The Sun. — London, England, 1871-01-14 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE. SUN OFFICE, 8 A.M. THE WAR THE FALL OF LE MANS. BERLIN, January 13. The King has sent the tollowing telegrams to the Rueen: - " VERSAILLES, January 12. " Victorious engagements occurred on the 10th and 11th at Le Mans. "Many prisoners, mitrailleuses, and guns were taken. "Our losses were moderate as regards the 3rd, 9th, and 13th Corps. "Details are still wanting." "VERSAILLES, January 13. Yesterday afternoon the 3rd and 10th Corps captured Le Mans, while the 9th and 13th Corps advanced victoriously iu a southerly direction on St. Corneille. " Large stores have been taken. "Further details are wanting. "French telegrams, even, for the first time, admit a defeat. "At Villersexel on the 9th General von Werder had a successful engagement, and took two eagles, two guns, and 800 prisoners. "The - bombardment here, owing to fog, has for three days progressed but slowly. " Yesterday and to-day, however, there was much firing, especially from the enceinte of the city, - whence the enemy's fire is constantly becoming warmer. "To-day there 18 sunshine and a wintry day, with two degrees (Reaumur) of frost. One cannot, how ever, see things at any distance." VERSAILLES, January 13. General Field Marshal Prince Frederick Charles, whose Corps since the Bth had been driving back General Chanzy's army from the district of Ven dome, on Le Mans, with constant and victorious en gagements, took the latter town on the afternoon of the 12th. Re at the same time drove the enemy from his Positions north-west of Le Mans, at St. Corneille. Large stores were captured at Le Mans. The hostile army is retreating. Before Paris the bombardment is proceeding with good effect, and with insignificant loss on our side.— Times. The following telegrams come through Reuter's Agency : THE FRENCH ACCOUNT. BORDEAUX, January 12 (Morning). General Chanzy telegraphs the following account of the fighting at Le Mans yesterday : " We had to-day a battle at Le Mans. The enemy attacked us along our whole line. Admiral Jaure guiberry firmly maintained his position on the right bank of the Huisne. General de Colomb for six hours stubbornly contested the plateau of Auvour3. " General Gangard displayed great energy. The troops from Brittany materially contributed to the preservation of the important position below Chang 6. "General Jouffroy, despite the fatigue of the divi tion and the efforts of the enemy, maintained his position. The Roquitaine division did not allow the enemy to cut the road to Parigne. We sleep to-night in all our former positions, with the exception of that at La Tuillerie, which fell during the night, but dispositions have been made for the recapture of that position. We have captured some prisoners, but Ido not at present know their number. All of them estimate the forces opposed to us or in reserve. at 180,000 men, and add that Frederick Charles is before us, he having not left for the East. The battle only ended with the night. Our losses are Considerable ; two Colonels are wounded. Those of the enemy are cruel. A fresh attack is expected to- Morrow." LE MANS, January 12 (8.45 a.m.). Our positions were good last night, excepting at La Tuilerie, where the Mobiles of Brit tany disbanded themselves, thereby causing the abandonment of the positions we occupied on the right bank of the Huisne. Vice-Admiral Jaure guiberry and the other generals think a retreat is necessary under these circumstances. I resign myself to it very unwillingly. 6 P.M.—I have commenced the movement of re treat, which I am organizing in such a way as to occupy a new line, in order to re-form the army and r ecommence operations. GERM es_N ACCOUNTS. From Royal headquarters at Versailles comes a " The t e l egram , d a t e d m id n i g ht on Th urs d ay : The French Army of the West has been c ompletely defeated near Le Mans by the Second German Army, under Prince Frederick Charles and the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg. The town of Le Mans has been occupied by the Germans, large stores have been captured. The enemy is being pursued." Ihder date of Montfort, Thursday, the Grand D uchess of M ec kl en b urg h as te l egrap h e d to th e G ran d " U llehess as follows:—" To-day, after a severe en gagement at St. Corneille, we reached the stream rear Savigne l'Eveque, having only su ff ere d ,ver y sma ll s aes, and capturing 1,000 prisoners. My head qllarters are in the Castle of Montfort. EVACUATION OF VESOUL. BORDEAUX, January 13 (Afternoon.) The evacuation of Vesoul by the Germ9ns is con- There is no other military event of importance to day. PRUSSIANS REPULSED. BESANCON, January 12. tj e sterday 800 Prussians, with thr ee guns , a tt ac k e d re e companies of Francs-tireurs un d er C o l one l gr c L url 'ea, near Abbeville, and were repulsed with e i,;,l t energy. The loss on the French side was only men. The Prussians carried off seven car "ges full of dead and wounded men. Their leader \vas killed. FIGHTING NEAR HAVRE. HAVRE, January 13 (8.50 p.m.) T 1,0 0 „ o - thousand Prussians, with eight guns, attack e d Tb Mobilized Guards to-day near Bourneville. b,: k l4 :rench 'fought well, but were compelled to fall T HE CAPITULATION OF PERONNE. LILLE, January 13. ne ral i Paidhe r b e i n f orms th e Commissiary heo'l'k of the National Defence in the North that b efor n °lll Mandant of Peronne has been summoned co rd h is eati r , lie t in surrend er i ng th a t t own w hil e t h e fortifi illan-ile we re intact and an a rm y o f succour was IlaZ uv ring to it s re li e f. Akt er th e b att l e of being th e Siege was raised, th e b om b ar d men t a fter O lv en up, a n d the enemy's guns withdraw n tieg ed : a° ing been damaged by the fire of the be- The TIM SIEGE OF LONGW Y. 1104 brfortress of Longwy is completely invested ; can being ° light by the Prussians from Tillanco urt are th e I Pla 'ced in battery. Col. Alassaroly, commanding thet -ace ) has determined not to surrender, and compel °•`-' men and 1 ; 11 ,1 88i4118 to make an assault. The women, children, leave The have, in commandant consequence, received orders to of the fort of Charlemont, which commands Givet, has likewise resolved not to surrender.—Lombard Telegram. GREAT FIRE IN MONTMARTRE. MARGENCY, January 11. A large fire raged in Paris this afternoon. Dense masses of black smoke rose behind the western shoulder of Montmartre. No fire was visible till evening, but a lurid reflection upwards of the smoke was clear, and betokened a conflagration of magni tude. Its position I could not fix with certainty, but it seemed considerably behind Montmartre, and 1 should puss it to be on the further side of the Seine. A Paris journal of yesterday says that popular feeling is furious against Trochu. Sorties are urgently clamoured for. There are symptoms of preparations for a sortie from St. Denis, now the least impossible place. The barracks of Niontrouge burned until nine o'clock yesterday morning. The capitulation of Pdronne gives the Germans seventy-two guns and a thousand prisoners; but liberates no siege gulls, as none were used.