The Sun. — London, England, 1871-01-03 00:00:00

SPECIAL EDITION. SUN OFFICE, 7 P.M. LATEST INTELLIGENCE THE WAR, THE BOMBARDMENT OF THE PARIS FORTS. BORDEAUX, January 2, The Prussian siege preparations indicate that they intend bombarding both Chatillon' and Montretout, and attacking Mont Valerien. The French army is anticipating with impatience the general attack. MOVEMENTS OF THE FRENCH. EERNE, January 1. A French force, 10,000 strong, is marching . from Ilypolyte to Yontiraide. General Treskow is beyond Delle. ENGAGEMENT NEAR BUSIGNY. LILLE, January 2. A train conveying a body of mobilised troops of the Ardennes was attacked yesterday between Mau berg and Busiguy by a detachment of Uhlans. The train was stopped and the National Guard put the thlans to flight. Communication between Cambray and Acbiet has been re-established. The Prussians have passed Courcelles, near Lens (Pas de Calais.)—Lombard Telegrams. ENGAGEMENT _AT GRAY. BESANCON, January 1. The Germans evacuated Gray yesterday, after a severe engagement with the Francs-Tireurs of Bourras. ;GERMAN MOVEMENTS ON THE LOIRE. NEUVY, January 1. The Germans are falling back on Gien, and evacuated Bonny yesterday. SPEECH BY THE KING OF PRUSSIA. VERSAILLES, January 2. At the New Year's reception, held yesterday at the Palace of Versailles, at 11.30 a.m., the King of Prussia made the following speech : " Great events must have passed to unite us on such a day and at such a place. I owe it to your heroism and to your perseverance, as well as to the bravery of the troops, that we have achieved such a suc cess. But we have not.yetreached our goal. Important tasks are still before us ere we arrive at an honourable and lasting peace. Such a peace will be ensured it you continue to perform deeds such as have led us to this point. Then we can confidently look to the future for what God in His gracious will may destine for us."—Reuter's Telegrams. THE ATTACK ON THE FRENCH FORTS. CONTINUED ILLNESS OF COUNT BISMARCK. VERSAILLES, January 2. Forts Rosny and Nogent have not replied to the German batteries, and the French appear to have Withdrawn their guns. A grand banquet was given by the King last night. The Imperial epoch begins. Count Bismarck is still indisposo.l. It is believed redress will be made for sinking British ships in the Seine.— Times. BERLIN, January 2. A. determination is supposed to exist at Ver sailles to bombard Paris until peace is con cluded. The news that three of the eastern forts have been silenced has produced here a conviction that the capitulation of the city is only a question of a few days. BORDEAUX, December 30. The Prussians before Paris have been repulsed in their attack on two of the forts. Another balloon has arrived here from the capi tal; but the nature of the news it brings has not yet transpired. In a few days you may expect to hear of great Military doings. The armies of Bourbaki and Chanzy are in excellent condition and splendid spirits. All classes here strenuously insist that the war should be prosecuted to the very end.—Telegraph Telegrams. The following telegrams come through Reuter's agency : ENERGETIC MEASURES DEMANDED. PARIS, December 30 (Evening). The Mayors of the various arrondissements of Paris had a meeting yesterday, when M. Jules Favre Presided. The meeting lasted eight hours. The defence of Paris was discussed, as well as the con duct of several members of the Government. Deles- cluze and his friends severely attacked General Trochu, and MM. Favre and Picard, but moderate views prevailed, The meeting restricted itself to the expression of a wish that the military operations should be carried on with all possible energy and activity. No pigeon has arrived here for ten days. It is stated that Malmaison has been destroyed by the fire from the guns of Mont Valerien. The evacuation of the Plateau Avron has caused a certain emotion, but no disorders have occurred. SKIRMISH NEAR ORLEANS. DARMSTADT, January 2, Prince Louis has sent the following telegram to t he Grand Duke of Hesse Darmstadt : " ORLEANS, Jan. 1. "The Second Foot, the Second Cavalry Regiment, a el a battery of horse artillery, commanded by G eneral von Rantzow, were engaged yesterday near h °n nY, south-east of Orleans, against superior : s tile forces. One officer was killed, and two 'Cres and 50 men wounded." CAPITULATION OF MEZIEItES. BOIILZICOURT, January 2. 46 z►eres has capitulated, and the German troops mar ch into the town to-day at noon. ATTACK UPON ABBEVILLE. LILLE, Sunday. Prusiians have summoned Abbeville to sur render' under a threat of bombardment in default of d: t e P I Y within twenty-four hours. The town has erm ined upon defence, and has got reinforee - rr, ents. 'IRE ARMIES OF THE NORTH. MONS, January 2. he Prus•Aans have occupied Busigny, at the junc eof the lines from Paris to Maubeuge and at ; ti lll ain to Laon. General Manteuffel is at Bapaume, I t General Faidherbe's head-quarters are at Lombard Telegrams. BRUSSELS, January 2. an?eneral Faidherbe has left the camp at Vitry. 'S about to assume the offensive.—Daily News. INDIA. Th e G CALCUTTA, December 31. the u azette of India publishes a resolution of tio k-Toverarnent, annoucing that it is the inten localOf S upreme Government to transfer to the ni CI-o ve rents the responsibility and control of the expenditure of the following, Departments—viz., gaols, registration, police, education, medical ser vices, printing, roads, public improvements, and civil buildings, alloting a sum of £4,688,711 for these Provincial services. DEATH OF SIR HENRY DURAND„ LAHORE, January 2. Sir Henry Durand died yesterday on Tank (?) liontier, from a fall from an elephant.—Reuter's Telogram. ITALY. FLORENCE, January 2, 11.10 am. Prince Doris. Parnfili has accepted the Mayoralty of Rol - 110.-7 imes , AMERICA, NEW YORK, January 2. Mr. Secretary Boutwell has ordeaed the sale of $4,000,000 in gold, and the purchase of $6,000,000 of Bonds during January.