The Sun. — London, England, 1871-01-12 00:00:00

Vl3 Pro . . of the ',AT EST INTELLIGENCE. SUN OFFICE, 8 A.M. THE WAR, REPULSE OF GEN. CHANZY. January 11. The columns 'operating against General Chanzy drove him back yesterday, in a series of victorious engagements, to within one mile of Le Mans. One gun, three mitrailleuse3, and over 2,000 pri soners M 1 into our hands.- Our losses were not very considerable. General Werder's loss in the battle at Villersexel was 13 officers and abJut 200 men. DEFEAT OF BOURBAKI, BERLIN, January 11. French officers who break their parole will hence forth be treated as convicts when recaptured. The Prussian Government is engaged in calcu lating the cost of the war, which France is expecte, to refund. The following telek,rraws have been received here : " VERSAILLES, January 10, ",Yesterday General Werder had a victorious engagement with troops of General Bourbaki at Valleroi4, to the south of Vesoul. He captured 800 prisoners. "Before Belfort a few battalions have success fully stormed the village of Daujoutin, and made 700 prisoners. " On the afternoon of the Bth Colonel von Dan nenberg repulsed an attack of the Garibaldian Franc- Tireurs at Moutbard (? Montbeliard). " 011 the 9th General Werder, in his advance on Villersexel, on the flank of the 20th French Corps, took the place. "Two staff officers, 14 officers, and nearly 500 men, with two eagles, fell into our hands. "All the attempts of the enemy, who was consi derably reinforced on the line of Villersexel, Moimay and Marat, were repulsed with slight loss on our side. " The 18th Corps also took part in these at tacks. "General Chanzy's troops were forced to give way on the 9th on all points by our columns- advancing on Le Mans. "The line of Artenay was passed by the heads of our columns. "More than 1,000 prisoners have already, it has been ascertained, fallen into our hands. "In the course of yesterday the bombardment of the various forts of Paris was continued. " The enemy replied moderately. " Our losses consist of 17 man." CAPITUL A_TION OF PERONNE. 44 AmIENs, Jaimary 10. " Peronne has capitulated. " Its garrison, numbering more than 3,000 men, are prisoners of war." THE BOMBARDMENT. VEnsAILLEs, January 10. A. large fire has broken out inside Paris to the northern side. The cannonade was slack owing to snow yesterday. The ground is covered thickly now. There was not much firing last night and this forenoon. On the Bth General Werder routed I3ourbaki and the Garibaldians near Vesoul. Prince Frederick Charles is advancing on Le Mans after General Chatizy.— Times Telegrams. The following telegram come through Reuter's agency : BORDEAUX, January 11. The balloon Gambetta, which left Paris last night and fell in the Nievre, near elamocy, brings the three following despatches : (First Despatch.) " To the Government of Bordeaux. " A military report, dated up to 9 p.m., says that many engagements took place yesterday towards Malmaison. This morning, for the fourth time, the enemy renewed the attack against Maison Crochard, to the left of Reuil, and was repulsed with serious losses, by the Mobiles of the Loire Inferieure and Aisne. "The neighbourhood of the Pantheon and the oth Section received many balls during the night, more than thirty being of the largest calibre. The Hospice de la Patid was struck, and a woman killed. The wounded from one ward had to be removed to the cellars. The Val de Grace was also born barded. The enemy seems to select hospitals for his fire, thus outraging all the rules of war and humanity. During the night and till day light a furious cannonade was continued on all points of the town. "The bombardment continues on the !orts of the 'south less violently to-day than on the previous ones. From exact information received 2,000 balls fell into the interior of Paris during the night, and some women and children were killed and wounded. " The news brought to Paris yesterday by pigeon produced immense effect on the population, who are amore than ever determined on resistance." (Second Despatch,) "To the Director-General of Telegraphs. " PARIS, January 10 (Morning). _ . . . "The snow has disappeared. One of your pigeons arrived on the Bth, bringing official despatches and Private ones photographed. They are still being deciphered. lam happy to receive your numerous and good news. The population is admirable, and has no fear." (Third Despatch.) "To the Director-General or Telegraphs. " PARIS, January 10. "The bombardment was weaker during the bight, and numerous balls fell in the quarter of St. Jacques. " The population is encouraged at the good news f rom the provinces. , " Thirty thousand pri va t e messages h ave arr i ve d ' 3 .Y your pigeon in a good state. The Gambotta Mies our thanks. li ``Vive Paris ! Viva la France ! Vi va l a Repub clue v, Towns, January 11. News has been received from Paris, by the bal loon Kepler, which desce n d e d a t L ava l a t . 7 e ven a.m. to-day, up to Tuesday, J anuar y 10, eleven p.m. A- reconnaissance had been made on the advanced po steof the Pru ss i ans near th e St ras b urg ra il way. Preach, being assailed by a vigorous musketry, re ) charged the enemy with the bayon e t. Th e G er mans took r e fuge i n th e h ouses an d st ill con wintled to fi re , re f us i ng to surrender. The houses (5 e ruin e d an d bl own up b y the French, who had 0111 Y seven wounded. Another reconnaissance made towards Clamart, to 4eascitroy th e enemy's works at Moulin Pedierre, tool co mpletely succeeded, and th e F renc h, w h o „ '° 113 ,0 prisoners, had one kill e d an d th ree Tviollhe bombardment con ti nue d on t h e 10 t h l ess b ut against Forts Vanves and Montrouge, p re _ mer e violently against F or t I ssy. Th e had"7l3, batteri es rep l y v i gorous l y. Cannon balls d ut al ie i n in the 6th, 7th, Bth, and 9th S ec ti ons n g the night of Sunday and Monday. The , th ussi aa shot had struck many hospitals, ambulances, 0°18) museums, and churches, including St, Sul- BORDEAUX, January 11. The armies of Prince Frederick Charles and General Manteuffel yesterday redoubled their attacks against General Chanzy's army, who pressed on all sides, was obliged to retire upon. the positions originally fixed upon. The action was most hotly disputed at Montfort, Champagne, Parignie, and L'Eveque ia, Jupilles: and on the last point the brigade Revel, after a stubborn re sistance of more than six hours, was obliged to abandon the village to the enemy. The French losses were considerable, but the enemy suffered more, as confessed by the prisoners