The Sun. — London, England, 1871-01-24 00:00:00

Mrs. sted in of an aer hus- South- B of the s of rolr ler, and search mingtori tors of nnected. land in mtinent, Lan. 1:1 i with a sided for nce rega )oks, and transae- the c' i euetecli aers and es reside she w 35 1,0 1 it I)3T fota d A W SUN OFFICE, 8 A M THE CONFERENCE. BERLIN, January 23. Count Bismarck has no desire to allow M. Jules Favre to leave Paris now that the moment for settling with Germany is drawing near. As M. Jules Favre has so materially contributed to create the present position of affairs, Count Bismarck wishes to keep him at his post to the end, so that there may be somebody with whom to conclude a peace when the moment arrives. He has, there fore, refused to permit him to cross the German lines, on the ground that in his final acceptance of the invitation to the Conference he declared that his presence at the meeting would imply the recogni .. THE STATE OF PARIS. tion of the Provisional Government by all the Powers assembled. There is no doubt that no im pediments would be thrown in the way of any other French statesman not a member of the Provisional Government, —Times, THE WAli, THE SIEGE OF PARIS. BERLIN, January 23. A battery has been constructed at 800 paces from Fort Issy. Four batteries have been built on the heights of Bougival, Vancresson, and La Bergerie, oppo3ite Mont Valerien. THE SIEGE OF BELFORT. BOUROGNE, January 22, Last night trenches were opened without loss al Les Perches, in the line of Danjoutin and Perouse, —Times Telegram. The following telegrams come through Reuter's Agency:— THE GERMAN ENIPEROR'S ADDRESS TO HIS ARMY. VERSAILLES, January 2. The Emperor has issued the following order of the day, addre seed to the army, in reference to his acceptance of the Imperial dignity on the 18th instant : " With this day, memorable for me and my House, I take, with the consent of the German Princes, and the adhesion of all the German people, in addition to my rank as King of Prussia, that of German Emperor. Your bravery and endurance, which I again recognise to the fullest extent, have hastened the work of the unification of Germany—a result which you have achieved by the expenditure of blood and lives. "Let it always be remembered that the feeling of mutual friendship, bravery, and obedience rendered the army great and victorious. Maintain this . fech ing : then will the Fatherland always regard you with pride as to-day, and you will always remain its strong arm." THE FRENCH ARMY OF THE NORTH. (GERMAN ACCOUNT.) IMPERIAL HEAD - QUARTERS, VERSAILLES; January 21. Advices received here from Arras announce that the French Army of the North has fled to that town, Lille, and Douai in a state of complete dissolu tion and thoroughly discouraged. General Faid herbe and M. Gambetta are at Lille, and great in dignation against tbe latter prevails there. An order of the day of General Faidherbe, dated the 22nd instant, thanks the soldiers, who, he says, have deserved well of their country. " Within one nionth you have fought three battles with an enemy of whom all Europe is afraid. You have proved that ha was not invincible ; that the defeat of France was merely owing to a surprise attributable to the folly of an absolute government. Let the Prussians collect our stragglers which they boast of in their bulletins, still those famous takers of cannon have not yet touched your batteries. A few days' rest, and those who swear ruin to France will find us before them again." (FRENCH ACCOUNT.) LILLE, January 23. Generals Faidherbe, Farre, and Paulze d'lvroy held a long council to-day, under the presidency of AI. Gambette. General Robin has been dismissed, and Colonel Isnard has been appointed in his stead. M. Taschard has arrived here from Brussels. It is said that Cambrai has been bombarded since p.m. yesterday. A balloon has fallen at Narchiennes ; the aero -I)),uts have been received by M. Gambetta. 10.5 p.m. Gambetta left at ten o'clock to-night for Calais aid Laval. General Faidherbe has addressed a long ttport to the Minister respecting the battle of St. Quentin. He corroborates the previous accounts, 41d says he lost no artillery, his only losses being in ken, wounde I, and stragglers. He did not lose a hugle prisoner on the field of battle. The General concludes his report by stating that he will soon re alm° operations. THE SIEGE OF LONGWY. ARLON, January 23. The bombardment of Longwy continues day and light from heavy siege batteries. The fortress rfplies feebly. BRUSSELS, January 23. The Independance Beige publishes the following thic evening at the request of the officer com anding the German troops b3foro Longwy : "The bombardment having commenced without Your sending exchanges for the prisoners received, thought you would betray our confidence. The French prisoners whom you return to-day prove that You keep faith. "JUBERT, Captain, Commander of the Garrison of Longwy." „Tile Echo d e L uxem b urg says t h at on Saturday " Prussians unsuccessfully attacked Longwy, their gun s bei ng di smounted ; their batteries are now pla ced at a greater distance from the fortress. The t att eries at Herserang e an d C u t ry are rep l y i ng feebly ° the fire of the town. The Prussians are awaiting 41111 8 of a larger calibre. On Sunday a heavy bombardment took place. LATEST NTP LLIG VAC 1E almost entirely silenced. In St. Denis, as also in Paris, several fires were observed to have broken out. The telegram continues :—A_ flying column, under Lieutenant-Colonel Dobschiuitz, dispersed at Borne mont, on the Upper Maas, a detachment of Mobile Guards. The loss of the enemy was 100 ,men; on our side there were only a few wounded, General von Treskow reports from Bourogne that on the night of the 21st-22nd inst. parallels were opened against Perches, in the line of Daujontin, near Peronne. No loss was sustained on our side. The. following is the impression caused in Paris by the unsuccessful sortie on the 19th :—The city is much cast down and full of sorrow, and great dissatisfaction is felt at General Trochu having confined his endeavours to a simple sortie, when it was believed that he would march to Versailles. The fact also that the greater portion of the artillery and reserves were not employed is also blamed, as well as the half measures and temporising policy of the general. The Inde'pendance Beige says that the despondent feeling prevailing in Paris has been intensified by the re-entry of the troops into the city. The Independance Beige of yesterday fears that Bourbaki's line of retreat is menaced. In discussing M. Gambetta's speech at Lille, the same paper asks if the people, especially those in the north of