The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-15 00:00:00

Simon, to another Simon had arrested Gambetta, and a,
third version was tlit the quarrel had been arranged.
Figaro announced, in consequence of these serious incidents,
which seemed likely to disturb the deliberations of the
Assembly, that the Government had decided it should
meet at Poitiers.

THE WAR INDEMNITY.

The Tagblatt of Vienna has an article on the amount of
war indemnity—eight milliards—which, according to
accounts from Versailles, Germany is to demand from
France. " However rich France may be, says the
Tagblatt, it will be. impossible for her to
raise such a fabulous amount. The fine imposed
on her exceeds by two hundred million florins the whole
of the public debt of Austria, accumulated by a succession
of bad governments. It equals two-thirds of the public
debt of France before this war. It is four times larger
than the mean receipts of the French State.
It is far greater than the accumulated capital
in all the financial establishments of Austria and Ger-
many. It would suffice to pay, three times over, the
public debt of Prussia, leaving a surplus of some hundred
millions. In France a capitation tax of 200 francs for the
whole population would scarcely suffice to realise
the amount. The cash in circulation in France
would not suffice to pay it. The gold pro-
duction of the whole world, not excepting Cali-
fornia and Australia, does not amount to 800 millions
annually,-and yet France is asked for tenfold that sum
But, according to what we learn by telegraph from Berlin
an expedient has been found to remove the diffi-
culty, not to say, the impossibility. Instead of
the capital of the war indemnity, the inscrip-
tion of the sum in the great Book of the
Public Debt will be accepted, so that Germany will only
receive the interest of the capital, and will thus become
the State creditor of France. This method of payment
will in fact be nothing else then an annual tribute paid by
France to Germany, that is to say, France
will be in the same position as the Principalities are in
respect to Turkey, and supposing Prussia to diminish
her demands by one-third, or by one-half, the interest of
the capital would be sufficient to defray the cost of the
military Budget of the German Empire. The French
will, therefore, support with their contributions the army
which is destined to prevent them from ever
shaking off the burden and disgrace of this
payment which reduces them to a tributary State. France
will not only have to pay the cost of the present war, but
of all future wars which Germany may undertake against
her. It is too much to ask, for it is a simple impos-
sibility.

Pasdeloup's concerts were to recomni ee last Sunday
in Paris. The theatres are being gradually opened.
One Paris elector voted for " myself, Bismarck,
William." According to the Soir, it took a quarter of
an hour to decide whether this vote should be annulled or

not.
A corre3pondent in Paris says :—"Yesterday I was
accosted by a man dressed as a gentleman, and to all ap-
pearance occupying a respectable position in society, who
asked for money to buy a loaf of bread. He was not
rationed, he said, because he did not belong to the National
Guard. Except by a few gamins, this is the only time I
have been asked for money in the streets."
The Journal Officiel of Paris publishes, a decree ordering
that all protested commercial bills which, in consequence
of previous decrees, are now falling due, are prolonged for

one month from to-morrow.
A private meeting of the Orleanist members has been
held at Bordeaux, and it was said that they believed they
would possess a clear majority in the Assemby, and be
able to carry all their points with a high hand. In the
afternoon an informal meeting of all the deputies was
held, at which it was proposed to adjourn the session from
day to day until a full majority of all the members had
arrived. Many Bonapartist agents are there.

A Paris telegram to the Manchester Guardian gives the
following extraordinary report respecting the late Govern-
ment :—" Very discreditable revelations concerning some •
of the.men in power are made. Between the 4th Sep-
tember and the 29th January 43,000 bottles of costly
wines were consumed in the Hotel de Ville, and the
Treasury was plundered. Government contracts were
sold tor large sums, and millions were pocketed by the
secret sale of provisions bought for the siege."
M. Mix Pyat considers that membership of an Assembly

which will conclude a disistrous peace is an exceedingly
undesirable thing. ." No man," he says, " but a fool or
a traitor would solicit such an honour ; a patriot Would
accept it ; a traitor, who understood what it involved,
would not execute it ; a fool would execute it, because he
would not understand what it would involve. He would
be a patriot who accepted it, understanding it, for it
Would be his condemnation." M. Pyat has himself been
elected for Paris. Will he take his seat? If he does,
will he be a traitor or a fool?
THE FRENCH PRISONERS IN GERMANY.—The
following communication has been received at the Foreign
Office from her Majesty's Consul at Konigsberg, through
her Majesty's Embassy at Berlin ::--" It having been
observed that in many cases commissions have been
charged to French prisoners of war at Konigsberg, Mr.
W. J. Hertslet, her Majesty's Consul at that place, begs
begs to announce that any remittances for such pri-
soners sent to him will be immediately paid to them
free of expense (except postage on his forwarding receipt).
Remittances, however small, should be sent in cheques on
London bankers made payable to the, order of her
Majesty's Consul. No moneys are paid by her Majesty's
Consul to the French prisoners of war without the
knowledge and concurrence of the Prussian military
authorities."

