The Sun. — London, England, 1871-02-25 00:00:00

Wider whether a navigable canal could not be cut at Adam's Bridge for the purpose of diminishing the route to India, and although the committee re commended that the matter should be attended to, the Indian Government had neglected it up to the present time. He had recently visited the locality, and was in a position to say that there was no kind of difficulty what ever in cutting the channel. The opening of the Suez Canal had thrown the trade to India almost entirely into steam vessels, and in a few years nothing but steam vessels would be used, so that a diminution of the distance would become a matter of great importance to the trade of India. Large ships had uow to lay five miles from shore, and if a harbour was opened, a connection would be made by rail. The resources of this portion of the country were very ex tensive, there being large quantities of cattle, meat, and provisions of every description. He hoped the hon. gentlemen who were members of Chambers of Commerce, would take the question up, and press it upon the attention of the Indian Government. He regarded the opening of the Channel as an imperial question, and the Government of Madras looked at it in that light, for they thought that they should expend their funds in canals through their own territory, and not en gage in an Imperial work. By the alteration proposed, steamers would save 730 miles on the route to Calcutta. The maritime condition of the coast between Bombay and Cape Commerin was the worst in the world. At thirteen different points lighthouses were required. He believed that if the matter had been placed in the hands of M. Lesseps he would have done in nine days that which it would take the Indian Government nine years to accomplish. (Hear, hear.) Mr. J. B. SMITH remarked that now the Suez Canal was opened it was absolutely necessary that this work should be done. Mr. EASTWICK having made a few remarks in support of the observations of the hon. baronet, Mr. GRANT DUFF said that there was no doubt but that it would be extremely desirable to have a deep water channel through the straits, but the question was who was to make this channel? The Government of Ceylon had hitherto considered that its subjects were not sufficiently interested, in the matter to make it any part of their duty to expend any considerable sum of money for this purpose. Seve;al plans for this work had at various times been submitted to the Government, but the Imperial GoVernment had refused to do anything in the matter. He had been given to understand that large ships which had paid toll to pass through the Suez Canal would not be willing to pay toll to pass through these straits, and as to men-of-war, they would not be of any advantage to them. Under the circumstances, he did not think that it was within the province of the Imperial Government to undertake this work. (Hear, hear.) THE PRINCESS LOUISE'S ANNUITY. The Sergeant -at-Arms appeared at the bar of the House and introduced Mr. Justice Blackburn and Mr. Justice Keating. Mr. Justice Blackburn said—Mr. Speaker, the Lords have agreed to the Princess Louise's Annuity Bill without .any amendment. The judges then bowed and retired. THE BLACK SEA TREATY. _ _ Mr. DISRAELI rose, in compliance with a notice of motion, to call attention to the provisions of the Treaty of Paris (1856) as to the Black Sea, with reference to the statement on this subject lately made by the Prime Minister. The right hon. gentleman said that the few inquiries he was about to make had reference to the Treaty of Paris of 1856. I t o was not his intention or wish to enter any discussion as to the great principles in volved i n the subject. A more important thing could not engage, in his opinion, the attention of Parliament ; and in the right appreciation of the circumstances connected with it, he would venture to say that the future power of this country greatly depended, and more than that, the future position of this country with regard to a considerable part of the globe depended •an it. This subject was not to be treated in a casual manner. He believed that an hon. gentleman had given notice to bring the whole question before the House, and no doubt if that took place the House would listen to his statements, and take up a discussion upon them with that ' interest and attention which the gravity of the question required. But the remarks he was about to make were rather preparatory to a discussion on the subject. Among otherpoints he should like to decide to night if possible was to ascertain, if he could, what was the avowed objects of the Conference now sitting in London. At present that subject was involved in an atmosphere of ambiguity. The grounds and reasons given by persons in authority for that Conference seemed to be various, and to a certain extent contradictory, and the whole matter seemed to be mixed up with so much mysterious inconsistency that he thought no time should be lost in getting at the state of affairs connected with it. He had occasion to advert to the subject of the treaty of 1856 in some remarks he made on the first night of the session. They avere necessarily of an imperfect character, aud it was not possible from the view he wished thesn to impress on the House .to enter into any great detail with regard to that particular treaty. He had one object and only one in making those remarks. He thought it was advisable, considering the great events, the almost unprecedented events which had occurred in the interval since the prorogation, that the attention of the House should be called to the results of those events. Ire wanted to impress on the House, that in consequence .of those events,'there had been a great revolution in our diplomatic relations, and that old ideas had become obsolete. The balance of power was disturbed in Europe, and in consequence, there had been a repudiation of treaties by several states, and of all the existing states which would suffer by the deterioration of public morality, or the violation of - Public law, England would suffer the most. They found Russia repudiating the Treaty of 1856, and the point they .repudiated contained the whole gist and the whole pith 'Of that treaty—the very question for which we struggled and made great sacrifices and endured great sufferings. -After the war had been waged for one year, Russia inti mated a desire that some understanding should be arrived at, and the Government of Austria interfered with the view of bringing about a pacification. After some com munication it was ascertained that peace might probably be successfully negotiated on four points, the first of which referred to the Government of the Principalities, the seeond, to the free navigation of the River Danube, the third, to the discovery of means for terminating the naval