The Sun. — London, England, 1871-01-13 00:00:00

AIETROPOLITAN GOSSIP.-THuRSDAY. It would not surprise me if the report that Mr. Glad stone is ill should prove correct, nor if it should turn out that his affliction is of the same kind as the one which troubles Mr. Bright. The Premier has looked careworn at times lately, and particularly during the last fortnight. To over-work has been added the anxiety caused by the state of his Ministry, which, it is no secret, is far from satisfactory just at present. The loss of so many politicians who represent advanced reforming creeds more or less is very serious, and Mr. Gladstone is well aware that those who have filled the vacant places are of quite a different stamp. That the Premier does not underrate the importance of keeping on goad terms with t he advanced party is suffi dandy evidenced by his anxiety to get .and to keep Mr. Bright ln.his Cal:duet, Buit the Whigs, Stpon.vhom Mr. Gladstone has necessatily to rely en Much, take a different' view of the dituation„ and regard the falling away of so . many representative Olen—Bright, Otway, Trevelyan— with little concern, so long as a few shadows belonging to great houses are hoisted up. A more serious difficulty still is the military question, and the position of the War Secretary and the Commander-in-Chief. The rumour is constantly spread that the gentle men who at present occupy these positions are going, but they are never gone. The position is a most embarrassing one. I am assured that Mr. Card well will remain in office to submit his scheme of army reform, retiring if is should prove unsatisfactory. Not only he, however, but the whole Government must stand or fall by a measure of this class ; and yet there • seems no chance of the adequate changes being made so long as the Duke of Cambridge remains where he is. Ex perience has proved that the two things are incompa tible. In every circle the question is asked—has the Com mander-in-Chief resigned ? And as the wish is so often father to the thought in these matters, the rumour is con stantly spread that he has resigned. But he has not, and great.will be my astonishment if he does. There can be no question as to public opinion on this matter. The nation, wishing no harm to the royal duke, asks simply for his withdrawal —nothing more, and certainly nothing less. Dark, indeed, are the prospects of that unfortunate Con , ference. It may yet meet, but I consider the chances greatly in favour of its postponement sine die. It is almost impossible to secure anything like calm discus sion at this time of general excitement. Prussia is jealous of France, and Austria eyes Russia with no favourable glance. The two latter powers differ greatly in their views, Austria being resolutely against allowing Russian war ships to enter the Black Sea unless some compensation be given, and Russia, of course, desiring to gain her end without making any equivalent. It is more than doubtful, too,'whether the French representative would not attempt to bring the war under consideration ; and, if he did, then the Prussian Ambassador would withdraw from the de liberations. In short, there is much danger, that the conference, if it met, would degenerate into something like a diplomatic free fight. To attempt to avert such a result by obtaining a preliminary understanding before hand, and so doing the work of the Conference itself, would be plainly absurd. It will be better to abandon the meeting altogether than to bring about only a miserable collapse ; and from all that I can hear the British Govern ment display not the slightest anxiety to press matters forward. Public interest in the war does not wane here. True, the military situation is regarded with much less atten tion than formerly ; but to make amends the demonstra tions of sympathy with France are endless and most vehe ment in character. The feeling prevades all classes of society. It is a state of enthusiasm almost bordering upon frenzy. Mr. Carlyle, Mr. W. R. Greg, and a few others yet remain to be converted, but the exceptions are now few and far between. From the shaving-shop to the aristocratic ciub, expressions of sorrow for the distress of our neighbours, and devout wishes that hanging, blowing up, or some other equally moderate fate may befal the pious King, form the staple of conversation. In public places people do not content them selves with mere applause when anything is said in favour of France. They get into a state of delirium. They jump on chairs, toss up their hats, wave handkerchiefs, and roar with vociferous fury. In the theatres the Mar seillaise excites an extent of approbation which is never accorded to the finest triumph of acting. This is not merely the case at the notorious performances in Leicester-square, but in the better class of houses, remote from the districts in which a French population pre dominates. In one pantomime troops of children aro dressed like French and Glerman soldiers, and a dis criminating public nightly visits the unhappy helmeted urchins with bowie of execration.. The change ceatainly startling ; but I deem (he sornmon explanation that all this sympathy is mere sentiment, pity for the fallen, &c., a most mistaken one. There is much more logic in the present attitude of the English people than may appear on the surface. The nation, or rather the Government which struck the first blow, was so, far undoubtedly in the wrong ; but there were certain circumstances attendant upon the case which gave the Emperor's attack a character differing materially from that of an aggressive war pure and simple. These circumstances seem to be generally forgotten—at least, I never find them alluded to, though they have the most direct bearing upon the subject. It is worth while to remember that previously to 1866 the Emperor Napoleon and Bismarck concluded an infamous bargain, by which they were to enrich themselves at the expense of their neighbours. The compact was so far carried out that Bismarck got his share of the spoil ; but when the other intriguer claimed a reward, a flat refusal was the sole Prussian answer. In vain did the Emperor plead that to go back empty-hauded to his indignant people, after helping to build up Prussian greatness, would be ruin to him. In vain did the poor man offer to take anything, in order that it might not appear that Bismarck was the sole gainer by these manoeuvres. Not only was the same answer returned, but special care was taken to expose the French sovereign's folly to all the world. Such transactions were in their nature calculated to lead to a war, and this is the war to which they have led. The necessity of securing some support to the tottering Imperial throne was the sole determining influence. It is true that amongst the French people there existed a hankering after the left bank of the Rhine ; but during fifty years of peace this desire had not taken a serious form, and there was n o reason to think it more dangerous than many other national aspirations—the hunger ef Russia after Constantinople, for example, and the hunger of Prussia after things in general. It was Count Bismarck's violation of his compact with the assistant conspirator that made war inevitable. True, the German people have a right to live in peace, and to defend themselves; but can it be