IRISH " NATIONAL" LOYALTY.—Mr. W. R.
Wilde, of Dublin, assures us that the Queen's health was
loyally received at the Martin banquet, notwithstanding
the reports to the contrary.
THE Coax TRADE.—The grain trade opened with
animation last week, and a considerable business was done
for Egypt, more particularly in flour ; only a small supply
of wheat was taken for shipment, but values were main-
tained in consequence of the drain of flour from the market
and the shortness of the supplies of English wheat sent
forwards. The recent unfavourable weather has acted
detrimentally upon the wheat plant, the sudden and great
changes in the temperature having given rise to much
complaint. A short period of genial weather is anxiously
looked forward to, as farm work is lagging behindhand,
and the time for bean and pea setting is close at hand.
Turnips have suffered most severely of all the root crops
from the inclement weather, and the yield has been fur-
ther curtailed by the frost. This is a point of no little im-
portance in the prevailing scarcity of food.—Chamber of
Agricultuxe Journal.
SPA.—In a valley near the frontiers of Prussia lies,
half hidden by foliage and hills, one of the prettiest little towns
on the Continent ; and although it only boasts of some live
thousand inhabitants, it is the gem of Belgium, and the fashion-
able resort of its notabilities ; and not of them only, for when
che season is at its height, titled
endezvous, Not o and distinguished visitors
rowd every avenue and every rnly Princes of
petty States, ex-Potentates, or the Counts and Barons which
crop up so plentifully on a foreign soil, but the men of mark in.
society; the statesmen, warriors, and leaders of their respec-
tive countries. The great men of Great Britain are amongst the
number, for they gladly brace up their faculties and re-invigorate
their systems at this health-restoring spot, after the fatigues of
Courts, Parliaments, and Sessions. The roulette-table has its
votaries,. but the waters are more omnipotent still—strongly
impregnated with iron, that needful auxiliary in renovating
enfeebled constitutions ; and those who esteem the waters too
nauseous are glad to meet with that delicious substitute—the
" Elixir de Spa." This holds high rank as oa table liqueur,
possesses a delicate perfume and exquisite flavour, and being
distilled from the flowers and plants of the district, is at the
same time greatly prized for its tonic, digestive, and gently
stimulating qualities. The manufacture of this liqueur forms
the chief part of the staple trade pf Spa, which may be said to
consist of the important Distillery of Messrs. Schaltin, PierrY,
and Cie, the inventors of the Elixir de Spa, and the manufac;
turers of ornaments in the pretty Spa wood. A " petit verre
of the Elixir de Spa is the favourite prelude in Belgium to
" dEjefiner la fourchette," in order to give zest to the appetite,
for which purpose it is equal in efficiency to the nauseous
absinthe ; and the burly Fleish burgomaster's admirable
dinners are usually capped with am wee glass of this invigoratini!
native cordial, which is universally pronounced to be the best ot
Table Liqueurs. It may be obtained through your wine WI:
chant.—Wholesale Depot —SCOTT BaoTHERS, 8, Duke-strcev
Adelphi, London.

BIRTHS.
On the 12th inst., at 70, Ebury-street, the wife of Jo.MO
Le Geyt Daniell, Esq., of a' son. 5'
On the 13th inst., at St. John's-park, Blackheath, 14.1
W. I. Carr, of a daughter.

MAARIA.GES. ri,or
On the 11th inst. at St. George's, Hanover-square,
don Humphrey 'Langford Pellew, Esq., late of the 17‘3`,
lie"
Lancers, to Mary Melba, eldest daughter of Sash
Allenby, Esq., of Cadwell Vale, Lincolnshire.
On the 12th inst., at St. Botolph Without, Bishopagate'
George Innocent, second son of John Groves, of Strell
of Peter
Nottingham, to Sarah, the youngest daughter 4
Groves, of Bishopsgate-street without.

DEA.THS.
On the 13th inst„ at Duncioft Cottage, Staines, 'Uranial3
Waring Finch, aged 90.
On the 10th inst., at Claygate, near Esher,
General
Douglas, C. 8., RA., aged
f

oz
London : Printed by GIDEON ACLAND 1301/"C,
No. 112, Strand, Printer, and Published by the
THE SUN Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinethiof the
Savoy, in the County of Middieaeg• •
• Wednesday, February 15, 1571.