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

THE STATE OF FRANCE.

In a communication from Versailles, February 1, a
correspondent of the Standard •says :—France lies
prostrate among the ruins of her homes and graves of
her children ; but she is not crushed. Her heart beats
but slowly now, feebly as a little child's ; but
it beats still, and that is life. Envied in her
glory, forsaken in her sore travail, let it not be said
that we have no compassion for her now. Let us
rather staunch her wounds with shreds of the gifts she has
bestowed on us with a bounteous hand, sprinkle her brow
with drops of hope, and let the pure air of freedom play
upon her pale fair face. Soon shall we see the warm
southern blood mantling through her veins ; her eyes,
whose glance has held a world in check, reflect once more
the daring soul within ; her lips shall pour forth song
anew, and France will again stand before us the pride
and embodied grace of Europe. The armistice comes 1
into force in the provinces from to-day ; not an hour too
soon, God knows ! I confess to hoping that the war is
at an end, and that ere three weeks are over a peace
honourable to both countries will have been concluded.
But if it cannot be—if the dogs of war, maddened by
their bloody revels, refuse to be again leashed up, there
is little doubt that the rest thus afforded to France
is invaluable to her armies. In these Ido not include the
National Guards, those whom the mere feelings of a hus-
band or a father should, one would have thought, have
inspired with bravery, have in too many instances
shewn themselves the veriest poltroons. Trochu
adds another to the long list of French warriors
whose fame, earned in many battle-fields, has been
sacrificed to the cowardice of the scum of the
people. The report about Bourbaki was too true. He is
however, not dead, though his life is despaired of. Nothing
is yet known as to who is to be his successor, but from
the position the Germans hold his command must de-
volve upon one of his generals, as it would be an infrac-
tion of the armistice if a commander were sent from some
other part of France. It is at any rate to be hoped
that Garibaldi will not be appointed to the vacant
command. He has failed even as a leader of his own
partisans, and it is hardly to be expected that he
will gain the implicit trust, without which success
is impossible, of the soldiers of France. The
Imperial residences seem to be following the fate of
their owners. The Palace of St. Cloud has been a heap
of ruins since October ; the Chateau de Malmaison was
destroyed shortly afterwards ; and yesterday the favourite
residence of Prince Napoleon, at Meudon, was, despite
the efforts of a strong detachment of German artillery-
men, utterly consumed by fire. A shell is supposed
to have fallen within the building some days ago.
Left unnoticed, it did not explode till yesterday,
setting the chateau on fire, and although the air
was still the flames spread with fearful rapidity.
The communication with Paris by rail has, I
find, been conceded, and the repairs to the lines are
being worked at night and day. Nor, indeed, is any time
to be lost, for the Parisians, although their gates are open,
are still in danger of perishing from hunger. It must be
remembered that within a radius of thirty or forty miles
round Paris the country has been utterly devastated.

Gabel—the famous gend'arme in Offenbach's

Genevieve "•

'—was killed at Sedan.

INCREASE OF ROYAL ARTILLERY.—SIX new
batteries are to be immediately added to the Royal Horse
Brigades, and there are to be twenty new field batteries.
An order has been received at Woolwich to the effect that
3,915 men of all ranks will be added to the regiment.

MUNIFICENT DONATION. The Warrinyton
Guardian, announces that Humphrey Nicholls, Esq., of
Manchester, has given the rector of Warrington £7,500
for the Clergy Widow and Orphan Fund, Manchester and
Chester diocese, making £lO,OOO within a few years.
The Irish Church Temporalities Commissioners are
sitting day after day to consider applications, chiefly from
curates, for an acknovriegment of their vested interests.
They have rejected all claims arising from appointments
made since the passing of the Act.

Rivalling Chelsea, Bayswater is to have a theatre.
The Victoria Hall in Archer-street, is to be transformed
into the Bayswater Bijou Theatre, Mr. Worboys being
the lessee, and Mr. W. J. Sorrel the acting manager.
The regular dramatic season will not commence until
Easter.

General Schenck declined the banquet tendered
dim in. Cincinnati, saying that he is so busy with prepara-
tions for leaving for England that he cannot even visit
his home in Dayton, Ohio, and that he has considered it
best not to accept any public demonstrations before his
departure.

The motion for debate at the Oxford Union Society
on Friday night "that this House, while sympathising
deeply with the heroic resistance of France, deprecates
any attempt at armed intervention on the part of Eng-
land," was rejected, after a long debate, by a majority of
two. The motion next Thursday is—" That the works of
Charles Dickens are not entitled to a place in the first
rank of English Literature," moved by Mr. C. E. Bick
more, Ch., Ch.

BRIBERY AT SCHOOL BOARDS.—At Bideford,
allegations of treating and bribery have been made in
connection with the School Board election. A meeting of
the inhabitants has been held, at which it was decided to
memorialise the Education Board to institute an inquiry.
Pending such inquiry, the rector, who was one of the
successful candidates, declines to sit on the Board.

THE CONFERENCE.—There is no doubt that the
conduct of Turkey in connection with the Eastern Con-
ference has provoked considerable dissatisfaction in offi-
cial quarters. The Turks all along have been lacking in
earnestness, and some say in good faith, although perhaps
their practical indifference to the Black Sea question has
facilitated the settlement which will shortly be arrived at.
—Scotsman.