The Sun. — London, England, 1871-02-01 00:00:00

• was mem- Nork y by a the Serve, Crary, kmen !eally iendly , and, tation a and should .epa rt- e food lociety mency option st and after, ins for again be re- .00llen. :nt mo idly re entelle s a point, :t is the ould not sable. ag very to is not The rs, and Dresses one to readthe, at on at B join, s veadthe :,k being ran do they are n d crow he dress, m ; they e always Int, with )r left to s, under 1-door or !ed at the :h bodies are very vary but ,feathers or long ►f bonnet [read any trimmed Our lead fashion of the office' lie Hospi• ;nt of the that the n and was weeks ago ng man a criminal nursemaid )FFICE.- -- Common ter-carrier ing a nub' , and Was nas MerrY, stealing a o stolen la and a ring Post-office the person found it / 0 Lonths' hard OITY.-*" blic Schools nn gives the s is 273, at ing Deceur nber taugh t tics of 18 6° idance taught WO . increase 10_ increase 1 ° kttention increased cent. The sters during 1,554 ; was 92,3 3 z New Yor k mar scheoP; grar ute s 54 prima% pupils ; ; L,140 pupi ls a ns for 1, 02 ie ag,gregat°, ;e attenclaoce chihirer; fl i o i s, w ith sing schoo, )rural CO ue9 t ,tt e ndanc e .:, the sl2Pe tl ib i iven to v °e se .able exP ell . o 3yond sit t g . .otwithstollo; 3ro ployea ~pl 9 cos tly sur age of r T he r small 4 , of cola*" LATEST INTELLIGENCE SUN OFFICE, 8 A.M. THE WAR. THE CAPITULATION AND THE ARMISTICE. VERSAILLES, Jar entry 30. The Official Journal of Paris contains the Conven tion in full. M. Jules Favre has requested the authorities to check the entry of persons into Paris. tine Prussians have sent in cattle to meet the im mediate distress. Mr. Blount is appointed British Consul. Postal communication is opened. January 31. M. Favre having represented that the calculations respecting food in Paris were found to be erroneous by eight days, and that the population was already in much suffering, the German Emperor ordered three millions of rations to be sent in at once from the German Army. Satisfaction is expressed at the manner in which the French authorities have behaved in delivering up the forts. It will be at least a week before the railways to Paris can be repaired. Valdrien was not mined, only the outer earth works. It is said firing was heard at Belleville and Villette yesterday as of disturbances had broken out. It is feared the French error as to food supply wil lead to distress which cannot be alleviated. TELEGR iM FROM ME EMPEROR WILLIAM. A telegram from the Emperor to the Empress, January 30th, says :—The occupation of all the forts, including St. Denis, was completed in the course of yesterday without resistance or disturbance. From our siege batteries I saw the Prussian colours on Fort Issy. Snow and thaw prevail to-day. The sth Jager Battalion, which has been on outpost duty since the 19th September, has just marched in, and appeared in excellent condition. In the last sortie it lost 5 officers and 80 men. BORDEAUX, Jannary 28, 2.10 p.m. M. Gambetta does not go to London. General Bourbaki, having been wounded, ceases to command the army, and has been replaced by General Clinchamp. VERSAILLES, January 30. The execution of the Armistice Convention was proceeded with to-day before Paris without hindrance. —Times. The following telegrams come through Reuter's agenoy THE FALL OF PARIS. VERSAILLES, January 31. In the north and west of France the Armistice is being carried out without difficulty. TERMS OF THE CAPITULATION. Monday's advices from Royal Headquarters at Versailles give the principal conditions of the capitu lation of the Paris forts:— " The armistice is to begin in Paris at once, and in the departments in three days, and is to expire on the 19th February at noon. " The line of demarcation which has been settled cuts the departments of Calvados and Orne, leaving the departments of Sarthe, Indre and Loire, Loir and Cher, Loiret, Yonne, and the country which lies north-east, besides the Pas de Calais and Nord in German occupation. " A. decision as to the armistice relative to the Cote d'Or, Doubs, Jura, and Belfort, is reserved. Up to that time the military operations in that part of France, including the siege of Belfort, will be continued, "Sea forces are to be included in the armistice, the meridian of Dnnquerque to form the line of demarca tion during the interval, from the conclusion of the armistice and the recommencement of hostilities. The prisoners and prizes made shall be restored. " Elections for an Assembly to decide upon war or peace shall be held, Bordeaux being fixed upon as the place of meeting. " All the forts around Paris are to surrender at once. The enceinte shall be disarmed. The Line, Marines, and Mobile Guards are prisoners of war, except 12,000 men for maintaining public order. The prisoners of war shall remain during the armistice within the walls of the capital, after they have laid down their arms. The National Guards and Gendarmes are to keep their arms for the preservation of order, and all corps of Francs-tireurs to be disbanded. "The Germans shall, as much as lays in their Power, facilitate the task of the French Commissariat for revictualling Paris. In order to leave Paris, the Permission of the French authorities must necessa rily be accompanied by the German visa. The city of Paris is to pay a contribution of 200,000,000 francs 'Within a fortnight. Public property is not to be removed during the armistice. "All German prisoners of war shall immediately be exchanged against a proportionate number of French Prisoners ; also captains of vessels and others, as well as civilian prisoners on both sides." THE PROVISIONING OF PARIS. The Memorial de Lille says, at the request of the Merchants at Lille the railway administration had asked at Versailles whether the direct line to Paris by Amiens would be promptly re-opened. Count tismarck replied immediately, on Monday, as follows : "In order not to lo se ti me I i n f orm y ou th a t, the direct lines being interrupted, to re-establish them will require some days. The line by Dieppe can alone be used to Paris. It will, therefore, be neces sary to send by sea to Dieppe, with an indication that the goods are to be forwarded as quickly as Possible. Paris for some days can only be victualled by German provisions." GA INIBE TTA'S DECISION. BORDEAUX, January 30. A decree of the Prefect suspends all theatrical re presentations until further orders. The theatres 11111 remain open for public meetings. The despatch announcing the resolution of the Paris