supremacy of Itussia in the Black Sea, and the fourth to the future Protection of the Christian subjects of the Porte, The Conference took place at Vienna, Russia having intimated her readiness to negotiate on those points, and thus admit ting th e principle involved in them. The first two points were admitted by Russia, and though the fourth point was never brought under oral discussion, Russia inti. mated that she would accede to it ; but upon the third Point, when the Conference had to decide upon the means by which the supremacy of Russia in the Black Sea was to be terminated, great difficulty arose. It appeared that Russia having admitted the principle of the third point, the allies suggested that she should her 'elf propose the means by which that result should be attained. Russia, however, declined, and the question aro se whether or not the war should be continued. Both Lord Palmerston and his Foreign Secretary knew the responsibility which rested upon them, but the war was continued another year. The victors did not demand the Crimea; they did not demand any indemnity for the ex, Penses of the war; but, as a full measure of satisfaction, t hey insisted that the neutrality of the Black Sea should he observed, and this was secured by the Treaty of 1856. There was no reason to suppose that the circumstances had since changed. When the statement was made that a revision of the treaty would be asked for, Sir A. Bu chanan expressed to Prince Gortschakoff that be looked k: 1 the matter with a serious apprehension, and that 4e k,Pected his Government wouldat once ask for his pass ibll°rt. Could the House therefore doubt that Sir A. '"lehanan had been furnished with instructions from the 'overo.ment as to the course he should adopt. The Go l'ernraeut, finding themselves in a alif6Pult position, re- So rted to the extraordinary course of sending a special -,-, 11. v03r to Count Bismarck. Having referred to Mr. Odo J- iussell' s visit to Versailles, and having again drams at tention to the Vital importance of the neutralisation of the Black Sea he alluded to Mr. Gladstone's reply on the 'night of the Address,when the right hon. gentleman joined Issue as to the vital importance of the question, and said that in 1856 he expressed his conviction that i t was i m possible the treaty could be naaintained. He (Mr. Disraeli) aiao pointed out the stat ement of the Prime Minister th a t L or d CLarendon and ,i rd Palmerston looked upon it as an arrangemek,, , t that could not be continued. He complained that the Prime Minister had been mixing up in his statement his own ()Pinions with those of other Governments, and he re tairuled him that when he made that speech, in 1856, = against the infraction of neutrality in the Black Sea, he Iv as not a Minister of the Crown, he was not the loader of (4 le OPposition, but ,belonged to a smail body who were rHE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1871. 1, AT EST INTELLIG ENC E. veriirnent instructed the Belgian legation in Paris to enter into official relations with the new Govern- SUN OFFICE, 8 A.M. meat of France as soon as it was apprised of the vote of the National, Assembly appointing M. Thiers chief of the Republic. If the Cabinet of Brussels has not replied to the notification of the accession of a new regime, it is because no such notification has yet reached the Belgian Government. THE TREATY OF PEACE, The following telegram is from the Versailles correspondent of the Standard, dated Thursday : A Treaty of Peace, embracing the main conditions demanded by the Germans, has been signed by M. Thiers and Count Bismarc4. The minor arrange ments will be settled to-morrow. France pays a war indemnity of 2320,000,000. , Alsace and German Lorraine, including Metz, are ceded to Germany. Metz was only given up after a furious contest with Bismarck, in which it is said M. Thiers denounced German repacity in very plain The question of the boundary of the ceded territory being to run so as to include Nancy, will be settled to-morrow. Most probably Bismarck will not insist on the cession of Nancy. terms. The captured war material remains the property of the Germans. The Germans do not enter Paris. The Emperor held out to the last, but Bismarck insisted on having his own way, declaring that if this was made one of the terms of peace the war would probably be continued. The Emperor's intention at present is to leave Ver sailles on Monday. He is looking much broken down and fears are entertained as to the effect of the reac tion on his health. A telegram from Bordeaux on the 24th, states that Jules Simon announces in the Moniteur that the Government has received advices from Versailles that the negotiations there are being actively carried on, but that no information as to the character of those negotiations has yet been transmitted. THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS AT VERSAILLES. VERSAILLES, February 23. Count Bismarck, it is -eported, does not appear to be so confident of the conclusion of peace as he was recently, because he will not listen to proposals for a further prolongation of the Armistice, and declares that if his terms are not accepted hostilities will begin immediately alter midnight on the 26th instant. The French are anxious for more time, but Count Bismarck says they have had a month to think over the terms. However, if peace be a probable result of a further delay, no doubt it will be acceded to. M. Thiers's reception by the Crown Prince was very gratifying. There has been along Conference to-day. The batteries in the forts are now all turned to wards Paris. PARIS, February 24. A. remarkable contrast prevails between opinions in Paris and at Versailles. The Germans are quite persuaded that peace must come upon their terms, but it is certain that it is not yet signed, owing to. objections made by the French negotiators to some of the terms, more, however, to the form than the substance. What are called the Prelimi naries have been assented to, but the conditions and stipulations of the Treaty are not yet agreed upon ; not that the Germans have given way, but that the French endeavour to obtain the abandon ment of some distressing conditions. As M. niers, however, went to Versailles with the avowedideter mination of making peace, it is supposed that Count Bismarck, if really bent on the whole of his terms, can easily obtain them. He will not assent to de_ mauls for a prolongation of the Armistice, seeing in it a means of weakening the German position, and a possible opportunity for obstruction. It is this demand, whether already made or apprehended, which causes in the Chancellor a certain reserve, and makes him unwilling to receive congratulations on the certain conclusion of peace. In Paris, on the other hand, it would seem as if peace is regarded as already signed, and the people are only waiting to know the conditions obtained by France.