The Sun. — London, England, 1871-02-21 00:00:00

through one or other of the methods laid down in the age by theology at the Universities being confined to the 1. Thirty-Nine Articles. Mr. HORSMAN contended that the tests which had been insisted upon at the universities were immoral, and diminished the reverence for the sanctity of an oath. They were injurious to religion; they excluded Dissenters, and while they opened the door wide to infidels, they shut it against many aconscientious believer. It was well known that there; was great diversity of belief even among the governing bodies at the universities; and instead of there being unity of belief and unity of creed in the Church, the disunion which prevailed was a growing scandel and standing disgrace. (Hear.) It was a mockery to assert that those who wished to have tests abolishedwere the ene mies of religion. He had always been inveterately opposed to tests, and he should vote for the amendment, because the words in the clause objected to would reaffirm and perpetuate the principle of tests. (Applause.) After a few observations from Mr. Beresford Hope, the House divided on the amendment, with the following result : THE SCOTCH EDUCATION BILL. Dr. LYON PLAYFAIR asked the Lord Advocate whether considering the delay in the delivery of this bill, he still intended to take the second reading on this day week ? The LORD ADVOCATE feared it would be out of his power to take the second reading on Monday, but if he saw an opportunity-, he should feel it his duty to proceed with it. For the Amendment Against... ... . .... 140 ... 185 Majority ... ... 45 The announcement was received with loud cheers from the Opposition benches. Mr. FAWCETT then moved an amendment to the effect that no one, as a condition of being elected to or continuing to hold a headship, fellowship, &c., shall be required to take holy orders, and that no person is to be elected because he is in holy orders for a longer period than he would be permitted to hold if he were a layman ; and also that anyone who has been in holy orders for two years, shall, after vacating his followship, remain on the rota for preferment. He remarked that the amendment, if adopted would abolish those restrictions which related to clerical tests. He was sure that his proposition would receive the unanimous support of the congress. On a division it was rejected by 182 to 160. This serious reduction of the majority was loudly cheered on the Liberal side, and Mr. Fawcett bade the Prime Minister ponder carefully the significance of a victory obtained over his own party by the aid of Conservative votes. Mr. Gladstone retorted that the Government had al ready pondered the matter, and their decision was irrevo cable. Mr. C. BENTINCK moved to add a proviso to the clause, saving the rights of members of the Church of England to offices specially intended for them by the founders and donors; but it was opposed by Mr. Gladstone, and, after a brief conversation, it was not pressed. THE BALLOT BILL. Mr. W. E. FORSTER, in bringing in the Ballot Bill, explained that it had been transferred to him from the Marquis of Hartington solely because he had less legislative work on his hands than the Marquis in his new position of Irish Secretary. Taking it for granted that the main features of the schema of last year were fresh in the mind of the House, Mr. Forster went on to explain the changes he intended to proposes in it ; and, first, municipal elections, as well as parliamentary, are to be included in the bill. In the machinery for voting two principal conditions would be kept in view—simplicity and complete secrecy— and by secrecy Mr. Forster meant that the voter should not be able to prove to any one how he had voted, because that would defeat the object of the Ballot. To obtain this, the bill provides that none but official voting papers shall be used, that they shall not be given to the voter until he enters the polling booth, and that the voter shall not put any mark on the paper except what is necessary to chew how he has voted. In like manner three dangers more or less peculiar to the Ballot are guarded againstsin the bill—tampering with the voting papers, forging them, and personation. Taking the last first, Mr. Forster, after arguing that a scrutiny is useless for the detection of per sonation and bribed votes, stated that the ma chinery of counterfoils, &a., contained in last year's bill, had been abandoned, and that no provision for a scrutiny would be made in this bill. But there will be a clause putting attempts to procure personation on the same footing as attempts at treating ; and also, wherever it is proved that a candidate or his agent has attempted to bribe or to procure personation, in every case a vote shall be struck off that candidate's poll. The possibility of . tampering with the ballot papers is met by minute precautions for locking the papers up and guarding them, and to prevent forgery the returning officer when he delivers the ballot paper is to stamp it with a secret stamp. The penalties of treating (not of bribery as in last year's bill) are imposed on a candidate who does not include all his expenses in the return, and who pays personally that which ought to be paid by an agent Among other minor changes Mr. Forster mentioned thai public-houses must no longer be used for committee rooms. Nomination Days and Declarations of the Poll are abolished ; but all these details are to be open to the fullest consideration and amendment in Committee. Finally, he announced that the legal expenses of candi dates are thrown on the local rates, expatiating at length on the objections in principle to the present system, and on the practical hardships it inflicts on poor candidates, and he concluded by an urgent appeal to the Conserva tives to lay aside party feeling in dealing with a measures which, while it destroyed improper influence, would give strength to the legitimate influence of pro perty, station, and blameless discharge of public duties. Mr. LEATHAM congratulated the Government on its remarkable advance, and thought the bill a good •ne. Mr. G. BENTINOK indulged in some causti© observations on the total want of principles displayed by both sides in dealing with reform and electoral questions. He denied that the Ballot was popular, or that it would secure secret voting, and characterised the bill as one for preventing the detection of bribery. Sir D. CORRIGAN, in an effective maiden speech, argued in favour of secret voting, and expressed unqualified ap proval of the abolition of NOmination Days. Mr, BERESFORD HOPE regretted that the Ballot had been mixed up with other unobjectionable provisions for improving elections with which it had nothing to do, and was utterly incredulous as to the possibility of insuring secret voting. Sir H. HOARE and Mr. H. JAMES tnanked Mr. Forster ' the bill ; and Mr. SCOURFIELD made some observations in a contrary sense. The Bill was then read a first time, and the second read• ing fixed for Monday next. In the early part of the sitting, Mr. Cardwell postponed he Army Organisation Bill and the Army Estimates until Thursday week. The House adjourned at twenty minutes past ten o'clock. MR. CHILDERS. We have much pleasure in stating that the accounts just received from Lisbon of Mr. Childers's health are decidedly favourable. The First Lord has already derived much benefit from his voyage, and, should the improve ment continue, his early return to England and to official duties may be confidently expected.