The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-27 00:00:00

NEWS FROM PARIS.

The correspondent of the Standard at Rouen, writing
on Saturday, says :—A balloon, with a brave aeronaut of

the name of Ducoe descended near Evreux yesterday
at twelve o'clock. He had started at nine from Paris-
Montmartre with important dispatches for the
Government at Tours. The dispatches were imme-
diately forwarded by the prefect. The young man gave
good news from Paris ; he says the National Guards,
Mobiles, and soldiers are in the best spirits, and full of
confidences, the successes of the last few days having pro-
duced the best effect. The balloon, when pdszing over the
Prussian troops, was repeatedly fired at, but. fortunately
without effect. The aeronaut adds that the redoubt
of Montretout has been taken by the Prussia-n. 4.
The construction of that fort was not completed, the
engineer, Monsieur Guillemot„ was applying in its erection
the system of General Tottleben, that is to say, employing
earth instead of brick and mortar. For the last two days
a strong cannonade from Mont Valerien has been directed
on the redoubt, and the Prussians will find'it difficult to
keep the position.

ENGLAND'S NEGLECT TO PROCURE
PEACE.

The Paris correspondent of the Kreuz-Zeitung contra-
dicts Mr. Lowe's statement that when the war broke out
England had exhausted all diplomatic means for prevent-
ing it. It was the lukewarm attitude of England (says the
correspondent) that made the war possible. It is true that
the Emperor Napoleon wished for a war with Prussia on
dynastic grounds ; but he several times shewed
signs of hesitation, even after the declaration of the Duke
of Gramorit in the Legislative Chamber on the 6th of
July. The British ambassador, knowing this, asked in
London whether it would not be proper to take some
step for the maintenance of peace, adding that be
believed that in the then disposition of the Emperor
such a step might be successful. The reply was
an order absolutely to refrain from taking any steps
whatever. This corresponds entirely, adds the corres-

ponC.ent, with another piece of news which has been com-
municated to him "from a trustworthy source," viz. that
after the Ems affair Count Benedetti had an interview
with Count Bismarck in Berlin, frcm which it appeared

that even after the declaration of war France would have
been ready to make it up with Prussia if she were allowed
to take Belgium.

TROUBLE'S IN LYONS,

The disturbers of the public peace in Lyons are no
yet satisfactorily disposed of, and the Salut Public of laE.
Thursday gives a startling account of the excesses tc
. _

which they are proceeding. The day before several public
meetings of the most stormy and extravagant description
were held in the town, at which it was loudly maintained that
the people had been betrayed by the officials who had
set at liberty the magistrates and other persons im-
prisoned by the Comite de Salut Public. It was,
therefore, resolved that the Prefect, the Procurator
of the Republic, and several members of the Municipal
Council who were known as Republicans, but a 3 friends
of order, should be Amsted by the people, who should
again take possession of the Hotel de • Ville.
The procurator of the Republic, M. Andrieux, who
formerly chewed himself too lenient towards these
disorderly spirits, heard that matters were becoming dan-
gerous, and hurried down to a meeting at the Salle Valen-
tino. Here he vainly endeavoured to pacify the audience
and reduce them to reason, but at the end of two hours
abandoned the task in despair,- and took refuge in a
neighbouring cafe, where he was soon followed and car-
ried off to prison by the mob. The commandant of the
National Guard, hearing of this, hurried out with his
staff, at three in the morning, and insisted that M. Andrieux
should be released, on pain of a general call to arms.
throughout Lyons. In consequence of this M. Andrieux
was released, but great irritation and excitement still
lingers in the town, and the respectable por-
tion of the inhabitants are highly incensed at this new at-
tempt to institute a reign of terror at the Hotel de Ville.
The Municipal Council of Lyons has decreed the
sequestration of all the property of the religions so-
cieties, the owners having left the town. The establish.
ments are to be used for the public service as barracks,
ambulances, or store houses. The officers of the 7th bat-
talion of National Guards at Lyons have addressed a pro-
test to the Prefect of the Rhone, expressing their surprise
at the delay in supplying the National Guard with arms
and ammunition, especially as they learn on good
authority that the Prussians are marching on Lyons.

The Situation, the new Imperialist organ published in
London plainly intimates that the Orleans Princes have
been actively concerned in the Revolution in Paris, and
declares that they told those around them before the 30th
of August that the Emperor would be made prisoner at
Mendres or Sedan.

Demi-lunes have been constructed before the gates of
Paris, their sides covered with boards into which spikes
have been driven. Rows of stakes have been driven in
the ground, to which' wires are fastened.
An order of Count Keratry, French Minister of Police,
directs that any shop in Paris of which it is proved that
intoxicating drink has been sold there to a man already
the worse for liquor shall be closed, and the shopkeeper
be prosecuted.

The Morning Advertiser says it is in a position to state
that a final protest, on the part of the North German
Coufederate Government, will be very shortly delivered
to Her Majesty's Government, on the subject of the
supplies of arms and ammunition from this country to
France.

