The Sun. — London, England, 1871-02-22 00:00:00

member for Greenwich (Sir David Salomons) intended to take action on the subject. ARMY ORGANISATION. Lord ELcHo gave notice that he sl'ould move that the various regulations proposed by the Government imposed fresh burdens on the country, without establishing the forces on a sound, economical, and durable basis. FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION OF INDIA. Mr. GLADSTONE gave notice that on Thursday next he would move the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the finance and financial administration of India. (Hear.) THE REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY. Mr. TREVELYAN moved the following resolutions with reference to army administration :—" That in the opinion .of this House no scheme for military re organization can be regarded as complete which does not alter the tenure of the Command-in-Chief in such a manner as to enable the Secretary of State for War to avail himself freely of the best administrative talent and the most recent military experience from time to time existing in the British army. That the consideration of the cost involved in the abolition of the purchase system urgently calls for the immediate removal of obsolete and antiquated sources of military expenditure." He re marked that perhaps the House would not be at a loss to understand why the first of his original reso lutions was withdrawn the fact was that that part of the announcement of the Secretary of State for War relating to the purchase system was received with great and unalloyed satisfaction by army reformers. (Cries of " No," and cheers.) He was pleased that the Government acknowledged the prin ciple that an officer should not only be compensated, but should receive back everything he would be liable to get in case the purchase system continued, except some fancy prices. The Government scheme of instant abolition and gradual compensation was evidently the right one, be cause it put the Government in the position towards an officer that his brother officer held to him at the present moment. A change of that sort must necessarily raise some discontent certain interests were injured, and various cherished beliefs rudely shaken; but army re formers would regard with pleasure tlr3 fact that they had relieved the Government of some share of their unpopu larity. It had been urged upon him that, having obtained the most valuable part of what he wanted, he ought to withdraw his resolution—(hear)—but although he accepted the concession with unfeigned gratitude, he felt bound to submit what had not been conceded to Parliament. (Hear.) Four years ago he pressed the question of the purchase sys tem, and three years ago almost a similar scheme to the one proposed by the Government was brought forward. • He intended to press the question to-night, in order to lay it before the country, and then he had no doubt it would not require many more annual Tuesdays before this most inadvisable tenure of office system would be done away with. (Hear, hear.) The Secretary of State had proposed many excellcnt changes, but he did not think that merely having the Horse Guards under the same roof as the War Office would effect much good. First, it had been proposed to alter the words in the patent by which the Commander-in-Chief was appointed, but that was not sufficient ; now he proposed to amalgamate the two departments, but the mere change of locality was not enough. He did not hesitate to say that if the Secre tary of State sat at one desk, and the Commander-in- Chief at another, those relations which existed a week ago would still continue to exist. If it was not usual to remove the Commander-in-Chief at the end of five years, or at stated periods, the consequence would be that it would be found the Commander-in-Chief could not be removed without inflicting on him a stigma which no Government would like to inflict, especially on an officer who had done his duty like the present Commander-in-Chief. (Hear, hear.) It was very desirable that the proposed change should take place, for war was every day becoming more and more an art. Besides the necessity *hich existed of having fresh blood, one great advantage was that the office of Commander-in-Chief should be looked 1 1P to as the reward of the best soldiers. (Hear, hear.) T he Duke of Wellington retained the office for an un usually long p er i o d, an d Lord Grey had stated that the : v iike Wellington was not favourable to change, and that 7 37 B tep taken towards the improvement of the army be en --- car r ied in opposition to the military authorities. Ile believed that the Duke of Wellington had, as Corn 4uander-in-Chief, done the country more harm than goo d—(oh, oh)—for he left it in an undefended condition, but he was a great economist, and he kept it undefended at very little cost. (Laughter.) Lord Hardinge had the office for four years; this period of command was the one bright spot in the history of the Horse Guards, for nature did for Lord Hardinge what he was endeavouring to do by the five years scheme. (Laughter, and hear hear.) If the five years system had been adopted, he did not believe that the army would be in the state it was at present. A noble lord opposite had suggested that colonels and majors should retire every five years, in order to prevent their becoming rusty, but how much more im portant was it that this rule should be applied to the head of the army. He referred them to various offices in India, where the appointments were held for five years, and why could not one general system be similarly carried nut? If they lodked at the example of Prussia t hey would see how important it was that the Com mander-in-Chief should be relieved of all paper work and that his duties should be supplemented by going about from one district to another seeing that the generals did their duty, and that the Arsenals were Well supplied, for he hoped shortly to see local arsenals. wear.) He had the high authority of Lord Grey on the enhject, who strongly recommended that we should have t he Secretary of State with a board at the War-office with °ltitary advisers not having great power or overpowering r ank, and that their officers would be entirely separated from t he duties of the Commander-in-Chief. In fact just as t he Board of Admiralty had the advice of sailors, so S hould the Secretary of State have the advice o f a Military Board. He did not venture t o point out to the House the remedy , t _° apply, but he asked them to affi rm by th e i r vo t e th a t if the Commander-in-Chief was only removeable at Pleasure, he was practically, and to all intents