—Telegraph. MR. BRIGHT. The statement that Mr. Bright is likely to return, in the course of a few weeks, to his parliamentary duties is not well founded. Acting on the permission given him by his constituents, and on the advice of his physicians, the right honourable gentleman will probably make no attempt to take part in public affairs during the present session. His health is making steady, though necessarily gradual, progress towards complete restoration. Mr. Bright's reappearance in tb_e House of Commons will most likely be preceded by a visit and a speech to his constituents. Daily News. APPREHENSION OF THE SUPPOSED STRATFORD MURDERER. Last evening a young man named Michael Campbell was apprehended at a house in Waterloo-court, John street, Cannon-street, City, on suspicion of being the murderer of Mr. Samuel Galloway, of Romford-road, Essex, who last week died from the wound he received while endeavouring to capture burglars he found trying to enter his house. The room from which the prisoner was taken is of the most wretched description. He was here residing with his mother, who is a hawker of laces, and also two brothers. There were but a few rags, which served as a I bed, on which they slept. Th e ev i dence in the hands cof the police is stated to be very strong. The prisoner is twenty eight years of age, and was formerly a soldier in the 32nd Foot. The capture was effected by Mr. Inspector Clarke, of the Detective Department, Scotland Yard, and Superintendent Mason, of Wes tham police station. —The house in which the prisoner resided was thoroughly searched, but the instrument with which the murder was committed, and supposed to be the sharp end of a jemmy, is not yet found. The other two men supposed to be con nected are not yet apprehended. THE ROYAL HOSPITAL FOR DISEASES OF THE CHEST, CITY - ROAD.—The Haberdashers' Company have sent ten guinea,s, and th e Cutler's' Company ten guineas, towards the heavy current expenses of this hospital. PRISON MINISTERS BILL. Mr. MAGUIRE mired the Home Secretary when he would introduce the promised bill, based on the report of the select committee on prison ministers of last year, and if it was intended to pass it this session. • Mr. IlaucE said a bill had bun prepared based on the report. He could not say what day it would be brought in ; but it would be introduced at an early day, and he hoped it would receive the sanction of the House this cession. THE TREATY OF 1856, Lord J. MANNERS asked the First Lord of ,the Trea sury whether he would lay upon the table the despatches to which Sir Andrew Buchanan referred (page 13 of Cor respondence respecting the Treaty of March 30, 1856) in the following sentence : " I have long foreseen that a pro posal on the part of Russia for the revision of the Treaty would not be long delayed; and I have frequently ex pressed this opinion to your lordship, and to the late Earl bf Clamndon." Mr• GLADSTONE said the despatches had been received, but as they were of a confidential nature, and were only surmises, he did not think it desirable to produce them. He might say that they did not refer to the proceedings of last autumn, but they had reference to a legitimate appli cation, which it was thought Russia would make, namely, to ask the various powers to reconsider the treaty. MILITARY LABOUR. Mr. HANBURY TRACY asked the Secretary for War whether the committee appointed by the Commander-in- Chief to draw up regulations for extending the system of " military labour to military works," had yet reported, and, if so, if he would lay the report on the table. Mr. CARDWELL said if the hon. member would move for the report he should be pleased to lay it on the table. HERITABLE RIGHTS IN SCOTLAND. Mr. GORDON asked the Lord Advocate whether it was hii intention to introduce a bill relating to the titles to land and other heritable rights in Scotland ; and, if so, whether he would name an early day, so as to afford suf f icient time for considering its provisions. • The LORD ADVOCATE said it was his intention to intro duce a bill upon the subject; and, he might add, he should also bring in a measure dealing with the law of entail. (Hear.) He, however, was not at present in a position to name on what day he should do so. THE ARMY ORGANISATION BILL. In reply to Sir J. Pakington and Other hon. members, Mr. CARDWELL agreed that it was important that full time should be given for considering the measure which had been introduced for reorganising the army before the House was called upon to give an opinion upon it. The second reading was, he thought, the legiti mate opportunity for discussion; and though he was desirous of making all reasonable progress, be did hot propose to fix the second reading earlier than Thursday week next. The officers who had passed out at Sandhurst would still have precedence over others. All commissions were to be without purchase, and they would not of course carry any right to sell. The intention was to in demnify from a public fund the widows of officers, who therefore, would receive the same now as before. THE PURCHASE OF BRITISH NORTH AMERICA. Mr. GLADSTONE, replying to a question of which pri vate notice had been given, said the Government had not received any proposal whatever for the purchase of British North America by the United States. (Laughter.) He was in total and absolute ignorance on the subject, and he hAompeeie drtha lvat s a ar ti eNvrehiL,l,e the nego ti a ti ons o f th e C omm i ss i on i n progress it would not be thought neces yto ask questions in that House founded upon mere enYznous c ommunications. (Hear.) SirAN APOLOGY BY SIR R. PEEL. P • PEEL withdrew an expression he inadvertently "f ade use of a few ni g ht s s i nce i n re f err i ng to the Duchy Lancaster. Although he thought their accounts ought to be subjected to considerable