The Sun. — London, England, 1871-02-16 00:00:00

done against the Bill, gave a strong proof of the feeling of Scotchmen against it. Colonel SYKES remarked That he objected to the bill on social grounds, and briefly stated that the feeling of the Scotch people was entirely opposed to any alteration of the law on the subject. Mr. MORLEY said that if this bill was one for the pur pose of forcing marriage on unwilling persons he should oppose it, but it was not so, but to- enable thousands of people to marry who according to the existing state of the law could not do so. He was well acquainted with the social habits of the working classes, and he was sorry to say that concubinage was on the increase among them. This class would be particularly benefited by the passing of the measure proposed by the hon. member for Marylebone. He could quite understand ecclesiastics using the Bible argument against it, but the religious element had not been imported into the discussion. The, Church of Rome had testified in favour of such marriages,l and so had the Jewish rabbii. Mr. CHAMBERS said on introducing the bill in 1869 he had encountered considerable opposition. Last session he brought it on in time to enable the opponents of the measure to discuss it fully. That dis cussion took place, and by a large majority the House again sanctioned the measure. He had taken the earliest opportunity of bringing the bill forward this session. He did not think it would have been respect ful to the House to enter into a long explanation of a measure the principle of which had been approved again and again. He was, however, astounded at the course now pursued by the hon. baronet the member for North Essex. Hitherto it had been thought respectful to the House to shew some reason why the bill should be opposed, but the hon. member for Essex had risen, and in two sentences, without giving any argument, moved the adjournment. Was that decent ? (Laughter.) Would the hon. member hand him the notes of his speech? (Renewed laughter.). He would undertake to answer all the points in it. The opponents of the bill could not anywhere get up a large public meet ing in opposition to the measure. The hon. baronet had endeavoured to catch them in a trap. If he had suc ceeded in getting a division at half-past twelve, he would be able to tell his friends in Willis's Rooms to-morrow that the feeling of the country had changed. He appealed to the Speaker whether there was a parliamentary precedent of such pertinacious and persistent opposition to a measure which had been passed over and over again by large majo rities. He then referred to the fact that in six of the colonies the marriage with a deceased wife's sister was legal, whilst in ten it was void; and that on five different occasions South Australia had sent a bill to the Home Government for an alteration of this law. He felt that the Government, in refusing their sanction to such alteration, might strain the tie which existed between the colonies and the mother country. After urging the de sirability of there being uniformity in the law, he referred to the fact that the reason why the bill was defeated in the House of Lords waq in consequence of the opposition of four bishops, who did not oppose it on religious but on social grounds. Mr. HINDE PALMER said there was undoubtedly great diversity of opinion on this matter in the country, but he believed the majority of the people were in favour of the Bill. He considered the evils arising from the present state of the law were greater by far than the evils which could arise by the adoption of this Bill. He thought that on every ground of policy, of justice, of morality, of social virtue, and of the happiness and pros- Purity of many families in this country, and especially the happiness and prosperity of the working classes, the Rouse should affirm what had been over and over again affirmed, namely, that the bill should become law. The Hon. GEORGE DENMAN supported the bill, and argued that there was every indication that the opposition to it was gradually dying out. The opposition must see that the question would be soon settled against them when he told them that last year the other House gave a ma jority of lay opinion in favour of the principle of the bill. he considered that it was a cruel thing to keep this ques tion open and to thus illegitimatise hundreds of thousands of people ysar after year. (Hear, hear.) The House then divided on the question, That the bill be read a second time, and the numbers were Ayes ... ... Noes... ~ . ... ... 125 Majority in favour of the second reading 41 The announcement was received with cheers from the Ministerial side of the House, and the bill was accordingly read a second time. SUPPLY. The House went into committee of supply pro forma, and at once resumed. CUSTOMS AND INLAND REVENUE ACT (1870) EXTENSION, Mr. HERON moved for leave to bring in a bill to extend to Ireland, Clause 6, in the Customs and Inland Revenue Act (1870), and to enable farmers in Ireland to germinate grain to be consumed by animals. The h 0 n• member said that the Act of Parliament passed last session enabled farmers in Great Britain to germinate gramto be consumed by animals, under certain conditions. ~, farmer was required to give notice to the Excise in and to describe the buildings, which must be situ-. - " e cl on the farm where the grain was to be consumed, and a. quarter of a mile at least from any malt-house. The bui 7 4, ing, was also to be under the inspection of the excise. f' lB Act had been found to be most beneficial to the liaers in Great Britain, and he proposed to extend T I TIge G o f th e A c t, w hi c h g ave the p o wer, t o I r el an d. attle trade of that country was increasing in impor ye: every day. He found by a return for the 1 ' 18 69 that the value of oxen and other large beasts e XPort exe ed to England was £8,774,277, and the total export t a l i 210,000,000. In addition to this there were large th e farms, and there was great scarcity of food owing to b ill f ailure of tho turnip crop last year. He hoped the would be as beneficial in Ireland as it had been in En g l and. Le ave was given to introduce the bill. Itt GIS TR ATION OF DEEDS AND WILLS (MIDDLESEX). ~Tr• GEORGE GREGORY, in asking for leave to bring in a L iu I v to discontinue the registration of deeds and wills in :ddlesex, said the bill carried out, and was in accord :ee With the recommendations of the Commissioners der th e L an d T rans f er A c t , an d th e ex i s ti ng l aw was f ul l °l ;nd to p ress h eav ily i n it s o p era tion. Leave was given. PRIVATE CHAPELS. 