Government I va s Posted up in many of the towns yesterday even -17) and ha s cause d grea t gr i e f an d cons t erna ti on . . several towns demonstrations in favour of resist -gee a outrance were made. .._At Lisieux the populace tore down the placard gusiouncing the Armistice, 311 -• Gambetta telegraphed as follows to the Pre ee,te yesterday evening . r ` ll l sending you this morning the despatch . re from Versailles, I informed you that I It is make my personal decision known to you. is this :—I have decided to maintain the status 2140 until the arrival of the personage announced ile um Paris. His arrival may be immediately ex jr4etecl: as he may hare left Paris last night; alialllecliately after having an interview with him, vi se a re ceiving his explanati ons , y ou w ill b e ad ti of th e p o li t i ca l reso l ves wh i ch I shall have of at. ci -r,. tee meantime remain firm and confident.' ' G ambetta h as t o -d a y sen t th e f o ll ow i ng d e - Patch to the Prefects and Sub-Prefects : 0111_0.. ont inue to drill con ti nuous ly th e Mobilized woui 4r c r who ar e s till i n your department. Any delay be a serious mistake during the time of respite , which painful circumstances require us to utilize at once for the defence of the country. The blockade is raised all along the coast." DEPARTURE OF JULES SIMON FOR BORDEAUX. M. Jules Simon, Minister of Public Instruction, has left Paris for Bordeaux to confer with the members of the Government outside Paris. M. Simon has been chosen for this mission in consequence of his having represented Bordeaux in the Corps L6gislatif in preference to representing Paris, he having been elected for both places. PUBLIC OPINION IF LYONS AND MARSEILLES. BORDEAUX, January 30. Advices from Lyons state that the news of the capitulation of the Paris forts and the armistice created tremendous excitement in that town, espe cially in the district of Croix Rouge. The war a outrance was the rallying word of the workmen. At Marseilles the news produced great agita tion, the majority 'favouring :a continuance of the war. GENERAL BOURBAKI'S ARMY. A telegram from the Headquarters at Versailles says that General Bourbaki's army was between the army of General Manteuffel and the Swiss frontier. Reports from Arbois up to Monday state that the advanced guard of the 14th division of the Army of the South on Sunday afternoon came up with the retreating French army to the west of Pontarlier, on the Swiss frontier. Sombacourt and Chaffois were taken by storm, and about 3,000 prisoners and 6 guns captured. A Berlin telegram says that Bourbaki's army has crossed the Swiss frontier, but another message from Hamburg denies this. MILITARY MOVEMENTS. A. telegram from Royal head-quarters :at Versailles says :—On the 28th, at Blois, Colonel Below burnt the bridge as the enemy on the left bank of the Loire was pressing forward against the town. On the following day the enemy withdrew again to the south. On the 28th instant the Second Corps cap tured at Nozeroy a transport wagon. The 4th Re serve Division on the 26th advanced as far as Pattevaut, capturing 200 prisoners. THE SIEGE OF BELFORT. PRUNTRUT, January 31. The bombardment of Belfort continues. The 24th French corps has escaped southwards. The remainder of General Bourbaki's army is cut off, and is being forced towards the Swiss frontier. ENGAGEMENT NEAR DIJON. LYONS, January 29. An engagement has occurred near Dijon between the advanced posts, which extended over a consider able distance in the direction of Gray, when oeveral Prussians were captured. The commanders of the troops on returning to Dijon were informed of the despatch of M. Favre. With great grief they proceeded to obey the orders given, and arranged the demarcation of their posi tions. THE POWERS OF THE BORDEAUX DELEGATION. Despatches have been received at Brussels from Paris, dated Monday, announcing that the Central Government of Paris has telegraphed to the Bor deaux Delegation that the powers granted them are henceforth annulled, and that any action taken will only be legal if made in conjunction and upon the mutual understanding with the Central Government in Paris.—Lombard Telegram. THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, schooner Glenfeadon, bound from Truro to Neath. There was nothing living on board except a dog. It is supposed she got into collision, and the crew escaped. The owner is Mr. D, W. Bayne, of Portreath. She now lies in Swanpea port. BEFORE THE CAPITULATION. Writing on the eve of the capitulation, the special cor respondent of the Standard at Versailles remarks :—The plot seems to thicken. Not only is Paris divided against itself ; France seems on the verge of following her example. Peace is the rock on which the nation is in danger of splitting. It is evident that although the capitulation is now only a matter of days, per haps of hours even, there is a serious obstacle some where in the way of terms being concluded, and the ques tion is, where does this block lie ? The fact that during the very hours spent by the Foreign Minister of France in amicable conference with. Bismarck the Prussian • and French batteries were firing into one another with redoubled vigour, is a proof, if others were wanting, that the course of peace, like that of love, does not always run smoothly. At times, indeed, as in this instance, it is painfully rugged. There are many who, arguing in favour of their conviction that the war will be continued in spite of the fall of the capital, think that they clinch their argu ment by saying Paris is not France. Physically speaking they are right, metaphysically, they are wrong. Any one who knows the French people will agree with me in this, and no one has studied their character more than Bismarck himself. When, therefore, Jules Favre arrived at Count Bismarck's to treat for the capitu lation of Paris, the wily diplomatist, dropping the imme diate subject of the envoy's mission, asked him in a direct manner if he could not treat for peace at the same time. This Jules Favre stated he was unable to do in the absence of proper authority, remarking, as another excuse, on his ignorance of the feelings prevalent among the French people. The representatives of the Government in Paris having accepted the situation, and allowed, what all disinterested observers must have seen for some time past, that the whole of the inhabitants of the North of France are pining for peace, are naturally anxious to conclude terms at once, knowing that the Prussians must