—Daily News. THE LUXEMBURG QUESTION. LUXEMBURG, January 13 (5 p.m.) Count Bismarck's answer to the note of 114 Servais has arrived, and made a reassuring impresic sion. Count Bismarck proposed that the Duchy should authorise the Consul of the North German Confederation to act as mediator between the two Governments. when Miss Leiress Miss aton's •ss in liveli• aTives ;, and course ,on 10 ,rriage rness, with to her earing lqiga Miss Ighan; repre- Dilated rifling - minor amidst of the io died )r, •st and ceased, 3onalty ieneral :Jolene' years Ly, Who E4ouvre, in the will of Guards 3 ., a nd Earl of x, wa° 'he will ).—Th e b, Park [ansiont ultimo , Williata sington , ) under s £lo o ► 111a9 6, testator Ireland• Burk e stated ; these for hito• vent or , f his sou H a rriet Laritabl.e h er resr estate.--- Lnd C ° ' sition of I in Alas ys tb St atteX i ‘,i Observe - no m 0- 31 ue eft au. 101 Har ~efr •sal sa"°' v.- e r sPe 3 . te r he ' 7l d aPr es. oll tall ro"° a u. e rough till lO j e ; tcor flueee' ie o f L biti l the DUt e of insto' t t he frail m eld lt l► ising le, lio e s l i,ceore,, leg a Of' arA c t he et 9 1 se , . le a ill 0 00 rtizt/e0 TURKEY AM) THE CONFERENCE. CONSTANTINOPLE, January 12. The statement of a London newspaper that Turkey would not object to enter into direct negoti ations with Russia is positively contradicted. All matters relating to the Eastern question are to be reserved for the decision of the Conference. THE MASS TORE AT MARATHON. ATHENS, January 12. In reply to a statement made by M. Erskine, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has declared that nothing shall prevent the course of justice, and should it be proved that other persons are incriminated in We affairs of the brigands, they shall also be brotig‘t before the Criminal tribunal.— uter' s 7 elegrams. NEWS FROM PESTH. VIENNA, January 12. It is stated that Baron Schweinitz handed Count Benet a despatch to-day, in which Count Bismarck expresses the King's pleasure at the Emperor's mag nanimous friendship, of which ,Count Beust's last despatch was gratifying evidence. A. telegram from Constantinople to the 11th states tnat the Turkish Government has decided upon the construction of a first class naval port at Sinope and improvement in the fortifications at V arna.-z-D aily News. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) MARRIAGE OF *THE PRINCESS LOUISE. The French paper Le Havre declares that the Crown Prince of Prussia has formally, and in a haughty spirit, protested against the marriage of the Princess Louise to an English subject, who will thus become his brother-in-law. Le Havre goes on to state the King of Prussia has supported his son's, complaint, and that the English Court is greatly annoyed. THE PRINCE OF WALES IN GLOUCESTER SHIRE. A grand ball was given last night, at Berkeley Castle, which was attended by between 300 and 400 persons, principally the tenants of Lord Fitzhardinge. -His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales led off the dancing with Lady Fitzhardinge. His Royal Highness returns to Lon don to-day. THE FUNERAL OF THE LATE EARL OF AYLESFORD. The funeral of the late Earl of Aylesford will take place at Pakington, the family seat in Warwickshire, on Mon day next. The body will arrive at Pakington Hall, from London, to-day. The Warwickshire Yeomanry Cavalry ball, fixed for Tuesday next, at the Shire Hall, Warwick, has been postponed in consequence of the death of his lordship, who for years held a commission in the regi ment. His lordship's death places many county families in mourning. SUNDERLAND SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION. At the election of the Sunderland School Board yester day, eight Churchmen, one Roman Catholic, one Wesleyan, one Presbyterian, one Primitive Methodist, and one Baptist were returned. LIMERICK ELECTION. The Nationalist leaders have at last come to the deter mination to send a deputation to Mr. Isaac Butt, requesting him to allow himself to be put in nomination for Limerick, his native county. The expenses of the contest is to be defrayed by contribution. It is believed that Mr. Butt is the only man who is of sufficient noto riety to win against the sitting member. The Conserva tive land owners will nearly to a man support the national candidate. THE CONFERENCE AT TRURO ON THE MINES' REGULATION BILL. A largely attended meeting of the Cornish County Committee, appointed to watch the Mines Regulation Bill, was held at Truro yesterday. It was unanimously resolved that the operation of Mr. Bruce's Education Bill, clause seven, in the bill of last year, on metalliferous mines, would be very injurious to the interests of the mining children and their parents, and that an uncompro mising opposition must be offered to any such clause. It was reported from all the districts of the county, that the most intelligent of the miners them selves were opposed to the clause. RELIEF FOR THE FRENCH DESTITUTE. A meeting convened by the Lord Provost of Glasgow was held yesterday to make arrangements for raising funds for the relief of the destitute French peasantry. Archbishop Eyre and other Catholic and Protestant clergymen were present, Ps well as the French Consul and a number of German gentlemen. A large committee was appointed, and it was proposed to raise subscriptions from churches, factories, and all classes. MR. GEORGE SHAW LEFEVRE AND HIS CONSTITUENTS. The electors of Reading propose to call a public meeting for the purpose of discussing the • policy adopted by Mr. Gladstone in ignoring the claims of Mr. Shaw Lefevre, Vice-President of the Board of Trade, when making the recent Ministerial changes. The hon. gentleman's con stituents are stated to feel considerably aggrieved that he was not appointed to succeed Mr. Bright. THE COLLIERY EXPLOSION IN NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE. The pit of the Crewe Coal and Iron Company, Leycett, near Newcastle-under-Tyne, where five men were killed and fifteen injured on Thursday by an explosion of gas, is now clear, and was yesterday visited by Mr. Wynne, the Gov'ernment Inspector of Mines for North Stafford shire. Two of the men injured lie in a very precarious condition. When the colliers went to work on Thursday morning the pit was reported to be free from gas. The