The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-05 00:00:00

THE NEW MINISTER.

Tho Philadelphia correspondent of the Times, writing
on December 23rd, says :
The President, according to anticipation, on the
21st of December nominated General Robert C.
Schenck, M.C. from Ohio, as American Minister to
London, and he was confirmed by the Senate. Gene-
ral Schenck has accepted the post, and will sail for
England early in January, Mr. Benjamin
Moran continuing as Charge until his arrival.
It will require some little time for him to close up
his congressional business, General Schenck having occu-
pied the very important and responsible post of
chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means. The
expectation is that the appointment of so positive a man
as Schenck will bring the Alabama controversy to a
focus. His circle in Washington say he will be instructed
to propose the re-opening of the negotiation, and they
regard the present temper of England as favourable to an
amicable conclusion of the long-pending controversy. The
United States In the renewed negotiation, it is announced,
will require that England shall pay the owners for
the vessels and other property destroyed by the
Alabama and kindred vessels, with interest from the date
of destruction ; that England shall reimburse the United
States' Government for all Government expenses incurred
by reason of the sailing of these cruisers, and that Eng-
land shall recognize this basis of settlement as containing
the true principles of neutrality. These points are an-
nounced as embracing the questions on which the new
Minister will be instructed, and it is added that the
United States, probably, in no event will de-
mand constructive damages. General Schenck's
friends say he is to make no extortionate demands—
he is not to threaten non-intercourse or the capture
of Canada, or to ask anything humiliating. The hope is
that England will willingly accord what he asks, and that
the negotiation will soon be brought to a favourable ter-
mination, The fishery trouble and the St. Lawrence
navigation dispute are both to be opened, but also in a
friendly way, although upon these a much firmer atti-
tude will be assumed than on the Alabama question, the
injuries being more recent. It is believed that upon the
fishery trouble Sir Edward Thornton has already re-
ceived such instructions from England as will lead to a
discussion of the matter this winter in Washington, and
probably an amicable settlement.

Privateering is a question intimately connected with the
Alabama controversy, and upon its good policy the. New
York Chamber of Commerce has this week had an important
discussion. Some time ago the matter was referred to a
committee for consideration, and they brought in a report
favouring the abolition of privateering, to which were ap-
pended two resolutions, which they recommended the
Chamber to adopt. These declared " that the per-
fect immunity from capture of all private property
upon the ocean in time of war is demanded by an en-
lightened sentiment of justice and the improved spirit
of civilisation, not less than by a due consideration
of the best interests of commerce," and recommended the
Government to take measures to have this principle incor-
porated in the code of maritime law. There was an ani-
mated discussion, in which George Opdyke, A. A. Low,
Samuel B. Ruggles, John A. Parker, Jonathan Sturges,
S. B. Chittenden, and other prominent New Yorkers
took part, and the greater number of them opposed the
resolutions on the ground that privateering was one of
the best defences the United States had ; that it was a
bond of peace between this country and England ; and
that consequently to take any action on the matter now
would be inexpedient. These sentiments prevailed,
and finally a motion to postpone was carried. The Ame-
rican President, who urges the abandonment of privateer-
' ing, will find that he is exceedingly unpopular. lihe people
look upon it as one of the most valuable privileges they
could have in the event of a foreign war, and especially of
a conflict with England.

There has been another appalling accident on the Mis-
sissippi. During the night of the 18th of December the
steamer Nick Wall struck a snag near Vicksburg, and
the cabin, on which was piled a large amount of merchan-
dise, falling in, the escape of many of the passengers was
prevented. There were 15 cabin passengers, of whom
nine were lost, and 125 deck passengers, of whom 30 were
lost.' They were all emigrants from the Upper Missis-
sippi to Texas. The wreck floated three miles down the
river, and was met by the steamer Seminole, which took
off the survivors.

---
The well-known Boston publishing firm of Fields,
Osgood, and Co. will after New Year's Day become
James R. Osgood and Co., Mr. James T. Fields
retiring. Mr. Fields, howeve, will continue to be
the editor of their leading periodical, the Atlantic
Monthly.

December 21, the 250th anniversary of the landing. of
the Pilgrims in 1620, was appropriately celebrated at
Plymouth and other places in New England, and also by
New Englanders in other parts of the country. At
Plymouth the venerable Robert C. Winthrop delivered am
oration.