taken at various po'nts. General Bourhaid telegraphs : " Last night was passed in driving the enemy from the houses in Villersexel, which he still dis puted. This morning the enemy evacuated the town, and those who remained were made prisoners. All of them were Prussians. Full details later as to the positiolis I had decided to occupy." THE PRUSSIANS DRIVEN FROM BAPAUME. LILLE, January 11 (Evening). The Headquarters and the Army of the North have advanced beyond Boileux. The occupation of Busigny is denied. General Derroja's advanced guard has driven the last Prussians out of Bapaume, and our troops are now established there. SEIZURE OF ARMS IN BELGIUM. BRUSSELS, January 11 (10.30 p.m.) The Independence Beige publishes advices from Ostend announcing that six cases of arms which were being sent to England to be re-embarked for France have been seized there. GERMAN ARMY FOR THE EAST. BERLIN ) January 11 The election of the members of the Reichstag will take place at the earliest in the first half of February. A large Army of the East is about to be formed, comprising the corps of Generals Werder, Zastrow, and other important divisions, which would be placed under a special command. THE LONDON CONFERENCE. BERLIN, January 11. The more manifest the intention of Austria be comes to oppose Russia at the Black Sea Conference the less is it in Prussia's interest to accelerate the meeting. Prussia eschews a new complication before she has done with France. There are certain indications that to obviate future difficulties Turkey would not object to settle with Russia direct—Times. ST. PETERSBURG, January 11. In well-informed quarters it is confidently stated that the Conference is certain to . assemble very shortly.— Reuter PROBABLE CIVIL WAR IN AFGHANISTAN. Advices from Teheran to December 1 state that despite the exertions of the Anglo-Indian Govern ment for the pacification of Afghanistan and the es tablishment of a united power under Shere Ali Khan, a fresh civil war seems imminent there, in consequence of the opposition of Jacob Ali Khan and the elder son of the late Emir. THE NEW CHINESE EMBASSY. ALEXANDRIA, January 11. Chung How, the Envoy Extraordinary from China, with his suite, arrived here last night, en route for France, in connection with the massacres at Tientsin. —Reuter's Telegrams. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) THE PREMIER AND THE REPRESENTATION OF BRISTOL. A letter was received yesterday by the Mayor of Bristol from Mr. Gladstone, acknowledging the receipt of a memorial from the Town Council in reference to the claims of Bristol to be represented in Parliament by three instead of as at present two members. The Premier assures the mayor that the petition will be reserved for careful examination, when the disposal of any vacant seats may be under consideration, but says the mayor will no doubt agree with him that it would be superfluous to consult at this period on a subject with respect to which no Parliamentary proceeding is contem plated. " I may add," concludes Mr. Gladstone, " that my own prepossessions on the subject are the same as when I voted on this question in 1867." THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL AT RATHKEALE. The Postmaster-General (Mr. Monsell) visited Rath keale yesterday on an electioneering campaign, there being threats of a " Nationalist opposition. At the parish priest's house he received an address from the Town Commissioners, congratulating him on his promotion. Mr. Monsell, in a reply of considerable length, ex pressed his satisfaction at the result of the recent legislation on the Land and Church ques tions, and anticipated a speedy extinction of the old feuds which keep Ireland weak and divided. He went on to say he entirely and absolutely sympathised with his co-religionists in the Papal question, and had done his ,best to recommend their view to the Govern ment, but it should be recollected this was not like the 'Education question. The Education question was purely an Irish question, and there could be no greater injustice than to force on the Irish people English or Scotch ideas as to how they should educate their children. But the foreign policy of the country was an Imperial question, and an Irishman should remember they were not the majority. The greater amount of political power was not in their hands, there fore all that they could reasonably expect was not that their views should be carried out entirely. Government could not set aside the opinions of the majority; but wished that their views should be regarded, and that they should have their just influence in the decision of this question according to their principles said their opinion of their influence. He anticipated the Land Bill with wise supplementary measures would remove all cause of dissension between the different classes in Ire land. In conclusion, Mr. Monsell indicated that the Education and Railway questions would be dealt with next session. pice, the Sarbounne, and Vul de Grace, and nume rous private houses. On Tuesday night a violent cannonade was sending balls in all directions.' TIDE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, JANUARY )2, 1871. COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR SHEFFIELD. TWENTY-SEVEN MEN KILEED---ELEVEN INJURED. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAM.) A terrible explosion took place on Tuesday night near Sheffield. The scene of the accident is Renishan Park, near Eckington, at the mine belonging to Messrs. J. and G. Wells. The colliery is about eight miles from Shef field. Eight hundred miners are employed in it, and the adjoining works belonging to the same firm. The men work in shifts of one hundred each. Fortunately, at 11 o'clock p.m., the time of the explosion, only sixty men were employed in these particular workings, which are known as the Silkstone Mine. The said workings are reached by two shafts 225 yards in depth, and about 600 yards apart. The explosion seems to have taken place about 400 yards from the bottom of the down shaft. The exact cause is not known ; but half a dozen men were repairing the way, and it is believed that in so doing a portion of the roof was displaced, whereby a quantity of foul air was liberated. This gas, in some un explained manner, was fired. The report of the accident caused great alarm in the neighbourhood ; and the now too frequent unhappy scene which invariably accompanies such catastrophes was enacted at the mouth of the pit. A large number of persons, anxious wives and mothers among the number, soon