be in Paris in a day or two, and that every hour's delay after that will be attended with serious and useless loss to. the the capital. But what of the South, the inhabitants of which are more ignorant than those in the North, and who have not experienced in their own persons the calamities occasioned by war ? Gam betta, who has returned to Bordeaux, replies, on being referred to, that he and his colleagnes there concur in giving Jules Favre full powers to treat, but, while acknowledging that the game.is played out in the North, states that in the South the people are unwilling to make peace on any terms. In vAin Jules Favre and General Beaufort, the military representative, tried to induce the conquerors to modify their demand. The French envoys are, indeed, to be pitied ; they stand in the position of men who, with death and desolation following in their track, see before them a haven of peace, to reach which, how ever, they must cross a quicksand where one false step will envelope them in destruction. Need I say that this quicksand represents the Parisian rabble. It is said that at first Bismarck and his Imperial pupil were willing to forego the triumphal entry into Paris, but that Moltke strenuously insisted upon it, plainly stating that he could not be answerable for the army if the soldiers were denied the reward they justly claimed. A smaller amount of brain than that collected in the council-room at Versailles would at once see that the best way out of the difficulty is by arrang- ing that immediately on the terms of the capitu lation being published in the - capital, the Prussians should be put in possession of a spot overlooking the city, and thereby overawing the populace. When I heard this morning that some Prussian officers were going at once to Mont Valerien, strange as it seemed, I, for the reasons above given, believed it. By way, however, of softening the blow to Paris, it may be that the Germans have promised that if Mont Valerien is placed in their hands, the entry into the capital will not be made until the nation has concluded peace. Paris may then say she opened her gates only when the country was no longer able to sustain the conflict, though, after having held out for 132 days, her defence reflects sufficient glory on her defenders without resorting to quibbles. RUSSIA. ST. PETERSBURG, January M. General Prince Wittgenstein, Russian Military Plenipotentiary at Paris, left here to-day en route for London and Paris. INUNDATION AT SMYRNA. CONSTANTINOPLE, January 31. The dykes of Melles, at Smyrna, have been de stroyed by a torrent, and a large part of Smyrna is inundated. The railway bridge at Aidin has fallen in with a train of 15 carriages, four persons being killed. The number of casualties at Smyrna is as yet unknown.—Reuter's Telegram. INDIA. CALCUTTA January 81. The Looshai inroad is more serious than was at first supposed. There has been considerable loss of life, but chiefly among the raiders, who were stoutly met by the planters and coolies. There are three ways by which eachar can be in vaded from the south. At each point there was a guard, but too weak to resist this inroad. Nothing further is known of Mr. Edgar. His report of the success of his mission reached one tea-garden immediately after the raiders had been repulsed. Troops under the chief commandant on the Eastern frontier were promptly ordered up, and orders are ready, if they should be needed, for Chittagong. THE CONFERENCE. CONSTANTINOPLE, January 31. It is reported here that the Conterence will not be closed until France is represented. The Sultan has telegraphed congratulations to King William on his being proclaimed Emperor of Germany.— Times. There was no meeting of the Conference at the Foreign Office on Tuesday. Earl Granville is indis posed. • We understand that Captains Ball and Vivian (Queen's Messengers) have just arrived in London, the one from Marseilles, and the other from Bor deaux.—Pall Mall Gazette. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) THE RESTORATION OF THE PAPAL DOMINIONS. The Earl of Denbigh delivered an address in Liverpool last night, at the annual reunion of the Catholic Young Men's Societies, and announced that a Catholic Union was being organised to restore the Papal dominions to the Pope. THE REPRESENTATION OF NORWICH. Mr. Howell last night addressed a meeting of Norwich electors, but was listened to with great impatience; eventually he intimated that he would not prosecute his canvass further. SIR CHARLES WINGFIELD, M.P., AND HIS CONSTITUENTS. Sir C. Wingfield, M.P., addressed a meeting of his constituents at Gravesend last night. He pledged him self to support the ballot, and urged the abolition of the purchase system in the army. He expressed himself as opposed to the Contagious Diseases Act, and declared his intention to vote for a dowry being granted to the Princess Louise. The meeting passed a vote of confi dence in the hon. member. THE MEMBERS FOR WIGAN AND THEIR CONSTITUENTS. The members for Wigan addressed their constituents in that town last night. Mr. Woods expressed his general approval of the Education Bill, the defects of which could easily be remedied through the wedium of household suf frage. Mr. Lancaster pledged himself, if the Government did not do so, to introduce a clause into the Mines Regu lation Bill providing for the payment of colliers by weight instead of by measure. A vote of confidence in both the hon. members was passed. A SCHOONER AND VALUABLE CARGO ABAN DONED IN THE BRISTOL CHANNEL. . Yesterday afternoon a schooner, laden with copper ore, was towed into Swansea by the steam tug Pero Gomez. She was picked up about nine miles north-east of the Mumbles Head by the schooner Liberty, Captain House, of New Quay. On being boarded she was found to be the GALE AT QUEENSTOWN. A heavy gale of wind has visited Queenstown, and raged with unabated violence at nine o'clock last night. Several small casualties have occurred in the harbour. The Liverpool boat was compelled to bear up in conse quence of the storm. A great deal of injury has been done to house property. TRAMWAYS IN tRISTOL. At a meeting of the Town Council of Bristol, held yes day, it was decided that it was desirable to have tramways in the city, but that they ought to be provided by the Corporation. COURT-MARTIAL. A court-martial assembled on board H.M.S. Northum berladd, at Portland, yesterday, to try Mr. William Mason, boatswain of the first class, belonging to H.M.S. Monarch, for drunkenness in the streets. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and was ordered to lose five years' seniority, and be dismissed his ship. MURDER AT BRADFORD. A murder'was committed yesterday morning, at Blake hall tHouse, Eccleshill, Bradford, the residence of Mr. Joshua Armitage, the senior partner in the firm of Messrs. Armitage and Ibbetson, engravers, Bradford. Mr. Armitage, who has for some time been out of his mind, lived at home under the care of a private attend ant. Yesterday he attacked his keeptr, named John Howard, and, after a severe struggle, both being power ful men, strangled him with a towel, which he bad brought from his bedroom. SERIOUS CHARGE OF FRAUD. At the Town -Hall, Leicester, Charles Bailey, fish monger, was charged with obtaining whiskey, valued at nearly £lOO, from George Roe and Co., distillers, Dublin, under false pretences. The prisoner, who was a member of a " long firm," it was alleged, wrote to Messrs. Roe, ordering two hogsheads of whiskey, informing them by telegraph that a remittance should be sent in the week. Upon the faith of this telegram the goods were forwarded, but no payment has yet been made. The prisoner was apprehended in the Mansfield Theatre on Monday night, when in reply to the charge he said that he was going to get 200 boxes of oranges, and he intended to give a small bottle of whiskey to all who bought a box. On him was found a case of flash jewel lery. He had taken up his abode in the Market Place, Mansfield, and a large number of letters were found upon him, addressed from that place, in the name of Losby, to various firms in Ireland and• Scotland, requesting to be supplied with eggs, bacon, and provisions. One order was addressed to John Allen, who lives within 100 yards of the prisoner, inquiring the price of pork pies. Prisoner was remanded till Saturday, when he will be committed for trial. LONGTON (STAFFORDSHIRE) SCHOOL BOARD. The following gentlemen have been elected on the Longton (Staffordshire) School Board on Tuesday. The Rev. Adam Clarke, Churchman ; Mr. Hulse, Wesleyan ; Father Isley, Roman Catholic; Mr. Mayer, working man ; Mr. Palmer, Methodist New Connexion ; Mr. Goddard, Churchman ; Mr. Ashwell, Churchman; Mr. Wellman, Churchman. MR. CHILDERS.' The First Lord of the Admiralty has gone for a short cruise in the Black Eagle, for the restoration of his health, which is rapidly improving. It is quite untrue that he has gone to the Mediterranean. On the contrary, Mr. Childers's trip will not extend beyond a short distance, within reach of telegraph and post.—Morn ing PoBt. CONSERVATIVE BANQUET AT SHREWS BURY. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAM.) A great Conservative demonstration took place at Shrewsbury yesterday. The number of guests at the banquet was about 300, and included nearly all the lead ing Conservatives in the county. Mr. Kenyon, Q. C., presided, and amongst the company were Mr. Straight, M.P., Mr. Figgins, M.P., Mr. Ormsby-Gore, M.P., General Percy Herbert, M.P., Colonel Clive, M.P., General Forester, M. P., Viscount Newport, M. P., Sir Baldwin Layton, Sir C. R. Boughton, and Sir H. Hartage. Viscount Newport, in proposing the first toast, said Conservatism, as proved by the acts of the party, meant safe progress, a fact which was clearly established by the passing of the Reform Bill. He believed that when the army and the navy had been put in a proper condition the country would recognise the wisdom of the Conservative party, which had protested against that exercise of a forced economy which had now rendered necessary the increase of the army at an enormous cost. — General Forester, M.P., replying to the toast of " The Army and Navy," said that the " peace at any price " party had reduced the country to such a state that at the outbreak of the present war it could not have sent 30,000 troops into the field. He took the oppor tunity of warning the country against the aggressive cha. ratter of the policy of Prussia.—Mr. Ormsby Gore,M.P., condemned the cheeseparing economy of the present Government, and contended that the feeling of the coun try was adverse to the Government. —Colonel Percy Herbert M.P., called attention to the momentous issues that might arise from the army and navy not being in a proper state of preparation. He commented strongly upon the fact that the War Minister had been unable to raise 20,000 men during the period in which Prussia had been achiev ing a series of victories unexampled in history.—Colonel Corbett, M.P., protested against the present organisation of the Militia, and insisted that a great change in that direction should be immediately made.—Mr. Straight and Mr. Figgins, the members for Shrewsbury, were received with great enthusiasm, and delivered effective speeehes. THE MEMBERS FOR SOUTH LEICESTER- SHIRE. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAM.) Last night Mr. Albert Pell, M.P., and Mr. William Unwin Heygate, M.P., the members for South Leicestershire, attended a dinner of the Lutterworth Conservative Association. In replying to the toast of " The Members for South Leicester shire,"Mr. Pell said he had no desire to see his own party in power, as it would be much more powerful in opposition. Referring to military affairs, he con tended that it was sufficient for England to have an army equal to maintaining- her position at home and her colonial possessions, and resisting any invasion that might be attempted. The voluntary principle ought to be introduced into the military estab lishments of this country. The navy, he conside red, was defective, and he trusted that when Parliament assembled the Government would be called to account for the loss of the Captain, which had been caused by gross mismanage ment. Mr. Pell said he should not oppose the Ballot, and denounced the disestablishment of the Irish Church, and the Irish Land Bill. He advocated middle-class education, and felt sure all would unite in aiding Govern ment to show their ability in the reconstruction of the military forces of England as they had shown their destructiveness in Ireland. Mr. Heygate regretted that the Education Act had not passed in the form in which it was introduced into the House of Commons, and considered that Mr. Forster had been sadly abused by his party, who had received a very liberal measure. As to the reorganisation of the army, he considered that the country was too ewe -11 y frightened, and too liable to fits of economy and extravagance. He did not sym pathise with those Radical gentlemen who desired to plunge England into war, and thought with Lord Derby that we should consider the scope and intention of our policy, the protection of our country and colonies, and the observance of.treaty obligations before we decided upon army reform. Mr. Heygate denounced the Irish policy of the Govern ment as a miserable failure, and argued in favour of local taxation and of placing upon the Consolidated Fund cer tain charges which were of an Imperial character. Eighty lives have been lost by the explosion of the steamer Arthur on the Mississippi on Saturday last. Baron Hambro has transmitted a donation of £lOO to the committee of the French Benevolent Society (Soci6te Francaise de Bienfaisance). In the February number of Good Words Tenny son's poem, " The Mist, and the Pain," from the " Songs of the Wrens," is reprinted with the music of Arthur Sulliyan. .