---Reuter's Zelegrana. ME SUN, LONDON, TUESDAI, JANUARY :1, Ir r lB7l 72° THE MONEY MARKET. (CENTRAL PRESS '.iELEditAM.) THE SECRETARY FOR WAR AT OXFORD. CITY, Two O'CLOCK. The Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, the Secretary of State for War, speaking at a dinner given at Oxford last night by the Society of Druids, paid a high tribute to the ability and character of Mr. Bright, whose retirement from the Cabinet he deeply deplored. Referring to the war, Mr. Cardwell took occasion to •enlarge on the duties of neutrals, who ought always to be guided by the land marks of neutral law. This was the course the present Government had endeavoured to pursue. Many in correct statements had been made public in reference to the army. It was not true, for example, that 20,000 experienced men had been disbanded, or that there had been any difficulty in raising recruits, or that the Govern ment had been neglectful of the field artillery, or-that there had been any improper delay in the distributing of arms. This latter Work, he Said, had gone on with great rapidity, and he assured his audience that the authorities had in store as much Powder as was requisite. Mr. Cardwell proceeded to explain away other erroneous impressions which prevailed in reference to the army, and then drew a contrast between Prussia, America, and England in reference to armaments. He was sure the Government might . take credit to themselves for being determined to do their duty to their Queen and to their country, and to bequeath to their successors unsullied the glorious inheritance they had received. Much as those to whom he addressed himself might prize a wise economy, he felt sure that there was no sacrifice they would not cheerfully submit to in order that the honour of the land in which they lived and of the sovereign who reigned over them might be properly upheld. The Stock Exchange re-opened this morning, and there was a disposition to do business. The quotations are firm for all the principal Securities. Government Securities sustain their late advance. In Foreign Stocks prices are declining. Consols are 91 to 92 for money and the account ; and New and Reduced 91i to 91k. In the Foreign Market Spanish Three per Cents. are quoted 29 to 291-; Italian, 55 to 551 ; Turkish Fives, 431 to 44 ; Egyptian of 1868. 771 to '7B ; and French Six per Cents., 11 to 1 dis. The directors of the Colonial Bauk have decided to propose a dividend and bonus of 8 per cent. for the half year. The announcement for the payment of tho current divi dend on the Turkish 6 per Cent. Loan of 1865 at the Im perial Ottoman Bank notifies that the coupons must be presented on or before the sth inst., after which date none can be received. The meaning of this attempted limits; tion is not clear, but, whatever its aim, it can have no force if the Turkish Government desire to be careful of their credit, since there is no clause in the bonds with regard to the coupons to entitle the Government, under any circumstances, to prescribe the time at which they shall be sent in. Berger, Spence, and Co.'s retrospect of 1870 says : The year 1870 has witnessed the gradual rise of the chemical trade, from the effects of over speculation and excessive production. In the latter half of 1869 prices had reached their lowest ebb, but towards the close, although generally speaking the market was quiet, a marked improvement for the better was noticeable. In minerals, the year 1870 has witnesst d a further and steady deVelopment of the mining industries of the United Kingdom. New mines have been opened up and fresh sources of profit secured, and all this without traces of the speculative mania of previous years. The general aspect of the metal market during the year has been quiet, and the anticipated advance for some descriptions has not been realised. The enormous contracts entered into at the close of 1869 and the beginning of 1870, for rails, principally with the United States and Russia, had the effect of producing an augmented demand for pig iron ; and Hematite pig was also in increased inquiry for the making of Bessemer steel rails. Manufactured iron, however, has not improved, being unchanged throughout the year, although latterly many of the sales effected were slightly in favour of buyers. TAXATION OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY. The subject of Government property being made liable to local taxation was discussed at the Hampshire Quarter Sessions yesterday. It was urged that the large Government establishments at Portsmouth, Winchester, and Aldershot ought to contribute to the county rate. Mr. Beach, M.P., thought the exemption of Government property from taxation was decidely unjust. Mr. Portal said that the Government once admitted the assess ment of their was in Alverstoke parish at £10,833, but afterwards refused to pay, stating that they only meant to pay a voluntary poor rate. Mr. Stone, M.P., intimated that the President of the Poor-law Board had given a distinct promise to introduce a bill into Parliament providing for the removal of the present exemption from rating claimed for Govern ment property. It would, however, be necessary to in quire if the property was to be made liable to the country or only to the poor rates. Mr. t ooth, expressed himself as being in favour of Government property being rated. To bring about this result legislation was neces sary. FRANCE HOPELESS► The special correspondent of the Standard, writing from the Royal Headquarters, Versailles, December 28, says notice that here at Versailles, even as with you in London, hope and fear play at perpetual see-saw, and the oscillations of the game invariably become more rapid and defined when there is a lull in actual operations in the field. Immediately after Sedan, there was no hope for France; but before September was over half the world comforted her with the prophecy of revenge. We waited, and there came the fall of Metz. Once more all was over. Of a sudden D'Aurelle de Paladines had organised victory, and Ducrot was to second his delivering endeavours. The first four days of December dissipated that dream, and yet again despair was in the ascendant. Three weeks have elapsed, and now there is, we are told, another rift in the clouds. I may be blind, but I cannot see it. lam not the only obstinate person; yet I grant there are some even here who fancy that the victors are in danger and not the vanquished. Faidherbe was coming a few days ago. I do not think he will come now. Indeed, I never thought tie would ; and I see that neither did you. As at Orleans, so at Amiens. The blow dealt by Manteuffel is not crushing any thore than that of the Red Prince ; but both have, at any rate, prevented that operation known in dancing as " crossing of hands and down the middle." I look at the map. They who were at La Fere, considerably south of Amiens, are now at Albert (probably much further by this time), con siderably to the north of it ; and those who to the south-west were lately at Chartres are now reported at Le Marls. People talk of the forcible bulging out of the elastic band which girdles Paris ; but what is that to the