The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-13 00:00:00

THE ALABAMA. CLAIMS.

A usually well-informed writer (the Washington corre-
spondent of the New York Evening Post) telegraphs on
January 24 that the real cause of the unexpected post-
ponement of General Schenck's departure for this country
is said " upon good authority " to be the receipt at the
State Department of a communication from Sir Edward
Thornton to the effect that instructions had been
received by him from Lord Granville to make overtures
for reopening the Alabama claims questions, and to sub-
mit the propositions upon the basis of which the British
Government is ready to come to a final settlement of the
controversy. This letter, the correspondent goes on to
say, was considered so important by the President
that he deemed it advisable for General Schenck to
remain until the matter assumes some definite shape.
The propositions submitted by Sir E. Thornten, he adds,
require certain concessions on the part of the United
States on its position heretofore taken on this question,
and the President is said to be willing to yield in his
anxiety to get the subject settled. What the terms are the
correspondent is unable to say, but they are regarded
as very favourable by the Administration. On the
other hand, he tells us, it is reported that Mr. Sumner,
when made acquainted with the contents of Sir
E. Thornton's letter, assured Mr. Fish that if a treaty
was negotiated on the terms proposed, it would be rejected
not only by the Senate but also by the public at large, so
excessive did he consider the concessions demanded.

The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers, at
their last court, held February 9, made a grant of twenty
guineas to the City Orthopcedic Hospital, Hatton Garden,
E. C.

It is hoped here that there will be no division on
the Princess Louise's dowry, several members who ex-
pressed their intention to oppose it having already inti-
mated that they will abstain from voting.
Mdlle. Nilsson, on dit, will return to London with
a troupe froth America to perform Italian Operas, so that
a third company may possibly be heard, during the ap-
proaching London Season.—Orchestra.

A new romantic drama of London life by Mr.
Charles H. Ross is in active rehearsalatthe Surrey Theatre,
gud is said to contain some strikingly realistic scenes of a
very novel character.—Orchestra.

A. terrible explosion has occurred in Brooklyn,
New York, by which the city gas works were partially
destroyed, and one man was killed. A terrible conflagra-
tion resulted, which destroyed property amounting to
150,000 dols.

Baron Liebig has so far recovered from his furun-

culoid affection as to be able to resume his lectures at the
University -of Munich. He is conducting the present
Course on experimental chemistry with all his old energy
and effect.—Lancet.

GARIBALDI'S RETREAT FROM DIJON.-A letter
from Pontarlier says :—Old Garibaldi, withdrawing in
time from the girdle of troops that had been admirably
placed to surround him, evacuated Dijon in all haste
with his band, consisting of some thousand men, and re-
treated behind the line of demarcation. This is, however,
just as well, as we should not have known what to do
with so many thousand Garibaldian prisoners, being
already at a loss how to provide for the numerous
prisoners already in our hands in this thoroughly-ex-
hausted district, and where supplies are difficult to procure.
Dijon, which is now for the third time in the occupation of
German troops, is said to look most deplorable, and dis-
tress and want prevail there to an enormous extent. The
position of affairs here is really terrible. The departments
of the Jura and Cote d'Or are, with the exception of a
few half-famished broken•up bands, entirely freed from
French troops, and the armistice comes into effect here
as well. The capitulation of Belfort. now that every
chance of relief has vanished, will certainly take place in
a few days.