congregated. The men had immediately organised an exploring party. Mr. Samuel Hardwick,the underground steward, took the lead of it, and a careful examination of the mine was commenced. Twenty-seven of the miners were found dead, and eleven others were seriously injured. One of the latter, whose name is Bolson, is so severely burned that he is not expected to recover. Most of the deceased were married and have left families. As the bodies were brought to the top, and recognised by their wives and children, or friends, the heartrendering scene was beyond description. The pit has been in working operation about a dozen years, and during that time no serious accident has occurred. THE BOMBARDMENT OF THE PARIS FORTS. From Margency, the headquarters of the Crown Prince of Saxony, the special correspondent of the Daily News thus writes on January 8 :—One of the remarkable fea tures of this siege, of Paris is the lulls which from time to time give breathing time to the combatants, and bring an interregnum of utter blank dulness to the corres pondents. Not that I have to record any such sum mons to-day, or indeed anything at all of interest ; only experience tells me not to be taken aback when such a summons comes. That it will come in a day or two I think not at all unlikely. Frankly, we seem to be puzzled. Are we utterly knoe':ing the French into a cocket hat? Are they squatting in their casements, watches in hand, counting the hours and the minutes before the time shall come when the defence shall have reached the climax of heroism, and when, without spoiling their claim to deserve well of posterity, they can send the parlententaire out to the Prefecture of Versailles? On the other hand, are they thus silent on some plan or other? Are they striving to make us think it is all over with them, and that we have extinguished them, only to turn upon us presently and make a harder attempt than ever to rend us ? Who knows ? It is a curious crisis. Day after day, hour after hour, our batteries, all the way from Ormesson to Gonesse, are steadily pelting away at something or other in the nature of hostile positions. We think we have done a deal one night, for instance. Rosny and Nogent have not fired a shot all day. Drancy has been a dumb dog. Du Nord, de l'Est, and Aubervilliers have just done enough to let us understand that their pipe is not utterly put out—no more. I will try to answer the question according to my lights. In the words of a sagocious personage, " I have my suspicions " about this same sudden French quietude. You know Mr Micawber at times fell to the rear, but then his explanation was that he "was drawing back for a spring." I reatly think that the defenders of Paris not in many respects very wide of the Micawber type, are following that type in this resilient phase also. It is not seriously to be thought of that the German fire on this side, respectable as it is, has been capable of achieving thus suddenly the silencing of forts constructed and armed in such a manner as are those on which one looks down from the terrace of Montmo rency. But these forts are substantially silent. It may be that the policy is to tempt our batteries forward, till they come so close that, in the opinion of the French engineers and artillerymen, the time has come when slogging blows can be dealt. It may be that the troops frozen off the Plateau of Corneuve and Baubigny, are once again to mass behind the forts and come out with a spurt against the audacious batteries which are daring to strike at Prussian stone and lime. I am no wearer of the mantle of prophecy, and will not squander your space with further bootless prognos tications, but this I will say, that I have no con fidence in the bona fides, if I may use the term, of the strange quietude of the forts. When we look up to the firmament, and see amid the blue sky a cloud no bigger than a man's hand, those of us with any weather wisdom go to the length at least of carrying an umbrella. Depend upon it, the Germans wiil'•have to unfurl their umbrellas once again before these forts, now grim and silent, actually have the dangerous sting dragged out of them. It will be no use to protest. Fierce as the remonstrance against fate may be, it will avail nought but to stain the snow with useless blood. But that more blood will be shed, and that too not in drops, but in gushes, before the now seeming is con verted into the real, I am as morally certain as I write these lines to-night by the fireside, with the distant one sided cannonade wafted to me over the low heights, as if already I were meeting the wounded and the prisoners coming from the front, and hearing, when I ask after friends, that they are among those who will never more come from the front. It may be expected that a large addition will shortly be made to the batteries now bombarding Paris. We learn that yesterday Forts Issy and Vanvres were silenced by the batteries at Meudon and Clamart, and that last night experimental batteries were thrown up, and mounted with guns, a thousand paces nearer these forts, which, how ever, have feebly recommenced their fire to-day. COURT-MARTIAL. Maurice William Pall, midshipman, and Frederick Alexander Baig, navigating midshipman, of the Donegal, were tried by court-martial yesterday morning, at Devon port, for deserting from that ship, on July 27th, in Simon's Bay. The prisoners were missed early in the morning, and their description was issued and sent ashore, and a warrant was issued for their apprehension. The Donegal left on August 3rd without them. The prisoners, in defence, said they had no intention of deserting, because they had taken no clothes with them. The day after their desertion they were prepared to re turn, but their dread of the consequences kept them away. They urged that they were unacquainted with the rules of the navy, and did not know what amounted to deser- tion. They returned to Cape Town on August sth, and found that the Donegal had gone. At the Cape they were confined in the hulk Seringapatam, and were brought home in the mail steamer Saxon. Taking into considera tion their confinement in the Seringapatam, the Court, of which Captain Coode, of the Royal Adelaide, was presi dent, adjudged the prisoners to be dismissed the service. THE NEW AMERICAN MINISTER. General Schenck, the new American Minister, is ex pected to leave New York on Wednesday next, for Liver pool. HYDROPHOBIA. The Liverpool coroner has held aninquest upon William Blundell, a boy of 12, who was I)itten last October by a rabid dog. The wound apparently healed, but