—Times Telegrams. VERSAILLES, February 24. Thiers, accompanied by Jules Favre, Ernest Picard, and the 15 Commissioners delegated by the National Assembly to assist in the peace negotia tions, will leave this afternoon for Bordeaux, whole they will arrive early to-morrow (Saturday). It is confidently anticipated that the Assembly will ratify by an immense majority the terms of peace which M. Thiers will submit. M. Thiers and his two colleagues are expected back at Versailles on Sunday morning. At the last moment the Emperor-King abandoned the idea of the triumphant march through Paris,— Lombard Telegram. The following telegrams come through E,euter's agency THE GERMAN DEMANDS. PARIS, February 23 This afternoon Count Menkel and the Berlin banker Bleichschroder arrived in Paris from Versailles to discuss the financial question with M. Thiers. Count Bismarck demands six milliards (£240,000,000), from which will be deducted the contributions levied, which will reduce the total amount to five and a half milliards of francs. M. Thiers vigorously opposes the demand. THE FRENCH REPUBLIC. BORDRAUX, February 24 (4.25 p.m.) The Republic has now been recognised by all European States, with the exception of Greece, and recognition by the Hellenic Government is shortly expected. generally condemned throughout the country. When the Crimean War broke out the right hon. gentleman was Chan cellor of the Exchequer, and it was thought to have been occasioned by the lukewarmness of the Cabinet of which he was a member ; and probably of all the distinguished men in the Cabinet, the most unpopular in the country was the right hon. gentleman. His solemn conviction was that Lord Palmerston never wavered in his policy of securing the neutrality of the Black Sea ; and under al these circumstances he wished to know the views of the Government on the subject. Mr. GLADSTONE, in reply, said it was alleged he had denied the importance of neutralising the Black Sea. He challenged the statement that it was of vital and exclusive importance, and beyond this the right hon. gentleman had entirely misrepresented the sentiments of Sir A. Buchanan, and it was impossible to conceive a more pointed misap plication than he had made. The right hon. gentleman's allusions to Mr. Odo Russell were also inaccurate. Having dwelt at length upon Mr. Odo Russell's mission, he continued that the right honourable gentleman had thought proper to inform the House that he (Mr. Gladstone) was not a member of the Go vernment in 1856. It did not require the right hon. gentleman to tell him what was his position, or that he had no followers, and- that he was the most unpopular man in the country, he was trying to do his duty, and in doing so he cared not if he was unpopular. He had noticed the praise Mr. Disraeli had bestowed upon Lord Palmerston, and wished that while he was liberal in praise of the dead, he would ming'e,a little equity in his remarks regarding the living. He never said that the treaty was not looked upon by himself as important, but he argued that the provisions could not be enforced without difficulty and could not, therefore, be perpetuated ; and this was also Lord Palmerston's statement. The right hon. gentleman had said that the Government should have protested against Russia's proposal, and told her that if she persisted she must take the consequences. He was also opposed to the Conference, but the Government thought it was their most sacred duty not to estrange this country from Russia, but to keep in harmony with her, in order that at some happy moment they might be able to step in and contract the line of misery and destruction which existed on the Continent. And the wisdom, the policy, and the resources of the right hon. gentleman suggested to him nothing more than the sentiment—" You must take the consequences." He hoped now we had a French Minister in London—(loud cheers)—the proceedings of the Con ference would be brought to an early and satisfactory conclusion, and he thought he had succeeded in proving there was not the slightest foundation for the charges the right hon. gentleman had made. INDIAN FINANCE. Mr. GRANT DUFF, in making the annual statement on the financial position of India, explained that although the accounts a few years ago shewed a deficit of £2,800,000, in the year ending March, 1870, the surplus was £120,000, and in the year which was now ending there would be a surplus of nearly a million. The receipts last year shewed an improvement over those of the preceding year of £638,393, but there had been a decrease £500,000 in the opium revenue. If the opium duty were removed India would not be lightened of an impost, but robbed of a splendid revenue. The income for the past year was about £51,000,000, and the expenditure rather over £50,000,000. The country was increasing in wealth, and peace had prevailed, though under the surface there were several elements of unrest. The relations with the natives were friendly and satisfactory, the administration of justice was improving, and there was no department in which intelligent natives evinced a greater interest. The merits of the budget were discussed by Mr. S. Cave, Mr. Fowler, Sir C. Wingfield, Mr. Eastwick, Mr. Dickinson, Sir F. Goldsmid, Mr. H. Burke, Sir T. Bazley, Sir J. Elphinstone, and Mr. Macfie ; after which Mr. Grant Duff replied, and the accounts were then ordered to be laid on the table. The House adjourned at five minutes past twelve o'clock. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND THE POPE. A blue-book has been published giving remarkable items of correspondence between our Government and their officials in Rome, respecting the Roman question, the existence of which was unknown until now. , Many of the papers relate to the action taken by Her Majesty's Government to insure due respect from the Italian Government for the property of British subjects in Rome. Upon this subject Sir George Bowyer says that " the just and truly liberal course " pursued by her Majesty's Government " deserves the cordial gratitude of the Roman Catholics of the United Kingdom." The following instructions in a dispatch from Lord Granidlle to Mr. Jervoise, the British representative in Rome, were written when it seemed possible that the Pope might think it advisable to with draw from Rome :—" Foreign Office, August 21, 1870. Sir:—The withdrawal of the French troops from Rome may possibly be followed by disturbances which may endanger the safety of the Pope, or at all events make him desire to retire elsewhere. It is not improbable that, in such an extremity, his Holiness may turn his thoughts towards a temporary refuge in some possession of the British Crown, and that a communication may be made to you on his part, in order to