• . , A subscription list for the relief of those left destitute by the recent colliery explosion at Renishaw, near Ecking ton, has been opened. Over £l,OOO have already been obtained. THE DISTRESS AROUND PARIS. Writing from Margency, the special correspondent of the Daily News observes :—lf the hostile occupation were to last much l onger , no doubt stores would come to an end, and the villagers would have to depend on the German troops, and sometimes be very hungry. But as yet there is 'no call for laying out money among them for their sustenance ; and, as matters are just now, money expended for any other purpose than just to tide them over the dismal hour would be wasted. There will, however, come a time when every penny that we can spare will be urgently wanted.. I think Paris may be trusted to do her own work of relief. The local mayors have plenty of money, and never fear but that private enterprise will bring to market materia on which it may be spent. But it is very different with the suburban villages. To these will flock their old in habitants, the refugees now in Paris, the waifs and strays now drifting about the back country. The snug cottages that they left, with the hectare or two of daintily tilled garden ground and the winter store of provisions and firewood, they will find mere wrecked shells, incapable even of affording their owners a barren shelter. There will be an interval of syncope—that is inevitable—in which the mere keeping to life, without giving a thought to retrieval, will be a problem that many unaided will fail to solve. To face and dissipate the abjectness of this syncope, to plough up the dismal fallow waste of human misery that will be soddening round Paris—that is the task for us. Bread and meat will be wanted as the first reouirement, but food alone will not stimulate the people sufficiently to shake off the apathy of despair their surroundings will so inevitably engender. Put spades in their hands ; send them kitchen garden seeds and young cabbage plants ; give them the chance to feel that they are once more helping themselves, as they were wont to do before the thundercloud of war burst over their heads. The genial spring time is not far off, and the tooth of Paris ever watereth after its salad stuff. With judicious help, not administered after a pauperising fashion—and pauperism is far readier than jealousy to grow by what it feeds on—the more humble inhabitants of the villages around Paris might be on their legs again by midsummer. I do not see how, with decent justice to our home chari ties, we can deal with any other class. Our role is not surely to give compensation for ruined villas or the sack of detached family residences. NEWS OF THE CAPITULATION IN THE NORTH. The special correspondent of the Telegraph sends the following from Amiens, dated January 29 :—Last night telegram from Versailles threw every one into a perfect fever. Gene/al von Moltke telegraphs a cessation of all hostilities, pending an armistice, from the 31st inst. at twelve noon. At the moment I write France is, so .to speak, tranquil. The respective armies and corps halt in those places in which this messenger of peace finds them ; the Fianc-tireur forgets to load his weapon ; the Mobile gets drunk in anticipation; the soldier of France lets his memory wander back to the blood-stained fields of Spicheren, Mars-la-Tour, and Gravelotte, of Woerth and Sedan, where France's honour and France's chivalry were sacrificed to a miserable incapacity. The stout legions of the Emperor of Germany received the intelligence of this chance of an " end " with their usual stolid reserve ; but the glitter of the eye, the heaving of the breast, and the grasp of the hand tell that in imagination they are already far on their way back to Fatherland. Then comes the still more important news : " The German troops under orders for the seat of war are to remain where they are." This is a sure indication that we are, perhaps, at the " beginning of the end." "On the 31st of January, at twelve noon, an armistice will com mence." Such is the short but decisive telegrams, and by that time the position of the First Army will be as follows :—The bulk of the army now stands on and behind the River Somme. General Gayl, com manding the Ist Division of the First Army Corps, will by that time be in and about Roisel, north-east of Peronne. Fins and Le Catelet will also be occupied. The 15th Division, under General Kummer, will occupy Acheux, with outposts at Bucquoy. The 16th Division, under General Barnekow, will hold Bapaume, and a detachment of the 15th Division will occupy Doullens. Count Groben with his cavalry will advance on the road to Abbeville, and General Bentheim, with the 2nd Divi sion of the lst Army Corps, will, if possible, occupy Dieppe. Curious is the effect the welcome message of Peace has had upon both French and Germans. The inhabitants rush into one another's houses, kiss, shake hands, laugh and cry by turns. The Ger mans grasp one another by the hand, and think of their Fatherland, and the hearts that are waiting and yearning after their return. Suddenly, while all this joy and gladness are visible in every street and alley of Amiens, the sounds are hushed, as the slow and measured tramp of soldiers, bearing a coffin covered with its pall of black and white, and surmounted by the dead officer's helmet, is borne along. He who lies under that velvet pall was every inch a soldier and a gentleman, a comrade and a friend. Major Hohlleben, commanding the 2nd battalion of the 40th--- the " fighting" 40th, the Hohenzollern Fusiliers—was severely wounded by a piece of shell while gallantly lead ing his men at the battle of St. Quentin. Amputation was necessary, and the day before yesterday he sank under the effects. 