revision, he certainly never intended to imply that any corruption existed in that body' (Rear.) UNIVERSITY TESTS BILL. On the House going into committee of supply; Mr. NEWDEGATE said if the two bills which were to be discussed that evening were passed, one of them would tend towards the disestablishment of the Church of Eng land, and the other to the establishment of the Church of Rome. (Laughter.) Mr. STEVENSON brought forward his amendment to Clause 3 , which was to the effect that all degrees should be open. tie said that his amendment was precisely the same as the one he moved last session, and which, he believed, had the support of the majority of the Liberal members of the House. The object was that personl who are not m embers of the Church of England might take the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. This was done in Glasgow, and other Scotch Universities, where anyone who had obtained the degree of Master of Arts, might Nue forward and pass his examination as Bachelor of D ivinity. It had been suggested that in the event of his a mendment being carried an athiest or some one who desired t ° overthrow Christianity, might get a degree; but such assertions were hardly worth replying to. He saw no Mason why the degree of Divinity should not be either e'dended or abolished altogether ; but so long as it existed, it ought to be equally open to the members of every Christian church. (Hear, hear.) kr. GLADSTONE, without entering into the merits (3 f the motion, said that he thought the plan Proposed by his hon. friend would not work. It s hon. friend had no o bj ection to the test be ing applied to the professors who desired it; but that w .,..° 1 11d place the other candid a t es i n a peculiar position. /le could not quite understand what the hon. member Wished to establish. He certainly wished to have the d egree of divinity thrown open. What is divinity? He 44 3's that the professors of different Churches should Obtain certificates. Well, what Churches ? For example, th ere were the Buddists, where they to be included? Pro bably„.. the ho n . mem b er meant t h e var i ous f ragments of th e Christian world • but if he meant to admit all those as wh o Professed Christianity in some form or other, he must over some test as to what Christianity is. be Government intended, so far as they were concerned, t ° send up to the House of Lords the same Bill as was submitted to them last year, and he did not think it ex 15edient, or that it was consistent that they as a Govern nt should send up a Bill materially varying from the di of last year, therefore he could nct accede to the 41°e ndinent of his hon. friend (Mr. Stevenson), and that e. th tug the case he thought it would be best not to prolong discussion. (Hear, hear.) He was, however, bound to ;43, that th e same course would b e adopted by the Govern -6h regard to th e o th er amen d ments on the paper. tti ° old the Government fail in their attempt the hon. 4: L l4 er (Mr. Stevenson), or an y o th er h on. gent l eman, tu ber hav e th e opportun i ty of introducing a bill, but at h e ist he must say say " no " to the amendment. (Hear, LYON PLAYFAIR said he should be compelled to vote - qtl i e 0 ." 18 friend th e mover o f th e amen d ment, b ecause he di, t 4Bi dered th a t th e th ree f acu l t i es, medicine, law, and ought all to be open. He considered that th e the bi as it stood, affected the nationalty of dif and made it partial in its operation t the ame n d men t was a d opted i t would tend largely 1:1 10 44 e th e s t andard of knowledge possessed by those tI 4O took d egrees in our universities, because, instead of bili, Nvio g the responsibility on the bishops, the responsi- Ay would rest with the universities themselves. ter a few w or d s f rom M r . B ERESFORD H OPE, who e 4t i ed that th e bishops had the responsibility alluded to, Dri n: : BU XTON said he could not conceive upo n wh a t kid I Ple it was wished to retai n the f ew mis e r a bl e scra p s th at fr agment s of an old system based upon the idea Aeop°ithe universiti es b e l onged to the Church an d not the e. T here were many su bj ects i n connec ti on with gioeu44Y, which had had no reference to any.specific reli• vi ew, and h e h oped the principle to " which he had lit r all ud.cl w ould be c arr i e d out to the utmost. SAMUELSON believed the proper sequel of the events t e4B t 3:,,r would h ave been a bill abolishing all religious ‘vi th 4. here were gent l emen who were fond of charging their. unbelief those whose opinions did not coincide with O wn,eo l4rto ,. and when a member was expelled from a 4.l4aeeettato:liti.ofoirl the revision of the scriptures simply be the did not hold the belief of the Church of England, of all tests should be insisted upon. He the that theology should be pursued as a science, but ° °lnitry 14741 alwaYs been labouring under a disadvan- THE SUN, LO `DON, TUESDAY , FEBRUARY 21, ItsA SUN OFFICE, 8 A.M. THE ARMISTICE. Le Figaro says that the carriage of the materiel of war surrendered to the Prussians along the streets of Paris in open day is calculated to exasperate the population. Ten omnibuses filled with muskets passed along the Boulevards yesterday. The Figaro suggests that the thing should be done somewhat less openly.—Times telegrams. IMPORTANT DECLARATION OF M. TRIERS. BORDEAUX, February 20 (Noon.) M. Thiers is of opinion that at present the only possible political programme is to put an end at once to the foreign occupation by means of a peace courageously debated, and which will not be accepted unless it is honourable. Afterwards the nation will pronounce on the modus vivendi which it wishes to adopt. Until that time France must try to obtain, by concord and wisdom, the esteem and the aid of Europe. M. Germain has laid on the table a proposition to the effect that the Minister of Finance should be allowed to open a credit for 100 millions of francs, in order to cover the expenses of the war.-7 elearaph Mlegram. THE FRENCH ASSEMBLY. BORDEAUX, January 19*. To-day there has been, no exaggerated display of military force around the Assembly. There were no Cuirassiers and no Lancers, but sailors without bayonets guarded the approaches in a very unpre tending manner, and everybody was allowed to pass to and fro without hindrance. The weather was magnificent, and it being Sunday, there was an enormous crowd of persons in the streets. Not the slightest disorder of any kind occurred. - - ---- *Delayed in transmission. NEWS FROIII BRUSSELS.: BRUSSELS, February 20. M. Guizot is mentioned as likely to be French Am bassador in London. One corps of Faidherbe's army is at Dunkirk ready to embark. Seventeen vessel s are in the port of Dunkirk formidably armed.