The Sun. — London, England, 1871-02-03 00:00:00

METROFOLITAN GOSSlP.—TauaspAy, We have all looked forward to the opening of Parlia ment with intense interest, but it is likely that another and similar but more momentous event will go far to absorb attention in the proceedings of popular assemblies. Never in the history of the . world has a Parliament gathered together under circumstances such as those which attend the meeting of the French National Assembly. No event of the kind can compare with it in importance, save the gathering of the States-General in 1789. What a time we shall have of it for the next fort night, with our own explanations touching war and Eastern policy, and army reorganisation; and on the other side of the Channel—first, the electoral con test, and then the question of peace or war ! The London papers, which, with the exception of the Daily News and the Pall Mall Gazette, dis play a sublime ignorance of French politics, are sure that the Republic is doomed, that France is monarchi cal, and, therefore, will elect a king-perferring Assembly. But I advise your readers to take no notice of these prophecies, for, in fast, the position is one which admits of no prophecy. If two general elections take place in England within a short time, the two Parliaments are, as a rule, pretty similar in character. In France so much depends upon the extent of the districts in which the voting takes place, and the interference or forbearance of the officials, that it is not impossible for the most Conservative Chamber to be suc ceeded by an ultra-Radical one within a year The belief here is general that the Assembly will make peace. Everything depends upon the terms. London was much startled yesterday afternoon by a telegram from the Times Berlin correspondent, announcing the German terms of peace to be the cession of Alsace and part of Lorraine, including Metz, the transfer of Pondicherry in East India, twenty first-class war ships, and a money indemnity of—four hundred million English pounds ! The agitation was great. The Funds fell, and everybody, as well they might, declared that peace was impossible at such aprice. This morning the papers appear with mild expressions of incredulity and remonstrance. I have no hesitation in pronouncing this programme to be flat nonsense. It is improbable on the face of it, it comes from an indifferent authority, and it is contrary to all the signs and symptoms by which the nature of the German terms has been calculated hitherto. The Times thismorning says it has seldom reason to doubt the authority of the news sent by its Berlin correspondent ; but it may be as well to point out that this gentleman was the author of the famous canard about France proposing disarmament, and that only a day or two ago he announced that the territorial claim would extend to the Meuse, instead of to the Moselle—a statement which his last per formance in the telegram way contradicts. In short, the Times Berlin correspondent is noted for his " alarmist" reports. It is obvious that such a peace would be worse than even the present war. I do not profess to have access to Count Bismarck's private views ; but as a reader of the German papers, which generally write with a purpose, I can affirm that no hints of such claims as these have made their appearance. The Times made another fiasco with the statement that the Empress had signed away Alsace and Lorraine. The Imperialists are for the moment in disfavour with the Germans, though they will, of course, rise again, if the Republic does not make peace. What plans may be on foot, I cannot tell, but the visitors to Chislehurst have latterly been very numerous, and communication with the Continent is incessant. The calling of the National Assembly is a great blow to Imperialist hopes. Mental derangement seems to have been the true cause of General Bourbaki's attempted suicide, and of the perfectly needless destruction of his army. A friend of mine, who saw him in the North, during the time when he was organising the force which Faidherbe afterwards commanded, noted a strangeness in his behaviour, a style of demeanour very different from that of the bright looking officer who used to manoeuvre the Im perial Guard in the Champs de Mars, or the avenues of the Elysbe. But nothing like madness was then observable. At Bourges, however, according to the Times correspondent, his eccentricities became more pronounced, and after the defeat at Belfort, the derange ment was complete. I have repeatedly expressed doubt touching the pro bability of our ever getting any satisfactory result out of that unfortunate Conference. The present state of affairs spews how well-founded was that doubt. Two obstacles of the first importance beset Earl Granville. There is no French representative, and the difficulty of reconciling the diverse views concerning the Black Sea has proved far greater than was anticipated. The de liberations, in short, are understood all over Europe to have come to a dead lock. It is even hinted in the Independance Beige that Earl Granville's indis position, reported on Tuesday, was of the diplomatic type. Different versions are given as to the exact state of affairs; but it would appear that the English Government is desirous that the re sults of the Conference should not have the appearance of merely satisfying the demands so rudely put forth by Russia, and it is difficult, if not impossible, to discover an acceptable compromise. It is clear that a mistake has been made in opening the Conference at all, until it was quite certain that a French representative could attend. We have no desire to go to war for FranCe, nor is it needful to display any benevolent neutrality on her behalf ; but it was possible, without preju dicing the question of the present war, to point out that the Paris treaty, whether wise or foolish, was gained by French as well as by English blood and treasure, and that French co-operation in the Conference was a sine qua. non. The protocol affirming that one party to a treaty cannot break its stipulations at will is useless, and almost ridiculous. It would be as logical to attach to the ten commandments an eleventh stipulating that the foregoing should not be infringed. The air is thick with rumours respecting the coming Army Bill; but I will not venture to repeat more than one. The impression that the purchase system is doomed is so general as to amount to a conviction. Encouraged by the strength of public opinion, the Government has determined upon the desperate battle which must be fought before this abuse can be overturned. Such is the general belief. For my own part, I see no reason to doubt that the Government Army Bill will be generally satisfactory. If this Ministry is not a legislating Ministry, it is nothing. The measures passed during the last two years may justly claim to rank amongst the models of British legislation. Until, therefore, the Government has proved its inability to deal with the army question, the prestige of past suc cesses is in its favour. Military men are getting ready for an Irish campaign in the summer and autumn. The Prince of Wales is, I am informed, to go to Ireland in August to open the show of the Agricultural Society, of which his Royal Highness is president this year. The visit is to be made the excuse for a number of splendid military displays, and several fresh regiments, chiefly infantry, are to be sent to the Sister Isle for the summer drill season. The regiments for the most part will be quartered at the Curragh, where vast improvements for the reception of bodies of troops have been accomplished since the Government suc ceeded in taking up