The correspondent of the Indepenclance Beige writes
from the headquarters of the Crown Prince at Corbeil.
He describes the misery of the place as something ex-
treme. In retreating from thence the French blew up
part of the bridge across the Seine, and the explosion
caused great damage in the town. The greatest distress
prevail, for all forage has been removed to Paris, and all
provisions of food as well. In passing through the town
the writer was struck with the wretchedness of the in
habitants. Through the open doors he could see the
women and children weeping bitteriy, and altogether it
was a heartrending scene. He went into a fine hotel
turned into an ambulance, but could get -no bread, and
was compelled to return to the farm where he lodged in
hopes that the sight of money and the use of civil words
would procure him a meal.

• A correspondent writes to the Voix du Luxembourg :
" The exaggerations respecting the cruelty of the Prus-
sians are ridiculous. The mayor of Bazeilles and his wife
have not been burned, but are at Bouillon. The par;
priests of Bazeilles and of Balan have not been shot. '
the former I have spoken lately, and the latter is a
safe "

Around Metz the country is a picture of ruin and de
lation. The ground is bare, riddled with bullets, &
marked by the passage of horses and cannon. Neither
bush, tree, nor blade of grass is to be seen. On the rainy
days it is a desert of mud. The Prussians, who have no
tents, suffer greatly, and are.decimated by sickness.
The Constitutionnel, now published at Tours, the tem-
porary seat. of Government, persists in maintaining that
M. Thiers was well pleased with the result of his visit to
London, and asserts that he has obtained a promise that
Lord Lyons should act as the intermediate agent in
negotiations with Prussia. This concession was withheld
by the English Government until the last moment, and
was until nbw positively refused.
Tours now presents the appearance of an armed camp.
Speaking of the state of affairs in Paris, the London
correspondent of the Manchester Guardian says :—" One of
the most eminent French artists has arrived in this country,
not having found it possible to remove the works he most
.valued, and thoroughly disgusted with the vapouring and
rodomontade of national self-devotion which he knows
to be, as far as the luxurious capital is concerned, wholly
unworthy of regard."
Karl Vogt, the distinguished naturalist, has written to
the. Frankfort Gazette, protesting against the annexation of
Alsace and Lorraine by Germany. He thinks this will
inevitably lead, sooner or later, to a coalition against the
Fatherland, and argues that it would be best to insist on
complete indemnification for the costs of the war, and on
the cession by France of some of her colonies.
The French prisoners receive three hot meals daily,
coffee in the morning, meat and vegetables at twelve
o'clock, and soup in the evening. They are very content
with their fare, and say that it is more ample than what
they had in the French army. The only thing they
grumble at is, that they receive rye bread instead o
wheat bread

A Prussian spy was recently arrested at Porte-Maillot,
near the fortifications, of which he was taking correct
note, while he pretended to be selling a cheap popular
" Life of the-Brave General Uhrich, the Defender of
Strasburg." He was giving change, when, by inadvert-
ence, he took out two gold twenty-franc pieces, which
excited suspicion, and he was arrested. The Mobiles
arrested another spy wearing female attire.
A letter from Metz published in a Lyons paper says
Marshal Lebceuf, in the battles of the 16th and 18th,
sought vainly for death. Before the fight he put on all
his decorations, and in his full uniform he was one Of the
first to face the fire. The balls rained around him, the
officers fell at .his side, he alone had not even a scratch !
He openly declares that he did not dare to tell the
Emperor he was not ready.
Just before the King of Prussia left Rheims intelligence
was received from the commanding officer ae Cologne that
a band of two hundred French volunteers had sworn •to
kill or capture the King and Count Bismarck. The
guards were strengthened, and a lieutenant of police was
stationed behind the waggons of the King and Count
Bismarck. The officers of the staff all kept within
the" procession ; in every village was posted a company
of infantry, with a body of cavalry.
A correspondent of the Cologne Gazette, discussing the
ability of France to continue the war, remarks that of
the 430,000 or 440,000 men who composed its armies on
the Ist of August, at least 80,000 have been killed and
wounded, and 20,000 are sick, while 130,000 have been
either captured or disarmed in Belgium, so that over
230,000 of the best troops must be deducted. Marshal
Bazaine is shut up in Metz with about 100,000; 20,000 or
30,000 are invested in Strasburg, Thionville, and other
small fortresses.
• The Inclependance Beige holds that the declaration by
Count Bismarck of the resolution taken by Prussia to
reduce France to a second-rate Power has entirely changed
the character of the war, or rather it may be said that a
new war has begun. The French aggression having been
repressed, behold a German one commences. When she
was first provoked by France, Germany received universal
sympathy from the other nations of Europe ; but is she
not aware that such sympathy will desert her in the new
campaign she has entered upon, in the offensive war into
which she is rushing in her turn without right or reason.
The Prussian authorities find it necessary to take
various strong measures to keep up the numbers of the
regiments which are in front of the war. Last week the
commanding officers of the landwehr districts received
instructions to acquaint themselves with the Cases of all
invalids from the field army sent to their homes for
recovery, so as to be prepared to see that as soon
as really recovered they should rejoin their
regiments. The number of invalids returning
after amputation is very considerable, and has had a
sensible effect in checking the volunteering of young men
otherwise exempt, which went on heartily during the first
excitement of the war. Most of the recruits arriving at
the regiments are either of this class or the First or Select
Ersatz Reserve, which numbered over 30,000 in Prussia
alone before the war began. —Pall Mall Gazette.

