The Sun. — London, England, 1871-02-20 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGEN CE. SUN OFFICE, '8 A.M. THE ARMISTICE. VERSAILLES, February The Moniteur of Versailles says—"A prolongation of the Armistice would only injure the position of the German armies. " France knows the conditions of Peace, which are ccmpensation for the past and guarantees for the future, and Germany is resolved to continue the war if these conditions are rejected. " Let Bordeaux understand there is no middle term." Referring to preparations for continuing the war reported from the South, the Moniteur observes that Germank must insist all the more on guarantees, especially those to be procured by an occupation of Paris. No food is allowed to leave Versailles. BERLIN, February 18 The prolongation of the Armistice was only ac corded in return for the surrender of Belfort, which was ordered by the French Government. February 19. The German terms of peace in the definitive form to be communicated to the new French Government are an ultimatum.--Tines Telegrams. FOREIGN MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT. • BORDEAUX, February 18 ( 4.50 p.m.) Le Francais asserts that M. Guizot had accepted the appointment of French Minister to London. The Government have already appointed fresh Ministers at Vienna, St. Petersburg, and Constantinople, but the names of the Ambassadors to these Courts have not yet transpired. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF M. GAMBETTA. .BRUSSELS, February 18 (8 p.m.) Reports have been received here that M. Gambetta attempted suicide by poison, and that although his condition was improving, he was still labouring under the greatest excitement, and fears were enter tained for his recovery. NEWS FROM BRUSSELS. BRUSSELS, February 19. The Berlin Provincial Correspondence says that the Emperor's G ivernment will carefully avoid the fault committed in 1814, of imposing a Government upon France. No Government will be recognised which does not represent the wishes of the French people.—Daily News Telegram. - THE ENTRY OF THE GERMANS INTO PARIS. The determination of the Emperor-King to make a triumphal entry into Paris at the head of his troops, as soon as peace is concluded, is said to be inflexible ; and it is reported that the members of the late Government of National Defence are well aware of this determination. THE ARMISTICE. The official text of the agreement entered into between Jules Favre and Count Bismarck for the prolongation of the armistice states that it will be extended to the 24th inst., with power to renew the extension should the circumstances demand it.— Lombard Telegrams. THE FRENCH REPUBLIC. RECO GNITION BY GREAT BRITAIN. We have been favoured with the following notifi catuiln f rom th e F ore i gn Offi ce _ Febrna—,y, of 1 , 74.1! rd L Y° l lB reports from Bordeaux, under date that 'the Assembly has voted all but unanimously that, considering the necessity of providing, at once for the conduct of the negotiations and the affairs of the Government, while awaiting the decision of France upon the institution to be de finitively adopted, M. Thiers is appointed " Chief of the Executive power of the French Republic, which he will exercise under the control of the et ssembly and with assistance of Ministers whom he will choose, and over whom he will preside.' " Lord Lyons further states that he has announced verbally to AL Thiers the recognition of hie Govern ment by Great Britain." Lord Lyons and Chevalier Nigra paid an official visit to M. Thiers on Friday evening, after the sitting of the National Assembly. The Bordeaux Moniteur says that England, Austria, and Italy, have announced their intention of at once recognising the new french Government. A USTRIA AND THE FRENCH REPUBLIC BORDEAUX, February 18. A P rince de Metternich paid a visit to-day to M uetand declared that he was instructed by th i,rin Government to recognise at once the new re ach Government. BORDEAUX, February 18, 12.15 a.m. Lord Lyons . and Chevalier Nigra paid an official M alt to M. Thiers yesterday evening, after the sitting °f the National Assembly. BORDEAUX, February 18, 2.30 P.M. It is generally believed that the Assembly wil 11 °t now remain long at Bordeaux. THE NEW FRENCH MINISTRY. SPEECH OF M. TRIERS. BORDEAUX, February 19, 5 p.m. In to-day's sitting of the National Assembly M. Thiers was present and read a speech, in which he s tated that, though frightened at the painful task 1111 Posed upon him by the country, he ac.-, ee Pted it with obedience, devotion, and love, sentiments of which France stood all the more 41 Reed, forasmuch as she was unfortunate -11111.(31% unfortunate than at any former period of her . 1810 17. But, he added, she is still great, young, lle k and full of resources, and will always remain a laBi g monument of human energy. 41 .• Thiers then announced that in selecting the gen:there of the Ministry, he had been guided solely e i le public esteem they enjoyed, and their public 1 181 ter and capacities. The following is the , 4 . Dufaure Minister of Justce. 4 . Jules Favre 4 . Picard Interior. Z . Jules Simon Q . Lambrecht Commerce. e lloral Le Flo k hl' Pothuan i t . de L arc y ha,,, Minister selected for the Finances not yet ji lat ß arrived at Bordeaux, M. Thiers did not feel ha a Ig ed in mentioning his name. M. Thiers himself t o eudertake n no s p ec i a l Mi n ist e rial portfolio, so a s tiff tt i a. ore time to devote himself to the general I ‘ B of m the country. Tr 40,e'llic e sp f ollowiug telegrams come through Renter's Q 4 .