cause of the accident has not yet been ascertained. On the one hand it is stated that a man fired a shot without permission, and on the other that one of the colliers was working with a naked lamp. THE REPRESENTATION OF NORWICH. Up to last night it was not known in Norwich who is likely to come forward to contost the seat rendered vacant by the judgment in thspetition presented against the return of Mr. Tillett. TRIAL OF A NEW THIRTY-FIVE TON GUN. The proof of the immense thirty-five ton gun was suc cessfully commenced at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, yesterday afternoon. The gun was fired twice with powder charges of 75 pounds, and conical projectiles weighing seven hundred pounds each. The gun was loaded by means of a crane, and fired by electricity. The proof was conducted by Captain Stoney, assistant superintendent Royal Gun Factories, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, assisted by Mr. Mainlay, the proof master. FURTHER RELEASE OF IRISH POLITICAL PRISONERS. Information has been received in Dublin that the Irish political prisoners Gaby, O'Leary, McCafferty, Power, and Thomas Burke will be released unconditionally from Portland and Woking prisons. They will arrive at Queenstown from Liverpool to-day, in the Cunard steamer Russia. ABSCONDING OF A TRAVELLER. A traveller named Thomas Soden, in the employ oflillessrs. Parsons and Co., wine and spirit merchants, Warwick, has absconded, and considerable defal cations in his accounts have been discovered. He was formerly a station-master at Harbury, on the Great Western Railway. He travelled for Messrs. Parsons through the rural districts. A warrant has been issued for his apprehension, and placed in the hands of the police for execution. A PRUSSIAN MAN-OF-WAR NEAR WATER FORD. Yesterday morning a Prussian man-of-war, under all sail, and apparently in full chase, was sighted from Waterford harbour. THE RENISHAW PARK COLLIERY EXPLOSION. The bodies of fourteen of the men killed in the Renishaw Park Colliery explosion were interred yester day. Seven coffins were placed in one grave. Large numbers of persons were present during the mournful ceremony. [EE SUN, IaUNDO.N SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1871. THE ARMY OF IHE VOSGES. In a communication from Lyons, the special correspon dent of the Standard thus describei the composition of the army under Garibaldi :—At the present moment the Italian general has under his command 15,000 men. Of these 3,000 only are G-aribaldians, the remainder consist ing of French Franc-tireurs, Eclaireurs, &c., scarcely one of whom would feel flattered at been mistaken for one of the red-shirt band. They regret exceedingly that circum stances have placed them with these latter, to separate from whom is what they most desire. The conduct of this small band has been the cause of all the dis agreements and reproach that is daily heaped upon the Army of the Vosges, and which has brought them into such discredit that the peasantry of the districts into which they find themselves do not hesitate to betray their movements to the enemy, and so neutralise all the endeavours of the great and honest majority, who have thus to bear the odium and do penance for the sins of the few. It is no secret that Garibaldi himself is greatly angered at the deeds done in Ms name, and which he has little power to prevent ; in point of fact, he has, owing to his physical debility, scarcely more than nominal command, and is still used, as he has been often, as the tool of dishonest men. These men have not even the redeeming quality of savage courage —they seldom stand, and then only to shout " Avanti," " Avanti," while they themselves make strategic move ments to the rear, andso are not only useless themselves but disorganise and demoralise more worthy men. As to their officers, their name is legion, and were the band to increase fuurfold there are now sufficient leaders without the grant of a single commission. Their equipment is expensive and highly dramatic, reminding one of the style predominant in the transpontine theatres. On their arrival here the greater number were almost shoeless, and watching the magical change from rags to -regal robes, people here begin to wonder "how they do it." Received at first with acclamations, they are nyw sinking daily in the estimation of the people, who are gradually coming to the conclusion that Italian patriotism is an expensive article, and that sounder material, though less showy and noisy, may be had for less money in the home manufactories. The antece dents of some will not bear the light, and yet they are in high places. One who was broken and con demned to death for cowardice in face of the enemy, but respited and conducted to the frontier, is back again, and wearing a uniform in the same corps of a grade higher than that which he held when graced. You may fancy what pain this gives to the other corps serving under Garibaldi, and it is to detach them from the odium of the few that I occupy so much space in your columns, and in the hope that the Army of the Vosges, under the command of Garibaldi, may not be by mistake identified with this useless band. The Army of the Vosges has shewn on many occasions the very best spirit, and has fought well, and if it has not yet succeeded in fulfilling its legitimate task, it is due to the want of opportunity. THE MURDER OF A POLICEMAN. Yesterday a man named James Chapman was arrested on suspicion of having on Tuesday inflicted injury upon Constable Snow, of Bennington, from the effects of which he'died. The deceased held a warrant for the apprehen sion of Chapman for a poaching offence, committed five years ago. He has lately returned to Bennington, and the evidence of a boy who witnessed the commencement of the outrage, has led to his being apprehended. The inquest on the body was opened yesterday, and ad journed. MEETING OF PARLIAMENT. `Mr Advertiser says : "At the Privy Council which is to be held this afternoon, we understand that Par liament will be fixed to meet on Tuesday, the 7th of February." STATISTICS OF " WHO'S WHO 1N 1871." There are 231 members of the Privy Council of England and Ireland, of whom 31 are entitled to sit on the Judicial Committee. The House of Peers consists of 4 Princes of the Blood Royal, 2 Archbishops, 27 Dukes. 