44 T r: SALT obtained leave to bring in a bill to amend 1 1e ' 0 defi ne th e l aw re l a ti ng t o p r i va t e chapels and to 114 k 5 bel ong i ng t o co ll eges, sc h oo l s, h os pit a l s , a sylums, plc'iler public institutions. The hon. member said the ICPIe of th e bill h a d b een a l rea d y affirmed by the 'lase • PUBLIC PROSECUTORS. Al t p 144 ‘USSELL GURNEY obtained leave to introduce a 'el' the appointment of public prosecutors. JURIES ACT (1870) AMENDMENT. b the ATTORNEY-GENERAL obtained leave to introduce a to r epeal Section 22 of the Juries Act, 1870. FIRST READINGS. e Whole of the bills introduced during the sitting of 11 1 1 -te lise were brought in, and read a first time. e /louse adjourned at half-past two o'clock. li r _ of IlYacinth D'Arcy, who addressed the electors 4-W 411 a Y some days since, has withdrawn his candidature. iR.. ro t I 4 e unavoidable absence of the Duke of Marl -44;311 from the meeting in Defence of the Marriage ‘ll,4tel'eY, Willis's Rooms to-day, the chair will betaken by Fla M.P. th at • FISHERIES.—The Inspectors of Irish th4 t Ui their report for 1869, lately printed, state ass uming Aro the control of the sea fisheries they found bs 4110 e itions against trawling existing in most of the ay Wkile..stnaries where it could be carried on. One of the u ci ! eas °iLs for the restrictions against this mode of i R t 11 '4% 1 , 11 t he Places where it . was forbidden was the injury 441 1ur, ` 4l3l) osed to inflict on line and some other modes of So far as they could ascertain, the interests 40 : 1 4 (1 to be served were not benefited by trawling being a 414 -ed ' w hile much injury was as done to fishing enter ' s° . th e Public deprived of a considerable amount . of Anotherenter ' o°• of the reasons given for preventing dl's wa '' the damage done to the ova deposited in Re . 4,1 estuaries The great preponderance, however,. it°r*on. appears . to be that if this deposit cannot be affected by 15elaketiZosittiatiAonfst whichr full investigations in each p7_t inspectors trawl. d , deemed it advisable to repeal the arl_ieuibiting trawling in Lough Swilly,. Belfast 1-5, pr ". the estuary of the Kenmare river, adopting lit e t a all , ti Qii which they considered . necessary to pl.e I lerea nu other fishermen from being injuriously in ' With. Nhich every tea-- y few some Lty to stood enter- • con- ;ading a con- imply Dill b© taken aronet post ortant held what t hope osition Ldering given ;ted by Nought me the icion of nd who e knew what id not at this L should Iso that re ; but 'any of .of the Church ,y of the He had :et, and gain, it ace tho hat, he (Hear, position would )uld, on knew m her marry to his at such rig more ,ained in session, n which 11. spirit. hurch of ry to the Le law of d wishes alter the on the passed it of this religioug ;hould bo ected by a largo Le part of ear.) In Ihurch of she must it and re- measure, North moving that this sap the He how' e measure on inanY Lion on its thouglA ould 1,0 iommons• should be appeal to fining V" measu re encumber i asserted cry strons ember fur, >flees h ad erations , ely W r° . r4 , of W 1 ; 11 : 3 onfine a circl es ' s bill,had 3ition to it• i ba d beef ' so tile r° came fro° irk sessions lg alost 0 of m il, 4. s e tition Co nnell of Conn ( ' 4 . n wa3 se r ha' a bee e ligiotS to r o f rinv.i.ov be irriagee by )11 weiDb" 4 ~,„;„ a bi o.Als„ who 7::„le, 11 . 5 1 , 3 The pOS et C Olll j they 113 THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1871. a - decided character as regards resistance and the maintenance of the Republic in France. They are also considered to denote strong disapprobation of the incapacity and inactivity of the Government of the National Defence. The number of ab stentions is very considerable, especially in the Con servative quarters of the city. Perfect tranquillity prevails. VERSAILLES, Fobruary 14. One hundred millions of the Paris war contribu tion has been paid in French bank notes, fifty millions in bills of exchange on Berlin, and fifty millions in bills of exchange on London. Sealed letters can now be transmitted through the post. The French press is very excited in its language in reference to the proposed entry o I the German troops. The Siecle foresees a bloody encounter. The majority, however, of the journals counsels the citizens t 3 remain at home when the troops march in, and to display mourning emblems from the houses. Dissatisfaction prevails in Paris at the small distribution of the provisions, but the mortality is declining. BRUSSELS, February 15 (3.15 p.m.) Travellers who left Paris yesterday state that the city was perfectly tranquil up to the time of their departure. THE ARMISTICE. On the occasion of a review held of the Army of the North, General Lecomte informed the troops that he was instructed by General Faidherbe to express to them the latter's satisfaction at the eminent ser vices rendered by the army, especially mentioning the engagements at Amiens, Pont Noyelles, and St. Quentin. In the present painful circumstances, he added, it would be necessary to continue their proofs of devotion, and to be prepared for eventualities, to act either against the foreigner or in case of difficul ties at home. has from the Bey, unit the character of the Turkish views with regard to the dispute, encourage the' ex pectation of a satisfactory settlement.