last week symptoms of hydrophobia appeared, and the boy has since died in hospital. LIST OF THE KILLED. The following is a list of the dead, nearly all of whom as we have stated, leave widows and families : Matthew Savage, Masbro'; David Wainwright, Masbro'; Mark Burker, Eckington; Enoch Bridges, Eckington ; Aaron Arthur, Marsden Moor ; T. Richardson, Masbro'; Ephraim Billam, Marsh Lane ; Frank Clarke, Eckington ; R. Watson, Stavely; T. Lloyd, Eckington ; George Hall; John Ellis ; Henry Goldsworthy ; W. M. Webster ; John Thorpe ; George Lowe ; William Wood ; Aaron Porter ; Thomas Pearce ; John Alcock, a boy of Staveley; John Rhodes, a boy of Staveley; Benjamin Morton (single), Eckington ; John Catty, (single); John Bolsover (70 years of age) ; Enoch Breeze ; William Larkin, Masbro' ; George Webster, Eckington. NORWICH ELECTION PETITION. Mr. Tillett has been declared not d'ily elected, on the ground that he was in coalition with Sir W. Russell ; that Mr. Ray was an agent of Sir W. Russell, and, con sequently, an agent of Mr. Tillett ; and that Ray caused a Mr. Lacey to bribe Yaxley, a voter for Russell and Tillett. Each party to pay their own costs. BANKRUPTCY OF THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE. Yesterday was appointed for the surrender and last ex amination and discharge of Henry Pelham, Alexander Pelham Clinton, Duke of Newcastle, at the B an k ruptcy Court, Basinghall-street. His Grace was described as of 18, Carlton House Terrace, and Cumber Park, Notts. An application was now made for a further adjournment in the matter to the Ist of February. This was granted. It was stated, but not publicly, that the bank rupt had personally surrendered. THE SINKING OF COLLIERS IN THE SEINE. Air. Alderman Candlish, M.P., and Mr. R. M. Hud son, borough magistrates, have held a sitting in Sunder land, and have taken the depositions of the masters of the collier vessels belonging to that town, which were sunk by the Prussians in the Seine upon the 21st of December last. The statements already published were those of a portion of the crews of the vessels which were sunk. The present inquiry was instituted to enable the masters of the vessels to get their case fully before the Government, through Mr. Candlish, M.P., with a view to compensa tion for the losses sustained, and the precise facts of the seizure of the vessels as deposed to by the masters put a stop to all the sensational stories about the Prussians trampling on the British flag, firing on the vessels, &c., which were set afloat at the time. The vessels sunk by the Prussians were the Jane Tindell, commanded by Mr. Thomas Adamson, the M‘Laren, commanded by Spoor Hodgson, both belonging to Mr. John Tindell, and the Alice, commanded by Thomas Embleton, the property of Thomas Minnikin. At the conclusion of the inquiry, Mr. Candlish promised that he would render them every assistance in bringing their claims before Government. TIIE CHARO-E OF ROBBERY AGAINST A BARRISTER. The charge against Mr. Arthur Woodham Lamb, barrister-at-law, of stealing books from the library at Lincoln's-inn, which has occupied the Central Criminal Court the better part of two days, was brought to a close yesterday. The jury, after being in deliberation a considerable time, returned into court, and found the prisoner guilty of feloniously receiving the books, but at the same time strongly recommended him to mercy on account of the good character he had received. The prisoner said that he was innocent, and said that lie believed the day would come when he should be able to ,prove it. The Recorder said he entirely concurred in the verdict, and although it was a fearful thing for him to pass sentence upon a member of the profession to which he himself had the honour and pride to belong, still he could not shrink from the per formance of a duty. He then sentenced the prisoner to nine months' hard labour. Holland House, one of the most celebrated man sions in the metropolis, narrowly escaped destruction by fire on Tuesday. A new composite twi❑ screw gun-vessel, of the Beacon class is to be taken in hand at Chatham Yard, as soon as possible after the departure of the Sultan. We regret to hear that the Dean of Arches (Sir R. Phillimore) was too unwell yesterday to preside in his court, the business of which had in consequence to be postponed. The Bishop of Chichester has collated the Rev. Arthur Machreth Deane, M.A., late Curate of Heywood, Manchester, to the rectory of East :Harden, near .Peters field. The Primate of Ireland has received a bank note of £lOO from an English layman, "E. X.," for "the Sustentation Fund of the Church of England in Ireland and at Armagh." At his rent-day at Wallingford, Mr. C. Morrison remitted 20 per cent. to his tenants in consequence of the late droughts. Colonel Cracroft-Amcott, M.P. for North Lincoln, has also remitted 5 per cent. for the same reason. Dr. Nell Arnot, who has already founded a scholar ship in physical science in the University of Edinburgh, has announced his intention of giving £l,OOO to each of the four Scotch Universities in the course of the present year. At a meeting in Dublin, on Monday evening, of the Amnesty Association, it was stated that the Fenian convicts at Woking (invalids) would be the next to be released, and that they might be expected to leave prison by the end of the week, The rectory of Little Bentley, Essex, has become vacant by the death of the Rev. R. Somers Smith, M.A. The benefice, which is worth £7OO a y ear , i s i n the gift of the Master and Fellows of Emmanuel College, Cam bridge. Snow began to fall in London very heavily yester day afternoon between one and two o'clock, but the tem perature was not low enough for it to remain long on the ground in the metropolis. Just outside London the snow remained on the roads to the depth of three inches. The Smithfield Martyrs Memorial Church, the foundation-stone of which was laid by the Earl of Shaftesbnry some twelve months since, in St. John's street, Clerkenwell, is now finished, and is one of the handsomest structures of the kind in the metropolis, and in many particulars unique. It is confidently affirmed by those in their confi dence that several English bishops have intimated their intention to the Rev. H. Venn of renouncing their con nection with the Church Missionary Society after its deli berate and complete repudiation of the principle of Episcopacy in the Madagascar Bishopric Case.