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

SECOND EDITION. SUN OFFICE, 2.30 P. M. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. THE WAR, FIGHTING ON THE LOIRE. REPORTED FRENCH SUCCESS. BORDEAUX, January 1. General Chanzy telegraphs to-day from Le Mans as follows : " General Jouffroy repulsed the enemy yesterday on the left bank of the Loire, capturing an excellent position in front of Vendome and making 200 prisoners. This offensive reconnaissance was vigor ously conducted by General Jouffroy, and brilliantly executed by our troops."—R'euter's Telegram. The following telegrams are from the Manchester Guardian : THE SINKING OF ENGLISH SHIPS AT DUCLAIR. BORDEAUX, Friday Evening The Courier de la Gironde publishes a correspon dence which it states has taken place between Mr. Odo Russell and Count Bismarck relative to the sinking of English vessels at Duclair. Mr. Odo Russell wrote to ask for an explanation, and the r eply was that by the law of nations Prussia had a l ight to stop the navigation of the river. The captains of the vessels seized had been offered pay- Inent for their property, but the offer had been re jected. Count Bism-trek apologises, and states that he is willing to pay all damage. In a second letter, Mr. Ode Russell, expressing satisfaction at the tone of the reply, asks for further explanations. The Germans have precipitately evacuated Auxerre. THE CAMPAIGN IN THE EAST. BRUSSELS, Sunday. To counteract General Bourbaki's movement east Ward, the German forces at Thionville, Verdun, hill One or two other places, have been reduced suffi eiently to form a strong corps, which has been sen to support General von Werder. AUSTRIA AND THE GERMAN EMPIRE. BERLIN, Suuday. Count Beust's answer to Count Bismarck's friendly despatch respecting the union of North Germany with the Southern States was presented hcre on the 2 9th ult. According to report, it slightly alludes to the Treaty of Prague, but does not discuss its bear ings on the now constitution of Germany. Its tone is very conciliatory. An additionnl force of Prussian force artillery of the strength of about 7,000 men is on its way to Paris for the bombardment. The whole number of the besiegers guns of all calibres is about 1,500. The occupation of Mont Avron produced a slight improvement ou 'Change yesterday. ILLNESS OF COUNT BISMARCK. VERSAILLES, January 1. The capture of Mont Avroa proves most im portant. There is great discouragement in Paris. Seventeen officers were found in Avron, killed by Prussian shells. General Trochu admits that despondency prevails. Count Bismarck is not well. The distribution of the first-class decorations of the Order of the Iron Cross to officers and private soldiers is going on. It is still frosty weather.—Times. ENGAGEMENT NEAR ROUEN. BERLIN, December 31. General Manteuffel announces that five battalions Of the Ist Division encountered to-day, near Rouen, on the left bank of the Seine, superior hostile forces, Which had advanced from the [district of Briare to koulineanx and Grande Couronne. These forces were partly dispersed and partly driven into the strong fortress of Robert le Diable, Which was stormed by our troops. The enemy lost numerous guns and about 100 pri kners, including apparently the commanders of the Francs-tireurs. An official Paris report states that the bombard k eta of Mont Avron on the 27th cost the French heavy losses. It adds that seventeen officers killed or wounded Oh this occasion particularly distinguished them selves, The following despatches have also been received THE BOMBARDMENT OF MEZIERES. BouLzicotruT, December 31. The artillery siege companies and the necessary Ilutt6riel having arrived yesterday, the bombardment (11 Alezieres was begun to-day. . There are cons t an t small affairs between the be a,nleging troops of the northern district and Francs 4ireurs. D EFEAT OF THE MOBILES AT LONG PRE. " ALBERT, December 30. " On the 28th Lieutenant-Colonel Pestel, of the thlans, with a flying column of three companies and three squadrons, defeated three battalions of Mobiles at Lonapro. c " $e captured three standards, ten officers, and 23 0 men. " The loss on our aide consisted of six wcunded." " VERSAILLES, December 30. "On the conquered Mont Avron, before Paris, :ere found to-day large masses of artillery ammu nition and 224 spiked guns. "Two companies pressed forward up to the village Of R osily. " On our side one man was wounded."—Tinzos. THE SIEGE OF PARIS. LIVRY, December 29. T he French b a tt er i es were poun d e d out o f M ont k pon last night, and the plateau was visited by toe Nan infantry patrols. Its regular occupation el n ight is possible. Other German batteries are ready lat i "ir lh ere. On the north-east the French seem ev - to be hankering after what is now more than it npossible, a sortie viii Le Bourget. A. deserter here reports that Ducrot is resident i n D ranc y, tb t el 'e also are four batteries of naval g ulls , 1 0 : 15 batt er i es o f 12- poun d ers, an d one b attery of t er , tiers. Some br e ech-lo a d ers an d t wo bat -110::0f mitrailleuses are all pointed towards Le th e ' le t. But their possible eff ec t i s nu illifi e d by that'`Terman batteries at Raincy. Deserters report da y ,,, - ` 48 Bourget is to be again attacked within two with German batteries were to-day engaged Nb P ° l :t Rosny. There was very h ar d hitti n g oth, • 0.1 sides to seemingly little purpose.—Daily SI iIRMISHING IN THE NORTH OF FRANCE. HATE,E, January 1. o,l" ter day an enga g ement was f oug ht by . the band -I ' s ll ader General Roy, at La Bouilie, on the left the Sein e , w h en th e P russ i an 3 were d r i ven 4 1 4: all their positions with considerable losses. on hack n Bide of th e r i ver th e P russ i ans are f a lli ng e ? 1 ,8. Rouen b e f ore G enera l Pettingeas.