--... THE FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, ALSACE AND LORRAINE. Friday's sitting of the National Assembly, t:Pi'. Castellan o an d de (faux were elected Secre e°, thus raisi ng t o s i x t h e num b er o f S ecre tari e s ‘the House. th :t. Kell er laid on the table a declaration signed by be puties of tb.e Lower and Upper Rhine, A7 lit t he) and Moselle- Departments, praying the 11;113.1)1y to t a k e i t into consideration. This decla it°ll is as follows : ar e I%Ttional Assembly, France, and Europe, which rvi nessing the exactions of Prussia, cannot pernu the completion of an act which would have for effect to extort from France her territories of Alsace and Lor raine. We are, and will for ever remain French, in ill as in good fortune ; we have sealed with our own blood the indissoluble fact which unites - us to France ; and we affirm once more, in the midst of ' all our trials, our immovable loyalty towards the Fatherland. France could not abandon those who desire not to be separated from her. The Assembly sprung from universal suffrage, could not itself ratify demands tending to destroy the nationality of a whole population ; nor can the people in its electoral colleges allow it; Europe likewise cannot confirm these criminal attempts and cannot let a whole people be treated as a herd of wild beasts. Peace, made in consideration of a cession of territory, will never be a durable peace, but merely a momentary truce which would sdbn be followed by another war. As to ourselves, inhabitants of Alsace and Lorraine, we are ready to re new the contest, and therefore we shall beforehand hold as null and void any offers, treaty, votes, or plebiscite which would have for effect to sever Alsace and Lorraine from France. We proclaim our right to remain united to French soil, and we formally engage to defend our honour." After having read that declaration, M. Keller urged his colleagues to oppose, by their decision, moral to mere brute force, and to proclaim the inviolability of the connection with Alsace and Lorraine. "We hold forth our hands to you," added M. Keller in conclusion ; " do not refuse to hold forth yours." M. Keller's speech was loudly cheered by the whole House. The Assembly by acclamatiun voted the urgency of discussing that appeal. M. Henri Rochefort demanded that it should at once be referred to the Bureau; so that the ma jority of the House could give to the negotiators imperative orders or perfect freedom to conduct the negotiations. M. Thiers then rose. He said that from the bottom of his heart he fully shared M. Keller's feelings, adding that, in presence of the grave cir cumstances in which they were placed, it was the duty of the House to adopt the only decision be coming its dignity. According to M. Thiers, a post ponement would be more than inopportune, but would be a real puerility. He said :-- "It is not to-morrow, but at once, that we must discuss and vote on this proposal. The House cannot await the constitu tion of a Government, but must itself decide, in the full enjoyment of the privileges, the responsibi bility it is to assume. It is important that its wishes should be known. As to myself," added M. Thiers, " I have devoted my life to my country, and I am pre pared still to devote to France all my efforts. But it is the duty of the House to settle this question. Let us not wait 24 hours, but let us meet imme diately in our Bureaux and declare our wishes." The President then consulted the House, which decided in favour of M. Thier's suggestion. The sitting was suspended. The report of the committee was afterwards brought up. It expresses the wramest sympathies towards the pcpulation of the East, officially acknow ledges the receipt of their declaration, adding, at the same time, that it will be handed over to the persons entrusted to negotiate with Prussia. THE ELECTION OF ,MM TRIERS AND GREVY. VERSAILLES, February 19. The election of M. Thiers as President of the Go vernment, and of M. Gr 6vy as President of the Constituent Assembly, has been well received in Paris. The funds are rising. The resignation of M. Jules Ferry is shortly expected. The Paris Governmen has granted 3,000,000 francs to be expended upon public works. ;5 7 rs er THE QUESTION OF PEACE OR WAR. PARIS, Fobruary 18 (Evening). The Patrie of this evening says the question of peace is making great progress, and it is asserted that the armistice is to be prolonged till the Ist March. The Siècle says three Papal envoys have arrived at Versailles. M. Thiers has announced that he will tali() his seat in the Assembly as member for Paris. THE FUTURE GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE, BERLIN, February 18 (6 p.m.) The North German Gazette of this evening, dis cussing the question of a member of the Orleans family being elected President of the .14 rench Republic, says :—" The Presidency of an Orleanist Prince would be accompanied by two equally great evils; on the one hand, it would carry with it imminent danger of a renewed overthrow of the institutions of the country almost as soon as they are established; and on the other hand, the Or leans Princes would render impossible the recon ciliation between Germany and France which ought gradually to be brought about from the conclu sion of peace, for the Orleanists have publicly con fessed themselves to be the sworn enemies of Ger many." THE PARIS DEPUTIES. The Paris papers of Thursday mention an impor tant resolution taken by the representatives of Paris in case the Assembly should adopt decisions con trary to the honour of the future of France and the Reputlic. In such a case the deputies of Paris would withdraw, at the same time solemnly protesting against such decisions. M. ROCHEFORT. M. Henri Rochefort, on leaving the National Assembly at the close of Friday's sitting, received a perfect triumph from the crowd, which wanted to carry him on their shoulders. A. body of sergents de-ville had some difficulty in dispersing the crowd and re-establishing the traffic. FAREWELL SPEECH OF GARIBALDI. BORDEAUX, February 18. Gazibaldi, at the moment of leaving Marseilles on board the Egyptienne, delivered the following speech :—" Have confidence ; it is especially now that you should redouble your efforts. Whatever may be your present misfortunes, France will still be France, and will again become a great nation— leader of peoples. Let us hope that the majority will understand that the Republican form of govern ment is alone suited to the country ; is the only one that can elevate it morally and mate rially. In any case, you who are Republicans, pre pare for the struggle ; know and love one another and make ready to take the revenge which is your due. We shall meet again." THE GERMAN REQUISITIONS. LILLE, February 18 (3.40 p.m.) At Sedan the Prussians have demanded paymeht of the taxes for the last quarter of 1870. On the municipality refusing to comply with this demand they threatened to take away the leading citizens as prisoners. The Municipal. Council thereupon gave way, and has contracted a loan of 210,000 francs to meet this requisitions. OUTBREAK OF SMALLPDX IN LILLE. LILLE, February 18. Smallpox is raging in the districts of the Northern Department, especially in this town, where the deaths are fifty a day. THE FRENCH PRISONERS IN SWITZER- LAND. BERNE, February 18. The subscriptions to the 41 per cent. Swiss Loan of 15,000,000 francs required for the main tenance of the French prisoners exceed 20,000,00 0 francs. THE ARMY OF THE VOSGES. BORDEAUX, February 18. Menotti Gaiibaldi has the provisional command of the Army of the Vosges. Menotti and Ricciotti Garibaldi are at Chalons. The Army of the Vosges is echeloned between Chalons, Macon, and Bourg, THE SUN, LONDON, MONDA/,„ FEBRUARY 20,. 