—Church Herald, A large concourse of the working classes assembled in the Cork Cathedral on New Year's Day, at the invita tion of the Bishop, to renew the temperanc e pledge admi nistered by him last New Year's Day. His lordship delivered a powerful address on the evils of intemperance, and deplored th a t th e re f ormat i on effected at the early part of last year had not been permanent. Dr. Bickmore, the Vicar of Christ Church, Lea mington, was on Tuesd a y p resen t e d w i th a handsome testimonial in recognition of the success with which he has ministered during the last fourteen years. The gift, which consisted of an excellent portrait and a purse containing £lBO, was presented by General Richmond Jones. Mr. John Hardy, Esq., M.P., took part in the proceedings. The Medical Press gives the following receipt for chilblains :—Liniment of belladonna (two drachms), lini ment of aconite (one drachm), carbolic acid (ten drops), to collodion flexile (one ounce), painted with a camel's hair pencil over their surface. When the chilblains slough, omit the aconite. The collodion flexile forms a protecting film, which excludes the air, whilst the seda tive liniments allay the irritation. PARIS UNDER THE SHELLS. The special correspondent of the Telegraph, inside the capital sends the following by Balloon Monte from Paris, January 8 :—"Never were mortal ears saluted by such a din as has deafened the inhabitants of the southern half of Paris. Upon our side the forts of Ivry, Bicetre, Mont rouge, Vanvres, Issy, and the redoubts of Les 'ratites Bruyeres, Le Moulin Saquet, and Arceuil joined in the deep-voiced chorus. On the side of the enemy, Pon tenay, Chatillon, Clamart, Meudon, Garches, La Ber genie, and Brimborion took part in the dreadful revelry. About midday the cannon upon our ramparts sent their projectiles thick and hot against the enemy. The road inside the enceinte which leads from Auteuil to Point-du- Jour presented a curious spectacle. Seven or eight hundred persons were assembled upon it, running hither and thither, asking questions, emitting cries of alarm, animosity, and surprise. No sooner was a whistle heard in the air than it became a signal for every one to throw himself upon his belly." Such is the account given in one of this morning's journals of the scene which, on the left bank of the Seine, Paris yesterday presented. The day broke milder than its twenty predecessors, and the wind which blew softly from the south was a delightful substitute for the cutting and Arctic blasts of Dorms and Burns, under which, since the 19th of December, we have been shivering. But the spring -like and genial southern breeze brought with it the sound of loud and unremitted detonations of cannon, which seemed to bring home to Paris—by which I mean the Paris of the Champs Elysees and of the Boulevard des Italiens, with which we are all so familiar—a very lively sense of the reali ties of war. In repeated proclamations, which are issued morning and night, day after day, and week after week, General Troche and the Provisional Government love to tell us that " the attitude of the population is sublime ; " that, " having shewn her firmness, self-denial, and tenacity, Paris is now giving fresh evidence of her glorious courage," and much more to the same effect. For my own part, I must confess that having passed most of this day near the Point-du- Jour—the spot where the Siene cuts its way through the enceinte continue, and emerges from the capital—and having closely watched the faces and bearing of the population inhabiting that quarter, it strikes me that the shelling to which they are being subjected seems wonderfully little to their taste. Great indignation is felt that the bombardment should have been commenced without the usual notice, but no one dreams of capitulation. A certain number of shells— about 60 or 70—have fallen within the walls, with out, however, doing any serious damage. The quarters which have suffered most from these un pleasant visitors are Grenelle, Vaugirard, Autueil, the environs of the Luxembourg, the Pantheon, the Faubourg St. Germain, and the Boulevard St. Michel. Two or three persons have been killed, a few wounded, and sundry shop-fronts damaged and flag stones torn up ; but a considerable number of the shells have fortunately exploded harmlessly. The first victim of "Prussian barbarity," as the besieged term it, was a poor woman sleeping with her husband ant two children in a house near Autueil. The Panth6on seems to be singled out by the enemy for their favours ; this is partly explained by the words of a Prussian officer who ladely died in a n ambulance in its vicinity. Upon learning what a near neighbour he was to the Panth6on, he exhibited con siderable uneasiness, and, on being questioned as to the cause, replied that he feared, in the eventuality of a bom bardment, he and all in the ambulance would be exposed to great danger, as the Prussians, believing the Panth6on to be filled with powder, intended to do their best to blow it up. THE BLOCKADE AT DIEPPE. In a letter from Dieppe January 8, a correspondent of 'the Daily News writes :—lf the intention of the blockade here be to prevent food supplies from reaching the Ger mans, it will succeed to a certain extent, but it will equally punish the French. Already flour is becoming scarce in Rouen ; bread, they say, must soon fail, and famine will do its work. But who will suf fer most, the French or the Germans ? Will not the latter demand and forcibly take possession of such breadstuffs as they may want, without heeding who suffers? The steamer which was refused entrance here to-day is said to have contained seed wheat, which had been purchased in England by public sub scription, and sent for the farmers and peasantry in France to enable them to make up for the loss of their own seed, which had mostly been con sumed or destroyed by the enemy. The previous voyage made by this vessel also brought a cargo of seed wheat ; and I am informed a considerable quan tity is lying at Newhaven for shipment to France, but how it is to come, or when, are at present matters of un certainty. There is a report in the Journal du Havre that the English Government is about to send a flying squadron to Dieppe—to prevent the English ships lying in this port being subjected to the indignity inflicted on THE DISSENIIONS IN PARIS. The special correspondent of the Standard, commenting in General Trochu's last proclamation, and the want of unity in Paris remarks :—lt will be necessary to explain the enemy, as far as an impartial observer who has )is wits about him can judge, has nothing whatever to do with the disquieting rumours that fly about Paris. The