871. PRUSSIAN EXECUTIONS AT CHALONS, The Echo du Nord of January 30 says : " M. Dantre vile, an engineer, arrived from Chalons, informs us that on Sunday, January 22, the deputy mayor, the school• master, and two notables of the commune of Montmirail, were shot in the Champ de Mars, under take follow circumstances : " ' The mayor and deputy,the eure,and the schoolmaster of that commune, convicted of having aided and harboured some Franc-tireurs, were arrested by the Prussian autho rities. The mayor and the cure having made their escape, two notables were arrested in their place, and all taken to Chalons. On Saturday, January 21, the municipality of Chalons were ordered to prepare four graves in the Champ de Mars, and furnish four coffins. On Saturday morning the dep'ity mayor, the schoolmaster, and the two notables were taken to the place cf execution in a waggon, and placed in front of their respective graves. The deputy mayor on account of his age (68 years) was shot with his eyes bandaged, and the three others shared the same fate at intervals of four minutes. The municipality registered an official report of the facts. On the same day the mayor of Chalons was ordered to pay a requisi tion of 200,000 francs for having expelled the Germans employed in the town.' " THE OCCUPATION OF ST. DENIS BY THE GERMANS. From Margency, January 29, the special correspondent of the Daily News with the Headquarters of the Crown Prince of Saxony sends the following by special despatch : —At three o'clock this morning came Major Kransa, from Versailles, with the tidings of the capitulation and the terms. In the early morning Major von Welcke rode into St. Denis to arrange with the commandant the surrender of the surrounding forts. At 10 a.m. the Crown Prince of Saxony and his staff set out for St. Denis. As we passed the little church in the village the military garrison was singing. When we got to the outpost village of La Barre there was a halt. Welcke had not returned ; the commandant was understood to be sulky, and the aspect of the French troops was threatening. While the staff watched, a rough lunch took place in a ruined house. The major returned, but not with tidings that all was settled. He went back, accompanied by Lieutenant von Tinnuever, to bring back word when all was settled. Meanwhile the Crown Prince and his Staff waited. A strong body of troops was marched forward. The whole of the Kaiser Franz Regiment of the 26th, and four field batteries of the 4th Army Corps, pushed and halted at a spot mid way beteen St. Denis and Enghien. Before this a staff of engineer officers had gone to the fort, accompanied by a detachment, to draw the charges from the mines, and two companies of siege artillery were sent on to take over the guns and magazines. Soon after two o'clock, although von Welcke did not return, the Prince started. Welcke met him at the half-way house, and reported a conversation with the representative officer of the Etat Major, who had explained that the troops had not all evacuated St. Denis, and that the population, most of which was armed, looked somewhat threatening. He therefore counselled a strong body of occupation. Welcke and Tinnuever had themselves been unmolested ; but testified to much disorder, which, however, was gradually dying out, as the inevitable came to be accepted. We rode on, with La Briche close on the right wonderfully little damaged. Its stonework is pitted all over, and the earthwork above is cavernous, but the em brasures had been made good. I only saw two guns, but then we did not enter the fort. Bending to the east we crossed the railway, and with another bend came to the northern entrance to Du Nord. This fort has been served worse than La Briche. Its glacis is one series of shell pits. That is nothing but evidence that many shells fell short. But great pieces of the earthwork are torn away, although the stone shews a good front. Here, too, the embrasures have been put right, but there is a paucity of guns. A terrible fire has converged on the gate ; one drawbridge is demolished, the other could not be raised. Just inside the works which masked the fort there was a halt amidst a mass of German officers and soldiers. This was to permit the delegate from the Etat Major to make some explanations. He stated that all the troops had evacuated St. Denis and gone into Paris; that the National Guards and the Sedentary Mobiles, who remained, had been dis armed ; and that the population had come to its senses. The infantry being reported close up, the band of the 26th struckup the " Paris March," and before it the staff, headed by the Crown Prince, marched up the principal street, which was much cumbered with barricades, and embarrassed by undrawn mines, among gravel heaps in the road. The houses are shattered as far as the Place d'Armes. The whole town is a ruin. Civilians swarmed on the side men, women, and children ; none looking very like starvation. It seemed to me that all the males over 14 were in such uniform as a pair of red trouser stripes represent. There was a strange un-French silence, lowering brows, and many a sacre muttered between the teeth. About half way up the street General Scloktheiin ordered to the front a peleton of the body-guard of the Cuiras siers. As these splendid horsemen clattered forward at a furious gallop, the women and children ran shrieking into the battered houses, " The Uhlans !” "The Uhlans !" In the square before th great barrack the Prince halted, wheeled on one side, and the 14th Brigade of the 4th Army Corps, the Brigade that is to garrison St. Denis, marched past him, their bands playing the " Paris March " and " Ich bin ein Prusse." Crowds of the French witnessed the sight, and 1 could hear them gloomily owning to one another their admiration of the physique and soldierly bearing of the German troops. The interim Governor of St. Denis is Brigadier-General Zychlinski. The provision sellers are already crowding into the place. The German forepost line is established all round 500 yards nearer Paris than the forts, and nobody is allowed to pass without a special permission for pro visioning purposes. Fort de L'Est is occupied, and its commandant reports that there fell in it during the bom bardment in one day 1,200 shells. Prince George reports the suetpssful occupation of the eastern forts. Prince Louis of Hesse telegraphs that he is in Mont Valerien. Disturbances are apprehended in Paris to-night. S Denis is wholly anti-Republican. The Rev Canon Melvill is suffering from ill health, and will not, therefore, be able to take the duties of canon in residence at St. Paul's for the month of February. From Madrid it is announced that no change will be made at present in the Spanish Ambassadors. They will receive fresh credentials. Marshal Prim's widow is dangerously ill. The arrival, in the Channel, of her Majesty's ship Reindeer, 7, 200-horse power, Commander E. Nares, from the Pacific, after an absence from England of upwards of four years, is announced. CURIOUS INTELLECTUAL PIIENOMENA.