and pur- Poses, a permanent officr ; and if he was a permanent officer Lt was not an advantage to the army or to the c ountry. The Secretary of State for W ar d ea lt almost •, entirely with the subject of promotion. With reference to the duties of the Commander-in-Chief, he asked in whose hands those large powers were to be invested. He further said that they ought to b e vested with an officer chosen by the Sove reign, subject to the approval of the Secretary of tate. Now he found that in 1869, out of the 571 pro kotions, only-116, or one-fifth went without purchase, Therefore four-fifths of the promotidn in the whole 8413 aY restecL with the Horse Guards. This was a ' great responsibility, and he asked, how could the Horse G uards meet it? The Secretary of State said that the 40111 g away with the purchase system would remove youritism ; but as long as they had permanent offices they would never accomplish this. It was singular Wrw those appointments, which were intended only to be e ld for fi ve years , were carr i e d out i n pract i ce. T here a „ a Case where an officer was ten years Quartermaster e tieral at th e H orse G uar d s , th en G overnor o f fi braltar then he came back as Adjutant-General, hd when his time in that office had expired (I ,4 Bo Pposed he would be Quartermaster-G enera l again. nghter.) He knew he was touching on delicate ground, ; It What he said on the platform in the country he was te Pared to say there. The Secretary of State - the Commander -in - Chief must be looked t 114 ,, differently to other staff officers, an d t pt his tenure of office must not be looked 11 as a m a tt er o f ti me , b u t mus t d epen d on t h e a-0,,_ b 4 ' o deratio ns of public service, If so there was no place Tl 4 „, t ting to discuss the question as in that House. member maintained that the Indian service was t ake on a p roper b as i s. A li tt l e f avour i t i sm m i ght T he Place, but no able man in the long run was kept back. e in ra an der-in-Chief thought that if th e p urc h ase ei tt was abolished, an underhand system would at once t e R „, -13 ,g 1 - I P, but he (the speaker) was sure thi s wou ld no t b e b a il if they h a d a C omman d er -i n -Chi e f w h o was deter -1,404ed to make his selections so that a man would not ketri beforehand that he was going to get his pro to 1 "- He complained that though they were about 4. the purchase system they were doing so in the expensive manner. He violently attacked the policy a ll „ sl ied at the Horse Guards, and contended that the tieZorities there should be called upon to give an explana p a ,,_ 4 , 8 to the cause of our defenceless condition. He com out7,lethe cost of our army with that of France, pointed jee,ll! absurdity of the duties of army agents, and ob <rad to the exceptional pay given to the officers of the high , s *, WhY they should have such a comparatively Was 4ate o f —__ PiAy and take precedence of other officers, a loss to vocated conceivee also ad a e re tbetioliat . of the household • trooHps, anti said many larg could E THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1871. LATEST INT EL LIGENC SUN OFFICE, 8 A.M. THE ARMISTICE. The Ltberte of the 20th, published at Bordeaux, announces authoritatively that Count Bismarck will chew his esteem for the new French Government by granting a prolongation of the armistice until the sth of" March. VERSAILLES, February 21 (7.40 a.m.). In consequence of the representations of the French Deputies the German authorities have re duced the contribution of the Department of the Oise to two million francs. No day is fixed for the entry of the troops into Paris, nor is any programme yet known at the head quarters of the Prince Imperial. Peace is considered to be nearly certain. 3.35 p.m. M. Thiers has received from England, Austria, Italy, and Spain official recognition of the new Government. He is expected here immediately. The Crown Prince has returned from his tour o: inspection.—Times 7elegrains. NEWS PROM BRUSSELS. BRUSSELS, February 21. The troops of Faidherbe's Army continue to em bark at Dunkirk for Cherbourg. The German Envoy has presented to the King of the Belgians the letter of the Emperor William, notifying his acceptance of the Imperial dignity. The Echo du Parlement states positively that negotiations are taking place between the leaders of the Belgian Catholic party and Rome for the transfer of the Papal See to Belgium.—Daily News Telegram. THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. PARIS, February 21, Evening. M. Thiers has left for Versailles, in order to have an interview, on the conditions of peace, with Count Bismarck.—Standard Telegram. THE PROSPECTS OF PEACE. BORDEAUX, Tuesday, 6 P.M. The Journal de Bordeaux says that it can state without reserve that the reaty of Peace may be considered as signed. The territorial question will be definitely decided in a manner more favourable to French interests and the national honour than might be anticipated. M. Thiers was to have an interview with the Emperor on Tuesday. The German army will make a short march through a portion of Paris. Rented, 64f. 20c. DISAIIBSAL OF THE REPUBLICAN PREFECTS. BORDEAUX, Tuesday Night. The Government has deposed all the Prefects named by the ex-Dictator. HEALTH OF THE KING OF SWEDEN. STOCKHOLM, Feruary 24. The daily bulletin of the King's health states that the improvement continues. During the last few days the fever has entirely abated, and his Majesty has slept well, and is regain ing his appetite. THE ARMISTICE AND PEACE PROSPECTS. The following special despatches are forwarded by the Telegraph correspondents : PARIS, Tuesday, February 21 (1 p.m.) General Trochu has written as follows to the Liberte : —" You ask what are my sentiments with regard to the report which is gaining ground of the approaching entry of the German army into Paris. I will give them frankly. After four and a half months of siege, after eight combats and battles commenced by the besieged, after a bombard ment which made so many victims, in accordanc e with a conviction which famine alone could dictate, the enemy owes to Paris the honours of war. She should have no anxiety for traditions and rules. In public opinion, vouchers of the nobleness of conquerors and conquered are the honours of war for Paris, re spect for the enceinte, and for her mourning. The enemy wishes to enter Paris, not having forced any point of the enceinte, taken by assault the detached forts, or carried the exterior defences. If thus the government of the city be given up to him, he should alone bear the odium and responsibility of such violence. As a speechless and solemn protest, the gates should be shut ; let him open them with cannon. Disarmed, Paris will not reply, but will leave to the truth and justice of history the task of judging." The police fear that the publication of this letter will excite difficulties. Three thousand bombs have been siezed by the authorities. The Journal Officiel publishes a list of the new Ministry, which has not been favourably received. The appointment of General Leflo as Minister of War is temporary. He is too old for the task of reforming the army. The nomination of De Larcy at the Public Works is not understood. Lambrecht, the Minister of Commerce, is a Protectionist. Admiral Pothuan's presence at the Marine will probably be only temporary. The new Finance Minister is not yet named the post is likely to be offered to M. Buffet. 