---Daily News Telegram. The following telegrams come. through Renter's agency : THE TERMS OF PEACE. PARIS, Februay 19. It is stated on good authority that the conditions of peace demanded by Germany are as follows : The cession of Alsace and a portion of Lorraine, with Thionville, Mets, and Belfort, and the payment of an indemnity of £280,000,000. The Mayors of Paris have signed an address in the name of their fellow-citizens expressing to the Lord Mayor, and begging him to transmit to the people of London, their gratitude for the paternal sympathy manifested by England towards France. The address expresses a ttistaction at seeing in the exchange of sentiments a pledge of union in har mony with the interests of the two nations, and ne cessary for the development of liberty in Europe. The address is to be taken to London by five dele gates of the Parisian municipalities. The Manager de Paris says there are sacrifices of territory and money to which no political party could assent without being for ever lost. The Germans continue their requisitions in the neighbourhood of Paris, and on Tuesday last the Mayor of Chantilly was made prisoner because a re quisition of 15,000 f. was not forthcoming. Several journals have observed that the actual territory of France was fixed by the Treaty signed in 1815 at a European Congress, and that it cannot therefore be changed except by another European Congress. It was not merely a simple question of honour or of friendship which the Powers decided in 1815. The Powers entered into a contract, in view of a positive interest, for mally expressed in the preamble of the Treaty, in order to establish a firm peace by means of a just repartition of the forces between the Powers. Should, however, the European equilibrium estab lished in 1815 be touched by Prussia, whatevez Treaty may now be signed is null and void in advance. THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, THE QUESTION OF PEACE. In the National Assembly, on Sunday, D.I. Thiers said that lie did not lay down any programme, which was always a vague thing, but at the present time there was only one line of policy to follow, and it was urgent'to put an end to the evils afflicting the ,country, and to terminate the occupation by the enemy. The country had need of peace, which must be courage. ously discussed, and only accepted if honourable. M. Thiers also announced the reconstitution of the Coun cils-General and the municipalities by fresh elections. The Government would devote all its powers to pacify and reorganise the country, to revive credit, and reanimate labour. M. Thiers said that nothing was more pressing than that task. " I cannot imagine that anyone can occupy himself with the constitutional question while France is debating in the grasp of the enemy. Such is our policy. Every man of sense, be he a Monarchist or a Republican, can work usefully for the interest of the country, so that it should say to us under what form of government it desires to exist, and then, with the full knowledge of its wants, we can decide our destiny, and that not merely by a majority, but by the national will. Such is the policy to which my colleagues and myself devote ourselves. To give your assistance to a policy whose only objects are the interests of the country will be the strongest power you can confer upon your negotiators." Loud applause greeted the speech of M. Thiers. M. Jules Favre then rose and said :—" The Government has deemed it necessary to unite parlia mentary powers with those of the Executive, and proposes, in consequence, that, in order to facilitate the negotiations, the Assembly should appoint a com mittee of fifteen deputies to proceed at once to Paris, and who will be in constant communication with the negotiators. The latter will be empowered to nego tiate in the name of the country, and the Commission LATEST INTELLIGENCE. PARIS, Monday Afternoon. lam informed good authority that there will be a further renewal of the Armistice from the 24th inst. to the Ist of March. M. Jules Favre will come to Parts to-clay with the other Commissioners appointed to discuss the terms of Peace with Count Bismarck at Versailles. General satisfaction is expressed by the Paris journals at the unanimous vote of the Assembly appointing M. Thiers head of the Executive. After speculating on the conditions of peace, the chief topic of conversation here is the intended entry of th• Emperor of Germany and the Prussian troops into the capital. The Parisians feel extremely annoyed at the pro position. Le Figaro is not surprised that the journals of Berlin should urge the Emperor to traverse the streets of Paris surrounded by his victorious legions ; but that French journals should admit the possi bility of a demonstration so painful to French feelings is what the Figaro cannot understand. There is no day fixed for the entry. The same paper alleges that by a Treaty still secret, but already signed, between Prussia and Luxemburg, the Grand Duchy undertakes to pay the Cabinet of Berlin an indemnity of 2,000,000 f. for the wrong it did in violating its neutrality. The personnel of the railways in Luxemburg will be Prus sian in future, and Prussian troops only will garrison the Grand Ducal fortresses. will be informed of the negotiations, and subse quently report thereon to the Assembly." M. Thiers proposed that the Assembly should sus pend its settings during the negotiations. BORDEAUX, Feb. 20 (1 p.m.). Spain and Portugal have recognised the French Government. THE AIcMISTICE AND THE TERMS OF PEACE. By special despatch the Telegraph correspondents send the following : PARIS, Monday, Feb. 20 (Noon). The question relating to the cession of Metz has now been determined. The line of the Lorraine territory which is to be annexed by Germany will include Pont-a- Mousson. The French Government is now pressing for a further prolongation of the armistice until the 2nd of March. Should the prolongation be' granted, Count Moltke will stand out for the entry of the German troops into Paris on the 25th of February ; and he will probably succeed in gaining his point. The as sembling of the German Imperial Parliament at Berlin has been put off until the 15th of March, by which date the Emperor is expected to be back in his capital. Among the financial authorities here a difference of opinion prevails as to whether the period allowed for the payment of that . portion of the war indemnity —one-half—which the Germans are to take in bills, should be fixed at two or at five years. It is pfobable that some term between those named will be eventually adopted. The Crown Prince is still