urged calmly and deliberately that there was anything in this miserable history to justify such sympathy for Germany as we have felt at times for Italy, Poland, or Denmark ? It is not incumbent upon us to assist Bismarck in extracting profit from a situation which was in great part of his own making. There is not the slightest evidence to prove that he feared or regretted this war, but very much to the hold of P contrary—at he rather courted it as a means of consolidating the russa upon Germany. He is a much more clever man than Napoleon, and so contrived not only to cheat, but to cast the blame upon, the French ruler. Cleverness is not, however, the sole measure of the difference between right and wrong. There is, of course , no p ros p ect of peace at present, and our political prophets have got into such lamentable difficulties during this war that I shall not attempt to rival them by predicting the time when au end of the struggle may be looked for. Anything more wretched than the figure cut by the Times, for example, in its divination at divers epochs of this contest, it is not easy to conceive. However, it is safe to say that the Germans want peace. It is safe also to say that their leaders are much disapp ointed at the long protraction of the contest, and not at all anxious to go on longer than is necessary to gain their demands—as is testified by the semi-apologies on their behalf which are constantly ap pearing in the German papers having more or less inti mate relations with the Government. I have reason for thinking too, than when Paris is taken an offer of peace on " reduced terms " will be made by Count Bis marck in order to get well out of a most disagreeable position. The discontent in Germany is loud enough already. A spring campaign might induced the suffering nation to prefer an irresistible demand for peace. The Prussian Government has long ceased to care whether it makes terms with the Republic or any other Gove rnment so long as it gets Alsace. The Emperor's cause never looked darker than it do his es a t present. That hard intriguing on behalf is going on is beyond question. The work of his agents lately became so vigorous that the German authorities had to interfere to moderate it. lam greatly misinformed, however, if much of this kind of thing is going on in England. A gentleman who has been the best friend of the Empress since she came across the Channel tells me that political busi ness is quite in abeyance at Chislehurst. The Empress does not believe in restoration by released prisoners. She prefers to wait and see what the battle for power when peace is concluded may bring forth. I doubt if the appointment of General Shenck will do so much to accelerate the settlement of the Alabama claims as some writers seem to imagine. General Schenck is a good representative, but then his coming involves Mr. Motley's departure. The disgrace of the historian's recall is felt by every class of politicians in America. Mr. Motley is Mr. Sumner's friend; Mr. Sarnner is on. b4a terms with President Grant ; therefore Mr. Motley Is recalled to spite Mr, Sumner. Such is the whole history of this business; and it is a history which is little likely to prepossess the -Senate, where Mr. Sumner has much influence, in favour of any settlement of the Alabama claims, designed by General Grant. I am assured by an Anglo - American who keeps up constant communication with political leaders across the Atlantic that the President is laying up for himself a store of troubles which may become as hopeless as those in which Mr. Johnson in volved himself during the latter part of his career. The national school teachers are in high expectations just now. Their emoluments have been at a rather low ebb since the market became somewhat overstocked, and since Mr. Lowe, arch enemy of the class, took away some sources of income ; but now that a demand for teachers may be expected, they hope to become masters of the situation. People who are acquainted with the history of the national system in its earlier stages know that almost anybody could become a teacher twenty years ago, for the quantity was so small that quality was very little regarded. Are we likely to be in the same difficulty now ? I hope not. The Government would have acted most wisely had it taken measures to secure a better supply of teachers — demanding a higher qualification, and granting better pay. The profession, or whatever it may be called, is in a very bad way just at present. It has greatly declined in the estimate of the working classes and small tradespeople, who chiefly filled its ranks, and the additions of the last few years have been of most inferior quality. Yet, whilst so much useless talk has been poured out touching he religious difficulty, nobody has paid any attention to this important subject. A horrible middle-aged barbarian of a friend tells me that he saw his wife deeply meditating over the Times newspaper this morning, Looking over her shoulder he saw her finger mechanically placed upon a dire paragraph in an obscure corner. The notification was to the effect that the census would be held on April 3rd. " Evidently," said the monster,"she was considering what age she should be." He was unfeeling enough to add that much study of the same kind would be common throughout the country. I do not believe him, of course ; but it may be just as well to point out the date, so that nobody can have the excuse of saying they were unprepared. If lam to believe this hardened sinner, some remarkable cases occurred some ten years ago, which chewed a lamentable lack of de liberation. There were ladies who must have been wives at six and mothers at seven, and there was one remark able example of only thirty years of life proving sufficient to attain the honourable position of grandmother. These matters involve little difficulty when the position is a simple one, but where the ideas of numerous relatives have to be considered, great scope for calculation and strategic skill presents itse. At the last ce nsus there was a deadly quarrel between lf two insepar able sisters, one of whom would not come down to a reasonable age. " They parted ne'er to meet again." The other day one of the two died, leaving all her property to charitable institutions, having no other relative than the sister who refused to decently lower her term of existence. Amongst the newest of projects is a tramway to be laid along the roads to the new Exhibition building, South Kensington. The line will be permanently used by visitors to the annual international displays, and it is thought that the rails may be laid with American celerity by May Ist. At Liverpool, last year, the American firm laying down the tramways had their men working all day and all night. Not an hour was lost from the com mencement of the undertaking till the cars were put on the station. Attention has been drawn by a contemporary to the new pattern in coats to be seen everywhere in the London streets this winter, but no mention has been made of the reform in dress matters adopted by the ladies. The appearance of the Ulster overcoats is of insignificant im portance compared with the sudden disappearance of high heeled boots, and extravagant paniers. A walk along Regent-street would probably tend to gratify the pro