2 P. m. It is expected here that the selection of the Ambas sadors to Foreign Courts will satisfy them, and destroy the hopes of the Reds. The Due de Broglie goes to London, Count Melchoir de Vogue to Constantinople, M. de Remusat to Vienna, and the Duke de Noailles to St. Petersburg. IMPERIAL HEAD-QUARTERS, VERSAILLES, Tuesday, Feb. 21(2 p.m.) Peace is now considered all but certain. M. Favre, M. Picard, and the Minister of-Finance are expected here to morrow. Count von Moltke has submitted for the approval of the Emperor the plan of operations to be un dertaken should peace not be assured before noon on Fri day, the 24th. The. Second, Third, and Fifth Armies will be at once thrown upon, the South; and Prince Frederick Charles is looked to at head-quarters for the execution of a great enterprise which, in case of need, is to complete the subjection of France. All the German troops remain ing around Paris are being exercised in the parade march, and the military bands are practising the music they will play during the triumphal entry. The word " Republic " has been struck out of all public acts, and " La France " has been substituted. AMIENS, Tuesday, February 21 (5.30 p.m.) The troops of the First German Army are ordered to hold themselves ready to concentrate at once on the Somme. No movement has yet taken place, as final orders are awaited from Versailles. Should peace not be concluded, the offensive will at once be vigorously com menced. Yesterday morning a rumour got abroad' that the representatives at Bordeaux were assuming a warlike attitude ; and groups of people collected in the streets, but were dispersed by German patrols. General Chanty has addressed the following pro clamation to the Second French Army :—" Officers and Soldiers of the Second Army, a new 'blow strikes us, but cannot overthrow us. After a heroic stuggle, which has lasted near five months—after sufferings and priva tions nobly endured—at the moment when all resources were exhahsted at Paris, the Government of the National Defence has been obliged to con clude, on the 28th of January, at Versailles, a convention with the enemy, the consequence of which is an armistice of twenty-one days, expiring on the 19th of February. However painful may be for us the situation created by this measure, at the moment when, confident in your good right and animated by your patriotism, you were about to make new efforts, the pledged word of the Government must be loyally accepted. Hostilities are suspended ; an Assembly is convoked which will know how to affiim that France intends that her honour should remain intact as her territory. Your duty is to put this time of forced rest to profit—to prepare yourselves for resuming the struggle if arrogant claims render an honourable peace impossible. Without any other idea than that of saving the country, you will remain the Army of Order and of the National Defence ; prepared for all sacrifices, and animated by a single desire—that of fighting d outrance, until you achieve the triumph of one single sentiment—that of vengeance, if the purpose of Germany is to oppress, to lower, and to humiliate us.—CHANzY." A division of the French Army of the North embarked yesterday morning at Dunkerque, to march southward from its point of debarkation. Eleven millions of the Paris war contribution were delivered to day to the war-chest of the Ist German Army at Amiens. M. Thiers is reported to havegone to Versailles. never believe the Government was in earnest about economy as long as they maintained a useless expenditure under this head of £BO,OOO or £90,000. He applauded the economy exercised by Government in closing Green wich Hospital, and maintained that the same principles should be carried out with reference to similar establish ments. Mr. ANDERSON seconded the resolution, and complained that while they had reduced the term of office of Military Secretary to five years, they had done so in order to pre serve the larger abuse. Army reformers would require a greater reform than this ; they would require better defined responsibilities, that the Horse Guards should be remodelled, and that the whole system should be in the hands of the Secretary for War. Captain VIVIAN defended the Government policy, pointing out the steps which have been taken under the Secretary for War for removing the dual management and fringing the Horse Guards and the War Office under the same rule. This they were about to accomplish. As to the merits of the Commander-in-Chief, he said the Duke of Cambridge knew more of the intricate detail of military administration than any man in England. He pointed out the inconveniences which would result from a five years' tenure of office of the Commender-in-Chief, and said that the Government scheme was based on term s of justice. He hoped the resolution would not be pressed. Lord E. CECIL believed that the Duke of Cambridge was the best man they could find, and until a more effi cient one had been discovered for the purpose of carrying out the plan of selection, they had better cease to say any thing about his merits or demerits. Lord BURY said the Commander-in-Chief had always shewn himself a master of details, and alluded to his Royal Highness's recent speech—that he was prepared to head military reformers, rather than to drag them back — as an indication of his desire to see a general reform. Colonel NORTH warmly defended the Duke of Cam bridge, and contended that our army was not over officered. When her Majesty went to open Parliament on the last occasion the number of officers of Life Guards required was two field officers, six captains, and fourteen subalterns, but it so happened that there were only twelve subalterns in the regiment, so that more were needed for the household troops. Mr. REILLY said that the question of honorary colonelcies would have to be considered with the