worst of these rumours are circulated by sensational neNN s paper scribblers of the lowest class, who invent tales of victory or defeat for the purpose of running off an edition of their pestilential rags. They it is who accuse General Trochu of remissness, of delaying too long, of not making lanes through the Prussians, and various other errors, and who pretend that Jules Favre, Jules Ferry, and Ernest Picard are the only true military worthies on the sacred council. Strange that the only generals to preach action and war to the knife should be Attorneys- General. It is pleasant to have it on Trochu's authority that there is no discord in the inner ring of the rulers of the third French Republic ; it is his duty to proclaim it, as it is his duty to put down any division that arises either from poor foolish Communists or fat cannie journalists to Prussian intrigue ; but it does not follow that his proclaimings are to be accepted as -gospel by any means. Governors of besieged towns have a licence of exaggeration, like poets and painters. There is hardly any use in cloaking the matter longer— the army is in a state of demoralisation. The men have loot all confidence in themselves ; they imagine that for tune is against them ; they are incredulous as to the approach of armies of succour, and they have no faith in their generals ; they are worn out with fatigue and watchinz, bad food, and the severities of the weather, to such an extent that I do believe the news that Paris had surrendered would be grateful to nine out of ten of them. I am assured on good authority that some regiments cried " Peace, peace," a few days since as General Trochu passed by their outside. In fact, the only fire-eaters we have at present are the National Guardsmen. A little campaigning may bring them to other thoughts. With a few exception s the marching battalions are behaving extremely well, but the idea of pitting them, against the German veterans is something audacious. Yet, from the tenor of this list pro clamation, it is to be feared that the Government does mean to take them out en masse on an immense sortie (destined to failure by advance) against an artillery which he himself recognises as the most powerful ever brought into action up to this date. - Defeat is certain, bar miracles, and then the white flag may be hoisted with honour. That is the reasoning of Paris at this moment ; and if Trochu yields to it he does so against his own will and common sense, I feel per fectly convinced, and falls a martyr to circumstances. But he should not yield to it; he should not lead those men to the slaughter to humour any opinion ; he should adhere to his plan, to immobilise a strong Prussian army round the city while the chance remains of the arrival of any corps of relief. Of course if these corps do not come it is useless to hold out. The Prussian belt of positions girding Paris is too strong now for Paris to relieve itself, and provisions are sinking surely and steadily down to the last handful of corn in the bins. Paris must give lip, will he, /lilt he, before the last extremity is reached. General Trochu may know that that is nearer than we think, and intend to make this desperate final sally, so that lie cannot be reproached as Bazaine was and is. If to, lie stands excused ; and if he should happen to be killed at the head of it .the next generation will erect him statues. Otherwise —that is to say, let him come back beaten, and then treat with the Prussians, this generation will burn him in effigy. A painful dilemma for an honest man who has the consciousness that he is doing the best he can for his country according to his gifts. FRANCE AND HER CITIZEN SOLDIERS. If France only gets a little more time to organise her citizen soldiers, says the Bordeaux correspondent of the Telegraph, she will have the finest troops in Europe under her banners. I was present the other day at a review of a battery of mitrailleuses of the Gironde--the second battery of the sort that has been subscribed for, horsed, manned, and put into complete marching order in Bordeaux. I am assured that it is only twenty days since the idea of getting up this battery was mooted ; and when I saw it last Wednesday it would have done credit to any artillery in the world. The men are smart, well dressed, wPII armed, know their work, and drive admirably. The harness is of rope, made, I believe, in the dockyards of the West of France. It looks service able and workmanlike ; and the whole turn-out would have shewn exceedingly well with our best artillery at Woolwich. These citizen troops—Mobilised Na tional Guards- -will certainly do credit to their country when they go into action. They are far better, stouter, and infinitely more intelligent than the Line soldiers, who do not show well by their side. De pend upon it, if France can be saved, these and the Mobiles are the troops that will do so. It takes some time for an observer who has been educated as a regular soldier to arrive at such a conclusion ; but the conviction is gradually forcing itself upon all Englishmen who have been in the army, and who see the intelligence of these young soldiers—who are all formed men. A. distinguished Oxford man, the Chaplain of one of our Anglican Bishops, and a scholarly author of rep u te, who joined the Ch urc h of Rome some seventeen years ago, is said to be about to return to the English Church. —Church Herald. It is probable that this notice refers, not to Dr. Newman as the Globe states, but to Mr. Maskell, whose recent letter to Archbishop Manning caused no little scandal in Ultramontane circles. Mr. Maskell was, we believe, formerly chaplain to the late Bishop of Exeter. .THE JULES FAVRE DEMONSTRATION.—Ye S ter day afternoon the executive and organising committees for carrying out the Jules Favre demonstration held a joint meeting, and a variety of propositions were made as to the manner in which M. Favre should be received on his arrival in London. In the evening a second meeting was held, when the following report was submitted : " Your executive committee having discussed the best means for making the demonstration to take place on the arrival of the French Minister accredited to the Conference as effective as possible, beg to recom mend—first, that a deputation, consisting of a limited number of persons, accompanied by a guard of honour of volunteers, should meet the Minister at the railway station and conduct him tc a carriage, which should precede a procession of the various bodies previously collected at the nearest convenient space ; the procession to march into Hyde park, where it should defile before the Minister, after presentation of an address. Finally, the deputation should escort the Minister as far as the French Embassy." After being fully discussed the report was unanimously adopted. FIRE AT HOLLAND HOUSE, KENSINGTON.