1871. and the headquarters of the First Brigade are a t Bourg, with General Cansio. THE KING OF BAVARIA AND THE COUNTESS BERNSTORFF. MuNum, February 18. The King of Bavaria has addressed the following letter to the Countess Bernstorff, the wife of the North German Ambassador in London. The letter is dated February 7 : " Madame the Countess von Bernstorff,—From several quarters I have received accounts of the highly effiaccious activity which you have displayed for the benefit of the Bavarian soldiers who have been taken prisoners. This noble sympathy with the lot of those unfortunate men has moved me deeply, and it gives me the greatest pleasure to thank you for myself and for the country for the active expressions of your sympathy. Future ages will look back with wonder upon not only the heroic bravery of the German armies, but also upon the high-minded devotion of the German women—l remain, with the assurance of my especial esteem, yours very truly, " LUDWIG." ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION IN MADRID MADRID, February 19. President Zorilla and a friend named Hernandez, when returning home this morning, were fired at by two assassins. The balls missed and entered a wall. The assassins escaped, leaving a blunderbuss behind.—. Daily News Telegram. CANADA AND THE FISHERIES. Several journals of New York assert that a pro posal has been made for the purchase by the United States of all the British North American colonies, which will constitute the prominent feature of the deliberations of the high joint Commission. A telegram from Ottawa says that the Canadian Parliament will discuss the fishery question before the departure of the Prime Minister for - Washington. A strong feeling was expressed in the debates on the Address against making any concession of interna tional rights. THE CONFERENCE. BERLIN, February 18. The Powers of the Conference have agreed to open the Black Sea to foreign men-of-war, and also to authorise the Porte to admit into the Dardanelles the armed vessels of all States, Russia and Roumania alone excepted. Russia does not object to this, but Turkey hesi tates to sanction an arrangement restricting her sovereignty.—Times Telegram. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) THE FUNERAL OF MR. JAMES SIDEBOTTOM, M.P. The funeral of the late Mr. 3ames Sidebottom, M.P. for Staleybridge, took place in that town on Saturday afternoon. The remains were followed by members of the Town Council, and a large concourse of private friends. The streets were lined with the inhabitants and persons who had come in from the surrounding districts, to the number of many thousands. DR. GOSS AND THE OCCUPATION OF ROME. Dr. Goss, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Liverpool, delivered a pastoral to the clergy of his diocese on Sunday. He condemned in sweeping terms the conduct of Victor Emmanuel to the Pope. Ho eulogised Mr. Gladstone, and contended that as the freedom of the Pope involved the freedom of religion to Catholics, they had a right to expect England to respect the Treaty of Vienna. Dr. Goss vindicated the loyalty of English Catholics to the Queen, and asserted that their allegiance to the Pope could co-exist with such loyalty, the one being a temporal, and the other a spiritual obligation. THE ARMISTICE AND PEACE PROSPECTS• The Daily News special correspondent at the Crown Prince of Prussia's headquarters thas writes from Ver sailles, February 18 :—The prolongation of the armistice gives colour to the belief, which gains ground among the Germans day by day, that peace is certain. It is supposed that Count Bismarck will ask a little less than the world has been led to expect, that the French will brace themselves up to make a great sacrifice, and that some compromise will be arrived at. The garrison of Belfort marches out with the honours of war. This, too, looks like treating one's enemies as though they were presently to become one's friends. Friends the French and Germans cannot be, but every symptom of sparing the beaten side humiliation is favourable to peace. The rumours as to what will next happen are many. We may choose among them almost all the possible solutions of the problem, from guerre ct outrance at the end of a week, to a ) treaty of peace, signed and sealed, the day after to morrow. What seems most probable is that this pro longation of the armistice will allow the French Assembly to accept the principle of Bismarck's terms—to agree to yield some land, and to pay soma money, and to do some part of whatever else he may desire to have done—and that then further time may be granted by the victor in which to settle the exact price that France will have to pay. It is beyond a doubt that the retirement of Gambetta and Garibaldi, the position of M. Thiers in the Assembly, and the acknowledged majority of the non-Repub can members at Bordeaux, have disposed Count Bis marck to give the new French Government every chance. There is nothing positively announced in regard to an entry into Paris. The German aimy still believes in it firmly, and expects at least to march through the city. But I hold to my first idea, that the entry is kept as a piece to play with in the negotiations. If the French. will come to terms they may be spared the terrible risk of the street fighting, of which a single madman might make their capital the scene. There has been no idleness in the forts round Paris. The new possessors have bestirred themselves to get everything into order from their own point of view, and have swarmed like bees upon the bastions, digging and shovelling energetically. If these Prussians and Bavarians should go home without an entry into Earls, they will have a good notion what the place is like in outward appearance, nevertheless. As they work on the outlying forts, and sing and shout in the gladness of their hearts, they have Verb be fore