32 Marquises, 164 Earls, 35 Viscounte, 24 Bishops, and 174 Barons — making a total of 462. There are 106 Peers of Scotland and Ireland who are not members of the Upper House — viz., 1 Marquis, 31 Earls, 20 Viscounts, and 54 Barons. The House of Commons consists of 652 members, there being at present four vacant seats. The nobility of the United Kingdom are 548 in number, and there are 14 Peers who are minors, of whom one (the Earl of Pem broke) will come of age in 1871. There are 13 Peeresses in their own right, and 23 Widows of Peers whose titles have become extinct. The number of Judges in England is 26, and in Ireland 23, and there are 13 Scotch Lords of Session. There are 2 Archbishops of the Church of Eng land, and 28 Bishops, of whom 2 are Suffragans. The Irish Episcopal Church consists of 2 Archbishops and 10 Bishops, and the number of Indian, Colonial, and Mis sionary Bishops is 54. There are 7 Bishops of the Scotch Episcopal Church, and the number of retired Bishops is 19. The Roman Catholic Church in England numbers 12 Prelates, and there are 4 Archbishops of that Church in Ireland. There are 22 accredited Foreign Ministers in England, and the number of British Ministev abroad is 32. The number of Governors of British Possessions and Colonies is 60, and the Lords-Lieutenants of Counties in Great Britain and Ireland are 117. There are 863 Baronets of the United Kingdom, and the number of Noblemen and Baronets who are Knights is 128. There are 519 Knights Civil and Military, exclusive of the honorary Knights, and the Native Knights of the Star of India. The Order of the Bath contains 792 Companions, and there are 162. Companions of the Orders of the Star of India and St. Michael and St. George, which number includes the surviving Knights of Hanover. There are 4 Field Marshals of the British Army, and the number of General Officers of all ranks (including those on half-pay and those whose rank is purely honorary) is 629. The Indian Army contains 294 General Officers, and the num ber of Flag Officers in the Navy is 315. The number of Aides-de-Camp to the Queen is 44, and there are 32 Medical Officers who are Honorary Physicians and Surgeons to Her Majesty. The Judges of the County Courts are 61 in number, and there are 197 Queen's Counsel and Serjeants-at-Law in England, the number in Ireland being 110 ; the number of Recorders of Boroughs and Cities in England and Wales is 98. There are 33 Deans of Cathedrals and Collegiate Churches in England and Wales, and the number of Archdeacons in the same division of the kingdom is 70. The Chaplains and Priests in Ordinary to the Queen number 64. The number of Royal Academicians is 42, there being one vacancy to fill up, and there are three vacancies in the list of Associates, who are 20 in number. MR, JOHNSTON, M.P. ' AND THE ORANGEMEN. A Belfast correspondent says :—On Thursday night, at a great Orange meeting held in the Ulster Hall, Belfast, Mr. William Johnston, M.P., was presented with an ad dress, in which unaltered confidence was expressed in him as a genuine orangeman and true Protestant. Mr. Johnston, in the course of a long speech which he delivered in reply, said Parliament would have to pronounce its opinion upon Mr. Gladstone's letter regarding the independence of the Pope, and if no other person drew attention to it he would do so. At the meeting an association was formed, to be called the Belfast Orange and Protestant Working Men's Association ; it is for the purpose of pro , . tecting the political rights of the Protestant working men of Belfast. Mr. Johnston, at the close of the meeting, was followed to his hotel by immense crowds, headed by a couple of bands. He addressed the assemblage from the hotel window. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL—The Concert lately given by the Tottenham House Band at St. James's Hall, in aid of the funds of the above hospital, resulted in the sum of 2153 being added to the bands of this deserving charity. CRYSTAL PALACE.—The entertainments to-clay are to be rendered especially suitable to children. Besides the addition of an infant pianiste, and calculating boy, in the evening the great fountain basin will be lighted up by coloured fires, magnesium balloons, bonfires, and torches. This is the last Saturday of the Pantomime, as the Satur day concerts recommence on the 21st. HOW LONG WILL PARIS HOLD OUT ?—Both Paris correspondents of the Daily News agree that the food in Paris will last until the end of February. One of them, "The Besieged Resident," says that endurance until that period will involve great privation ; but it wiil be maintained if there is any chance of relief from the provinces —not if there is none. The other contributor says :—I go to men who ought to be the best informed in Paris. I cannot mention names—but they ought to know. I say to them—" How long ? I am told that the 20th of January is your last day : you must surrender. T e ll me t ru ly." The reply is—" I tell you truly, we can s t an d ou t till M arc h." And there is no chance of a capitulation in the present month ?" " Not the least in the world from famine. We are badly off, but we can endure. Who is it that gives you the 20th of January as the last day ?" " I cannot tell you ; but I do not mind telling you this—that Those who put your last day at the 20th January declare that if you can hold out till March the Prussians will be knocked up as high as a kite." He replied :—"lt is perfectly certain that we can hold out till March. I have always told you so. We can go well into March. But say the Ist of March ; it is enough." The news seems alm os t t oo goo d to b o true ; but I will state to you privately my authority, and you can judge for yourself as to its credibility. THE EXTRAORDINARY DISCOVERY OF DEAD BODIES.—On Friday afternoon the adjourned inquest on the dead bodies of two children which had been discovered in a box at the Euston-square Station, was held at the College Arms, Great College-street, Camden town, before Dr. Lanke s t er , coroner f or Middlesex. The evidence of Donald Cruikshank, parcels clerk at the Euston Station, which was take n on th e l as t occas i on, was to the effect that the box was received from Carlisla on the 11th December, as a returned unclaimed parcel, It was addressed to Mr. Thewson, County Hotel, Carlisle, to be left till called for. Thore was a label upon the box which would be placed there by the railway company, and which "chewed that the box had been received from Manchester, was not called for, and the sender and consignee were unknown. The box was sent from Manchester on September 21, and the sender could not be traced there. Each of the children had its nose cut off, its upper jaw injured and several teeth knocked out. Death was caused by suffocation and violence, and no trace of poison existed. The Coroner thought it was a case in which the Home Office should be asked to offer a reward.