vincial tourist in respect of the fashions. The ladies, whether in consequence of Mr. Worth's imprisonment or not, eschew elaborateness of costume in toto. The hats worn are those of last spring, high straw trimmed for the most part with lavender velvet and feathers, with flowers of many hues. The jackets are still small, but have become most unpretending and neat, all thought of mili tary and naval braiding, or bugles, or bows being dis discarded. The rage for flounces has died away, and the Hessian-patterned boots have been laid aside. Girls appear the ordinary height all round, and exhibit a syrn metry that is natural. The present winter dresses, dark velveteens, provide as suitable a garment as the most fastidious person in the streets could desire. Altogether the return to grace and sensibility is remarkable just at present, and the old phrase "quiet English girls," even applied in connection with such a capricious thing as dress, may be once again brought from the dictionary and made use of, without the liability of causing laughter. The art galleries in London, especially Christie's and Colonel Stuart Wortley's exhibition of photographs, are the most fashionable places of resort in this horribly muddy season. Walks in the Parks and riding seem out of the question, so one goes from art gallery to art gallery, takes a stroll along the right-hand side of Piccadilly, and goes home contented. There is a , good deal of enjoyment to he had in the picture collections though they contain nothing of very special moment just now. Mr. Holman Hunt's sketch for the principal gr oup of the "Finding in the Temple " has been on view during the week at Christie's. It will probably be bought for the nation. It is to be sold among other effects of the late Mr. Halliday, a well , known andlamented artist, to whom Mr. Hunt presented it. I An annual art exhibition is to be held in Liverpool ; this year it will take place in the Free Public Library—an enormous building. The Society of Arts are taking up the subject of music, and propose giving a series of con certs, in order to assist in the establishment of a National Training Sohool for Music. A. meettng of working men, in opposition to the war policy advocated at the meeting in St. James's Hall, on Tuesday last, is being convened by the Workmen's National Peace Association. In the report of the chief engineer, presented to the executive committee of the Manchester Steam Users' Association this week, it was stated that during the past year there had been ten household boiler explosions, re sulting in the death of five persons, and the serious injury of six others. THE IRISH GRAND JURY LAWS.—The following petition on the grand jury laws of Ireland, which have for some years past more or less occupied the attention of Irish farmers, was adopted a few days since at a meeting of the Clonmel Farmers' Club—Mr. john Bagwell, D.L., M.P., in the chair :—" To the Knights and Burgesses of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of the Clonmel Farmers' Club and others— Sheweth, that the present grand jury laws' in Ireland are unjust in prin ciple ; that the largest amount of the oess is levied off the occupying tenants, as in the South Riding of Tipperary the tenant farmers pay £96 6s. Bd. of every £lOO, and also pay rent for the land on which 1,200 miles of roads are made, for which originally the fee simp le was p aid as dama g es e q ual to £6,000 a year : that in 1842 and 1845 two committees recommended the elective system and barony boards ; that the last select committee, which sat in 1868, chewed on the evidence of very competent persons, that it cost .E2l a head for pauper lunatics in the asylum, when a similar class cost only £9 in the workhouse ; that the tenant farmer has no control over the expenditure or in the appointment of the officials ; tht the whole is a axa tion without representation, so thatry to the s t pirit of the British Constitution, and that it is very humiliating to the ratepayers to have frequently to beg by memorial of the grand jury the redress of grievances connected with the raising and expenditure of the county cess. Your petitioners respectfully pray that with such a statement of undeniable facts bearing on an Act of Parliament that h a s permitted so many glaring a b us es, your honourable house will take their case into consideration, and make such change in the grand jury laws as to you seem fit. — JOHN BAGWELL, Chairman." CAN I AFFORD IT ?—Pay your Stationer 6d. for a reply. Map of the World gratis in all Letts's Office Diaries. Letts's 6d. and ls. Diaries give most value for your money. Letts's Housekeepers' and Ladies' Diaries are much improved. Letts's 'invisible Ink for Postal Cards, Gd. per bottle. HE SUN, LONDON, FRID AA, JANUARY 13, -------- MAJOR-GENEIONRAL NORMAN ON THE CON DIT OF THE INDIAN A RMY. At the anniversary dinner of the Scotchnaen resident in Calcutta, held in the Town Hall of that city on St. Andrew's Day, Major-General Norman, in replying to the toast of " The Army and Navy," made the following re marks :—" Of the excellence of the material of our army I have no doubt whatever, but we must all have now learned that great results are not attainable with small means, and our standing, army is very small. It is true that we have large bodies of militia and volunterse, will but s ome system of organisation is wanted, and I hope soon be devised, by which at any time we may be able to make use of a large portion of the pick of our man hood, trained and armed at the shortest notice to back up, and, if necessary, reinforce our active army. Here in India we have an army which we may esti mate in round numbers at 180,000 men, of whom about 60,000 are British, with rather nor® than 409 ecollect field guns. It is not a large army when we r the great extent of country it has to occupy, and the work that it may any day be called on to perform ; but it is, I believe, in excellent order, and fit and ready and anxious for service. There has been some delay in supply ' hag the whole of the British troops in India with rifles, owing in some degree to a doubt as to whether the Henry- Martini rifle would not soon supersede the Snider ; but there willbe no more delay. A considerable number of the regiments abroad have the Snider ; others are about to receive it, and I trust before the hot weather has set in every British soldier in India—aye, and I hope every Volunteer—will be armed with a Snider, while a con siderable portion of the Native Regiments have received or will receive the Enfield rifle. In the artil lery, a new pattern bronze muzzle-loading rifled gun has been adopted, said to be simple and durable, with great range and much accuracy of fire. Indeed, many competent jndges consider that this gun is equal to, if not superior to, any field gun in any of the armies of the world. It has also the advan tage of being capable of being manufactured out here, as soon as the machinery arrives, and meanwhile we have the satisfaction of believing that a large supply of these guns will soon be on their way to us." The usual toasts followed. Above one hundred guests were present. ------- WRECK OF LIVE R TWO VESSELS NEAR POOL. THE WAR. BY BALLOON MAIL.