question of retirement. He did not approve of the Commander in-Chief being appointed for five years only, and was com pelled, therefore, to vote against the motion. Major DICKSON opposed the resolution, as did also Mr. B. OSBORNE, who expressed his opinion that a more able officer never presided at the Horse Guards than the Duke of Cambridge. Sir P. O'BRIEN spoke disparagingly of the administra tive tact and talent of his Royal Highness, and strongly supported the resolution, which, however, Mr. H. R. BRAND hoped would not be pressed to a division. Mr. CARDWELL regretted the antagonism of Mr. Tre velyan on this question, because he was convinced the hon. gentleman agreed generally with the scheme of the Government for reorganising the army. It might be thought, if the division was insisted upon, that the mover was actuated by personal opposition to the present Com mander-in-Chief; and he therefore hoped Mr. Trevelyan would find it consistent with his feelings to withdraw his resolutions. Mr. TREVELYAN, however, declined; and a division took place, with the following result : For the resolution Against 83 201 Majority against llB Mr. TAYLOR obtained permission to bring in a bill for the abolition of the Game Laws ; as did also Mr. Rylands a bill to extend to the whole of Sunday the present re strictions on the sale of beer. • MR. GLADSTONE AND THE POPE. Mr. JOHNSTONE moved for copies of a letter from Mr. Gladstone to the member for Queen's County, in which Mr. Gladstone declared that her Majesty's Government considered all that related to the adequate support of the dignity of the Pope, and to his personal freedom and independence in the discharge of his spiritual functions, to be legitimate matter for their notice. Also, for corre spondence between Mr. Gladstone and the members for Perth and Marylebone, despatches of the Foreign Secre tary to the Governors of Malta and Gibraltar, and to the diplomatic agents resident in Rome. Mr. GLADSTONE, in reply, said that he was quite willing to lay on the table the official communications with the Governors of Malta and Gibraltar,and the other despatches would be shortly ready. He must refuse the first proposi tion, on the ground that a communication from a Minister to a member of the House was not an official document. Mr. JOHNSTONE withdrew his motion with the excep• ion of the letter to Mr. Dease, and on the House dividinE ;he following was the result : Noes Ayes , Majority against the motion 63 The House adjourned at twelve o'clock. THE CONFERENCE. The Berlin correspondent of the the Independance Beige says that the statement that Russia is to be excluded from the permission given to the Porte to open or refuse the straits to the passage of foreign war vessels is erroneous. This is what is supposed to have given rise to the mistake. The first proposal was that as the neutralisation of the Black Sea had ceased, Turkey resumed her full rights, and might grant or refuse permission to enter the straits to any war ships but those of Border States. It was then perceived that this formula practically ex cluded Russia. The term States was, therefore, altered into " States or friendly Powers." It is not known whether this last phrase has been preserved, or has been set aside as superfluous. In any case it is considered settled that the Ottoman Porte has the same right to grant passage to Russia as to any other Power. THE NORWICH ELECTION. The poll for the City of Norwich began on Tuesday morning at eight o'clock. At the nomination on the previous day Mr. Colman, the Liberal candidate, had the show of hands. The following returns were issued throughout the day : NINE O'CLOCK. Mr. Colman (L.) Sir C. Legard (C.) TEN O'CLOCK - Colman Legard 1,916 1,330 ELEVEN O'CLOCK. Colman Legard 2,808 1,929 TWELVE O'CLOCK. Colman . Legard . 3,392 2,392 TWO O'CLOCK. Colman . Legard . THREE O'CLOCK. Colman Legard 4,172 2,930 Colman . Legard .. 4,501 3,201 CLOSE OF THE POLL. 4,662 3,396 Majority Seventy or eighty Bradford tailors have gone on strike through a dispute as to the use of sewing machines. Mr. Ralph Benson, the magistrate of Southwark police-court, London, is lying dangerously ill at his house in Beaufort-gardens, Brompton-road. __ _ The Leeds papers report the death of a Baptist minister of some celebrity in the North, the Rev. Dr. Godwin. Dr. Godwin was 85 years of age. An Honorary Canonry in Manchester Cathedral has been conferred upon the Rev. Edward Pedder. M.A., of Brasenose College, Oxford, vicar of St. John's Lancas ter. LONDON V. DUBLIN STOUT.—The experiment of using imperial measure in bottling beer has proved eminently successful, the consumption of the article hav ing increased to an enormous extent. This result must be highly satisfactory to the great brewers who have adopted the system, because it shews that there is a determination on the part of the public to patronise the London firms, es -pecially when the article and the measure are both unexcep tionable. A great and well-known Irish firm until lately entirely monopolised the London market for bottled stout, the reputed pints and quarts being accepted on account of the goodness of the contents ; but since the system of giving imperial measure has been pursued by the London brewers, a competition has arisen which promises a result greatly to their advantage. The draught stout of the Messrs. Whitbread has for years been acknowledged to be among the best in the metropolis ; there is no reason what ever why it should not be e qua lly goo d w hen placed in bottles, and it seems strange that it did not command a pre ference from the first; but recently agreat change has taken place, and now its consumpti on i s i ncreas i ng so rapidly that there is no question but that it will certainly secure the lead in the market. A little more than twelve months ago large premises were opened by the Messrs. Whitbread, at 26, Worship-street, Finsbury, by Mr. Robert Baker (their sole agent), entirely for bottled beer, and at that time were considered large enough for all practicable purposes; but the great reputation which this specialit€ of this well knoyvn firm has obtain e d h as necess it a t e d a change, and i theimmense building situated near the King's-cross end of Gray's-inn-road and known as. St. George's Hall, will, in_the course o f a few weeks, become the head-quarters of Mr. Baker. THE GERMAN TERMS OF PEACE. According to intelligence from Versailles, the terri torial concessions to be demanded of France are finally determined, and will form part of the ultimatum submitted for the acceptance of the French Government, without power of modification. The German line of demarcation extends twelve leagues west of Met; going down through Chateau Saline:towards the Vosges, taking in the Depart ments of the Lower and Upper Rhine, up to and including Belfort. MM. Thiers, Picard, awl Jules Favre were to hold a meeting with Count Bismarck at Sceaux on the 21st. REMOVAL OF THE CAPITAL FROXI PARIS, BORDEAUX, February 21. The Deputies of the National Assembly will shortly take into consideration, and bring under dis cussion, the question of the eventual and definitive transfer of the seat of Government to some point outside of Paris.