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

CORN MARKETS.

METROPOLITAN GOSSIP.-Tuuß SDAY

The changes in the Ministry are not satisfactory,
except perhaps to the Opposition. The Radicals
complain that they have been robbed of
their due. Mr. Bright has left the Cabinet,
and though Mr. Forster is the real substitute for him, yet
a powerful party may reasonably object to a representa-
tion of only one is a Cabinet of fifteen. It cannot be
doubted that the Government will meet Parliament
with a weaker hold upon the advanced Liberals
than it retained during the Sessions of 1870 and 1869,
though even then the Radicals were often rebellious
enough. Discontent at the " Conservative " proclivities
of the Government prevailed then. It is much more
rife now. The party battles of the next
Session will possess an interest which was not
to be found in the more one-sided combats of the
two preceding years. Meanwhile, I believe the Govern-
ment are making an effort to keep their Irish supporters
in good humour. There is no doubt that the " interme-
diate and university education" question of Ireland will
be made the subject of serious controversy in Parlia-
ment next session by the Irish Roman Catholic and
Liberal members. One Irish newspaper this . week has
begun a " special " series of articles written by " a com-
mittee of Catholics," with a view to impressing upon legis-
lators the designs which would be most acceptable in the
sister island. Sir John Gray, M.P., Mr. O'Reilly Dease,
M.P., Mr. Sherlock, M.P., and others of the energetic
Irish representatives, are very anxious in the matter, and
it is believed Mr. Gladstone, by his nomination of Mr.
Monsell to the Postmaster-Generalship, and by his sup-
posed wish to have the Irish commander-in-chief in
one of the now most responsible positions in the kingdom,
is desirous of securing for his government the support of
the Irish votes. Probably the Irish education question
will involve one of the most trying discussions of the year's
business, and consequently Irish support might be most
valuable.
These changes in the Government, and the black look
of foreign politics, have given the Ministry's adversa-
ries an opportunity of which they most unscrupulously
avail themselves. The so-called petition at Greenwich is
a discreditable instrument of party warfare. If all the
Conservatives in the borough had signed it, their signa-
tures would have demonstrated nothing more than did
their votes at the election. The petition, however,
did not rest even upon this basis—it was
a mere instrument for conveying an insult: It
is said the prosperity of Greenwich has disappeared
through the measures of Mr. Gladstone's Govern-
ment : if it be so, credit should be given to the
moral courage which preferred the interest of the whole
nation to the interest of one locality. Too often
it happens that measures for the benefit of the whole
community are opposed on purely local grounds. The
Standard has made up its mind that the Ministry is
about to go to pieces. It is not so strong as it was, un-
doubtedly, but between loss of some force and dissolu-
tion there is a great gulf. If Mr. Gladstone resigned, who
would succeed him ? Could the Conservatives take office
conscientiously with such a House of Commons as the
present one? If they can, why did they resign ? En
passant the story goes that Mr. Gladstone will not again
trouble the Greenwich electors. Arrangements are made
for his securing a seat elsewhere.
Is the Conference likely to prove a fiasco? It looks
very like it. After postponing the meeting in order that M.
Jules Favre may leave Paris, it now transpires that the
French Foreign Minister will not come. The disap-
pointment must be a sore one, for the English Govern-
ment cannot but be aware that a decision on the Eastern
Question, without the co-operation of France, would be
a wretchedly lame mode of settling the present diffi-
culty. Surely our diplomacy has been grieviously
at fault in these matters. Surely it would not
have been too much for the Government to
have ascertained whether France would join the
Conference or not, and to have determined whether it
was prepared to proceed to business without her help.
It seems to have settled neither one question nor the
other. - - -