—Telegraph Telegram. WILL HOSTILITIES BE RENEWED? The Telegraph correspondents at Versailles forward the following items of news by special despatch, under date Feb. 14 :—The delivery of arms of every description by the garrison of Paris was completed on Sunday every where. Two hundred thousand muskets and fourteen hundred brass pieces are among the surrendered weapons. The number of iron wall-guns has not yet been as certained. By prudent people here, both German and French, the entry of the Emperor into Paris is looked forward to with much apprehension. A pistol-shot fired by one insane fanatic from a window might have the most fearful consequences. It was intended at one time to invite the reigning Sovereigns of Germany to accom pany the Emperor and the army in the triumphal march ; but the plan has been abandoned, and the Sovereigns have been invited, instead, to attend his Majesty on his grand entry into his own capital. It is yet undecided at what time or by what route the Emperor will return to Germany. His Majesty may leave Versailles on the 23rd, travelling by Strasburg, Carlsruhe, Stuttgardt, and Munich—visiting on the way the Sovereigns who elected him Emperor, and who will file into his train, and grace his triumphant return to Berlin ; or he may remain here until the be ginning of March, and proceed direct to his capital. In any event, the Emperor will be in Berlin by the Bth of March, on which day the first Diet of United Germany is to meet. The Princes who have been attached to headquarters throughout the war are now one after another returning home. There are no signs of the slightest relaxation of discipline in the German army, and no indi cations that the generals and soldiers consider their work finished. On the contrary, everything one sees here is more suggestive of the beginning than the close of a campaign. The Germans are taking every precaution against the contingency of the war being renewed, and are ready to carry it on with unusual rigour should the necessity unfortunately arise. The 22nd Division of Infantry—which, at the beginning of the in vestment, had been in the advance at Meudon, and which was subsequently attached to the armies of Von der Tann and the Grand Duke of Mecklen burg, in the operations against De Paladine and Chanzy —has returned hither from Rouen, to join the remainder of their corps, which has been before Paris since the opening of the sie g e. Great dissatisfaction has been ex cited here by the presence of Generals Faidherbe and Chanzy in Paris. It is felt that only an oversight in framing the terms of the armistice could have permitted the French generals, under cover of their being voters, to place themselves in communication with the authori ties at Paris. The incident will, in all probability, give Von Moltke an opportunity of complaining of Count Bismarck's management, and so widen the breach between these two distinguished men. The result of the elections generally has proved very satisfactory and reassuring in the highest quarters here—all the more so, that not a little uneasiness has been caused by the behaviour of Gambetta and the attitude of, the South. No favourable impression has been produced in the same quarters by the act of the ex- Emperor Napoleon in publishing his proclamation to the French people. It is asked what right he has, as a prisoner of war, to put forth a manifesto or procla mation of any kind whatever. One thousand pregnant women came out of Paris to Versailles on Saturday last to make arrangements for a supply of milk, and to obtain, if possible, permission to remain here—as they expressed their fears that the bombardment of Paris might recom mence. OUR COTEMPORARIES—This Morning MARRIAGE WITH A pECEASED WIFE'S SISTER. The Times considers that the success iri the House of Commons of the Deceased Wife's Sister Bill this year a foregone conclusion. It must be frankly admitted that the question has reached a stage at which it claims the grave consideration even of those who are most strongly opposed to it. We do not mean that they should waive their opinion, nor do we feel by any means sure that the ultimate judgment of the country will sustain the present opinion of the House of Commons. But when such an assembly as the House of Lords is divided on the sub ject ; when the division, moreover, is almost equal, not merely in numbers, but in weight of authority; when bishops, chancellors, and Cabinet Ministers express the most antagonistic views respecting both the lawfulness and the expediency of the change, it is evident the pro. posal has passed beyond the limits of a hasty debate on an "Ecclesiastical Wednesday," and the existing restriction can only be permanently maintained after a patient and authoritative inquiry. For our part, we have never seen a satisfactory reply to the preliminary objection that no such case of hardship can be made out as justifies an agitation on so delicate a subject as the Law of Mar riage. It should never be forgotten that to throw doubt on the fixity of that law is to stimulate disturbance in the most sensitive of human relations, and to open new possibilities to the least controllable of human passions. Marriage is eminently a subject on which laws should be maintained as firmly and unalterably as posl Bible, for there are impulses always awake to take advan tage of any prospect of variation in the existing prohibitions. Every such prohibition must at one time 'or another operate to restrain such impulses, and the mere fact that the restraint has been keenly felt may possibly afford only a proof that it has produced its designed and its legitimate effect. On the other hand, the fact of a given restraint being strongly re sented and widely disregarded might, under certain con ditions, afford a presumption that it was an unreasonable restraint on the dictates of nature, and that injustice was inflicted on those who were almost irresistibly impelled to violate it. In such a case the authority of law and morality itself would be injured, and nothing could be more salutary 'than an agitation to relax the rule. We are at a loss to discover any such justification in the pre sent instance. Let it be admitted by those who, like ourselves, are opposed to the bill that its promoters have arrayed a sufficient weight of opinion on their side to give them a claim to mature consideration. Consider able authority and strong feelings will have to be over borne on one side or the other. Let it at least be felt that the concession is made to a competent authority, and let us, at all events, establish a precedent in favour of the most deliberate procedure possible in dealing with this delicate and vital subject. The Daily News remarks :—The first division of the session has taken place on the bill of a private member, and on an ecclesiastical or semi -ecclesiastical question. Mr. Chambers has been fortunate. The bill for the le galisation of marriage between widowers and the sisters of their late wives is the first bill of the session to be read a second time. Mr. Charnbers'-s bill goes up to the Lords for the sixth time as the voice of the Representative House, and certainly the voice of the country. It is high time the bill was done with ; and there is only one way of doing with it, and that is the constitu tional way of the minority yielding