The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-06 00:00:00

Northern towns. Seeing the folly of her expedition :she
thought it prudent to destroy its traces. She is not
now in Brussels, but the conspirators are still busily
carrying on their intrigues, which Belgian journaliits
complain are compromising the safety of the little king-
dingdom ; but Azamat-Batuk is of opinion that if
they knew how impotent the plots and plans were,
they would save themselves the trouble of com-
plaining,

THE NEWS OF -THE CAPITULATION AT
BORDEAUX.

BORDEAUX, Jan. 29,

The agitation at Bordeaux has 'been great, and no
wonder. This morning there was but a vague rumour
that Favre had gone to Versailles, and that the bases of
a peace, and a dishonourable peace, had been signe 1.
The all-important despatch was sent to the print-
ing-office at one o'clock. At two the official
accourft was at the offices of the journals and the facts were
known. Favre had signed a treaty with Bismarck and an
armistice of twenty-one days was granted, during which
time an assembly was to be elected. Later
on it was known that the revictualling of
Paris was allowed, mid that provisions were
being sent from all quarters. Meanwhile, rumours of all
kinds circulated and were commented upon. The condi-
tions of peace were said to be twenty ironclads given to
Prussia, a war indemnity of from two to four milliards,
one of the colonies, Alsace and Lorraine, and the
occupation of Champagne, with perhaps two forts of
Paris in awaiting the fulfilment of the conditions.
In political circles it was affirmed that Gambetta, mid
Laurier had resigned, but that Cremieux, Glais-Bizoin,
and others were endeavouring to induce them to hold
their places. A demonstration took place before the
Prefecture, but contrary to his wont, Gambetta did
not appear, but sent word that he was indisposed. lie
may well have been in no state to address the excited and
agitated populace, for his own course was an) thing but
clear, and he would not have known what to counsel.
After a stormy afternoon it was, however, agreed

that Gambetta and Laurier should retain their places
until a member of the Paris Government reached the
delegation. Such an arrival was confidently looked for,
and speculation was rife as to whether it would be Simon,
Ferry, or Picard who would come. Jules Simon was
one of the deputies of the Gironde, but it was
supposed he might be unwilling to come for that
very reason, for fear of compromising his popularity
with the electors. It was said in some quarters that the
Republic was doomed, and that matters had retrograded
to the 3rd of September. In others it was confidently
stated that Favre had only come to terms on being
threatened by Bismarck that he would conclude
a treaty with the Regency. The uncertainty, the
grief, the anxiety, are beyond description; but
it is not until the first shock is over that we shall see
whether resignation or resistance is to be the motto. It
is believed that the alarming and rapidly-increasing mor-
tality of Paris had nearly as much to do with the sudden
decision of Favre as the exhaustion of provisions. Bour-
baki is not dead from his self-inflicted wounds, but he
suffers terribly.

THE ORLEANISTS AND THE ELECTIONS

The Duc d'Aumale has issued his address to the con-
stituencies for which he will stand at the forthcoming
election. He says he had no share either direct or indirect
in the war, and therefore reserves his entire liberty of
appreciation or otherwise. The following passage
is impOrtant "When I consider the situa-
tion of France, her history, her traditions, the
events of the last years, I am struck with the
advantage which a Constitutional Monarchy presents.
I believe it can respond to the legitimate aspirations of
democratic society, and guarantee with order and secu-
rity, every kind of progress and liberty. It is with a
mixture of filial pride and of patriotic sorrow that I com-
pare France in her actual state with what she was under the
reign of my father. As to this opinion, I have a right to
hold it as a man, and as a citizen I believe it my duty to
express it ; but I do not mingle with it any spirit of
party, any exclusive tendency. In my sentiments, in my
past, in the traditions of my family, I find nothing which
separates me from the Republic. If it be under this form
that France wishes freely and definitively to constitute her
Government, I am ready to bow before her sovereignty,
and I will remain her faithful servant."