bulging out of the other hand which was to encircle the besiegers ? This one has been bulged out with a vengeance, and bulged out till it has broken. It partly remains, and may possibly be put together again ; but there are certain obstacles to the operation which render it difficult if not improba ble. All prospect of Faidherbe swooping down upon all the communications of the besiegers with Germany has vanished ; and if Manteuffel be credited with power sufficient to bar the Northern approaches to the capital, his position and capa city will have been very modestly stated. But if he can do that much, it is enough. General Chanzy has cer tainly distinguished himself in the art, no mean one in war, of " getting away ;" but between that operation and marching to the relief of Paris there is a considerable margin. There remains Bourbaki. But has not the 7th Corps reached Auxerre ? Reinforcements are coming up by tens of thousands, and with them incal culable quantities of food and ammunition. This German army in France is in no sense being starved. It has abundance of everything—of men, cf materials, of provisions. The same organisation which marked it at first marks it now. The advent of Christmas in a foreign land, and with danger of death around, inspired it for a moment with a feeling of dejection ; but in very truth s as far as I can judge, it is neither sick nor sorry, but can still go anywhere and de anything. Indeed, as I have said before, nobody here really questions the capacity of the invaders to carry their programme through. You at a distance may very possibly be sounder judges than those too close and too deeply interested ; but what the chiefs of the German army think, and what they inspire other people with thinking, is a valuable fact. They have been very wrong once or twice -- as I said at the com• Inencement of this letter —in their estimate of the power and measure of French resistance : but I sub mit they have never been wrong in the measure of their own ability to overcome it. There is no understanding of this, or, indeed, of any obstacle now; and I suspect that the means brought to bear will soon be found to be superfluously great. Of course, I speak only of keeping Paris within Paris, and the rest of France at a respectful distance from it. That is the whole problem of the pre sent stage of this deplorable war. The answer to anybody here seems to me to be " Cireumspice 1" THE RESOURCES OF THE BESIEGERS. Commenting on the severity of the weather in France, the Daily News special correspondent at the headquarters of the Crown Prince of Prussia, in a letter from Ver sailles, December 29, concludes :—" Never had the invaders believed that they would be followed into France by their own stern climate. Every one stared at the frozen river, and walked upon it, and hammered and stamped upon it, in blank amaze ment. The rash destruction which the French wrought last September against the bridges of stone and iron seemed to be partially justified when it turned out that pontoons could not remain upon the river. Here was Villeneuve St. George reduced to an icebridge, while the heavy traffic went round by Corbeil. It did not matter much, but it was a point of advantage to' those who wish for delay. Of course, the French want delay in all their adversaries' moves. A mile or two more round, a trifle of extra wear and tear for the Prussians, is a gain to the defenders of Paris. Time has been their greatest want, and the fatal accuracy of the invader their greatest danger. But enough of digression about a small detour for the waggon trains. There is no difficulty in crossing on foot, or in leading over a saddle horse, and I hear that a light built carriage has been got over by pushing it separately on the ice, and leading the horses after it one by one. With their usual energy and method the Germans have marked out a good track upon the river, have laid down planks and straw at the landing points, and put men to watch the state of the ice under the pres sure which it now sustains. I hear from those who have been upon the line of communication with Ger many, at Strasburg, at Nancy, and at Chalons, that signs of the active reinforcement of the German armies in France are plentiful. The Landwehr is pouring into the conquered country like a winter torrent. Every station is full of German uniforms, every train is crowded with in vaders, until political France seems called upon to give up the ghost. The effort is the strongest effort at complete conquest which Ger many can be expected to make. It is the final " spurt" of the race, and it will probably outstrip the best that the French can do. But we see how these obstinate men of the Republic fighting blindly on have taxed their powerful enemy to beat them. The mere size and wealth of France has allowed her to call forth re sources which her military position since Sedan seemed to paralyse. We can now see what a tough job it would have been to get to Paris, and to besiege it, had a system of French Land wehr existed. Under every disadvantage of political change and military failure, the French have struggled into a fourth month of Republicanism, and struggled very nearly through it to a fifth month, despite fresh defeats Without number. If the Garde Mobile were a force with some years of previous exercise, and the Francs-tireurs were men who had already been obliged to serve in the army, there would be a tolerably even chance for victors and vanquished in the next round of the Franco-Prussian fight. We may take warning by the French. Heaven grant that we may never have occasion to try to make up for ruinous losses, as they are trying to make up, by putting our shoulders to the wheel at th@ eleventh hour But, if we do, there will be all the difference in the world between having trained people to recruit from and having trusted to throwing away our lives to set things straight, without any particular training. The Germans who throng the railway lines of Northern France are coming out with an excellent knowledge of their business, whilst the raw French levies that struggle and die to turn the tide are learning how to fight by bitter ex- CRYSTAL PALACE.—One Shilling Day.—Mon day the admissions by season tickets were 2,605; do. on payment, 3,539 ; total visitors, 6,144. DEATH OF LORD DE BLAQUIERE.