—Dally BA LLOON NEWS FROM PARIS. T he f° ° 11 LE MANS, Decemb er 31. wing( epen balloon news from Paris, dated 30th o l ng) has been received hero : t°° l 3B yesterday morning evacuated the plateau of Avron after removing all the guns. General Troche superintended the operations himself, notwithstanding the heavy fire of the enemy. "The Prussians continued to bombard the forts of Noisy, Rosny, and Nogent vigorously all yesterday. To-dav their fire is much slacker. Similar demonstra tions are expected on other points, especially in the direction of Mont Val6rien. " The population is grieved by the evacuation o f Mont Avron, but in nowise moved by the bombard ment. It evinces an energetic resolve to resist to the last, and to take the offensive vigorously in order to break the enemy 'slines. "The cold continues severe. this morning the thermometer showed 10 degrees below zero. "Perfect tranquillity prevails in Paris. The Prus sian batteries have in two days thrown 12,000 pro jectiles. Our total losses are 15 killed and 200 wounded." BORDEAUX, January 1. The following balloon news from Paris has been received here : An 'officer who left Paris by balloon yesterday with M. Ducoux, the late Prefect of Police, reports that it was announced in the capital that the Prus sian attack on Mont Avron was gloriously repulsed with a loss to the enemy of from 7,000 to 8,000 killed. 7.30 p.m. There was a great and enthusiastic Repub lican demonstration this afternoon before the Prefecture, convened by the Republicans of Bor deaux as a manifestation of their adhesion to the Government. The street (nearly 150 feet wide) was filled for a quarter of a mile by a densely-packed crowd of all classes. National Guards, sailors, marines, and many line troops were present, but without arms, and there were many children in drilled ranks with banners. The members of the Government appeared on the balcony at half-past 3. M. Gambetta spoke for a quarter of an hour, exciting the wildest enthusiasm of the multitude. He reappeared a second time half an hour later in compliance with the reiterated demands of the people. He spoke with great fervency and passion, and was immensely cheered. There were cries of " Viva la Repubilque l " u Vive Gambetta " The street is still filled, and the crowd is singing patriotic songs. The bombardment of Noisy and Rosny has caused hardly any losses on the French side. The plateau of Avron, having no casemates for the garri son, has been evacuated under the direction of General Trochu, Paris accepts with joy the struggle a outrance." In Normandy the French troops have taken the heights of La Bonilla, Orival, and Chateau Robert Diable. The last position was retaken for a moment by the Prussians; but the French again recaptured it.—Reutcr's Telegram. DEATH OF MARSHAL PRIM. MADRID, December 30 (11.50 p.m.) Marshal Prim died this evening at half-past 9 o'clock. The King has landed at Carthagena. Admiral Topete received him. The Cortes passed a vote in support of the Go vernment. • Madrid is tranquil.—nnes Telegram. MADRID, December 31. The death of Marshal Prim has intensified the excitement which followed the first announcement that he had been shot. It appears that after removing one finger, as already stated, inflammation set in, and it was found that life could not be saved even by the amputation of the arm. The• Marshal retained consciousness to the last. When made aware of the rapid approach of death, he bade "Adieu" to his friends composedly. It is said he expressed much anxiety for the safety of the new King. Great apprehension prevails here of an outbreak The Government are endeavouring to allay the ex citement.—Telegraph Telegram. MAD RID, January 1. The death of Marshal Prim has caused a profound sensation. The Cortes, in their sitting of yesterday, declared him to have deserved well of his country. His name gitl be inscribed in the Hall of the Cortes, and the family of the marshal will be placed under the protection of the nation. In the same sitting the Cortes passed a vote of absolute confidence in the Government.—Reuter's Telegrams. (TIMES TELEGE AXIS.) ITALY. • FLORENCE, December 31, 2.35 p.m. The Roman inundation, extending over the whole Corso Hill, prevents the intended departure for Rome of the Minister of Public Works. The King's entry into Rome on the 10th is also thereby rendered uncertain. 5.10 p.m. The King, on a sudden impulse of his own, and in spite of the breaking of the railway bridge at Orte, starts this moment (4.30) for Rome incognito, deferring for the present his solemn entrance, which was previously fixed for the 10th of January. On account of the disasters and the heavy expense incurred' by the recent inundation, he requested that the funds destined for his solemn reception should be devoted to the victims. • RUSSIA. BERLIN, December 31 (11 p.m.) The troops in the South-Western Provinces of Russia are being continually reinforced. TURKEY. PELLA, December 31 (3.50 p.m.) There are renewed differences between the Porte and the Khedive. The Porte complains of disregard by the Khedive of his last firman, especially as re gards armaments. (DAILY NEWS TELEGRAMS.) AUSTRIA. AND PRUSSIA. VIENNA, December 31. The recent correspondence with Count Bismarck on the Luxemburg and German unity questions is to be laid before the Delegations, which meet on Janu ary 10, in the form of a supplement to the Austrian Redbook. THE TOURS RAILWAY. BORDEAUX, December 31. It is not true that the railway to Tours has been destroyed by the Prussians. Ou the contrary, the co m munications are perfectly open between Le Mans, Tours, Blois, and ierzon. THE CONFER We have received the followh.,, ~he Foreign Office :—" The Conference has been put oft for a few days in order to give time to M. Favre and to messengers bringing instructions to some of the other plenipotentiaries to arrive." CHINA. A. telegram dated Pekin, December IG, has been received from Mr. Wade, stating that all was quiet at the ports. The subject for the Kaye prize this year at Cam bridge is the Apocalypse compared with other Apocalyp tic writings. The examiners are Dr. Gifford, of St. John's, and Mr. Hort, of Trinity. Plough Monday, the 9th January, will be observed as usual at the Mansion House by a banquet given by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress to the " household." Cards of invitation have already been issued. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY, JANUARY 2, xB7l. THE MONEY MARKET. CITY, Two O'CLOCK. Holiday was kept to-day on the Stock Exchange, The extreme range of Consols during the year just ended has been 53 per cent., while that of the preceding twelve months was only '2 per cent., but the difference between the opening and closing quotations of the year shows merely a reduction of In railway stocks there have again been wide fluctuations, but at the close an average improvement of between 10 and 20 per cent. Among the exceptions has been Metropolitan, which about three or four years ago was at 130, and which, after having fallen to 82 at the commencement of 1870, is now at 63. The Bank of England bullion at the end of last year stood at £19,196,622. It reached £22,892,718 on the 14th of December, and is now £22,703,536. At the Bank of France the total at the commencement was £49,488,000 ; on the 23rd of June it reached £52,737,000, the largest sum ever known, whence, after the commencement of the war, it rapidly descended, until the publication of its amount was discontinued. On the Paris Bourse the range of fluctuation in Itentes has been about 25 per cent., and the result of the move ments of the year has been to establish a fall of 214 per cent. With respect to the declared value of our exporta tions, the Board of Trade Tables, which thus far comprise only 11 months of the year, purport to show a total of £182,562,925, against £174,150,252 in the same period of 1869, or an increase of nearly 5 per cent. The changes in the Bank rate of discount, which were seven in number last year, have this year heen ten. • On the Ist of January the rate was 3 per cent., on the 4th of August it was up at 6 per cent., and since the 29th of September it has stood at 21 per cent. The premium on gold at New York at the commencement of the year was 1201, and it is now 1011. In the cotton market the price of middling upland, which was about 114 d. on the Ist of January, is now about 81d. In the wheat market there has been a rally of Bs. 9d. from the decline of 9s. which occurred in 1869 ; the average price, which in January was 435. Bd., having recovered to 525. sd. The lowest price was 40s. 2d., in February, and the highest 545. lid., in August. THE SINKING OP ,ENGLISH VESSELS Al DUOLAIR. The .Daily News correspondent, writing from Havre December 30, says :—What steps are the authorities about to take in the affair of Duclair? Will England allovi such an outrage to go by unpunished ? These and similar questions are what one hears on all sides. And yet the Germans have not stopped at Duclair in offering their daring and deliberate insults to the British flag. After firing on and sinking six vessel sailing under the English flag on the 21st inst. at Duclair, they seize a seventh lying in the port of Rouen on the 24tb, force her crew ashore, and tow her down the river, no doubt to share the same fate as those that left before her. The French journals certainly have reason to comment at length on this affair, and it will tend much to widen the braech at present existing between us should the Govern ment of England pass the matter over lightly. If it is not taken in hand at once, sternly and resolutely, if suffi cient apology and reparation are not immediately ex acted, the whole business will appear to French eyes very much like a second edition of the Alabama affair ; but what apology or reparation can Bismarck make for so cool and premeditated an affair? That it was p re meditated there can be no doubt, for if not, why were the vessels detained so long at Rouen after discharging their cargoes; why were they refused the necessary papers by the Prussian authori ties at Rouen, and allowed to depart on their own responsibility? and if there can exist the shadow of a doubt as to its being premeditated, the seizure of the Sylph at Rouen by Prussian soldiers ought to be sufficient proof to dispel that doubt. An absurd rumour is afloat to the effect that the masters sold their vessels to the Prussians, for in the first place those masters are not the owners of the vessels ; in the second place, assuming that they were, they would not be so foolish as to violate the neutrality laws by such an illegal transac tion ; and in the third place, if they had sold their vessels they would not have gone to the Vice-Consul at Rouen to lodge their complaint. Therefore, it is impossible that there has been any buying or selling in the matter, and the only conclusion we must come to is, that the affair has been a deliberate insult to the English flag, and an outrage against the laws of neutrality. The journals of this evening publish ex tracts on the subject from all the English papers. Three French men-of-war went up the Seine yesterday, but it is feared they cannot reach Duclair in consequence of the sinking of those veesels, There are two other Eng lish vessels still at Rouen, but I dare say they will be taken, if they have not been seized already by the Prussian soldiers to complete the blockade, or the barrier rather, in the Seine. English vessels coming near Dieppe, Decamp, or other seaport towns occupied by the Germans must in future look out or their crews may be replaced by soldiers wearing spiked helmets, and carrying the authority of King William in their pocket. I THE GENERAL BOMBARDMENT OF PA R IS. In a communication from Margency, December 28, the special correspondent of the Daily .News at the head quarters of the Crown Prince of Saxony, writes :—This question of a general bombardment of Paris presents two distinct phases, and the full distinction between the two I have nowhere seen brought out plainly. There is ',he bombardment of the forts as a preliminary either to the bombardment of the enceinte, and subse quent storm of the city, or to a capitulation dictated to the inhabitants and garrison by the consideration that with the reduction of the outlying forts has gone their last ray of real hope. And there is the immediate bom bardment of the city, necessitating a simultaneous en gagement and adequate coping with the fire of the outlying forts. In the former alternative we have, as it were, two men fighting with daggers, with nothing to distract them. They go at it fiercely, and it may be that he who attacks has the best of it, in which case it is all over with the man who has his back to the wall, and to everything behind that wall. But it is possible also that the bout may be a drawn one, and this contingency involves serious conse quences to the attacker. True, it would seem that he would only be where he was before he began offensive operations, and the ultimate event would be same, under the coercion of starvation, as if he had