- SUPPOSED LOSS OF EIGHT LIVES. We regret to see that a serious disaster happened off the Mersey on Wednesday night, when two outward bound vessels struck on the bar. The barque Crescent, 600 tons, bound for Havanna, and the Greek brig Calliope, bound for Syra, both laden with cools, left the p ort, proceeding in tow to the bar. Shortly after being cast off a sudden change of the wind occurred, just as the vessels were crossing the bar ; the consequence was that both vessels struck vio lently ; the brig remained, but the barque beat over, and, as a result of the injuries she had sustained by striking, sunk in deep water. As soon as possible the lifeboat proceeded out to render assistance, but on arriving at the scene of the disaster it was ascertained that the crew of the brig had been taken off, after great difficulty, by the tug Royal Arch, which landed them at Liverpool. The crew of the barque took to two of the boats, and the captain and eight of the men were subsequently picked up by another boat and landed there. The captain's wife, child, pilot, and five seamen were still missing up to an e arly hour on Thursday morning. THE CASE OF LA.FTITTE AND CO. - - - The Master of the Rolls delivered judgment on the claim of £150,000 made by Monsieur C. Lafitte against the banking, financial, and general maritime agency of that name, established under the auspices of the National Bank in Paris and London, during that year of com mercial panic and disaster 1866. From a private undertaking the concern was converted into a joint stock company, but its financial operations were of such a character that no remunerative bussiness was transacted, and after a short existence it went into liqui dation, a very small proportion of the capital of three millions having been realised. M. Lafitte now claimed the 2150,000, which it was agreed to pay him for the transfer of the business, but the claim was objected to by the shareholders, on two grounds : first, that the original prospectus contained representations which, it was alleged, were grossly false ; and secondly, that the contract had never been completed. The first objection his lordship held to be fatal to the claim, because instead of the consideration promised tr be paid being in the ratio of the profits during a series of years, it was obvious that the whole scheme was entered into blindfold, and that scarcely a book was inspected. The shareholders having been deceived by the prospectus, were now exonerated from the payment of calls, and en titled to repudiate the shares standing in their names, but at the same time he did not think M. Lafitte was personally liable to great blame. Therefore while re jecting the claim, he would do so without costs'. REFORM IN DRESS. Ona of the most interesting circumstances in connec tion with the present eventful winter is the appearance of several, persons in the streets in long great coats extending from the neck to the heels, and giving the wearers the appearance of what are generally known among children as " Noah's Ark m in." These garments are perhaps more comfortable than picturesque ; but they are interesting to behold, inasmuch as they are a symptom of courage in respect of dress which leads to the hope that a mighty revolution is at hand productive of convenience to all mankind. A man who is brave enough to walk down Regent-street enveloped in a wrapper so long, so ample, that spectators are obliged to htrust to his honour that he has any clothes beneath it surely would not be afraid to discard the uncomfortable hat which has so long interfered with human happiness and wear in its stead a wideawake or " billy cock." No man will be so deserving of admiration as he who first has the courage to " throw his hat into the ring" naw ioimore e and fight tfitted t he w ti i hr t with nt thepla place. prejudices ouserAs fg. r ‘ o v re h a i t c h m exist o l i u n t isfavour s, of this un comfortable appendag e. When the hat is fairly gone probably the trouser s will follow, and knicker bockers and gaiters, a nd some other coverings also urgently required in what is called " evening dress" for both men and wom en. Some costume, perhaps, will one day be discovered enabling the wearer to be inde pendent of cabs and carriages. Society will really never be comfortable until people can walk to it. At present many estimable persons—unambitious chaperons and attractive young ladies—are utterly debarred from London society because of the difficulties as regards locomotion, in the evening. They, or rather their husbands and fathers, cannot afford to set up stables in London, and no ladies dressed in gorgeous evening attire like to get into muddy cabs, reeking with the smell of tobacco smoke, which have perhaps just set down a patient at the gates of the Smallpox Hospital. Ladies ought to beable to walk to t heir balls and parties through orderly streets clothed in long wrappers something like those which have covered the divine form of man this winter, wearing overshoes, and, if need be, carrying um brellas over their heads. If her Majesty would hold one drawing-room, to which everybody was requested to walk in decent clothing, not only would the street traffic be wonderfully relieved, but a great boon would be bestowed on society in general. Nor would the great dressmaking interests suffer in reality, for people must wear some clothes, and there would be a greater demand for useful garments of a less objectionable nature as regards health and appearance than those now generally worn. —Pall Mall Gazette. The death is announced of Lady Parher, widow o the late Sir William Parker, Bart., G.C.8., Admiral o the Fleet. The Birmingham papers state that a private meet ing of the creditors of Mr. W. T. Adcock, late secretary to the Stourbridge Railway Company, was held Worcester County Court, before the Registrar. The bankrupt did not surrender, nor was any statement of accounts submitted. A trustee and a committee of inspection. were appointed, and the public examina tion of the bankrupt was appointed for the 22nd of February. THE CAMPAIGN IN THE NORTII.—It appears that the French Generals Faidherbe and Peletingeas planned a joint enterprise for the recapture of R o uen. Thal e scheme however failed, like many others. Whe Gener Faid herbe, after routing the great bulk of Manteuffel's army was to march upon Rou en from the north-east, General. Peletingeas, commanding the army of Havre, was to ap proach it from the west ; and General Roy, military ' commander of the departments of Eure and Calvados, from the south. I don't think, says a correspondent, the p ro mised advance of General Faidherbe , f rom Amiens was much believe d in ; but the arrival of General Peletingeas from Havre, and of General Roy from the neighbourhood of Elbceuf, was, on the night of the 3rd. confidently expected for the following morning. It was known that General Manteuffel had come back to Rouen on the 2nd, and on the evening of the 3rd nearly the whole of the troops quartered here were seen to march across the Pont de Pierre, in the direction of Elbceuf, leaving, I should think, about half a company to keep order in a city of 140,000 inhabitants, out of whom at least 30,000 are workmen with work. The battle began before daylight, the pursuit lasted until after dark, and was renewed on the following morning ; but the victory was virtually gained when the