—We have to announce the death of John de Blaquiere, Baron de Blaquiere of Ardkill, county of Londonderry, in the peerage, of •Ireland, and Great Alnager of Ireland, who died ?yesterday morning at his residence in Stratford- Vlace. THE LYCEUM THEATRE. Few who witnessed the first Italian Opera Buffa within the Lyceum Theatre on Monday night, will deny that this class of musical performances finds a home there. The acoustic properties of the building, the large orchestra, and the convenient size of the stage are all accessories which 'suit the pouttrayal of operas riot meant to be magnificent or elaborate. The opera " L'ltaliana in Algiri," a pretty well known one, is a romantic but brief history of a beautiful flirt, who, finding herself ship wrecked in a country where her lover is a slave resolves to make love to all the authorities who cross her path in her efforts to release that slave. The part last evening was undertaken by Maddle. Veralli, an artiste, whose touchingly sweet voice from the beginning to the end of the piece made an impression everywhere. As a first performance the opera, though perhaps a little tame in execution, was a decided success. The orchestra, under the care of Mr. Weist Hill, was unusually large and well trained. The chief singers on the stage were perfectly at ease, though the theatre could not but have been new to them in every respect, and the very brilliant audience in the house were comfortably seated and secured against cold draughts by all possible stratagems. The dresses were costly and the scenery sufficiently attractive. Mr. Healey, the acting manager, we must say deserves a word of praise for the success of all of the arrangements which were not distinctly the work of the actors themselves. There is no doubt that the series of operas will meet with patronage not only from the general Lyceum public, but from a new public of foreigners who were on the first night represented in the building in abundance. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Tms DAY, ROBBERY AT AN ARTIST'S COLOURMAN'S.— George Cox, a carpenter, in the employ of Mr. Frederick William Rowney (trading as Messrs. Rowney and Co.), artist colourman, in Rathhone-place, was charged before Mr. Mansfield, at the Marlborough-street Police-court, with stealing a case of mathematical instruments, the property of his employer. Mr. J. A. Alsop appeared for the pri soner. From the evidence of Mr. Frederick Rowney, foreman to his father, it appeared that the prisoner was stopped on his leaving the warehouse by the manager, and a case of mathematical instruments found in his posses sion. The prisoner said he was sorry for what he had done ; that he did not know what had induced him to do it ; and asked to be leniently dealt with. On the prisoner's lodgings being searched a few more small drawing instru ments were found. In reply to Mr. Mansfield the pro secutor said the prisoner had been six months in his father's employ, and received 30s. a-week wages. IVr. Alsop addressed the magistrate on the prisoner's behalf, asking that he might be leniently dealt with in the hope that the present case might be a warning to him, and urging that the loss of character would be a great punish ment to him. Mr. Mansfield committed the prisoner for 21 days', with hard labour. ADROIT ROBBERY. —A few days ago a robbery of a rather serious nature was effected at Messrs. Hunt and Roskell's, the well-known jewellers, in New Bond-street—the thief up to the present moment having eluded detection. It appears that a foreigner entered the shop, and asked to be shewn some earrings. His request was complied with, some of a costly nature being placed before him. After he left a pair of the value of £350 were missed, there being every reason to believe that he must have taken advantage of the assistant's having momentarily turned his back to purloin them. A reward of £5O has been offered for the recovery of the property. SERIOUS ASSAULT THROUGH AN ACCIDENT. —George Lancaster, a coachman, of 82, Baker-street, Portman- square, wrs brought up at the Westminster Police-court, charged on a summons with assaulting William Constable. Mr. W. D. Smyth, of Rochester-row, defended. Com plainant said on Tuesday week he was in Eccleston-street between Chester and Eaton-square, and saw the de fendant on a break, and a dog belonging to witness on the box seat. He had lost the dog some day's before. He called to the defendant to stop, and jumped up behind the break, but his hat was knocked off by some one in the break, and he had to get down and recover it, but called to the dog which jumped over the back of the break and came to him, The defendant got down off the break, ran after him and the dog, seized him violently and threw him against the railings, cutting his fore head badly, and recovering the dog, which he took into the break, and drove away. He had been unable to follow his occupation, and had been under the care of the doctor since. The defence was that the assault was accidental, and two witnesses were called to prove it. Mr. Woolrych suggested a " compromise," or he should fine the defendant smartly. The parties adjourned to the gaolers' room and ultimately the complainant, was com pensated by the payment of £3 for the expenses incurred. THE EMPEROR LOOKING FOR - WARD FOR RESTORATION. A correspondent of the Times, writing from Wilhelms hohe, on the 29th of December, says :—" The Enperor, with whom I had the honour of souversing thit morn ing, is in excellent health, and takes doll, out door exercise, despite the extreme severity of the weather. He receives many letters of sympathy from England, and continues to express toward the Vnglisli people all his old, kindly feeling. His Majesty is preparing a compared estimate of the French and German armies, which, if published, will, no doubt, create a sensation in military circles, and be found a valuable source of infor mation. The Emperor looks forward with confidetce to his speedy restoration by the will of the French mtion, and by the French nation only." We can state on authority that the IN'eu, .Fork reFort of an interview with Queen Augusta of Prussia is entirely fictitious.—Times. Mr. Robertson's new comedy, " War," for the pro duction of which great preparations are being mule at the St. James's Theatre, will be introduced to the public early in February. Miss Herbert, we are glad to heat, will be sufficiently restored to health to take a part in it. OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS.---The head masters of various schools have met at Sherborne to discuss some questions relative to the work of their profession, They passed a resolution declaring their opinion that the system of Latin pronunciation prevalent in England is unsatis factory, and inviting the Latin Profes'ors at the Univer sities of Oxford and Cambridge to draw up and issue a joint paper to secure uniformity in any change contem plated. They also passed a series of resolutions relative to examinations at the universities. A further resolution was passed to the effect—" That it is undesirable by general legislation to banish Greek or any special subject from any grade of schools," LOCAL TAXATION. At the Berkshire Quarter Sessions yesterday, it was resolved by 17 as against 5 votes, to present a memorial to Parliament praying that as many of the charges at present paid by county rates were rendered necessary not for the benefit of one particular class but for the community at, large, those changes should be supple mented largely, if not altogether defrayed, from the national exchequer. A WATER-LOGGED BARQUR The report of the barque Presto, which arrived at Queenstown yesterday, says that on December 23rd, 6 p.m., while in lat. 48 deg. 23 min. N., long. 28 deg. W., she passed a barque water-logged. She had a square bow, high poop, large windmill on poop, Painted ports, all masts and jibboom standing except foretop2,-allantmast, sails set, and the sea making a clean breach across her decks ; apparently not long abandoned. THE FATAL ACCIDENT TO MR: WALTER, JUN. At the Berkshire Quarter Sessions. held yesterday, the chairman, Mr. R. Benyon, M.P., refers ed to the death of Mr. Walter, jun., by the ice accident at Boar-wood. The country, he said, had felt deeply for the bereaved father mid his family, and lamented the loss of a life which was full of the brightest promise, and was so suddenly closed, almost before the words of welcome, which greeted the return of the son from foreign lauds, had died away. SELLING BRANDY WITHOUT A LICENCE. William Rohl, a refreshment house keeper was yester day fined £lOO by the Cardiff magistrates for selling brandy without a licence. Other fines amounting to £5O were also inflicted on other refreshment house keepers for similar offences against the Excise. SIR JOHN PAKINGTON, M.P., ON THE NATIONAL FORCES. Sir John Pakington, M.P., speaking at the Worcester shire County Quarter Sessions, yesterday afternoon, on the incidence of taxation, in the cause of a motion he brought forward, said : Before many weeks—l may a'most say before many days—are over, the attention of Parliament will be called to the great question of our national defences (the militia) and our national mili tary power. I am one of those who hope that the Government will be prepared with a comprehensive plan, and I am one of those who hope and believe that a most important feature in that plan will be a great extension of our military forces ; not only a great extension, but, to a considerable extent, organisation of that force. (Hear, hear,) I shall be greatly disappointed, and I think the public also will be, if this does not form an important element in the proposition I hope to hear from her Majesty's Ministers ; but I touch upon it now sanguinely, hoping there will be a great increase in the Militia forces, and I say it because my noble and gallant friend (Lord Lyttleton) has been applied to to know whether another battalion can be raised in the county of Worcester. THE RECENT ESCAPE FROM HERTFORD GAOL. At the Herts Quarter Sessions yesterday, before the Marquis of Salisbury, the man Henry Squires, who re cently escaped from Hertford Gaol, by breaking through a skylight in the top of his cell, was indicted for that offence, and sentenced to seven days' hard labour only, the gaol committee having unanimously recommended him to mercy, THE MAYORALTY 01? CORK. Alderman Daly was invested as Mayor of Cork yester day. A vote of thanks was passed to ex-Mayor Hegarty, but the mob would not hear the latter speak, his firm maintenanee of order during his period of office having made him unpopular with that portion of the community. Alderman O'Sullivan moved a resolution expressing satis faction at the amnesty, but expressing regret that it was not unconditional. He declared confidence in the English people and Parliament towards Ireland. He believed all necessary remedial measures could be had by peaceful agitation. Alderman Dwyer moved an amendment stig matising the conditions attached to the amnesty as unwise, unjust, and impolitic. In many cases an aggravation instead of a remission of punishment ; in all cases unneces sarily severe, and calculated to produce the conviction that Irish opinion was once more ignored in deference to English prejudice. The amendment, which was carried by a large majority, called on the Government to recon sider the matter. THE MAYORALTY OF DUBLIN. The inaugural procession of Lord Mayor Buffin was carried out with great pomp yesterday at Dublin. The procession was composed of soldiers, mounted police, fire brigade, officers of the city, and several military bands. The Lord Mayor gave a grand banquet last night, to which a distinguished party was invited. A FEMALE SAILOR. A singular discovery was made on board the schooner Thomas and Joseph, just as she was about leaving Yar mouth Harbour on Saturday afternoon. It was found that one of the crew was a young Russian female in man's clothes, and from subsequent inquiries it turned out she had shipped as cabin boy at Wilberg some months back, while the vessel was at that port, taking in a cargo of deals. She had performed her duties satisfactorily during the voyage, and had escaped detection till the other day, when her sex was discovered, and she was put on shore. It is said that the captain induced her to leave with him in his vessel, and that it was only when he wanted to get rid of her that the deception was discovered. The matter is in the hands of the police. It is somewhat singular that an hour or two after the vessel left the harbour, and while proceeding north, she missed stays and got upon Caistor Beach, where she still remains. EMIGRATION FROM LIVERPOOL. According to the Liverpool emigration returns for tne month of December last, it appears that the number of passengers who sailed in ships under the Act was 3,733. The total number of emigrants for the past year was 163,032, being a decrease of nearly 10,000 upon the year. The contributors to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary yesterday gave a decision against the admission of female students to the infirmary. The vote, which was 100 to 96, will be scrutinised. SPEECH OF M. GAMBETTA. A.t the close of the review of the National Guards at BordeaUX, ari lq6vr Year's Day, M. Gambetta, addressing