France, will or can follow him, and it says:--« We have received from Lille itself accounts on this point which, to say the least, are contradictory. Cambrai, even though protected by the inundation, cannot resist the effect of modern artillery." VICTORY OF THE GARIBALDIANS. LILLE, January 23. f G ambetta has r e c e i ve d th e f o ll ow i ng d espatch I. ° ll i the Inspector of Telegraphs at Dijon Au engagement was fought yesterday near Dijon, e o a, tho ug h not decisive, was, in the words o f general Garibaldi, glorious to all engaged. the Our troops shelved great bravery, and at six in td- e i ,Yening were . victorious at all points. The enemy r o ' 1 ° . flight and abandoned strong positions at a I,l.ateville, Aix, and Plombieres, leaving behind large quantit Boners, y of materiel and a num b er o f pri- troops "'he e neray i 8 in f u ll retreat, pursued by .o . our . Gener a l G ar i baldi has returned to Dijon amid the cheering of an immense crowd." TAB BOMBARDMENT A. OF ST. DENIS. "Ys telegram from R o3a l headquarters', Sunday, :—The bo mbardment of St. Deni s h as ac hi eved good results. To -day the enemy's fire has been CHINA. We have received the following from the Foreign Office : " Mr. Wade reports in a telegram dated January sth, that all was right at Peking and elsewhere; that the story of a piratical attack on. a British ship was untrue ; aad that the five Legations at Peking were well." THE QUESTION OF MEDIATION. VIENNA, January 23, The semi-official Warren Correspondenz of this evening, in a lengthy article on the fatal influence of the war upon the belligerents, and even upon non-bellige rent countries, argues that the most weighty reasons of statesmanship, humanity, and individual interest all require that each neutral State should make every allowable effort to restore peace. " But," it adds, " the strong diversity of views entertained by the two parties to the conflict have hitherto made an offer of mediation impossible. We expect, however, that subsequent events will indubitably result in one or the other party showing itself less opposed to the efforts of the mediating Powers." In conclusion, the article expresses the opinion that the only advisable course is to take up an observant attitude and watch for a favourable moment to offer pacific counsels. CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS, DEATH OF THE DUCHESS DE FRIAS. The Duchess de Frias died at Madrid on Sunday from the effects of nervous rheumatic fever. She was well known as Miss Victoria Balfe, second daughter of the late Michael Balfe, the eminent composer. The Duchess, who made her debut in 1857, and sang with great success in that and the two following seasons, leaves three chil dren. She was originally married to Sir John Crampton, from whom she was divorced in 1863. CONFESSION OF MURDER, AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. A mah named Kingsland, while undergoing a short term of imprisonment in Chelmsford Gaol, confessed to one of the warders a few days ago that he was guilty of murdering a man some time since in Hertfordshire, by stabbing him in the neck. On Friday morning the pri soner, while leaving the chapel after attending divine ser• vice, deliberately attempted suicide by jumping from one of the landings to the floor beneath, a depth of eighteen feet. Instead of dropping upon the bare floor, as was probably his intention, he fortunately alighted upon a .heap of picked oakum, which considerably broke his fall. When picked up he was apparently none the worse for his leap. He was taken before a local magistrate at Chelmsford, on Saturday, charged, on his own confession, with murder, and was remanded in order that inquiries regarding his statement might be made. THE REPRESENTATION OF NORWICH. Mr. Howell, who has issued an address to the electors of Norwich, addressed a meeting of Liberals in that city last night. He was not, however, very favourably re ceived, and a resolution supporting the candidature of Mr. Colman was carried. THE CHARGE OF SENDING A THREATENING LETTER. The man Joseph Swann was again brought up at the Lisnakea Special Sessions yesterday morning, on the charge of writing and sending a threatening letter to mur der Mr. John Murray, an agent of estate. Great excite ment prevailed in the town. Mr. John Rea, the celebrated Belfast advocate, on behalf of the defendant, was loudly cheered on his way to the court from the rail way station. Owing to the unstable state of the room, the police kept the crowd out, who thronged the entrance, Mr. Cullum again conducted the prosecution. The first witness called was Samuel Clarke, who testified to the writing being similar to other documents written by the accused. Witness was subjected to a prolonged cross examination by Mr. Rea, who failed to shake his evidence. NEWRY ELECTION. The nomination of a fit and proper candidate for the representation of Newry in Parliament took place on 'Monday. Viscount Newry was the only candidate brought forward. He was proposed by Mr. William Henry, and seconded by Mr. John O'Hagan, chairman of the Town Commissioners. There being no opposition, the chairman declared his lordship duly elected. The proceedings lasted but twenty minutes. Lord Newry was elected member of Parliament for the borough of Newry yesterday, vacant by the death of Mr. Kirk. His lordship came forward as an indepen d?nt candidate, desirous to promote the welfare of Newry. The Liberals having agreed not to oppose his Lordship, there was no contest. There was a respectable and orderly assembly in the Court House this morning where the writ was read by the Sheriff. His Lordship was proposed by Mr. William Henry, a Protestant Conservative, who paid a tribute to the character of the late member, and said he hoped this day would be the precursor of many years of harmony between Lord Newry and his fel low-townsmen. Mr. J. J. O'Hagan, a Liberal and Catholic, seconded the nomination. He said that Lord Newry had held an interview with the Liberals ; and they believed he was the right man in the right place, no sacrifice of principles having taken place in adopting his lordship as a candidate. Lord Newry returned thanks amidst great applause. He said he would endeavour faithfully to discharge his duty, free as he was to vote, for any measure he thought to be the best. Anything that would pro mote the prosperity of Newry would have his hearty co-operetion. He hoped the harmony and unanimity manifested to-day would continue ; and that Newry would become what it deserved from its national position.' His loadship having re turned thanks to his proposer and seconder, a vote of thanks to the sheriff concluded