them like a map. I found that the brass guns, most of them rifled, were to be taken to Germany, but that the smooth-bore iron ships' guns had been already burst as mere lumber, and were to be sold as old iron. The battered fort--Montrouge—had a dismal aspect, despite - the sunny weather. How it was battered to be sure ! Y e t i t rema i ne d qu i te tena bl e, w i t h t h e ruined barracks in the middle, and the snug casements under the rampart. The Prussians and Bavarians, Prus sian artillery and Bavarian infantry, in garrison have taken pains to secure their quarters by many piles of sandbags against a possible attack from the city. THE EX-EMPEROR S PRORLAMATION. Writing from Paris February 18, the Daily News corre spondent thus remarks on the ex-Emperor's proclama tion :—The proclamation of the ex-Emperor has excited no feeling but one of disdain. Its presumptuous effrontery is beyond criticisin ; its mendacity cal culated only to sink its author lower in the estimation of the nation he has ruined that he has hitherto fallen. This was already low enough. The contempt he inspired has found "in lowest depths a deeper still." It is felt that Louis Napoleon's only becoming course was to observe silence. His mani festo has been passed over by the press, almost in silence ; but it would not be surprising if those journals which benefited by this bounty act the part of the ass towards the sick lion. It is so easy to be ungrateful. In ac. cusing the Government for the National Defence of having brought about the ruin of France, he constitutes himself the echo of Felix Pyat and crew. On reading such a phrase as this : "It is time to demand at the hands of those who have usnrped power an account of the blood shed without necessity, of the ruins heaped up without cause, of the resources of the country dissipated without control ;" one is tempted seriously to call his sanity in question. He did more than usurp power. Like a burglar, he broke into France in the dead of the night, when she was asleep, peacefully, full of confidence in him into whose hands she had entrusted the keys of her house. 111, indeed, does it become him to prate about a waste of the resources of the country in presence of those terrible witnesses, his war-budgets, which in twenty years sank £100,000,000 sterling ; paid, nevertheless, as a sort of premium of insurance against the risks of war, yet which at the end of that period was represented by an army of only 250,000 men, not even well equipped, having scarcely any artillery, and, above all, being badly p . rovisioned. Yet less becoming is it in him to speak of blood unneces sarily spilt, in the awful presence of the hecatombs of dead, stark and stiff under the sod at Reischoffen, Woerth, all over the hillocks and pl a i ns an d va ll eys o f t h e Vosges and the Ardennes, and who will one day rise up in solemn judgment against him, and cry, "Thou art the man 1" Did he not feel, know, that with the disap-: pearance of the smoke from the very first gun fired at Saarbruck all hope of victory had also vanished ? Yet after this he continued the war, He snivels over the " unheard-of reverses of his s as hiwlehoupopnav,e,dthethGe Government y me f n or t them. Franc He e, " He it vomits which installed itself by surprise at the Hotel de Ville on the 4th of September." He forgets the burglarious surprise of the 2nd December. He points to the pltibis cites which four times in twenty years confirmed him in authority. The fasciedes now publishing reveal the hollowness of those votes ; yet knowing their real value he appeals to them to sustain his men dacious theory that he alone was, and remains, the sole, true elect of the nation. He " put up prayers for the success of the national defence, for if the country was saved, what mattered the dynasty?" His prayers did not prevent him from plotting with Bazaine for the surrender of Metz, as a means of gaining grace in the eyes of ,Prussia in order to bring about the restoration of "the dynasty." He asserts that the destinies of France cannot be confided to an un authorised Government, which, by disorganizing the administration, has not left standing one single autho rity emanating from universal suffrage. The administra tion was found already disorganised, and the Government for the National Defence is bitterly reproached for not having made a clean sweep of all the " authorities " be longing to it. To wind up—and the suggestion is indeed a capping of the climax—the ex-Emperor submits that so long as the nation has not manifested its will, his duty is to protest against everything done without its direct partici pation as illegitimate ; in other words, one rock of safety alone remains to the nation—himself. So we are to believe that the individual and the regime which have brought the nation to the present pass are its sole elements of reconstruction and future prosperity. The paradox is a madman's. Fortunately the nation is stil sane. The King of Spain was to have left Madrid on Sunday to join his consort, who is indisposed at Nice. M. de Rothschild and Mr. Wallace will proceed to Lon don, to convey the thanks of the people of Paris to the City of London. CRYSTAL PALACR.—TIaIf-a-Crown Day—Satur day, February 18th, 1871.—Admission by season tickets, 5,189; ditto on payment, 1,027 ; total visitors, 6,216. A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday in Downing -street. The Ministers present were the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, the Lord Chancellor, Viscount Halifax, the Right Hon. H. A. Bruce, Earl Granville, the Earl of Kimberley, the Right Hon. E. Cardwell, the Duke of Argyll, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Right Hon. C. Fortescue, the Right Hon. G. J. Goschen, the Marquis of Hartington, and the Right Hon. W. E. Forster. The _Railway News is informed that the steamship designed by Mr. Bessemer, which will enable passengers to go to sea without suffering the annoyance of sea sick ness, is far advanced towards completion. The hull and framework are finished, and the trial trip will shortly be made. ----- The Morning Post announces the death of Lady Adelaide de Trafford, wife of Mr. John Randolphus de Trafford, of Croston Hall, Lancashire, which occurred on the 15th inst. Her ladyship was the youngest daughter of General Charles Murray, second Earl of Cathcart, by his wife Henrietta, daughter of Mr. Thomas