ido not enter upon any public question, as I hope it is not needful to assure the electors of Birmingham that I have in no sense abandoned the principles upon which my public course has been based. I thank you and the gentlemen of the committee of the Liberal Association for their kind sympathy, and am very sincerely yours, " JOHN BRIGHT. " Rochdale, January 18th, 1871." The reading of the letter was followed by enthusiastic applause. Mr. J. S. Wright, Chairman of the Liberal Association, moved a resolution assuring Mr. Bright of the unabated confidence and affection of his constituents, and of their gratitude for his former services, expressing joy at the probability of his recovery, and urging him to take as much rest as was necessary for the restoration of his health. Mr. Lakin, Secretary of the Labour Represention League, seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Dixon then addressed the meeting. Reviewing the course he took the last session, he defended the Irish Land Bill, and said although that measure might not have produced all the effects desired, it must be remem bered that centuries, of oppression had deepened the dis affection in Ireland. With reference to the Education Bill, he regretted the attendance at school had not been rendered compulsory and without cost throughout the country, but he believed that before long the full programme of the Education League would be adopted. After briefly referring to the war, Mr. Dixon maintained that a policy of non-intervention was always the best. He entirely agreed with Mr. Tre velyan's views as to army reform, and thought the forces of England should be entirely defensive, and ought not to be used for offensive purposes. Mr. Muntz expressed his entire concurrence with Mr. Dixon on the education question. Referring to the neces sity for reform in the military system of this country, he condemned the excessive expense of the army, costing, as it did, £ll4 per man, while in the Prussian army the cost was only £23 per man. When he returned to the House of Commons he meant to propose the abolition of the purchase system. (The hon. member here called for a show of hands on the subject, and the majority of the meeting appeared to be in favour of abolition.) While he did not desire to introduce the whole of the Prussian system into the British army, believing that conscription in any form would never do, and was not necessary for this country, he was in favour of at least adopting the three years' system, which would be the means of creating a valuable reserve force for the purposes of national' defence. - Votes of confidence in the hon. members were passed almost unanimously. CRYSTAL PALACE.—One Shilling Day, Monday, January 30th, 1871.—Admission by season tickets, 2,493; ditto on payment, 1,237 ; total visitors, 3,730. A marriage is arranged between the Hon. Augustus Erskine, second son of the Right Hon. the Earl of Kellie, and Miss Harriet Forbes, third daughter of William Forbes, Esq., of Medwyn, and will take place imme diately after Easter. "Now, then, my hearties," said a gallant Yankee captain, seeing that his men were likely to be outnum bered, " you have a tough battle before you. Fight like heroes till your powder's gone—then run ! I'm a little lame, and I'll start now." At the Court of Bankruptcy, an extended injunc tion until after the 9th of February was granted in the liquidation petition of Messrs. Liebert and Rogerson, merchants, of London and Manchester. The liabilities are stated to be £280,000. THE BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS. By special despatch, dated January 25, the corres pondent of the Daily News at the Crown Prince of Prus sia's headquarters forwards the following :—There is silence along the front. The continued boom of heavy guns has ceased. . Even the rifle shots which were occasionally heard yesterday morning ex changed between the outposts have died away since midnight on Thursday, the 26th instant. The fire of the German batteries has been suspended by orders from the headquarters. The guns are ready ; there is plenty of ammunition ; the gunners could resume fire at a moment's notice ; but that notice will probably never be given, and the great siege may -be con sidered at an end. On Thursday afternoon Jules Favre returned to Paris from his second visit to Versailles. At that time the opposing batteries still thundered against one another, and a storm of shells was whistling, through the air. I passed the carriage of the French statesman in Sevres as he travelled towards the outposts. It was a sight to be remembered—the quiet equipage, with a Prussian police officer on the box beside the coachman, driving through the crowded military colony of Sevres, with a gloomy winter's day to herald the surrender, and the din of rival artillery along the front. Up to midnight the fire continued ; then came a pause. We have soon grown accustomed to the silence which at first was so impressive. When Favre came for the third time yesterday with General Beaufort, of the French staff, it seemed as though things were, indeed, drawing to a close. Yet there is still some delay, and the negotiations are not concluded up to the time when I am sending off this despatch. All the soldiers at the outposts met and chatted yesterday. At several points officers rode in safety where two days ago it would have been deaths to venture. OPINION AT WILHELAISHOHE. The proposed summoning of a Constituent Assem bly at Bordeaux causes apparent uneasiness, and even consternation, at Wilhelmshobe.