the election. WRECK OF A BRIG. On Monday morning a brig named the Maize, of London, ran ashore at the south side of South Shields pier. The weather at the time was clear, with a slight breeze from the south-east. Signal guns were fired, and the crew of six, with the Captain, named Erskine, were saved with little difficulty by lines and the lifeboat. The Maize is irreparably damaged, her bottom being completely smashed. She was in ballast from London to South Shields, and it is supposed that the captain had mistaken the South Pier for that of the north side of the river. The effects of the crew and the gearing have been saved. The Maize is about 250 tons and is said-to be insured. A CREW SAVED BY A LIFEBOAT. About nine o'clock on Monday morning, the brig William Marsh, Captain Kidd, of Whiteby, from Shields to Dun kirk with coals, struck on Corton Sand- while proceeding through the Gat, she having previously struck on a sunken wreck. She commenced breaking up very rapidly, and the Gorleston lifeboat immediately put off to her, and suc ceeded in saving the crew, eight in number, who, however, lost everything they had on board. Soon after the lifeboat left the vessel she went to pieces. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1871 THE LATE SORTIE FROSI PARIS. Writing on January 20, the special correspondent of the Standard thus describes the sortie from the west of Paris : On the evening of Wednesday, the 18th, General Trochu left the Louvre for the citadel of Mont Valerien, from which, as central point, the coming operations were to be directed by him in person. They were to be•en entrusted to three different corps d'arm4e, under the commands respectively of Genefals Vinoy; Belletnare, and Ducrot, all of whom stopped at Mont lerien, and were closeted with the governor the night before the action. To Vinoy, a capable officer, was confided the conduct of the attack on the left, which was to be directed on Montretout from the vicinage of the Versailles Railway ; to Bellemare that on the centre starting from Courbevoie to the right rear of Mont Valerien, as seen from Paris ; and to Ducrot that on the right, towards Rueil. Upwards of 100,000 troops, embracing the three sections of the service (Regulars, Mobiles, and National Guard), aided by a strong artillery (300 guns), were comprised in the three corps d'arm6e. The line of front did not extend, as will be seen by reference to the map, quite four English miles across. The task of bringing together and handling such a large force, most of them novices, in such a narrow compass as this was difficult and delicate; the concentration was not effected without immense trouble and some blundering, and to make things worse the night was obscure, and tae morning of the 19th darkened by a curtain of thick fog, almost Thames fog, in its clayey hue and consistence. The advance had been arranged to commence at six, but owing to unavoid able delays from this cause, and the unexpected opposi tion to the march of the column of the right, it was re tarded for several hours later. This was not the only piece of miserable mismanagement that marred General Trochu's plan. The men of the National Guard were kept under arms for eight hours—from two a.m. to tea p.m., when the action really began—their packs on their backs, and four days' provisions to boot. The line, too, looked haggard and worn-out with fatigue as' they were ordered to the attack, and marched without the briskness of step that speaks confidence. Their officers—a finer body of officers never stood—kept them to their work, in many cases had to do it with cocked revolvers. Vinoy's men pushed •on from behind Mont Valerien by the road parallel to the Seine, keeping by the right of the brickyard marked on the staff map, and and hidden for a space by the hillock of La Fouilleuse. The column of assault consisted of the Zouaves, the 136th of the Line, and several battalions of the National Guard, notably the 107th. They seemed to get into possession of the height of Montretout without difficulty. The Prussians, taken unawares, fought stubbornly, but were overpowered by numbers in a hand-to-hand conflict. Here Rochebrune, of the 19th Regiment de Paris, found his death. Rochebruue, the chief of the Zouaves de la Mort in Poland, was slain by a Polish bullet, for Montretont was defended by Posen sol• diers. From Montretout the French descended to St. Cloud, and scoured the village, taking care to root the enemy out of the cellars. They had profited by the lesson of Villa Evrazd. Skirmishers went forward and cracked at the retreating foemen who had sought their favourite shelter of the woods; While the left was thus successful, the centre marched down the slope of Mont Valerien to the attack of the Chateau of Buzenval, and the height of La Bergerie in its rear. The first obstacle met with was the farm of La Fouilleuse, to the west of the brick-yard. The French advance was met by a withering fire of small arms, and twice the columns had to fall back. A third time they rushed ahead at the bayonet point, and carried the position with a cheer. The National Guards were magnificent here, full of clan. But the worst was to come. This portion of the centre (the le wing) moved on to the high cross-roads between La Bouil leuse and St. Cloud at the foot of a hill (112 on the staff map), where it had been instructed to form a junction with the left front. But this position was carried by the bayonet too with true fureur. Francais, while Bellemare's right entered the grounds of the Chateau of Buzenval, ascended — the eminence of La Bergerie, and spread itself over the dangled and broken front of vineyards, plantations, and gardens, stretching to its right towards Celle St. Cloud by the lakelet known as St. Cucuplia. Line of battle was no longer preserved ;it was a series of isolated struggles, men fought on their own hook, lost sight of their officers, or were lost sight of by them, and the file-firing was tremendous. Of course, most of it was useless. The enthusiastic but un trained heads in front blazed away at the trees ; they were shot down in heaps by the impassive Prussians, safe behind their trenches, and, in instances, were wounded from behind by lines of their own skirmishers too much to the rear. What was Ducrot doing all this time? His troops were on fool - . at three a.m., but had to march from St. Denis round the arc of a circle in the dark. The road by which they had to pass, that by Nanterre and Rueil, was swept by a Prussian battery at the Quarries of St. Denis as with a lesom. They could not face the fire ; the field artillery was ineffective to check it, and their passage was only finally