ascertain whether he would be likely there to obtain it. I need scarcely say that her Majesty's Government have no desire for such a result, and would not wish spontaneously to offer to receive the Pope in any place of her Majesty's dominions ; but at the same time, her Majesty's Covernment would certainly not refuse, if requested by the Pope, to afford his Holiness an immediate asylum on board one of her Majesty's ships of war, and having ascertained his wishes as to the place he would desire to proceed to, they would consider how far those wishes, if they pointed to his temporary residence in any place within her Majesty's dominions, could properly be com plied with. In order to provide for such an emer gency a powerful ship of war has been ordered to proceed at once to Civita Vecchia, with the primary object of affording protection and a place of refuge for any subjects of her Majesty who may seek to escape the dangers which any popular outbreak may threaten them with. But this ship will also be available as a place of refuge for the Pope if he should be compelled to seek one, and on board of it his Holiness would be in safety, and might securely await the reply of her Majesty's Government to the expression conveyed to them through you of his wishes in regard to his i future movements. I have already telegraphed to you to this effect, and I now inclose a copy of the instructions given by the Admiralty to the Commander of the British ship of war, together with the original thereof, to be forwarded by a safe messenger to her Majesty's Consul at Civita Vecchia, who will deliver it to Captain Salmon on his arrival. The instructions that I have for your own guidance are as follows : You will not volunteer any offer to the Pope of an asylum either on board a British ship of war or in a resi dence in her Majesty's dominions; but if any communi cation should be made to you on behalf of the Pope, either by Cardinal Antonelli or some other person speaking unquestionably at the dictation of his Holiness, you will make known to him the presence of the Defence at Civita Vecchia, with orders to receive him as above stated, and to await the answer of her Majesty's Government as to the wishes of his Holiness for his future movements. You will, of course, telegraph all that may pass on this subject, and, if necessary, send a special messenger if your despatches are too long to be compressed into a telegram. You will communicate fully and confidentially with Captain Salmon on the subject of this despatch.—l am, &c. (Signed), GRANITILLg." It does not, however, appear from the despatches that his Holiness ever expressed, directly or indirectly, any desire to avail himself of the presence of the Defence at Civita Vecchia. On the 22nd September, 1870, Mr. Jervoise wrote to General Cadorna, of the Italian army, stating that the Irish College, situated in the Viadi Santa Agate, had been visited by four or five persons, who required to go upstairs and examine the apartments, and that, being refused, they threatened to return in great numbers, ,peaking of this occurrence, Mr. Jervoise remarks to the General;—" The Irish College being one of the Catholic ecclesiastical establishments under the protection of the British Government, the undersigned has the honour to bring the above circumstance to the knowledge of his Excellency General Cadorna, and to request that means may be adopted to secure the inmates of the Irish College from injury to their persons or property." A. meeting of Roman Catholic members of Parliament w3e held on Thursday afternoon, at the residence of Archbieluop Manning, York-place, London, for the pur pose of considering thp propriety of proceeding with a motion in Parliament O 4 the occupation of Rome by the King of Italy, of whi g 4 Mr. Miles O'Reilly, the member for Longford, bad given notice. After some discussion it was resolved that the matter should be adjourned until after Easter, ostensibly on the ground that the papers on the subject haci only just been delivered to Parliament, and that many Irish meNakcrs would be absent. I, however, says the correspondent of a contemporary, have reason to think that the real motive for this step was in order that time should be afforded to the French Government to take action in the matter befoie the English Parliament is awed to express its opinion upon it: • • THE GERMANS IN PARIS. It is confirmed that Orsini bombs have been seized in Paris, and other signs lead to fear that bloody conflicts would take place, despite all the efforts and precautionary measures taken by the French authori ties, should the Germans enter Paris. It is, there fore, believed that the Germans will abandon their design, which might be attended by incalculable cdnt•ea uences. GENERAL DUCROT BEFORE THE MILI TA.RY COMMISSION. General Trochu and General Ducrot, with a safe conduct from Count Moltke, arrived at Bordeaux on Wednesday. On Wednesday night General Chanzy and General Ducrot spoke before the Military Com mission, giving their views of 'the military situation of the country. The Military Committee, in view of the approach ing liberation of the 300,000 troops, prisoners of war in Germany, have under consideration the question of the reorganisation of the army, as well as the preparation of the reports upon the military situa tion. PAPAL RECOGNITION OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT. La Liberte, of Bordeaux, announces that Cardinal Antonelli on Thursday, by telegram, recognised the French Government on the part of the Pope. INSURREC noN IN ALGIERS. PARIS, February 23. Despatches from Algiers announce an insurrec tion among the Arabs, which, however, had been completely suppressed. Perfect tranquillity prevails in Algiers. FRANCE AND BELGIUM. The Journal de Bruxelles replying to some nsser ons of the Etoile Belye, says that the Belgian Go- DEFENCE OF BELGIUM. The Government have under consileratim the question of the increase of the annual contingent by 12,000 to 14,000 men, and the erection of a new line of forts at AntWerp. THE CONDITION OF CORSICA. The Nord of Brussels announces that the disturb ances in CorSica, which rendered necessary the despatch of two French mon-of-war to that island, appear to be of a serious nature,. and reproduces a report from the Mot d'Ordre of Paris that Gustave Magnet, the prefect, has been assassinated. PRESIDENT GRANT AND THE FENIANS. President Grant gave an audience. on We !nes la: to O'lonovan Rossa and nine other Fenian exiles. CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS MR. DIXON, ,M.P., ON ARMY EXPENDITURE Mr. George Dixon, M.P., having received a letter from several of his constituents at Birmingham, urging him to y resist the Government proposal for increased outlay upon armaments, has replied : " It affords me much pleasure to assure you that