the whole plain of 5,000 acres as Crown property. The prevalence of smallpox and other contagious diseases in English towns is.perhaps the chief inducement to the authorities to send our regiments to a place which has been known for the past ten years as the healthiest for the soldiers generally. It is well known that before a regiment goes abroad it is, as a rule, sent for some months to the Curragh Camp or to Cork, add the other day a Highland officer explained the matter to me by saying that tlie Government adopted this plan in order that the battalions might leave home hardy and strong. The rank and file will be very grateful to the staff sergeant who in this month's St. Paul's complains on their behalf of the wretched systems in vogue, of sending off healthy soldiers to bed ever night at nine o'clock, of preventing men who are ailing from going to bed before that hour, and of compelling soldiers on furlough always to appear in uniform instead of a private dress. The same writer, justly hints at one reason at least why the purchase system is likely to bepowerfully attacked next session. The system has been an institution in England since the days of Charles 11., and since then gentlemen with money, and often, be it said, without brains, have sought in the army an honourable, if not a difficult, profession. Latterly the regular army has appeared so inefficient, and the militia have been so ridiculed and laughed at, that some great reform in the existing organisation must appear necessary to enlightened statesmen. Some readers interested in the affairs of the Irish clergy at the present crisis will doubtless be glad to hear that the privilege of compounding for parts of livings is to be allowed to certain rectors. By this plan a vicar of say one parish, and portions of two other parishes, can com mute for his own proper parish, while he can commute and compound with respect to the divided parishes. Speak ing of Ireland, I hear that Sir John Gray, the indefati- gable member for Kilkenny city, has been in a delicate state of health for a considerable period. Let me refer to Art subjects in a few brief sentences. The studentships for the Royal Academy have been awarded this week, and, as usual, much discontent has arisen among the friends of the unsuccessful candidates at some of the decisions. One of the best of our R.A.'s has had no hesitation in saying that the drawing from the antique, executed by a certain young lady who has already gained considerable reputation as a sculptor, was a work of great superiority, and yet she is not included among the happy mortals who will be allowed free instruction from the Academicians for seven years. I understand that out of fifty candidates for the 1871 studentships the committee have only selected 15, five of these being ladies. By-the bye, I wonder if the ladies in the South Kensington Art Schools all, over the country are treated as badly in the matter of water-colour drawings as they are at the chief schools themselves. There are at South Kensington innumerable water-colour paintings suitable for young artists, who' are only too anxious to have an opportunity of taking water-colour copies ; yet the directors of the schools will only allow the pupils to execute copies in oils. There appears some strange absurdity in this, at least to the parents of the artists and outsiders generally. The most talked of art question of the day is the author ship of No. 40 in the Exhibition of the Old Masters. This work purports to be by Turner, but it is not ; and even as an imitation Mr. Ruskin has pronounced it to be by somebody " not acquainted with the essential qualities of the master." There can be no moral doubt respecting the question of forgery, and I have reason to think that the guilty individual has been discovered ; but there is a difference in these cases between moral and legal evidence. Attempts to increase the number of daily papers in London appear to have come to nothing. Newspapers, like discount companies after 1866, are down in the mar ket. More than one gentleman in London find themselves in want of an "organ," but havejalso found themselves un able to get assistanca. London has fewer daily papers than any other large capital in the world. There seems room for extension, but success will probably be met with in the halfpenny direction. The expenses of a London penny daily are too great to permit much competition. `The Echo, on the other hand, the expenses of which are comparatively very small, is now successful. The Christmas burlesques, with the exception of Mr. Strachan's " Cceur de Lion" at the Strand, and possibly ' Dick Whittington" at the New Royalty, have all proved lamentable failures. It is to be hoped that this shews an improvement in the public taste, and that such a heavy blow to the managers' interests will induce them to look for something better. A good burlesque is all very well in its place ; but the stage must be sunk low indeed when the London theatres are almost exclusively occupied by this form of entertainment, most of the speci mens being execrably bad. However, the attraction of leg is not invincible. A. burlesque requires, perhaps, more labour on the part of author and performers than any other form of stage play but then the thing is over done, and the quality is deteriorating. If burlesque in drama is declining, burlesque in litera ture is going up. The most successful literary venture of the day has been the pamphlet " The Fight at Dame Europa's School," which has reached its eighty-third thousand. The author is said by the Record to be a minor canon of Salisbury Cathedral ; and, true to its nature, the charitable religious journal adds that he " has published several brochures, from which it appears that he considers the chief use of cathedrals is to set up a high standard of musical performance." Probably no one was so much astonished at the success of this pamphlet as the author himself—Mr. Pullen is his name. A second volume of the Daily News \ correspondence is announced. Mr. Charles Reade is engaged on a novel for Cassell's Magazine, for which he will receive a very high price. The book trade is reported tolerably good. though not so prosperous as was expected; but it is difficult to imagine what the publishers sell unless it be educational works, for there is really nothing in the. field. The magazines, however, shew pretty well this month, especially the Contemporary, which has articles by Archbishop Manning and others, and the Fortnightly, which again beats all its competitors in the excellence and range of its contributions. NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE Many of the guns for the fort at Garrison Point, Sheer. nese—a work intended to prevent the entrance of a hostile fleet into the Medway, and to protect the dockyard at Chatham from danger 'from such a fleet—have now been placed in position. But the great embrasures in which the guns are placed will have to be protected by iron armour. The armour plates to be used for this purpose are expected to arrive shortly from the North by railway. The protection for the gunners will consist of several plates bolted together, so as to make a great thickness of iron, with which the embrasures will be closed, excepting that an opening will be left sufficient for the firing of the guns. Such a protection as this is absolutely necessary for working the guns in this fort and those in the circular forts on the Medway, near Chatham, at Hoo and Bishop's Marsh. If an enemy were expected, torpedoes would also be sunk in the mouth of the Medway, to be fired from an observatory at the Garrison Point Battery, by means of an