secured by a cuirassed locomo tive that the Governor had sent on by th e St. Ger- oiaDy joins sk a take I will I send afely. I that and I me to paper stamp n this on the word othing a,ptain woman. ~picioXk con- taken ,unday en the el was Is, one ;her of white Carpet', South is, wile. main line. But they arrived two hours too late, and the simultaneity of the attack was marred. When the three corps were in action together an attempt was made to converge them on La Bergerie, while the bastions of the 6th secteur opened on Sevres and the park of St. Cloud. But it was now too late, and the Prussians had time to bring up their reinforcements of infantry, and a formidable mass of artillery. For two hours an artillery duel was kept up, the French guns were mastered, particularly by the powerful battery of Garches, and, night coming on, the troops had to be with drawn out of danger of an offensive return. At half-past six Montretout had to be abandoned. Its momentary victors were unable to get their heavy guns into position on it. The sortie had failed ! AFTER THE SORTIE. From Paris, January 20, the special correspondent of the Daily News writes :—The number of wounded was very great. It was the Prussian musketry fire that did most execution. The artillery was comparatively harmless. The Prussian gunners fire with a beau tiful regularity, which is, however, little service able. If you marked where a shell fell, you were pretty sure to note that every twenty seconds other shells would fall in the same place, or thereabouts with the mechanical regularity of a steam hammer. Beware of that particular spot, and you were compara tively safe. It was, I have said, the musketry that did most execution, and its effect was murderous. In the rear of the battle the sight of the ambulance carriages and the stretcher-bearers leading up to them was to be compared only to the precincts of the Italian Opera in London on a grand night, when you see long lines of carriages, sometimes three deep, waiting to carry home the gay assemblage. If any of your readers go to the Opera after reading this letter, let them imagine, instead of neat broughams and capacious carriages filled with bright-eyed beauties, long files of stretchers, three deep, each containing a wounded man, groaning and bleeding, and blanched of feature, and each borne off tenderly by two men, one at the head and the other at the foot. Itiy imagination full of this terrible sight, I told the people as I entered the walls of Paris that there were many wounded. They were greatly agitated ; and then came the women round me, anxious to know of their kindred. One had a son in this regiment of the National Guards, another a husband, a third a brother, some one else a father. I shall never forget the trembling of the people waiting to have news of their nearest and dearest—their faltering voices, their swimming eyes, their restless manner. And if ever you wish to pic ture to yourself the horrors of war, do not let imagination rest alone upon the battlefield. Think also of the thousands of people at the gates of this great city—thousands of all classes, fine ladies and poor women —in agony for those they loved the best ; wondering whether they are safe; fearing they are dead ; certain they must be wounded. This it is to fight with National Guards. They fight with their families in sight, and the agony of these families waiting at the gates is in some respects greater than the agony of the field of battle itself. The crowds, let me add, were not merely at the gates. All up the Avenue General Uhrich, formerly known as the Avenue de l'lmperatrice, they stood in groups. Half-way up is a solid . barricade right across the Avenue. They got on the top of this barricade trying to see something, and all round the foot of the Arc de Triomphe they stood watching with an intensity which it was most painful to witness. The Rev. J. M. Rodwell, the rector of St. Ethel burga, Bishopsgate-street, preached on Sunday night on "The doctrine of the Real Piesenceln the BleSied Sacra ment." There was ari overflowing congregation, most of those present evidently belonging to the extreme High Church and Ritualist party. Mr. Rodwell wore a bright red stole over his surplice. A. Parliamentary return of all expenses incurred by the Royal Commissions severally appointed during the year 1869 to inquire into the existence of corrupt practices at elections in the city of Norwich, and the boroughs of Beverley and Bridgwater, has just been made, from which it appears that Norwich cost £3,183 12s. 4d. ; Beverley, £2,550115. 2d. ; and Bridgwater £3,111195, 9d. ; making in all £8,846 3s. 3d. FATAL ACCIDENT. On Monday afternoon a boy named Baldwin, while playing on a sheet of ice on the Oxford Canal, at Banbury, fell into the water, and was drowned. His brother, in attempting to save him, would have shared the same fate but for the bravery of a youth named Wilkinson, who dived into the water and brought him out insensible. He is now recovering. THE NEW ZEALAND MAILS. The New Zealand Government have entered into an arrangement with an American steamship Company for the conveyance of the mails from this country vid New York, the Central Pacific Railroad and San Francisco. The subsipy is to to be V 5,000 per annum. MESSRS. WHITE AND IAWCETT AT BRIGHTON. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAM.) Last night Mr. White, M.P., and Professor Fawcett, M.P., addressed their constituents at Brighton. The main portion of Mr. White's speech was devoted to the con sideration of England's position, during the present war and to a denunciation of this country's military system. He approved of the Ministry and deprecated hasty, action brought about by the pressure of such panics as that in reference to increased military expenditure through which England was now passing. He believed that her maritime superiority, and nsular position rendered England practically impregnable He stron 6 ly advocated an immediate reform in military organisation. Professor Fawcett, in his speech, animadverted on some of the principles of the Education Act, though he acknow ledged it had indirectly effected much good. He greatly blamed Mr. Gladstone for opposing the disestablishment of the State Church in Wales, and for endeavouring to pass the Enclosure Bill. Explaining his views in reference to Republicanism, Professor Fawcett said that though any movement in that direction would now be extremely mischievous, monarchy in England must in the future depend upon monarchs themselves. He strongly de nounced the House of Lords, and anticipated the bright future when Merit and not Birth should be its motto. At the conclusion of the speeches of the hon. members several questions were proposed by electors present. In ' replying to these Mr. White said he should vote for, and Mr. Fawcett said he should vote against, any dowry being granted to the Princess Louise on the occasion of her marriage. Both members promised to vote for the repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts and for a good Licensing Bill. The electors passed a vote of confidence in both their representatives. THE DEMONSTRATION IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE. A demonstration took place in Trafalgar-square last night to protest against the bombardment of Paris. Although the weather was wet and cold, between 3,000 and 4,000 persons, including a considerable proportion of Frenchmen, were present. Shortly before eight o'clock a long procession, bearing banners surmounted by caps of liberty, came marching down from Hatton-garden, where it had formed, headed by a band playing " The Mar seillaise." The procession comprised about 1,000 persons, amongst whom were a few volunteers in uniform. Mr. George Odger was then voted to the chair, by which time probably about 2,000 persons were assembled. The Chair man, who was loudly cheered, said the English Foreign Office had now been for some time presided over by a representative of Germany, and they must tell Lord Granville that if he desired to retain his place he must become a representative of English opinion. The Government turned a deaf ear to the remonstrances of the people, and they had better take warning ere it was too late. He and those with whom he acted had no desire to plunge this country into war, but they desired to see the Government take a more digni fied character. They called upon the Government to demand from Prussia on what terms she was prepared to make peace, and that the other neutral Powers should be asked to join England in making this demand. The meeting of the Conference was an excellent opportunity for England and the neutral Powers to decide on the course they ought to pursue. England ought to take the initiative. In conclusion, he said there must be no more mincing of matters, but the Government must be made to understand that they must obey the almost unanimous voice of the people, or give way to better and more honest men.—After a few remarks from Mr. Fagan, the following resolution was carried unanimously :—" That this meeting views with indignation and horror the cruel and relentless manner in which this lamentable war is now being carried on in France by the despot King of Prussia, who, appealing to the Deity, sets whole vil lages on fire, bombards and captures towns and cities, robs the inhabitans of their food, clothing, and money, and is completing his work of destruction by throwing shot, shell, and liquid fire into Paris upon the heads of two millions of men, women, and children ; and desires to express its profound sympathy with that noble popu lace, who, in spite of famine and sickness, have for four months defended their hearths and homes against a most barbarous and ruthless war, of which we have no parallel in history."—A resolution regretting the action of the War; i office in relation to the Volunteers and the Jules Favre demonstration, was also agreed to, and the proceedings concluded with three cheers for France and the French Republic. A. Washington telegram says that on Thursday Sir John Rose had an interview with Generals Schenk and Butler and Mr. Sumner relative to the Fishery ques t:,._ St. Stephen's Church, in Pratt-street, Camden Town, was damaged by a fire which broke out on Sunday afternoon, owing to a defect in a flue. The gallery of the church was injured. The Very Rev. Alonsignore_ Vincent Eyre, of Hampstead, a well-known Roman Catholic clergyman. died on Sunday, after a few days' illness, from congestion of the lungs. He was very popular among Protestants and Catholics, both at Hampstead and also at Chelsea, where he was formerly stationed. On and after the Ist of February the Money Order system of the General Post Office will be extended to North Germany, Baden, Bavaria, Wurtemburg, and Luxemburg. The commission chargeable will be three fold the commission on Inland Money Orders. No single money order willibe,issued for a higher sum than £lO. THE FIXTURES FOR THE NORTHERN CIRCUIT.- The days for holding the Spring Assizes on the Northern Circuits have been appointed as follows :—Appleby, February 15; Carlisle, February 16 ; Newcastle-on-Tyne, February 20 ; Durham, Febivary 25 ; Lancaster, March 2 ; Manchester, March 6 ; and Liverpool, March 18. Mr. Baron Martin and Mr. Justice Willes are the judges. a valley near the frontiers of Prussia lies, half hidden by foliage and hills, one of the prettiest little towns on the Continent; and although it only boasts of some five thousand inhabitants, it is the gem of Belgium, and the fashion able resort of its notabilities; and not of them only, for when the season is at its height, titled and distinguished visitors crowd every avenue and every rendezvous. Not only Princes of petty States, ex-Potentates, or the Counts and Barons which crop up so plentifully on a foreign soil, but the men of mark in society; the statesmen, warriors, and leaders of their respec tive countries. The great men of Great Britain are amongst the number, for they gladly brace up their faculties and re invigorate their systems at this health-restoring spot, after the fatigues of Courts, Parliaments, and Sessions. The roulette-table has its votaries, but the waters are more omnipotent still—strongly impregnated with iron, that needful auxiliary in renovating enfeebled constitutions; and those who esteem the waters too nauseous are glad to meet with tbat delicious substitute—the "Elixir de Spa." Thi s holds high rank as 'a table liqueur, possesses a delicate perfume and exquisite flavour, and being distilled from the flowers and plants of the district, is at the same time greatly prized for its tonic, digestive, and gently stimulating qualities. The manufacture of this liqueur forms the chief part of the staple trade of Spa, which may be said to consist of the important Distillery of Messrs. Schaltin, Pierry, and Cie, the inventors of the Elixir de Spa, and the manufac turers of ornaments in the pretty Spa wood. A " petit verre" of the Elixir de Spa is the favourite prelude in Belgium to a " d6jeftner I. la fourchette," in order to give zest to the appetite, for which purpose it is equal in efficiency to the nauseous absinthe ; and the burly Flemish burgomaster's admirable dinners are usually capped with a wee glass of this invigorating native cordial, which is universally pronounced to be the best.of Table Liqueurs. It may be obtained through your wine mer chant.—Wholesale DepOt—Scon BROTHERS, 8, Duke-street, Adelphi, London. CAN I AFFORD IT ?—Pay your Stationer 6d. for a reply. Map of the World gratis in all Letts's Office Diaries. Letts's 6d. and ls. Diaries give most value for your money. Letts's Housekeepers' and Ladles' Diaries are much improved. Letts's InVisible Ink for Postal Cards, 6d. per bottle. KINAHAN'S LL WHISKY.—This celebrated and most delicious old mellow spirit is the very cream of Irish Whiskies, in quality unrivalled, perfectly pure, and more wholesome than the finest Cognac Brandy. Note the red seal, pink label, and cork branded " Kinahan's LL Whisky." New Wholesole Depot, 6A, Great Titehfield street, Oxford-street, W. INSIDE PARIS. The special correspondent of the Telegraph sends the following from Paris, dated January 21 :—The terrible reverse experienced on Thursday by the French troops at Buzanval— the discouraging influence exerted on the long suffering women of Paris by a rationnement of bread which assigns to each individual as his or her daily portion a black and gritty lump of the so-called staff of life thin, in site and weight, is about equal to a London penny roll—the atktiowledged incapacity of our military and political chiefs—the: &pressing hopelessness of the d.:. , patches respecting Bourbaki and dlianty which were made public this and yesterday morning—all plainly presage the end very near at hand. Last night, at eleven o'clock, the generale, or summons to arms, was sounded in the turbulent quarters of Belleville and La Charonne; but so depressed and miserable was the popula tion, that 500 individuals, more or less, were all who responded to the call. It was useless, with so flimsy a gathering, to make a descent upon the Hotel de Ville; so the WOrild be enteatiefe gave up the job in des pair, and betook themselves to their cold and Cheerless beds. To-day the Prefect de Polide, M. Crissen i has stationed two or three strong regiments of National Guards around the Hotel de Ville, and has caused the adjoining streets to bristle with mitrailleuses. The unhappy inhabitants of Paris are to much wasted by misery to be capable of initiating la guerre des rues; aud, although it is by no means impossible that within the next seven or eight days we m 4 have riots in the streets, the National Guards, although of little avail against the Prussians, will, I expect be found strong enough to keep Paris quiet until the end. Meantime, the town has to-day been full of rumours that Trochu has re signed, that he is to be immediately replaced by some other General, or Admiral, and that M. Jules Favre has actually opened communications with Count Bismarck of such a nature as to lead at once to a capitulation. These rumours are undoubtedly premature, but before this letter has reached England, they may be actual veri ties. Pessimists who for many weeks past have been compelled to menages leurs varoles, and to speak ad visedly and discreetly in public, might to day have been seen and heard openly avowing that within four, six, or ten days all will be over, and calling men to witness, by such questions as, " Did I not always tell you so?" that such has been their anticipation from the beginning. In many quarters the wildest and most impossible projects have to-day been mooted. The names of revolutionary chiefs, such as Ledru Rollin, Motto, Delescluae, and Gustave Flourens, have been bandied about from mouth to mouth, with a view to the constitution of a new Government to be built up out of these discredited materials. I doubt whether, in these desperate times, even the vanity of Frenchmen .would induce ten or twelve untried men to assume the helm of the vessel of the State when she is already amidst the breakers, and evidently on the eve of breaking up. K Louis Blanc, and a few others who think with him, demand that M. Jules Favre and General Trochu should remain nominally in power, but that the military direction of affairs, and the administra tion of the few quintals of flour which still remain to us, shall be handed over to a new Committee of Public Safety. The Temps of this afternoon states that a War Committee, consisting of two or three Admirals and of Generals Vinoy, Ducrot, and Clement Thomas, is immediately to be organised ; and that M. Dorian is to replace General Le Flo as Minister of War. Everyone feels that all these arrangements or re-shufflings of the cards are now unavailing. General Trochu is understood to have placed himself to-day in the hands of the Provisional Government, and, with tears in his eyes, to have said, "Do with me what you will !" It is impossible not to pity a man like Trochu, who, himself a brave and honest soldier, has been tossed to the surface of a responsibility which might have crushed even a Napoleon or a Frederick the Great. FA IDHERBE'S DEFEAT. In a communication from Douai, January 22, the special correspondent of the Standard observes :—The crisis for the North has at last arrived. After two days' fighting at St. Quentin, and notwithstanding the unprecedented, and in some instances marvellous, gallantry of the French troops, the result was a decided defeat for Faidherbe. A large body of the army was obliged to fall back on Cambrai, and numbers came on to Douai. For ie moment the situation is beyond a doubt critical in the extreme, but it would be madness to pronounce it hope less. Since I heard the news I have been to Cambrai and Arras, and passed through a large portion of the intervening country, and I have never before felt so proud of the men of the North. Their attitude is simple and grand. They do not make the least attempt to disguise the fact that they have received a terrible shock ; on the contrary, it seems to me that they rather exaggerate the gravity of the position, and they feel it all the more bitterly following so quickly upon the fall of Peronne. But it is quickening their pulses with a savage determination to do all that is in their own power to see this struggle out. They say it is in the hands of the Provisional Government to turn the tables on the enemy, by doing what they should have done a month ago—sending them immediate reinforcements, and losing no time in solidly reorganising the army. Had Faidherbe received the promised troops from Cherbourg the day after Bapaume, he would have broken up Von Goeben's army, and rendered the position of the besieging troops round Paris more perilous than Von Moltke would have liked. But, to the fatal incapacity and mischievous ignorance of the Government, and to the instinctive sagacity and prudence of the Germans, that makes them