—Lornbard Telegram. The following telegrams come through Reuter's agency : THE ORLEANS PRINCES. It is asserted at Bordbaux that the Duke d'Aumale and the Prince de Joinville arrived in Bordeanx on Friday last, but upon the advice of their friends left again on Sunday, without insisting upon taking their seats in the Assembly, knowing that if their election were verified by the House, the Emperor Napoleon would present himself as a candidate in various elec toral colleges, and put forward the same motives for election as the Princes." The Gazette de .France announces positively that the following diplomatic appointments have been made :—Duke de Broglie, Ambassador to London ; Duke de Noailles to St. Petersburg ; M. de Rtmusat, to Vienna; and Viscount Vogu6 to Constantinople. The Patrie, Con stitutionnel, Gazette de France, and the Siecle all agree with the Press of the De partments that it is the intention of M. Thiers to carry out to the extreme limit the programme of conciliation of all political parties. The Paris Jockey Club and the Club of the Rue Royale have passed resolutions that in future the fact of a candidate for admission being of Prussian nationality would disqualify him for membership at either club. PRUSSIAN WAR CONTRIBUTION. HAVEB, February 21. A. fresh contribution of 400,000 francs has been imposed by the Prussians on Alencon (Orne). The town having refused to pay, the Mayor and ten of the Town Councillors have been arrested as hostages. THE REPORTED BURNING ALIVE OF A FRANC-TIREUR. IMPERIAL HEADQUARTERS, VERSAILLES, February 21. The account recently published in a London paper and reproduced in many of the French journals, of the burning alive of a captain of Francs-Tireurs at Pouillez, is officially stated to be utterly devoid of foundation. THE FRENCH AND GERMAN LOSSES. BERLIN, February 21, 8 p.m. The official returns show the total French losses in January to have been 350,000 men and 800 guns. The loss of men is distributed as follows : Of General Ohanzy's army, 24,000 ; of General Roye's forces, 12,000 ; of the army of General Faidherbe, 11,000; and of the army under General Bourbaki, 30,000. Eighty thousand men are set down as having crossed into Switzerland, and the loss in Paris is estimated at 160,000 men. The total German losses in the month of January amount to 10,000. Letters from Paris announce that steps are being taken to dissolve and thoroughly remodel the National Guard. This process is to be completed before the entry of the German troops into the French capital. RECOGNITION OF THE FRENCH GOVERN MENT BY RUSSIA, TURKEY, AND SWIT ZERLAND. A telegram from St. Petersburg on the 21st says the Russian Government has officially recognised the new Government of France. February 21 (Evening). Turkey and Switzerland have recognised the French Government. The Duke de Broglie has been appointed French Ambassador in London. THE HUDSON RIVER ACCIDENT. The American papers furnish some particulars of the fearful accident on the Hudson River Railroad, when many of the passengers were burned. The disaster is one of the most appalling ever chronicled even in the railroad accidents of America. On the night of the 6th of February, a freight train laden with petroleum oil, was proceeding from the village of New Hamburg, pn the Hudson River Railroad, when just as it entered on the bridge to the south of the village, the axle of one of the cars broke, and the car was overturned on the left hand line, up which the Pacific passenger train from New York was then rushing at express speed. There was no time to signal, and the locomotive of the passenger express ran into the over turned freight car, which it smashed to pieces. The oil instantly blazed up and enveloped everything in fire and smoke. The flames spread so rapidly that the beams and pillars of the drawbridge, and till the freight cars but three were saturated with the burning oil. A vast column of fire, surmounted by a dense cloud of smoke, shot up from the tangled mass of cars and the burning bridge, and lit up the frozen river and the snow covered hills for miles. The agonised cries of distress and wild alarm, and the shrieks of the dying rose upon the night air, and smote upon the hearts of the few spectators, who were compelled to witness without being able to rende.i the slightest assistance, the appalling calamity. The in flammable liquid was rolling in every direction, and the cars of the express train were soon on fire. A new horror was then added to the scene by the fall of the bridge which was weakened by the intense heat, and suddenly gave way, precipitating an express car and a sleeping car into the river. The petroleum spread out on the ice a sheet of fire, enveloping the bridge and piers, and surrounding two icebound schooners, which lay within a few feet of the drawbridge at the north side, and these craft were only saved by the powerful play of water kept up by a steam fire-engine 'called the " William Gardiner," from the adjacent village of Wappinger's Falls. Nothing could be done to rescue those who had gone down into the dark current, and when morning dawned those unfortunate persons were entombed beneath a solid mass of ice. The work of recovering the bodies was a most arduous one, as the carriages were covered by the ice and debris of the bridge, and immense beams of timber still on fire. Many of the bodies were so disfigured as to prevent identification. There is an uncertainty as to the number of those who were lost in the fatal scene. They have been variously estimated at from forty or fifty to seventy. Great blame has been attached to the railway company for allowing an express train and an oil train to pass over a wooden bridge, that was known to be in a frail condition, at . the same time. There were many chances against a collision, but the arrangements in question were decidedly faulty, and the structure of the bridge is proved to have been unequal for an exceptional pressure. Hopes are expressed that the Legislature will interfere to prevent the recurrence qf a similar calamity to this Hud son disaster, which has cast a gloom over the length and breadth of the State. The honcur of knighthood is to be conferred on Mr. Boxall, R. A., on his retirement from his post at the Royal Academy. CRYSTAL PA LA CE.