The Sun. — London, England, 1871-02-17 00:00:00

em this ;rve t of mn- ided t re- the tand • this the o be uate( l ied to were A their a their he per esult of IA their lea that , for the g yet he into the --- fine') eserves. satisfied xcelleAt ble the Tincipl e reserve. nandiog ar they Ls, an d ition old, 9 0 for 0 f 150,0. a cla o itia I ,_ i 0 le. ,c 1 bee' ext ra, atruct i°ri attended 6 SatiSx 5 C Lad been preS o '0 nailiti9, ,nsioner o, the officers might be provided for in the reserve forces. (Hear, hear.) However, when the question of retirement came up for consideration, Parliament would have to deal with the demands made upon them. (Hear, hear.) If we abolished purchase we must accept the principle of selection, and those that merit pointed to must be consi dered. We must not allow a system of pecuniary advan tage to prevail, and then the question came, were they prepared to sacrifice this large sum of money--were they prepared to look forward to the adoption of a principle of selection, The Government had given their best con sideration to this matter. They believed that an unpaid service was generally the dearest service, and they believed that this system of trafficking and purchase in this glorious profession should cease. (Cheers.) They recommended to the House the abolition of the purchase system, and the bill which Proposed to carry this into effect would set' forth that after a day to be named no pecuniary in. 1 terest should be taken for any commission, and that any one at present holding a commission would in no way be affected by these regulations. (Cheers.) It was proposed to commute the commissions at present held, and a com mission would be appointed who would consider the claims of officers. He explained in what manner this resolution would be carried out in detail, and said that as only those officers would sell their commissions, who could find purchasers, it was necessary to fix some limit, because if the consolidated fund had to pay the money, they might all at once find a great diminution take place in the officers of the army, and some considerable diminution also in the con solidated fund. (Laughter.) They therefore fixed this limit, that no greater number of officers were to be allowed to leave during a year than the maximum number of previous years. He believed that no case had been omitted in the bill, and the compensations would amount to from £7,600,000 at least, to £8,400,000 • at most, but whereas it would be a considerable item in the first few years it would gradually dwindle down and become eventually a very small charge, (Cheers.) The next important thing was that the commission would begin without purchase, and it became necessary to consider on whom they shey should be bestowed. They proposed to give them in some of these ways. Admission to Sandhurst should be given by competitive examination, and those who there shewed their ability should receive commissions. Subalterns of militia regiments who had served for two years, and who were qualified, should 'receive commissions in the Line, and non-commissioned officers, as before, should receive them. The rank of Cornet and Ensign would be abolished, and it was recommended to establish an order of cadets, who after certain training could receive commissions if they liked the service, and, if not, could le we. (Hear, hear.) University men and the general public would have to pass a competitive ex amination. Then he came to promotion, which was a difficult subject, and he thought it should go by selection ; but of tuffs he was sure, that the direct administration of patronage in the army should never be placed in the hands of a political official. (Loud cheers.) The responsibility now rested with the Secretary of State, and he thought he ought not to be relieved of it. (Hear.) If an improper appointment was made, he should be responsible to the Crown and to the country for it ; but he did not think the selection of indi viduals for promotion should be left with him. (Hear' hear.) It should rest with a military officer, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State. (Hear, hear.) If care were not exercised, their spending a large sum of money in abolishing one system of purchase would lay the foundation for another, and therefore as a security against that the law must be rigidly enforced. (Hear.) The next consideration was that the successor should never be known until the predecessor had left his place, and the third was that wherever there was the slightest suspicion of any improper dealing, the power of selection should be vigorously exercised. (Hear.) The next question was, What was to be the tenure of office of the Commander-in-Chief and the Military Secretary ? He regretted that personalities had been imported into the discussion on that point out of doors—(hear)--and he was persuaded that the House would avoid following the eiample. The position of the officer Command ing-in -Chief must be looked upon as exceptional as compared with that of other staff-officers, and the Government thought therefore, that it would be unfair to impose upon him the condition with regard to the limit of time —(hear), but there was no reason why the Military Secretary should be exempt from that condition more than any other staff officer. The object being to secure exact ness and impartiality, the intention was that promotion in that department should rest upon the selection of the officer commanding-in-chief, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State for War. He did not recommend that plan to the House as one free from difficulty ; but he earnestly recommended it as being, to the best of his judgment, the one least beset with difficulties. He did not see how they could contemplate any complete organization of the regular army until they abolished the system of purchase. The next question for tcon sideration was the position it was intended the auxiliary forces should hold. The division of the country into sub-districts under general officers had worked satis factorily, but he proposed to include a colonel of the regular army on the staff for every one of the sub-districts comprising between 15,000 and 20,000 men. With respect to commissions in the auxiliary forces, he pro posed that they should no longer be given by the lords lieutenants of counties, but should in future emanate from the Queen. (Cheers.) The auxiliary forces would therefore be placed