never raised his hand to strike. But his prestige would be radically sapped, and the other side would take proportionate encouragement. It might be that his ulti mate success would be seriously endangered. Now consider the other alternative. Here, if the premises 'are what they ought to be, you have a man with a dagger, and also a long lance, engaging with a man who has only his dagger. The former does not then require to win the dagger duel to insure him the success he is eager for; all that he needs is to make that a drawn battle. If he can keep in play, technically " enrege," the dagger-holder with his own shorter weapon, while with his longer weapons he is sedulously poking over the other's head at what lies behind him—viz., his vitals, he inevitably wins the day. The lance in the simile I have chosen represents a few batteries of very far-reaching guns which the Germans must have if they would bombard Paris. If they have, or will have these, and have other batteries besides capable of " engaging " the forts, then success seems within their grasp. Frankly, I question whether they will be able to do any great things by a systematic bombardment of the forts, and the forts alone. An equal weight of metal gives them no ad vantage, but bodes, indeed, their failure. Remem ber bow many days of bombardment it cost us, and what pyramids of projectiles we threw be fore we rendered the Malakoff untenable. And wo wore close to the sea-board ; yet, nevertheless, we had to pause again and again for supplies of am munition. Every projectile thrown by the Germans represents arduous and long-continued toil to bring it to the cannon's mouth. We may depend the Parisians will strain every nerve to return the fire and to repair the damage it causes. It would then appear that to operate against the forts successfully would require both a stronger artillery, whether in calibre or in number, than that possessed by the French, and a large and continuous supply of ammunition. But a comparatively small array of artillery—of such weapons of precision as the German artillery consists of, and with the dexterous German DAR lerymen—would suffice to keep the guns of the forts in play, so that they could divert none of their attention ; while a few guns of longer range were meanwhile negativing the forts altogether, and pounding directly into Paris. The adoption of this expedient, supposing it successful, would save the carriage of the vast quanti ties of ammunition which a lengthened bombardment of the forts would necessitate. I have already given it asmy humble conviction that a very short duration of such practice would suffice to end the siege, and with but comparatively little loss either of life or of property. ' _ RAPOLEON AT WILHELMSHOE. The special correspondent of the Telegraph sends the followingfrom Cassel, dated December 20 :—The weather here for some weeks past has been most severe. This has not been without its depressing influence on events in the Castle. Fewer visitors arrive there; and the reports we hear of its doings are less numerous than formerly. Count Bouville, formerly Prefect of Bordeaux, and an attach 6 to one of the embassies—l know not which—in Berlin, are the only strangers that for some time have appeared at the Castle. Not withstanding the inclemency of the weather, the Emperor daily takes recreation. Hitherto the only forms in which he could do so were riding and walk ing,. The frost, however, has added one—and the kindness of his captors another —means of recrea tion. - The Emperor went out to skate twice during the past week ; and I can assure you from per sonal observation that his skill and agility in this hazardous exercise are admirable. He, indeed, is a far better skater than any of his companions at the Castle, About noon on Christmas Day, Queen Augusta for" warded to Napoleon a number of handsome sleighs for his own especial use. He has been much pleased by this kindly act of courtesy, and has sent to the Queen of Prussia acknowledgments of his gratitude. From the great cordiality with which he was at first received, I had supposed that Marshal Bazaine would have been a con stant visitor at the Castle. Whatever the cause—. whether, as some say, the Marshal is sup posed to have nourished aspirations of which the Emperor could scarcely approve, or that the Marshal is afraid too great an intimacy with the Emperor might give some colour to the accusa tions of his enemies—whatever the cause, I say, the visits of Bazaine to Napoleon are now few and far between. Perhaps the real origin of this circumstance may be the homely and simple fact that the Marshal's domestic cares are now somewhat increased, his wife having very recently presented him with a son. Dr. Conneau has just arrived once more at the Castle. I neednot tell you that some mem bers, at least,of the Imperial retinue—as to the sentiments of Napoleon himself I cannot speak—give but little credit to the Republican Government for the gigantic struggles France is at present making. They assert that the credit of this is to be given not to Gambetta but to Palikao ; that the Imperial Minister for War had made the preliminary and really vital arrangements for calling into existence the present troops of France ; and that they would have been in the field sooner, .not later, had M. Gambetta and the Republican Government never had a hand in the` matter. The Imperialist adherents likewise claim for the late Minister of Commerce, 'M. Clhien the merit of having provisioned Paris in sucl a manner that she has been able to give so prolonged a resistance. The Emperor's late pamphlet—published under the name of the Marquis de Gricourt—has had a great success. The attacks on Napoleon in the Indepen. dance Beige have ceased to annoy. As to the protests of the French officers, published in that journal, the moving spirit of this anti-Napoleonic move anent is said to be a man who held an important position in t!le Imperial army, and who owes to the generosity of the Emperor his frequent entrication from monetary em barrassment. He, however, is not the first—nor will he bethel.. -to strike in adversity the man to whomin pros perity he was fawningly obedient. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Tries DAY. SMUGGLING.