—The jury returned a verdict of " Wilful murder against some perion or persons un known ; " at the same time passing a resolution asking the St. Pancras Vestry to apply to Government to offer a reward. THE BATTLE AROUND LE MANS. The special correspondent of the Telegraph sends the following from the head-quarters of the Army of the Loire, dated Le Mans, January 10 :—We have heard the cannon all the day long, and the entire population of Le Mans has crowded the house-tops, has gone to the suburbs, and thronged the thoroughfares to watch the progress of the fight. I have seldom seen such excitement, although the population is accustomed to the sounds of cannon and the sight of smoke. At nine o'clock the French right wing before and to the east of Le Maus was suddenly at tacked by a vanguard of the Prussians emerging from a leafless wood on the extreme French right—a vanguard of Mecklenburg's army, which has been rapidly ad vancing upon Le Mans for several days. Upon the alarm being given by the advanced post, the regiments of infantry were wheeled into line of battle, the artillery was pushed forward through intervals made in the severed ranks, and the cavalry took up advantageous positions on the right and left wing. Such a perfect line of battle could not have been formed by the finest army in the world. The artillery was bountifully served with ammunition, the infantry with over 100 rounds, the supply trains were appropriately posted in the rear, and lines of carriage were established. All was ready for the mutual carnage, and the bloody work of the day began. The field of battle was a valley, and the antagonists occupied opposite heights. The French line of battle, semi-circular in form, extended along a distance of 12 miles on the crest of a ridge overlooking a valley bleached with twelve inches of snow. This crag—for in many places it was a rocky ledge —was 80 feet high : and on the opposite heights the Prussians held almost a similar position. At a little after nine the Prussians began a furious cannonade from a wood near their extreme left, which was flanked by an immense force of cavalry. This wood concealed the force of cavalry. The wood concealed the Prus sign position, and their troops were massed in great numbers, with the evident intention of turning General Chanzy's right wing. In small forests extending all along the Prussian line of battle, the Prussians, with rare acuteness, had es- tablished their artillery ; and when they began to play with shot and shell, the French, in more exposed positions opposite, retorted with a vigorous and marvellously facile fire. But the Prussians retorted with precision and effect, and the combat between the opposing artillery continued until the ammunition on the Prussian side began to fail. Then the order came "Forward the Infantry ! " and the French, equally rapid in evolution, advanced along the whole line, and met the Prussians in a fair close hand-to-hand musketry fire down the valley. The Prussian shewed his habitual and mechanical courage ; the Frenchman was impetuous, fired rapidly, but behaved bravely. On the French left the line began to waver near noon ; these were the Mo biles in a body—they could not, without faltering, hold on to their position, and the • retreat of the French began on Le Mans. Meanwhile the dead had fallen about everywhere ; the snowy field was claret red with blood, and the carnage was fearful. Over 1,500 brave Frenchmen who went out to-day the mantle of death had fallen before five p.m. At five o'clock the army was in full retreat, and is now drawn up in line of battle six miles from Le Mans, and the struggle will be renewed to-morrow without doubt. In this action there were 60,000 Prussians, 60,000 French—they were composed of Marines, Mobiles, Eclaireurs, Hussars, Chasseurs, and Dragons—no Turcos. The French lost 4 mitrailleuses, 8 cannon, about 1,500 hors de combat, but no prisoners ; the retreat being in good order and by military rule. The Prussians lost 300 prisoners and 3,000 killed, because of their heedless advances on the French artillery. The day was beautiful, though cold, but, in a military sense, has been a sad misfortune for struggling France. To-morrow we shall see probably another bloody day. General Chanzy is sick ; but we expect him to direct. The left wing of the Army of the Loire is now at Alencon, and is strongly defended. The directors of the Crystal Palaca Company have divided the management of their establishment, vacant by the death of Mr. Bowley, between Mr. Grove and Mr. Wilkinson. Mr. Grove will have the title of secretary and manager, Mr. Wilkinson that of manager and general superintendent. It is rumoured that the Spanish Government has some traces of the assassins of General Prim, some in Valencia and some in Madrid. The Iberia, a Progressist paper, says it was proposed to assassinate Sagasta, Zorrilla, and the Regent ; also that a regular conspiracy existed in Madrid and Valencia, and that accomplices were in Albacete, Murcia. and Carthagena. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION WITH IRELAND. —lt is not likely that the new Irish cable will be laid before the middle of February. The land lines, and not the cable itself, are believed to be the cause of the delay ; their progress having been entirely stopped by the recent very severe weather in North Wales, where the principal portion of the work remains yet to be executed. Up to within a couple of weeks ago the Post-office Engineering Department had been making most strenuous efforts to secure the completion of the line within the expected time, and would, without doubt, have succeeded in doing so but for the occurrence of weather during the prevalence of which it is impassible to carry on work of this descrip tion. A WELL-KNOWN BONE-SETTER.—We notice the death, on the sth instant, at Watford, of Richard Hutton, who has been well known, both in London and its neigh bourhood, for some years as a successful " bone-setter." Successful he certainly was, and it were folly to deny it, in some cases which had baffled the skill of the best surgeons ; but his failures were many, though these of-course were little heard of. Following the general practice of bone-setters, he diagnosed a dislocation, or seve ral dislocations, in every case in which he was consulted; and when, fortunately, the case was one of chronic thick ening about a joint, with probably partial anchylosis or adhesion of tendons, the greatest success undoubtedly at tended his rough manipulations in many instances. Every now and then Hutton got into difficulties by attacking an acutely inflamed joint, or by lighting up mischief in an old case ; but, as a rule, he was too cautious thus to be caught out. We have seen some of his successes, and many of his failures, and the redeeming feature about him was, that though an empiric, he was not an extor tionate one, and in many cases refused remuneration