One of the strangest reports ever circulated about the
war is now obtaining so much credence as to deserve
notice. It is to the effect that when the Germans have
taken Paris, and got fairly inside, the French provincial
forces will come up and besiege them in turn ! This pro-
ject is much discussed in London circles, and it is even
said that M. Gambetta has declared it to to be the fixed
plan of the French leaders. Gambetta has not yet shewn
any liability to disclose his plans ; but if this scheme be
really entertained, the French cause has sunk low indeed.
Before the provincial armies could reach Paris they must
defeat the German forces on the Loire and in
the North ; and if they can effect this, then
the capital will not be taken. In order to besiege a force
the besiegers must be stronger in numbers or efficiency,
and if the French field armies prove themselves superior
to their adversaries, the siege will thereupon come to an
end. Besides what would the inhabitants of Paris do if
they were shut up with King William and his
legions, after all the food stores were exhausted,
for it is to be supposed that hunger will bring about the
capitulation ? Lastly, it is not at all probable that the
bulk of the German army will enter Paris.
I hear that ere long there will probably be a " clean
sweep" of the newspaper correspondents with the
German armies. These gentlemen's services were
highly appreciated at first, but now the case is
altered. From Weissenburg to Sedan all that the
representatives of the press had to do was to extol
the virtues of the bravest, most successful, most
amiable soldiers that ever existed ; and this task, to do
them justice, the journalists performed with a servility
which would have reflected credit upon the narrators of
Oko Jumbo's wars in East Africa. Now, however, no
such astounding victories present themselves. The Ger-
mans win, but only by most painful exertions, and none
of their triumphs resemble those of the first
two months. They are frequently in diffi-
culties, and have occasionally escaped only by the skin of
their teeth. No wonder that the correspondents are be-
coming a nuisance. They sing no more paeans of
victory. They prefer to tell of the German soldier's
desire for peace, of the devastation wrought in the com-
munes of France by the most pious of kings, of the
superfluous brutality which the victorious troops now
display in their onward course. Some awkward facts
have crept out. Hence one writer, a German, has been
sent back to his native land. An Englishman is "wanted"
for talking about the German siege train. Another is in
disgrace for mentioning the strength of Prince Frederick
Charles's force, after he had recaptured Orleans. Should
nothing of moment happen during the next fortnight
the correspondents will certainly be weeded, if not alto-
gether abolished. Should Paris fall, however, this evil
will be averted, for doubtless our friends will become as
slavish as ever. As it is, the poor men seem in a terrible
fright—as witness the conversations about invading Eng-
land which the Times correspondents delight to retail.
Speaking of correspondents, I may advert to the
inferiority of the news supply respecting the war and
foreign affairs generally. The intelligence from the Con-
tinent is remarkably poor just at present. I will give an
example. On Saturday last the death of Marshal Prim
was known in London between twelve and one o'clock.
Operations on the Stock Exchange were commenced
immediately, and the result was a very considerable fall
in Spanish securities. Anxious to counteract this
tendency and to prevent the startling news from going
further, some dealers attempted to explain the fall
by a statement that the bankers charged with paying
the interest on the Spanish debt had deferred, through
mere pressure of business, a portion of the payment until
the Monday. Thus a serious event was covered by the
report of a merely trivial occurrence. It was not until
after four o'clock, when operations on the Stock Exchange
were no longer possible, that the news of Prim's' death
was sent to the papers.
Some large carrying firms at the East-end of London
are very busy just now. It is not because of the season,
but because of the circumstances of France, that they dis-
play this activity. With some trouble I have discovered
that these firms are doing a great deal in the way of
secret export. I am quite certain that much more assist-
ance in the way of arms and ammunition is being given
to France than is commonly supposed, though the total of
our secret trade is far smaller than the open business done
by America. The fact seems to me conclusive against
the proposal to forbid the export of arms.
It is impossible to prevent such export. These
East End carriers laugh at the notion of the
Government interfering with them. Supposing that,
by an immense expenditure of labour and money, a surveil-
lance was set up, some exportations would be effected all
the same, and these exceptions would produce greater
animosity than does the present system of carte blanche.
The plain truth is that the more complicated international
law becomes, the greater is the risk of difficulties arising
from its operation. Governments do not consider these

MANCHESTER, THURSDAY.—At this market to-day the change
in the weather caused great inactivity. English wheat was dif-
ficult to move, and the tendency of prices was slightly in
favour of buyers. Foreign wheat was sold at an advance of
about 2 per cent. over the rates of to-day se'nnight, but there
was little business practicable. Flour was scarcely inquired for,
and its value was nominally unchanged. Oats, beans, andlndian
corn were each sparingly dealt in. at last week's rates.

- - -
BIRMINGHAM, THIIRSDAY.—There was a good supply of
English wheat at this market to-day, which was a turn cheaper,
Barley was dull and no cheaper. Oats only retail. Beans more
plentiful. Peas, less demand.

`I RE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 1871.