understood to be strongly opposed to the triumphal entry of the German troops- into Paris, principally from magnanimous motives. The conversation in the caVs chiefly turns upon the possible entry of the German troops. Although bitter regrets are expressed for the degrada tion indicted oak the city it is generally agreed that the French would have done tile same thing at Berlin. Everyone expresses his sincere hope that tone of the Reds will be so mad as to attempt doing any injury to the German chiefs. Still, no one ventures to say what will happen, An inquiry has been made with respect to the surprise at Ville-Evrart, where General Baise was killed by Prussians hidden in the cellars. Seven officers will be tried by court-martial for aban doning their posts in the presence of the enemy- The shopkeepers of the city complain that provisions have arrived so rapidly that they cannot make the enor mous profits which they anticipated. Horseflesh has now altogether disappeared. Yesterday was Dimanche Gras. Paris was gay, in spite of its being prisoner of war, and of the total absence of masks. Since the con clusion of the armistice the German requisitions have become more heavy. It is said that Messrs. Rothschild advanced 800,000 francs to pay the St. Denis war indemnity. Paris will not have gas for fifteen days to come. The National Guards, who now receive a franc and a half a day, must henceforth make a demand in writing, declaring their name, age, pro fession, and domicile before the siege. Their demand must be made within ten days. The same rule is applicable to the allowance of 75 centimes granted to the wives of National Guards who receive a franc and a-half. General Vinoy has given orders that the war companies of the National Guard should deliver up all their camping materiel, which will be taken to the Palis d'lndustrie. The Prussian Govern ment has not sufficient locomotives at its command for the conveyance of the wounded, and twenty have been borrowed from the Eastern Railway Company. HEADQUARTERS FIRST GERMAN ARMY, AMIANS, February 19, (Afternoon.) One of the articles in the Convocation signed at Versailles on the 28th of January has hitherto presented an impediment to the triumphal entry of the German troops into Paris which is contem plated and desired by the Emperor and Von Moltke. It would now seem that the obstacle has been removed. It arose from the fact that throughout the armistice a certain zone of neutral territory surrounded Paris, to pass which would have been an infringement of the agreement. This difficulty has been removed by a prolongation of the armistice for five days; and the general opinion in the German armies appears to be that the investing force will enter the city about the 25th inst. In the Department of the Somme the people hail with delight the arrival of the Duke d'Aumale, and all over Northern France an extraordinary affection appears to be entertained for the family of the Citizen-King. The manufacturers in the neighbourhood of Villiers-BrUonneux, Cachy, Longueau, Cagny, and the adjacent villages, are all thoroughly Bourbonist in their political principles. The proclamation which the Emperor Napoleon lately issued from Wilhelmshohe was read aloud at the Mairie of Amiens before a large assemblage of municipal and other authorities of the city. The reading was listened to with ill-suppressed impatience ; at the conclu sion even the dignity of the Municipal Council gave way, and strong language was employed by dignified local personages. It is believed in military circles that the command of the German t roo p s h o ldi ng Alsace and Lorraine, with the governorship of these provinces, will be entrusted to General von Manteuffel. It is not- yet known here what reward or responsibility is reserved for General von Goben, the hero of the campaig in the North. SAARBRUECK, February 20. All the wounded German soldiers who are capable of rejoining their regiments are now being sent to the front from this place. At Cologne there never was so large an assemblage of troops as is there at the present moment ; the squares and open places of that city are literally black with the nume rous battalions at exercise. The Bank of Prussia has reduced its rate of discount to per cent. Father Hyacinthe has written to a friend respecting the movement that has been made in Rome for the purpose of restoring his ministry to him, but wishes all such under takings to be made openly, He intends to publish his appeal 'to the Bishops, but he declares that he could not put forward a personal question, if it was not connected with interests which are above all others. MAZZINI AT OFFENBACH.—A letter from Offen bach states that Mazzini in passing from London to Italy visited some friends in that city. Years of troubles have whitened Mazzini's hair, but his spirit is still great, as may be seen from his last work, "Roma del Popolo." He speaks French and English with as much facility as he does his native language. He is deeply, versed in the history and literature of Germany. Contrary to the custom of most Italians, he speaks with admiration of the German people and their rulers. He thinks that the French have forfeited for a considerable time the direction of European affairs, and the more so because they have been systematically demoralised for several generations. He is indignant with Gambetta and Garibaldi. THE WAIL CORRESPONDENTS. Mr. Archibald Forbes, one of the Daily News' specials, was in London one day last week. He had gone from Paris to Calais to post a letter to his journal, and concluded to take a trip across the Channel and see how his friends in London were getting on. He did this, and returned to Paris on the following day. Lord Adare, who has acted in this capacity for the Daily Telegraph;has met with a serious accident in Paris. His lordship was thrown from his carriage and sustained some severe injuries, from which he is, however, recovering. Mr. Home, the spiritualist, who was also at Versailles for some time, as correspondent to a San Francisco paper, has gone to St. Petersburg, at the court of which he has many friends. BRITISH COMMISSIONERS IN PARIS.