altogether,—.Lance4 THE BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS. The special correspondent of the Daily News at the headquarters of the Crown Prince of Prussia, in a letter dated January 10, remarks :—I observe a gradual ap proach to the idta of thorough bombardment among both officers and men of the German army. They have persuaded themselves that the King will consent to strong measures, now that the forts - have been fairly tackled. All these stray shots, made at random into the city, are but to prepare the way for a hystematic attempt to compel a speedy surrender. So at least say the Germans. K:ng William, they add, has be !qth to injure Paris, and had always refused to allow the shelling of the suburbs until his artillery should have engaged the outlying forts. Now, however, that the forts have been engaged, and partially silenced, his Majesty will grant the prayer of his soldiers. In a day or two more there will be a formal warning conveyed to the French of the peril in which they stand, and should .they still be obstinate, a shower of incendiary shells of great size will be poured upon them. In former letters I have spoken of the causes which seemed to me to aid the German artillery in its success against the forts. There is the firing upwards at a line, a vague spadework, with only quick flashes and wreaths of smoke to guide the aim. There is the advan tage of the newly-chosen position as against the position long known to all the world. The French guns fire through embrasures, the Prussians are pointed, en barbette, over the top of the parapet, and this seems also an advantage to the Prussians. Then there is undeniably the greater effect of the Prussian shells when they burst, and the steady aim of the gunners who use them. It cannot be said that the French " Naval Bri gade " has done well in the struggle. The men have doubtless shewn activity and pluck ; indeed, I hear that two or three of their struggles 4to get things straight and reopen fire have been worthy the ser vice to which they belong. But their aim has been wretched. Where are the rivals of our crack shots from the Excellent? Where are the men who ought to be able to cut away an enemy's masts and knock off his rudder ? The great guns in the forts should have dis mounted many more of the Gentian pieces, and should have at least fallen near the batteries at every round. As it was, I few them bursting on January sth all over the fields in rear of the besieging line, and calculated that three went astray for one that was well put home. The only thing that the French artillery seems able to do is to fight blindly on and die for the Republic. With men so obstinate, it would not sur prise me to hear that they re-opened all their forts again at the most awkward moment. The Prussians are quite awake to this chance, and will be very cautious in advancing on the forts without regular ap proaches. They admit that though much knockod about, the French may be also " playing possum," as our western friends phrase it; and that a fort, though silent, may not be absolutely silenced. The news from north and east, and south, is thought satisfactory at headquarters, though it is not so good as might have been expected. Should Paris really be starving, and should General Trochu have only a month's more resist ance in him, there will hardly be time for the provincials to save the capital. Chanzy is checked in one direction, Faidherbe is successfully held at bay in another. Even Bourbaki, the most threaten ing for the moment, is a long way off, and • . is, moreover, hampered in his movements by the weather. Let Paris but be reckoned as cer tain to fall before St. Valentine's-day, and the efforts of these different commanders may be taken to be almost certain to fail. The German grip is tight on the city, and the German troops will die rather than give ground. You can easily understand how bitter it would be to them to do so, and how splendidly they would fight to avert such a result. The correspondent of the Telegraph sends the following by special despatch and telegraph from Versailles, January 11 :—During the night of Monday the Ger mans on the south side of Paris pushed forward their front to the Val de Meudon and Moulineaux. They met with some opposition at the Val, but succeeded in esta blishing and holding their positions. Five men were wounded. Paris during the night was bombarded with in cendiary shells. Early in the morning of yesterday the French made a determined attack upon the newly acquired bat tery of Notre-Dame de Clamart, taken from them by surprise a day or two ago. They penetrated into the work, and a sharp struggle ensued, in which the French employed the bayonet. They were driven out, however, by the Gth Bavarians. One Bavarian officer was brought in bayoneted—being the first officer who has been wounded with that arm since the war began. About noon yesterday a sortie on a small scale was made from St. Denis, under the personal super intendence of General Troehu himself. The attack of the French, however, was repulsed with slight effort, and still slighter loss on the Gelman side. This morning a more important sortie, in force, was made from Fort Vanves, between Clamart and Chaillon. The encounter between the sortieing force and the besiegers was vigorous and even fierce ; but in the end the French troops were driven back almost to the glacis of the fort. There has been heavy and sustained firing to day from a quarter-past two to ten minutes to four, and subsequently from twenty before six to half-past nine a.m. The south-west batteries of the Germans were ex- traordinarily active, and the French forts replied with much briskness. A vigorous cannonade was also kept up from the enzp!acements between the forts, and the French 32-pounders on the ramparts of the enceinte were very busy all the morning. At the same time Mont Valerien directed a rapid fire of large shells upon Bougival, Vaucressau, and—with special severity— on Ville d'Avrai and Sevres. General von Manteuffel has been appointed to the command of the German Army of the South-East, consisting of the 14th, 7th, and 2nd Army Corps. The weather has changed again to hard frost, and the roads are almost impracticable. Yester day a rigorous search for arms was made in St. Germains. 1.30 p.m.