the troops, said In tlig 6166 of this magnificent spec tacle, in face of all the citizens assenibie'cl here to welcome the dawn of our success, which is due to the perseverance and tenacity of our efforts, I say that our success is Tell merited, for two reasons. Firstly, because France has had faith in herself ; secondly, because, alane in the universe, Friirft# to'-clay represents justice and right. (Prolonged applause.) it ad; let it be for ever closed, if possible—let it be for eijet effaced from our me— ory, this horrible year of 1870, whick While it has 'sod the fall of the most deceitful and most; corrupt of Governments, has also handed us over to the insolent fortunes of the foreigner. We must not forget, citizens, that this reverse of fortune against which e are battling id-day is the very work of Bonapartist intrigues abroad. Let each oue bear his Share of responsibility to history. It was in this Very town that the Man of December, the Man Of Sedan, the man who tried to gangrene France, uttered the remarkable imposture, The Empire id peace.' His reign, we must confess, had to be endured for' bur own expiation, for we are to blame for having so long submitted to it. Nothing, just or unjust, happens in his tory but what bears its fruits. It is because we have sub mitted to this reign of twenty years that we must submit to-day to foreign invasion up to the walls of our glorioui Capital. And it is because all the sources of power and of grandeur were systematically drained in this country—it is because we had lost that retriev ing power, Wvithont which nothing can either en dure or triumph in this world, namely, the idea of duty and of virtue—that it was thought for a. moment France was about to disappear. (ContEmed applause.) It was at this moment that the Republic, springing into life, for the third time in our history, assumed the duty, the honour, the peril of saving France. (Enthusiastic cries of Long live the Republic I') It was on the 4th of September, the enemy was advancing by forced marches on Paris, ourarsenals were empty, half our army captured, our resources scattered and frittered away on all sides—a double Government—one captive, the other flying ; a Chamber 'whose past servility made it incapable of seizing the helm. Oh ! on that day no one gainsaid the legitimacy of the Republic. It was later on, when the Repulilio had been brought to a state of sacred inviolability—(` Bravo')—when it' became patent that the Republic had redeemed its promise of the 4th of September to save the honour of the country, to organise the defence, to maintain order—when it was proved that, thanks to the Republic, France Would not perish, that she must triumph, that, through her, right would overcome brute force —it was then that the adversaries of the Republic, to whom it now ensures quiettide and security, began to contest its legitimacy and question its origin. (Coil , tinned cries of 'Long live the Republic! ') The Republic ; devoted and linked to the defence and the welfare of the country, is irrevocably established. It is immortal. Do not, however, confound the Republic with the members of its Government, who, by the force of events, have been temporarily lifted into power. When they shall have fulfilled their task, which is to expel the foreigner, they will relinquish their power and submit themselves to the judgment of their fellow-citizens. This task, this mission, which has to be Wrought out to the end, must be accomplished at any price —to the entire exclusion of self-interest. What we must attain to, under heavy penalties, is --first, the safety and the respect of the liberty of all—perfect liberty—liberty even so far as to submit to disparagement, to calumny, to abuse; secondly, respect, on the part of all friends and dissentients, for right and the authority of Government. Speech must be as free as thought, and respected in all its digressions, up to that fatal point where it would become a barrier to acts. If this boundary is overstepped—and I here give expression to the opinion of all the members of the Government—you may rely on energetic repression. (Continued cheering). 1 will not close without telling you that the Government, having union for its base, expresses, serves, and presumes to serve, only public opinion, in cpposition to those despotic Governments which have preceded us, and have only been guided by their dynastic lust of power. I thank the patriotic population of Bordeaux, as well as the inhabi tants of the neighbouring towns and country parts, who are gathered here to-day, for the striking support which they afford to the Republican Government by this imposing manifestation on the first day' of 1871. I thank them especially in the name of our dear besieged brethren —in the name of our heroic Paris, whore example sustains us and guides and incites us to emulation. Al ! would they could be witnesses, those dear besieged ones, of all the sympathy and self devotion roused within us by their valour, their faith in success would be increased, if, indeed, any increase thereof be possible, We will transmit your good wishes, citizens; soon may we, cutting our way through the enemy's lines, convey them via race, together with the expression of the world's admiration, and of the profound and imperishable gratitude of France ! `Long live France ! Long live the Republic !'" At the close of M. Gambetta's address, indescribable emotion was manifested by the immense crowd that had assembled, and prolonged shouts were heard of "Vive la France !" " Vive Paris !" " Vive Gambetta !" " Vive la Republique !"