---It was said of Beau Nash that, if you stripped has naked and tossed him over London Bridge, you would meet him next day in the Mall in full-blown glory, with his laced waistcoat and his illustrious wig. So there are in the mental world some things more brilliant than substantial that yet are irrepressible, and revive after they have appeared to be long dead and buried. Such are Celtic Druids, Welsh Bards, the Ogham Alphabet, the Great Pyramid, the innocence of Mary Queen of Scots, and the authenticity of Ossian's poems. Had the late Mr. Buckle lived, it must have come within the sphere of his inquiries to find the cycles at which such phenomena may be expected to recur, and, by his death ere he had reached this point, a chapter is lost out of the psychological region of Positivism.—Saturday Review. THE RUSSIAN ARMY.—The Russian invalid pub lishes an article on the progress made by the Russian army in the year 1870. The effective force was, it says, increased in that year from 726,000 to 744,000, and special attention was paid to the military education of the troops. The whole of the peace establishment of the army is now armed with breechloaders, of which a sufficient number are being got ready for the additional troops which would be required in time of war. The artillery now possesses a complete stock of breechloading 9-pounders, besides a number of batteries of mitrailleurs. The latter have also been furnished to the Guards corps and to the troops in the frontier districts; the troops in the other districts will be provided with mitrailleurs in the course of the present year. Some of these are being made hi England. Captain Ordinetz, of the Artillery, has been sent to America to bring over 20,000 revolvers, which had been ordered there for the Russian army. By the lICW military organisation, which has been approved by the Emperor, a yearly levy of 25 per cent., t a k en from men 21 years of age, is to be made by lot for the army and navy. The period of service is fixed at seven years, but in time of peace the recruits are only to serve so long as may be required to keep up the prescribed peace establishment. Volunteers are permitted to enter the army at 17. The period of com pulsory service is not so long as that of the recruits, and ' they may, after passing an examination, obtain commis sions in the army of the reserve. Substitutes and money exemptions are abolished. The "local " troops, which have hitherto been employed on service at home only, are to be reorganized and to serve as corps of instruction for the recruits, who are to form the reserves of the infantry and artillery. OUR COTEMPORARIES---This Morning THE ELECTIoNs IN FRANCE. The Times thus refers to the coming event :-;—The Assembly to be chosen will pronounce exclusively on the question of Peace or War. By this we must understand that every other subject, including the future political constitution of France itself, will be deferred until the enemy is removed from the soil of France, either by her submission or her victories. In fact, the Government contemplates a prolongation of its pro visional character until Peace be made ; it has fought as the Committee of National Defence, and under the same title it will negotiate. Thus the pur pose of calling together the Assembly is to ob tain authority for M. Favre and his colleagues to treat with the German Emperor. So far as they form a Republican Government, a Republic will exist ; but we conceive that the object of the Paris rulers is to avoid complicating the issue at the elec tions by considerations of the future constitution of France, It may be that they desire men of all parties to understand that in voting for such or such a candidate they do not commit themselves to any definite form of Govern ment. If this be the case, the task both of the actual rulers and 4 the people becomes easier. The electors will have one, and brit one, question before them. They must consider whether there is such a chance of re covering their capital and expelling the invader from France as will compensate them for the certain cala mities of further resistance. This imposes on the Govern ment the responsibility of acting frankly and openly to wards the electors. M. Favre and his colleagues know well that peace can only be had on the German terms, and that those terms are hard. They have been, like the rest of the world, informed of what they substantially are ; the principles to be accepted are quite under stood, and the details are a question of more or less ter ritory, of such or such a fortress, or so many millions of francs. In summoning an Assembly, therefore, they do morally take upon themselves the responsibility of recommending peace on such terms as will satisfy the invader. Otherwise the whole scheme is futile, and the country is once more deluded by the false hopes engen dered by its leaders. A government may make its opinions known without unduly imposing them on the electors. In the present condition of France, such an acknowledgment of the necessity of peace is almost indis pensable to calm the excitement which prevails in the un invade d provinces. The Daily Yews remarks :—lt is not improbable-that the first cry of such towns as Lyons and Marseilles wil I be for a continuance of the war, and that they may insist on using up the armistice in the way of pre paration in those districts not occupied by the Germans. Against these influences in the National Assembly, should they exist in any force, will be placed, we doubt not, the vote of most of the districts in the west, north, and east which have experienced all the horrors of the campaign, and have seen how hopeless the struggle has latterly been. These are un pleasant speculations ; but they are forced upon the attention of England at this moment, when the future destiny of France hangs upon the decision to be given by the