—The bombardment is now pro ceeding with unprecedented vigour. The fire is abso lutely incessant from twenty-one German batteries. The French are replying all along the line, and making in fantry attempts of the most frantic character to turn the batteries. Three new batteries opened at Meudon this morning. THE CONFERENCE. We are authorised to state that the Conference has been summoned to meet on Tuesday next, the 17th inst., at one o'clock. The Edinburgh Daily Review understands that the Marquis of Lorne has purchasod the house No. 12, Moray place, as his Edinburgh residence. It is now pretty current, says the Scotsman, that at the Council to be held by the Queen on Saturday the Legislature will be called together for the despatch of business on the 2nd of next month. The name of Mr. Samuel Stitt, of the Grange, Claughton, near Birkenhead, has been placed by the Lord Chancellor, on the recommendation of the Lord- Lieutenant, in the commission of the peace for the county of Chester. A numerous company of Italian artistes, comprising Rannenberg, Sinico, and Janssen, and Signori Foli, Ciampi, and Vizzani, are giving a series of concerts in Dublin, and have every reason to be satisfied with the cordiality of their reception. On Wednesday morning Maccomo, who was accompanying the tour through the north of Manders' menagerie of wild animals, died at the Palatine Hotel, Borough-road, Sunderland, f rom e pil epsy. D eceased had been ill for nearly a fortnight. It is understood that Government intends to grant £2OO annually towards the endowment of a chair of Geology in the University of Edinburgh. Together with the endowment bestowed by Sir Roderick Murchison, this will make up an income of about £7OO a year.—British Medical Journal. It is believed that Sir Roderick Murchison will shortly resign his office of Director,General of the Geolo gical Survey, which ho has held since h e s uccee d e d Si r Henry de la Beche in 1855. Sir Roderick's successor will be Professor Ramsay, known as one of the principal advocates of the glacial theory. The death is announced of the Rev. William Edge, who was the oldest clergyman in the diocese of Ely. Mr. Edge was ordained deacon in 1809, and priest in 1810, and in the same year was presented to the family living of Naughton. In 1822 he took, in addition, the living of Nedging, both of which he held up to the time of his death. TIIF. COMMANDER-IN-CHlEF.—According to the Scotsman in the supposed proximate event of the retire ment of the Duke of Cambridge from the post of Com mander-in-Chief, it is generally understood that the command of the army will be given to Sir William Mans field, the office having suffered so much of mutation that it will constitute a kind of responsible Under-Secretary ship of the War Department. Possibly the statement which was current a short time ago, that Sir William Mansfield was to be Secretary for War, may be traced to some undefined knowledge of the likelihood just described of his becoming Commander-in-Chief of the army. A SECOND REA BOD Y.—M r. Cowasjee Jehanghier Readymoney, C. S. I. ' of Bombay, has just made the fol lowing timely gifts to London charities :—To the Lord Mayor, for the City poor-boxes, £lO ; Middlesex Hospital, £lO ; Royal Free Hospital, £lO ; London Hospital, £lO ; Homccoputhic Hospital, £10; Royal Hospital for Incu rables, £lO 10s. ; Houseless Poor Asylum, £lO • Boys' Refuge, Great Queen-street, £lO ; Girls' Refuge, Broad street, Bloomsbury, £lO ; Shipwrecked Mariners' Society, £lO ; Printers' Pension Society, £lO ; and Strangers' Home, Limehouse, £lO. The publi c b ene f ac ti ons o f M r. Cowasjee Jehanghier Readymoney during the last twenty five years have exceeded £127,000, while his private gifts have been proportionately large. OUR COTEMPORARIES---This Morning THE TERMS OF PEACE. The Times, reviewing the present position of the con flict, says :—The hopes of the most stout-hearted friend of France must quail as he realises the terrible position to which she has been reduced by the defeat of General Chanzy. 'Ti the fortunes of the country be not absolutely hopeless—if it cannot be said that under no possible combination of energy and endur e ance could the war be so prolonged as to weary out the resolution of the present victors, the state of France is still so desperate that her sincerest wellwishers musb deprecate the further maintenance of an exhausting and ruinous defence. If terms at all compatible with the hon our of the nation can be obtained from the German leaders they ought not to be rejected on the mere responsibility of any Government, however much it has been so far assured of the support of the people. , We know not whether such terms would be allowed by the King and Count Bismarck. It has been the wisdom of the latter statesman to abstain from express ing the German demands in any definite form. The journals of Berlin have been encouraged to put forth from time tc: time different con diti ons o f peace. Th e " pro f essors '' have broached the wildest theories as to the extent to which outlying territories should be incorporated in United Germany, and have provoked no sign of dissatisfaction. Only Dr. Jacoby and his two or three allies, who have opposed the popular cry for conquest, have suffered for their boldness. In the high-handed conduct of Von Falkenstein, and the contemptuous phrases let fall by the Chancellor in the interview at Ferri4res, is to be found all' that is really known of the terms demanded by Germany. The first step towards the restoration of peace must be to ascer tain from the Germans whai; conditions will satisfy them. Count Bismarck will not volunteer them unasked, and the Government of Defence is_ as little dis- , posed to address inquiries to Versailles. Yet the know' ledge of these conditions of peace is necessary, and we can have no doubt as to the channel through which they should be discovered. It is the duty and the function of the neutral Powers to step in between the combatants so far as to let ea c h k now w h a t it i s t o w hich the other is willing to agree as a means of terminating the war. THE NEW PEACE PROPOSALS. Every motive of policy, every selfish interest, every generous impulse, says the Standard, impels us to use our utmost endeavours to bring about a conclusion of the Franco-German war. All interest in the conference must be suspended until this first and greater business has been disposed of. It is surely worth while to make another trial of our vaunted moral force, so that we may be spared the horrors of the bombardment and burning of Paris. A proposal has come to us from Vienna, we do know on what authority, containing certain terms which seem to offer a reasonable basis of peace. They include the surrender of 20 ships of war, the payment of a sum amount ing to about 150 millions sterling, and the concession of a strip, of territory four German miles broad along the left bank of the Rhine. These demands are more moderate than any which have been yet propounded from the German side, and show a considerable abatement from the spirit which once would be content with nothing less