The Sun.
London, England, 1870-07-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY MORNING, UL Y 26, IK7O.

garded as the stormy petrel of that Empire which is
peace.

THREATENED ATTACK UPON KIEL.—The London
correspendent of the Manchester Guardian writes ---Ex-
pectation turns more eagerly every hour for news from
the Baltic, where the first blow is likely to be struck.
The eyes of naval and political men are instinctively fixed
on Kiel, the finest German harbour within the Sound, and
a place whose position under present circumstances is
likely to make it the turning point of all the movements
in that quarter. Occupied by the French, with the corps
under Montauban, and protected by the -French fleet in
the roadstead, it would serve as a base of operations
against Hanover, and in favour of Denmark, if that little
kingdom consents to accept French aid. From Kiel, in a
few hours, the whole of North Schleswig might be moved
to declare itself emancipated from Prussia and restored to
its old allegiance.

THE ENGLISH PORTS.—Nothing had been seen
of foreign men of war at Dover up to Saturday afternoon.
A number of German merchant vessels were waiting to
take shelter in Dover harbour. A few North German
ships continue to drop into the Tyne and Wear, but none
are allowed to sail, and it is said that the sailors belong-
ing to them will be despatched to their homes if possibl.
None of the North German vessels have as yet been
molested by French cruisers, though it is said that there
are some on the look-out off the coast. Hamburgh and
the North German ports are closed, and the fleet of
English steamships that used to trade with those places is
seeking other employment. The declaration of war has
made a great change in the business of the South Wales
ports. French and German ships have been largely en-
gaged in carrying iron and coal to the continental markets.
These vessels will now cease running, and a rapid increase
of freights may be looked for. The South Wales people
are hoping that coal may not be declared contraband of
war.
PROSPECTS OF PEACE.—One of the Times' cor-
respondents predicts that one 'result of this great contest
will be the disarming of the Continent. It is thought
that a French victory will be followed by the interposition
of the other Powers and the conclusion of peace upon
equitable terms. " The frontier of 1814 and the neu-
tralisation of the Rhine provinces (these still to belong to
Prussia) were suggested as bases such as France might
deem acceptable, and as Europe might think it right to in-
sist on Prussia's accepting in Areference to the prolonga-
tion 6 a struggle shucking to Ittunanity, and which brings
countless evils to other countries besides those actually
engaged in it. I presume it is now generally known, but
at any rate it is a positive fact, that those concessions
were promised to Napoleon by Bismarck at Biarritz, as the
condition of his neutrality when Prussia should attack
Austria. Unfortunately, when Austria had been
beaten and Prussia had absorbed half Germany Bismarck
could not prevail on the King to act up to his Minister's
promise. It was unlucky ; and fastidious people, who
think that even in diplomacy the rules of common honesty
should be observed, may say that either the King was
bound to fulfil his Minister's engagements, because the
latter had his authority to enter into them, or that
Bismarck cheated Napoleon."
THE DECLARATION OF WAR.—The French de-
claration of war against Prussia is signed De Gourd, and
says :—The Government of his Majesty the Emperor of
the French not being able to regard the design of raising
a Prussian Prince to the throne of Spain as anything but
an enterprise directed against the territorial security of
France, found herself under the necessity of
requiring from his Majesty the King • of Prussia
an assurance that such a combination should
not be carried into effect with his consent. His
Majesty the King of Prussia refused to give this assur-
ance, and stated, on the contrary, to the ambassador of
his Majesty the Emperor, that he reserved to
himself for that eventuality, as in all others,
the power of taking account of circumstances.
The Imperial Government could not but perceive
in that declaration on the part of the King reservations
(arrieres pense,es) which were threatening for France
and the general balance of power in Europe. A second
fact gave still more gravity to that declaration—
the announcement made to all the Cabinets of the refusal
to receive the Emperor's Ambassador or to enter into
further conferences with him. In consequence the French
Government felt it to be a duty to take steps for the im-
mediate defence of its injured honour and interests, and
to adopt all the measures required by the position of
affairs. Consequently, from this time it considers itself
in a state of war with Prussia.

IN THE CAMP.—" Azamat Batuli " sends some
notes from the Camp at Metz to the Pall Mall
Gazette. The spirit of the soldiers, he says, seems to be
rather too high, and it is feared that they will be too hasty
in firing. "This circumstance would be a very disadvan-
tageous one, for the French officers themselves confess
that at a distance not exceeding 400 yards
the needle-gun is more efficient than the Chassepot,
although beyond this they suppose the needle-gun has no
chance whatever if competing with the French arm. The
whole question seems, therefore, to be whether they will
approach so close as this without immediately pas ,ing to
a bayonet charge. The whole number of troops likely to
be between Metz and Strasbourg to-night (Saturday) is
estimated here as something like 1,200,000 in all the three
lines. This is undoubtedly an exaggeration ; but half that
number can be considered as really standing under arms in
the whole of the lines. It is supposed in England that the
Prussians have no mitra,illeuses ; but I heard two artillery
officers stating that Prussia has them, although
not in so great a quantity as France. They
were complaining of the great mistake commit-
ted by the delay of action as the mitrailleuses are
daily increasing in numbers in the Prussian army. A
decidedly weak point of France is the horses. All I have
seen yet are very poor animals, and even these are so
scarce, in this neighbourhood at least, that a beast usually
worth not more than 400 francs is now sold at 1,200 francs.
In Prussia hardly anything of this kind can ever take
place, for Russia and Hungary would supply as many
horses of the best possible quality as could be required."
FRENCH EXPECTATIONS.—The "French" corre-
spondent of the Times speaks of the general expec-
tation in France that South Germany would not side
with Piussia. There was, he says, an all but univer-
sal impression—which even the Government appears
to have shared—that we should find allies in Southern
Germany and in those provinces which Prussia
so violently annexed. A trace of this belief
will be found in that paragraph of the Emperor's
proclamation which speaks of the desire of
France to respect and promote the independence of
the German peoples. Up to within the last few days con-
jectures and calculations have been indulged in here as to
the probable conduct of Bavaria, Saxony, and Wurtem-
berg, and now that Frankfort, the most unwilling and
ill-used of all Bismarck's conquests, acknowledges Prussia
as the champion of Fatherland, Frenchmen still cling to
the hope that the first successes of France will be a signal
for the oppressed nationalities of Germany to claim inde-
pendence.