electric current, when any enemy's ships should pass over them. The ships composing the Channelsquadron now at Port land are the Agincourt, 28, 6,621 tons, Capt. Henry H. Beamish, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Wilmot ; the Hercules, 14, 5,234 tons, Capt. Lord Gifford ; the North umberland, 28, 6,621 tons, Capt. C. H. May ; the Warrior, 32, 6,109 tons, Capt. the Hon. H. C. Glyn ; the turret ship Monarch, 7,512 tons, Capt. Charles M. Aynsley ; and the Inconstant, 16, 4,066 tons. The Achilles, 26, 6,121 tons, Coastguard ship, Captain Richard V. Hamilton, is also at anchor in the' harbour. The Hercules went outside the breakwater on Tuesday morning to test the merits of the new pebble gunpowder. Her great guns were firing most of the day. The Warrior went out on Monday for a like purpose. It is probable the fleet will remain at this rendezvous for some time longer. The Rupert, ironclad ram, 3,159 tons, 700-horse power, now building in Chatham Dockyard, has, considering the time when she was commenced, in June last, made very satisfactory progress. A great portion of the inner plat ing is now on the sides of the vessel ; and the ponderous armour-plates with which the ram will be covered are now in the yard, ready to be put on as soon as the vessel is sufficiently advanced to receive them. THE CITY OF LONDON VOLUNTEER FUND. — During the past week the following contributions have been received in behalf of this fund ;--The Grocers' Com pany, £100; Messrs, J. and R. Morley, £lOO ; the Mer-• cers' Company, £5O; Messrs. Roberts, Lubbock and Co., £5O ; and the Sadlers' Company, £2l. EARLY MACKEREL.—A. few pads of mackerel from the western coast have begun to arrive at Billings gate Market, and have been eagerly bought up at large prices. Time was when these early mackerel were worth as much as 3s. or 4s. each upon their first arrival ; but the great facilities offered now for carriage of fish has reduced the price three-fourths, and now we look upon Is. as a very large price at the opening of the season. — Fishing Gazette. ME NEW TESTAMENT COMPANY.—The New Testament Company of Revisors met on Tuesday at the 'Tern- Belem Chamber for their sixth session. T wenty -one members were present, including the Archbishop of Dublin, who took his place among the company for the first time. The Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol presided. A warm tri .bute was paid to the memory of Dean Alford, and a suit able resolution passed in commemoration of his earnest labours in the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures. The progress was fair, but rather beb w the average. THE HON. A. HERBERT, M.P., ON THE PRINCESS LOUISE'S DOWRY.—The Hon. Auberon Herbert, one of the members for -Nottingham, in an address just issued to the working mess of that borough, after stating that we ought not to refuse a dowry, if reasonable in amount, to the Princess Louise, says Wh e n I recollect the enormous sum yearly misspent and missmanaged under the name of charities ; the small returns which come to the nation from the large estates which are placed under the. office of Woods and Forests ; the yearly revenue of the University of Oxford, which, independently of its sister University of Cambridge, may be placed at £300,000 a year ; the sums which are wasted under our military system ; the £1,000,000 which are paid yearly for full-pay, and half-pay retirement for honorary colonelcies, distinguished service money, an i d wdows' pensions ; the £2 2 , 000 a year of civil pay pad to the gentlemen employed in the commander-in-chief 's office ; the three regiments of Horse Guards kept at a great expense for purposes of show ; the £40,000 a year paid without cause to the army agents; the £5,000 a year devoted to the dinner table of the officers of the Guards who are on duty, and when I recollect that even this last might be made more formidable, I can scarcely regret any difference that exists between some of you and myself on particular questions, if it is to lead to our labouring toge ther more earnestly in the cause of financial reform, and in the effort to apply every pound belonging to the nation to really national purposes." THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY , FEBRUARY 3, 1871. Metropolitan .. 665 67 Bahia and San Francisco 665, . 127 1275 g 7 P c Midland 6},, 5, 65, 75, 5 Belgian E Junction 2a North British North-Eastern Consols 145 k, 5,5, 5 Dimaburg and Witepek 181 181 South-Eastern 771 4, i, 5 225, 5 Atlantic and St I Jawnlice 76 78 Eastern of France B 'inlay, Ilaroda, and Great Luxembourg Central India, g 5 p c.. 10251031 125, 5 1035, 5 Lemberg Czernowitzgua Buff and Lake Huron .. 45 41 7pc 1)o 55 pc 80nda,1872-3-4 80 82 155, 165 Cape guar 6 c blast Bengal guar 5p c lO3 104 0 ttom (Smyrna to A 'din) 41 5 1031 41 East Indian. g 5 p 0 110. 91 _.. .... .... _ (Limited) guar 7p o . . Arand TrinikCanada l2l 122 San Paulo fh) guar 7nc '2l: Do R.quip Mort - 13nd 1 South ATIF4I.II &Loan-Vela 141 15 charge 15 n c ' 93 95 141, 15 Do 2nd do Bonds B5 87 fionthoirn of Pra'lll, 19 21 BANKING COMPANIES. Pd Pd 1 Agra Bank (LI A Bl 9 10 Imperial Ottoman .. 11110111 81,1 111, 1 1 25 Alliance ILI 121 x d 20 London and (Jaunty 511 52 10 Anglo-Austrian 20 Anglo-Egyptian (L) 221 221 . 571, 1a d 231. 1 20 Lon and Weatninster al, 6 :'i 50 British N American 51 52 631, 3x d 20 Ch of India, Austrlia 131 I 4 10 Metropolitan Bl 8' 25 Char Mere of India 21 23 20 Midland ILI 10 City 111, 1x d 25 Orntal BankCorporn 411 12 2 Colonial 4 Consolidated IT, 4 9-16. 1 ad 40 20 Eng. Scot. and Aus 0 161 171 15 Union of Loudon i 2. Imperial ‘LI P. 9 90 TELEGRAPH COMPANIES. Yd Pd • 100 Anglo-American L 1 73 75 6 Great N. China, and 74 Japan Extension.. 8 81 10 Anglo-Meditrn (L) llB 120 5 Indo-European 114.. 10 12 100 Atlantic — 10 Marseilles, Algiers, 100 Do 8p c — and Malta IL) .... 51 6 10 British Australis (L) 33 31dis 10 Mecli terrn Ex (L) .. 4 5 10 British Ind Eaten (L). 61 63 21 Puma autl S. Pcfc(L 4 3 dis 10 British Indian Sub- dis marine. (L) 6/, 7, 6 15-16 20 Soc Trans France (L) 131 14 10 China Submarine (L) 5 4hlis 14, 131 . lu Falmouth, Gibraltar, 100 Submarine 237 141 and Malta 11,1 - 9 5-16, 9 10 W India& l'anaina( LI 51 61 10 Great Northern .... 113 111 MISCELLANEOUS SECURITIES Pd Pd Anglo-Austriantind- 100 Do 6p c Bonds. re holders' Certificate 2 4 deemaCe 1870 62 64 10 BerlinWalerworks(L) 16 16) '0 London Fin A ssocll,l 19 1811- 30 Bolckow-Vaughan L) 31 36pm 4 Lou Gen Omnibus .. 21 21 100 Boston City (U.S. 2 13-16, i P c Sterling Loan.. 94 96 2 Lou A I'rov Marine L) 2 lipm 4 *Brit & Fgn Marine L) 4 41pm 3 25 Canada Company. 72 75 100 Madras Irrig. &Canal 1 10 Ceylon Company L) 33 31dis gsn c by Ind Gov. 100 102 35 City Offices (L) .... 251241 dis 2 Mauritius Land (L) 3 1 tbs. 20 Colonial (L) 5 Com Union Assuruce 41 41pin 111 a d 91, 1 21 N Zealand Loan and 10 Crdt Fonc of Eng (L) 21 23 Merc Agency IL) .. 11 pm 100 Crystal Palace 100 Do Fret 100 Do 6p c Pern Deb., 109 114 61 N Bri (eh and Mere (L) 281 283 271 Ebbw Vale Steel L).. 91 93dis 5 OceanMarinelnsur 143151u n, 100 Viceroy of Egypt 7P 0 50 P anti 0 Steam 45 47 Mortgage Loan.... 78 80 10 Do do New. 1867 31 21'1i. 78, 9 50 Ithymney Iron 100 Flip 9 p Oirroy Loan, 15 Do New 9 91 guar by Egyp Gov.. 97 99 60 Royal Mail Steam 971 57 13 Fore-stWarehonse IL) 8 9pm 12 Tel Con and Main L) 263 9 61 pm x all B', '261, 3, 1 2 Themes and Mersey 100 Fist and Colonial Gov Trust 6p c Bonds.. 98 100 Marine Insur (f., 71 Gen Credt &Diset (L 1 par fpm Tobacco 6l' c Loan. V. 1, 9-16, 1 guar by Italian Gov 98 90 14 Gen Stm Navigation 28 29 5 Trust and Loan oof 283.} Upper Canada .. 