together with the regulars under one command. First commissions in the Militia would be given by the Lords Lieutenants. He hoped that the valuable principle of county influence would not be lost. It was proposed to localise the regiments, and that the depots of a regiment should be quartered in the county in which it was raised, and that the militia should be trained with the regulars, and for a longer period than they now are. With respect to the volunteer force, he thought a more careful organisation was required to render that force effective. It was proposed not to allow one officer to hold two commis sions in the reserve forces, unless one of them was of a purely honorary nature. Allow ance had been given to the Artillery Volunteers who had attended at Shoeburyness, and he thought that those who had read the reports of the officers of the Royal Artillery on the volunteers' drill and training at Shoe buryness, could not but have been struck with the value of the training they received at that camp. The Government purpose to increase the allowances for camps of instruction for artillery volunteers. He did not like making many small rules for the volunteers, but power should be given to the colonel in command to strike out from all corps such members as in his opinion were not efficient. (Hear, hear). It was also proposed to brigade troops More than had heretofore been done, and the regular militia and volunteer forces would be brigaded together ; and whenever the volunteers were serving with the regu lar's they would be subject to the Annuity Act. Hitherto the volunteers had been exempt from serving in the militia, but as a volunteer was allowed to leave his corps upon giving two weeks' notice, he proposed to abolish this exemption. (Hear, hear.) Re had only to say there was another question, that of billeting, which had been before referred to in that House. They did not know if it was likely in many counties or Many localities:that anything could be made of it ; but he had been told that, in some places, it was likely some a dvantage would accrue. What they proposed W 33 to enable any locality or localities that liked to unite together to borrow money from the T reasury, who would advance it at a reasonable rate for th e Purpose of providing accommodation. The Govern ment were on the best understanding with the authorities of the different railways, but they thought it right to tisert in the Bill, in case of emergency, that the Crown should have power to possess itself of railway in the same Manner as formerly they had power to possess themselves of the telegraphs. So that the whole communication of the country would at once be in the hands of the Govern- Mont for military purposes. These were, he bought, th e principal parts of the bill which should have the honour of introducing. There N y e re some other questions upon which he should like , Say a few words before he sat down. In the first Pla ce, some time ago he applied to his right hon. friend at the head of the Government to authorise him speaker) t o sa y that the patronage of the Post Office, Which 1 1 116 h had a great num b er o f ou tdoor employments suit 411thee for pensioners of the army and men of a rtaY reserve, should be extended to those e 8". He was authorised to say that as fa , rt a ln a was consistent with the service of the Post Office de pa(Chee ent it w as i nten d e d t o act up pn his suggestions. h ra ' ) The year had been one of considerable interest coMe as well as abroad. They had introduced in the `" -6 e of the year the 35 ton gun, which they believed was the I:host powerful gun known in the world. (Cheers.) They had altered our field artillery and introduced a new 16 pound gun, which was the most powerful field gun known, and they had just effected a change in small arms, from the Snider to the Martini- Henry rifle, which would make the future weapon of the British army the best in existence. (Cheers.) In the great events of the year the expedition to the Red River, consequent upon a rebellion, had been lost sight of ; but those who conducted it were not the less entitled to credit for what they had done. This was a very difficult expedition. It consisted of about 420 men of the British Army, and 750 Canadians acting in harmony. They had to journey over 600 miles from Lake Superior, through forests which had never been traversed before by military men, and met with intervening obstacles of a most serious character, both from land and water. The difficulties were successfully overcome, and the troops having accom plished their object, returned immediately to Canada without any loss. (Cheers.) Though his right hon. friend (Sir H. Storks) had that night taken his seat, and would in future much relieve him, he felt it due to the right hon. baronet opposite (Sir J. Pakington) to observe that it was he who instituted the department, and those who took any part in supporting or promoting it would be glad to hear how it had been found to work .under very difficult circumstances. It was said that in the Red River expedi tion the amalgamation of the civil departments was put upon its first practical trial with the happiest results. A vast amount of correspondence had been saved through it, and the administrative labour was greatly reduced, increased facilities thereby being given to the commander to attend to his military duties. (Cheers.) This was the object with which the new department was established — the amalgamation of offices to save work, and the creation of individual responsibilities, instead of having a confused mixture, which rendered it impossible, if anything occurred to fasten the responsibiliiy upon anybody. (Cheers.) He thought he had very imperfectly pointed out the consequences of this bill. The Government called upon the House in adopting their measure to make agreat sacrifice, but if they made that sacrifice the objects which they had in view were these :—The Government asked for no increase of our standing army beyond that which they obtained at the end of the last session, but they asked them to raise the army reserve as largely as they could by increasing the short service system in the army. They desired to pass as many men through the ranks of the regular army as could be done, having regard to the- number of recruits who were willing to join, and the length of time it required to make them efficient soldiers. They wished to increase the