—One Shilling Day, Tuesday, 21st February, 1871.—Admission by season tickets, 2,069 ; ditto on payment, 1,126 ; total visitors, 3,195. HAYMARKET THEATRE. eir Royal Highnesses the Princess Louise and Prince Arthur, accompanied by Prince Christian, and attended by a brilliant suite, visited this theatre last evening, to witness the performance of " The Palace of Truth." It is reported that a parish priest in the county Limerick, up to Wednesday last , has netted the su m of £2OO for marriage fees this Shrovetide. " This fact," says the Limerick Chronicle," is most significant of the prosperity of the agricultural class in this county." KINAHAN'S LL WHISKY.— This celebrated and most delicious old mellow spirit is the very cream of Irish Whiskies, in quality unrivalled, perfectly pure, and more wholesome than the finest Cognac Brandy. Note the words, " KINAHAN'S LL WHISKY "on Seal, Label, and Cork. New Wholesole Depot, 6A, Great Titchfieldstreet, Oxford-street, NV, AUSTRIA AND THE PRINCIPALITIES, In the sitting of the 20th the Lower House, in answer to a question from Herr Stratimiroirtz, the Government declared that it did not intend to inter fere in any way in the internal affairs of the Danu bian Principalities, so long as other Powers would observe in principle a policy of non-intervention. In reply to Herr Iranyis, the Government stated that it could not well interfere in the Franco-Prussian War. THE ITALIAN MINISTRY. FLORENCE, February 20 (7 p.m.) Signor Racli, the Minister of Grace and Justice, has resigned. He is succeeded by Senator di Falco, a Neapolitan jurisconsult. ILLNESS OF THE QUEEN OF SPAIN. MADRID, February 20 (5.20 p.m.) Queen Maria Victoria lies dangerously ill with miliary fever at Alissao. She has asked to receive the last sacraments. The excessively nervous temperament of her Majesty renders her case hopeless. • Several persons suspected of atttempting to as sassinated Senor Ruiz Zorrilla has been im prisoned. THE FLOODS IN HOLLAND. THE HAGUE, February 20, Since my last despatch, the gradual thaw has broken up the ice in the most dangerous parts of the rivers, and the apprehension of serious disasters has ceased. At Bois-le-Duc, however, the whole town was flooded for several days, and the poorer classes suflered severely. The smallpox continues widely prevalent at the Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and elsewhere. The port of Harlinge is crowded with an accumu lation of English imports, which the state of the waters rendered it impossible to send on. Orders have been given to forward the goods as speedily as possible by the State Railway.-7 clear aph Telegram. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) THE OXFORD CREW. Mr. S Darbishire, who arrived at Oxford on Monday night, rowed stroke yesterday afternoon, displacing Mr. Bunbury, who was shifted to six. Mr. Payne went out of the boat. The change, which is only temporary, gave the boat more life. The president coached. The day for the race is not yet fixed. THE REPRESENTATION OF GALWAY. The Galway nomination took place on Tuesday at ten o'clock, Mr. Allen Pollock. High Sheriff, pre siding. Mr. Mitchell Henry was proposed by Mr. Redington Roach, and was seconded by Mr 7 John Eyre Conway. There was no opposition, and, according to custom, he washed his hands in court in face of the crowd, but said nothing. Mr. Mitehell Henry was then declared elected. His politics are liberal. THE GREAT JEWEL ROBBERY. At the Leamington Local Board, on Tuesday, Mr. Bright, one of the members, called attention to the com ments of the press on the London diamond robbery ; and moved for a committee of inquiry into the conduct of Superintendant Lund in the case. He said he held a state ment from Miss Pitt controverting portions of Mr. Frank Robinsons's statutory declaration. Mr. Lund, at the re quest of the board, gave similar explanations to those set forth in a letter addressed to Mr. Bright, who then withdrew his motion ; and it was resolved nem con., that Mr. Lund had displayed a considerable amount of tact and energy in the apprehension of Mrs. Torpey, and in the general management of the case whilst it was in his hands ; and that in their opinion the adverse criticisms on his conduct were uncalled for and unjust. The liquidators of the Mercantile and Exchange Bank at Liverpool have issued a second report, stating that they hope to realise £6 10s. per share, out of the £l2los. paid up. The inquiry into the cause of the death of the seaman named Jones, one of the crew of the smack Teetotaler, which was sunk off Yarmouth on Friday last, was held at Lowestoft on Tuesday, before Mr. Marriott, county coroner. A verdict of accidental death was returned. The crew of the Cruiser were saved and taken to Yar mouth, while only one of the five hands of the Teetotaler was saved. In consequence of the heavy gale on Sunday, there will be considerable delay in the transmission of messages to Hull, Sunderland, Newcastle, and Scotland generally. It is announced that Viscount Macduff, the only son of the Earl of Fife, will be a candidate in the Liberal interest for West Aberdeenshire at the next vacancy. The noble lord was born in 1849. When she was 15 years of age, Mrs. Adams, of the Foresters' Arms, Vale-street, Denbigh, jumped into a river and saved her master from drowning. The worthy gentleman died the other day, and left her in his will a legacy of £350. VICTORIA ( PHILOSOPHICAL) 7. INSTITUTR.—CharIes Brooke, Esq., ice-President, took the chair at the meet ing of this Institute on Monday last. Fourteen new members were announced, and donations to the library from H. Bagster, Esq., the Royal Institution, and others. The Rev. G. Henslow's paper on " Phyllotaxis " attracted a large audience, and it was followed by a discussion, in which Mr. Herbert Airy, the chairman,- and others took part. The chairman, in conclusion, remarked that the position of the leaves of plants on the stems of plants, which had been treated on, followed distinct laws, and there was in all nature a manifest indication of design, which had been so well shewn by Mr. Mitchell, in his paper on the "Bee Cell." The next meeting was announced for the 6th of March. THE Loss OF THE STEAMSHIP HUI.L.