3 1 Pin 7 Hooper's Tel Works Nis }pm 5 U Marine, bvpool IL 5: 51nin 17 Hudson's Bay Bl 81 20 Union Steamship (L) 23 25 45 Indrbbr,Gut Pecand 6 United Dis Corpru (1, 'dig par Tel Works LI .... 50 51 5 UnivMarinelusur (L% 771 inn 51, 50. 491, 50 12 5 intend Final' SoclL) 21 23dis 12 Warrar.t Finance.... 9 7 dis 20 It Irrig Can Cavour '3 33 MONETARY REPORTS.-YESTERD AY. METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET, THURSDAY.-An in creased amount of quietness was observable in the cattle trade to-day. Transactions were much restricted, and prices had a declining tendency. There was a fair average supply of beasts on sale, which were disposed of cautiously, at scarcely the re duced currencies of Monday. With sheep the market was sparsely supplied. In all descriptions sales were effected slowly, and previous quotations were with difficulty obtained, and occasionally less money was submitted to. Calves were scarce, and values were unchanged. Pigs met a dull demand on somewhat easier terms. Per 81bs. to sink the offal.-Common and inferior beasts, 3s. 4d. to 4s. 2d. ; second quality do., 4s. 4d. to 4s. 80. ; prime large oxen, Is. 2d. to ss. 6d. ; prime Scots, etc., Is. SO. to ss. 10d. Common and inferior sheep, 3s. 4d. to 3s. 80. ; second quality, do., 4s. 20. to 4s. 6d ; prime coarse-wooled sheep, ss. to ss. 80. ; prime Southdown ditto, ss.large coarse calves, 3s. Bs. to 45. 4d. ; prime small ditto, ss. to 6s. 4d. ; large hogs, 3s. 6d. 4s. neat small ss. to 6s. ; quarter old store pigs, 225. to 268. each. Arrivals : English Beasts, 920 ; sheep, 3,980 ; calves, 50 ; pigs, 15. Foreign : beasts, 260 ; sheep, 220 ; calves, 158. Total : beasts, 1,180 ; sheep, 4,200, calves 208 ; and pigs, 15. METROPOLITAN HAY AND STRAW MARKET, THURSDAY. -Fair average supplies were on offer at the market to-day. The inquiry was steady. and prices were well maintained. Prime meadow hay, 130 s. to inferior ditto, 110 s. to 120 s. ; prime first-cut clover, 1355. to 1475. ; inferior ditto, 115 s. to 1255. ; prime second-cut clover, 1265. to 1355.: infe rior ditto,loss. to 1155., and straw, 305; to 40s. per load. COLONIAL AND FOREIGN PRODUCE MARKET, THURS DAY.--Sugar : Transactions in both raw and refined are restricted, but prices shew rather more steadiness. Crystalised Demerara, 38s. to 38s. 6d. ; Jamaica, 345. to 355. Coffee : There is a fair business passing. Plantation Ceylon, triage, 475. 60. to 56:. ; small, 575. 60. to 625. 6d ; low middling to middling, 645. to 70s. 6d.: good middling, 72 5. 6 d. to 775. 60. ; good bold, 84s. Tea : There is not much doing. but prices are unchanged. Cotton : The market is quiet, end prices savour purchasers. good fair Tinnevelly, 635. 4d. spot. Metals : Tin tends towards further improvement. Straits, £133 ; Banes, £134 ; Spelters somewhat firmer, at £lB to £lB ss. for Silesian. spot. Copper firm, £74 10s. to £75 for Wallaroo, three months' prompt. Tallow : The market is steady. Y.C., spot, 455. 9d. ; Match, 465. ; last three months', 465. 6d. MANCHESTER TRADE REPORT, THURSDAY.-This market continues dull and inanimate to-day, with only a very limited busi ness doing in yarns and cloth. Prices are still tolerably steady, but the tendency is in favour of buyers, and yarns are less firm than goods, as the flatness of the cotton market induces spinners to sell more readily at last week's prices. No increase of business can be expec' ed pending the political events likely to follow the capitulation of Paris. • BRADFORD TRADE REPORT, THURSDAY.--The news of the capitulation of Paris caused some degree of excitement in the market on Monday, but to-day the tone is much quieter, and the alleged terms of peace demanded by Germany are creating some uneasiness. No one, however, is sufficiently alarmed to take less money, for either wool or yarn, but the uncertainty of the future andespecially the possibility of England becoming involved in the struggle, is leading all parties, buyers and sellers alike, to stand aloof as far as possible from business. A few purchases, chiefly of matchings, and sorts for immediate use, have been made, and skin wools are also selling. Staplers will not abate a fraction in price. The orders for yarn on account of export are very meagre to-day. Buying has been pretty free of late, and merchants are reluctant just now to increase their liabilities. Prices are quiet but firm. SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE IRON TRADE, THURSDAY.- The mtin of ironmasters to-day was moderately attentied, e and no change of importance reported. Most of th works have just about enough business on hand to keep them going, and the weather still interferes with communication by canal. Pig iron in fair •re quest, and finished about the same. The anxiety respecting peace negotiations, which has been felt on the Longton Stock Exchange, is fully shared here, and the confidence with which the news of the capitulation of Paris was received is consider ably shaken. DUBLIN CATTLE MARKET, THURSDAY.-At this market to-day beef was 70s. to 755. ; socond class, 635. to 673. 60. ; in ferior, -50 s. to 60s. per cwt. Mlitton : wethers, Bid. to 90. ; ewes and hoggetts, 62d. to 81d. per lb. There were in the mar ket 1.666 cattle, 4,788 sheep, and 25 calves. The numbers were less than last week's, and for this reason-coupled with the prospect of a better state of things across the Channel-dealers speculated freely, but on a limited scale, and cleared the market early, giving advanced rates. GLASGOW CATTLE MARKET, THURSDAY.-There were at this market to-day 1,397 oxen. Top Scotch, 765. to 78s. ; secondary, 725. to 745. ; middling, 60s. to 655. Sheep, 5,289. Top white faced, Bd. to 9d. ; black, 80. to Bd. ; secondary, 70. to Bd. ; middling, 6d. to 7d. There was a large supply of all classes at the market. Slightly reduced prices had to is accepted. At the close it was impossible to make a finish. MANCHESTER CORN MARKET, THURSDAY.-This market to-day was fairly attended, but the tone was quiet on the whole. English wheat met a slow sale, and can scarcely be quoted is. qr, dearer ; while foreign was 2d. to 3d per cental higher than on this day week, but in limited request. Flour was inactive, at an advance of 60. per sack on ordinary sorts, and is. on the better kinds. Oats were taken more freely, and brought 10. to 20. per 45 lbs. over previous rates. Beans were 60. to is., and Indian Corn ls. 6d. to 2s. per quarter dearer, but with less doing. LIVERPOOL COTTON MARKET, THURSDAY. - Opening Report.-The market opened with a very quiet tone to-day. Sales, probably 10,000 bales. Closing Report.-This market has again been dull, and with a very limited demand. Prices shew a decline of about is. Bd. per lb., both on the spot and to arrive. Sales, 8,000 bales, including 1,000 bales on speculation and export. CLYDE CRUSHED SUGAR MARKET, THRRSDAY.-This market continues quiet to-day, and a small business was done, No change in value. GLASGOW PIG IRON MARKET, THURSDAY.-This market was steady to-day at 51s. 6d. cash, and 51s. 90. in a month. Done, closing buyers at these prices. Sellers ld. more. CORK BUTTER MARKET, THURSDAY.-Ordinary firsts, 1465. ; seconds, 1465. ; thirds, 1335. ; fourths, 116 s. ; fifths, 100 s. ; sixths, 665. 242 firkins in the market. Mild cured firsts, 150 s. ; seconds, 150 s. ; thirds, 140 s. Nine firkins in the market. LANCASHIRE ANT) YORKSHIRE RAILWAY.—At meeting of directors of this company, held on Wednesday, it was decided to recommend to the proprietors at their next meeting to declare a dividend for the past half year at the rate of 7 per cent. per annum, less income tax. A RATHER STRONG DRAIN.