CLERKSHIP OF THE CROWN FOR LIMERICK.—
Mr. Joseph Murphy, solicitor, of Limerick, has been ap-
pointed to the vacant situation of Clerk of the Crown for
the county. Mr. Murphy has been long known iu
the south of Ireland for his attachment to popular
principles.
DISEASED lISH IN THE LONDON MARKETS.—
During last month the officers of the Fishmongers'
Company seized 19 tons 15 cwt. of diseased fish as unfit
for human food, of which 17 tons 10 cwt. came from
Billingsgate, and 2 tons 5 cwt. from Columbia Market.
The fish numbered 54,101, and included 47,200 smelts,
4,979 plaice, 1,024 haddocks, 2 brill, 43 cod, 13 lobsters,
-38 mullets, 9 skate, 335 thornbacks, 8 turbot, and 450
whiting. There were also condemned 20 bushels of
cockles, 60 of sprats, 4 of whelks, and 1,936 gallons of
shrimps;
THE FRENCH PRISONERS' PROTEST.—The Inde-
peudance Beige makes a statement with regard to the
French prisoners in Germany, and says that, notwith-
standing the orders to the contrary by the German
authorities, many French officers persist in sending their
signatures to the protest against the Bonapartist restora-
tion. The Independance has resolved not to publish these,
in the interests of those who sent them, because the
Prussian military authorities would be certain to resent
such a violation of their commands. The list must be
looked upon as finished. Incomplete though it is, its
three thousand signatures afford sufficient proof of the
feeling of the captive French army on the question of the
Bonapartist restoration.

THE ATTACK ON MARSHAL PRIM

MADRID, December 30.

The public indignation is in no degree diminished,
though the latest accounts of the condition of the wounded
marshal are most reassuring. The rumour that amputa-
tion of the arm would be necessary, is contradicted, and
Senor Losada, the surgeon in attendance on Prim,
is so well satisfied with the state of his illustrious
patient that he has not thought it necessary to call in
other advice. If all goes well, he anticipates that in a
fortnight the marshal will be able to rise. The condition of
Senor Nandin, the aide-de-camp who was so seriously
wounded at the same time as his chief, was thought yesterday
to be alarming. To-day it is somewhat improved, and a con-
sultation of surgeons was held at his house, at which
Losada, Marshal Prim's medical adviser, attended. His
opinion was more favourable than that of the other ad-
visers, who held that their favourite remedy of ampu-
tating, the arm would Le insufficient. The at-
tack in the. carriage must have been a desperate
one. The vest of Marshal Prim has twelve
holes made by the shots he received, and in the carriage
were marks of fifteen more. The windows of both doors
were destroyed. At the spot where the crime was com-
mitted, which was between the houses Nos. 1 and
3 in the Calle del Turco, the marks of
the discharge are also visible. On the left
hand building are marks of bullets, and on the right the
door posts bear traces of seven or eight notches, produced
apparently by eight or ten weapons. Great numbers of curi-
ous spectators have investigated the spot, and the car-
riage of the Marshal, in which were found pieces of flesh
which the bullets tore from the hand of Senor Nandin, who
it appears, on seeing the attack upon the Marshal, raised
his arm to protect him if possible. The night before last
an Italian presented himself at the house of a road
labourer in the suburbs, and asked for a shelter. The
man, who knew what had happened, suspected his
guest, and gave information to the authorities,
who ordered his arrest. It is rumoured that
he has confessed his complicity with the assassination,
and has promised to make important revelations, and per-
son was arrested in the Calle de Quintana, who II as since
confessed that he was one of the six who fired the fatal
shots. This, how.ever, is merely a rumour, and the
rumours are innumerable. The driver of one of the
intercepting coaches hired the coach for the day, it seems,
and has disappeared, no one knows where. The tavern-
keeper at the corner where the Calle del Turco passes
into the Calle de Alcala has been arrested. The suspicions
of the authorities are very active, and the inspector
of the district has been imprisoned by order of the
Governor for not communicating officially until midnight
the intelligence of the attack in the Calle del Turco at
six. The Epoca protests against this proceeding as
arbitrary, and asks what the Iberia would have said
if a governor of the opposite party had given
such an order. The Governor of the Province,
Senor Arias, has issued a proclamation calling on
all the people to assist him in discovering the criminals who
threaten to overthrow public security and social order.
Immediately on the receipt of the news Victor Emmanuel
directed the Spanish Ambassador at Florence to express
his deep regret to the Condesa de Rens (Marshal Prim's
wife), and desired him to keep him constantly informed of
the state of the illustrious patient. It is said the friends
of Prim are much chagrined that he will not be able to
dispense the favours of the new monarch. The Duke de la
Torre is spoken of as the probable framer of the first Minis-
try, and it is likely he will also be President of the Cham-
ber. It was the duke who, at the council held immediately
after the catastrophe, appealed to the patriotism of Senor
Topete to accept temporarily the Presidency of the Council,
and the Ministry of War and State. Senor Rios 13 osas,
by whose advice Topete yielded his own wishes, has been
indisposed ever since the Council, and has been unable to
see his friends or visitors of any kind.
A Ministerial Council was held yesterday, at which the
only questions discussed were those affecting the mainte-
nance of public order and the measures rendered necessary
by Topete's absence. While he is away Don Jose San-
chez Bregua, Under-Secretary at the War Office, will act
as Minister of War. It is to be hoped there will be no
`special demands on the resources of this office, but the
notice of the disarmament of the Republican Volunteer
Battalions has created some uneasiness. The battalions
to be dissolved are seven in number, .and the comman-
dants complain that they cannot comply with the order
in the time specified, not having time to give notice to
all the individual members of their corps. Some organs of
the press think the authorities are justified in the most
severe measures by the outrage committed on Marshal
Prim. Others stoutly maintain that such conduct is
likely to produce a rebellion in the provinces of Valencia,
Catalonia and Andalusia, and that the country will resent
Ldignantly the interference with its liberal aspirations by
me Federal party.