—James Smith, a seaman, was charged at the Tnames police court with smuggling 51bs. of foreign manufactured tobacco, on board the ship North Star, and he was convicted and fined 395., the single value and duty. ASSAULTING THE POLlCE.—George Algar, a boot-closer, residing in Cleveland-street, was charged before Mr. Mansfield, at the Marlborough -street Police-court, with being drunk and disorderly and assaulting Police -constable M`Dermott, 74 E, and ,Grange, 78 E. The prisoner was behaving in a very disorderly manner in Charlotte-place, Great Portland-street, being very drunk at the time, and on M`Dermott attempting to get him away he knocked him down and kicked him several times, and also kicked Grange, who went to his brother-constable's assistance. Prisoner was fined 25. WORN OUT. —John Goodwin, a general dealer, of Not ting-dale, was brought up at the above court, charged by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, with the following cruelty to a pony :—Win. Peets, officer of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, saw the prisoner driving a pony attached to a cart laden with greengrocery. The pony, which was very old, lame, mere skin and bone, could scarcely get along, and, in fact, was completely worn out. The prisoner consented to destroy the pony, and no fine was inflicted. THE WEATHER AND THE PARKS. Yesterday, from early morn till long after dark, the parks were literally swarming with people. The banks of the Serpentine, and the Long Water in Kensington gardens, were crowded throughout the day, and, indeed, the same remark applies to the other parks. In St. James's it is estimated that over 150,0000 people passed into the inclosure during the day, and owing to the large number of roughs present, the police had the utmost difficulty in keeping anything like order. Some hundreds of men and boys kept up a continual shower of snowballs, not only upon each other, but upon persons who came in their way, while the narrow bridge crossing the cent re of the Lake, which was densely crowded all day, presented a good field for the operations of gangs of thieves, who plied their oc cupation with considerable industry, and, judging from the complaints made of lost watches, pins, handkerchiefs, brooches, &c., must have reaped a rich harvest. So great were the crowds in the inclosure, that the gates were closed to ingress half an hour earlier than usual. It was nearly six o'clock before the enclosure could be cleared and then several thousands of those ejected, amongst whom were numbers of respectable looking men and youths ranged themselves outside the railings, hooting, snowballing, and chaffing the police, who generally per formed their arduous and unpleasant duties with the utmost good humour and forbearance. Numbers of lads and kept scaling the railings and running into the inclo sure, laughing at the efforts of the police to catch them and bring them back. This scene continued for almost an hour, when the gates having been locked, and the police withdrawn, the crowd gradually dispersed. The official estimate of the numbers on the ice throughout yesterday is given as 134,000, distributed as follows :—On the Ser pentine, 30,000, Long Water, 14,000, Round Pond, 10,000, Regent's-par k 22,000, St. James's-park 20,000, Victoria-park 15,000, Battersea-park 15,000, and Fins bury-park 8,000. There were also 300 skaters on the Crystal Palace Lake, all shareholders, no others being admitted on Sundays. There were no immersions in any of the parks, but about 50 cut heads and faces from falls. At midnight on Saturday, the Receiving-house glass re gislered 24, at nine o'clock yesterday morning 24, at noon 28, and at eight o'clock last night 25, the wind being north-east. (CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.) DEATH OF LORD HENRY BENTINCK. Lord Henry Bentinck, son of the late Duke of Portland, and heir to the present duke, died suddenly at Sathwell, near South Lincolnshire, on Saturday evening. RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. On Saturday night, as the express train from London to Manchester and the North arrived at Barrow-on-Soar (on the Midland Railway), where it was not to stop, it ran into a coal train which had been allowed to precede it. Several of the coal waggons were thrown on the top of each other, and the line was blocked for a considerable time. The passengers in the rear of the express train suffered the most severely. Several of them were badly cut and bruised, but were able to resume their journey after medical attention. The express, which was timed to reach Trent at 6.30 had left that station fourteen minutes after its proper time. On the same night an elderly woman received a severe spinal injury, besides being much cut about the head through another accident which took place near Leicester. In this case, the driver of an empty waggon train, disregarding the signals, got on to the line along which a passenger train was coming Both engines were thrown off the linen, and greatly damaged. A third accident is said to have occurred on Saturday night near Bidford. A LIVING CHILD IN ITS FATHER'S COFFIN. On Saturday, as a coffin containing the bodies of a man and a child was being conveyed from a hearse into Weaste Cemetery, near Manchester, the bearers noticed home movement inside. The lid was removed, and the child, though in a state of coma, was found to be alive. Resto ratives were applied, and it regained consciousness, but died on Sunday morning. The supposed death took place on Saturday morning, and the body was plaeel in the coffin a few hours afterwards. THE TRUCK COMMISSION. The Commissioners appointed to inquire into tile work ing of the Truck System in connection with tie watch movements manufacture met at Prescot on Stturday. A number of watchmakers and workmen were e2amined. It was proved in evidence that at some establishmmits the men had to take pro visions instead of money their work, while at others they had to receive Coventry watches of the value of from £4 to £B, which they often sold or pawned at a great loss. Further evidence will be adduced before the Commission. THE FRENCH IRON-CLAD AT QUEENSTOWN. The French iron -clad, now in Queenstown Harbour, has been ordered to sail to-morrow. The coal collier alongside her, was yesterday prohibited by the Admira from supplying her with