to the majority. The present Act is not only a disgracefnl piece of class legislation, but of religious oppression. It puts on the people of this country a yoke which neither they nor their fathers were able to bear. It imposes upon the majority the opinion of the minority, and applies the worst form of social persecution to enforce submis sion to it. In asking the Bench 6f Bishops— for apart from the Bench of Bishops a clear majority of the House of Lords is in favour of the bill— to pass this measure, the House of Commons, as Mr. Morley said, is not forcing this form of marriage or any ; it is only carrying out the principle of religious freedom, by allowing those who believe in the marriage to contract it if they please. Indeed, it is doing less than this For these marriage are contracted. Rich men go abroad to have the marriage service performed, and thus to get partial sanction for an union of which their con sciences entirely approve ; but the poor do not even seek the ceremony; they live together in a union which is only concubinage because the House of Lords refuses to recog nise it as marriage. It is high time that this very serious aspect of the question were generally admitted. Flip pancy is out of place in a question which lies so near to morals. It is no joke to thousands of children that a law which in over forty divisions the House of Commons has condemned, should doom them to ille gitimacy. We gladly recognise the serious tone of yester day's speeches, and the prudence of an C pposition which met the bill by the tactics of silence. We hope the House of Lords will see the propriety of no longer stand ing in the way of a beneficent reform, but will abolish one of the annual plagues of Parliament, and at the same time blot out the memory of a discreditable passage in our legislative history. The Telegraph observes :—Mr. Thomas Chaanbers's bill for legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister has passed into a stage at which the discussion in the House of Commons becomes a mere form, if not an idle farce ; and the brief debate of yester day afternoon was the very type of formality. Whatever can be accomplished by mere argu ment has already been done ; it is the force of Government influence, and not of reason, that is now needed. The majority of the English people are convinced that the existing prohibition is dictated by no principle of reason or religion, that it is wan tonly vexatious, and that it does grave injury to the public morals. It is futile to appeal to the Book of Leviticus; for even if the authority were valid in such a case, it would be made useless by the fact that the most eminent theologians differ among themselves as to the interpretation of the Mosaic rule. For political men the only pertinent question is, how would society be in fluenoed if Parliament were to legalise marriage with a deceased wife's sister ? It is asserted that sisters-in-law would be "abolished," because no woman could then live in the house of a married sister if she were a possible competitor for that relative's place as mistress of the household. But it might as well be urged that no woman could with propriety visit the house of a married cousin. The bill, in truth, would do signal good by re moving the vexatious inequality of the present law. tf rich man wishes to wed the sister of his deceased wife, ho goes to one of those Continental States in which such a union is legal, and there the marriage is solemnised. The proceeding is not, of course, recognised in England ; but the conscience of the husband and the wife is soothed by the fact that the union has been formally , contracted, and the prejudiees of society are, to some ex tent, appeased. A poor man has no such advantage. He cannot go abroad. And he feels the hardship the more because, In his class, when the wife dies, it is not unusual for her sister to take eharge of the children. Practically, the result often is a state of concubinage, for the simple reason that neither the Church nor the Registrar will 1, 40 the relatives together in marriage. It is useless to !aim against the wicked ness which can thus dispense with the legal tie. Such marriages are not condemned, but sanctioned, by the moral sense of the working people. The law by which they are. prohibited is regarded as a piece of tyranny against which it is no wrong to rebel. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. SIIN OFFICE, 8 A.M . THE ARMISTICE. BERLIN, February 15. The terms of peace in the definitive form given them by the German Government will be com paratively moderate. They will be probably accom panied by a declaration that in case hostilities are resumed heavier terms will be exacted.— Times Telegram. AMIENS, .Hehruary 15. It is understood here that the armistice will be prolonged. No concentration of German troops has taken place in the North, in consequence of a telegram from Headquarters to tne effect that the march of the Prussian troops through Paris is very unlikely.— Submarine Telegram. ELECTION OF PRINCE NAPOLEON. BRUSSELS, February 15. Prince Napoleon has been elected for Corsica. It is thought that other Bonapartist candidates will probably succeed. Tendencies in favour of separa tion from France have been noticed.—Daily News Telegram. PRINCE FREDERICK CHARLES. VERSAILLES, February 13. Prince Frederick Charles is to be appointed Generalissimo of tne entire German Imperial Army, in return for his distinguished services during the war. MM. Betzold, Bleichroder, and Scheidtmann are at Versailles, conferring with the Emperor and the Imperial Chancellor both as to the amount/of in demnity to be demanded from France, and the mode of raising it. THE FRENCH CABINET. LYONS, February 15. The Salut Public of to-day announces that M. Thiers and his party have already made arrangements for the formation of a French Cabinet—M. Thiers presiding without a portfolio, the► Duke Decazes accepting the portfolio of Foreign Affairs, M. Du faure that of the Interior, and M. Barthelemy the Jl inistry of Instruction. BORDEAUX, February 16. Victor Hugo and Louis Blanc have arrived here from Paris. M. Gambetta continues dange rously ill. Bnussms, February 15. Prince Napoleon has been elected Deputy for Cor. sica.—Lombard Telegrams. SURRENDER OF BELFORT. Belfort, by a convention made on Monday, is to be delivered up to the Germans. The French garrison are to leave with all the honours of war. At the same time the armistice was concluded for the Cote d'Or, Jura, and Doubs.