The Prussian army which has been sojourning at
Reims has cleared everything before it, and this town,
.which was formerly so rich, is reduced to the greatest dis-
tress. The Prussian authorities, on arriving at Reims,
asked for twelve millions to begin with; this was after-
wards reduced to three millions. The inhabitants were
then called upon to furnish thirty-five thousand francs'
worth of boots in five days. At the present moment there
is not a sou's worth of snuff, a grain of coffee, nor a piece of
sugar in the place. In the neighbouring country the
peasants were compelled to give them up, together with
their animals. The requisitions only ceased during the
last few days, when the Prussians were able to get sup-
plies for themselves. The writer who gives this account
adds that when the Archbishop offered his palace to the
King of Prussia, the latter replied " I do not want the
Archbishop to offer me his palace ; if I require it I can
take it for myself."
A French journal, • l'Aube, admits that the Prussian
officers have two great advantages over the French offi-
cers. They are perfectly acquainted with the geography
and topography of the districts they traverse, and they
know how to make themselves obeyed. Which of our
French officers, asks the journal in question, even of those
residing in tne department, know that the Aube is fordable
at a particular spot betwen .Arcis-sur-Aube and Villette ? A
Prussian officer knew it, and sent four Uhlans to reconnoitre
the country, and ascertain whether the ford was still

there. When the scouts rejoined the cOrP-s—d'arm6e at Som-

mesons, they proved to have forgotten all about the ford.
The officer sent them back to run the risk again, and they
had to cross Arcis to fulfil the order. They learned that
the ford was still there, and brought back word to their
commander. Such is the topographical science of the
Prussian officers, and such is the discipline of their
soldiers.

MARSHAL MACMAHON.— The _Nord gives the fol-
lowing extract of a letter from Sister Mary Magdalene,
the Superioress of the Sisters of Bon-Secours of Alger.

who is nursing Marshal MacMahon, to her superioress

general of the same order at Troyes :—" Here I am, a
prisoner, and a fortunate prisoner, I assure you.
Marshal MacMahon is going on as well as
possible. What a rich and powerful organisation! I have
never met an invalid so patient as the Marshal He
has been nearly eight days in the same position, and it
has been impossible to make his bed, which is without a
hair mattress. Never has he uttered a complaint during
the dressing of his wounds. No matter how they cut
and hacked in the frightful wound which complet9ly
traversed his thigh, and in which a boy 10 years old
might turn his fist round, not a groan was heard. What-
ever is given him, whatever is done for him, his reply is
always, ' Very well, my good sister.' Never a murmur
against the causes or the effects of our misfortunes. He
has done all that he could, and thinks that others have
done so too. As soon as he shall be able to bear the
journey he will leave for Prussia to rejoin his unfortunate
soldiers. ' The chief ought to set the example,' he reasons.
The marshal and Madame .la Mar4chale are as kind as
possible. I am much occupied in preparing lint and
charpie for all the poor wounded, for the marshal wishes
that they should be bandaged in his place and as he is.
At night I lie down for a while on a coverlet laid on the
ground, and there is but one bed for Madame la Mar -
chale and myself, and I occupy it for two hours in the
day-time."

Four Open Scholarships will be filled up at Mal-
vern College in December next, value £9O, open to those
boys who have been in the school a year.
COMMITTAL FOR FORGERY.-At the Mansion House,
Robert Davey, aged 32, supposed to be an American, was
brought up on remand, charged with forging and uttering
a draft for £382, on Messrs. Barclay, Bevan, and Co.;
another for £220, on Messrs. Baum and Co., money-
dealers, in Lombard-street ; a third for £4OO, on Messrs.
Rothschild and Co. ; and a fourth on the Metropolitan Bank,
with intend to defraud. Mr. Mullens, solicitor, prosecuted
on behalf of the London Bankers' Protection Association.
The prisoner, who it was alleged seemed well acquainted
with the nature of chemicals necessary to the carrying on
of this kind of business, had obtained old drafts on the
houses in question, and obliterating the signatures and
' amounts, and replacing them with others, the fraud was
perpetrated. Mr. J. Smith, from the firm of Messrs.
Howe, gave evidence, as an experienced chemist, to the
effect that in testing the documents in question he had
rendered visible by. chemical appliances, the names of
Messrs. Rothschild and others, fully showing that a for-
gery had been committed. The prisoner, who declined to
say anything for himself, was committed for trial.