I had previously resolved to oppose the Government proposal, and if I do not do so by my voice. I shall most certainly by my vote." THE CAPE MAILS. Information was received in Plymouth yesterday after noon that Government have resolved to sanction the alte ration of the port for the embarkation and landing of the fortnightly Cape mails. Plymouth has for thirteen years been the port, but now permission has been given to the Union Company to take in and land mails at Southamp ton, and not call at Plymouth on the way up, and down the Channel. This has been permitted in spite of two deputations who interviewed Mr. Lowe last week, one representing the Western interest and the other the Northern Chambers of Commerce. The inducement has been an offer by the company to forego one thousand pounds per annum. The result will be a delay of Cape letters twelve hours in arriving in London, and twenty four in arriving at Northern towns. WAR CHARGES, At a meeting of the Liverpool Peace Society, held last night, a resolution was ' paSsed condemnatory of the increased grants for military purposes proposed by Mr. Cardwell, and denouncing such grants as 'militating against the general interests of the country, and as being particularly pernicious to the prosperity of Liverpool SMALLPDX Smallpox has broken out in the Raglan Barracks, Devonport. The disease was conveyed there by two soldiers from Bristol. Every precaution is being taken to prevent the spread of the epidemic. Yesterday after noon, a vessel with smallpox on board arrived in Ply moth Sound. It has been placed in quarantine. FEMALE EDUCATION AT CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY. The attendance at the lectures for women at Cambridge University chews an increase this term of more than one third. The number of tickets sold is 151, and the average attendance of the ladies is over 100. The committee has just received a liberal gift of three exhibitions of £4O a year each for two years; the first of these will be awarded for success in the senior local examination for girls to be held in December next. Two other exhibitions, of £25 and £lO respectively, with free admission to three courses of lectures, for one year, will be given for success in the Cambridge examination for women over eighteen years of age, to be held in July. A house will be opened in Octo• ber next for the reception of the exhibitioners, and others who may wish to go to Cambridge to attend these lectures. Inquiries should be made of, Mr. H. Sidgwick, Trinity College, gr Kr.!. Venn, Petersfield House, Cambridge. THE ADMIRA,TY FRAUDS. The Court Martial for the trial of Edwin John Wright, ship's steward of Her . Majesty's ship Achilles, was re sumed on Friday morning. Mr. Bullen read the Prisoner's defence. He complained that he had been called upon to answer the charges upon mere suspicion, without having been asked for any explanation; he urged that the monthly certificates were correct, and contended that Wood's book was unreliable, and that the five charges of fraudulent misrepresentation were entirely disposed of by the absence of the daily account book. The missing books were material to the defence, because they would have shewn that all the meat was received on board. He explained that a certain quantity of meat was sent to the hulk and hospital ship. The prisoner submitted that there was no evidence of conspiracy, and with regard to the last charge of receiving £7 10s. without the consent of his commanding officer, pointed out that it rested entirely upon the evidence of Curtiss, upon whom he reflected in no measured terms, urging that he was not to be believed, and that his evidence was contradicted by that of the other witnesses for the prosecution. The court cleared for about an hour, and then found the charges not proved, and fully acquitted the prisoner. This was the last case. The annual meeting of the Liverpool and London Globe Insurance Oompany was held in Liverpool on Friday, when a dividend at the rate of 30 per cent. per annum was declared, payable on the 6th proximo. THE CHURCH OF IRELAND SUSTEN TATION FUND. A second meeting of the provisional committee for raising a sustentation fund for the Church of Ireland was held on Friday, by adjournment, at 32, Charing cross. A return was presented, shewing that 81 benefices had already fallen vacant in Ireland, containing a Church population of 37,655, without any provision for their spiritual wants, and that the diocese of Kilmoro is left without a bishop, while containing a Church population of upwards of 53,000. The Council of the Royal Dramatic College 'beg to announce that the proceeds of the benefit at Drury-lane Theatre on Ash Wednesday, February 22nd, amounted to £430 ss. 3d. THE LATE SIR R. HARVEY'S ESTATE.—A meeting has been held in the chambers of the Master of the Rolls for the purpose of adjudicating upon the claims on the estate of the late Sir R. Harvey, Bart., of Norwich. The whole of the claims, amounting to over half a million sterling, were divided into three schedules, the first of which con tained items of expenditure of every day occurrence, the second the outlay for the erection of the deceased's mansion at Crown Point, and the third, the claims made by stockbrokers. The last meeting was adjourned to enable the trustees to examine the several claims; and they now recommended that. the claims in the first schedule should be admitted in proof, that those in the third should not be admitted tiniess strictly proved by the stockholders, while they knew nothing whatever about the outlay on the mansion. The Chief Clerk said that, under those circumstances, it would be impossible now to proceed with the adjudication. He ordered the proofs to be produced within a month, the executor's answer to be prepared by the 14th of April, and the adjudication to take place on the 29th of the same month. THE DISTRESSED FRENCH.