than the surrender.of Alsace and Lorraine. It is not for us to say whether they are such terms as France ought to accept, but we may fairly re commend their being considered. They do not involve any permanent injury or serious humiliation to the French nation, and if it is true that they have emanated from Count Bismarck the fact is a proof at least of a desire to negotiate. The opening thus afforded for an armistice, with a view to a permanent peace, ought not to. be lost by the neutral Powers. We believe that nothing is lacking to this end but the countenance of England. That coun tenance must be given, and something more, or else the Government of Mr. Gladstone will have a heavy reckon ing to settle with the English people. Weak and ill pro vided as we are in respect to armaments, through the treachery of our military managers, it is impossible but that if we speak earnestly and resolutely, with all the force which our real latent power ought to give us, we must still be listened to with dread, if not with respect, at the head-quarters of King William. Germany will lose nothing of her just rights by being compelled to stop the war at the present point. She will ever have cause for gratitude in that she has been enabled to secure all the legiti mate fruits of her victories, and to retire without further loss. "France will be saved from a wound which would leave a rankling sore in her side for all time ; and Europe will be preserved from the shameful and disastrous spectacle of the destruction of Paris. A FORCIBLE PEACE. Commenting on the general cry for English mediation, the Daily News remarks :—Hopeless as the struggle must be so long as raw levies are matched against well-tried veteran troops, the determined resistance which defers the moment of final submission, and prolongs indefinitely the agony of defeat, can but win, as it has won, the sympathy of Europe. We are, however, bound to ask, so far as this country is concerned, to what ex tent that sympathy must go. There is a party which is chewing its activity at the present moment which, without altogether confessing its object, is for forcing our Government into the fight. Had we told France that if the invasion of Germany. was attempted we should take the weaker side and help to punish the aggressor, France would have hesitated before she began the war. But we did not do so. Our policy is non-interference: We no longer meddle as our ancestors did in other people's quarrels, nor fight other people's battles, but mind our own busi ness and try to pay the interest on the huge debt our grandfathers incurred by their meddling policy. Having, by unanimous consent, let the fit opportunity for effectual interference pass, we are now asked to interfere without any opportunity at all. What we are requested to do is not to step between the combatants and try to separate them, but at once to throw our cap into the ring and fight the conqueror. Wo are to stop this war by at once beginning another ; to put an end to bloodshed by extending. it ; to get France out of hot water by embroiling all Europe. As to the cost of such an interference, that is, of course, a fleabite. Many thousands of soldiers killed, a few hundred million% added to the National Debt, a complete stoppage of trade, starvation and misery in the streets, would perhaps lead on to Professor Beesly's millen. ilium, but England mightbe injured and France not saved. We trust Lord Granville will go on as he has begun, will keep on the even tenor of his diplomatic way, and in the future as in the past keep us equally free from entangling alliances and more entangling quarrels. Our attitude is that of mediating neutrals, and our policy is peace. We shall speak, when the time comes for speech, with all the greater force, because our Government has so admirably kept its friendly attitude towards both sides. It is not for us to quarrel with France or Germany because they have quarrelled with each other ; but stand ing altogether apart from their strife, it may be for us to mediate between them, to impose moderation on the one side, and to dictate wisdom to the other, when the proper moment for our interference comes. THE DEFENCE OF PARIS. The Telegraph says : —The whole defence of Paris is so marvellous and unprecedented that we hesitate to form any prognostication as to the effect that the bombard ment of the suburbs may produce. It may be that the popular passion which has sustained Paris so long may suddenly collapse; but judg ing by our experience of the past, •we should say that the apparent inefficiency of the besiegers' efforts, still confined to the more or less un occupied districts within the walls, is likely to encourage rather than dishearten the defenders of the shellscapita will To- e morrow night into P i tis Paris—shells , ttohoa,t filledt thousandwith. flammable materials, so as to set the city on fire wherever they fall. The effect of such a " feu d'enfer" is awful to contemplate ; but for the present we must doubt whether any such bombardment be prac ticable, unless the Prussians have a large num ber of guns much more powerful than any that they have yet employed. Until we see positive reason to the contrary, we cannot credit the Prussians with the in tention assigned to them of delibrately destroying the Hotel de Ville, the Luxembourg, and the Hotel des Invalides. Probably the intention is to direct the fire of shells upon the most crowded parts of the city, in which those buildings happen to stand, with the view Of forcing the inhabitants into submission by terror. The idea is still horrible enough in itself ; hilt it is less purposely and idlybarbarous than a proposal to select the grandest historic monuments of the city as targets for the Prussian artillery. Never theless, for the reason we have explained, we hope that the range of the guns will not. reach the denser districts of Paris till existence is acknowledged to be useless. Meanwhile, be the issue what it may, it is impossible not to pay a tribute of respect to the heroic defence. For days the Parisians have heard the roar of cannon pouring broadsides into their forts ; they even hear shells burst within their walls; they have witnessed the terrible havoc that bombs can work—and there is yet no talk of submis sion. Would London behave as gallantly if she were besieged for months ? We hope and believe that she would ; but we can only say, that England would indeed have cause to be proud if her capital shelved such devo tion and heroism as we witness in the defence of the brilliant metropolis now undergoing so fearful an ordeal. 3d, by of 3. I by alce ring yes ueen EY. 3n of lord Mr. irne, 'ship , but uired here r ad the acts, :,eece, ccess. wish 'ho is