---Manehester Guardian Telegram. The following telegrams come through Reuter's agency : THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. The National Assembly met on Tuesday. The President read a letter from M. Cr6mieux, tendering his resignation as' member of the Government and Minister of Justice. The President then announced that 450 deputies had already arrived in Bordeaux, and that the bureau were actively engaged with the verification of the elections. The Assembly afterwards ratified the elections of several departments, but reserved the question of the election of Prince de Joinville in the Manche, and that of several prefects. M. Jules GAvy will probably be elected President of the Assembly, and it is believed that M. Thiers will be the new President of the Council. Generals Trochu and Changamier and MM. Dufaure and De Lamy are designated as Vice-Presidents. General Chanzy has arrived at Bordeaux. M. Glais-Bizoin left with M. Jules Favre. BERLIN, February 15 (Evening.) The semi - official Provinzial Correspondenz of to-day publishes an article on the National Assembly, and says that as soon as there is a decided probability of an understanding being arrived at in reference to peace, the armistice would be prolonged, in order that definite peace negotiations should be commenced. It is to be expected that then the National Assembly will be transferred to Paris. On the other hand, should these expectations not be realised, the war will re commence at the termination of the armistice with all energy, for which every preparation has already been made ; but we fully trust that the eventuality will not occur, and that our troops, crowned with laurels, will shortly return home. THE PARIS ELECTIONS. The Mayor of Paris has published the following results of the elections, giving as finally retnrned : MM. Victor Hugo, Louis Blanc, Edgar Quinet, Ldon Gambetta, General Garibaldi, Henri Rochefort, Delescluze, Admiral Saisset, MM. Joigneaux, Schcelcher, Folix Pyat, Henri Martin, Gambol], Admiral Pothuan, MM. Dorian, Pane, Edcuard Lockroy, Malon, Henri Brisson, Sauvage, Marc Dufraisse, Bernard, Greppo, Langlois, Floquet, Vacherot, General 016bault, and MM. Cl6menceau, Cournet, Thiers, and Littr6. The above candidates, having obtained a majority of more than one-eighth of the votes, are therefore duly elected. The returns from the 14th and 18th arron dissements and from some communes have not yet been received. MM. Tolain, Baune, Edmond Adam, Peyrat, and Ledru-Rollin will also probably be olected. A telegram from Paris, dated February 12th, says :—The Paris elections in their general features present a decided character as regards resistance and the maintenance of the Republic in France. T hey are also considered to denote strong disapprobation of the incapacity and inactivity of the Government of the National Defence. The number of absten tions is very considerable, especially in the Conser vative quarters of the city. Perfect tranquillity prevails. The Propagateur de Lille, in a leading article upon the result of the elections in Paris, says it is necessary that for the future the National Assembly should not hold its sittings in the capital, as the fact of the great military, judicial, and administrative centres being constituted in the provinces, is the guarantee against the recurrence of any violent attack upon its authority. NEWS FROM PARIS. PARIS, February 11. M. Schneider has arrived at Paris, and Mr. Odo Russell is shortly expected here. General Chanzy has left. According to the Soir, General Chanzy considers the continuation of the struggle as absolutely impossible. It is stated that the num ber of safe-conducts granted has increased to 140,000. PARIS ; February 12. It is stated that the Government will publish the minutes of its sittings from the 4th September last until the conclusion of the armistice. The Siècle urges the Delegate Government at Bordeaux to do the same. The Liberty denies that the Prussians have decided not to prolong the armis tice, except on the condition chat the Ger man troops should march through Paris. The Paris elections in their general features present THE WAR CONTRIBUTIONS. A telegram from Dieppe dated Tuesday, says : Another body of about 600 Prussian troops came in here yesterday. A deputation of three town councilors left for Rouen on Sunday to obtain a re lease from the contribution of 1,100,000 f. demanded, but they were unsuccessful. Several other depu tations from the surrounding towns and villages were at Rouen for the same purpose, but were equally unsuccessful. Extreme measures being threatened in case of non-payment, a snm of 100,000 f. was paid by Dieppe at two o'clock to-day, and the remaining million in hills of exchange on London at three months' date. A. detachment of thirty men was despatched to the Custom-house to seize the, funds there, but only 60f. were found. Great indignation is felt. HAVIIE, Feb. 15. The Prussians have imposed a contribution of 18,000 francs on Bienfaite, and 16,000 on La Chapelle sur Yon, in the department of Calvados. The districts not having paid, the Mayors were taken prisoners. A. Prussian contribution of 100,000 francs has been imposed upon (lace. The Sub-Prefect M. Lisieux has protested energetically. THE NEUTRALITY OF BELGIUM. BRUSSELS, February 15 (3,55 p.m.) In to-day's sitting of the Chamber of Representa tives the Minister of War, replying to a question, said that orders had been given to send home all the classes of Militia that had been called out for service on the frontier during the war. THE POPE AND THE EMPEROR OF GERMANY. ROME, February 13. The Osservatore _Romano denies that the Pope has written a letter to the Emperor of Germany con gratulating his Majesty on the assumption of the Imperial title. COMMUNICATION WITH PARIS. A. telegram from Lille says :—Passenger commu nication from the provinces to Paris, which had been interrupted by the Prussian military authorities, is not yet re-established. Only travellers who have come from the capital with permission from the Ger man head-quarters at Versailles are allowed to re enter the city. Inhabitants of the provinces and strangers are still rigorously excluded. A telegram from Berlin February 15th, Saye :—An order has been issued by the General Post Office stating that closed letters can be forwarded to Paris at the same postage as that