Militia, to better organise the Volunteer force of the country, and provide for compulsory service in case of emergency. They withdrew the power from the Lords Lieuteuant, and placed it in the hands of a general officer who was responsible to his department. They provided for the increase of staff-colonels to have the supervision of districts, the continuation and encourage ment of recruiting, and their aim was to fuse together as much as they could the regular and reserve forces by appointing regular officers to the command of the reserve army,.and by giving sub alterns of the militia commands in the army. They would brigade both branches together as much as possible, and provide efficieht artillery. They also took power for having the railways in their own hands if it was necessary. In short, they proposed to unite the whole force of the country into one defensive army, with power to supplement it by compulsion if considered desirable, all to be under The command of a general officer in each district under one commander-in-chief, who acted with the approval of the Secretary of State. (Cheers.) They would thus have the whole system under the control of a responsible Minister of the Crown ; and he thought if they considered these proposals faulty, they would say the Government had not attempted to glide over the affair, or to make superficial arrange ments. (Cheers.) They had done their best to deal with the points which were at the very bottom of the very foundation of the defen sive forces which would give perfect security for the nation, not merely against actual danger, but against that which was scarcely less tolerable to the feelings, the spfrit, and the independence of Eng lishmen, namely, these perpetual panics which were occurring. (The right hon. gentleman resumed his seat amidst warm cheering, after having spoken two hours and five minutes.) THE PRINCESS LOUISE'S DOWRY. I , lr. 'GLADSTONE purimant to notice, moved that the sum of £30,000 be grained to Her Majesty for the dowry of the Princess Louise. Mr. P. TAYLOR, in opposing the ggant, protested that he had not been moved to it by the departure from the usual course in the case of this Royal marriage, which de parture, indeed, he decidedly approved, but he main tained, that it was inexpedient to increase the cost of monarchical institutions. He denied that there was any obligation when the Civil List was settled to under take these extraordinary provisions, and they ought to be borne by the Civil List. This, too, was an unusual case, and, as the Princess had thrown off the fetters of Royalty, there was nothing left to gild. Mr. DISRAELI pointed out to Mr. Taylor, who had in sinuated a comparison with the United States, that the real Government there included Congressmen as well as the President, and as they were paid it was, perhaps, even more costly than ours. He did not altogether approve the principle on which the Civil List was settled at the commencement of the reign, thinking it would have been better that every ten years or so there should have been a new arrangement, but he exhorted the House to carry out the spirit of the understanding between the Crown and the people for the maintenance of the dignity of the Throne in a becoming manner. A choice of this sort, he pointed out, was in a manner ren dered necessary by the mediatisation of the German Princes ; and, as additional reason why no opposi tion should be offered, he reminded members that her Royal Highness would be the first Princess who had married a member of the House of Commons. Sir R. PEEL commented on what he declared to be serious misrepresentations in the Prime Minister's speech on Monday night, and, while disclaiming all desire to be niggardly, he pointed out that the money voted for main taining the splendour of the Crown was in reality not spent in that way. The duty of shewing hospitality to foreigners, for instance, was left to the Prince of Wales, and Sir Robert said he would vote to morrow for doubling the Prince's allowance on that score. If the alliance had been, as usual, with a Royal House, the grant would have been defensive, but he disapproved the Princess marrying " the son of one of Her Majesty's Ministers by the advice of Her Majesty's Ministry." Mr. Goldney said a few words which were inaudible in the loud cries for a division, and after a brief reply from Mr. Gladstone, who mentioned that her Majesty had con sulted her confidential advisers on the question of depart ing from the usual range of choice eighteen months ago, long before this particular arrangement was made, the committee divided. Only one member, Mr. Fawcett, voted against the grant, Mr. Taylor and Sir C. Dilke being the tellers on that side, and it was carried by the extraordinary majority of 350 to 1. THE PRINCESS LOUISE'S ANNUITY BILL. The Princess Louise's Annuity Bill was read a second time without opposition. UNIVERSITY TESTS BILL. The University Tests Bill was read a second time, Mr. Hardy delivering a brief but emphatic protest against it in its present shape. JURIES ACT (1870) AMENDMENT BILL. The Attorney-General's bill for repealing section 6 of the Juries Act of last session was read a second time, with the approval of Mr. Lopes, Mr. Cross, Mr. Hen ley, Mr. G. Gregory, and others ; but Mr. Alderman Lusk seemed to think that only the lawyers objected to this particular provision, and that because it prevented litigation. The House adjourned at twenty-five minutes to ten o'clock. (øu - • _QM N C rola erne L the Lddi - SO pre- eces- .tnt- - He that, efore, Le felt ig in ► the tho work t was of re- lograo They, inune - tamed rimeau ,ng the Hod of bought I cease to the HER MAJESTY. WINDSOR CASTLE, FEBRUARY 16. • The Queen, accompanied by Princess Beatrice, drove out yesterday afternoon. Viscountess Clifden was in attendance. The Royal dinner party included Princess Louise, the. Duke of Argyll, and the Marquis of Lorne. Her Majesty went out in the grounds this morning, ac companied by Princess Beatrice. --- The Princgss of Wales drove out yesterday, attended by the Countess of Macclesfield. The Prince of Wales was present at the debate in the House of Commons on the Army Estimates in the evening. THE ARMISTICE. BERLIN, February 16. The German Emperor will open the Imperial Par liament in person if Peace is concluded by the be ginning of March. Otherwise the Emperor will probably remain at Versailles, and the meeting of Parliament be postponed. The Prussian 4th and sth Corps are marching south from Paris.