—Times Telegram. SUSPENSION OF THE GERMAN INVASION. The military authorities throughout Germany have received orders to suspend the transportation of all troops for France, and,to stop the convoys already en route. BOURBAKI'S ARMY. It is reported from Basle that large numbers of General Bourbaki's army are crossing the Swiss fron tier, with guns, at Pruntrut and Neuenburg. The attempt of the General to commit suicide is • confirmed. The army of observation on the Swiss frontier is receiving reinforcements, although 35,000 men strong already. All letters received here from Strasburg are opened, without tug exception what ever, and Lear the inscription, " Opened by military order."—Lombard Telegram. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) THE CAPITULATION OF PARIS. The German vessels in the port of Bristol displayeC their flags yesterday as a sign of rejoicing at the capitula• tion of Paris. MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The annual meeting of the Manchester Chamber of Com merce was held on Monday. The Chairman, Mr. J. M. Bennett, in moving the adoption of the report, congratu lated the Chamber on the maintenance of the improve ment in the trade of the district, to which he had called attention at the last quarterly meeting. Three months ago it was said that although there was a-large business doing, there was little profit made ; but since that time the price of cotton had gone down, while the price of yarns and cloth had gone up, so that there must be a little margin of profit being made within the last week or two. He had himself heard of • half a dozen new mills being about to be built in the manufacturing towns around Manchester. The working-classes in the district were never better employed, nor at better wages than they now were. In the discussion which followed several mem bers strongly insisted on the necessity of commercial represntation on the Indian Board. Mr. Hugh Mason, of Ashton-under-Lyne, advocated the re duction of the hours of labour from sixty to fifty-eight hours a week maintaining that the complicated nature of the machinery now being employed, and the ever in creasing speed of operations, rendered it impossible that men could ever sustain the strain imposed upon them over an extended period. THE LOSS OF THE STEAMER BORNEO. A telegram has been received at Oxford from Lisbon from Perceval Thomas Kilbee, one of the officers of the steamer Borneo, which vessel was lost on her homeward voyage from South America off Cape St. Marta. The telegram is to the effect that Captain Cole and the whole of his officers, except one, were saved, and are now on their way to England. The statement that was made on .Saturday last, confirming the previous announcement that the captoin and all his officers were lost, is therefore in correct, and has caused much unnecessary pain to Mr. Kilbee's friends and the friends of the other officers. SINGULAR ABANDONMENT OF A VESSEL. A large French barque, the Caledvilla, belonging to Vannes, was picked up on Sunday ten miles south of Waterford, with only two little boys on board, by the American barque Annie Kemball ; from Liverpool to Charlestown. The second officer and six men of the lat ter vessel, were put on board the French barque, and they subsequently took her safely to anchor in Queenstown. She is supposed to be from Mexico, with mahogany for Havre. There were no provisions of any kind on board ; only one boat was left. Nothing is known of the crew, and the boys are ignorant of them. The poor boys were nearly starved oat. On Monday, at Liverpool, the Maritime Insurance Company held their ordinary meeting, and delared a divi dend similar to the previous half-year, making 10 per cent. for the year, payable February 3rd. The shareholders of the Runcorn Soap and Alkali Com pany held their annual meeting on Monday, at Liverpool, when a dividend was declared at the rate of 255. per share. The state of the company's affairs was very satis factory, MR. GLADSTONE AND THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT. A gentleman, says the Telegraph, holding an official posi tion at Bordeaux is stated to have received the following copy of a letter, addressed originally by the Prime Minis ter to an English member of Parliament : " Hawarden Castle, Chester, January 10, 1871. "My dear Sir,—lt is impossible to read without deep interest the letter of M. Benard, which you have been kind enough to send me. We, who witness with the deepest pain the continued and increasing horrors of the war, must not be surprised if in that agony—for such it is, though it is an agony of heroism—in which the people of Paris fight for their country, our motives, and even our acts, are not always correctly apprehended. There is no request before us from the French Government for recognition. There never has been any since the mission of M. Thiers, several months ago—very shortly indeed after the Government was formed. Yet, for every practical purpose, we have proceeded towards and with them just as if their origin had been the most formal in the world, and never by word or act have we implied that they were not entitled, in the highest degree, to our sym pathy and respect.