—The official inquiry at Hull into the loss of the steamship Hull on the morning of Dece m b er 14 t h , as she was on her way from Leith to Pillan, has terminated. The vessel, it may be remembered, struck on the land during a fog, and it Was alleged that the captain had failed to make the necessary lead castings in the vessel's difficulty. The coart found that, though the captain bore an excellent character, still that he had violated one of the most important of the sailing regulations. They, however, wished to deal leniently with him, and accordingly adjudged that his certificate of competency should be suspended for six calendar months only from the 14th of December, 1870, the date of the loss of the:steamship Hull. KARL BLIND ON MILITARY REFORM IN ENGLAND. —ln a letter on Military Reform in England, which M. Karl Blind has addressed to the Neue Freie Presee, he remarks, in referring to the much ..,poken-of pamphlet, " The Fight in Dame Europa's School" :—" England has not been, and is not, in a position to enter into this gigantic war. The people of this country, whether of Germanic or Celtic descent, are of the bravest in the world. A hundred thousand Englishmen would not have allowed themselves at Sedan simply to be made captives. Five hundred thousand of them would not have surrendered in the way the Paris garrison did; for long before hunger would have forced them to do so, they would have attempted sorties of a more terrible kind than were made by Trochu's troops. But what would the greatest bravery avail if it had to struggle, in insignificant numbers, against masses of war riors whose valour surely equals that of the English ?" In the course of his letter, M. Karl Blind speaks of the Swiss Militia system, which he thinks England would do well to adopt, with such modifications as the conditions of her empire render unavoidable. ENGLISH RACEHORSES IN NEW YORK.—The long-mooted question of superiority of English over American-bred racehorses is likely to be fairly tested during the next racing season, Messrs. Hunter and Travers, of this city, and R. V. Cameron, of Staten Island, having recently imported from England three of the best bred two-year-olds. Hunter and Travers's impor tation was the bay colt, Buckden, by Lord Clifden, dam Consequence, by Bay Middleton. Buckden is a fine-look ing and high-bred colt, his sire being winner of the Doncaster St. Leger, and sire of last year's winner of the same event—Hawthornden. The newcomer is engaged in the Dixie Stake for three-year-olds at Baltimore next year, and will doubtless be entered in some of the prin cipal two and three year old stakes still open at Jerome Park, Saratoga, and Long Branch. Mr. Cameron's two are the two-year-olds Sheet Anchor, a bay colt by Camerino Mainbrace (Fisherman's dam), by Sheet Anchor, and the bay filly by Blair Athol, dam Greta, by -Voltigeur. The youngsters are well-grown, muscular, and highly promising, and will be entered for most of the stakes remaining open. One of the most prominent and influential turfmen in this country has sent a commission to England to purchase a three-year -old thoroughbred, who:* public performances there last season stamped him as undoubtedly the best two-year-old out.—New York Tribune, Feb. 3. - OUR CO TEMPORARIES—This Morning OUR ARMY ADMINISTRATION The Times considers that it would 'nave been a just subject of regret if anything. had prevented Mr. Tre velyan's motion on army administration from being brought before the House of Commons. In our opinion, there is enough in the p resen t state of the army to justify not only one, but many nights' discussion. For years the army has ')een the subject of interminable debates, which, as is admitted by everybody, have had very little good effect. The cost has gradually increased until it is a heavy burden even to the richest of nations. The numbers are large, and yet it is alleged, and not denied, that hardly fifty thousand men are ready to meet an enemy. In short, the military forces of the Crown, on which from twelve to fifteen millions a year are spent, are pronounced to be inefficient Who is re ' sponsible for this ? " Somebody must be responsible," is the public reply, for the world when it is angry always demands an individual and a victim. The Duke of Cambridge is the pe'rson whom this kind of reasoning tends to call t) account, because an exhaustive process eliminates every one but the Com mander-in-Chief, who has held the highest place in the army for nearly fifteen years. The Commander-in-Chief, therefore, has been for a long time the target of reforming invective. Mr. Trevelyan himself has assumed that if this obnoxious office could be abolished, or reduced to a nullity, the path of improvement would be opened at once. We know no reason to suppose that the Duke of Cambridge is an opponent to reform in the army, though, like most officers, he may be content to work the system which Parliament and traditional usage have established. He has often declared emphati cally that his office is subordinate to the Secretary for War, and since the new regulations have been sanctioned by the Crown, there can no longer be a doubt of it. Such being the known state of the case, we cannot wonder that Mr. Trevelyan was defeated by a very large majority. His principles. may have in them much that is sound, but the motive of his speech is ill judged, and many of his illustrations are entirely beside the mark. Indeed, we cannot profess to understand the purpose of the many details on which he entered. It seems as if the real matter of his speech had been taken away, first by the willing co-operation of the Commander in-Chief with all the proposed reforms of the Government, and then by the largeness of these reforms as announced in Mr. Cardwell's speech., THE NEGOTIATIONS AT VERSAILLES. The Daily News remarks : Negotiations for peace have probably by this time actually begun. M. Thiers and M. Jules Favre are once more at Versailles, with M. Picard as a colleague ; and the object of the new triumvirate is to treat for peace. `• France has need of peace," said K Thiers • and though nobody has made the same confession for Germany, it dwells unspoken in the hearts of the German people. Both nations are thoroughly tired of the war, and the whole world is weary of looking on at the revolting spectacle. Unfortunately, this weariness of strife is rather an argument for peace than a guarantee of it. The belli gerents have resolved that lookers-on shall not at present take part in ending the struggle. While we can by no means agree with those who maintain that because France needs peace sbe must and will buy it any price, we think it not superfluous to urge moderation on Count Bismarck, and wise concession on M. Thiers. We believe the French statesman to be quite ready to yield whatever can be yielded with honour—ought the German statesman to ask for more ? Perhaps the question which at the present moment most agitates