--ThiS well-known mansion had a narrow escape of being totally destroyed by fire on Tuesday. About one o'clock one of the servants in charge of the premises —Lady Holland being away at her seat near Chertsey—discovered smoke issuing from the hearthstone in her ladyship's sit ting room in the eastern wing. The whole of the domestics were summoned to the spot and a small fire-engine be longing to the establishment was brought out. Instead of having any effect in subduing the fire, the flames made rapid progress behind the wainscot, through the ceiling, into the floor above. The servants of the house, finding that the fire had gained the mastery over them, sent for the engines of the brigade, and, pending their arrival, they began removing the furni ture, pictures, and articles of vertu from the wing into the main building adjoining. Owing to the hasty manner in which the work had to be performed, the furniture was much damaged. Numerous engines of the Metro politan Brigade arrived with as little delay as possible, under the command of Mr. Palmer, the foreman of the Western district, and Mr. Superintendent Swanton also attended with the London Salvage Corps. The first thing done was to tear up the panelling- to the ceiling ' which was found to be on fire, as well as th e w h ole of the floor above it. By the application of several hand-pumps and plenty of water the flames were eventually subdued ; but the damage done is roughly estimated by the Salvage Corps to reach £2,000. Th e p roperty was fully insured. those recently at Duclair. The last English ship sailed hence this morning, and although the terms of the blockade are that no vessels are to ibe allowed to enter or depart—tin little schooner sailed away very comfortably with the union jack flying at her mast-head. Althotigh we do not want a flying squadron in these waters, we do want another gunboat or other vessel of war. We - have seve ral hundreds of English here, and, as I have mentioned before, if anything were to occur to render their exodus necessary, we have, only the Dasher avail able. The latter is too small, and could not at the outside accommod-to lucre tlien fifty passengers— it is efited, moreover, that she will be leaving shortly f .r• the purpose of re-victualling, her supply of stores being nearly out. It is to be hoped that she will not be allowed to leave before some other vessel arrives to take her position here. lam no alarmist, but I am bound to say that there exists a strong repugnance against the English. This, together with a partly suspended and lax state of order since the Germans occupied the town, will, I hope, be 'considered as a suffi cient reason why we should not be left without a refuge in case of need. PARIS UNSUBDIJED, This war can never end, says the Da%ly Neiv3, if the German leaders resolve to force humiliation and spoliation upon France. But it may end at any time when both shies are ready to purchase peace by mutual concessions. The continuance of the war since the disaster of Sedan has shewn at least the more heroic side of the French character. The German soldiers no longer despise their opponents. If it has been shewn that united clermany is invincible, it is being sheen' th at free France is irrepressible. If France has failed to break into Germany, Germany is failing to subdue France. Me capital may fall, but not the nation. Paris may have to treat, but France will still be a nation in arms. Nor is it possible to see what end would be answered by continuing the war. The cost to Germany, to France, to civilization would be terrible ; and what would be the result ? Ger many could gain nothing which she has not already won, and might imperil all. France could lose little that she has not already lost, though she might win something back. She has already won back her self-respect and the respect of the world, but anything else she might win would probably be bought too dear. Both sides need peace. When the supreme effort which now centres round Paris is over, peace ought to follow, whatever be the result. Any further continuance of the war would be as much a folly as a crime. Then will come the great oppor tunity which will test the virtue of German statesmen more than the war has tested the virtue of their soldiers. Will they be moderate? Can they be magnanimous ? Is it possible that they may be so generous to their enemy as to heap coals of fire upon his hea I? There have been greater surprises in history than even this. If Germany is true to her bettor nature, she may shake hands with France, and the army may go home, leaving a friend instead of a foe beyond the Rhine. The struggle has been pushed to a terrible extreme ; but Franca is a nation full of noble impulses, and if she is not to be subdued by force, she may be won by kindness. CAN PARIS BE SAVED? Reviewing the strength and position of the armies of France, the Standard remarks :—The military situation in France developes rapidly. Paris is still, no doubt, the point round which centres the main interest of the war, and it is in its probable bearing upon the fate of the be. sieged capital that each movement of the armies in the' field must even yet be primarily considered; but this is no longer the only test by which they must be measured, and still less can we pass them by as comparatively, unimportant, and base our estimate of the military pros pects of the war on the position of Paris alone. The; area of the actual fighting is at this moment larger than it has ever been. Nor does this enlargement at all arise. from any extension of the amount of territory occupied or threatened by the Prussian troops, which, on the' contrary, has rather contracted. It arises solely from increased movement on the part of France. The almost superhuman efforts of both Government and nation in improvising and organising troops are at length bearing their fruit. The long series of disasters is teaching her generals their work, and weeding out the in competent and the weak. The costly but effective process of hard fighting is turning her raw levies into soldiers who can already measure themselves fearlessly man to man with their veteran foe. The chaos of independent commands and conflicting tactics has settled down into one general plan