—l remain, my dear sir, faithfully yours " (Signed) " W. B. GLADSTONE." CABINET COUNCIL. - Summonses were issued yesterday evening for a Cabinet Council on Thursday afternoon. Colonel the llon. 11. F. Keane, R.E., has been appointed Commanding Royal Engineer of the London district. From the let of February the system of Post-office orders will be adopted between Germany and England. Each order must not exceed 70 thalers. A boy named James Doyle, a newsvendor, was found on Friday morning about a mile from Waterford, lying by the roadside, frozen to death. The Right Hon. the Lord Chief Justice of Eng land, Sir Alexander Cockburn, who has been suffering foi the last few days from an attack of bronchitis, was better on Sunday. Mr. Gladstone, as Premier, has issued cards for a full-dress Parliamentary dinner to the. Speaker and his coadjutors of the Government on the Bth prox., the eve of the meeting of Parliament. The Lord Chief Justice of England was con siderably better yesterday, but it is doubtful whether he will be enabled, unless his health improves, to go the circuit. There is nothing serious, as his Lordship has frequently been attacked by bronchial affections. THE PRINCESS LOIIISE.—In accordance with a resolution of the Campbeltown committee, the Duchess of 7gyll has just selected from the stock of Messrs. Mac kay, Cunningham,. and _Co., Edinburgh, • a magnificent pearl necklace of two rows; as the present from Kintyre to the Princess Louise. The necklace is valued at between 2600 and £7OO. THE NEGOTIATIONS AT VERSAILLES. Writing from the headquarters of the Crown Prince of Prussia, January 25, the special correspondent of the Daily News thus describes M. Favre's visit :—M. Favre has come and gone, bearing back with him the bitter pill of unconditional surrender for his countrymen to swallow. They will not swallow it at first. They will hang back and struggle hard against their fate ; but that the leaders of the people should have seen the necessity of ap proaching Count Bismarck to learn how much he would give, as a premium on cutting the matter short, is an important step. The details of the reception, the compliments which passed, coldly and formally be tween the foes, or the words of regret, sincere enough I daresay, which they uttered at parting without coming to terms, can be realised by most of us without the help of inventive rumour. It was four months since those two men had met at Ferribres to discuss the position of affairs. I wonder which of them most regretted that they had not then arranged a treaty of peace when they met again at Versailles in the. gloomy winter weather. Again the Frenchman was the suppliant, and the great Chancellor of the Bund hail become the Chan cellor of the German Empire. But four months of suc cess, though covering the German helmets with laurel wreaths, and filling the German fortresses with prisoners, had not solved the problem of how Germany was to finish her task. There was the same antagonism between the baffled Republican and the victorious servant of the King, the same stern demand for immediate surrender, and well nigh the same refusal to submit by the prostrate foe. But the refusal comes in faltering tones as far as Paris is con cerned, for the women and children suffer cruel hardships with every week's prolongation of the siege. To hold out another month would entail such misery on non-combatants as must either madden or demoralize the National Guard. A month beyond that would threaten the whole community with actual starvation, and could only be sustained under the pressure of wild excitement, with a reign of terror and with frequent changes of command, to satisfy the hungry bands who in their agony would think themselves betrayed. It is, therefore, quite right of the earnest and patriotic men who have had the direction of affairs in Paris to recognise their melancholy prospects, and to try whether something may not be gained by timely submission. M. Favre has visited Count Bismarck with the idea of obtaining an honourable capitulation. It is said, on seemingly good authority, that the propositions of the French statesman had reference only to the status quo around the capital, and not, as in September last, to the conclusion of peace. It would now be very difficult to arrange a treaty in Paris which would not have the air of being done under compulsion. The rest of France might refuse to accept the result of an intense local pressure, and Count Bismarck will certainly refuse to relax that pressure for a moment. All that can be aimed at in