-11) 1871 the Board of Works propose to expend nearly £lOB,OOO on the main drainage of the metropolis. This trifle, coupled with the many millions of money already disbursed on account of this costly undertaking, forms a very heavy sinking fund. —Will-o'-the-Wisp. EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES.—An. Ame rican paper states that, among 140 applicants recently for admission as cadets at the Military Academy at West Point, more than 50 failed at the preliminary examination in the " four ground rules of arithmetic" and in the simplest spelling, AN UNDESIRABLE B EDFELLOW.-•-All accident of a very singular nature has occurred in Edinburgh. A sweep crossing the garret floor of a house for the purpose of cleansing a chimney by some means went head fore most through the floor at a part where, it appears, there was no support but lath and plaster. Fortunately for his neck, he dropped into the very middle of a .bed where an old woman was lying at the time, no one being in the house but herself. Her consternation and terror may be more easily imagined than described, especially as the complexion of the unexpected visitor was of that tint popularly supposed to mark connection with worse trades than chimney sweeping. The sweep, fortunately, was nothing the worse for his tumble. MARKETS. No official confirmation has as yet been received of the terms demanded by the Germans for the re-establishment of peace, and business in consequence has been of a very moderate character, operations being in a great measure suspended pending the receipt of some definite informa tion. • The market to-day opened with a very depressed tone at further reduced quotations ; but towards the close a better feeling prevailed; the decline was recovered, and in some instances a slight advance was established. In t he railway market Metro politan and Great Eastern have been better ; but Cale donian has receded in value, whilst, as regards foreign bonds, Italian and Turkish have fractiGnally ad vanced. French Scrip also has recovered nearly 1 per cent. The Consol market has been unsettled, and prices have been irregular. At the commencement of business there were sellers at 91, but the closing price was 91k, 91i for delivery, and 91 13-16, 91,1 for March. Reduced and New Three per Cents, 91k, 92 ; Bank Stock, 241, 243 ; Exche quer Bills, 108., 15s. prem. ; India Five per Cents have been done at 110, noi, and India Bonds, 225., 275. prem. In Colonial Government securities nothing of interest has transpired, and prices have been without change. English railway stocks have been quiet and the fluctua tions have been trifling. Metropolitan and Great Eastern have risen t, and respectively, but a fall of has taken place in Caledonian. Metropolitan 661, 67 ; Cale : donian, 87i, 872; Brighton, 431, 43 ; South-Eastern, 77i, 771 ; Great Eastern, 39k, 39 ; North-Eastern, 1451, 146 ; Midland, 1261, 127} ; North-Western 128/, 129 ; and Great Western, 71k, 72i. In Indian Railway Stocks the transactions have been restricted. Bombay, Baroda, and Central India, 1031 ; Eastern Bengal, 103-2 ; Great Indian. 110 ; Great Indian Peninsula, 105 i ; Madras, 1031, a ; Oude and Rohilkknd, 1011, ; and Scinde, 101, 102. Canadian shares have been quiet. Great Western, 151. Foreign shares have been dull. Great Luxembourg, 12,1, 1 ; and Lombards, 14i. After a period of depression, the Foreign ond market a ssumed a firmer tone, and Italian (1861) B , as well as Turkish Five per Cents., have risen per cent. French Scrip has advanced 4, being quoted at 11 to 12 prem. Egyptian (1868) are quoted at 731, 74 ; Italian (1861), 53k, 541; Spanish, 30, 301; Turkish Five per Cents., 42, 424 ; ditto (1869), 52, 524. In Bank shares not much business hag been doing. Anglo-Egyptian have marked 22i ; Imperial Ottoman, 111,112 ; Joint Stock, 371, ; London and Westminster, 634. Telegraph shares have been dealt in quietly. British Indian Submarine, 64 ; Falmouth, 94; Silver's India Rubber, 50 to 51: Constructions, 261, 26g. For miscellaneous securities the inquiry has been re• stricted. Fore street Warehouse, 84 pm.; General Credit and Discount, 71, g ; National Discount, 14 There has been a good inquiry for money to-day. Capital, however, has been more plentiful, and three months' paper has been occasionally taken at 2R per cent. but the general rate has still been 24 per cent. The sum of £155,000 in sovereigns has been withdrawn from the Bank for shipment to Alexandria. The Great Eastern railway company have declared a dividend at the rate of 1 per cent. About £16,000 will be carried forward. The dividend for the corresponding half of 1869 was at the rate of 1 per cent. The dividend on the London and South Western Rail way will be at the rate of 5,2 per cent., against 54 in 1869. About £13,200 will be carried forward. The dividend of the Bristcl and Exeter Railway will be at the rate of per cent. against 5 per cent. for the corresponding half of 1869. The sum of £2,192 will be carried forward. At a meeting of the London and County Bank it was shewn that the net profits had been £87,167 for the half year ending December 31, which added to £7,181 brought forward, made a total of £94,349. A dividend of 6 per cent. was declared, together with a bonus of 3 per cent., free of income tax, the payment of which absorbs £90,000, and leaves £4,349 to be carried forward. The return for the year has been 171 per cent. At the meeting of the Universal Marine Insurance Company, it was shewn that net premiums received during the year, after deducting cost of insurance com mission, brokerage, and discount, amounted to £282,902, whilst the payments showed a total of £189,534. There was a balance of £226,422 standing to the credit of income and expenditure. A dividend of 7s. 6d. and a bonus of 2s. 6d. per share were declared, making with pre vious payments 121 per cent. for the year. At a meeting of the Bank of Leeds the directors report was adopted, and a dividend of 5 per cent. was declared. At the meeting of the City of London Brewery Com pany on Monday, Sir James Duke in the chair, the accounts shewed that £12,833 had been spent out of income in repairs and maintenance of the company's pro perties, and that the profit for the year 1870 was £73,101. Out of this 4 per cent. as an interim dividend, was paid in August last, which absorbed £23,460, and after setting aside £3,000 for depreciation of leasehold properties, and placing £l,OOO to reserve, thus raised to £52,000, there now remained £45,641, out of which a dividend of £7 10s. per cent. was declared, making the total distribution 111 per ,'cent. for the year, and leaving £1,653 to be carried forward. Subscriptions are invited on behalf of the Neath and Brecon Railway Company for £120,000 redeemable A debenture stock (balance of £150,000), having priority over the debenture and all other stocks and shares of the company, at the price of par, with interest at 6 per cent. per annum. The directors of the Langham Hotel Company in their report to the shareholders are enabled to announce a con spicuous increase of business done by the hotel, the amount for the year 1870 having reached the unpre cedented sum of £78,456 19s. 7d., as against £67,100 16s. Bd. in 1869, and £61,206 6s. 6d. in the year 1868, the progress of the year 1870 thus being 17 per cent. increase of business as compared with the year 1869, and no less than 28 per cent. advance over 1868, the formation year of the new company. The directors recommend the declara tion of a dividend of 10 per cent. per annum free of income tax. The report of the Law Life Assurance Society for the year shews that the total assets amounted on the 31st of December last to £5,459,500 3s. 4d. The dividend is at the rate of £4 4s. per share per annum. The traffic return of the Lancashire and York shire Railway • shews an increase of £3,162 ; the Great Northern an increase of £1,376 ; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire, £4l ; Great Eastern, £273 ; Great Western, £3,152 ; and the Bristol and Exeter, £277. On the part of the London, Chatham, and Dover railway, there has been a decrease of £540. LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE.-THURSDAY LATEST PRICES. —AFTE 0 FITIO [AL 110 1.13. The prices under the lines indicate the business done. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. flare per Cent Consols 914 914 V ict 61'c .1 an &July 1891 113 114 911, 1, 4 114 Do for Account 914 • 1121 Three per Cent Reduced 014 92 Viet firre Jan &.TnlylB94. 10111024 92, 14 Br liZii la IL 1845. 5p e .... 934 941 New 3 per Cent 914, 4, 2 Egyptian 1862. 7pc .. .. 93 85 85 E xc h eq uer (tills, March 10 15pin 12s pm Do nail Detain 7p o .. 9941004 Do, June Italian, 1865, 5p o Bank S pm tock 2424. 3 891, 901 India b per Cents 110, 4, li Russian. 1862. 5 p c... .. 841 85,4 ludia Bonds . . 275. 23s par DoNicolas 4 p c Can 6 po Joint.) u 1 y 1877-84 104 105 67/ 1041 Spanish Do March &Sept. 104 106 30, 291, 304, 30, - 1 Do 5p c Jau & July .. 98 99 Turkish. 1854. n p 984, i 791 Do Inscribed Stock .. 97 99 Do, 180, 5p n Dom of Cain 5p c 1903 .. 99 100 411, 4, 4. 2, 4 9.1 Do, 1865 np e Ceylon ti p c May and Oa, I November 1878 lO6 108 11.8.5- 20 Bouds.ti p o 1332 904 901 Mauritius 1 pc Jan and 904. 1. I, 1 4 1885 90 901 July 1873 lO2 104 Do do New SWales 5 p clB7l-76 lOO 101 894, 90 D o 10- , New Zealand npc 18 91 lOB 110 40 Bads, spo 19JI 89 894 Do 5 p c Do 5p c Consolidated 99 100 ErleSlia, bkhlolls, all paid 994 Illinois Central Shares .. 109 110 Do 6 pcMax &SeptlB9l 109 111 Do June & DeclB9l 108 11U Atlantic:mid OW It Coln Mortgage Bonds — RAILWAYS. Bristol and Exeter Do Ist Prof Minds.... 58 59 915 514, 9 Caledonian 875 Vu :trd I'ref Stuck ..., 31 33 Great Eastern 399, 8, 5.1 4th Pref Stock Great Northern 1241 Great Italian Pen g 5 , a 105 106 Do A 13311344 1054 1335, 4 Great Western of Canada 155 155 Great Western 72 72/ 15 5, 5 725 Do Up c Bonds, 1873.. 99 100 Lancashire Si, Yorkshire 135 136 'Do 55 tlo, 1877-8 95 97 135 Do 5 p c pref. issued 8 , 1 par 2om Lon, Brigh, and S Coast 435 435 Madras guar spa 435, 3, 2 103}, 1 ion, Chat, and Dover .. 14 145 N. way of Canada, 14, 5, 9 6 po i lst Prof Bonds • . Gude, and, Rohilkond g Lou and North-Western 12851295 1295, 5, 9 5 pc Lou and SontleWestern 935 945 1011, is 925. 41 Scinde, Puiijaub, and Man, She. an d Lincoln 412 455 Delhi guar 5p cc 05, 55, 4 1, 5 2 x a 1014, I, 1j 91 93 171 In 91 93 THE WAR. PEACE FEELING AT VERSAILLES. Herr Hans Wachenhusen writes from Versailles to the Cologne Gazette that although Versailles with respect to its military population has not changed its appearance, the French residents are extremely excited, and scan eagerly the faces of the Prussians to ascertain whether the rumours of peace are true or false. The very persons who used to bid us good morning after a fashion, which seemed to imply " I wish you were all at the devil !" now come up with amiable smiles, and ask, with a great deal of circumlocu tion, what truth there is in the rumours in the town. " May God grant us peace," they say, for the first glimpse of it has produced a marvolleus effect, and the hope of emerging from this appalling state of things has unloosed the tongues of the most patriotic. As to the women, their eyes fill with tears, and they echo softly, " May God grant us peace." Notwithstanding - the severe discipline of our soldiers, and although the inhabitants of Versailles have personally no charges to make against them, the town has suffered cruelly. NOTES FROM LYONS. LYONS, January 27th. The losses of the Prussians during the three days before Dijon were very severe, and amounted to more than eight thousand men. On the French side there was also heavy loss, especially among the chief officers. Amongst them was a Pole, Bosak Hanke, who joined Garibaldi, on his arrival in France. The Mobiles of Savoy suffered considerably in the attack on the village of Bethencourt, The day after his success at Dijon Garibaldi addressed a proclamation to his troops. and the day before he was attacked by the Prussians he addressed another to the Mobiles of the Army of the Vosges, in which he said :—" Soldiers, —Every day our brave Francs-Tireurs give new trophies to the Republic, and you young war riors of the holy cause of the Republic, will shew your enemies the difference that exists between the slaves of a des2ot, and the champions of liberty. The soldiers of the King of Prussia have drawn back before your prowess. The disasters of France have been a rude lesson to teach what sybaritism kings would impose on your noble country. Falsehood and corruption are their symbols, but truth and justice are the oriflammes of our young legions." Some representations have been made to the authorities on the subject of parading the Prulsian prisoners in the streets on account of the Popular feeling which is so violently displayed against them. The passing of a Prussian Ambulance which was left on the field of Hauteville nearly caused a disturbance, and the National Guard were com pelled to cross their bayonets in order to protect the doctors and servants of the ambulance. A painful im pression has been produced at St, Etienne by the intelli gence that three inhabitants of the department who were sent to Germany by a local eommittee to render assistance, had been arrested at Hamburg on the charge of encouraging disturbanoes among the prisoners. They are, it is said to be sent before a council of war. These unfor tunate persons were greatly respected in their district, and their threatened fate has caused the greatest consterna tion. The distress at Montbeliard has been so great that General Treskow has made an appeal to the inhabitants - of Mulhouse on their behalf. PONDICHERRY. The following account of the French settlement at Pon dicherry, which Count Bismarck is said to have made 14 his mind to demand from the French Government, is taken from M'Culloch's Geographical Dictionary":— " Pondicherry (Fr. Pondichery), a town of Hindostan, and the principal French settlement on the Asiatic con tinent, on the Coromandal coast, 83m. S.S.W. Madras; lat. 11 57 deg. N. long., 95 45 deg. E. Population 54,350 in 1861, of whom about 900 were Europeans. Standing on a flat sandy plain, near the shore, it has a very imposing appearance from the sea, and it is in reality a handsome regularly laid out town. The streets in the European quarter are of uniform breadth, built with remarkable regularity, and intersecting each other at right angles. The houses, which are of a good height, have flat terraced roofs, the walls being struccoed white and yellow, and not intermixed with native huts. Nearly in the centre is a spacious square, laid out in walks, shaded by rows of trees, with the Government house on the north side, and open on the east to the sea. The black, or native town, to the west of the former, and separated from it by a canal, crossed by several bridges, is laid out with nearly the same regularity as the Euporeau town, though the houses are very inferior. Pondicherry was formely strongly fortified, but the only portion of its works that now remains is an old brick tower, on which the flag is hoisted. The chief buildings are the Govern ment house, an edifice of a single storey, adorned with columns, and surmounted by a balustrade ; the church, built by the Jesuits ; and a good market place. It has a college for Europeans, a school for the Indians, a botanic