—Times' telegram. ILLNESS OF THE GERMAN EMPEROR. VERSAILLES, February it. His Majesty the Emperor has still a severe at tack of rheumatism, and is consequently unable to receive the troops as they leave the town or return from the South. He inspects the marching past from his window, while the Crown Prince takes up his position in the street. Yesterday the 95th Regiment of the Line (6th Thuringian) came in to join the 22nd Division, to which it be longs. The Duke of Saxe-Coburg marched at the head of the regiment, which is formed of recruits from his Dukedoms of Coburg and Gotha. There was some artillery with it. The triumphal entry into Paris is yet, I believe, by no means decided upon; and opinions at head quarters continue to be strongly divided on the sub ject. It is .not absolutely improbable that the knot may be cut by the illness of the Emperor, which may prevent his taking part in a ceremony on which he is understood to have set his heart. The Prussians are busily engaged in blowing up and destroying the iron guns captured from the French, which are considered worthless.—Telegraph Telegram. THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1871. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. SUN OFFICE, 8 A.M. new, have passed through this place towards the front. —Submarine Telegram. The following telegrams come through Reuter's agency : THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY A telegram from Bordeaux on the 15th says that the verification of the elections was continued. The reports of the Bureaux state that about five-sevenths of the electors took part in the voting. The House afterwards unanimously ratified the election of M. Grosjean, the Prefect, who is at present shut up in Belfort. At the close of the sitting the President announced that the House would be called upon the next day to constitute a Government to which would be intrusted the mission to negotiate on behalf of the Assembly and of the country, peace—should the terms be acceptable—or war, should the.resumption of hostili ties be found necessary. On leaving the House the Deputies were received with loud and enthusiastic shouts of " Vive la 116publique !" from the crowd outside, and M: Victor Hugo was especially cheered. THE FUTURE GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE. Pikurs, February 16. The Journal des Debats says that M. Thiers is re garded almost universally as the President of the future Government, of which Favre, Picard, Buffet, and Simon will be members. It is stated that, in order to avoid fresh elections, and to fill up the vacancies caused by the double elections, the candidates on the list coming imme diately after those who have been elected will be selected as deputies. M. Cresson, Prefect of Police, has resigned. NEWS FROM BRUSSELS. BRUSSELS, February 16. The Court of Appeal of Brussels has declared itself incompetent to decide the action brought by the French prisoners of war to obtain their liberation on the ground that a civil jurisdiction cannot judge military operations. Garibaldi is said to have been elected at Nice in order that he might demand the return of Nice to Italy.—Daily News Telegram. THE GERMAN ENTRY INTO PARIS. VERSAILLES, February 14. Strenuous efforts are being made to dissuade the Emperor-King from entering Paris at the head of his army on account of the excited state of mind of the population, amongst whom the Red element, is in the ascendant. REOPENING OF THE SEINE NAVIGATION. PARIS, February 14. Vessels laden with provisions for Paris are now able to ascend the Seine as far as Bougival, and all obstructions from that point are being rapidly re moved to enable the vessels to come up as far as Paris. THE FRENCH ARMIES. BORDEAUX ; February 16. The reports of the Commanders-in-Chief of the Armies of the North, West, and East, and Of the Generals commanding army corps and divisions, have reached Bordeaux and Paris. They all arrive at the same conclusions—that the continu ance of the war is impossible, General Garibaldi sharing that opinion. The soldiers, mostly re cruits, are reported as having been badly armed and equipped, to have suffered from want of clothing, and to have been left without pro visions. THE POLICY OF THE ORLEANISTS. BORDEAUX, February 14. Among the Liberal Conservatives in the National Assembly a strongparty is of opinion that the Orleans Princes should not be allowed to take their seats until after the conclusion of peace. Another division of the party, still larger, does not share this opinion, but designates the Duke d'Aumale as most likely to obtain the best conditions of peace in any negotiations at Versailles, and asserts that the ,Duke's elevated patriotism would induce him to fulfil a mission, however painful, yet vital to the interests of France, although created by lamentable facts to which he has been completely a stranger. PARIS, February 15. F6lix Pyat, elected by the Department of the Seine, and the partisan of war a eutrance, has issued a programme as follows : " The shooting of the Monarchical Generals, the appointment of a Govern ment authoritatively, the sword of France to be entrusted to Garibaldi, and a levee en mime to be ordered." EXTENSION OF THE ARMISTICE. BERLIN, February 16. Count Bismarck has made the prolongation of the armistice dependent upon the course of action on which the new Government to be elected by the Assembly determines. In consequence of the armistice having been pro longed, and a still further extension of it being an ticipated, and the probability of the Imperial Chan cellor having to remain in France to 'settle the terms of peace, the German Parliament is not ex pected to assemble before the 9th of March, or still later.