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.
Experiments are to be made at Shooter's-hill, Wool-
wich, in order to test the utility of Thomson's road steamer
in drawing guns and other heavy loads up hill, over bad
roads or land where there is no road at all, with a view to
its introduction into the Army Service Corps. One of the
smaller engines has already been purchased, and is in use
at the Royal Arsenal, where an instructor is daily em-
ployed teaching soldier artisans how to handle it.
The 35-ton gun, which is still blocking the tramway
leading to the proof butts, Woolwich, will be tried with
the new pebble powder recently approved by the com-
mittee on explosives ; this description of powder, which
resembles small black pebbles, being manufactured as fast
as the resources of the establishment at Waltham will
allow. This powder, as already reported, gives a greater
velocity to the projectile, with less strain upon the gun,
than the ordinary powder in use ; and it is understood
that the maximum charges have been fixed by the com-
mittee as follows :-35-ton gun, 1201bs. ; 25-ton gun,
851bs. ; 10-inch gun, 701bs. ; 9-inch gun, 501bs. ; and
7-inch gun, 301bs.
The Flying Squadron will in all probability call at
Lisbon. The following are the probable dates of depar-
ture :—Plymouth Sound, January 4 ; arriving at Barba-
does February 4, after visiting Madeira for one or two days.
Barbadoes, February 18, arriving at port of Spain, Trini-
dad, Feb. 23, calling at Tobago ; port of Spain, Trinidad,
March 3, arriving at Jamaica March 23, visiting between
Trinidad and Jamaica the ports of Granada, St. Vincent,
and St. Lucia • Jamaica April 7, arriving at Bermuda
May 1, probably visiting Havana on the way ; and they
will await orders from England at Bermuda.

It is rumoured at Chatham that the Sultan, which
cannot be ready to leave by the day fixed, will be detained
there till the opening of the first basin of the dockyard
extension works, and will be utilised in the ceremony.
H.M.S. Grasshopper, which has been appointed to
protect British residents at Newchwang (luring the
winter, reached that port on the Bth November, to the
great satisfaction of foreigners and the immediate improve
meat of trade.
An amateur entertainment was given on Tuesday night
- - •

at Reading, in aid of the sufferers by the loss of her
Majesty's ship Captain. The entertainment was highly
successful, and a handsome sum of money was realised.

• THE FENIAN PRISONERS.—The collections made
at the different churches in this city on Sunday,
December 25th, to aid the released prisoners, amounted to
over £so.—Cork Examiner.