any mission to the German headquarters is to obtain either honourable terms for the beleaguered city, or an armistice in which such terms may be discussed. Now it seems that M. Favre proposed the surrender of Paris on condition that the garrison should be allowed to march out with arms and baggage, and to retreat behind the Loire. The lives of the inhabitants would thus be saved, and the Germans would achieve their coveted triumph without an abandonment by the French of all hope of con tinuing the struggle. Such a surrender would be a compromise, but compromises do not suit Count Bismarck. The same rumour which credits IVI. Favre with this plan of modified surrender asserts that the answer was simply this, " Your surrender must be unconditional. We have not toiled for four months to let our prey escape us et the end. All the sailors and soldiers, the Mobiles, and the members of your so called Government must go as prisoners to Germany." It is whispered that Count Bismarck would relax to some extent the rights of conquest in regard to the levying of war contributions, and to the disposal of the objects of art in the NAtional Museums, if no further resistance were made. It is even said that be would spare the Parisians the humiliation of having a foreign police among them, by allow ing a certain number of the National Guard armed with muzzle•loading rifles to keep order in the streets, but to anything beyond this he will turn a deaf ear. The last interview was when M. Favre called to take his leave, and I hear that although the statesmen parted with outward courtesy, there Was an air of evident chagrin on the face of M. Favre as he drove away towards those trouble some clients of his behind the ramparts. No cessation of hostilities had accompanied his visit. He was brought with a French flag of truce to the German outposts and sent back with a German flag of truce to the French out posts, and all the time there was a dull boom of cannon to be heard for miles round the city. The French forts had supported the departure of the envoy by shewing more vigour than they had done for several days past, and even Fort Issy was busy on Monday afternoon against the Germans who were working up to it. The French batteries on the ramparts were as active as ever, and the German batteries kept up a steady pounding at the defences before them, or at the city in the immediate background. The Salford County Court judgeship has been conferred by the Lord Chancellor upon Mr. John Osborne, Q.C., of the Chancery Bar, who was " called " in 1835. We are informed that Mr. Mapleson has made arrangements for the opening of Drury-lane for Italian opera, and that Sir Michael Costa will be the conductor. According to the most recent arrangements, it is probable that the Queen, after the ceremony of opening tarliament, will pay a visit to Clarement House, near Esher, Surrey, and reside there for a few days previous to returning to Windsor. The Post Office authorities have laid down a new pneumatic tube from Telegraph-street, City, to the post office, near Temple Bar. It is to be used fcr the delivery of telegrams. The system will be extended to Charing cross, and thence to the Houses of Parliament. At a recent meeting of the Argyll Artillery Volun teers, it was unanim ous ly reso l ve d, both by the officers and men of the brigade, that they should present th e i r colonel, the Marquis o f Lorne, with a handsome wedding present, on the occasion of his marriage with the Princess Louise. The Hereford Journal presents to its readers this week a supplement containing a fac-simile of a number of the same paper issued exactly 100 years ago. There are 32 English provincial newspapers more than a century old, of which 16 are Conservative, 6 neutral, and 10 LiberaL The 7 imes correspondent at Calcutta says that one of the Eastern Bengal papers earnestly begs the Govern ment to look to the buying up the French Indian settle ments, lest the Germans secure them, and strike at English power, as the French did in bygone times. The writer is very much in earnest, and argues most zealously for his object. The Right llon, the marquis of Hartington, Chief Secretary for Ireland, and suite arrived in Kingstown by the mail steamer Connaught, from Holyhead, on Satur day, and went to Dublin by the ordinary mail passenger train. His lordship will be the guest of their Excellencies the Lord Lieutenant and Countess Spencer at the Castle until the meeting of Parliament. THE MIDLAND RAILWAY.