—Lombard Telegrams. DISTRESS IN THE FRENCH AGRICUL TURAL DISTRICTS. AMIENS, February 16. General von Goben has issued an order to the army that all seeds to the French Departments by Lord Vernon's Fund shall be exempt from requisi tion, and has given all the assistance in his power towards the undertaking. Twenty thousand hectolitres of barley, 40,000 of oats, 8,000 of spring wheat, and 20,000 of potatoes are required for the Department of the Somme alone. Nine hundred quarters of wheat aro at Calais. The exertions of the fund will be all needed, for great pressure is felt throughout the agricultural districts. M. Sartoris is here, obtaining the necessary information for carrying out the objects of the Fund. All passenger trains between Abbeville and Amiens have been stopped. The theatre at Amiens opens to-night, with a full company sent from Paris. GERMAN ASSISTANCE TO THE FRENCH. BRULIN, February 16. Addresses from the population of Savoy, request ing the establishment of the Duchy of Savoy as a neutral State, have been received at the German head-quarters at Versailles. By order of the Emperor, the inhabitants of the part of St. Denis belonging to the neutral zone not provisioned by Paris have received 15,000 daily rations from the German stores. It is believed that M. Thiers, who has been twenty-four time elected, so far as the returns until to-day show, will choose to sit for Marseilles, his native city. GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS. SAARBRUCX, February 16 (Night). Artillery reinforcements for the German army, especially a large supply of 21-pounders entirely NEWS FROM VERSAILLES. VERSAILLES, February 16. The armistice has been prolonged until the 24th inst. Yesterday M. Jules Favre had an interview with Count Bismarck to negotiate about an extension of the armistice. In consequence of the active warlike prepara tions of the French in the South, and the calling out of the recruits of the class of 1871, the nego tions have only resulted in the prolongation of the armistice for five days—viz., until the 24th instant. Belfort has capitulated ; the garrison marching out with arms and baggage. NEWS FROM PARIS. PARIS, February 16. The Mayor of Paris bas fixed the price of bread from to-day until next Wednesday at 50 centimes the kilogramme. The proclamation of the Emperor Napoleon has been badly received by the Paris press. The Constitutionnel is opposed to the entry of the German troops into Paris. The expenses incurred for the works of defence are estimated at 50,000,000 francs, and the amount expended in artillery is said to be 10,000,000 francs. CHANZY'S ARMY. PARIS, February 14. The Cloche says, " General Chanzy came to Paris to give an account of the military operations in the provinces. From his statements it is evi dent that the bulletins of victories sent to Paris were exaggerated, and that Gambotta fostered hopes not justified by the reality. Painful disclosures were made by General Chanzy respect ing the state of the armies in the field, and his opinion is that France should postpOne her revenge until the time when the population of the West is uanimous in his desire to drive the enemy from French territory, until the troops are animated by a better spirit, and discipline and patriotism have commenced the work of regenera tion." PRUSSIAN REQUISITIONS. The Prussians. it uppears, are continuing their exactions. At Fervacques, in the Department of Calvados, they demanded a contribution of 19,0@0f., and as the money was not forthcoming they carried off as hostages the Mayor of the place and the Com teese de Montgomery. On Auquainville they re quired a contribution of 11,000 f., and the fine not, having been paid, several leading inhabitants were taken prisoners. TROUBLES IN HOLLAND. THE HAGUE, February 16. The smallpox is committing frightful ravages throughout the whole country, and the general anxiety is augmented by the dangerous state of the dykes in some parts from the great accumulation of ice in the rivers. Attempts to destroy the ice-dams by means of tor pedoes have only been partially successful; and if the water continues rising—a thaw having set in—•a good many places along the river banks will be threatened by dangerous inundations. Active measures are being taken by the local and Government authorities for the preservation of life and property. Bois-le-Due is partially, but not dangerously, flooded.—Submarine Telegram. ENGLAND AND AMERICA. NEW YORK, February 15. The American press, regardless of politics, gene rally approve the recent negotiations with Great Britain, and express a hope and belief that they will result in the obliteration of the past discords, and the establishment of lasting friendly relations be tween the two countries. The prominent journals deprecate the recent public ovations and the Congressional resolution of welcome to O'Donovan Rossa and other Fenians as untimely. Sir John Rose sailed in the Algeria for England to-day. Great regret is expressed because of his resignation of his place on the joint commission, as his intimate relations with both countries and the confidence reposed in his moderate views rendered his appointment peculiarly acceptable. His reasons for retiring are understood here to be apprehension lest his personal and business relations might conflict with the acceptability of the pro ceedings of the commission. COLLISION BETWEEN TWO ENGLISH SHIPS. • A Lombard telegram from Havre on the 15th says :—The English steamer Gra3cia on leaving Havre yesterday came into collision with the British gunboat Pheasant, which was entering the port, seriously damaging the gunboat. The Gra3cia continued her voyage not having been apparently much damaged. THE BALLOT BILL. We understand that the Ballot Bill which Mr. Forster will introduce this evening will be a radical measure, pro viding for real secrecy by disallowing a scrutiny. The Government is prepared, as we are informed, to adopt Mr. Fawcett's clause, imposing the necessary expenses of elections on the constituencies, and to abolish the present form of nomination and declaration of the poll on the hustings.--Daily News. The Marquis of Normanby, the' new Governor of Queensland, will sail for that colony on the 26th April. Prince Napoleon has entered upon a lease of 108, Lancaster Gate, Hyde Park, and will take up his residence there at a very early date. He is said to have already arrived in London.—Birmingham Post. Mr. Motley has arrived at the Hague for the pur pose of making historical researches in the Dutch archive& The Queen of Holland has placed her villa "Le petit Loo " at his disposal. CRYSTAL PALACR.—One Shilling Day, Thursday, 16th February, 1871.