the full quantity of fuel, wished ►to be received on board. The Prussian corvette is reported off Dungarvan. LEICESTER AND THE EDUCATION ACT. The nomination for thirteen members to form a School Board for Leicester, to be elected on the 11th of this month, closed on Saturday night. There were nominated thirteen Churchmen, eight Independents, eight Baptists, six Unitarians, four Wesleya,ns, three working men, two Quakers, one Wesleyan Reformer, one Primitive Metho dist, and one Roman Catholic—in all forty-seven candi dates. The contest is expected to be severe. Wednesday next.is A 49 last day for resignations. THE ATTACK ON MONT AVRON. Writing from Chelles, December 28, the special corre spondent of the Daily News at the Crown Prince of Saxony's headquarters thus describes the attack on Mont Avron :—At exactly a quarter to nine the first gun crashed its report below me in front of Mont fermeil, and I could hear its angry whiz as it cut the air in crossing the intervening space. In three minutes more the air was full of a din of deep diapason. There was nothing to see, arid I saw it—such may serve as a summary of my day's work. At daybreak the snow had begun to fall, not heavily and in big flakes, but in feathery particles, which filled and whitened the air, making obstacles invisible a quarter of a mile off. Of course, the gunners had got their sights and ranges the day before, and their shot must have been "there or thereabouts," but Avron was as invisible as if it had been on the further side of the North Pole. The work gave one the idea of fighting with knives in a dark room. At first it seemed as if the French artillerymen were taken by surprise. It was not till nine o'clock that Avron sent back the first instalment of its reply. When it did begin though it went to work with a will, 13ut rather wildly, the shells flying about promiscuously in a fashion that impaired the safety of any given point. By ten this duel in the dark was in full sway, the air incessantly lacerated and tortured by the whistle of the projectiles, so that one might have imagined himself in a calm at sea, with the rush of . coming squall bearing down upon him. The German fire was like clockwork ; three times I timed the number of rounds fired in a minute, and the results were-24, 23, 25. Of course these figures are valueless as indication of the rapidity of the firing without information as to the number of the guns, which I am not at liberty to give; but they afford remarkable evidence of the syste matic steadiness of the practice. The French fire came more in spurts and gusts, and then was silent for some half a minute. When in full blaze it was so rapid as to be continuous, and not admit Of being timed itself, or of one timing the German fire. About eleven the batteries at Bondy —as well as I could judge by the direction of the sound, took up their parable, and were replied to by the extreme right flank cf the German position, which has been designed amiably looking toward the said Bondy, with a view to such a demon stration. All day long the firing continued, with no great variation to speak of. Perhaps it was heaviest from twelve till two. After that hour the French fire seemed to slacken visibly. There were longer intervals between the spurts, and the spurts were not so ani mated. The forts of Rosny and Nogent, however, chimed in occasionally, covering the slackness of Avron's efforts. About sundown there was a marked weakness in the enemy's fire, the German fire continuing meanwhile in a steady, dogging, stolid fashion. During the day the firing has been continued at the rate of about five to eight shots per minute, chiefly from the guns on the right hand bat teries in front of Rainey. These batteries have been a " staggerer " to Mont Avron. The French batteries on that commanding position were for the most part constructed to dominate the valley of the Marne. Thus they could cope face to face with our batteries at Noisy -le - Grand, they could sweep the " horseshoes," they could pound into Chelles, till a man was thankful when he was out of it, and they could even send their missiles into Montfer neil. But that was the most northerly point on which they looked out. Consequently our batteries further north, in front of Rainey, actually enfiladed the batteries and parallels of Mont Avron, throwing in a flanking fire, ,gainst which there was no defence. This circumstance accounts for the collapse of the Avron batteries earlier ..han I allowed myself to anticipate. There seems to be io question as to the collapse; the fire is all but extin guished, and the four battalions of French infantry which were supporting the gunners when the firing began yesterday morning are known to have fallen back off the table land with considerable loss. Our casualties from yesterday's fire are twenty three men killed and wound e d. l am sur p r i se d th a t _ _ _ should have been so heavy, spite of the unquestionably heavy fire, since the artillerymen are protected by solid parapets, seven feet high, and the supporting in fantry are sheltered in the parallel by earthen protec tions of equal height. The more one thinks of it, the more one is astonished at the thoroughness of the surprise which the French have allowed themselves to suffer. How complete this has been is obvious from the fact that our right-flank batteries so thoroughly raked their positions as I have stated. Had they the remotest conception that batteries were ready to be unmasked behind the trees right under their nose they would have surely taken measures at least to protect themselves from this flanking fire, when they could have done so by a few hours' labour of a body of men with spades and pickaxes, even if they could not have done more in the way of organising a more or less effective reply. It seems the French are refining on the "legitimate" horrors of war. I have seen a Chassepot bullet—it has never been fired of course—which looks all right outside, but which, when dissected, is found to be in 17 pieces, curiously jagged and angular. I suppose it will presently come to firing haudfulls of rusty nails and the clippings of zinc roofs. THE CABINET. Our anticipations of Saturday have been completely realised. Mr. Chichester Fortescue has accepted the office of President of the Board of Trade, and the Marquis of llartington that of Chief Secretary for Ireland. The Cabinet, which, during the illness and absence of Mr. Bright, was temporarily increased, will consist, as heretofore, of fifteen members. The office of Postmaster• General will be held by a Minister without a seat in the Cabinet.