—Reuter's Telegram. THE BOMBARDMENT OF THE FRENCH FORTS. In a letter dated Berlin, Dec. 28, the correspondent of the Telegraph says : —The beginning of the bombardment of Paris has been hailed with immense delight here. It the only subject spoken of since yesterday, and the gamins here, as active and impudent as their London brethren, have been all day long plunging through the thick snow in pursuit of every sleighwith nobeste Depeschea in their hands. I should think theirs must be the liveliest trade in Berlin just now. The scantiest telegram is sold for a groschen, something more than a penny ; and such is the excitement caused by the war that the thriftiest Berliner, strictest of a thrifty race, rarely re fuses his coin on the chance of learning something new. From my window thismorning I watched one little wretch selling hundreds of copies of a telegram which said nothing more than the bombardment of Mont Avron was to be continued to-day. After all, this is only a preparation for the real bombardment, for Mont Avron is merely an entrenched height, under the shelter of which the Parisians made their sortie of the 21st. The Berliner Frenalenblatt, a much snore important organ, by reason of its connections, than its name denotes, says of the present attack that it " is directed against a threatening position which positively must be taken." When this object is accomplished, not only will the approach to the nearest forts Forst Rosny, for instance —be much more easy, but it may even be possible to bombard the nearest portions of the city. All preparations have been completed since the beginning of December, when the scattering of the Loire army dispelled any fear there might have been that the works should be disturbed from out side ; and at this moment there are more heavy cannon di rected against Paris than have ever been collected in a single spot. The task which is now to be accomplished is the most extensive and difficult of the entire cam paign. The forts are in themselves very formidable, and they have been much strengthened by newer works ; they are, moreover, admirably armed and well defended. It will, therefore, cost much hard fighting to take some of the forts, in order to make Paris feel the full destructive fury of a bombardment. But the terrible task will be accomplished so much the more safely, the less reason the investing army has to fear an attack from without. " concludes the article—" while the Second Army under Prince Frederick Charles, in combination with the army division of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, will hold watch towards the south and west—on the Loire and the Sarthe—and the First Army, under General von Manteuffel, will keep off any attack from the north, the Third and Fourth Armies, under the Crown Princes of Prussia and Saxony, will bring the so-called `sacred city' to a conviction of its helplessness and of its great fall. It is to be hoped that, with its capital, France will then submit to its unavoidable destiny." That the Ger mans are determined to leave no stone unturned in order to make that destiny unavoidable there cannot be any doubt. Some two hundred thousand Landwehrmasreres, more or less recently called out, are actually on their way to the seat of war, or on the point of starting. i lt is reported that sixty thousand have passed through Carls ruhe within comparatively few days. The latest plan seems to be to employ the Landwehr for the occupation of Alsace and Lorraine, in order to liberate the regular troops as much as possible for the active operations Mr. Sidney F. Jones has been elected a scholar of Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Mr. Jones, the late judge of the Mid Wales circuit, retires with a pension of £l,OOO per annum. It is said that extensive orders for shoes for the French army have been received at Northampton, and that their execution is rapidly proceeding. ROYAL. ALBERT HALL.—The Queen has fixed Wednesday, the 29th of March, for the day on which her Majesty ptoposes to open the Royal Albert Hall at Ken sington. OUR COTEMPORARIES—This Morning THE FORTIMMINO CONFERENCE. The Conference which is about to assemble for the con , sideration of the Black Sea question, says the Standard, has been accepted by France at the desire of England. This is a proof of her desire to conform to the wishes of this ccrtiiiir but can we seriously anticipate that France, under eidsting circumstances, will be content to confine herself to the qtieg6on of vessels in the Black Sea? Is it, indeed, reasonable for Engla'rxl to seek the support of France upon a question which at the present moment can have but little interest for her, and at the same time to allow; the continuation of the terrible massacre now being enacted tipoli the Continent? It would seem impossible to prevent tlic French plenipotentiary from raising his voice with a view to iiiddcing the Conference to deal with the question of the' restoration of peace and the true interests of the European equilibrium. For if Prussia, is allowed to continue her present work, the decisions of the Conference cannot be other wise than stamped with worthlessness in advance; and if Prussia becomes all-powerful, and thinkg Et to• combine with Russia, what is to prevent her again doing what she pleases—and at any moment—with the treatie3 of 1859 and 1897? If it should prove impossible to stop Prussia now, when France resists with energy, how is it likely to be accomplished later? Eng.! rand ha.s already exhibited weakness enough in leaving Mr. Oclo Russell at Versailles, the actual military and political centre of Prussia, unless he possesses the right to discuss the most important question of the moment-- viz., the situation of France, in which England and the whole of Europs are so deeply interested. But shewould andergo a greater htiMiliation still, if, at the suggestion of Prussia, she stifled all reference to the most vital question 3f Europe, on the coming meeting of the representatives.. A all the Grab Powers. The Telegraph says (—When M. Favre is at the Foreign Office in London in consultation with the Ambassadors of the foremost nations in Europe, we have the chances of aft arrangement such as have not been pre sent since July of last year. The Atmosphere will be one of conciliation. There is no doubt as to the eager desire of England to terminate this =- nappy war, anct we are equally bound to France and Ger- 1 many. We are not conscious of any proclivities either on one side or the other. Our strong desire to sze the course of hostilities arrested is nut founded on any fear of conse 4uences to ourselves; it arises simply from the profound grief we feel at the spectacle of the two, most highly civilised race's of Continental Europe literally tearing each other to pieves. The misery and loss accruing to both Powers from a continuance of the war :an never be balanced by any advantage that either might hope to gain. We, who are dispassionate spectators, make bold to say that we but express the' apinion of all foreign and neutral nations, when we assert Ghat in the long run Germany can never hope to subjugate France, riot France Germany. For a time the Father land may have much the best of it, as France had a few years ago ; but so slimly as time rolls on the wheel will turn round and the fortune of war be different. There is, doubtless, one way in which Prussia. could attain her apparent end, and that would be by wholesale extermination. If, however, the German