-- We are happy to hear that Deputy Inspector-General Dr. Gordon, C. 8., and Surgeon-Major Wyatt, of the Coldstream Guards, who were accredited to the French Government, and have remained in Paris throughout the siege, are both is excellent health, They have collected voluminous re cords of matters of professional interest during their seclusion from the outer world. These records include copious notes on the injuries of the wounded received into the Parisian hospitals, military and volunteer ; on the surgical operations performed, and their results ; the transport arrangements from the outworks and after the different sorties ; the system adopted for providing food of the requisite qualities and variety : the steps taken to preserve the health of the population throughout the siege ; together with numerous observations on a variety of allied subjects, which, when published, cannot fail to prove a valuable store of materials for study and reference, not only to army medical officers, but also to members of the medical profession in general.— British Medical Journal. MR.lo TIN TA GUR BERNARD.—Mr. Mewl tagu e Bernard, barrister-at-law, Professor of International Law at the University of Oxford, has been appointed a member of the Commission to assemble at Washington to investi gate the Alabama and other claims now pending between England and the United States. Mr. Bernard was educated at Trinity College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1842 (Ist class in Classics, 2nd class in Mathematics). He became Vinerian Fellow in 1852. Mr. Bernard was called to the bar at Lincoln's-inn in May, 1846, and practised for some time at the Chancery bar, - lint in 1859 he was appointed first Chichele Professor of International Law and Diplo macy, and in the same year was nominated assessor of the Chancellor's Court of the Uni versity. The Chichele Professorship of International L aw was founded by the ordinance of the University Commissioners of 1854, relating to All Souls' College, and endowed with the emoluments of five sup pressed Fellowships, on a stipend of £750 a year, from its revenue. Th e e l ec ti on of the professor is in the hands of the hands of th e Vi s i tor and Warden of the College, the Lord Chancellor, the Judge of the Court of Admiralty, and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.—Solici tors' Journal. THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS Jules Fevre visited Lord Lyons, Prince Metter nich, and the Chevalier Nigro, on Sunday evening, and announced that he would leave that night, ac companied by M. Tbiers,,for Versailles, to ascertain from Count Bismarck the German terms of peace. The press are unanimous in their expressions of con fidence in the Government. THE ARMISTICE. A despatch to the French Minister of the Interior, dated Paris, 18th, communicates the text of an ad ditional Convention between Count Bismarck and M. Favre, for the surrender of Belfort, and the con tinuation of the line of demarcation in the Cote d'Or. A'radius of 10 kilometres is placed at the dis posal of the garrison of Besancon. Auxonne will have a neutral ground of three kilometres. The de partments of the Doubs and Cote d'Or, are comprised henceforth in the Armistice. M. Anatole de la Forge, the Prefect of Basses Pyr6ne'es, has resigned. PRUSSIAN REGULATIONS. Jules Favre has sent the following dispatch to the Prefect of the Seine Infdrieure Your just complaints have been made known to me, and reach me from all the occupied departments, where the enemy exacts extraordinary contributions. I have strongly represented the matter at Versailles each time these facts have been brought to my know ledge. "By right, during an armistice the conqueror can exact from the occupied countries subsistence for the troops, and the taxes, but he cannot claim in addition contributions and extraordinary requisitions. " Complain in this sense to the German authori ties, and in all cases insist upon a delay. Count Bismarck has promise I me to act in this sense, and has sent a circular to that effect. lam grieved at my inability to do more. I share your sufferings, and am doing all I can to put an end to them. (Signed), " JULES FAYRE." NEWS FROM VIENNA. VIENNA, February 20. The semi-official Fremdenblatt, while denying the report that a circular note has been despatched, declares 'that the relations of Austria with Russia and Prussia will remain unaffected by the change of Government. The Prease announces among its court news that if Count Apponyi can be induced to accept the post of Court Marshal in Vienna, he will be succeeded by Prince Metternich, who is anxious for the appoint ment of ambassador i❑ London.—Daily .New Telegram. THE MASSACRE AT MARATHON. We are glad to learn that telogums have been re. ceived from Athens announcing that the Court o: Appeal has dismissed the case against Mr. Noel, or daining a cessation of turthesproceedings. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) THE PRINCESS LOUISE'S DOWRY. A large and somewhat noisy meeting, presided over by Mr. Alderman Sadler, was held in Birmingham Town Hall last night, when a resolution was passed by a large majority, condemning the unseemly haste of the Govern ment in pressing forward the bill for granting a dowry to the Princess Louise in face of the numerous protests from all parts of the country, which has proved that Parliament, at any rate on this question, does not represent the will of the nation. The resolution also denounced the idea of any further dowries being granted to the members of the Royal Family as being a reckless squandering of the money of the nation, THE OXFORD CREW. The crew were out as usual yesterday afternoon, coached by the president, the first time in their gig, and the second time in the Oxford victorious craft of 1869. This being their first time in a racing boat, and the weather being somewhat rough, the men were not very well together. I hey went down a third time, but on this occasion in their gig. WRECK OF A BARQUE AND LOSS OF ALL HANDS. The barque Joseph Sproule, of Liverpool, was wrecked on Monday off Gallyhead, near Clonakilty, with loss of all hands. The cargo consisted of sugar. The vessel is quite broken up. COURT MARTIAL ON AN ASSISTANT PAYMASTER. A court-martial was opened on board the Royal Ade laide, at Devonport, on Saturday and concluded on Monday, for the trial of Mr. Dixon Sambell, Assistant Paymaster of the Indus, on three charges of neglecting to perform duties - ordered by Mr. Lewis, Paymaster of the ship. The evidence for the prosecution was, that on three acaasions Mr. Lewis had ordered the prisoner to prepare the balance-sheet, the monthly returns, and the officers advance list, but that he had in most instances neglected to comply with the orders assigned to him. The defence, read by Mr. Beer, solicitor, urged that it would have been impracticable for the prisoner to have gone about the work as Mr. Lewis had ordered, and that he had had it done in precisely the same way as his predeces sors had adopted. Witnesses were called - who gava the prisoner an excellent character, and bore out in one or two respects the statement of the prisoner that it would have been impracticable