Bordeaux Assembly a week hence. The terrible responsibility of the men who will then be deputed to record the wishes of the nation need not be impressed upon them. Every Frenchman, in view of this critical and momentous period, must think of the millions of peasantry upon whom fall the worst effects of war—upon men and women who, when they lose hope, lose everything. The issue dependent on the National Assembly is briefly and accurately described in the Versailles report of the Armistice Convention. " An assembly to decide upon peace or war shall be held." That is the first and most pressing business. The question of the next Government for France may be postponed until it has been settled whether the war is to continue or not—for a continuance of the war might materially alter the conditions on which an effective Government ought to be nominated. The eighteen days which the armistice has yet to run will form a busy period for both France and Germany. Prisoners of war have to be exchanged, so that a considerable number of German scidfers will be relieved from the necessity of having to return h)me after their comrades have left the country. The great task of revictualling Paris devolves upon the French Govern ment, and the Germans have undertaken to give all the aid in their power. This entry of provisions into the capital is no longer a matter for military concern on either side. With the forts in their possession, the Germans can have no objection to Paris being provisioned for as many years as it has lately stood months of siege. The Standard observes :—The conditions of the capitu- lation which ends the siege of Paris, and of the armistice which all must hope will end the war between Germany and France, seem, so far as we can judge from the telegraphic version received from Versailles, just and reasonable. The French nation is undoubtedly anxious for peace. It sees now how enormous must be its efforts, how terrible its sacrifices, if it persists in the resolution to yield no inch of territory and no stone of a fortress. Victory might follow such a patriotic determination, but to the mass of men peace at once would be far more agreeable if Prussia would only offer a peace which they could venture to ac cept. For a cession of territory we must suppose the whole nation is ready now that the phrasemonger who proclaimed its impossibility has practically assented to it. It is possible that a National Assembly, meeting at Bordeaux next week, might agree to the ces sion of Strasburg and Alsace ; but if Count Bismarck insists upon taking a large part of Lorraine, with Metz, and furthermore, Belfort—that is to say, all the three gates for the invasion of France—we can hardly believe any Assembly will accept his terms. That he will do so is still most probable, and that M, Favre would agree, we suppose, is equally probable. But an Assembly meeting at Bordeaux is not likely to make the convenience of Paris its rule, and some of its members may suggest that, if Germany takes Mezt, the only chance of independence for France would be the removal of the capital from Paris. We can but express our earnest hope that Count Bismarck and Count Moltke will shew the same good sense in the terms of peace they offer as they have exhibited in the armistice they have prescribed. But we do not ask them to be for bearing or generous. Forbearance and generosity, as mere forbearancs and generosity, are out of place in striking a bargain. What we hope is that they will ask only of France what France can give with some intention of keeping her word, and what Germany can hope to main tain in peace. No French Government, no French National Assembly, can honestly agree to the cession of Metz, and Germany does not need it for her security. It might be rash to say, perhaps, that the Bordeaux Assembly would not accept a treaty surrendering Met; but it may be said, with the utmost confidence, that France would never rest, if such a surrender were made, until the shame of it had been redeemed ; and that means that Germany would reap none of the solid advantages her people expect from a triumph all the benefit of which has, at present, gone to the King of Prussia. The Telegraph says :—At the approaching elections in France more than usual interest will be excited by the fact that the Princes of the House of Orleans will ap pear as candidates for the representation of various con stituencies. If we are rightly informed, the Princes, fol lowing out the rule they have laid down for themselves during their long exile, have refused to interfere in any way with the internal politics of their native country. Offers, however, having now been made to them from several towns—notably from Paris,Angouleme, Cherbourg, and Clermond - Ferrand they have not thought it consistent with their duty to decline the responsi - bility of presenting themselves for election ; and i n a ll likelihood, amongst the representatives who will meet at Bordeaux on the 15th of this month, to decide the issue of peace or war, will be found at least two of the sons of Louis Philippe. Failing the Bourbons and the Bonapartes, the new dynasty must be taken from the House of Orleans. The Citizen King was always popular with the French bourgeois class ; and, as year s have gone by, the professional and educated members of the community have learned to look upon the era of Constitutional Monarchy as a golden age. Moreover, the high character, the purity of private life, the regard for public duty, which the descendants of Louis Philippe have maintained throughout their long exile, have not been lost sight of in the country of their birth ; and, by a natural reaction, an almost exagge rated importance is now attached in France to those characteristics in which the Imperial rggintc was conspicuously deficient. Moreover, by a wise combination of policy and fortune, the Orleans Princes have contrived to keep their names before the French public without identifying themselves with any party movement or organisation. Even now their entire freedom from responsibility in the origin or the conduct of the war places them at great advantage ; and their pre sence, unsought and unsolicited, in the Assembly of Bor deaux, as delegates of great French constituencies, can hardly fail to strengthen their claim to selection if France should decide to replace the Republic by a national Con stitutional Monarchy. Hospital Sunday at. Newcastle-on-Tyne has pro duced £2,038. such 3lubs labs. isant aties. rould )ngst the y of ►t in Par-