first blow was struck, or, rather, the first shot fired. Here and there on the road alongwhicl the French were driven, or on the wooded height s by which the road is in many 1 places commanded, they made a desperate resistance, but it was throughout a question, in regard to the French, of the rate of retreat, never a question of retreat or advance. THE BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS -FROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE " CENTRAL PRESS.") PARIS, JANUARY 6TH. The public, civil, and military are not altogether well satisfied with the management of affairs. The evacuation of Avron has called forth a good deal of angry com- plaint, though in a military point of view it was absolutely necessary at the time it was effected. General Trochu visited the heights of Avron the day before, and. decided that it was imperative the artillery and infantry should be at once withdrawn, as the heavy guns of the enemy had silenced the French, and further exposure of the men was consequently useless. During the night the troops therefore retired behind the forts, and on the following morning the bombardment of the place was renewed with such effect on the plateau that the prudence of the removal was very clearly shewn. It is loudly complained, how ever, that the military authorities had neglected to render this important defensive position tenable, at least for a longer time, by the erection of casemated batteries. Seventy-four pieces of artillery were placed in the plateau. but the earthworks, which were thrown up, were of no importance. The guns, with one exception, were safely removed, and many of them are to be placed in a redoubt which will, it is hoped, with the assistance of Forts Rosny and Noisy, will prevent the Prussians from establishing themselves on Avron. The latter are not sparing their shot and shell. During one day they poured against the forts between 5,000 and 6,000 rounds, but only five persons were killed, and 29 wounded—no very great result. The enemy are strength ening their lines, and burning the houses near Malmaison. The explosion, which was supposed to be the blowing up of the Rouen Railway, proved to have been that of the Saint Germain Railway bridge. The Prussians are building themselves bridges of boats. The National Guard has shewn great spirit, and at Fort Nogent the governor had the other day the opportunity of observing for himself their enthusiasm and devotion under eight hours bombardment. The three classes, National Guard, Mobiles, and Line, are to be associated in the work of defence, the Govern ment having become aware of the jealousy which exists in the line and among the Mobiles, who f aucy the National Guard are unduly favoured, although, says a writer to the newspapers, they have their parents and friends to aid and protect them. This malcontent himself belongs to the 137th Regiment of the Line, in which he is a volun teer, and he complains that while the line have had all the hard work they are not protected against the cold, and the Uovernment has not so much as given them flannel shirts or gloves. He would not blame the Government for their solicitude for the mobilised National Guards, if they only allowed them to share the perils and sufferings of the other troops, but they are carefully kept out of harm's way, and if the National Guard had spirit it would demand to be led en masse against the enemy. The military malcontents are not the only ones with whom the Government has to contend, however. Complaints are general against the want of energy which has been displayed in the conduct of the defence. At a recent meeting of the Government, matters, it is said, went as far that one of the members demanded General Trochu should resign. -He refused to do so, and was supported by Jules Favre and Ernest Picard, who declared if the Governor resigned, they would resign also. This rumour is not authenticated, but it is certain that the feeling of discontent is widely spread, and the Demo crats take advantage of every opportunity which offers to excite and inflame the public mind. The mayors of the various arrondissements demand to have a voice in the direction of affairs, since they share the responsibility of the Government. General Trochu, as governor of Paris, issued an address to the people with the view of tranquillizing the public, in which he said that great efforts were being made to break the ties of union and reciprocal confidence which had enabled Paris to stand and resist, after more than one hundred days' siege. The enemy, despairing to deliver Paris to Germany as soon as he had announced, tried to intimidate the defence by bombarding the forts. All the failures due to the extreme severity of the weather, to excessive fatigue and constant sufferings, are made the most of by the enemy, who pretends, m oreover, that the members of the Government are divided in their views. The army has suffered 7reat hardships, and needs a short repose ; but the enemy maintains the most violent bombardment which any troops have ever experienced. The army of Paris, however, prepares for vigorous action, and all alike will do their duty. In conclusion, General Prochu declares that no dissension has arisen in the Government Councils, but that all are united to face the perils and anguish of the country in the hope of its deliverance. This address satis fied no one. It was consid ered as only an apology for the series of mistakes which have been committed. No great faith was put in the assertion that the Government is perfectly united. Troehu is said to belong to the monarchic religious party, and to have a marked preference for the Orleanists. It is suspected in some quarters that he neither wishes to make a serious resist ance, nor to make peace, but to capitulate through famine, as then Prussia would impose a new master on France, whereas in the other cases the Republic would be secured. It is fair to add that this impression is by no means unanimous, and that a short proclamation which Trochu is now having placarded throughout the town, declaring that he '• will rot capitulate," has given general satisfac tion. The Reds have issued posters to-day, but they were torn down by the people, and a demonstration of some GOO in the streets producel no disturbance of public order. The bombardment seems to have actually produced a beneficial effect ; for it has exasperated the majority of the population to such a degree that they will not allow anything to interfere with the defence. The residents in the quarter which has had the benefit of the Prussian shells are perfectly calm and collected. The Government has this morning published a proclamation on the bom bardment, in which it avers that the violence of the enemy will redouble the resolution of the city. It will shew itself worthy of the Army of the Loire, which has driven back the enemy, and of the Army of the North, which marches to its assistance. The clubs are still clamouring for the commune. The other evening at the club Favie, at Beleville, great excitement was displayed during the discussion of various questions of social interest. A unanimous resolution was aiopted that the Government should be called upon to suspend the payment of rents, because it was not just that the privileges of capitalists