rear and flank, and shut up between the Doubs and
the Swiss frontier. Some of the divisions, cut off from
the line of retreat on Besancon, were driven
into the mountains. General Convagnie's division
drew back on Morteau, and thence towards Pontarlier.
Yesterday, while I was at Morteau, General Castella
arrived with his adjutant and escort, followed by remnants
of the army, which he had saved after an unsuccessful
encounter at Pont-aux-Moulins. It was stated that he
was directed, with scarcely 3,000 men, to take a position
held by 25,000 Prussians. A French officer told me that
General Castella formed the extreme covering detachment
of Bourbaki's army, and that he guarded the retreat from
Arcy to Clerval with rare energy. Castella has advanced
further towards Pontarlier. All the troops which are
marching through have a melancholy appearance. They
give the impression of wanting a few clays' absolute rest
if they are again to take the field. Poor France is in a
very sad plight."
A LETTER FROM JULES SIAION.—The Gironde
publishes a letter from M. Jules Simon, the French
Minister of Education, written in Paris on the 14th
January, though it did not reach its destination at
Limoges until the 26th :—" My dear friend,—l have
learned from my colleagues at Bordeaux that you, as
prefect at Limoges . . . . Paris is bombarded day
and night : a shell passed over my study a quarter of an
hour before I began this letter. But lam convinced that
we shall hold out until the last cartridge and the last
mouthful of bread. What is most terrible is the lack of
news. We have received nothing since the Bth of this
month. . . . The day when the blockade of Paris
is raised there will be nothing to feed two mil-
lions of inhabitants. What more; the railways will
take three weeks to repair ; t will therefore be necessary
to send by water, flour grain, and butter. Trade will
profit especially those who are prompt, but the Prefects
ought not to slumber. The blockade is as likely to be re-
moved to-morrow as in a month's time, and I ask you to
give notice to the agriculturists and the traders of all the
agricultural departments. One thing must not be for-
gotten, and that is to send with the first supplies grain for
sowing. At this moment we are seizing all the grain
reserved for sowing, and we have promised on our honour
it shall be replaced. Weigh well this letter. Exhibit
great activity in the matter : it will be rendering trade a
service of the greatest importance. 11 o'Clock.—lt is
said the bombardment is going to assume a more terrible
character. In all directions persons are crying out that in
case of the worst we must blow up Paris. It is appalling,
but yet it would be better to be Moscow than Sedan !
JULES SIMON."

THE ENTRY INTO PARIS. From Versailles,
January 30, the correspondent of the Standard
sends the following :—Knowing that Bismarck is
ever ready to sacrifice the shadow to the substance, I
was not surprised to hear that the entry into Paris of the
Prussian troops was deferred until peace had been con-
cluded. 1 was, however, somewhat taken aback
when I was told that, although the city had
surrendered unconditionally, no officers are to be
allowed to enter the city on any pretence, and
that even after peace is declared it is not likely that a
German soldier will be allowed to enter Paris. The Ger-
mans, I at once saw, had some selfish reason in shewing
this consideration for the capital, and my suspicions were
confirmed when I discovered that every officer who ap-
plied for leave to go into the city received some different
excuse as a reason for his request not being
gra.ntel. One was told that the difficulty lay
wtth the French authorities—even a Bavarian brain suc-
ceeded in penetrating through this flimsy pretext ; another
was informed that his presence in Paris would add to
the difficulty in the matter of food. This was even
more far-fetched. Most were told that the fear
of smallpox alone prevented leave being granted.
The truth, however, was not long in disclosing itself.
The authorities have received information which
has decided them not to let the troops elite]. Paris.
Republicanism, however, and not smallpox, is the disease
they are anxious to guard against. This has caused much
discontent among the troops, natably the South German
soldiers ; and there is little doubt that it would rapidly
increase if the men saw that their officers were allowed to
go where they were not trusted. The whole affair has
given rise to a good deal of uneasy feeling here ; and
perhaps, the worst symptom in the case is that the
insubordinate spirit which has shown itself is not
entirely confined to the rank and file of the army.
That the King considers the matter of the greatest
moment is evident, as instead of returning at once
to Berlin, which he had intended doing, he has de-
cided on remaining here until the termination of the
armistice ; he remembers, doubtless, that the seeds
of revolt which led to the insurrection in Russia in 1825
were sown among the troops in Paris in 1814. The.present
campaign has never really degenerated into a conflict of
races; after being together for a day -or two the soldiers
composing the different elements in the German army
appear to have got on much better with the inhabitants
than with their allies. The brotherhood of blood
cemented by the war must be looked upon as the
purest fitcion, as far as the nationalities under the wing of
Prussia are concerned. Between the French and Ger-
mans the case is different. Round Paris, at least, all
seems to be already forgiven and forgotten. Jules Favre
had, indeed, hardly arrived in Versailles ere the outposts
had proclaimed an armistice on their own responsibility ;
and were drinking from the same bottle, swearing
eternal friendship, and promising never to fire on one
another again.