—Admission by . season tickets, 1,943; ditto on payment, 1,111; total visitors, 3,054. THE GERMAN ENTRY INTO PARIS. From Paris, February 15, the Daily News correspon dent sends the following believe it quite possible for a conflict to arise between these Reds 'and the Prussians, should the latter carry out the inten tion they are said to have expressed of making a triumphal march through Paris. It is rumoured that, in this event, the houses along the line of march are to be evacuated by the inhabitants. and occupied by the Prussian soldiery. It is difficult to credit this report. Ido not believe the people would quit their dwellings. They would fear pillage. Moreover, they would not submit to this last of insults. The question of the entry of the Prussians is being very seriously discussed, and very gene rally, and excites great ferment. The 20th or the 21st was the day originally fixed for this ceremony to take place, but as the armistice is re newed, and a clause of the convention sets forth that, " pending the armistice, the Prussian troops shall not enter Paris," the inference is that if they do so at all, it will not be until the term of the final extension is reached ; but by that time peace will be concluded, or we shall all become prisoners to the Prussians, who can then come in when and how they please. It is reported that they had renounced at one time the intention of parading the streets of Paris ; but came to the opposite determination after learning that Gambetta had twitted them with entertaining misgivings as to the possible result. The Berlin papers took up the question, and now it is affirmed that Count Moltke will not yield upon this point. We shall not have to wait long for the result. The referencee to France in the Queen's Speech have produced a favourable impression here, without, however, removing the soreness of feeling caused by what is said to have been " the cold indifference of England to the misfortunes of France." French editors appear to consider it was the duty of Great Britain to interfere to prevent the war. They do not see, or they affect not to see, that by this course she must not only have become involved in it, but must have embroiled the whole of Europe. THE ELECTIONS AND PRISONERS OF WAR. The Paris correspondent of the Times, writing on Feb ruary 15, observes :—A somewhat singular point will arise in the cases of Changarnier, Ducrot, Trochu, and other officers who have been elected in the provinces, but who are at this moment prisoners of war. It is not likely that the Germans would permit Ducrot to take his seat in the Chamber, prior to being shot for having broken his parole at Pont-h-Mousson. Moreover, Rochefort has let out the secret, or one of the secrets, of his abandonment of the late Govern ment. He could not stand hearing M. Jules Favre persist in calling M. Thiers " l'illustre horn.= d'etat." He became so exasperated by the appreciation which his colleagues seemed to have of the merits of poor M. Thiers that he was on the point more than once of demand ing his immediate arrest ; but, feeling that they were too infatuated to consent to this, he and M. Edmund Adam retired in disgust. It may be imagined after this what his feelings must be to see M. Theirs returned for 20 departments. After such a political disaster his only consolation is, to use his own choice language, that " the electoral urns have not vomited forth any obscene candidates of Imperialism." The unanimity with which the country has decided that Thiers is the only man to whom its destinies can be confided is calcu lated to fill others besides Rochefort with doubt and dis may. A persistent advocate of war, his only objection to it eight months ago was that the moment was ill-chosen, and however remarkable may be his talent for conver sation and his power of historical illustration, those who know him intimately must feel that, with the best intentions to serve his country, he possesses neither the nerve or the judgment which will fit him for the leader of a nation in their last extremity. Yet so destitute is France of men that out of 86 departments he has been named in no fewer than 20. So ready are the people, in their despair, if they can only find a man, to throw themselves into his arms. The country hates re sponsibility and shrinks from it at any sacrifice of its liberties ; hence it is likely that the Chamber, sharing this sentiment, will appoint Commissioners, and perhaps the Commission in its turn may endeavour to fix the duty on a man, who, if he is wise, will throw the burden back on the country, which ought, in fact, to have made known before now whether it is for peace or war. The utter want of moral courage which this reticence exhibits in iolitics may, perhaps, account for the absence of the physical quality is war. According to M. Vrignault, four Bonapartist candidates have been elected, in spite of M. Rochefort's statement to the contrary. The entry of the German armies still continues to agitate the minds of people who believe 'that it will be impossible, if such an event happens, to prevent bloodshed. Unfor tunately, the tone taken by some of the paters is calculated to increase rather than diminish this probability. The Germans say, " Unless we march through Paris the Parisians will deny that we ever took it." Already, La France of yesterday says :—" The Prussians have no right to march through Paris ; the Prussian has not taken Paris—it is famine. The Prussian army parading through Paris, before which it has militarily failed, will be a vexation which will dishonour Germany more in the eyes of Europe than it will humiliate France." It is this perpetual crowing of the Gallic cock at inopportune moments which has invited disas ter, and represses the sympathy of those who might otherwise, perhaps, come forward as its champion. THE LONDON CONFERENCE. The Conference on the Treaty of 1856 did not meet yesterday, having been postponed in the expectation that a plenipotentiary will be accredited to it by the French Government which is likely to be constituted by the authority of the National Assembly.—Daily News. ST. PETERSBURG, February 16. It is stated that the next sitting of the London Confer. ence will not be held fora few days, being postponed until the formation of the new Government in France, which may be immediately expected, and after which the arrival of a French Plenipotentiary in London is confidently an ticipated.