charged before the out break of the war. This order clops not apply to registered letters. DEPARTURE OF GENERAL GARIBALDI, BORDEAUX, February 14. General Garibaldi left Bordeaux on Monday even ing for Marseilles, whence he will sail for Caprera. A popular demonstration was to have been made on Tuesday in his honour. On his arrival at Bordeaux General Garibaldi addressed the following letter to some of his friends :—" My programme is as follows : —lst, I shall vote for a Republic, for a Government of honest men, for a Government which falling through corruption, maintains itself by . its virtue, and which alone can prevent a revolution in France before six months ; end, As conditions of peace, I want the status quo antebellum, but the war expenses must necessarily be paid by the twenty seven millions of ayes which were in favour of a war, and more especially by the Imperialists and the priests who have instigated the people to vote in that sense : the war indemnity to be determined by an equal number of neutral Powers on both sides at the option of the contending parties." General Garabaldi has requested the Siècle to pub lish the following, dated Bordeaux, the 13th, addressed to the Departments which have elected him to the Constituent Assembly :—"I had accepted your trust to record my vote in favour of the Republic. That last duty accomplished, my mission is at an end, and I place in your hands the power which you had conferred upon me.—With gratitude, I remain, yours, GARIBALDI." TIIE COUNCILS-GENERAL IN FRANCE. BORDEAUX, February 14. _ It is said that M. Jules Simon has cancelled M. Gambotta's decree dissolving the Councils-General. These bodies will, it is believed, shortly be convoked to render an estimate of the ravages caused by the war. Their reports would then form the bases for determining the proportion of the war indemnity payable by each department. EXPECTED DISTURBANCES IN NICE. GENOA, February 13. In consequence of anticipated disturbances in Nice a battalion of the 47th Regiment and other troops have been sent in haste to San Remo and Ventmiglia, THE ROUMANIAN QUESTION. VIENNA, February 15. The official Wiener Zeltung announces that the political agitation in Roumania has greatly decreased. The dynastic question is settled, and the best under standing exists between Prince Charles and the Great Powers.—Daily News Telegram. ITALY AND TUNIS. FLORENCE, February 15. It is reported that Signor Visconti-Venosta, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has given General Hus sein, the Envoy from the Bey of Tunis, to under stand that he cannot be officially received before the nature of the proposals which he has brought from the Tunis Government is made known. General Hussein to-day paid a visit to the Turkish Ambassador here. The instructions which the former THE ENTRY INTO PARIS. The special correspondent of the Daily News with the Saxon army thus writes from Paris, February 14 :—I hear that the Prussians have hindered , the entry of horses into Paris, as not being part of the revictualment, yet being capable of becoming food, should the Parisians determine on a desperate revolution, on barricades, street fighting, and so forth. This seems to me a wild possibility scarcely worth guarding agaigst. The forts are occupied, the ramparts are disarmed, the barricades which did exist are almost all removed, and the city is at the mercy of its conquerors. What if a few hot-headed men should make a disturb ance in Popincourt, or La Villette ? I doubt their doing anything of the sort ; but even if they should, the matter could not assume serious proportions. The National Guard is strong enough to maintain order, and has no wish to see tli 3 city destroyed. The soldiers and sailors have yielded up their arms, and would be the last people to rush into ill-prepared, hopeless fighting, after they have had so much serious work to do ; and lastly, the whole of the existing authorities in the city are pledged to maintain the terms of the Convention. I find much sarcasm levelled at General Trochu for not having been more vigorous in his defence ; and I hear many people, high and low, mutter that they will be even with Germany some day. But as to an immediate or violent reaction against the surrender which has saved them from starving, the Parisians shew no sign of it. They accept their position quietly, and discuss the chances of peace and war without any of the belligerent energy which they have displayed whilst their hands were free. There is no question that they would be very glad to avoid a German occupation, and that even the marching through of German troops would mortify them bitterly. In either case they would not merely have a token of defeat brought clearly before their eyes, but would undergo substantial discomforts which they may well wish to escape. A German occupation would mean a great deal of snubbing and of calling to order for the Parisian mob; censorship of the press for the lite rary class ; and a control of their affairs by strangers for the monied and business man of the city; a trium phal entry and march through the principal streets would be a more transient evil; yet even here there would be more than the mere humiliation of seeing the victors pass by in their pride. So great would the German precautions be that whole blocks of buildings would be cleared of their inhabitants, or at least strongly oc cupied by troops; that there would be a search for arms, and a quartering of Germans along the line of the entry ; that, in a word, the city would be bound down for a time with cords, tight enough to pinch. I can well understand the desire of the Germans to enter Paris, and can sympathise with the curiosity awakened in the minds of the hardy, patient fellows who have watched so long round their destined prize ; but I can also under stand how the most thoughtful and practical of Parisians mighe join with the natural instinct of the crowd in hoping against hope, that some arrangement, to be made at Bordeaux, may spare them the sight of the spiked helmets in their midst. The days of grace are now very few, and even a short prolongation of the armis- tice leaves open the question of the entry into Paris. Are they to come ? That is what the people ask. They have innumerable theories on the failure of their defence, but only one question about the immediate future. There would, of course, be need of preparation before the Germans