THE BEVERLEY ELECTION PETITION. The
Beverley Guardian announces that the committee for con-,
ducting the presentation of the testimonial to Sir Henry
Edwards,b Bart., have decided upon inviting him to
Beverley on the 28th inst., to receive an address con-
gratulatineabim on his acquittal. The gallant colonel
will be entertained at a banquet in Beverley on Monday,
the 30th, and another at Halifax on the Ist of February.
MELANCHOLY ICE ACCIDENT AT ROTHERHAM,—
n accident of a very melancholy character occurred
at Rotherham on Tuesday afternoon, by which two boys
met their deaths. About half-past three o'clock a
number of boys were amusing themselves by sliling
on a pond in a field on the Wickersley road, at tit.
top of Wellgate ; and as they were following ono
another down the slide, one of thom--Albert Edward
Middleton, eight years of age, the son of James Middle-
ton, fitter, of Weligate—fell down, and a companion.
Edward Smith Hurst, aged 12, who lived with his uncle,
a milkman, in Hollowgate, fell over him. Immediately
the other boys heard a loud crack, and, lookinc, round,
saw tint the two who had fallen hid disappeared beneath
the ice. One of the boys was quite dead when picked
out, but the other breathed several times when rescued,
expiring, however, in a few seconds.— Sheffield Indepen-
dent.

lICUELESS CHILDREN.—An interesting ceremony
took place at the Institution for Homeless and Destitute
Children, at Great Queen-street, Lincoln's-inn-fields, on
the occasion of celebrating the New Year's festivities.
The children assembled from the different establishments
of the Model Farm, Surrey, the Training Ships, and the
Ealing Refuge, together with the London Refuges. Some
young women were there who were placed out at service
by the committee, and had given satisfaction in their
different situations. Among those present were Miss
Burdett Coutts and Sir R. W. Carden, and Mr. Mac-
gregor of ''Rob Roy " celebrity. The latter presented a
banner representing the four Refuges of the society, with
the training ship in the middle. The secretary gave an
account of the rise and progress of the society, which
was very interesting. It commenced fourteen years ago
with twelve children, boys and girls, the average numbr
now being, in the Refuge's ship and farm, as many as five
hundred and fifty. The Refuge work is the largest in
London, but it could accomplish much more if sufficient
funds were forthcoming for its support. The committees
of the different branches of the society have distinct
spheres of operations. The Chichester Training Shiphas
attracted the notice of the Admiralty, and hopes are
entertained that the boys trained there may be drafted
into the Royal Navy, and the committee receive remune-
ration in consequence. Owing to the large subscriptions
for the sick and wounded, the funds of the Refuge have
suffered diminution, and the committee have been forced
• to borrow money at Michaelmas, but of late the prospect
has been rather more encouraging.

THE WAR.

THE SIEGE OF PARIS.

NEW YEAR'S GIFTS.

New Year's gifts are a great institution in Paris. "The'
custom is for every gentleman to make a call upon all the
ladies of his acTraintance, and to leave them a box of
sugarplums. This is a heavy tax upon those who have
more friends than money. 1.5 is a common sam to
expend in this way. There are no sugar plums this year,
and the men were delighted at the thought of getting off
their annual tax.. A correspondent, writing before New
Year's Day, was far from sanguine of their success. The
ladies are not to be done out of their permissive rights in
this way, and they throw out very strong hints that if
sugarplums are out of season, anything solid is very much
in season. A dandy who is known to have a stock of
sausages is overwhelmed with compliments by his fair
friends. A good leg of mutton would, lam sure, win the
heart of the proudest beauty, and by the gift of half-a-
dozen potatoes you might make a friend for life."
This writer tells us something about the sort of Christ-
mas the English residents expected to spend :—" In an
English restaurant two turkeys had been treasured
up for the important occasion, , but unfortunately a few
days ago they anticipated their fate, and most ill-
naturedly insisted upon dying. One fortunate Briton has
got 10Ibs. of camel, and has invited about twenty of his
countrymen to aid him in devouring this singular substi-
tute for turkey. Another gives himself airs because he
has some potted turkey, which is solemnly to be consumed
to-day spread on bread. lam myself going to dine
with the correspondent of one of your contemporaries.
On the same floor as himself lived a family who left
Paris before the commencement of the siege. Necessity
knows no law ; so the other day he opened their door with
a certain amount of gentle violence, and after a diligent
search, discovered in the larder two onions, some potatoes,
and a ham. These with a fowl, which I believe has been
procured honestly, are to constitute our Christmas
dinner."