should be maintained at such a crisis. The resolution was to be sent to the other clubs to meet their approval and support. On the question of food being dis cussed one of the speakers said that there were sufficient provisions in stock for four months, only they must seek them where they were to be found, which was chiefly in the hiding-places of religious corporations and curds. He knew some curds in retreat who eat fresh meat every day. Another speaker referred to the complaints which had been made against the people for having cut dow n trees and torn up plantations, and said that necessity had no law, and for his part, if he were sent to prevent unfortunate beings from seeking means to warm themselves, he should be inclined to assist the first one be met with. Jules Ferry had ordered a wood to be kept for himself, which the Mayor in tended to use for the benefit of the poor and when the people took possession of it Jules Ferry called it a robbery, being ignorant apparently that a so called robbery is often nothing but a vindication of one's rights. The plan of the Government was to let the people die of cold and hunger, so that they might the more readily agree to a capitula tion. The military question was next considered, and it was maintained by one speaker that, according to the rights of all civilised nations, the garrison of a besieged town was authorised, after the hundredth day of siege, to employ any means, however barbarous, to free them selves. The Government must be aware of all this, and they could now make use of Greek fire. The efficacy of Greek fire had been called in question, but it had lately been brought to perfection, and a single fusee could kill thousands of Prussians provided only it reached them. An incendiary bomb-shell had been offered to the Government, which would burst three times, but the inventor was sent to the Artillery Committee, and they all knew what that meant. But the Government did not want to carry on the work of defence. It wished to surrender to the Prussians ; nothing but the Communes could save them. But there was no time to lose. They must immediately march upon the Hotel de Ville, for the " parrot' Jules Favre could not save them, and still less could Trochu do so. There were Bonapartists in the forts, and only the day before they tried to give up Mont Valdrien. (This last declaration called forth murmurs of dissent.) The speaker concluded by vehemently upholding the . merits of the Commune, which would be equal to all emergencies, and prepare a doom for traitors and reactionists before which the Reign of Terror in 93 would be nothing. Information was received concerning two persons who had died of hunger. The doctor who ex amined the bodies said the woman had died of decline, and the man had been poisoned by lucifer matches, but his testimony was discredited. A woman who carried a child had waited for some hours in the ranks of those who went to seek for provisions of wood, and found when she tried to raise the child that its limbs were frozen. SHELLS AMONG THE PEOPLE. Many shells fell among the houses of Paris and killed or hurt a few of the people ; but the damage was not great, and the moral impression appears to have been nit. On the fifth, the 110th day of the siege, about forty fell within the city. The cemetery of Mont Parnasse, the garden of the Lszembourg, the Rue Gay Lusk, and all the adjacent quartersteceived these visitors. A little girl comtng out of school, neat the Lit_xembourg was literally cut in two by one, another killed a woman who was drawing a hand-cart, and a third wounded a babe in its cradle ; besides which, two or th ree melt were wounded, and a number of houses more or less damaged. One of the most melancholy incidents was that of a poor family residing is a kind of hut surrounded by tall houses. which one would have imagined would have effectually protected it. Not so, however, for in the middle of the night a shell crashed in the roof and fell on the bed in which were sleeping the ill-fated couple. Of course they were killed instantly, but their two little children escaped unhurt, though they were sleeping in a little bed by the side of their parents. Yet nobody—all accounts agree—seemed to to care for these accidents, or get frightened at them. The Parisians are truly an extraordinary Says a correspondent —" The day after Cita. .ion a detachment of four men and a corporal might, I verily believe, have walked into and taken the city, and a single shell would have driven the entire population into the cellars, and produced a universal cry for capitulation. But now that they have heard the cannon for nearly four months they are only anxious to see what it is like to be near an exploding shell, As soon as it was heard that one had fallen in the Luxembourg gardens and at Ante oil those gardens were invaded by a crowd of idlers of every description—men, women, and children of all ages. It iras an amusing sight when, after a long interval, a dis taut hiss was heard, to see them all fall flat on their faces; and still more amusing to see the eagerness with which, when a shell fell in sight, they all rushed at it to pick up the fragments. The boys erpecially were in their element, and those who were lucky enough to get them drove a thriving trade in eclats d'obus, which they sold at prices varying from three to ten francs each—a fine commentary, I thought, on the terror which shelling is supposed to produce." leople. FRENCH ACCOUNT. The Journal des Debats treats the entry of shells into the city more seriously than do the English writers : People could not admit that the Prussian batteries esta blished at Chatillon, and recently unmasked by the enemy, could send projectiles beyond the ramparts. The fact, unfortunately, was but too certain. In fact, we ourselves ascertained on the spot that a shell, after having penetrated the roof of a rather lofty house, No. 37. Rue Daguerre, had crossed to the other side of the street to a house much lower, com posed only of a ground floor 'and first story, the entrance being No. 6, Rue Lalonde. Here the projectile had passed just above a casement on the first story, had gone through a beam, and issued at the oppo site side, near the door of a small room on the ground floor which serves as a turner's workshop. All this had occurred in so few seconds that the poor turner, who was working at the moment, had not time to save him self. He was struck, but his wounds, it is stated, do not endanger his life. The shell rolled a metre beyond that spot into an unpaved court. It rebounded to a height o a few inches, then fell, and exploded ten metres further on, at the foot of a small building occupied by a mason. There everything was broken by splinters of the projectile. Only a window eseaped being struck. Another shell fell in the middle of the same street, Lalonde, which is un paved. Its splinters struck the houses numbered 7,9, and U, all the windows of which, without exception, were entirely smashed upon every floor. A painful emotion was experienced by part of the inhabitants of the Maine quarter. FROM INSIDE A FORT. A correspondent of the Times managed with great dif ficulty to obtain admission into Fort Rosny after it had undergone several day's bombardment. " I have before mentioned my surprise' at the