for him to do as Mr. Lewis or dered. They also shewed that some of the work given to the senior assistant-paymaster had been delegated by him to his junior, a course of conduct also adopted by the prisoner. Sentence to lose one year's seniority and to be dismissed his ship was passed. COURT MARTIAL, The court martial for the trial of William H. Munday, late steward of H. M. S. Warrior, was concluded on Mon day morning. The prisoner appealed to the court not to take into consideration the fact that he had been con victed of improperly lauding cocoa. He contended that the evidence of the contractor and his foreman, and the books they produced, were totally unworthy of credit ; that the contract had been carried on from first to last dishonestly, dead meat and inferior meat having been shipped contrary to the provisions of the con tract. He referred so the fact that when he was alleged to have been at Portsmouth, and received money from Curtis, the ship's books proved that he was not checked as being absent from the ship. Witnesses were called to prove that when meat was brought on board it did not always weigh quite as much as was represented ; and that no complaints had ever been made by any of the ship's crew. The court found the charges proved ; and, having taken into consideration the previous sentence, and his good character, sentenced prisoner to six months' hard labour, to commence at the expiration of the other sentence.—The court afterwards proceeded with the trial of Edward John Knight, of the Achilles, on similar charges. After the prosecution had been opened, the court adjourned until Tuesday. At the meeting of the West India and Pacific Steam ship Company at Liverpool yesterday, a dividend of 6 per sent. was declared, and nearly £4,000 was carried for ward. The chairman said the condition of the company was very satisfactory and hopeful. The Hon. Dudley Campbell, who has entirely recovered from his serious illness, is now in Canada. At the Metropolitan Asylums Board on Saturday, it was reported that the smallpox epidemic still continues in London to an alarming extent. The Queen and Royal Family arrived in London on Monday afternoon from Windsor, and will remain at Buckingham Palace till Friday or Saturday. Prince Arthur and the Marquess of Lorne also left Windsor Castle for London. Colonel Farquharson has issued an'address to the electors of Aberdeenshire, intimating that in the event of the 'retirement of Mr. MeOombie; which is considered probable, he will offer himself in the Conservative interest. CRYSTAL PALACE.--One Shilling Day, Monday, 20th February, 1871.—Admission by season tickets, 1,290; ditt o on p a yment, 1,003 ; total visitors, 2,203. OUR COTEMPORARIES—This Morning THE fiAttoT PILL The Times says : —Th at respect fortradition which Eng lishmen exhibit under all circumstances was duly honoured last night by Her Majesty's Ministers. Mr. Forster brought in a Ballot Bill. What a thrill of satisfac tion the good Reformers who did so much useful work forty years ago would have felt could they have seen that day l They have most of them gone to their rest. Only a small section of the part)" hail the Government measure with unqualified satisfac tion. They belong to the order of men whose mission it is to take up knowledge at the point at which their fathers left it, and never to advance beyond it. They are, indeed, worthy persons, inheriting good principles, but Possessing little or no power of assimilating new ideas, doomed to be bewildered as years flow on by proposals strange to their youth, and always to be flouted by the younger' generations that rise and push them into the background. When there is no heart put into work it is pretty sure to be indifferently done. It is iMpossible to pay any attention to the Ballot Bill without seeing haw earalessly many questions have been considered which it necessarily raises. With a strict ballot it is impossible to know limn nn election is going until the close, when it may often appear that a party having the majority has rim too many candidates, and the minority have put their man at the head of the poll. The remedy for such a mischance adopted in France and elsewhere is to require a second ballot when the candidate heading the list does not obtain an absolute majority of the votes recorded ; but the Government do not appear to have foreseen this difficulty. The most signal proof of the (Bo crepancy between the real and the professed feeling on the subject of the bill is, however, to be found in a review of its history. When the new Parliament met a Select Committee was appointed, with a member of the Cabinet as its chairman, to report on the Ballot and other reforms in electoral machinery. The Committee, of course, reported in favour of the Ballot : but the chair man, acting, it must be presumed, in harmony with the viewsof the Ministry, took care to go no further, and gave his vote in favour of retaining Nomination Days, against throwing necessary expenses on the rates, and generally against any alteration other than which was by a foregone conclusion agreed upon. Bit by bit it has: been confessed that it was impossible to stop short ; and if the' Ballot Bill should perish amid the Massacre of the Innocents for two or three sessions yet to come, we should at the end secure something like a thorough attempt to consider the col lateral issues it raises. The Daily News remarks :—The Bill goes far beyond the limping measure of last year, and deals with the whole of our election machinery in a wider and more liberal sense than the Parliamentary Elections Committee had ventured to recommend. It starts by including Parliamentaryit s scope. and Municipal Elections within scope. It applies to these elections not only the Ballot, but a B a ll o t w hi c h i s reallyln violable, and the proposal which is associated with the name of Professor Fawcett, by which the legal expenses of elections are charged on the con stituencies. It abolishes the old and exploded system of nominations, and sweeps away with it the evil custom of a public declaration of the poll. These three points are the main features of the bill, and are exactly those which have constituted the demand of the advanced section of the Liberal party. It is peculiarly satisfactory that in this measure—the most important political measure of the session—the Government should have resolved to be thoroughly faithful to the best traditions of the Liberal party. The argument for it has long since been admitted to be irresistable, and the only reason why it was not enacted long ago is the fear of local and national political leaders to trust the people. When the people were fully