garden, and a Government pawn-bank. The French pos sessions in India, comprising Pondicherry, Chandernagore. Karical in the Carnatic, Mahe in Malabar, and Yanaon in Orissa, with the territory attached to each, have a total population of about 166,000, of whom 1,000 are whites. The territory attached to Pondicherry is considerably larger than the rest, and has 10,613 hectares under culture, pro ducing 6,488,640 kilogrammes rice, 6,734,000 kilogrammes other grains, 6,900,000 cocoanuts, with some betel, and a little indigo, tobacco, and cotton. The trade, by far the greater part of which centres in Pondicherry, is chiefly with the rest of the Coromandel coast, Sumatra, the Isle de Bourbon, the Mauritius, and Senegal. The Governor of the French settlements in India resides at Pondicherry, where also is the chief court for these colonies, and a tri bunal of primary jurisdiction. This town was purchased by the French from the Bejapore sovereign in 1672. It was successively taken by the British in 1761, 1778, 1793, and 1803 ; but was finally restored at the Treaty of Paris in 1815. The postal service with Paris is re-established for un sealed letters. A Lombard Telegram says that General Ducrot's death Ls not confirmed. The provinces of Alsace and Lorraine are not excluded •om the elections for the National Assembly.—Lombard Telegram. - The Brussels correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette says the rumour that the King of the Belgians may possibly be elevated to the dignity of King of the French creates there only merriment on account of its extreme absurdity. The Belgians are certainly not inclined to share the benefit of paying the French war-debt. No guns were fired at Berlin in celebration of the fall of Paris. The Cross Gazette explains that this omission was by the express order of the Emperor William, who for s arded a telegram directing that the salute should be deferred till the conclusion of peace. This, it remarks, was an act quite characteristic of him. In a letter to the Neue Freie Presse Karl Blind ex presses a fervent hope that the surrender of Paris will induce the Republican authorities to conclude peace even at the price of a sacrifice which the force of events has henceforth rendered unavoidable. "It is the eleventh hour," he says, " and the danger of a downfall of the scarcely-formed Republic is horribly great." The arrival of arms in the port of Bordeaux, chiefly from America, are continual and enormous. The American steamer Concordia, from ,New York, has just arrived with the following warlike cargo :-1,250 cases of muskets, 1,707 cases of cartridge, 3,495 cases of munitions of war, 166 cases of artillery articles, 181 cases of cannon, 249 ammunition waggons, 79 gun carriages, 1,047 wheels, 542 cases of harness, 593 caissons, and sundry cases of pickaxes. The Procurer of the Lille Republic has arrested a mili tary shoemaker. This man, whose name is Caspar, is of English origin ; he furnished the intendance of the third division with more than fifteen thousand pairs of shoes with cardboard soles. lie was stopped just as he was getting into the express for Calais. He is still enga;ed in some important transactions with the Bordeaux Govern ment respecting claussures. He is amenable to the law under the Penal code. Count Villers, the German civil commissioner for Lor raine, has denied the statement which recently called forth serious remonstrances from the Cologne Gazette, that in the district of Nancy entire plantations belonging to the State had been brought to the hammer. The Cologne Gazette, accepting this , denial as far as it goes, remarks that it still remains uncertain whether, as has also been alleged, Belgian speculators have purchased timber in those woods. It is certain that companies of speculators have been formed, and the question is, whether operations other than those of the ordinary kind have beet carried on. " Azamat Battik " says in the Pall Mall Gazette " Being at Tours in the end of November, when the Army of the Loire had achieved its success at Coulmiers, and when therefore the hopes of the French people were at their climax, I heard from the mouth of one of the most intimate friends of Gambetta and his nearest associ ate in the management of affairs, that no one of the mem bers composing the delegation of the Government of National Defence at Tours had the slightest hope of a victorious issue; that all of them, including M. Gambetta, 18 20 12 121 15i 161 15 15 '2 were perfectly sure that Paris would ultimately fall and that the French armies would be defeated, as there was not sufficient time to drill, arm, or clothe them. The most sanguine of these members--M. Gambetta him self—speculated only upon the difficulties the Prussians had, the intervention of foreign Powers, the inclemency of the season, and the good luck of France." NEWS FROM CHERBOURG.--A correspondent in Cherbourg writes :—" Everything is very quiet here, although numerous bodies of troops, infantry and cavalry, are continually marching through the town. We have received an official notification of the armistice, but not one word have we beard of the capitulation of Paris from French sources. True, the English journals bring us the news, but their statements are altogether disbelieved by the population, who denounce them as canards, intended to affect the sourse. English steamers, laden with pro visions of all sorts, are constantly arriving here. Small pox is on the decrease." GERMAN DEVASTATIONS.-The Times corres pondent at Versailles says :—Early on the 26th the town of St. Cloud was set on fire by the Germans. The palace was ruthlessly destroyed by Valerien. The town is now laid in ashes to prevent the houses affording cover to the French should they be minded to make another sortie on the Montretout position. It has long since been deserted except by the outposts and a few wretched people ; but it was five months ago a busy suburb of 6,000 inhabitants with chateaux perched on the slopes around and great bustle of life in its narrow streets. In one house, hid in a cellar, the soldiers found a girl of eighteen, who had fled there to perish in the flames sooner than leave her home. She was saved When I went out the other day to St. Denis and witnessed the havoc at Francon ville, Ermor,t, Sannois St. Gratien, Eaubonne, Enghien, and the lovely slopes of Montmorency, I felt that if making war as destructive as it can be to the enemy in the field and out of it, converting neutrals living in the land and non-combatant natives into bitter, if not potent, enemies for ever, be the true art of war, the Gemans are masters in the art. Every house not needed by the troops is wrecked more or less, and rather more than less—even the window frames and staircases torn up and used as fuel. This war has been very fitful in its character. Some towns have been spared, and some have ceased to exist. Even in Ver sailles, on the 19th, under the eyes, as it were, of the King and Crown Prince, many houses were broken into and wrecked. The reinforcements of Bavarians, Guard, Landwehr, &c., marched into the city were left without shelter or billets in the open street, and it was cold and raw. The men were told to find quarters for themselves, and this they did by the summary process of forcing the doors of unoccupied houses. Why they wantonly destroyed what they found in the places where they had been sheltered is more than I can understand. The Duke would have come down on his men very heavily in the old Spanish days for such con duct. But then " Kertch ! ' When the war is over there will be a great flood of bitterness let loose. I confess I despair of any permanent olive