anticipate events, is owing entirely and completely the disaster at St. Quentin. Von Goeben, the moment that Bapaume was over, felt that Faidherbe was too strong for him, and so he retired at, once and fell back upon the fresh thousands that were without a minute's delay sent up to strengthen him. Then, when he felt more than confidence in his superior numbers and increased artillery, he swung round with all the freshness of a new army, and even then, only towards the end of the second day, succeeded in driving back a small arm y, numbers of whom had been thirty-six hours without food or sleep. A report is everywhere believed that Trochu has got clean away with 150,000 men, and is marching north. CHANZY'S RETREAT. In a letter horn Mayenne the special correspondent of the Daily News remarks :—I have no doubt the French telegrams have informed you that the retreat was being made with the best order &c. Well, here lam in the midst of drese flying herds of men, and all I can say is that it is a complete " ddbandade." The corps which is passing through here is supposed to be and is called, the 16th; but there are men, carts, cannon, battalions, companies, &c., of every other corps mixed up in the most inextricable jumble, all hav ing marched as they listed, and by whatever route they chose ; the infantry (Mobiles, Mobilis6s, and Line) shew ing the greetest anxiety of all to get out of reach of the enemy, which is in hot pursuit. I have been told whole droves of Mobiles have marched during the night and rested during the day, in order not to be molested by the gendarmes, whose mission is to pick and turn back disbanded soldiers, and, in short, force them back into the way they should go. General Michel's division of cavalry (who are a better kind of men) were employed all last night in scouring the villages and purging the houses and farmhouses of the Mobiles and National Guards who had earthed themselves there by thousands. They drove them along, smiting them hip and thigh with the flats of their swords. It is really sad to have to relate such things, but what could one expect? I met some acquaintances here belonging to the 16th Corps, and they all say that it is no use going on ; that the troops are detestable and demoralised to an incredible degree. The losses in men on the French side have not been large. As soon as a battalion saw ten or twelve men drop, they would retire swiftly, shouting that they were being decimated; the officers nothing loth to follow the men, even, as some say, to lead the men. Of course, de Chanzy has a few good troops, but so very few that they are not worth mentioning as corps ; then, again, in the most shaky corps there are good, brave'men; but what can one do to keep together a whole company? The French lost lots of cannon, it seems, and two batteries of mitrailleuses were taken by the Prussian infantry at one sweep. De Chanzy, with the 15th and 21st Army Corps—or rather with about the value in numbers of two Army Corps—is protecting the retreat of the 16th. He is, or was, at or near Sine le Guillaume, that is, he stretches from that_ place to Conlie. The Prussians are known to have arrived at Sable, and threaten either Angers or this place. My humble opinion is, that their aim is, while they are about it, to utterly destroy de Chanzy's army, so that they may no longer be disturbed by it, and in that case it is most probable that the Army Corps which is at Sable, will turn this way, and fall upon de Chanzy as he is retreating before his opponents at Conlie. OUR CO TEMPORARIES—This Morning tHE RECALL OF MH. MOTLEY. The Times referring to the remarkable correspondence between Mr. Motley and Mr. Fish on the subject of the removal of the former from his past as American Ambas sador, and also his opinions with respect to the Alabama. question,says:—The latter are now put forward as the real cause of the recall of Mr. Motley, which was delayed from two causes—partly to avoid the scandal of with drawing the letters accrediting him immediately after his arrival, and partly because it was thought he might use fully complete the negotiation of the Naturalisation Treaty and of the Consular Convention. It must, of course ; follow that if Mr. Motley is recalled for the faults imputed to him, General Schenck must come with instructions to avoid a repeti tion of them. His words must be words of the strictest friendship, and anything like a threatening re ference to the ulterior consequences which would follow a. failure of negotiations must be avoided. Tho charge of liability for the alleged premature recognition of the belligerency of the South must also be withdrawn. Gene , ral Schenck will, in fact, come to discuss in a business like manner* the business-like questions whether there was such a duty on the part of the English Govern ment to stop the Alabama and such a laxity in per forming it that We are responsible in damages for her escape, and we cannot but hope that a discussion opened in this spirit will lead to the settlement of a dispute injurious to the characterof both nations. We have a right to say for ourselves that while we do not acknowledge any negligence for which we can be made liable, we have given indisputable evidence of our readiness to refer this question to judicial arbitrament, and General Schenck on his arrival will find us in the same peaceful and law-respecting mind. THE STATE OF FEELING IN PARIS. Commenting on the excitement in Paris wrought by the news of the failure of the last sortie, the Daily News observes :—Paris is evidently in a perilous state. The social atmosphere is full of combustible elements which the most trivial circumstance might ignite, causing far more ruin than any bombardment by the Imperial troops. Paris has borne the privations of this siege so nobly, that we should all be sorry to find her perplexed and weakened, in what may be the last days of her great trial, by political tumult. But a few days more of calm and self-reliance, and, if she must suc cumb, she will know that she has striven bravely and well to the end, and Europe will regard this portion of her history as wiping out the stains which the Empire placed upon her. The provinces have been of late learning to do without the capital. They are not pre sided over by a Government against which any complaint of inaction can be preferred. Army after army may be raised only to be defeated, but M. Gam betta accepts no defeat; and, in his most recent procla mations, he announces that if the Prussians are three months hence on French soil they are lost. Indeed, there is more of the true Republican fire and ring in his last speeches than in the semi-military bulle tins