statesmen and generals have not made up their minds to go se far, they would do well tc see that present magnanimity is their More politic course. France can yet produce men by the Million, who will be trained into soldiers as the war goes on. Her monetary credit is practically unaffected. She commands the seas, and the United States are her unfailing arsenal. What will those millions of armed and desperate men turn their hands to next, if they are compelled for the moment to acquiesce in oppres sive and humiliating terms of peace ? We write it with the deepest sorrow, for we sympathise with both countries; but, if such a peace be the issue of the present conflict, generations of Germans yet unborn will. rue the day when their forefathers drove a powerful and warlike people to despair. The plains of the Fatherland will be wet with blood in their turn, and for years to' come we shall be afflicted with the spectacle of eighty millions of highly civilised people straining at each other's throats, and converting Europe into a theatre of carnage and desolation. ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES. At A moment when we are all turning over new leaves, and meeting the opening year with promises of better things, remarks the Daily News, it would be well that England and the United States should turn over a new leaf in their relations with each other. Those relations are distinctly entering on a new phase. The past year inherited the Alabama difficulty from its predecessors, it leaves a fisheries dispute side by side with the inherited difficulty as a double legacy to its successor. There is, however, nothing at all hi these questions to raise any fear of serious quarrel. Our willingness to make honourable rem paration in the one case, and just concession in the other, is as complete as our resolve not, in any case, to go beyond what justice dictates, and our own honour demands. Nor do we believe that on their side the Americans are in any way disposed to push their diplomacy be yond the bounds of reason. What they want is just what we want, a speedy, complete, satisfactory, lasting settlement. They would be glad to shake hands, and be friends—nay, to strike hands and be allies. But with this deeply-rooted friendliness on both sides, how is it that our relations are not more openly friendly ? We believe it is due in great degree to the fact that each mis understands the other, and each believes that all the friendliness is on its own side. It is the old mistake of reasoning from feelings instead of from facts. There is soreness between us ; let that be freely admitted. We think the Ameri cans have been exacting in their demand for sympathy, and have failed to give us credit for the good feeling so often shewn by very friendly acts. But in approaching a new era in the negotiations between us, it would be at least an advantage if we could begin it with a better understanding of each other. Let us have no more talk about the determined unfriendliness of either side, but assuming that a desire for a settlement exists in both, let us endeavour to arrive at an arrangement as speedilyas possible. War between us ought to be impossible. The good sense and good feeling of each nation believe that it is impossible, and the only thing which can make it possible is the mutual suspicion of each other's hostility. We are not and cannot be enemies so long as we are will ing to believe that we are and can be friends. THE FALL OF PARIS. The Times says :—lnformation which reaches us from good sources leaves little doubt as to the early fall of Paris. The sufferings of the great mass of the population, which famine had already rendered intense, have been greatly aggravated by the severe weather. As it happened at Metz, money will still purchase even luxuries for the privileged few ; but among other necessaries of life, fuel begins to be very scarce, and its price has risen to a height quite beyond the means of the lower classes. There is, indeed, no lack of intelligence of a very different nature in circulation. The news telegraphed by our Correspondent at Versailles respecting the great importance attached at the German Headquarters to the capture of Mont Avron, and the heavy discouragement thrown by its loss among the besieged, cannot easily be reconciled with the balloon tidings published at Bordeaux, according to which the Prussians were " repulsed from Mont Avron with "a loss of 7,000 to 8,000 men killed." But we can be at no loss for a tolerably correct idea of the real state of affairs. The ineffectual defence made by the French batteries at Mont Avron, in despite of the very heavy artillery with which they had been armed, and the almost absolute impunity with which two companies of Prussian light infantry were allowed to push forward to the very walls of Fort Rosny, aro gravely and somewhat bitterly commented upon by French critics, at a loss to see the drift of General Trochu's tactics. After effecting a lodgment in the abandoned French outwork at Mont Avron, the Germans followed up their advantage on Thursday and Friday last by directing the fire of their artillery against Fort Rosny, the fort immediately facing Av ron on the vest, as well as against the other Forts of Noisy and Nogent, placed at no great distance from Rosny, respec tively to the north and south of that fort. Should the besiegers find Rosny and the tw3 other forts to be made of no sterner stuff than the outer French bulwark, Paris might be as easily stormed as starved ; but there is no reason to anticipate such extremities, for hitherto, though the French have fought very bravely, there has not been a single instance, out of se many fortresses whose defenders had vowed they would die to a man and in the breach, of their awaiting the supreme ordeal of an assault. From the very remissness exhibited by General Trochu in the defence of the forts at present attacked, it would seem natural to infer that he is acting upon his plan of withdrawing into the entrenched camp at Mont Valerien —a preliminary movement, allowing a chance for the ne gotiation of an armstice and for a discussion of the terms of peace. ROYAL ALBERT HALL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. —The band of the Ist Life Guards, conductor Mr. Water son, played in the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday after noon in order to test the building . with a full band. Sir Michael Costa and other distinguished musical authorities were present. The results were as satisfactory as on pre vious trials.