enfranchised, it became evident that the system of open voting, with its openness to every corrupt and illegitimate influence, must be superseded by a protected vote. This protection, so long demanded and so long denied, is at length to be given. The Government Ballot Bill will be the new charterof the freedom, thequietude, and the purity of popular elections. Mr. Forster's Ballot is a real Ballot. As Mr. Leatham said, the Government have faced the difficulty of providing for a scrutiny by simply abolish ing scrutiny altogether. There are some omissions in the bill, which we hope will be supplied in committee. We regret that the Government has not dealt with canvassing and agency. Sir Henry Hoare has announced that he will move to insert a clause abolishing paid canvassers ; and Mr. Forster expressed himself as glad to know that the question would be discussed. The bill is an admirable one, so far as it goes ; and it goes very far, and it can easily be made a perfect measure for ensuring freedom and purity of election. • The Telegraph observes :—Last night's debate in the 'House of Commons on the clauses of the University Tests Bill was made memorable by two divisions, in which the Government found itself opposed to a majority of its own supporters, winning only by the aid of Tcry votes. Mr, Stevenson proposed that the degrees in Divinity, as well as those in Law and Medicine, should be thrown open to all who could pass the requisite examination. Mr. Fawcett,, who is invariably the " Reddest" of the " Reds," moved that all the headships of houses, all the fellowships, and the pro fessorships might be held by laymen. At present the heads of houses must be in holy orders ; so must the pro fessors of divinity ; and so must the majority of the fel lows at Cambridge, and a large proportion at Oxford. It would be futile to underrate the importance of decisions in which Conservative aid alone saved the Government from conspicuous defeat. The Bill must be passed this year. But it would inevitably be rejected by the House of Lords if it contained the sweeping and novel provisions demanded by Mr. Stevenson and Mr. Fawcett. Nay, those provisions would raise such a storm in the universities and amid the ranks of the clergy that, if they were pressed, the passing of the bill might be delayed for half-a-dozen years, or at least until after the next general election. The Government Bill is not a measure of finality There is nothing to hinder Mr. Stevenson and his friends from trying to amend it next year, or pressing the claims of Liberalism until they overcome the inertia of the Peers. Last night they were guilty of bad strategy. Mr. Fawcett's motion is more open to question. Strictly in terpreted, it would permit the theological chairs to be held by laymen. Now, unless the House of Commons be prepared to let laymen preach from the pulpits of the Church, and teach whatever doctrine may enter into their heads, it cannot logically permit lay, and therefore unfettered, professors to fill the chairs of Divinity. So far the motion strikes at the root of the system on which the Church of England is regulated. That there must be a great change in the direction indi cated by Mr. Fawcett admits of no doubt. The point at issue is only a question of time. The reform cannot be executed at present, for the simple reason that any bill which proposed such a reform would inevitably be rejected by the Peers ; and the country cannot afford to wait longer for a measure to make the universities national in fact as well as in name. THE UNIVERSIIT 7BSTS BILL. The Standard considers that the relations between Mr. Gladstone and the more Radical section of his supporters have for some time been far from cordial. Already, in the last session of Parliamr—f. a great deal of dissatisfac tion was expressed by mem' , ..; sitting below the gang way at what they professed to consider the weakness of the Government in questions in which the interests of the Church of England and the feelings of its members were involved. Last night this schism ca me to a head. The Government introduced at the very commencement of the session the bill upon Univers ity Tests, which passed th e House of Commons last year,and which the House of measure,middle biThebill Opposition protested Lords refused todi passed last year, Mr. Gath orne s a c g u a s i s n s in t t h t l e le Hardy and his r one a' f q ie h n a d d s refused to impede its p assage was the same by any division .' The bill went int o com mittee last night, and the independent supporters of the Government essayed to make several radical alterations in it. Mr. Stevenson proposed to omit th e words which exempted degrees in divinity from those which the bill enacts shall be conferred without the requisition of any test, and Mr. Fawcett moved an amendment by which all the statutes of the particular colleges by which certain headships of houses are confined to persons in holy orders, and the being in holy orders gives a longer tenure of a fellowship, should be at once repealed. That a man may know a great deal about the Scriptures and the Fathers without believing a word of the message the Bible conveys, we can under stand--there are but too many illustrations of it—but that such a man should for his memory or his critical skill be entitled to claim from a university of a Christian country a certificate to teach unbelief is rather too large a demand on the part of the political dis senters in whom politics have mastered religion. As for the repeal of the college statutes, by which is cer n ta o i t n aondveaenrtgangmesenatrefogir vietnwthoiloerswoonnlsd n in ot be m orders, there e conclusive in favour of other and larger changes not affecting the religious question. The only arguments put forward by its ad voca t es were that nothing else would satisfy the nonconformists, to whom every Liberal mem ber is indebted for his seat, urged by Mr Fawcett. The debate an d di visions of last night skew that the great Liberal party is about to break up, that the unnatural coalition between the Whigs, members of the Church of England and advocates for the maintenance of the Establishment, and the political Dissenters and " nothingarian" adventurers, is about to break up, and will be broken up by the impatience of the extreme party. On which side Mr. Gladstone will be found we may not venture to say, but when once a man takes such service as he has done, there is tco much rea, son to fear that he will end by making himself the tool of men he hates and the advocate of measures which he knows to be disastrous, ►ld of in aid the for so, irY se d hat bd alce 191- 4 res , fit t he the ;es* )1.1 il e but Lila