which he issued after leaving Paris. France, he says, only needs faith. She will be saved, " not by a man, but by an idea, by the Republic; which will have taken its place amongst us, and will guide our destinies." Nevertheless, the idea must be represented by agents, and it is military men of whom France is most urgently in need just now. M. Gambetta may fan the flames of patriotism, and stir the departments to fresh efforts, but he cannot command armies. If the recent departure of Bourbaki was due to his counsels, the result has only been another instance in the present campaign of the fatal influence sometimes wrought by politicians in controlling military movements. M. Gambetta, we hear, is now engaged at Lille in reor ganising the shattered remnants of the Army of the North. Although the weight of public cares has told upon hisphysique, he is as full of undaunted courage and hope as ever. He says little or nothing about Paris. It is upon France he calls, in terms which reminds one of another period in French history. It is possible that Paris may come out of her prison to fini that the country has not been wholly concerned in thinking how to release her, but has begun on its own account an enormous enterprise which will involve either victory or suicide. THE HORRORS OP BO3IBARDMENT. The Telegraph says :—Those inside the circle of wrath tell us that the city has not bated a jot of her determina tion under the tempest of fire. Splashed with her children's blood and gaunt for want of wholesome food, Paris prepared a sortie en masse. The attempt was made only to fail, only to recoil in carnage and dismay from the living wall which ever draws closer and closer ; so that, to all the agony of hope deferred, to all the heart-sickness of endurance, the hapless capital has now to mourn the dead of her last effort, while she writhes again under the " bombardment " which " continues." Who, we ask again, in busy London or any other European capital, realises the nameless awe and unpa ralleled terror of the tragedy now daily perpetrated in the French metropolis ? Nay, even the Parisians, who suffer from the thunder and lightning of the besiegers' guns may be little conscious of the tremen dous issue at stake, or of the true moral taught by their sufferings. The same might be said of the besieging leaders. Half active, half passive, in the hands of prodigious influences and deep-seated national pas sions, they wreak their vengeance upon the bright city, which may die like a heroine, but will never dis grace her splendid renown. Could the voice of humanity reach the gallant citizens, it would cry, "Enough has been done and suffered to redeem the past—enough to chew that Paris has noble qualities, and cannot be de throned as a queen of cities." But even now no one can foretell when and how the evil will come. " The bom bardment continues "—that is the perpetual mes sage, and by the law of history neither we nor the heroic sufferers clearly comprehend the full meaning of the words. When the story of the war is written clearly from the first line to the finish —when there is nothing to avert by concealment and nothing to gain by desperate endurance—then the im mense events of the time will define themselves, and the terrified conscience of Christendom will begin to realise what warfare means in days of science, between races that ought to be rivals in works of peaceful pro gress, not enemies thirsting for each other's blood and degradation. FRANCE AND THE CONFERENCE. The Lords Justices have reversed th 9 he Chief Judge in Bankruptcy, who a rowle and Co.'s claim for £,052115. 8 4 Messrs. Jourdain and Co., hosiers A fire happened on Sunday mornin g a t th e new turers, of Wood-str e et, Ch ea p s id e4 Royal Court Theatre, which is about to be opened in whether the relation between the r Little George-street, Sloane-square. Some plumbers who dor and purchaser, or that of pe were at work caused a fire in the roof. Fortunately, but Lords Justices were of opiniore little damage was done. Towle and Co. failed. ~ Count Bismarck's purpose in refusing M. Favre a safe conduct, the Standard asserts, is to prevent him from pleading the cause of his country in London, and to finish his purpose of stewing the Parisians in their own gravy. That in this particular act he should break faith with and grossly insult England was only a temptation the more to the step he has taken. The attitude of the English people excites the anger of Germany, whilst the conduct of the English Government provokes its contempt. Count Bismarck believes that he can be guilty of any. imper tinence he pleases to the present English Go vernment, and it must be allowed that the policy of Lord Granville has justified that belief. The ready acceptance by the British Foreign Minister of any suggestion made by Prussia, his active interference in the earlier stages of the war to prevent Austria and Italy from taking part with France, whilst perfectly aware that Russia was in truth the ally of Prussia, his pathetic insistance at Vienna that no pressure should be put upon Prussia, his eager acceptance -of the proposal of a Conference, naturally fostered such an idea. But Count Bismarck may be assured that the English nation is as tired of Lord Granville's weakness and servility to German interests as it is of the Te Deum of his Emperor over the carnage he reports to his wife, and the offensive untruths of his own circulars. We cannot tell what Lord Granville may do. He may kiss again the hand which has chastened him anew. He may even be glad that France is not represented in the Conference, in order to shuffle through it that wretched apology for his own retreat which he received from Russia through Count Bismarck. But if he takes that course there will be an end to his public life, and we would fain hope that in spite of Mr. Glyn and Mr. Lowe, he will pluck up courage to take the course which the honour of England imperiously demands. After Count Bismarck's reply to M. Favre, it is impossible for the Conference, with th e assent of an English Minister who has the faintest regard for his country, to enter upon the Black Sea Question. Earl Granville should at once propose its adjournment sine die, and he should at once, ,too, notify Count Bismarck that England does not consider the question of peace or war one regarding France and Germany aione, but will insist upon a due regard being paid to her special interests, and to general European 'interests, in any peace that he may negotiate with the present or any possible Government of France. be asy tin- And " ions ira not not i as. ages sing: cela- ex-- Then 3ssrs. has g cir idge, ag in swing