very small damage which, to one looking from the outside of the Fort, they appeared to do. Inside one was still more struck by this fact. The ground was strewed with fragments of shells, as it might well be, considering how many hundreds or even thousands had been thrown, with admirable aim, into the Fort during the last few days. Here and there lay whole shells that had fallen without bursting, but they looked much too cold and frost-bitten to be longer mis chievous. I looked round in vain for the traces of anything like the damage I should have expected. An observer who knew nothing about the bombardment would have been fairly justiffed in pronouncing the occu pants of the Fort most untidy people, and might have wondered how it could have taken them to break so many windows, or how they could have contrived to knock holes in their roofs, but it would certainly have never occurred to him thiot an iron shower of huge projectiles had been poured upon the place for so many hours without cessation. Why so few men are hurt we began partly to understand when we found Ourselves under the casemate to which our guide took us to lookup r the c ommandant. The comm andant was asleep, b senior officer who represented him received us very gra ciously. Happily, Monseigneur Bauer was known at the fort, and a popular guest there as everywhere. We were offered chairs near the stove and cigarettes, and begged to await his arrival. This was a decided improvement upon being looked upon as spies. The casemate was a low, long room, with a rounded roof, and small beds down both sides of it, reminding one rather of a ship's lower deck. It was necessarily without any window or embrasure to admit light, as this might also have admitted a shell. We were told that the only occasion on which there had been loss of life at the Fort during the bombardment was when a shell happened to light precisely upon an opening of this kind not suffi ciently protected, and forcing its way through, fell into a room occupied by a number of the Garde Nationale. The usual cry of warning came too late. Before any body could move the shell burst, and in an instant two men were lying on the floor dead, and three badly wounded." THE ATTACK UPON AVRON. La Write of Paris gives an excellent account of the attack by the Prussians upon the battery at Avron, which they soon rendered untenable. " The plateau of Avion was literally inundated with shells, many of them of far larger size than had previously been fired. The range of the guns was too great, and it was evident that the Prussians had rectified their aim. Their pro jectiles no longer fell wide in the field ; they almost all burst close to the trenches. Two guns in battery No. 2 were struck ; the same thing soon occurred in battery No. 3 Every moment the wheels of some ammunition waggon were struck or one of the horses killed. Several men were wounded in the trenches, which were so shallow as to afford little protection. Two shells bursting at the same moment killed a naval officer and three men at one of the guns. All who were so imprudent as to venture to attempt to cross the plateau were struck down. It was a sad and terrible spectacle to see these sailors coolly endeavouring to point their guns, undisturbed by the rain of fire, while their officers, who were encouraging them, were falling every moment, covering those around them with their blood. The infantry and the Mobiles where too without shelter, for the Krupp guns swept the portion of the plateau on which they were drawn up within supporting distance. Most of them made the best of it, and laughed when they heard the shells whistling above their heads and bursting near them. Many, however, were so terrified, that they fell back, and spread abroad in they rear disquieting reports which the terrified air of the narrators rendered still more alarming. The National Guard were drawn up on the heights in advance of the village of Rosny, a few shells reached their ranks. An officer and a soldier of the 114th were slightly wounded ; but they remained firm. Every hour the Prussian cannonade became heavier. On our side our fire slackened ; then ceased entirely. An estafette came with an order to evacuate the plateau, and to save the artillery. No time was lost." HOW A CORRESPONDENT LIVES. A correspondent sends to the Daily News a comical description of the straits to which he is reduced in conse quence of his shortness in money and the impossibility of getting more :—" I am looking forward with horrible misgivings to the moment when I shall have no more money, so that perhaps I shall be thankful for being lodged and fed at the public expense. My banker has withdrawn from Paris, and his representative declines to look at my bill, although I offer ruinous interest. As for friends, they are all in a like condition, for no one expected the siege to last so long. Asbuty hotel, ne the guests may ring in vain now for food. I sleep on credit in a gorgeous bed, a pauper. The room is large. I wish it were smaller, .for the firewood comes from trees just cut down, and it takes an hblir to get the logs to light, and then they only smoulder, and emit no heat. The thermometer in my grand room, with its silken curtains, is usually at freezing point. Then my clothes—l am seedy, very seedy. When I call upon a friend, the porter eyes me distrust fully. In the streets the beggars never ask me for alms. The other day.l had some newspapers in my hand, an old gentleman took one from me and paid me it. I had read it, so I pocketed the halfpence, I had been absent from Paris before the siege, and I returned with a small bag. It is difficult to find a tailor who will work, and if he did I could not send him any one suit to mend, for what should I wear in the meantime? Decency forbids it. My pea jacket is torn and threadbare, my trousers are frayad at the bottom, and of many colours —like Joseph's coat. As for my linen, I will only say that the washer women have struck work, as they have no fuel. I invested a few weeks ago in a pair of oheap boots. They are my torment. They have split in various places, and I wear a pair of gaiters—purple, like those of a respectable eccle siastic, to cover the rents. I bought them on the Boule vard, and at the same stall I bought a bright blue hand kerchief which was going cheap ; this I wear round my neck. My upper man resembles that of a dog-stealer, wy lower man that of a bishop. My greatest troubles are my buttons. When I had more than one change of raiment these appendages remained in their places, now ' they drop off as though I were a moulting fowl. I have to pin myself together elaborately, and whenever I want to get anything out of my pocket I am afraid of falling to pieces." THE " DEBATS " ON THE SITUATION. M. Louis Hatisbon, in a recent article in the Journal des Debats, expresses the anxiety felt in Paris. He says ; "After three months and a half of an investment so close that not even the thickness of a letter can penetrate the blockade, the siege enters a new phase, and we are be ginning a bombardment. Under the rain of the enemy's projectiles our troops have been forced to evacuate the plateau of Avron. Shells have fallen in the midst of our eastern forts, and some even beyond. To-morrow, per haps, Moltke will unmask new batteries at