—The half-yearly meet ing of the Midland Railway Company will be held on the 14th February, when a resolution will be submitted for the consolidation of the £lB five per cent. preference shares into capital stock. A special meeting is also called for the same day, for the purpose of considering certain bills now pending in Parliament, including one for the construction of works and the raising of additional capital. THE FUTURE OF FRANCE: In a letter dated January 24, the special correspondent of the Daily Nobs remarks :---Much as the English may do to relieve the suffering of their neighbours, they cannot save them the bitter humiliation of foreign con quest. There may be a long struggle in the provinces, and even Paris may hold out for some time to come ; but ,in the end the conquest must be complete, if the great idea of the German fatherland is to be carried out. Those demands for terri tory and for security in time to come, which ring so harshly French ears, are not due to any special greed in the Court or. Cabinet, but to the earnest conviction of the Germans themselves. Dela►ida at Carthago is their cry when they are threatened with future vengeance by their fallen rival. From east to west, from north to south, the Republicans must be pacified by sheer force. France must not be left the strength to raise her, hand against the mighty Empire which will have risen on the ruins of her baffled ambition. We may dislike this programme, and may wish that Germany would take less than she intends to take, but our influence over German opinion is, I fear, much slighter than it used to be. The Germans have found that they can do without us, and some of them go so far as to be angry at our views of neutral rights. They cling to their great idea with a calm indifference to foreign criticism. When Paris shall have fallen the troops set free by that event will march against the rest of France, and the French will have a sore struggle to make head against the swollen stream. I quite admit what has been said of the embarassments which may follow to the victors. Their political Tartar, though caught, will neither come himself nor let them leave him, and many a future conflict may arise out of this strange collapse of France. But again I say that we must be prepared, as spectators of what may soon happen, to look calmly at many things most painful to the present feeling of England. It is a serious thing to risk our good understanding with an Empire that will be so terribly strong, by protests against the natural progress of a victorious army. Eng land must prepare herself to see the German idea carried out with vigour, and if France is to be saved, it will only be by almost superhuman efforts on the part of the armies which remain to her. Count Moltke is too good a player for the other side to have a chance against him. Paris will fall. The queen will be taken, and all the pieces will be moved away to give checkmate at some other part of the board. I hear that the various corps engaged in this particular work have their stations assigned to them in view of its speedy completion. Not a moment will be lost in following up the advantage, and in bringing all the troops that can be spared from Paris to bear upon the French in other quarters. THE BATTLE OF ST. QUENTIN. The special correspondent of the Telegraph sends the following account of the engagement from the head ' quarters of the First German Army, dated St. Quentin, January 19 :—The action was commenced by the 16th Division, which found the enemy in a very strong position between and in the villages of Grugis and Neuville. At half-past ten the battle on this side became general ; and so strong and determined a stand did the enemy make, that the 41st Regiment, and two batteries, were sent to reinforce General Barne kow. Here the 19th Regiment lost 350 killed and wounded, and the division suffered severely, but at length succeeded in driving the enemy from their positions, xnd occupied the villages. On the left the 15th Division, under General Kummer, entered Savy unopposed. The enemy were, however, in force on the opposite heights, and here the Ist Regiment, the Grenadiers of the Crown Prince, took two guns by storm under fire, but with considerable loss. At Savy, or rather to the right, a squadron of the King's Hussars, under Captain Rudolphi, encountered three squadrons of the enemy's Dragoons and for the first time in the North, except at Sedan, were the Prussian cavalry able to measure their strength. The Hussars rode them down as if they were standing still—the French Dragoons being encuMbered with their heavy white cloaks—and drove them back in disorder under the shelter of their infantry, killing many and taking some prisoners. On the extreme left, at about 1 p.m., General Count Groben and Colonel von Witzendorf advanced upon the village of Holman, driving the enemy back and taking the woods in rear to the right of the Vermand and St. Quentin road. The whole French line, now driven from its original position, had fallen back to a second one, equally commanding. Before the enemy were com pelled to abandon this position also, the Prussian troops had to go through a repetition of the fighting by which they gained their first success. At last, however, the French were compelled once more to with draw their left and centre slowly upon St. Quentin. Meanwhile Count Groben's advance on the French right had not been accomplished without danger. The French General despatched four battalions and two batteries, which, advancing from St. Quentin along the road to Vermand, suddenly appeared on the flank of the Prussians. This was a critical moment, and required all the coolness of the Prussian