—Telcgraph. THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.—Tho agents of the Society of Friends, although several of them have been stricken with disease, are still actively employed in the devastated circle of country of which Metz may be re garded as the centre. I understand that, in consequence of the number of young men who have been disabled by sickness, the committee have decided that for the future they will only send out persons of more mature years. According to the last report, the fund has now reached the sum of £ls,ooo. —Correspondent of the Scotsman. Intstt SEATS VACANT.—Two new candidates are spoken of for the borough of Newry. One is Mr. Charles E. Lewis, of the firm of Lewis, Munns, and Co., of London, who is stated to be a moderate Con servative. The other is Mr. C. Russell, a well-known member of the English bar, who is expected to come forward in the Liberal interest. Mr. Russell con tested Dundalk at the last election. He is a native of Newry, and popular in the borough. The Liberal electors, however, have held a meeting, at which it was unanimously resolved to support Mr. Benjamin Whitworth, who has the advantages of being early in the field and possessing consider able local influence. He was present at the meeting, and was informed that, from the state of the re gistry, there was no doubt that he would be re turned, though by a small majority. Lord Newry has given as yet no proof of his intention to fight the Conser vative battle under rather discouraging circumstances. Both sides claim a majority on the registry. The Hon. Mr. Plunkett is likely to have a walk-over in Meath. WEST YORKSHIRE MACHINERY.—A. good deal of railway and marine work is being executed at the Leeds fouudaries, and some ponderous castings continue to be made in the neighbourhood for Russia. Messrs. Butler and Pitts have obtained from among their men a number of volunteers to go to the Caucasus, and assist in the erec tion of the massive iron railway bridges which have been made at Stanningley. It has been stated in some of the provincial papers that Messrs. Greenwood and Batley, the eminent machinists of Leeds, have, in conjunction with Mr. Westley, Richards, purchased large works at Birmingham for the purpose of a new small-arin factory. This statement turns out to be at all events, premature. At the Leeds works of Messrs. Greenwood and Batley there is brisk ness in all departments. The English demand for their silk machinery keeps good. With the utmost activity they are providing small arms and ammunition machinery for our own Government. Considerable progress has been made with the 9-pounder brass muzzle-loading field-piece adopted by the Indian Government. OUR OOTEMPORARIES—This Morning THE PROSPECTS OF THE NEW YEAR. The Times, in commenting on the prospects of the new year, says: Turning from the affairs of the Continent to other political relations, we find few subjects for encour agement. The jealously of the Americans, which is ever being evinced in some matter, great or small, has received official expression in the President's message, and we know not by what acts it may be followed. Doubtless the reports on this subject are exaggerated ; they may be baseless. But there is, at least, an expectation that the Alabama claims and the petty question of the Canadian fisheries are to be brought into unwelcome prominence. In these and any similar controversies which may be forced upon us the Government and coun try will know what is due to its own honour and to public justice. While ever willing, as we have already shewn, to render our neighbours their rights, we are not to be intimidated by any adversary. At this moment a liti gant may think he has a favourable opportunity to deal with us, because the two nations which are destroying each other on the Continent combine to inveigh against us. Their accusations are so mutually contradictory that they may be left to answer each other. It is only the blind passion which bloodshed has roused which could prompt each of two belligerents, who entered ad visedly and eagerly into a war, to abuse a neutral for not aiding him against the other : and this is all that can he laid to our charge. The real cause of this ill-feeling is the spectacle of a nation living in quiet and comparative prosperity while they are bleeding and exhausted. A time will come when they will recognise that neutrality is no ground for resentment. But were it otherwise, we shall be prepared to maintain our rights. Yet the prospect for the ensuing year is such that the Government, without yielding to panic, must be prepared to give our present forces that organisation which is necessary to make them effective. We have the elements of a good army in sufficient abun dance, but they are without cohesion or system. A 7ell. devised reform in this wo u ld b es t dissipate th e anxieties which cannot but affect us in regarding the momentous events which are now convulsing the world. THE BOMBARDMENT OF PARIS. In France, in Germany, and in England alike, says the Daily New; the great topic which engrosses men's minds is the temper in which Paris finds herself at the beginning of the new year. The fate of Paris is the fate of France. Should Paris be taken, the Germans will in all proba bility compel a peace, should that not be granted by the Provisional authorities in France, by merely retiring upon the territory which they mean to occupy permanently, and taking possession of material gua rantees for the payment of the war indemnity. The new year finds Europe looking on at the spectacle of a great capital closely menaced from without, and suffering great wretchedness within, bearing up against fate and refusing .to capitulate. But it is impossible to say how long that attitude may be maintained, or how rapidly and suddenly it may be abandoned. No one can place any faith in the latest news from the city—that sen t to Bordeaux on the 31st—which says that there are sufficient provisions to last till February. All