—A Grand Morning Musical Festival is announced to take place on Saturday, the 4th of March, at the Royal Alhambra, Palace, in aid of the French Benevolent Society, and of the French Hospital and Dispensary, two institutions which have for years afforded great relief to distressed foreigners in London, and whose resources have been severely taxed by the miseries re sultin g from the late war. This fate is given under the most brilliant patronage, including that of the King of the Belgians, the Prince of Wales, the Princes of Orleans, the Dukes of Wellington and St. Albans, the Marquis of Lorne, and several foreign Ambassadors. Among the most eminent artistes who will contribute their gratuitous services we may mention Madame Viardot, Madame Lemmens - Sherrington, Madame Calderon, Mademoiselles Gottschalk, Signor "T r io, Signor Bottesini, Signor Delle Sedie, and Mons. Jules Lefort. Monsieur Gounod will conduct some of his own compositions, and the musical arrangements will be under the direction of Signor Arditi. M r . Strange has liberally offered the use of thp . Alliambra, which he will fit up specially for the occasion at his own expense, and we doubt not that many ladies will avail themselves of this excellent opportunity of visiting the most magnificent hall in London under • such fa,vouraole auspices. THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. The correspondents of the Telegraph forward the follow ing by special despatch : IMPERIAL HEADQUARTERS, VERSAILLES, Thursday Night, February 23. A somewhat gloomy feeling has manifested itself at headquarters this evening, and there is an unquestionable hitch in the peace negotiations. The greatest possible re serve is maintained with respect to the exact nature of the difficulty, but significant hints have reached me which point to Metz as the bone of contention between the nego tiatiugparties. An impression, which lam bound to say Ido not share, exists in certain high quarters that, despite the pressure pnt on from the leading Prussian military authorities, Count Bismarck will yield to the French susceptibilities so far as to refrain from the annexation of the great Lorraine stronghold, contenting himself with its dismantlement. The mere money difference of a quar ter of a milliard of thalers is a question of thinor importance, upon which I should not be surprised at either side, or both sides, giving way ; but the cession of Metz formally and definitively by the French nation will be obtained only by a supreme effort of the executive ruler of France. Should M. Thiers fail to impress the National Assembly with the conviction which he himself entertains—that further beating about the bush, however tremendous the sacrifices exacted by her conquerors, will bring down upon France most frightful and irremediable calamities—we may ex- Peet the renewal of hostilities on Monday morn ing. In that case Von Moltke's plan of catn paig,n, already sanctioned by the Emperor, will be carried into execution with magical rapidity. A movement of concentration has been commenced along the whole line of operations towards the South ; and the Imperial Field-Marshal commanding the enormous forces massed on the very edge of the line of demarcation is per fectly ready to strike a heavier blow than the German arms have ever yet inflicted upon France. On the other hand, persons in . whose trustworthiness I can place the strictest reliance, and who have just arrived hither from the South, assure me that the greatest activity is displayed throughout the whole of that region in collecting and bringing up troops to withstand the German army. They state, moreover, that the French regiments in and near Bordeaux are composed of excellent material. lam positively assured that the German troops will enter Paris on Monday morning. The tone of the Parisian press has given bitter umbrage to military men here, and I am led to believe that, by what means I may not indicate, it will undergo most miraculous change by Tuesday morning next. The anxiety here is very great among Prussians as well as among French. PARIS, Friday, February 24 (1 p.m.) The Paris Journal says that Count Bismarck presents his claims under the imperious and brutal form of an ulti matum. Prussia will not sign peace unless France accepts immediately the basis of a commercial treaty with Germany. 2 p.m. Opinions differ very much with respect to the likelihood of disturbances, and much bunkum is talked. The habitues of the cafes say that it would be the death-knell of Bis marck, but the tradespeople are more sober, and hope that everything will pass off quietly. BORDEAUX, February 23 (Evening). The 2nd division of the 25th Corps has arrived, com manded by General Brunt. There are now 100,000 men in or near Bordeaux and near Poitiers. 80,000 remain with Chanzy. It is rumoured here that the German terms are to hand, and that France will accept them with regret Thiers has not returned, but is expected on Friday or Saturday. He is in communication with the Assembly. Some people here have an idea that Bismarck ought to be satisfied with the neutralisation of Alsace and Lorraine, and that the pl4biscite of these two provinces ought to be taken. Two clubs of the leading gentlemen in Bordeaux have voted that no Prussian shall ever become a member of their societies. There is very great excitement here about the results of the negotiations. Thousands of people are in the streets all day, even till midnight. There is considerable disorder, and all the public places are guarded by troops of the line and sailors—none by the National Guards. The Daily News correspondents telegraph as fol lows : PARIS, Friday . (Morning) All is quiet here, with the tranquillity of ignorance. People don't knowhow exacting the Germans are, and they are full of expectation that a statesman of so much au thority as M. Thiers must command respect and modera tion from his adversaries. Whatever be the result of the resistance of M. Thiers, I have good authority for saying that the Germans are simply rapacious -in the'r demands. They ask for eight milliard francs of indemnity; they must have Alsace and Lorraine, including Metz ; and they propose not simply that the German army should pass through Paris, but that it should even occupy one of the quarters of the city—that of the Champs Elysks. Hitherto the chief resistance of M. Thiers has been directed against the cession of Metz and the occupation of Paris. How far this resistance will be successful time will shew. It has been stated that the preliminaries of peace would be signed on Sunday, the last day of the armistice ; but the German demands are so exorbitant that it will be impossible to arrive at a conclusion so quickly. The armistice will have to be extended till the end of the month at least. Those who are aware here of the enor mous pretensions of the Germans begin to look with anxiety for signs of intervention from the neutral Powers. Will they not take some steps to moderate the German ultimatum? PARIS, Friday (Noon). All is dark and difficult, and Paris must prepare itself for very hard dealing, if, as stated, in addition to the cession of Alsace and Lorraine, the occupation of Paris, and a large indemnity, the Germans demand a favourable treaty of commerce, and on I , !ss trustworthy authority the neutralisation of Savoy and Nice. Several of the best clubs, beginning with the Jockey glut), have resolved to close their doors henceforth against all Germans. Merchants and manufacturers are making oaths never to employ Germans again. The negotiations are almost entirely in the hands of M. Thiers, who is indefatigable.. The present arrangement is that the preliminaries of peace must be signed on Sunday, and ratified at Bordeaux the following day. •To hasten matters the Germans have sent into Paris a financial agent to arrange for the mode of paying the indemnity. M. Jules Favre is not very well, and asks to be spared going to Bordeaux to urge on the Assembly the ratification of the Treaty. No diffi culty is expected in the Assembly. A correspondent who has just arrived here from Versailles says that the im pression there was that the Germans would abate a little of their demands ; but would insist on entering Paris. PARIS, Friday (Morning). A committee has been constituted under the presidency of Leon Say, to consider the best means of liquidating the war indemnity. Paris will be saddled with its own fine, and will proceed, as soon as the Prussians have evacu, ated the territory, to levy increased city dues on articles already taxed and others as yet untaxed. The balance between these new taxes and the old will be thrown• into a common fund to meet the interest of the sum recently advanced by the Bank of France, guaranteed by the seven banking firms which endorsed the bills upon London and Berlin by whioh the war fine imposed upon Paris was recently paid. A motion is shortly to be presented to the National Assembly by M. Louis Blanc, supported by Victor Hugo, Henri Rochefort, and by the hundred and fifty Radical Left, as distinguished from the Mode rate Left, for the surrender of Louis Napoleon, with a view to his impeachment, when he will be called to ac count for his conduct as General-in-Chief of the armies of the Rhine. VERSA,IT,I,E.'b' t February 23. The remarks of the Parisian press and the depreciating tone of the many foreign journals have rather increased than diminished the German wish to march through Paris. We will, not be talked out of it, say the conquerors ; and they seem resolved to have their way. The nAattea , is still thought open for negotiation. VERSAILLES, Friday, 11 a.m. 'There appears to be no doubt as to the certainty of the German entrance into Paris. According to the present arrangements, the occupation is to commence on Monday next, and the most general calculation is thiit Paris will not be clear of the Germans before the lapse of sortie three weeks. Consider able apprehensions are entertained in Versailles as to the renewal of hostilities. Officers on leave belonging to the Army of the South have re ceived peremptory orders to rejoin immediately. The concentration and disposal of troops, in view of every untoward continge nc y , commenced yesterday. Our Mili tary Commissioner with Prince Frederick Charles has been urgently requested by his Royal Highness to return to his headquarters. Undoubtedly there are movements of French t roops going on to the south of La Fertd and elsewhere within their territory to the south of the German occupation. Of this I can spea k from per sonal observation, but the movements are coildncted m a desultory, h a lf-h ear t e d fashion. andthe to troops seem unsupported by any appliances calculated enable them to take the field effectively. It is undersood that offers have been forthcoming with regard to the future financial condition of France in relation to debts already incurred, and also to the war indemnity, of a character calculated to allay all fears regarding a hitch in the negotiations. This is, of course, contin gent on the other terms of peace being ratified, so as to ensure France a settled Government, and Europe the prospect of a peace of some duration. Capitalists are sensible that such a struggle as that which has been raging for the last six months produces an tiled so paralysing that they are willing to strain a, point to secure the return of a peaceable field o,£ weratiami OUR COTEMPORARIES—This Morning THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. The Times says Thiers could have no resource but to yield, and, cruel as his fate is, he must yield every thing. Alsace and Lorraine, Metz, if not also Belfort, and an overwhelming war indemnity, are the concessions exacted from him. Whoever understands anything of the cha-acter of M. Thiers, whoever can sym pathise with the citizen of a proud country brought down the very dust of humiliation, can Picture to himself how M. Thiers must have writhed under the torture of ne4otiations like these ; how he must have been tempted a hundred times to break them off, accepting by preference a renewal of war a outraace ; how he must dread the hour when it will be necessary to eireal them to the Chamber at Bordeaux; and how, at length, he acknowledged. to himself the mise rable necessity which weighs upon his country of sub mitting to whatever exactions the victor may demand. M. Thiers will go to Bordeaux to-day occupied with as sad thoughts as could ever have grieved the soul of a patriot. For Bordeaux is not as Versailles, nor as Paris, and if the veteran statesman could hardly persuade himself to assent to the German terms when in the midst of the German camp, and when he had seen Paris lying powerless at the feet of the enemy, yet did persuade himself to assent to them because he foresaw worse things would otherwise be in store for his country, he may well despair of being able to persuade a large body of his countrymen, many of whom have seen little of the war, to accept terms he knows to be so harsh,which yet he holds it necessary to accept. He may distrust his own eloquence, though it be at its best through the in spiration of the deepest feeling, and though it be supported by the authority of his fellow •nego tiators. We cannot but share his apprehensions and his anxieties. The Assembly at Bordeaux is indeed bent on peace ; it was in a sense elected to make peace, but always with a certain reservation of national honour which was not without meaning, though essentially. vague in definition. Would that to-morrow was over, and peace was come ! Would, we may add, that we cotila see any way in which our influence might be used in restoring peace to Europe. The Standard observes :---The Imperial Court and the Imperial Family of Germany may, no doubt, congratu late themselvee on the gain of glory, territory, and money. But have the German people equal reason to rejoice ? We believe that such a peace will be a cala mity to Europe, to France, and even to Germany her self. It effaces France as a Great Power. The loss of Metz will leave the Germans so near the capital that a single victory would bring them in front of Paris. The sum of money exacted is so enormous that it will paralyse the country for years to come. Under such circumstances France would neither have the will nor the means to play the part of a Great Power in Europe. She will be too weak, too poor, too much endangered to incur the perils of a vigorous diplomacy, the cost of war, or the risk of offending Germany, and she will be disposed to reserve what strength she has or can have for an attempt to recover her