commanders. Ultimately, however, he hit upon the promptest and by far the safest method ; for to make troops retire at such a critical moment is not merely hazardous, but too often fatal. The advance was therefore continued as if nothing was happening, and General von Goeben, after taking two small villages, occupied Fayet. I must now revert to what was passing on the right flank of the 15th Division, so to speak, on the Prussian centre. It was now nearly two p.m., and the peculiar formation of the ground, in heavy- undulating rises, with deep valleys between, enabled the French to assume the defensive upon every eminence as they were driven backwards upon St. Quentin. Half-way between St. Quentin and Roupy, to the left of the road from Ham, stands a windmill upon a considerable eminence. Here the French seemed to be massing a formidable force of infantry, and, with three batteries of artillery, they looked for a moment as if they meant mischief ; but Captain Leo's battery and another were so beautifully served, that in a short time the French artil lerymen were seen to limber up and retire upon the town itself. Again the Prussian line moves forward, the artillery taking up the position just abandoned by the French, and the slaughter commences afresh. It is im possible at this moment for me to enter intodetails—suffice it to say, that the French were beaten at all points, and the Bth Jagers occupied a suburb of St. Quentin at six p.m. At seven the 41st Regiment drove the French from their barricades, and entered the town ; and at half past the French troops were flying along the roads to Cambria and Guise, and St. Quentin was in the hands of the Prussians, with 9,000 prisoners, 6 guns, and 3,000 wounded in the town. The French loss, roughly computed by their own officers, is between 5,000 and 6,000 men, that of the Prussians between 2,000 and 3,000. On the right the squadron of Count Wachsenleben, belonging to the Hussars of the Guard, made a brilliant charge, as also the Dragoons of the reserve with the 16th Division ; so that the cavalry have certainly not been idle, There is a painful rumour that Mr. Laurence Oliphant, the Times' correspondent with the Duke of Mecklenburg, is missing, and that the gravest appre hensions are entertained as to his safety. A meeting is to be held in the Rotunda, Dublin, on Wednesday evening, for the purpose of demanding the complete liberation of the remainder of the. Irish political prisoners. Mr. Issac Butt, Q.C., is to preside. --- - - Lord Meath has addressed a letter to the papers calling on Irish Protestants to take advantages of the pro visions of the Industrial Schools Act. Lord Meath points out that the Roman Catholics have not been slow to take advantage of the provisions of the Act. THE. NORTHERN PORTS.—The hopes excited by the thaw of the early part of last week of a resumption of trade between the Tyne and the continental ports have been disappointed. A telegram reached the Quayside on Friday with the intelligence that the ice was again closing at Antwerp, and that the authorities had prohibited steam vessels from going up the river. News has also come to the Tyne ;that Hamburg, Rotterdam, and Copenhagen were still blocked, and that the frost has set in keener than ever. The coals and goods trade to these ports from the north-eastern ports is, therefore, quite at a standstill ; and in the north-eastern ports also a considerable number of workmen who follow outdoor employment have done little work these seven weeks through the continuance of frosty weather. . I INTIMIDATION IN IRELAND.—Among the engines of intimidation at work among the people in the north east division of King's County, threatening letters form a considerable part. During last week several passed through the post-office, and the police are in p ossession of a number of th ese documents. .One was received by a farmer named Archibald Rowan, on Friday last, threatening him if he did not give up a situation as under agent in the town of Clara to Mr. Clement W. Cox. The man gave the letter to the police, who are instituting inquiries. A continuation of a system of threatening also still prevails in parts of Westmeath. The latest instance occurred on the lands of Newtown, the property of Mr. John Tuite, tenant to Mrs. Tottenham of Rochefort. His herd was met by a man unknown, who, with revolver in hand, warned him to give up his employment, and if he did not his life would be the forfeit. Frightened by the threats, the man, who is named Gaffney, immediately resigned ' his situation. It is only a short time since that Mr. Tuite dismissed a herd of the name of Mahon, immediately subsequent to which a house in which the herd had lived was maliciously set on fire, and reduced to a wreck. OUR COTEMPORARIES—This Morning THE ELECTIONS IN FRANCE.