The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-14 00:00:00

THE REPRESENTATION OF NORWICH.

Up to last night it was not known in Norwich
who is likely to come forward to contost the seat
rendered vacant by the judgment in thspetition presented
against the return of Mr. Tillett.

TRIAL OF A NEW THIRTY-FIVE TON GUN.

The proof of the immense thirty-five ton gun was suc-
cessfully commenced at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich,
yesterday afternoon. The gun was fired twice with powder
charges of 75 pounds, and conical projectiles weighing
seven hundred pounds each. The gun was loaded by
means of a crane, and fired by electricity. The proof was
conducted by Captain Stoney, assistant superintendent

Royal Gun Factories, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, assisted
by Mr. Mainlay, the proof master.

FURTHER RELEASE OF IRISH POLITICAL

PRISONERS.

Information has been received in Dublin that the Irish
political prisoners Gaby, O'Leary, McCafferty, Power,
and Thomas Burke will be released unconditionally from
Portland and Woking prisons. They will arrive at
Queenstown from Liverpool to-day, in the Cunard steamer
Russia.

ABSCONDING OF A TRAVELLER.
A traveller named Thomas Soden, in the employ
oflillessrs. Parsons and Co., wine and spirit merchants,
Warwick, has absconded, and considerable defal-
cations in his accounts have been discovered. He
was formerly a station-master at Harbury, on the Great
Western Railway. He travelled for Messrs. Parsons
through the rural districts. A warrant has been issued
for his apprehension, and placed in the hands of the police
for execution.

A PRUSSIAN MAN-OF-WAR NEAR WATER

FORD.

Yesterday morning a Prussian man-of-war, under all
sail, and apparently in full chase, was sighted from
Waterford harbour.

THE RENISHAW PARK COLLIERY
EXPLOSION.

The bodies of fourteen of the men killed in the
Renishaw Park Colliery explosion were interred yester-
day. Seven coffins were placed in one grave. Large
numbers of persons were present during the mournful
ceremony.

[EE SUN, IaUNDO.N SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1871.

THE ARMY OF IHE VOSGES.

In a communication from Lyons, the special correspon-
dent of the Standard thus describei the composition of the
army under Garibaldi :—At the present moment the
Italian general has under his command 15,000 men. Of
these 3,000 only are G-aribaldians, the remainder consist-
ing of French Franc-tireurs, Eclaireurs, &c., scarcely one
of whom would feel flattered at been mistaken for one of
the red-shirt band. They regret exceedingly that circum-
stances have placed them with these latter, to separate
from whom is what they most desire. The conduct
of this small band has been the cause of all the dis-
agreements and reproach that is daily heaped upon the
Army of the Vosges, and which has brought them into
such discredit that the peasantry of the districts into
which they find themselves do not hesitate to betray
their movements to the enemy, and so neutralise all
the endeavours of the great and honest majority,
who have thus to bear the odium and do penance
for the sins of the few. It is no secret that Garibaldi
himself is greatly angered at the deeds done in Ms
name, and which he has little power to prevent ; in point
of fact, he has, owing to his physical debility, scarcely
more than nominal command, and is still used, as he has
been often, as the tool of dishonest men. These men have
not even the redeeming quality of savage courage —they
seldom stand, and then only to shout " Avanti,"
" Avanti," while they themselves make strategic move-
ments to the rear, andso are not only useless themselves
but disorganise and demoralise more worthy men. As to
their officers, their name is legion, and were the band to
increase fuurfold there are now sufficient leaders
without the grant of a single commission. Their
equipment is expensive and highly dramatic, reminding
one of the style predominant in the transpontine theatres.
On their arrival here the greater number were almost
shoeless, and watching the magical change from rags to
-regal robes, people here begin to wonder "how they do
it." Received at first with acclamations, they are nyw
sinking daily in the estimation of the people, who are
gradually coming to the conclusion that Italian
patriotism is an expensive article, and that sounder
material, though less showy and noisy, may be had
for less money in the home manufactories. The antece-
dents of some will not bear the light, and yet they
are in high places. One who was broken and con-
demned to death for cowardice in face of the enemy,
but respited and conducted to the frontier, is back
again, and wearing a uniform in the same corps of
a grade higher than that which he held when
graced. You may fancy what pain this gives to the other
corps serving under Garibaldi, and it is to detach them
from the odium of the few that I occupy so much space
in your columns, and in the hope that the Army of the
Vosges, under the command of Garibaldi, may not be by
mistake identified with this useless band. The Army of
the Vosges has shewn on many occasions the very best
spirit, and has fought well, and if it has not yet succeeded
in fulfilling its legitimate task, it is due to the want of
opportunity.