Paris is that of the march of the German army through its streets. The sensitive and lively Frenchman feels that to bring the national defeat thus home to him by a great military spectacle is a humiliation greater than he can bear ; the unsentimental German, on the contrary, can hardly see that it makes any difference to Paris whether he marches through its streets, or simply holds the city at his mercy. The German army wants to see Paris, and the King wants to give his soldiers the pleasure of the spectacle ; and they hardly seem to understand why it should not be clone. If the war goes on, we must, of course, expect that the capital will feel it in this tenderest point ; but if peace is made, we hope it will include the return of the Germans without marching through Paris. To the German army amarch through Paris would be an altogether unsub stantial addition to their triumphs ; to the French it would be one of the most substantial of their humiliations. What Europe wants, what Germany needs, is a lasting peace. The Germans cannot have a lasting peace on the humilia tion of their enemy. Such a peace must be one in which France can rest, which leaves no needless burden on her, inflicts no superfluous loss beyond the memory of military defeat. That memory is one which a great and noble nation can endure, when it can feel at the same time that no unfair advantage was taken of it in its weakness. A just peace is easy to make, and will be long to last ; an unjust peace must be forced now, and will be broken hereafter. LENT. The Telegraph observes :—Lent has begun. This is Ash Wednesday; and a very large section of the com znunity will doubtless celebrate the day in the conventional fashion. In the course of the next few days corres pondents in various parts of Europe will be sending accounts of the manner in which the Carvinal has been kept in Continental capitals. Paris has al ready, after a fashion, had her Carnival, and danced her " Galop Infernal" till she reeled, staggered, and fell exhausted. She has danced with a vengeance. It was the Germans who provided the fiddlers and the pipers for that gruesome festival ; but it is the French who will have to pay the musicians. For more than four long months Paris danced the "Dance of Death "—as hideous a performance as that which the undying pencil of Holbein has limned upon the wall at Basle. As in the great German pictures, Death led the dance, and opened the ball with all corners. He waltzed with the Princess ;he made the Bishop pirouette; his grisly arm was around the waist of the bride ; he dandled the baby from the cradle. A most merry Death he was —a true farceur, as Holbein shews him—now tripping his partners up, now digging pitfalls for them, now pulling the stools from. under them, At last, in his gamesome mood, having thinned the lan by disease and pinched it with faznine, he took to pelting the assemblage with bomb_ shells ; and then the lights went out and the ball was over, More than four hundred years have elapsed since the Parisians witnessed hi their streets a strange mortuary masquerade. It was during the trium phant occupation of Paris by the English after Agincourt, and in honour—strange honour —of the coronation of the boy Henry VI. as King of France in Notre Dame, that the Earl of Bedford and the Bishop of Winchester organised a grand " Danse Macabre," or Dance of Death, in the Ile St. Louis, The pageant — a curiously favourite one in the Middle Ages— had an immense success with the mercurial Parisians. Alas ! poor people ; it must have been with far different feelings that their descendants witnessed, not the sham, but the real " Dame Macabre " in 1870, It has been danced out—to the extinction of the last flambeau, to the exhaustion of the last dancer : and Heaven 'rant that Paris may never see such a t, cr :ale masquerade, such a black Carnival, again ! THE BALLOT BILL. The Standard says :—within the first fortnight of the the meeting of P ar li ament, b e f ore t h e d e fi n it e sense of of country has bee n t a k en upon th e t wo v ital questions the day—th e con d uct of E ng l an d i n regar d to theaggres sions an d usurpat i ons o f P russ i a and ofin arousing Russia—we find that the only s u bj ec t s w hi c h have succeededour are such pu re l y the Gov ernmen t t o any sor t of Sister'sfactio factious partisanaßndillandthe Ballot. measu res as vio• the While D the people eceased Wife' s li d fe hn fr po om rta th n e t i g r u r e ul st e io rs ; and still waiting; three agitationof greatest Powers of rulers— while l a l i i t l: f t o li r re s e o o m f e the sig m n o o s f t delicate an _ E relating u rope, respectively t t i h v e e l.oyr crisis a solution, the chief ctreeemsoefienAefers. Golfadtshtoosneewapealpetahray to be how to appease members of his connection who have broken the marriage l aw , and how to provide secret voting for the electors of A s for that venerable and timeTworn Radical the Ballot, which has been resuscitated from out of the lumber-room of Liberal properties, the first question which will ()emir to the public is why a measure for secret voting should be brought forward at all. The cry for the Ballot, whatever it might have been once, is a dead cry. It is but the ghost of a principle— a fossil remain from a past political age. The, attempt to whip the Ballot into something like life has been an utter failure. As for the working classes, their feelings are ten times more exercised on the question of the Princess Louise's dowry than about secret voting. To say of the Ballot that it is an old Liberal cry, that it dates from the time of primitive Radicalism, is to use no argument in its favour, but rather to condemn it. It would not have been sa old a. cry if there had been anything in it. To suppose that any body of people can, in these days, get up un enthusiasm in favour of the privilege of dropping their votes secretly into a box, and that their chief concern is whether their votes shall be on cardboard or on paper, marked with invisible ink or protected by a counterfoil, is surely a ridiculous delusion, even for th e Lib eral party to hold. The ques tion, we trust, will be duly considered before the second reading, _so that, eve n if t h e Government are able, by means of their majority, to carry the bill, the Conserva tive party may be preserved from the blunder of having helped their opponents to realise the oldest and most cherished of Radical notions. 3 igo )ee n bed be e" Ve of ca( 34 tit it 0 51; ' o °o f t he f tlie es er th ° ll' `e till IfC eis ild r th e G 0 . ! s ooh 6 ,1 °:, P ee' sol3' if 11° ,. poo - AP I : ot io : ts i3L, 4 ,119 c , to o e , DO'