Mather. Her ladyship, who was born in July, 1833, was married to Mr. de Trafford in July, 1850. There has been a fall of the barometer on our northern, coasts, accompanied by a slight rise in thesouth, where pressure is now high. Temperature has again risen, except at Oxo, where it has fallen, and is very low. In our Islands it is uniformly high, and the air is damp. The wind has veered to the westward at our northern and eastern stations, and freshened somewhat in Scotland. On our other coasts it continues south westerly and mode rate, but at Oxii it has again shifted to north-east. The weather in the south is spring like. The sea is moderate or calm. OUR COITIVIPORA.RIES—This Morning -- t-- PEACE OR WAR. The Times observes: The French National Assembly has weathered its first storm-; it may now hope to sail in comparatively smooth waters. M. Thiers puts himself at the head of a Republican Government, but a Govern ment which rkmdiates equally war and revolution. He clearly intimates to the country that peace is necessary, though he is still confident of obtaining honourable terms. But whatever is imposed by absolute necessity can hardly fail to be consistent with honour, and the unwillingness of the National Assembly, after a first natural outburst of feeling, to declare inexorably against any cession of French territory removes the only insurmountable obstacle to successful n'egotiation. The names of M. Thiers's new colleagues were made known yesterday. Several of the members of the late Government of National Defefice—MM. Jules Favre, Jules Simon, Ernest Picard, General Leflo— are at the head of the list, and the Prime Minister must prepare himself for a large share of the unpopularity which the conduct of the war and the capitulation of Paris has called down upon them. To enable them to stem the tide of popular opinion the Thiers Governmentiwill have their large majority in the Assembly, and that weariness of a long and ruinous strug gle which must dispose the nation, especially in the rural districts, to welcome repose and tranquillity, no matter under what rule. Such a support is not, it is true, very active or strenuous. The French will look up to their rulers for the strong hand which is to curb the passions only slowly subsiding in their own hearts, and to overcome those "extreme parties" which have too long and too readily commanded their sympathies. An intelligent Go vernment in France must make the people aware, not only of their real interests, but even of their own actual wishes ; for the French are of all people the most help lessly carried away by delusions, and the most stubborn in resisting disenchantment. Fortunately, M. Thiers has it in his power to put to a very decisive test that wonderful popularity which so unexpectedly centred the votes of nearly one half the French population upon his head. He will soon be able to see what welcome the Assembly and the country will give him, when he returns to them from the interview at Sceaux with such terms of peace as he may be able to ob tain from Count Bismarck. If France submits to the peace, she will be sure to accept the peacemaker, and she will then be thankful to him if, as he puts an end to the war, he will also rid her of the war party, and of the arbitrary, ruinous, and violent rule which they imposed in its name. The Daily News says :—To-day, if we are to believe a statement which reaches us from the headquarters of the National Assembly, M. Thiers and Count Bismarck meet at Sceaux. We may consider that the object of this con° ference has been well defined by the two nations which these diplomatists represent. M. Thiers has been ap pointed head of the Executive power in France ; and it is beyond doubt that he could only leave Bordeaux, and proceed to the environs of Paris, on a mission of the gravest import to his country. The armistice ex pires on Friday next. Within this short interval France has to accept peace or decree a continuance of the war; although as matters stand, it is impossible to grant that the responsibility of this tremendous decision rests with France alone. Rather, we should say, it devolves upon the German authorities to decide whether, by proposing terms of peace which the defeated country can accept •without being false to its own honour, they will relieve Europe from the wretched spectacle which has for six months grieved the hearts of all who had placed some faith in the growing civilization of the age. At any moment we may hear at last what conditions the Germans really demand ; and as these are almost certain to contain a demand for a cession of territory, the most important thing for Europe to know is whether M. Thiers has been com missioned to accede to this demand, so far as is reasonable. M. Thiers, indeed, will go to meet Count Bismarck free from any pledge. He has, of course, arrived at an un derstanding with the Assembly which he represents ; but he has not committed himself to any statement which promises an adhesion to the German demand for territory. The alternative is war. No man can con template this prospect without wishing that the two nations should come to terms,' whatever the terms may be. When we look at what the war has already done—when we think of what an embittered continuance of it would be—it is almost impossible to calculate in cold blood its merely military chances. Beside this pressing necessity of hv wing to choose between peace and war, the question of the future government of France has apparently fallen into secondary consideration. A reconciliation with Germany would be an excellent thing for both countries, and for Europe ; but in the meantime the first requisite for France is to obtain a Government which shall secure the greatest cohesion of parties, in order to begin the serious labour of repairing the damage done to the public interests by the recent campaign. This work is so pressing, if only in point of time, that we earnestly trust the negotiations between M. Thiers and Count Bismarck may lead to its being undertaken at once, in a spirit of patriotic resolve and hope. PROSPECTS OF PEACE. The Telegraph thinks that peace may now be considered certain. The Bordeaux Assembly has at last been brought face to face with the question whether peace could be accepted on conditions involving the cession of French provinces, and has decided the question in the affirmative. The defeat of the