—Reuter's Telegram. The only articles of food really difficult to find now in Paris are the two new delicacies, the dog and the rat. A correspondent at Cherbourg writes that the Queen's Speech has produced a very good effect there. English men are now spoken of as " Ces bons Anglais." Paris seems different from Metz in one important and creditable particular. There has been no hoarding of secret stores of food on the part of " business " men speculating on a market. In the interval between the signing of the Convention and the rolling in of provisions from outside, these hoards would have come to the fpont had there been any. But the shops were bearer then than in the middle of January. The Pall Mall Gazette says it has reason to believe that a written understanding exists between Prussia and Russia touching the Black Sea question. The report that Don Francis d'Assis, the husband of the ex-Queen Isabella, has offered to take the oath of allegiance to King Amadeus is confirmed. Mr. Leland, the well-known author of " Hans Breitmann's Ballads," is now in London. There is reason to believe that some of the pre vailing blonde chignons are made of the light fantastic tow. The report is eontradicted that there is a vacancy in the office of Chief of the Poor Law Commissioners in Ireland. The yearly income of Mr. Stewart, the celebrated dry goods merchant in New York, is estimated at £1,000,000. The Osservatore Romano denies that the Pope has written a letter to the German Emperor congratulating his Majesty on the assumption of the Imperial title. Mr. G. 0. Trevelyan has been elected a member of the committee of the Century Club—the head-quarters of the Academic Liberals. We are sorry to hear that Sir Edwin Landseer's illness is such as to cause the gravest apprehensions. Mr. Leslie and Mr. Foley are both again in their usual health. The Bishop of WincheSter's resolution against the admission of a Unitarian to the company preparing the authorised version of the Bible was carried by the Upper House of Convocation by 10 to 4. The Dublin French Relief Committee have sent off £5OO to the London Mansion House Fund, £5OO more to Bishop Dupanloup, of Orleans ; and to the War Victims' Fund, £5OO. The Freeman's Journal states that " Mr. O'Reilly, member for Longford, intends to press his motion on the subject of the plunder of the Sovereign Pontiff by the King of Italy, and the qu iescent acceptance of the wrong by the English Cabinet.' The dinner which annually precedes the opening of the Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy took place, • under the presidency of Sir George Harvey, cn Tuesday. The principal toast, that of " Prosperity to the Academy," was proposed by Principal Sir Alexander Grant, who referred to the service which had been done by the institution, and to the difficulties which it had had for a time to encounter. KINAHAN'S LL WHISKY. — This celebrated and most delicious old mellow spirit is the very cream of Irish Whiskies, in quality unrivalled, perfectly pure, and more wholesome than the finest Cognac Brandy. Note the words, " KINAHAN'S LL WHISKY "on Seal, Label, and Cork. New Wholesole Depot, GA, Great Titehfieldstreet, Oxford-street, W. OUR COTEMPORARIES—This Norning THE ARMY REORGANISATION BILL. The Times says !—lt is the fate of some characters always to enjoy what is called npan the stage " un meal (Pastime and not a few of Mr. Cardwell's friends were ready:to fear before he rose last night that this would be the only reward of his speech expounding the Government plan of army or ganisation. The result happily falsified their anticipations. Received at first by it House full, indeed, but dull and so subdued as to chill the ardour of the most sanguine, Mr. Cardwell, nevertheless, went doggedly at his task, and pur sued his equable way so smoothly and so steadily, that it was soon seen he was getting through a difficult piece of work remarkably well. A real reorganisation of the army required an abolition of the system of purchase, and of the privileges of the Lords Lieutenant. It required that the several parts of our military forces should be worked together, so that each should in turn depend upon and support the others. • It required also some securities that the officers of the new army should be abreast of the knowledge awl practice of their time, that the inefficient and retrograde should be weeded out to make room for the intelligent and the ac tive. All this the Government plans, as explained, by Mr. Cardwell, promise to accomplish, and it is not surprising that the House should have been content, and even more than content, with the scheme he developed. The main outlines of the scheme are unquestionably com prehensive, if not going beyond the necessity of the time or the development of public feeling, It will work an immense change in the organization of Our military service, and if it leaves points untouched that require attention, it will in a very short time provoke such a degree of attention to them that it will be impos sible to permit them to continue neglected. The great merit of the Government scheme is, perhaps, this—that whatever it does is good, and it will introduce into the army vivifying influences that will grow stronger and stronger, till they compel the gradual perfection of the service. The Morning Post believes that, on the whole, it may safely be said that no such comprehensive soheme of military reorganisation. has ever been presented to Parliament before. At the same time, it is the simple truth to say that on some vital points the Government plan stops short of what is absolutely requisite to make the defensive forces of the country thoroughly effective. Mr. Card well certainly has not attempted to " glide over the sur face and to make only a partial arrangement." But, in failing to make short service compulsory, to found with out delay the system of campaign manoeuvres, to pro vide every regular regiment with a second battalion, to leaven the militia with regularly trained soldiers, and to make the discipline of the volunteers more strict he has marred the completeness of the scheme. But as the Estimates were incomplete without the statement, so the statement is really incomplete without the bill, and possibly the details of the bill may throw a new light upon the whole question. Anyhow, a vast step in army reform has been made even as the bill stands. It is to be hoped that in committee the Government will con sent to certain modifications and additions without which the measure will scarcely ensure the attainment of the vital ends in view. The Telegraph ventures to think that the country will breathe freely after reading the comprehensive speech in which Mr. Cardwell expounded, last evening, the views of the Government with respect to the reorganisation of our military forces. The scheme of the Government is characterised by that thoroughness of grasp and comprehensive mastery of details which have marked all their measures, and made their success in Parliament a certainty beforehand. It has striven to achieve a sweeping but necessary reform with the utmost consideration to the feelings and interests of individuals. The general effect of the whole scheme is to introduce an unity of principle and a facility of combination into the administration of our military forces which they have hitherto lacked. They are to be blended as much as possible into one harmo nious power. Regiments are to have local designations, and to be attached to certain districts. 