-PEACE OR WAR. The Times, in referring to the coming elections in France, says :--The . most important civil act that a nation can be called upon to perform follows close in France upon the supreme agony of war. N. Jules Favre telegraphs to the Bordeaux Delega tion of the Government that an Assembly is con voked for the 15th of February, and directs his col leagues to summon the electors for the Bth. Thus, in a single day, the thoughts and purposes of every Frenchman must undergo a change. In eight days every Frenchman will be called upon to vote, not only on the momentous question of peace or war, but on the permanent institutions of his country. He will have to declare, by his 'choice of the candidates presented to him, whether he de sires that M. Favre, and M. Cremieux, and M. Gambetta shall continue to represent France, and be legally empowered to conclude the war which months ago they took upon themselves to protract without any authority but the voice of the Paris 'multitude. Rarely has such an important decision been so hurriedly demanded. At first sight it seems impossible that within these next few days the elaborate machinery necessary for the election of a Con stituent Assembly can be put in action. Every thing, apparently, has to be created. Franco at the pre sent moment possesses no institutions at all. The only power in existence that resembles a political institution is the leadership accorded to the City of Paris, which, though it has been the cause of the greatest evils, is yet a pledge of national unity and harmon3 Beyond this allis chaos. The answer to the great question of Peace or War will probably depend on "the attitude taken by the chiefs of the Provisional Government. If they frankly and boldly, regardless of consequences to themselves, declare the truth, that France is powerless to continue the struggle with success, aria 'must now yield to adverse fortune, the effect of such a manifesto will probably be decisive. So far as we can learn, there is a large preponderance of opinion in favour of making peace. We await with a feeling stronger than curiosity the decision of M. Gambetta. , He has been the soul of the war, and prides himself on this distinction. He has nominated, as is well known, most of the Prefects who now rule the country, and he has been in constant communication with them while his colleagues of the capitulation and the art mistice have been shut up in Paris. His influence must be still very great, and he might use it most fatally. There is reason, however, to hope that ..• he will not set himself against his colleagues, and it is at least to his credit that he has not yet sought to feed the flames of discontent by his oratory at Bordeaux. The Daily News remarks :—lt is no wonder that the news of the capitulation of Paris 'has been received with surprise in the rest of France. It finally demonstrates " to the Parisians that the provinces cannot rescue Paris, and to the provincials that the capital cannot save France. If M. Gambetta and his colleagues consent to carry out the decree from Paris, and cause • a National Assembly to be elected, the first question before the people will be that of peace or war. There are, at least, two parties in France who are displeased by the proposal to elect an Assembly. There is consternation at Wilhehm. hohe, and agitation at Bordeaux. The Imperialists fear that the new Ass embly will repudiate the Empire, the Republicans fear lest it should betray the Republic. Beth sides probably feel that the electors will have two questions before them, and that the answer to one may conflict with the answer to the other. The Assembly when it meets will be the Government 'of France, and supreme power will at once pass into its hands. The hope of the Imperialists was that the elections should be held after an Imperial restoration ; the fear of the Republicans probably is lest the desire of the people for peace should prove fatal to the Republic. But nothing but blundering can deny to the Republicans the immense advantage they possess in holiing the elections under their own authority. There is no reason why the Republic should not make peace if the people demand it; unless the Republicans commit themselves irrevocably to ward outrance. They are in power, • and it is greatly to be desired that they should keep it, whether peace or war be decided on in the future. The Assembly may, perhaps, submit the final question of the form of Government to a plebiscite ; but it is at least important that such a plebiscite should be taken under Republican rather than under Imperial or merely military auspices. What France now wants is a free vote of her people on the fullest knowledge of all the facts of her position ; and it is in promoting that free vote, and in guaranteeing its freedom, as well as in giving the people all the knowledge which can be given of the situation of the country, that the Re publicans who are now at the head of affairs will best serve the country, best help the Republic, and best justify the trust which the Revolution of September placed in their hands. The Telegraph says :—ln the interests of peace, wo think it a gain that the time allowed to the Chambers for deliberation is extremely brief. The elections take place on the Bth ; on the 15th the Chambers meet for the first time ; and by the 19th fighting must recommence unless peace shall be concluded. It