The China mail has arrived at Galle, and brings
full confirmation of the reported massacre of the French
consul and others at Tientsin.
The marriage of Miss Emily Washington Ilib-
bert with Mr. William Martin Edmunds, of Worsborough
Hall, Yorkshire is fixed to take place on Wednesday,
August 3.
A. marriage is announced between Mr. Stephen
Gore-Langton, eldest son of Mr. W. H. P. Gore-Langton,
M.P. for West Somersetshire, and Miss Mabal Graham
Montgomery, daughter of Sir Graham Montgomery, Bait ,
M.P.

THE ARMY.—The report of the Royal Commis-
sion appointed to consider the question of over-regulation
prices will, we believe, be ready for issue within a few
days.

In consequence of the railway collision near Staf-
ford, which we reported on Saturday, the Irish mail was
four hours late at Holyhead, and great anxiety was felt
in Dublin at the non-arrival of the steamer.
The Marseillaise,— that is to say, the paper
formerly edited by M. Henri Rochfort—is dead. M.
Rochfort writes the elegy of the deceased, which
appears to have collapsed for want of funds caused by
the war. _ _ _ _

---
The American Fenians are expecting that England
will be involved in the European war, and the president of
one of the Fenian factions has summoned a convention, to
be held at Cincinnali, on the 23rd of August. Irishmen
are reminded that " England's difficulty will be Ireland's
opportunity."
DREADFUL ACCIDENT ON THE PARIS AND LYONS
RAILWAY.—Le Gaulois publishes a brief despatch to the
effect that an accident has occurred on the Paris and
Lyons Railway, by which twenty-five persons have been
killed. The accident is stated to have happened at
Bellegarde, near the Swiss frontier. No other details are
given.

The Glasgow Herald says Captain Vivian has re-
ceived the appointment of Financial Secretary at the War
Office, which is one of the new berths created by Mr.
Cardwell's bill. The other office created by Mr. Card-
well's bill, that of Clerk of the Ordnance, it is understood
is being kept open for Sir Henry Storks, who will be
formally installed as soon as he can obtain a seat ill Par-
liament.

We are informed that Mr. William H. Seward,
the late Secretary of State of the United States, intends
to make a voyage to China. He will leave San Francisco
on the ist of September. He will visit Yeddo and Pekin,
and will probably continue his travels around the world,
remaining some little time in India. Mr. Seward is now
about seventy years of age. His health is still good.
His nephew, George Seward, who for ten years has filled
the post of American Consul-General in China, will
accompany him from the United States to China.

An explosion of coal gas took place on board the
Phare, in the South docks, Sunderland, on Friday night.
The vessel had taken in a cargo of gas coal, and was pre-
paring for sea, the hatches being battened down, when. the
mate went into the store room, with a candle, in search of
the side lights, and the gas which had accumulated im-
mediately exploded, the flames shooting up as high as
the masthead. The hatches were blown off, the deck
planks started ; a seaman, named Alexander, who was
engaged lashing the boat, and also the mate, were burnod
about the face and hands.

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LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

THE MASSACRE IN CHINA..

Intelligence has been received at Hong Kong stating
that the Chinese at Tien-tsin rose against the foreigners
the 21st of June, and murdered the French
.Consul
and the Sisters of Mercy. They also destroyed the Consu-
late and the Cathedral. It is rumoured that the French
Minister and several Russians have been murdered atPekin.
Great excitement prevails in Nankin, and her Majesty's
gunboats Opossum and Dwarf have been despatched to
the north. At Shanghai the Volunteers have been called
out, and the troops here are ready to proceed to the north
at a moment's notice. The French authorities have sent
despatches to Saigon to call up troops. War appears
inevitable.

THE APPOINTMENT OF MR. FRELING-

HUYSEN

A telegram from New York says Mr. Frelinghuysen
has not yet accepted the post of United States Minister
in London, and the press express doubts as to his ac-
ceptance.

(CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.)

THE WAR

Three failures in the cotton trade consequent upon the
war panic were announced on the Liverpool Exchange
yesterday. In one case the liabilities are said to be about
.C 150,000.
Private letters received in Liverpool state that the Em-
peror Napoleon's inability to proceed to the front at pre-
sent arises from dysentery.
An order has been received in Leicester for the first
conscription of Germans to leave to-morrow to join in the
defence of their fatherland.

The captain of a vessel which has just arrived in the
Tyne reports that he passed eight French war vessels on
their way to the Baltic. A steamer, apparently a French
war vessel, was sighted last night about six miles from the
mouth of the Tyne. She has white sides and painted
ports, and was lying in the 1 rack of vessels from across
sea, and those leaving the Tyne for German ports.

OUR COTEMPORARIES—This Morning.