Republicans is Complete ; and it seems to have been mainly due to the fact that they were understood to be in favour of prose cuting the war. Such being the case, it would be idle to question the supremacy of the peace party. One of the first acts of the new Administration has been to transfer the duty of protecting the Assembly from the hands of the Bordeaux National Guard to those of the regular army ; and when this change was protested against by M. Rochefort, the Assembly refused to grant him a hearing. Last night M. Thiers was to leave for Versailles, and to-day the formal discus sion respecting the terms of peace will com mence in the Assembly. At the last moment, no doubt, some claim might be put forward of so exorbitant a character that the Commissioners would refuse to accept it, or the Chambers to endorse it until they should be subjected to, further pressure ; but such a con tingency is not probable. The amount of the war indemnity, as we have previously stated, will not, we believe, exceed one hundred and fifty millions in all ; and we trust that the requisitions already levied on French cities will be deducted from the gross total. The question, where the frontier line shall be drawn, is of immense importance to the ultimate welfare of France and to the prospects of European peace. But we doubt whether the cession of a few miles more or less of territory will appeal strongly to the minds of the French. If they be forced to accept the necessity of ceding Alsace and part of Lorraine, the issue whether Nancy, for instance, should belong to France or to Germany would hardly seem adequate cause for the renewal of the war. Moreover, since the contention of all Frenchmen is that Alsace is not less thoroughly French than any part of the country, the importance of drawing the frontier I line at the borders of German Lorraine will hardly com mend itself to the French , , Commissioners. The chief point on which the negotiations are likely to encounter any difficulty is undoubtedly that which concerns the possession of Metz, and here there is still some possibility of a compromise. These, however, are matters of detail. The principle of the cession of French territory has now been admitted, and this admission removes the last chance that hostilities will be resumed. M. THIERS. The Standard remarks :—lt makes one almost despair of the future of France when we find such a man as M. Thiers selected in her greatest emergency to be the representative of the national mind. What chance is there of her speedy resurrection when she voluntarily resigns her destinies into the hands of M. Thiers ? Why, even Gambetta were a more respectable name ; for Gambetta has at least done some real work in resisting the invaders. Gambetta has a definite programme, and has stuck to it resolutely. But what is M. Thiers's plan for rescuing France from her present despe rate plight ? He is so placed by his antecedents that it is impossible but that he should be a traitor to some one of the parties into which France is divided. If he pro nounces for the Republic he will belie the whole of his past career. If he is for the Monarchy, he will be equally untrue to the majority of those who have raised him to his present position. In regard to the first and great business which he will have to transact—namely, the obtaining of the most favourable terms possible from Germany, it is difficult to see what is the source of the confidence which is placed in M. Thiers. Judging from his recent circuit among the Neut ra l C our t s his powers as a diplomatist cannot be rated very high, even although he has had such a model before him as Lord Granville's father. In dealing with Count Bismarck France requires a man of tenacity of purpose, of variety and subtlety of resources. M. Thiers hag never shown that he is such a man during his forty years of public life. There is nothing to prove that he has unlearnt the lessons of his youth and manhood—that he is not as great a Chauviniste as when he wrote his foolish and fatal histories. It must have been in very despair that the French people could have deposited the destinies of their future into such hands, and it is hopi ng a l mos t against hope to indulge in the belief that anything else can come out of M. Thiers's dictature than further misfortune and misery for France, • THE OXFORD CREW. The Oxford crew were out twice on Saturday afternoon, the president coaching from the stern of the boat. Mr. Chambers, from Cambridge, accompanied them on horse back. The weather, although beautiful and fine, was rough ; and the rowing was slow, viz., 25 strokes per minute. The crew pulled well together, and exhibited considerable improvement. The attendance was unusually large. The crew were to have gone out for the first time in their racing craft, but in consequence of the weather they have deferred it until Monday. THE LICENSING .QUESTION. At a meeting of the Essex Chamber of Agriculture, held on Saturday, at Colchester, though the members refused to entertain a resolution in advocacy of Mr. Wilfred Law son's Permissive Bill, they unanimously passed a resolu tion, urging Parliament to give the ratepayers of a district some voice in the matter of granting licenses to public house. SNIDER RIFLES FOR THE MILITIA. On Saturday morning last 1,600 stand of Snider inter changeable breech-loading rifles arrived in Jersey by the steamer Staperayder, from London, to be distributed amongst the Jersey Militia. A further instalment is ex pected in a few days. ' STABBING IN CORNWALL. On Saturday night, a young woman named Catherine Jose was stabbed by a young man named Crowgery, whose offer of marriage she had refused. She was returning to her home at Lanner, near Redruth, accompanied by a friend, when Crowgery attacked her with a knife, which fortunately missed the jugular vein, an4truck the breast bone. The young woman lies in a very precarious state. The assailant has been arrested. WIFE MURDER On Saturday night, at Manchester, a scavenger named Whelan, being drunk, and annoyed at his wife—who had followed him to a pablic-house to endeavour to persuade him to accompany her home—when at last he reached his house, locked all the doors and beat her about the head with a poker so severely that she died almost immediately after the neighbours had forced an entrance into the dwelling. Whelan has been apprehended. RELIEF FOR THE FRENCH. The