lost territory. The rest of Europe will suffer severely for their apathy, the practical effacement of France leaving them at the mercy of Prus sia. Austria mus t su b m i t to rece i ve the law at the hands of Count Von Bismarck, and will hold her German provinces only as long as Prussia and Russia have not agreed on the division of the spoils. Italy has lost her protector, and England, left without an ally, may have to choose between the total overthrow of her policy in the Levant and fighting single-handed to main tain it ; may any day be bidden to say whether she will allow Russia to take Constantinople or will go to war with the two great remaining Powers of the Conti nent. Denmark, Sweden and Norway, Holland and Bel gium, exist on sufferance, until it shall suit the Emperor to seek, and Count Von Bismarck to find, a pretext for their annexation. Such is the fruit of a policy of non intervention—and if ever a policy stood condemned by its fruits, if ever a Ministry was :palpably convicted by events of having betrayed the trust of the Sovereign and the interests of the State, the Government of Mr. Gladstone is at this moment con victed and condemned, by the irresistible logic of facts, of an error as unprofitable as it was pusillanimous. The Daily News observes :—We cherish the expectation that, in a short space of time, we shall hear tidings of peace. It is strange to look at the two points on which the Parisians fix their desires—the retention of Metz and the abandonment of the entry of the German army into Paris. The latter project has been becoming more and more prominent, until Frenchmen have almost grown to consider it as the very worst thing that fate could have in store for the country. It was far from wise on the part of the Parisians, if they wished to be spared this crowning humiliation, to indulge in taunts and useless warnings of dangers. It was possible, as we hope events will prove, to persuade the Ger mans to keep out of Paris ; it was not possible to frighten them into abandoning the enterprise. In the event of the threatened conflict between an unarmed populace and a host of disciplined troops taking place, whioh is likely to suffer most ? Were the disturbance to provoke a massacre at which all Rnrope would shudder, the German soldiers would not form a tithe of its victims. These considerations we shall hope to see speedily dismissed as having been quite unneces sary ; but in the meantime they threaten a serious cop plication, and may bring on the Parisians the very disaster they have been anxious to avoid. Count Bismarck is said to have refused a further extension of the armistice. France has had a month to think over—not the German terms, which were unknown—but the principle of those demands. When the French Deputies grant a cession of territory, they have granted everything, The amount of the indemnity is quite a secondary matter. Count Bis marck knows that, in her present circumstances, France cannot borrow or pay beyond a certain sum ; and he will not be so imprudent as to demand the impossible. The real question of difference is that of territory and for that matter we have some reason to think that Germany will not formulate the extravagant conditions which have been of late freely attributed to her. The Telegraph considers that unprejudiced observers, however desirous they may be for the conclusion of peace, cannot avoid experiencing a feeling of astonishment at the enormity of the terms which Prussia has determined to exact from her defeated enemy. Alsace and Lorraine, two of the wealthiest and most important of her provinces, are to be wrested from France ; the fortresses which protect her from the danger of invasion on her eastern frontier are to be placed in the hands of the enemy who commands her capital ; and, in addition, she is to be burdened with snob an increase of her national debt as will cripple her resources for years to come, retard her material development, and render her people the most heavily taxed in. Europe. Yet, as if all this were not sufficient, she may be subjected to the humiliation of seeing her capital occupied, not as an act of warfare, but simply and avowedly to gratify the pride of her conquerors. hi the face of these facts, it is ; 11 0 for Prussia to claim credit for moderation in omittin; s,me minor items, such as the demand for ships or colonies. We have no hesita tation in saying that the terms imposed upon the French people under the pressure of absolute force are such that, for generations to come, the one desire of all Frenchmen must be not only to undo the work of 1870, but to retaliate upon Ger many the sufferings and shame that she bas heaped upon France. The peace now about to be concluded can never be a permanent settlement ; and it is ominous to note that the Prussians, even before peace is settled, talk of the further terms they shall have to impose after the next war, The arrangement to which Count Bismarck 4lld M. 'Tiers will shortly affix their na mes i s a respite only from the horrors of war. As a respite, how ever, it is essential to France, rind welcome to the world at large. prvalteo SUIT, £2OO DAMAGES.—In the Divorce Court, Lard Penaa,nce and a common jury had before them the case of Bailey v. Bailey and England. It was . a husband's petition for a dissolution of his marriage on the ground of his wife's adultery. The petitioner was a schoolmaster at Manchester, and the co-respondent a cashier (in a well known mercantile firm. The parties lived happily toge ther till the co-respondent came to reside in Manchester. He formed an acquaintance with the respondent, who was his cousin, and ultimAtely they lived together as man and wife. The jury found for the petitioner, with £2OO damage& Trtrl NEW RULES FOR CABMEN.—At the Westminster Police-comt, Mr. Benjamin Hazel], a cab proprietor, was charged with not delivering up a cab plate and licence after having received a notice from the Commissioner of Police to do so, agreeably with an order made by the Secretary of State under the provisions of the Public Carriage Act, 1869. Mr. Arnold referred to the Act, and said the Secretary of State had power to regulate the number of persons to be carried, fixing cab stands, fixing rates or fares, forming a table of distances, and securing the safe custody and re-delivery of left property, and there his power ended; if he'made other regulations, nathaving the pow-ex to do so; the defendant could not he summoned under them or convicted; he should, however., consider the ease, and adjourned it for that purvos4, Ito 11$ ng lso her r ion, lext aYe . in ver 6 3 no .t of .vedl r h e e of raill tlicr AP' er V DO re" a w 0 36 ; Lete el - t o , °I :Ar a' ; p .P V rvti lLi 4 11 # 40' P i° w itiv ethet tb 6 of e thfw if b e ' re es' ale;e .nto if 1w 32 0°' tt 11 3 0 , tY. 1 0- n• I CC4 1