'rise variou branches of the service are to be under the government of the responsible Commander-in• Chief, and the forces located in any district are to be under the direct rule of the General commanding in that district, and subject to one uniform discipline when they are called out for the purpose of military exercises. The scheme was received with great favour by the House, and Mr. Cardwell may congratulate himself on the conclusive answer which he has made to the unreasoning critics who have clamorously condemned him without a hearing. For ourselves it is enough to say that we welcome, in the Army Bill of the Government, a plan of military reform which is based on a system that we have strenuously advocated for years. The Daily News remarks :—Mr. Cardwell's Army Reform Bill deserves to be welcomed as a broad, bold, and thoroughgoing endeavour to place the military system of this country on a national and popular basis, and to bring it into accordance with the pervading 'spirit of all our civil institutions in an age of free competition, of open careers, of promotion by merit, of payment by results. Doubtless it would be easy to point out its large omissions, and instead of indicating and commending what it does, to comment on and censure all that it leaves undone. If Mr. Cardwell has spared the highest branches of the old tree, he has laid his axe to its root. We shall have abundant leisure to dilate, if we please, on all the shortcomings of this Army Reform. Let us be content for the moment to in dicate its effects. It bears the character and impress of the great measures of Irish policy in the two preceding sessions. It stops short of the theorists ; it goes as far as practical and decisive, though limited, action can go at once. If it does not wholly satisfy the furthest demands of Mr. Trevelyan and those whc have followed his banner, it concedes something ; and it con veys the wholesome moral, that popular agitation suc ceeds, and deserves to succeed, when it is practical in its aims, and positive in its propositions ; and when, instead of beating the air, it condescends to deal with dry figures and plain facts. The Standard observes :—The army scheme of Mr. Cardwell is "a thing of shreds and patches" —an elabo rate provision of a great many little devices, not for the solution, but the avoidance of the great problem of national defence, which was set before the Government. There is a little plan for increasing the regular army, and a little plan for encouraging and developing what are called the " auxiliary forces." There are numerous little ways by which the military service is sought so be made snore popular, or rather more in accordance with accepted Liberal theories. There is a little of short service for the regulars—a little of extra drilling for the militia—a little of scientific training for the volunteers. There is a little localisation, a little concentration of authority, and a little pulling together of the various elements of the army. The leading idea of Mr. Cardwell's scheme is, however, simple arithmetical in crease. The number of artillery is to be increased, the num ber of cavalry, and the number of infantry. The army reserves are to be permitted r. ;ecrease if they can. The number of breech-loaders is to be increased, and so anxiou is Mr. Cardwell to do perfect justice to the inventions of every age that, with a stolid fatuousness which becomes laughable from its impenetrability to all criticism, he would increase the stock of Sniders as well as the stock of Martini-Henrys. The only wonder is that he has not proposed to make new cross-bows or new catapults to be kept "in store." The few real reforms of any boldness which Mr. Cardwell has proposed, are re forms on which we are all unanimous, and which could no longer be deferred. The other features of the Government y r o t f h w e y h c a h r e h a a s b l ereen fsochems eofmtahys smallest k ed in u d p , th b e ri l e ie fi c y ess f i o t The Al Advertiser considers that the re i s very lit T tlebre i d nini to i a vast deal of sack in Mr. Cardwell's speee • h Eight or nine millions to abolish purchase is a heavy item, and may be put down as the " sack " which will draw heavily on the nation in the shape of income. tax. But the rest is all tinkering on the smallest scale. We have stated our belief that this is not the proper time, at a crisis so alarming, to enter upon so large an expenditure in the way of army social reform. Eight or nine millions spent in guns and gunboats might place England in a position to make the next Blue-book publi cation of correspondence between herself and her foreign dictators less degrading and less disgusting in the eyes of those who have not lost all English self-respect and feeling. There is nothing broad, solid, assuring, or really economic in Mr. Cardwell's " plan"—nothing generous nor en couraging towards the soldier—nothing to give the nation confidence and warmth—nothing to inspire her councils with new-born courage and firmness, nor her foes with respect. What cares Count Bismarck whether we abolish army purchase or no t ? H e w ill mere l y say, with cynical effrontery, " These doomed idiots have begun just where they should have thought of leav ing off." On the whole Mr. Cardwell's highly-laboured speech. is most unsatisfactory in a practical point of view. He labours to create a paper army, which is, after all, not so numerous by half as the work ing elite of the German army, nor by one-fourth as the German forces, including their Landwehr and Land sturm ; and this without artillery, save for a little more than a third of the proposed forge, and without any solid reality beyond about one-half of the field-state which he has named as the future army of Great Britain.