of operation, and the result is a combined movement along the whole German front, not actually protected by neutral territory, far exceeding both in magnitude and importance any previous operation of the war. And, finally, in Paris it , elf the situation, though anxious, is by no means desperate. Time is of course wearing on, and the sufferings of the heroic city must needs be on the increase. The day must come at last, when—if still unrelieved --Paris must fall, and no one can now venture to say how near that day may be. But there it at least good reason to hope that it may not b? yet, nor is it by any means impossible that the relief may even now be in time. Regarded as a whole, we do not believe that the military situation has ever been so hope ful for France. Nor is it only to the friends of France that the future appears thus hope ful for her. Every movement of the Prus sian troops shews how serious the crisis is felt to be. A very few days may now make a startling change in the position of affairs. 'We are on the eve of great events. There is good ground for hope that they may be—as we most earnestly trust they will be—the commencement of a new and glorious era, for the arms of France. OUGHT ENGLAND TO SEE FRANCE CRUSHED ? Referring to an article that has been published in the Journal du Havre by M. Chevalier, the Telegraph remarks —The occupation of Paris by the Muscovite would be the coup de grace, says M. Chevalier, to our traditional policy, and a perpetual menace to our Indian Empire. France is our only possible ally upon the Continent, and if she be crushed England remains isolated. M. Chevalier denies that we have any right, letting alone our interest, " to see France crushed." Let neither the French nor any other foreign p eop l e commit the absurd mistake of supposing that the " war spirit" is gone out of English blood. We were once known pretty generally as the hardest fighting race in the world, and the " old Adam" is among us still, so ready to be called forth that the reasons must be prodigiously strong which keep us peaceful when blows are being dealt abroad. And the reasons are prodigiously strong ; other wise our Ministry would not have been able to keep this terrible war from extending over the entire civilised world. One word arousing our sense of honour, and carrying with it the accent of right and justice, will always awake England from her apathy ; and the wisest soldiers of Europe know very well that, even as we stand, the inva sion of this country is but a madman's dream. There are conceivable circumstances, too, in obedience to which we should give life and blood and gold as freely abroad as at home ; but what, in reality, is the cause for which M. Chevalier wants us to participate in the existing fray ? It is nothing more nor less than " the balance of power." Now, the fatal error of France has been that this phantom has ever loomed before her eyes. Her jealousy of the growth of Germany was jealousy against natural law. France 'should apne a c h d a ea v —r e tc. fought o n qi3uue rt P e, d r N u vh s h s e i er a rbe i a sy n l d o i‘e n a oand wit, gallant science, irve campaigns ntio n o! Chevalier and his countrymen naturally call it " crushing France," when Von Moltke destroys her military armaments and discomfits her passion for • " g l or y," we cannot thus confound the true and the false greatness of that nation. If France be not dismembered, all that can be " crushed " is that which appertained to the old and persistent idea of warlike in fluence, her armed force. France cannot and could not be "crushed ;" her genius, her gifts, her mission in humanity are necessary to the world, and, fortunately for it, they are immortal, The John Bull says the Bishop of Melbourne is, no doubt, a sincere man; but a greater bigot never lived. There are 115 original applications for admission as attorneys this term. Upwards of 10,000 are on bile rolls. Mrs. Moffat, wile of the Rev. Robert Moffat, the well-known African missionary, died on Monday night of bronchitis, at the age of 76. • Archdeacon Denison is fairly on the road to per fect convalescence, and hopes to take his seat in Convoca tion at its reopening next month. In a case heard before the ju Ige of the Birken head County Court, sitting in bankruptcy, on Monday, m th a e g r i e st w ra e t r e e s so a m re e revelationssenletimes j as m i t ) o ose t d he way upon at which the dummies, licenses. One man, by means of obtained five OUR COTEMPORARIES---This Morning TILE REIGN OF DELUSION. The Times, referring to the conflicts that have lately taken place between Chanzy, Bourbaki, Prince Frederick Charles, and Von Werder, says :—All these engagements however, may be only preliminary to more serious en counters. The Germans seem to be aware of the danger which may threaten them in these Eastern districts, as we are told that reinforcements to the amount of 59,099 men are coining from Alsace, and Von \Verde,- is to be superseded in his supreme command by Manteuffel, who loaves V.);t Goebel]. in his place to coafront . Faillierbe in the North. Of Faid herbe himself nothing it:lp Jr ta!t t ha; been heard for several days beyond his loss of Neonne. Sneh, as far as we can make out, is the intelligence Mae), a - ; we learn from Bordeaux telegrams, has been cenve.‘,l by e Levier pigeons to Paris, and is said to have eleeritled the be seiged citizens. Probably there is only as much ground for the alleged joy of the Parisiaa; as there is for the " happy and glorious news " which is said to have given rise to it. Paris and Bordeaux, as usual, are . playing into each other's hands. Tile reign of delusion and mystification is evidently not over, and will in all probability continue as long as the investment of Paris, and even survive its fall. With Chanzy "at twelve leagues' distance from Paris," Faidlierbe " victo rious in the North," and Bourbaki "on the- point of crushing Von Werder, and raising the siege of Belfort," the Parisians may certainly endure a little longer, and submit to a few days more of fire and starvation. But, unless we are greatly mistaken, matters are by no means such as they are reported to the Parisians. The victory hitherto seems to us to have been invariably on the Ger man side. :en ate flat sed on- IMO by the less sing lies. tout ized 'TOSS pon the I to and the Wed he lair - Mr rised :arly the E the He San 6 2 for was adul- Mr. Mill ip laced Mr. most The his as to 1, he a t he S port coo pres- fair win Cour erlel 3 ex- L nine eon; ire 0.1 s or ed in ) fficer des' r ram ,;1001c,