the statements which have hitherto appeared on the subject seem to us but wild guesses. All that we do know is that the number of people living on the Govern ment rations is growing larger ; and that, when the families who laid in stores of provisions at the beginning of the siege find these begin to fail them, the rate of con sumption of the general stock will become terribly rapid. It must be remembered, also, that the authorities dare not—in the face of the awful catastrophe which such a proceeding would involve—run out the provisions to the last day. If matters should come to this extremity, they must capitulate while they have yet sufficient food to feed the populace and the army for several days, that time may be allowed for the transference of victuals. Paris has al ready suffered four months' siege ; she has witnessed the incoming of the new year, and still maintains her un daunted bearing ; but it is probable that the Government rations will begin to tell upon the temper of the increasing number of people thrown upon them long before the Ger mans have taken the forts and begun to bombard the city. We know, the Standard remarks, what Christmas week has been in London ; what has it been like in Paris? There have been, indeed, the same pitiless winds, the same driving, penetrating snow, the same frosts at night, the same black Heaven at day, in the French metropolis as in the English. But the likeness extends no further. Six short months since a siege of Paris would have seemed as much of an impossibility and an absurdity as a siege of London does now. Whatever the end may be, the end is not yet. True, the trial has not relaxed in hardship. Death and disease are both busy in the beleaguered capital. The bills of mortality are increasing at a fearful rate. Misery enough, in truth, there is, but not despair. The hearts of the inhabitants of Paris are true. Paris has made her vow, and she keeps it nobly. Will France forget the fiery trial to which her invaders have subjected her ? Would Frenchmen be human if they forgave it ? With stout heart and indomitable breast Paris and France are, we may be quite sure, learning a lesson now which Germany will some day have reason to regret her leaders ever taught them. The discipline of suffering is the foundation of strength. What Jena once did for Prussia, that the siege of Paris may do for France. A feud between two nations, a rivalry to the death, between two races, a conflict rich in blood and in terrors between two races—these are the fruits which `` the weekly hetacombs of corpses " may be, we are fearfully afraid, destined to bear. German unity may be an accomplished fact, but what of the means by which it has been accomplished ? what of the results which map be destined to follow these means ? Great are the suffer ings and calamities of this Christmas. What if some Christmas yet to come should witness others still greater, and what will the verdict of history be ? THE MURDER OF MARSHAL PRIM. The Telegraph, in commenting on the atrocious act, says :—Prince Amadeus of Savoy, King of Spain, com mences his reign under sad auspices. Funeral baked meats must coldly furnish forth the marriage feast on his accession to the Spanish throne ; and the eom mencement of the new era, which the whole family of European nations is ready to hail as opening up a period of peace and prosperity in a long distracted country, has been signalised by a bloody and dastardly act of assassination. The murder of Marshal Prim, just as he had put the last touch to a work of hopeful progress and conciliation, must awaken in all patriotic minds throughout the Peninsula feelings of horror and dismay akin to those which startled the American States when the tidings of the death of Abraham Lincoln were flashed from extremest North to farthest South, The Spanish Kingmaker and the American Presi dent had not, perhaps, many qualities in com mon ; but they were alike in their death—in its awful and violent suddenness, and in the blamelessness of character which should have averted the blow of all save raving madmen or utterly depraved villains. Moderate and conscientious Republicans will have to suffer, probably through no fault of their own, for the revolting deed of the Calle de AlcalA ; just as in America, six yam since, a sorrow's crown of sorrow was added to the miseries of the Southerners by the imputation that their leading politicians were cognisant of the hideous tragedy at Ford's Theatre. Yet the non-complicity of any Con. federate statesmen of note has been triumphantly proven ; and ere long it may be clearly shewn in Spain when the assassin or assassins of Marshal Prim are brought to justice, that the wretches who have done this foul thing can no more be identified with the party in the State which is honoured in such a leader as Castelar, than the Southern-Americana were in any way kindred to that monstrous amalgam of diseased sanity- and deli- rium tremens, John Wilkes Booth. The South London Press alleges that several unvac cinated persons have died during the past week at Nor wood and Battersea from small-pox. Mr. Cardwell, Secretary at War, recently visit e d Harwich, with the view of making arrangements f or th e development of additional defences at that port. A con tract for the new works contemplated has already been let, and operations have been commenced both at Land guar d Fort and the Redoubt. Colonel James Fisk, jun., was asked to subscribe for the erection of a fence around a graveyard in Vermont. " No," said he, " what's the use ? Those inside can't get out and I guess nobody outside wants to get in." The conzregation and parishioners of St. Mary's, Whitechapel, London, have presented their late curate and lecturer, the Rev. George Davenport, on his prefer ment to St. Mark's Vicarage. in the same parish, an ad dress, and a purse of £4O. Mr. J. D. Beveridge, late of the Adelphi and Princess's Theatres, has been engaged by the manager of the " Caste " company, which he joins immediately, for the purpose of sustaining the character so ably delineated by the late Mr. Frederick Yonge. KINAHAN'S LTA 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 red seal, pink label, and cork branded " Kinahan's LL Whisky." New Wholesole Depot, GA, Great Titchfield street, Oxford-street, \V. .--~.