will, therefore, be impossible for the Assembly to enter on any other issue than the question, Shall the war go on or cease ? This is the more important, because the Chambers will have, in fact, a double mandate—they • must decide not only whether peace shall be concluded, but under what form of government France shall be ruled. • It is possible that the Republic, under whose control the elections will be held, will attempt to consider the establishment of Republican institutions in France as a recognised fact ; but practically, the Deputies will be elected, less as the partisans of peace or war than as the adherents of some one among the many parties which aspire to the government of France. It is upon the cards that the Government may throw its whole weight on the side of con tinued resistance ; and in that case the triumph of the warlike policy would involve the maintenance of M. Gambetta in power. But if, as we hope, the issue of peace or war be left an open question, or be decided in favour of peace, the Chambers will then be able to express the opinion of the nation as to the propriety of re taming the Republic or replacing it by a more p f o pul France f owrmi of ll, therefore,G overn d m e e p n e t n . d , u p T o h n e t h f o u t tir o 0 e n nr. te a s ti ti n o n o o f the new Constituent Assembly. In the present state of the country it is idle to foretell what may be the result of the appeal to the constituency. An excited meeting at Bordeaux has been shouting for war a outrance, and been vociferous in its loyalty to M. Gambetta ; but that is of little importance. The fact, however, that the Dictator could not address the crowd confirms the report of his illness. Th 6 question of peace or war must be decided by a larger consti tuency than that of Bordeaux ; and, under a perfectly free vote, the Republic would, undoubtedly, he left in a hopeless minority. By the great masses of the peasantry and the property-owning classes in the towns, the name of the Republic is viewed with t e rror ; and there has been nothing in the tactics adopted by AI. Gambetta, and his colleagues, or indeed in the recent history of the campaign, to remove the inveterate aversion with which the vast majority of Frenchmen view the prospect of Republican rule. There seems reason to believe that the middle classes throughout France would welcome the restoration of the House of Orleans ; on the other hand, it is probable that the great bulk of the peasantry are still faithful in their allegiance to the Empire. The Standard observes :—lf the Prussian terms are what the Prussian newspapers have desccribed, there can be very little hope of peace, order, and progress, material . . or moral, in France for several years. The Government of the day would bear the full odium of a situation the nation felt to be intolerable, and would struggle in vain, for all its good intentions and great abilities, against such an hostility. Part of the German conditions of peace is the payment of an indemnity, which, to be obtained at all, must be divided into instalments spread over several years, and the reward which the Germans promise themselves for their victory is the relief for ever_ more of the necessity of guarding against French attack. Let them be careful that they do not bring upon them seines the necessity of holding perpetual guard against France by extorting now concessions which it must be the object of the nation to repudiate at the first opportunity. It is idle for the Germans to pretend that the condition of France, even after these terrible blows they have struck her, will not be matter of vital interest for them. They are not -so settled in their new house that they have not to fear those French ideas which, under circumstances seemingly favourable to Prussian military calculations may sweep over the old as well as the new frontier. We repeat, the interest of the German nation, if that interest Array be identified with the maintenance of peace, the reduction of mili tary burdens, and the development of a well-ordered freedom, is largely bound up in the establishment of order in France and 'the reconcilement of the nation to its new position. At the best many in fluences will work against the attainment of these good ends. The Orleanists, the Republicans, and those Impe rialists too, who, careless of the wishes of the Emperor and the Empress, thinking of regaining their old position, are already hard at work in France. Confidence has been generally shaken, and he who should be called by popular acclaim to the Government, and worthy of the nomination, would have a hard task to regenerate France if ever he had to suffer the bitter humiliation of a cession of French territory. That the Prussians should ask this cession is natural. That they will in sist upon it is certain ; but we do hope that in their own interests, as well as in those of - France and Europe, they will be sufficiently moderate— we would prefer say. mug wise—to facilitate the re-establishment of order in France. the the the Llgh mi- Ler her new :e a ohn aln, lent arch [son alder I you re me