did come. The city must change a great deal from the aspect which it has at the present time. Those scattered groups of disarmed soldiers and Mobiles must be gathered together and marched away. Those stray members of half-a-dozen different corps, Turcos and Chasseurs d'Afrique, marines and artillerymen, who now give the streets a faint resemblance to Paris before the war, must set out for Germany if the Germans are really to take possession. German guards must be • es tablished at the military posts to reinforce or supersede the National Guard of the city ; and mysterious inscriptions must be chalked upon many a door, to state how many officers and men are quartered there. There must be, in fact, a greater change from the time of anxious waiting, of the elections and disarmament, to the time of foreign occupation, than has occurred in passing from the armed defences of the siege to the present state of things. The ramparts look very dreary now with the guns removed, and only a few sentries at long intervals ; but still they are held by Frenchmen, and Frenchmen with weapons in their hands are seen at the gates. The barricades are being demolished by French men, who work under no immediate foreign pressure. The shrill fanfare of French bugles may occasionally be heard, and one sometimes meets a company of the Na tional Guard marching along the street, fully equipped with knapsacks and greatcoats, as though about to take the field. The Paris correspondent of the Etoile Belge says that, so numerous are the applications for permission to leave Paris that in one day alone 4,500 such applications were thrown into the waste paper basket. There can be no harm .in now stating (writes the Bor deaux correspondent of the Daily News) what it would have been indiscreet to have mentioned sooner, that when a month ago somebody expressed surprise to M. Gam betta that he should be anxious to 'send M. Jules Favre to the London Conference, Gambetta replied, "I care nothing for the Conference under the circumstances, but I want to get Jules Favre out of Paris." Gambetta then believed that Trochu had no thought but capitulation, and that Jules Favre was his most influential ally. An explosion of cartridges occurred on Monthly night in the shop of James Powell, gunsmith, South Castle-street, Liverpool. The explosion is supposed to have been caused by a burglar who had broken in. Nobody was hurt s but the stook and shop were destroyed. CANADA.. The Ontario Legislature has made a donation from the accumulated surplus revenues of $1,500,000 in aid of the new raifways to open the grant districts and inland waters. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) THE DEAN OF EXETER ON NONCON FORMITY. The Dean of Exeter, in presiding at a meeting of the Devonshire Church Institute, held in Exeter last night, denied that it was originally a principle of Nonconformity that there should be no State interference in matters of religion or education. He stated that on the occasion when Lord John Russell introduced the minutes on which the Education Board was founded, he was sitting next to Mr. Baines, M.P., in the gallery of the House of Commons, and heard him inform Mr. Bright that the course the latter proposed to take was based upon an incorrect view of the opinions of Non conformists. Mr. Bright, however, resolved to adhere to his policy, and when he addressed the House protested against State interference in matters of religion or educa tion. Sir George Grey, in replying to Mr. Bright, shewed from the writings of eminent Nonconformists of past days that in their opinion the State would be neglecting its duty if it did not apply itself to the promo , tion of religion. CAMBRIDGE LOCAL EXAMINATIONS, The class lists for the examinations held in Decem ber last are now completed. Of 1,634 junior boys, 1,904 satisfy the examiners, 555 fail, and 75 were absent. Of the 1,004 who satisfy the examiners, 53 obtain a first class, 97 a second class, and 167 a third class, The Wolverhampton and Finchley centres have eight boys each in the first class, and Bloxham, Northampton, and Sheffield, four boys each. No other centre has-more than three. The Cambridge centre has one first class of 301 senior boys. 174 satisfy the examiners, 112 fail, and fifteen were absent. The first class consists of eleven boys, the second of twenty-nine, and the third of sixteen. Bristol has three boys in the' first class, • •Finchley and London two, Canxock, Exeter, Huddersfieid, and, Manches ter, one each. The Cambridge centre has more senior boys in the second class than any other centre. Of 397 junior girls, 217 satisfy the examiners, 164 fail, and 16 were absent. Of those who satisfy the examiners, two obtain a first class, nine a second class, and 43 a third class. The candidates in the first class are from the Cambridge and Reading centres. Of 217 senior girls, 112 satisfy the examiners, 148 fail; and eleven were absent. There are two candidates in the first class, five in the seclnd class, and eleven in the third class. The candidates in the first class are from the Brighton and London centres. The Mill Taylor Exhi bition of £4O has been awarded to the Brighton candi dates. SCHOOL BOARD NEWS. The Southampton Town Council yesterday, by 19 to 11, decided to ask the Education Department for a School Board. The Hanley School Board determined to apply to the Government to help defray the costs of procuring an educational census of their district. BOILER EXPLOSION. Last ,night a boiler on the premises of Messrs. Hipkiss and Sons, Newton-row, Birmingham, exploded, laying in ruins the greater portion of the works, damaging several adjoining houses, and injuring, though not seriously, thkee of the workpeople. DEPARTURE OF IRISH POLITICAL PRISONERS. Last evening " Captain " Mackay, alias William Lomas■ ney, Michael Sheehan, and Mortimer Moriarty, three of the released Irish political prisoners, left Queenstown for New York, on board the royal mail steamer Parthia. There was no demonstration, but a number of the rela tives and friends of the released men assembled to bid them farewell. Mackay stated that their pardon was entirely unconditional, and if the Government would deny this, he would return from New York to finish the term of his sentence. The three men each received from the Amnesty Committee a great coat, travelling rug, and purse containing ten sovereigns. Mrs. Mackay accom panies her husband. COURT-MARTIAL