Council of the Warwickshire Chamber of Agricul ture, on Saturday, decided to take steps to raise contribu tions, both in the shape of seed, corn, and money, in aid of the distitute French peasantry in the districts ravaged by the Franco-Prussian war. The chairman, Sir Robert Hamilton, Bart., K.C.8., introduced the above proposal, which met with the cordial approval of the Council, whose members represent the principal agricultural districts throughout the county. A novel system has been started by the Berkshire farmers for supplying the French peasantry with wheat, barley, and oat seed for this year's crop. On Saturday three sacks, for wheat, barley, and oats respectively, were placed in the Reading Corn Exchange, and each attendant farmer was invited to empty his sample bag into the sacks. A large quantity of seed was soon collected. The sacks, when full, will be conveyed t- the railway station ; and the railway direc tors will be invited to transmit them to France free of ex pense. The sacks for samples or any other quantities will be at the Exchange every Saturday. The originator suggests that this plan should be carried out in every market town in England. By this means the whole of France would be supplied with good seed for the coming season, and the quota presented by every English farmer would not be missed. Her Majesty's troopship Crocodile sailed yesterday from Queenstown for Alexandria, with the 72nd High landers on board. Sir Stafford Northcote and his two sons left Liverpool on Saturday in the Rizzio, for New York. Sir Stafford is one of the commissioners in the Alabama and Fisheries questions. The United States mail steamer Idahoe arrived at Queenstown on Saturday last. She landed a large quan tity of mails and proceeded onwards. She had 310,500 dollars specie on board for Liverpool. Five cardsharpers were sentenced to three months' im • prisonment each, with hard labour, by the Liverpool county magistrates, on Saturday, for swindling at the recent coursing meetings at Altcar, by means of the three card trick. THE ARMY ORGANISATION BILL.—It H prO bable that an amendment will be proposed on the motion for the second reading of the Army Organisation Bill, an Thursday next, to the effect that the house of Commons, while willing to sanction any expenditure which may be necessary for the abolition of the system of purchase, is opposed to any increase in the Army Estimates.—Daily News. LA.W AND POLICE. ROMANTIC WILL CASE.—In the Probate Court, the case of Berdoe v. Smeeton was heard. The plaintiff, who was the stepmother of Mr. Lane, a gentleman some twenty-three years of age, propounded his will, by which she became possessed of the whole of his property. It seemed that Mr.. Lane, when heliattained his majority, became possessor of the sum of .€5,000, and if he had attained the age of 25 years, ho would have been in receipt of an additional £12,000. He was, unfortunately, addicted to habits of intemperance. He made the acquaintance of a Miss Smeeton, the daughter of a photographer, and became engaged to her. Soon after this he made a will by which he bequeathed £lO,OOO to Miss Smeeton, and a considerable portion of the remainder of his property to the London Hospital. One day he was lying on the sofa apparently asleep, when he, it was alleged, heard Miss Smeeton say that she did not care much for him, and that she wished he was gone. After this the testator made a fresh will—that in dispute—by which he left the whole of his property to his stepmother. Mr. Smee ton opposed it, on the ground that it had been obtained by undue influence, and that the deceased did not know and approve of the contents. The plaintiff and other wit nesses gave evidence which disclosed the fact that, owing to intemperate habits, the deceased had an affection of the liver and lungs, and that his death was, in a great degree, attributable to his irregular habits. THE BURGLARY AT STRATFORD. DEATH OF MR. GALLOWAY. On Friday Mr. Lewis, the coroner for Essex, held inquest at the Pigeon's Inn, Ilford-road; Stratford, on the body of Mr. Samuel Galloway, who died from the effects of a stab-wound inflicted on his face by one of a gang of burglars who entered the house, and who effected a robbery partially through using chloroform on the inmates. The jury having viewed the body of the deceased gentleman at his residence, Oxford-villas, Ilford-road, and taken the evidence of his widow, who is at present ill in bed, Miss Hewlett, niece of deceased, deposed to the facts of the case. Mr. A. Spurling, who lived oppo s it e to the late Mr. Galloway, said that on hearing screams he rushed out of his house, and found that gentleman lying on the road, bleeding from one eye. George Young, K R 53, stated that about twenty minutes to nine o'clock on the night in question, he was on duty in the Romford: road, when he heard the screams of a female. He then hastened to the spot, and found the deceased lying on his back on the pathway, and a lady looking over him. He asked her what was the matter, and she said several times "My poor husband is stabbed." He asked her who did it. She told him three men, who had run away. He then assisted in taking the deceased into the house. Witness had been past about eight minutes before, and saw nobody loitering about, and was coming back the same way when he heard the screams. Dr. Kennedy, of Stratford, said that on the evening in ques tion he was called to the deceased, and found him insen sible, and bleeding. The wound was just under the eye, and extended through the orbit, and pierced the brain. He believed the wound was inflicted by some sharp-pointed instrument. He attended him three times a day, and last saw him on Wednesday evening, at seven o'clock, when, he was last sinking. Death ensued a little after nine o'clock. The injury to the brain was the cause of death. Other medical men saw him. The Coroner said it would be necessary to adjourn the inquiry in order to enable the police to produce other evidence, and the investigation was accordingly adjourned. A reward of £lOO is now offered for the apprehension of the murderer, and a free pardon promised to any accomplice who shall give infor mation.. THE MISSING BEAR. The Welsh Harp bear has been found, and Warner is himself again. And not Warner alone. Mothers of large families, schoolmistresses, benevolently-inclined spinsters, frightened rectors, and other old