tree coming out of a soil watered with so much blood and tears. The land will be a very Niarah. The Germans, well knowing this, will seek to render the rage against them impotent. The fortresses in their hands, and fortifications of towns, will probably be blown up, unless specially saved by stipulation, and the new frontier acquired by force of arms will be guarded by an extension of the great system of works which now watch the Rhine. The fact is that the Germans regard the French almost as the British 'ublic looked on the " niggers" of India in 1857-8. SHELLS AND FUZES. Captain C. Orde-Brown, R.A., Captain Instructor, Royal Laboratory, gave an interesting lecture on Tues day afternoon in the Theatre of the Royal Artillery Institution, on the Projectiles and Fuzes of the service. The lecture was in continuance of one on the same subject which Captain Orde-Browne lead last year :—The lecturer enumerated the principal changes which had been effected during the last twelve months. He discussed the merits of the fiat headed and pointed shot, and chewed •by diagrams that the popular notion of the pointed shot glancing off on striking an armour-plate at an angle was incorrect, the fact being, as General Mayefski pointed out some time ago, that if the point of the shot touched at all, the shot would immediately assume a position almost at right angles to the plate. Our heavy guns and pro jectiles, Captain Browne considers, are in a very satisfactory condition. Our siege artillery 40- pounders and 64-pounder guns —he remarked, was in " rather a peculiar state "—in other words, not satisfactory. The field artillery equipment, which is undergoing extensive reorganization, will shortly leave little to be desired. Even the vexed controversy of shrapnel versus segment seems to be approaching settle ment. Captain Orde-Browne pointed out that the question between the two shells is now pretty well narrowed down to this : Is the segment so much better when burst on graze than the shrapnel as to justify its retention as an extra pro' jectile in the limbers ? That the shrapnel is far superior as a time shell—and that time shells will have to be used— . is not disputed ; but is there any considerable difference between the shrapnel and segment as percussion shell ? The difference consists in this, that the seffment spreads more and the shrapnel shoots closer. The effect of this is that the shrapnel is apt to kill a man too much- - so to speak the segment wounds more me n. But the difference in this respect is not reallY very considerable. Captain Orde - Brawne p ointed out that the shrapnel might be made to spread more when used as a percussion shell by the introduction of an easily' removeable bursting charge in the socket. Captain °vie' Browne condemned the exclusive use by the Prussians of common shell. He considered that to reduce a human being to a pulp—as some of the unfor tunates who were killed at Sedan were stated to have been—is unnecessary, and, to a certain extent, un scientific. Each victim represents a waste, because an excess of destructive power. Would it not be more practical to kill or badly wound half a dozen men than to blow two or three men to atoms? The former is the system of the English artillery with its shrapnel and seg" ment, the latter the system of the Prussians and Belgian s with their commit:ln shell. The lecture was followed by discussion, and Colonel Smythe, R.A., the chairman , • proposed a vote of thanks to the lecturer. )r STREET TRAMWAYS AT BRISTOL.—The Bristol Town Council was engaged for several hours on Tuesday in discussing the question of street tramways and Cha nhe dock accommodation. There was a very large a tt e udac.e, of members, and the proceedings at times became ver/ animated. The matter first discussed was that relat in g the proposed construction of street tramways. The schehl is promoted by a private company,which seeks the a pprova of the corporation to a bill now before Parliament. Council, by a very large majority, approved the prin pie of tramways, but an amendment was moved and Ora rind that it was desirable they. should be in the hands he under the control of the Corporation. Notice having to be given before the Corporation can earg out any such scheme, the matter is virtually shelved for a twelvemonth. The Council then proceeded w i r t the discussion of the docks question. The rere i, from the Parliamentary Bills Committee was re n t and, with reference to the bills before Parliweev promoted by the Channel Docks and Portishead P o t tle Companies, in each of which are clauses empowering tee Corporation to guarantee the sum of £ lOO,OOO out of "t surplus dock revenue, the committee recommended it before the Council formed a decision on either subjc', 4 was desirable to have independent professional advile e t i l e to the sufficiency of the estimates and contracts: 3,, financial position of the companies, and their ab11.'„: 0 7 ,1 with the assistance of the amount asked to be subscri; r, by the Corporation, to complete the respective hhs o p takings. Mr. Alderman Baker proposed the adhP„' c il of the report, and also that the sanction of the Ceeloo 3 should be given to the insertion in the , o' of the two companies of clauses enabling the u°rfot ration to subscribe to each of the undertaings a silhl e re l exceeding £lOO,OOO, subject to the investigation L'aF,tee, to in the resolution of the Parliamentary Bills Cornhelot Mr. H. J. Miles proposed an amendment to the effect, 01 it was expedient the Council should be in possession o',lo. information as to the financial condition of the two he: o o' takings and the sufficiency of the estimates, before 1 ", mitting itself to an opinion on the principle involve ",tea either Bill, and that the law officers should be inst i ll;te, tc lodge petitions against the Bills. After a long do the resolution was carried by a large majority. [A DV ERTISEMENT.] -- Holloway's Ointment an d Never at Fault.—ln all irritations of the skin, ;,,,(14 ulcers, burns, and scrofulous enlargements o f the g..,n''"s Holloway's ointment presents a ready and easy ree°p9e' cure which never disappoints the most favourabl e . xig tations. It manifests a peculiar power in restraillbiood, nomination, removing stagnation, cooling the heatec; "'„eto. and checking all acrimonious or unhealthy disehfoeo Whilst the ointment thus acts locally, the pills are c o remarkable for their power in improvitr , the dition and habit of the body, which renders the cu r fli es plete and permanent. Under the general influence 01,0 potent remedies the puny infant becomes the roVq_t,, the pale and emaciated regain colour and rotunalw the dyspeptic eats freely without fear. generroei. cooe, 130YCY' at London : Printed by GID EON ACLAND No.. 112, Strand, Prin ter, and fublished 1)1_ 4 . o f THE SUN Office, No. 112, S trand, in the Precinc. Savoy, in the County of Middlesex. Friday, February 3, 1871. 1 BIRTHS. WO On the Ist inst., at Page heath, Bickley, se nt, the of George F. Glennie, Esq., of a daughter- , 5- t oll' ' On the Ist inst , at Fernden, Mrs. Herbert 3- of a son. MARRIAGES. idgoll4, On the 31st ult., at Trinity C hurch Tunbre Av4sterf Charles Bartholomew, Esq., of Broxholuie, e n i ‘i're l ' to Louisa Mary, widow of the late Rear-Aden'ra' Hutton, of Southsea. a nc e On the 31st ult., at St. James's Church, William i t e i , tti Reed, third son of Mr. H. T. Reed, of Bermenen e Alice Ball, eldest daughter of John E. 13a11, -r''''''' Bermondsey. DEATHS. I fo ol On the 30th ult., Geo. Cassell , Es q ., of Grosvenor A pr Brixton. I) On the 30th ult., at 405 , Fulham-road, West 13 0111 Robert Fagg, Esq., aged 71. ; --7 4,. °!: