The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-06 00:00:00

GENERAL SCHENCK.

A correspondent at Washington writes home :—The
new Minister is a man of large experience and undoubted
ability. He has been only a few years abroad, as diplo-
matic representative at Rio de Janeiro, but he has been in
public life a long time, and for many years in the Lower
House of Congress. He is a good debater, close, logical,
witty, and incisive. He is, moreover, a very shrewd
party leader and manager. It is in this last capacity that
I recognise in him the qualities of temper, judgment, and
tact that give assurance of his fitness for his present
trust. He is a rival of Butler in the House, but alto-
gether a different man. General Schenck is not over
young, but
_he does not look old. I take him to be
about sixty years of age. He is of the German type, as
his name implies ; by no means handsome, but with a
clear complexion, and pleasant expression. For an
American and Western politician he has a fair share of
bonhomie ; and if not the equal of Mr. Motley or Mr.
Everett in culture or in social graces, he is certainly far
better qualified than either for the momentous trust of
preserving friendship between the two great families of
the Anglo-Saxon race.

GENERAL GARIRALDL --- Private lettere from
General Garibaldi were received in England on Wednes-
day. In one of them he remarks, "If Paris falls, that is
not France." In another letter he expresses himself
satisfied that, in the end, the French cause will be
triumphant.
Four troops of the 17th Lancers and five com-
panies of the 70th Regiment have left Dublin to pro-
ceed to the various polling-places in the county Meath, to
afford aid to the civil power during the election. A
squadron of the Ist Dragoons has also left Newbridge for
the county Meath for the same purpose.

A young woman named Catherine M'Pherson,
while endeavouring to recover a stray cat which had gone
out of an attic window in a house five storeys high in the
western district of Glasgow, lost her balance and fell to
the street. The only injury she sustained was a severe
sprain to one of her ankles.
The freehold of White's Club, one of the oldest of
the existing clubs of London, is advertised as for sale, but a
change in the ownership of the freehold by no means
implies any change or alteration in the club itself. As a
place of public resort, it can boast of an antiquity of very
nearly two centuries. It is a comfortable, old-fashioned
mansion.
- - - -

--------
Dowager Lady Dinorben, sister of the Princess of
Capua, died on Tuesday last, at her residence, 75, South
Audley-street. Her ladyship, who was born in 1818, was
the daughter of G. Blakenay, Esq., and married in 1840
—as his second wife—the first Baron I)inorben, who died
in 1802, in which year the title became extinct.
THE CALEDONIAN AND NORTH BRITISH DISPUTE.
—Lord Gifford's judgment in the dispute betweeu the
Caledonian and North British Railway Companies is pub-
lished by the Scotsman. His lordship's interlocutor, to
which is appended a note of considerable length, recalls
the interim interdict granted against the Caledonian
Railway Company by the interlocutors of 24th
February and 28th March, 1870, and dismisses
both notes of suspension and interdict, but finds
the Caledonian Company liable to expenses in both
processes and in the conjoined actions. The first part
of the finding is grounded on the issuing of Mr. Eborall's
awar(l, and its acceptance and full observance by both
companies • on the opinion of his lordship that the interim-
interdicts already granted are inapplicable to the present
circumstances of the case; and on the fact that the Cale-
donian Company, since the issuing of the arbitrator's
award, have not intimated any intention to interfere with,
obstruct, or render dangerous the trains now run by the
North British Company in terms of that award. The
second part of the finding, in regard to expenses, was given
on the ground that the North British Railway Company
in presenting the note of suspension and interdict were
rprimarily substantially right.

THE LONDON SCHOOL BOARD.

The third meeting of this Board was held at the Guild-
hall yesterday, Lord Lawrence, the President, in the
chair.

Mr. W. H. Smith, M.P., proposed that the governor
and company of the Bank of England be requested to act
as bankers. The resolution was carried.

On a discussion as to the appointment of the Bank as
treasurer, it was suggested by several members that the
appointment might stand over until the board had scme
money.

It was resolved that the banking account stand in the
names of the chairman, vice-chairman, and Mr. Alderman
Cotton.

THE LATE MR. GEORGE WILSON.

The grave of the late Mr. Georgo Wilson, in Ardwick
Cemetery. Manchester, is next to that containing the
remains of Sir John Potter, with whom Mr. Wilson
was associated in procuring the charter of incorporation
for the city of Manchester. It is also near the grave of
Mr. Ernest Jones, who was associated with him in many
of his political labours.

GREAT SKATING MATCH AT HUNTINGDON.
A great skating match, in which the crack skaters of
Cambridge, Huntirgdonshire, and Lincolnshire, took part,
was held at Huntingdon on Wednesday, in the presence
of the Duke and Duchess of Manchester, a large party from
Kimbolton, and ten thousand spectators. The Cambridge-
shire skaters carried away the honours of the day. The
deciding course was between Cross, of Ely, Cambridge-
shire, and Smith, of Connington, Hants. The first round
was a most exciting affair, both men rounding the flagpost
simultaneously. Coming into collision, both fell. Smith
stopped and claimed a foul, which was not allowed. The
excitement was immense.

THE RECENT RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT

HARROW.
An inquest on the body of John Lanes, coach pro-
prietor, of Edward-street, Manchester, who met his death
in the recent railway accident near Harrow, was resumed
at the Euston Hotel yesterday, by Dr. Lankester. The
evidence on the last occasion was in reference to the
broken link, which was the first cause of the accident
to the goods truck, by throwing it off the line.
Mr. Blenkinsopp, the solicitor, and Mr. Cawkwell,
Manager to the London and North-Western Railway
Company, were in attendance.

Mr. Blenkinsopp suggested that he should be allowed to
call witnesses to prove the technical character of the
fracture, but the Court thought that unnecessary.
John Walker, signalman at the Harrow Station, was
sworn, and the evidence given by him at the inquest at
Harrow was read over to him.

In reference to that part of the evidence in which the
witness stated that immediately he found the truck loose
he blocked the line and signalled to the man at Wembley,
the Coroner asked Mr. Blenkinsopp whether he was aware
that some persons were colour blind, which might have
been the case with the deceased engine driver. The late
Dr. George Wilson of Edinburgh drew attention on an
occasion to the necessity of testing the drivers of engines
on this point.

Mr. Blenkinsopp said this could not have been the case,
because the deceased had driven for some years. The test
mentioned by the coroner was in operation by the com-
pany.

By the Foreman : What hours were you on duty on the
day of the accident?
Witness : From 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. This was a particular
occasion. Ordinarily lam on from 7to 5.
The Foreman : Have you your meals in the box ?
Witness : Yes. We have to get our meals how we can.
A train would be likely to pass when we were eating our
meals.

The Coroner : I suppose you ask this question to see
whether he was getting his meals at the time the train in
question passed ?
The Foreman : I asked for the purpose of seeing
whether ordinary precautions were taken for the preser-
vation of the lives of the public. Of course, if the signal-
man was cooking his chop he could not be looking after
the signals.
Mr. Cawkwell said that between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. there
were thirty-nine trains down and forty-two up. From
seven p.m. to 7 a.m. (night) there were thirty-nine down
and thirty-eight up.
Charles Robinson. was the next witness called. This
was the man whom the jury at Harrow censured for
neglecting to place fog signals on the line. After he was
cautioned by the Coroner as to whether he would be
sworn or not,

Mr. Blenkinsopp said the man wounded gave evidence
under his (Mr. Blenkinsopp's) advice, and with a view to
exculpate himself from blame.
The evidence given by Robinson at Harrow was read
over, but no additional evidence of importance was
adduced. He stated that he worked from 7 a.m. to 5, at
19s. a week and his clothes.
The Coroner said one thing must strike the jury, which
was that this man had only eight minutes during the
hours specified to eat his meals. The court was now about
to adjourn, so that the jury might get some refreshment.
This was during a sitting of six hours. Surely, then,
other men would require a reasonable time for a similar
purpose in twelve hours. The time allowed did not seem
sufficient to enable a man to recruit his energies.
At this stage, the coroner asked the jury whether they
considered any further evidence necessary. The jury,
after some discussion, decided to give a verdict upon
what they had heard, 'and the coroner having briefly
summed up, they returned the following verdict :
That on the Bth of December John Lanes was found
dying, and did die from the mortal effects of pycemia
coming on after a wound to the foot, which was caused
by a collision between an express train and a goods train
on the London and North Western Railway, and that
the death arose from misadventure.
k The jury appended to their verdict the following
resolutions : "1. That the driver of the first engine
neglected to comply with clause 206 of the rules and re-
gulations for the conduct of traffic on the London and North
Western Railway, as it was imperative on his part
to have stopped the engine if he could not distinguish
the signal at Wembley. 2. That the jurors regard the
hours of duty of men engaged as signalmen as excessive.
3. That they are also of opinion that the safety of pas-
sengers travelling by railway cannot be secured until
separate lines of rails are provided for all goods trains on
lines with so much traffic -as that of the London and
North Western Railway.

M. PYAT ON THE ENGLISH CHRISTMAS.
AL Felix Py at gives the following account of Christmas
in England :—" Christmas is the great English fête—the
Protestant Carnival—an Anglo-Saxon gala—a gross,
pagan, monstrous orgie—a Roman feast, in which the
vomitorium is not wanting. And the eaters of bif '
laugh at us for eating frogs. Singular nation !
the most Biblical and the most material of Europe
—the best Christians and the greatest gluttons. They can-
not celebrate a religious fête without eating. On Holy
Friday they' eat buns, and for this reason they call it
Good Friday. Good, indeed, for them, if not for God.
They pronounce messe mass, and boudin pudding.
This pudding is made of suet, sugar, currants, and tea.
The mess is boiled for fifteen days, sometimes for six
months ; then it is considered delicious. No pud-
ding, no Christmas. The repast is sacred, and the Eng-
lish meditate over it for six months in advance—they
are the only people who put money in a savings bank for
a dinner. Each poor family economises for months, and
takes a shilling to a publican every Saturday of the year,
in return for which on Christmas Day they gorge them-
selves, and are sick for a week after. This is their re-
ligion—thus they adore their God." M. Pyat goes on to
describe the butchers' shops before Christmas ; one of
them, he says, is kept by a butcher clergyman, and over
his door is a text.

THE LATE LORD WALSINGHAM.—It has transpired that the late Lord Walsingham perished by his
own hand. His lordship seems to have cut his throat.
A coroner's jury have returned a verdict to the effect
that the noble lord killed himself while in a state of
mental derangement. He had locked himself
his room, and the door had to be forced before the sat'
firs
event was discovered. The cause of death was at t
kept private, but it was impossible to avoid an official in-
vestigation.
HOW A.T.EXANDRE DUMAS DIED.—The following
letter has been addressed to Louis Veuillot, editor of the
Univers, by Alexandre Dumas, the younger :—" Bth p
cember, 1870.—1, who never forgot you, wish to info iv
you that my beloved father died on Monday evening lasti
sth December, at ten minutes to seven o'clock, fortifie:
by the Sacraments of the Church. I beg of you to ,`
ff
me in acknowledging before the whole world that 110
has bestowed on me an infinite grace. Pray for hina
has gone to sleep so sweetly in the Lord, and who, w.eist
on this sinful earth, did many a good deed. I have P„,
returned from the cemetery, and I can write no nic's-e
Give thanks to God for this good example and for the_
Sacraments, without which this great genius, sodear to
me, would have been unwilling to die.—With all affect
I am pun, MARIE ALEXANDit& DUMAS."

SUN OFFICE, 7 r.x.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

AV II?,

PROJECTED MOVEMENT ON
THE SEINE.
HAVRE, January 0.
Considerable dissatisfaction prevails here at the
inaction of General Peletingeas. The Germans
have returned to Yvetot, and have also visited St.
Valery, where they made a requisition for salt.
The railway service between Havre and Fecamp
has not yet been reopened.
The Prussian garrison at Rouen has been in-
creased.
It is generally believed that a strong offensive move-
ment will be made by the French troops as soon as
the Seine is clear of ice, when the gunboats will be
able to second the operations of the army.
The official account of the victory at Bapaume
has produced an excellent impression upon the
French troops.—Reuter's Telegram.

CHANZY'S AND BOURBAKI'S ARMIES.
HAVRE, January 5.

The Journal du Havre says Chanzy's army is
daily receiving reinforcements, -and its strength
is estimated at 200,000 men. It is certain that the
uuited forces of Bourbaki and Chanzy number
nearly 400,000, and that Prince Frederick Charles
and the Duke of Mecklenburg have barely 200,000
men.—Lombard Telegram.

THE ATTACK ON THE. PARIS

FORTS.

BERLIN, January 5 (10.30 p.m.)

It is stated, on good authority, that the casemates
of Fort Rosny are being destroyed by the German
artillery. From this it would seem that the Paris
forts are less formidable than they were supposed to
be. Fort Rosny has been attacked only by guns of
inferior calibre, the most powerful ones being re-
served for the southern front.

At the time the batteries opposite Mont Avron
Were constructed the grouud was frozen slx inches
deep.

The Meudon batteries have been armed with 80
guns and 500 rounds for each gun. Guns with a
range of 8,000 paces have been placed in battery.
A torpedo company has been sent to Paris. The
average mortality by sickness in the besieging force
is 3f per cent.
The siege of Langres has been raised, the Brigade
Goltzteing, wanted at Vesoul to reinforce Werder,
Who is menaced by Bourbaki and Gartbaldi.
An official letter from the Tours War Office, Sixth
Department, Fifth Bureau, datedT ours, November
13, signed " Srald" and " Rissier," has been found
on a French captive officer, in which every officer
Who breaks . his parole when taken prisoner is pro-
raised a reward of 750f.—Times.

THE SOUTHERN FORTS.

BERLIN, January 6.

On the 4th, before Paris, our batteries continued
their bombardment of the east front, in spite of a
thick fog.

At nine o'clock the bombardment of the southern
forts before Paiis commenced amid fine wintry
Weather, without wind, and nine degrees of frost, but
no snow.

In compliance with a request of Count Bismarck ,
Austria will accredit a representative to the German
headquarters at Versailles.

It i; certain that a portion of France will remain
cecupied for some time after the restoration of
Peace.

French prisoners are being sent to Metz, which is
Narded ae a Gerinan fortress.

Fresh works are being erected at Sedan.—Times.

THE BATTLES AT BAPAUME.

ARRAS, January 4.
General Faidherbe has sent the following account
of the Battle of Bapaume to the Prefect :
"On the Ist of January the Army of the North
Marched out of its lines of La Scarpe, where the
_Prussian army did not dare to attack it, and can-
toned before Arras. On the 2nd it moved towards
the cantonments of the enemy around Bapaume.
" The 2nd brigade of the Ist division of the 22nd
Corps took the villages of Achiet-le-Grand and
tiencourt. The Ist division of the 23rd Corps, not-
withstanding prodigies of valour, failed in its attack
on the village of Behagnies, but the Prussians,
seeing themselves turned by the occupation of the
village of Achiet-le-Grand, evacuated Behagnies
(Illring the night.
" At daybreak on the 3rd the battle commenced on
the Whole line.
"The Ist division of the 23rd Corps took the
'villages of Sapignies and Favreiul, supported on
their left by the division of Mobilised Guards.
" The 2nd division of the 22nd Corps, entered,
after severe fighting, into the village of Bienvillers,
Which had become the centre of the battle, and
"°OIE the Prussian positions in the rear, which were
very vigorously defended, as well as the village of
kvesnes-les-Bapaume.
"The Ist division of the 22nd Corps captured at
the same time Grevillers and Ligny Tillory. At 0
131433. we had driven the Prussians from the wholel3l433.wattlefield,
attlefield, which was covered with their dead. A
peat number of wounded Prussians remained in
°till' hands in the villages where fighting had
5‘34 going on, also a large number of prisoners.
t "le pelotons, carried away by their ardour, were
:gaged without orders in the suburbs of the town of
14U4Pame, the Prussians having entrenched them-
-1%8 in some of the houses.
to" AS it did not enter into my views to take this
teWil at the risk of destroying it, these pelotons were
ed at nightfall. The losses of the Prussians
at'lV these two days are very considerable ; ours
e
*emus. The Army of the North has taken up
vitt cantonments between Adinfer and Boyelles, the
de 'gee in advance of these having been completely
Btroyed.

BORDEAUX, January 5.
Garnbetta left this city to-clay for the head-
General Chanzy.—Reuter's Telegram.

GERMAN REPORT.

AMIENS, January 4.
pii3,ll the 2nd and 3rd there were sanguinary but
hic:"'rieus combats on the part of the advanced divi-
ne of the Ist Army at Bapa ume.
evall, the 2nd the 30th Brigade, from noon till
foi"ng, repulsed all the attacks of superior hostile
eee) and made 260 prisoners.
de"t e the 3rd the collected loth Division and a
resin ellelent under Prince Albert, the younger,
krtained a nine hours' fight with two hostile
onlY Corps.
the ..1,1" tr°oPe at evening took two villages with
1),4 "53'0110 and again made several hundreds of
'"l3olere.
Th
losses enemy, after sustaining unusually heavy
%layretreated during the night towards Arras and
In thi
Etttaso, 8 retreat our pursuing Cavalry successfully
prisZeercis hostile battalions and made additional
Gen
era]. von Bentheim, of the Ist Army, surprised

and dispersed early this morning the hostile troops
on the left bank of the Seine under General Roife.
He took three colours and two guns and from 400
to 500 prisoners.

VERSAILLES, January 5.

General Manteuffel reports that at noon on the
2nd the enemy, with large masses cf troops, assumed
the offensive.

The Sinubberg Brigade at Sapignies repulsed till
the evening all the attacks, with slight loss on our
own and great loss on the enemy'spide. It made
250 prisoners.
On the 3d General von Goben, with the 15th
Division and a detachment under Prince Albert
the younger, gloriously maintained the position at
Bapaume aainst the hostile Northern Army, and
made 260 prisoners

The enemy's losses were extraordinarily heavy,
and during the night he commenced a retreat, pur-
sued by our cavalry.—Tinzes.

The following telegrams come through Reuter's
Agency :

THE FRENCH ACCOUNT.

BORDEAUX, January 5.

The following official report of the fighting in
the North on the 2nd and 3rd inst. has been received
here :

" ARRAS, January 4.

" The Army of the North left Beaureins, near
Arras, on the 2nd inst., and on the same day en-
countered the enemy on the line of Courcelles,
Ervillers, and Mary.
" The fight was very sanguinary, commencing at
nine in *e morning, and lasting throughout the
day.

" The result was very satisfactory on our right,
but undecided on the centre and left.

" The battle recommenced at 7 o'clock yesterday
morning, and was continued the whole day with
great obstinacy. The enemy was completely beaten,
and was driven back into Bapaume. Several villages
were carried by our troops at the point of the
bayonet. The losses of the enemy are considerable.
" The Mobiles behaved well, and the severe cold
was borne bravely by our troops."
LILLE, January 5.

Skirmishing has been going on at Guise. The
Army of the North has encamped near Boyellee after
the battle of the 3rd.

ORDER OF THE DAY OF GENERAL FAID-
HERBE.