women, may now walk the walks and sleep the sleep of the just. The Hendon " bobby," who saw the bear and bolted, may now cover his beat in real security. The " Resident," who was so strong against race meetings, and who is said to have had bear on the brain ever since the Welsh Harp animal disappeared, may once more return to reason and to Kingsbury—if not to the Times. Bruin was found on the borders of Windsor Forest, in the neigh bourhood of Chertsey, and from his quiet manner and somewhat emaciated appearance did not seem to have swallowed many children during his journey. How he got such a distance is the rub. He must have crossed the river once at least ; and it is cer tain that his fare at times must have been of the scantiest, although it is true that several baker's vans were robbed along the line of his supposed route, and Mr. Warner is informed that when found the ignoble beast was regaling himself on a four-pound loaf. At all events Bruin has been caught, and Punch, our own "Man in the Street,"—who had the temerity to in sinuate that " there was no bear " and the general public, may now go to bed in peace. The bear is expected to arrive, in an extra strong cage, at the Welsh Harp, on Tuesday, and then the most incredulous may have his doubts put to rest by inspecting the wandering brute, —Sportsman. Mr. William Harrison, of Samlesbury Ilal/ and Blackburn, has been solicited to allow himself to be nomi nated for the representation of Staleybridie, in the room of Mr. Sidebottom, deceased. Mr. Hareison has declined On account of ill-health. A CATHOLIC UNION FOR ENGLAND.--TllO Tablet confirms the statement that a Catholic Union is being founded in England * under the auspices of the Duke of Norfolk, to prcunote the interests of the Holy See by all the moral means in its power. It is to be composed of laymen, but it will work in strict obedience to the Church. THE BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL BOARD EXPENDITURE, At the meeting of the Finance Rate , and App ea l Com mittee of the Town Council, Birmingham, a precept from the S c h oo l B oar d f or th e payment of 2 3,000, on. account of the expenses of the election of the B oar d , and the probable ordinary office expenses for the next few months was received. The amount will be included in the_ estimates for the forthcoming borough rate, which will consequently be increased to the extent, within a fractio n ,. of ld in the pound. A METROPOLITAN SCANDAL.—The medical bfficer of health for Lambeth on Friday informed °ale of the metropolitan police magistrates that, in the formation of anew road in Kennington, between thirty and forty cart loads of earth, mingled with human skulls, bones, and portions of coffins, had been brought from an old burial ground near the National Gallery. Mr. Ellison charac terised such a proceeding as a most disgraceful outrage upon decency, to say nothing of the danger to the public health. An immediate stop must be put to it. MEDIATION BY THE POPE. —We are ROW enabled to state, on the best authority, that his Holiness the Pope has offered, for the second time, his mediation to FranJe„ in a letter addressed a short time back to the Archbishop. of Tours, who imme4iataly communicated the offer to the Government of the National Defence. His Holiness at the same time wrote to the King of Prussia. It is not known in what fashion this mediation was received by the belligerents. In the beginning of the war it will be remembered the Pope addressed an offer of mediation to the Emperor Napoleon awl to the King of Prussia._. Westminster Gazette, THE DUIAIN UNIVERSITY BOAT CLT2rI3.--The general meetin of this club was held last week. The late secretary (Mr. Pentland) having read a most aatisfactory report as regards the financial state of the club, took occa sion to advert to the unparalleled success which had attended their representatives during the past year. He said the Senior Four and Pair alone had won na fewer than twelve races in England, Ireland, and Scot land, representing a sum of over £BOO in cups, making in the aggregate 22 races, and £927 worth of prizes, work in the years 180 70. The year 1870 may be deemed the most remarkable in the annals of Irish rowing, as having seen the first Eight-Oared race ever rowed in Irish waters the first Irish crew that ever appeared at classic Henley, and lastly, no doubt, the fastest and most perfect four. oared crew that was ever turned out in the country,--Belt's Life. THE OXFOATA AND CAMBRIDGE BOAT The of Cambridge last ye ar i n t h e boat race has not ina e n C y eS w s ay lessened their earnest preparation for the forthcoming struggle. Mr. Goldie, their president, had all the likely men up etimes, so that . no claim of college terms Y visit to Putney water. For been rowing, and changes of f m u lg ly ht a i m nt o e n rf t e h re ha w v i e th th an e .ra ea e r n l new and old into 'willow places in the boat have been frequent. The last and final important change was made on Tuesday lad, when Messrs. Chambers and Mamie went up. A new man was placed bow, and the former bow re moved to seven. The crew are not so heavy as they were last year, and are many pounds less than their adversaries, who have an unusually heavy lot, one man only, bon% under 12 stone, and two men actually pulling down, 13 odd. At present, Bunbury, an old Eton stroke, is doing service at umnber eight ; Lesley, an old Radleian, seven, two old opponents. Mr. Benson, the president, coaching, and, unless imperatively necessary, be will not row himself. Lik e their opponents, they are striving hard by trying every man in the places most suitable for him, and if success does not attend the dark blue this spring, it will not be from enervation, arising f rom a n i ne years' plethora of victory, Success is allowed to be the best proof of merit, and as long as ag, crew can win,. there are very few peoPle rash enough to critic4se ; but when once defeat overtakes event the moat . careful and painstaking attempt, every scribe thinks it his duty to censure the past and advise the future. This ordeal Cambridge went through for nine years ; Oxford is now getting a taste of it. We unde r-. stand that a deputation from the Universities will short ly wait on the Conservancy as to the arrangements for the when w e h ope the latter body will be in a, snore conciliatory mood than they were last year. —Land an Water. t