ON A SHIP'S STEW4IW. The court-martial for the trial of William Henry Mundy, a ship's steward of the Warrior, on the charges of fraud, conspiracy, and receiving money from the con tractor for fresh meat without the consent of his com manding officer, was continued at Portsmouth yesterday. The paymaster stated that it was the prisoner's duty to be present when meat was weighed, and he obtained the quantities from the prisoner's daily account book. The prisoner prepared monthly certificates for the signature of officers, but they did not know, of their own knowledge, whether the figures were correct. The paymaster anu staff-commander were questioned by the court as to having signed the certificates without' being aware of the accuracy of their contents. Wood, foreman to the con tractor, swore to the accuracy of the quantities of beef supplied to the Warrior as entered in his book, and stated that the monthly certificates represented larger quantities than appeared in his book. The prisoner told witness that he expected his money at the end of the month for the surplus beef, and he thought it very strange that it was not sent. He said he should take the October certificates to the contrac tor and settle with him himself. Prisoner told him after wards that he had seen the contractor, and had got his money. Court adjourned. REPRESENTATION OF NORWICH. Sir Charles Legard will contest Norwich in the Conser vative interest, and in opposition to Mr. J. J. Colman, the Liberal candidate. THE REPRESENTATION OF GALWAY. The sheriff has fixed Tuesday, 21st of February, for the nomination of candidates for the County of Galway. HALF-YEARLY MEETING OF THE LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY COMPANY. The half-yearly meeting of the Lancashire and York shire Railway Company was held at the Company's offices, at Manchester, on Wednesday. Mr. Dugdale, the chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, stated that the amount of revenue for the half-year ending in December, was £1,376,005, shewing an increase of £59,452 as compared with the corresponding half of last year. The report, which was adopted, recommended a dividend of 7 per cent. After wards a special resolutson was passed appropriating £5,000 out of revenue to the widow, and family of the late chair man of the company, Mr. George Wilson. THE STRATFORD-ON-AVON RAILWAY. The directors of the Stratford-on-Avon Railway recom mend a dividend of 6 per cent. The traffic receipts are £550 in excess of last year. The company have arranged with the Great Western Railway to substitute the narrow for the broad gauge. The Council of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday elected Mr. W. B. Forwood President of the Chamber for the ensuing year. RIPON ELECTION. The polling at Ripon . commenced at eight o'clock on Wednesday morning. At the nomination of the previous day the show of hands was in favour of Mr. Cayley, the Conservative candidate. The number of votes to be polled was about 1,000. Sir Henry Storks, the Liberal candi date, held the lead at every return of the poll through out the day. The numbers at the close were — Storks (L.) Cayley (C.) ... 522 ... 302 The Fishmongers' Company have just made a donation of £lOO towards the City of London Volunteer Fund. It is stated that Mr. Boxall, R.A., whose term of office as dire . ctor of the National Gallery expires this month, will retire, although the trustees are very desirous that he should resume the post. CRYSTAL PALACE.—One Shilling Day—Wednes day, February 15th, 1871.—Admission by season tickets, 2,253; and ditto on payment, 1,375 ; total visitors, 3,628. A Cabinet Council was, held yesterday in Down ing -street. The Ministers present were—The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, the Lord Chancellor, Viscount Halifax, the Right Hon. H. A. Bruce, Earl Granville, the Earl of Kimberley, the Ri g ht H on . Cardwell, the Duke of Argyll, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right Hon. C. Fortescue, the Right Hon. G. J. Gosch en, the Marquis of Hartington, and the Right Hon. W. E. Forster. ENGLAND AND THE BELLIGERENT'S. The -Stcindard says:—The object of her Majesty's Go vernment, in July, 1870, was to "limit the area of the conflict ;" and that object they pursued energetically and obtained completely. They did " limit the area of the conflict" to France and Germany. And how ? By using• their utmost influence, vigorously and successfully, to pro vent any other Power from helping France. Denmark felt towards Prussia a just and a deadly hatred. No doubt it is well for her that she was persuaded to remain neutral ; but the fact remains that England was instru- mental in preventing her from joining France. Austria, again, owed a deep grudge to Prussia. In her utmost need France had interposed to help and save her. Austria, then, was inclined at least to hesitate whether she should not assist France more or less directly. England again interposed; and her influence helped to keep Austria strictly neutral. Italy owed a debt of gratitude to France, and had strong political motives for obliging her; but Italy, too, yielded to the instances of England, and remained neutral. England, then, was instrumental in depriving Franco of whatever help she might - have derived from the good will of Austria, Italy, and Denmark. We do not blame her Majesty's Government for taking this course. Now, we do not think it can be denied that such service gives Eng land a right, and imposes upon her a duty, to interfere now in the interests of Europe, and in behalf of France, to obtain fair terms of peace. She is bound to take care that the neutral Powers shall not indirectly suffer by the neutrality she led them to observe. She is bound to prevent her for mer ally from being ruined by the effects of her policy. And on this ground, as well a s on th at of genera l expediency and European interest, it is the duty of her Majesty's Government to do their utmost to extort from Prussia such terms of peace as shall not prevent France from recovering her dilapi dated prosperity and her shattered greatness ; as, shall not crush and ruin her ; as shall leave her still an equal member of the European Council s a first-rate Power, the effective ally of England, a for midable obstacle to German domination and Russian aggression., )olis ext, !e of por n of and lury. 'arch jom- reso- Had -3f to ed as le, he vould ng in 0 dis- peti-