10.20 p.m.
General Faidherbe has issued the following Order
of the Day to the Army of the North:—

"In the battle of Pont h Noyelles you victoriously
held your positions.
" In the battle of Bapaume you carried all the
positions held by the enemy. This time he will not
deny your victory.
" By your valour on the battle-field and your
constancy in supporting the fatigues of war in this
rigorous season, you have deserved well of your
country; your commanders will report the names of
those who merit recompense. You are now about to
provide yourselves again with provisions and ammu-
nition in order to continue operations."

DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH NEAR HA.VRE.
BERLIN, January 5,
General Manteuffel telegraphs the follo wing :
AMIENS, January 3.

" Early this morning General Bentheim, with
troops of the Ist Army Corps, attacked the French
on the left bank of the river Seine. He captured
three cannon, three flags, and 500 prisoners."
General Bentheim telegraphs the following :
" ROUEN, January 4.

" Portions of the Ist] Division and the 44th Regi-
ment surprised the enemy at Montineanx and Lulu d
capturing two officers, 300 unwounded prisoners, two
cannon, and three flags. They pursued the enemy
beyond Bourgarchard.
" The fight lasted the whole day."

THE GERMAN EVACUATION OF DIJON.
OARLSRUIIE, January 5.

General Gliimer reports from Vesoul to the
Grand Duke, under date of the 30th ult., that in
consequence of an order from the General com-
manding the 14th Army Corps to relinquish the
advanced position :at Dijon, his division evacuated
Dijon on the 27th, and by means of forced marches,
with the Ist and 2nd Infantry Brigades, a Cavalry
Brigade, and the Divisional Artillery, reached the
vicinity of Vesoul on the evening of the 29th, while
the 3rd Infantry Brigade, with two squadrons and a
light field battery, still hold the passage of the Saone
at Gray and Arc.
MORE FIGHTING NEAR ROUEN.
HAVRE, January 4, 11.15 p.m.

Considerable Prussian forces attacked General
Roy to-day at several points on the left bank of the
Seine. No information as to the result has yet
reached here.

SURRENDER OF ROCROI.

BRUSSELS, January 5.

Rocroi has surrendered to the Germane, the
garrison having retired on Givet, the last fortress
remaining in that part of France.

THE FIGHTING NEAR HAVRE.

HAVUE, January 5.

The efforts of General Roy upon the left bank of
the Seine do not appear to have succeeded, and his
army is said to be retreating.—Daily News Telegram.

PROCLAMATION OF GENERAL TBOCHU.

BRUSSELS, Thursday.

The Journal Officiel of Paris of the 31st contains
a proclamation from General Trochu, accusing the
garrison of Mont Avron of contemptible cowardice
—Manchester Guardian Telegram.

THE MASSACRE AT MARATHON.

ATHENS, January 5.

Mr. Noel, the Englishman implicated in the
massacres at Marathon, and who effected his escape
after a warrant had been issued for his arrest, has
since surrendered himself a prisoner.—Reuter's
Telegram.

THE LONDON CONFERENCE

BERLIN, January 5.

France again hesitates to attend the Black Sea
Conference. Needing foreign intervention for her-
self, she is as disinclined to offend England as she is
to declare against Russia at the Conference.

Aftli Pacha has declared against the CEcumenical
Council of the Greek Orthodox Church projected by
the Constantinope Patriarch.— Times.

CONSTANTINOPLE, January 3.

The Porte will not send an Extraordinary Pleni-
potentiary to the London Conference. All the
Powers taking part in the Conference, including
Turkey, will be represented by their respective
Ministers at the Court of St. James. A pacific solu-
tion of the questions raised by Russia is confidently
expected by the Ottoman Government.—Lombard
Telegram.

ST. PETERSBURG, Junuary 5.

There is a hitch in connection with the forth-
coming Conference. The Austrian Government con-
siders the English protocol too weak, and it proposes
another in stronger terms. This is deemed inadmis-
sible here.—Daily News.