Clamart, Meudon, or elsewhere, and spread fire and death in Paris. The situation becomes tragi cal, but Paris remains calm, and preserves her dignified attitude. We trust earnestly that she will preserve it to the end, and we do not doubt that she will, but on one condition. She must not deceive herself as to the situation ; she must fully realise it, and not see it through the mirages of certain journals. Every hope is permissible. This appearance of th e Krupp guns on the scene may be the result of military proceed ings in the background of which we know nothing ; it may be the triumph of Chanzy over Frederick Charles, but beside this hope there is the reality of a check in the North, and it is possible all our hopes may be deceived and the good news prove to be false. Is Paris prepared for this? In any case it is the duty of whoever wields an lionest pen so to prepare her. We should be deterred by scruples from declaring the Prussians were driven to bombard the forts by their necessities, even if we thought so, because the re sult would be the same. There are some men who consider themselves real patriots, who write and say such things, and the public believes them to wake up and cry out that the Government has betrayed them. Then the demagogues and the ambitious leaders of low quarters have their opportunity. Then the resistance, which was noble and heroic, gives place to civil war, and the fruit of so much labour is lost. Then if one dies it is not in the discharge of a noble duty, but in the dust of a civil war. May this bitter cup be spared us, may the Government hold itself erect, and may the population stand firmly round, allowing no pretext for the admission of those im pure elements which will tarnish the glory of the siege, and destroy our best hopes." The railways leading fram Berlin to the seat of war are now almost monopolised by military traffic. Eighteen civilian trains daily have just been suspended at Hanover. The Manchester Guardian says :—The maritime autho rities 'at Ostend have seized six cases from England, marked " A.C.K." containing arms designed for France. Count Daumas, Grand Almoner of the French army, visiting the French prisoners in Germany, has expressed himself, says a Berlin telegram, highly satisfied with the treatment accorded them. Among the men of ill-omen who flock to Bordeatt% is M. Magne, the most " artful dodger " of all the Em' perors finance ministers. M. Magne has been closeted with M. Thiers. According to the Paris Journal, the citoyennes of the Fauhourg du Temple are making preparations to receive the Prussians. They have carried not only broken bottles and abandoned flower-pots, but paving -stones, into their apartments, some of which are regular arsenals. A letter found, or supposed to be found, in the pocket of a dead German from his Gretchen is published ill Paris paper. "If you should happen to pillage a jeweller's shop," says this practical lady, " don't forget me, but get me a pretty pair of earrings." A letter from Hanover mentions the departure from Geestemunde of the torpedo detachment which had been stationed there. It has been directed to lay down torpe" does in the Seine, and thus prevent French gunboats from reaching Paris. The German colony in Paris numbers now about 7 00 persons, men, women, and children. Before the invest ment of the city and the decree of expulsion which was issued there were 188,000 Germans in Paris. The 7 00 persons now in the city consist principally of invalids, old men, and children. The Magdeburg Gazette states, on semi-official authir rity, that Count Bismarck has never been mistaken as t° the powers of resistance of Paris. Months ago he re' garded the capture of the city as difficult, and he w! decidedly opposed to investing it before Metz had 01:4 tulated. The abandonment of Rouen to the Germans without battle has been the subject of much remark. The 1 11.°• blem, however, is soon solved. To meet 27,000 Prussiel troops, with 45 pieces of artillery, General Briand under his command less than 3,000 regular troops, ah ell ; 25,000 Mobile and National Guards, ill-clothed, and imperfectly drilled. with not more than three pi ece of artillery ready for service. General Falkenstein, in an order respecting the Fren c prisoners, says :—" Lieutenant Marchesan, of the 9 , 1 ,, ' Line Infantry Regiment, interned at Ha mbur g , wh y violating his parole, attempted a flight to Marseille e ti [ lo woman's dress, will accordingly be sent to Bo y en, for j. purpose of being , henceforward treat e d as a crialiej Major Bonaparte and Captain De Mou dion, interned *-0 Brunswick on parole, will be visited with the se i° ,:a punishment, they having in writing withdrawn their We'o of honour, and stated that they deemed themselves longer bound by it." fre° A correspondent of the Allg eme in e Z e itun g , writing for Cassel on the 4th inst., reports the discovery of a plot the assassination, of the Emperor Napoleon. It a.PPiefag that a Russian gentleman , wh ilst travellin g from Hall` ho railway, entered into conversation with a Frenchman, 1 1 1 in the course of it mentioned that he was commission t ie a secret association to travel about the country whe re o p French prisoners were interned and to stir theol against the Emperor. He further stated that a P l - 311 of been laid to assassinate the Emperor, which would be r e , into execution as soon as Paris, the last bulwark of l?r had fallen. [A D VERTISEMENT.] —Holloway's Ointment and - t icwf The Best Friends. — ln cases of erysipelas, inflanlo39'lol; ulceration, and all the varieties of cutaneous disettse°' 6 1 11 ' loway's ointment never fails to give relie f. Its eery, bot'' application lessens the inflammation and diminishes heat and pain. This soothin ointment, by depuratio&ro' blood on its way to or return from the affected pa:r i r bl re ' motes healthy action. Old indolent ulcers, wh1 c. ,,,0 resisted every other treatment, speedily assuraa th, proved appearance, healthy granulations spring T I P': sores contract, and soon close on the judicious use o 5 Or loway's noted remedies. In severe and chronic ca,s:itel pills should always be taken, as their purifiriog 7 tive, and restorative qualities place the whole IBS solids and fluids in a wholesome condition. BIRTS. C On the 10th inst. at 18, Eat H n -square, the Wife e' ,oie o f Glencairn Campbell, Esq., of a son. 01 f e On the 10th inst. at Hill-side, Streatham, tl, — e John Dennis, Esq., of a daughter. MARRIAGES. Jo i rl 9 , -' On the 10th inst., at St. George's, Hanover-sq,tottiericolie, Raymond, second surviving son of the late 1 " -e 1311:ell Trevilian, Esq., of Midelney, Somersetshire, tc', pe only child of Sir Francis Vincent, Bart., °.` c 0 Hall, Essex. Vi l ' l tl' e On the 10th inst., at Trinity Church, Padding too , joes ii Albert Ranken, Esq. of Southampton, to G e lorl :e youngest daughter of' George Nicholson, Esq., of Hertford. ll' DEATHS. lace , 1 ,, 6 1. On the 11th inst. , at 26, Upper Bedford -P , egg C°' 1 ' e,a squar e, Charles Frodsharn, Esq., F.R..A.. S. On the 10th inst., at 115, Camden -road, Willia,"" of Mincing-lane, aged 78. London : Printed by GIDEON ACLAND No. 112, Strand , Printer, and Published mict THE SUN Office, No. 112, S d trand, in the Preelli Savoy, in the County Friday, ojfanMuiardyl 13, jog