The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-14 00:00:00

ASPECT OF AFFAIRS IN PARIS.

As the Prussians draw nearer—and this morning they
are said to be at Lagny, only six leagues off—the
anxiety becomes more intense to know whether
Europe can and will do anything to procure peace
and avert from Paris the horrors of war. No an-
swer has yet been received to the communication
transmitted through our Government to the Prus-
sian Head-Quarters, but it is considered that not much
time has yet been lost, and a reply is reckoned on
for to-morrow. There is an earnest desire, and
some little hope, that it may prove such as
may admit of negotiations and an armistice. Give
up territory this Government dares not and cannot
do, but short of that it' will be found very ductile.
Money, the Baltic fleet, even a colony—should Prussia,
the naval Power of the future, covet a West Indian
station—may be granted, and also, I believe, Metz and
Strasburg would be razed, could that humiliating condi-
tion not be avoided. The Government, perhaps, doubt
whether it can depend upon an energetic resistance to the
invader in the provinces—whether they will make all the
sacrifices and efforts necessary to carry on the war after
the capital should have fallen ; and, if not, of what avail
to 'expose Paris to the horrors of a siege ? The
garricon may be resolute enough ; the newly arrived pro-
vincial Gardes Mobile are stout fellows, and are working
hard to learn how to handle the chassepots with
which they are being rapidly supplied ; but
will the best riflemen be of avail against
an enemy whose artillery carries three or four
miles. It has been estimated by competent judges that the
large Krupp guns will send their projectiles from the heights
of Meudon to the Arch of Triumph. It remains to be seen
what resistance the detached forts can offer, and how far they
can protect the city from bombardment. There are
reports of very animated discussions, not to say
dissensions, in the Council of Government ; but
their origin is unknown. M. Favre has announced
change of decision as regards leaving Paris, which
it had been settled he should do. He remains here
instead of going to Tours, so that it now seems
as if no Minister were going there, unless, !indeed, be
be the Minister of War, who can hardly direct levies and
organization if besieged in Paris. Secretaries or delegates
of the Government will go to Tours. These changes seem
to have had some effect upon the plans of the Diplomatic
Body, which was expected to accompany M. Favre, but
which now prolongs its stay here, and will probably do so
until after the place has been summoned. Lord Lyons
to-day sends away the married secretaries be-
longing to his embassy, but remains himself with
the others, proposing to leave only on the eve
of fire being opened upon Paris. The other foreign
Ambassadors and Ministers are likely to do the same.
They will doubtless have no difficulty in getting a passage
through the Prussian lines. Private persons who do not
leave to-day may very probably find it difficult to go,.
away at all. —Times Paris Correspondent.
The Paris correspondent of the Telegraph, in a letter
dated Monday, says :—" The edict has come at last. At
five o'clock this sfternoen we read our fate. Hundreds
now are standing before kiosk, and pillar, and blank
wall, reading the clear, clean print which pro-
nounces Paris a beleaguered city. They cannot
believe it. They read and turn, and come back again to
look. There is indeed matter for reflection in these few
simple words which I quote Seeing that the enemy
may be momentarily expected under the walls of Paris,
the Committee of Defence give notice that, on the morning
of the 15th inst.'—Thursday next, mind you—' at six
o'clock, the gates will be closed, and neither ingress nor
egress permitted to any person without the written
authority of the Home-office.' The shops are closed
almost at nightfall. The jewellers expose only a long row
of empty cases, from the shape of which you may guess
what eccentric treasures had reposed there in
happier times. In the Palais Royal shutters are
up over half the windows, and a half of what
remains show nothing but empty shelves. The
streets are like a poppy field, topped with scarlet kepis,
the roads bristle with long line of bayonets. To-morrow
General Trochu is to hold a great review of the garrison
of Paris. Never in the Emperor's palmiest days was such
a mass assembled as will answer to his summons—and
never since 1722 have such uninformed battalions
filed past the standard. To-day General Ripley, the
defender of Charleston in the great American war, has
arrived here. He travelled, so they say, by the last
train that may reach us from Calais for many a day.
To-morrow General Ripley will have an interview
with the Committee of Defence, to whom he will
explain his views and the resuit of his experience at
Charleston. general Sheridan may yet have the
opportunity of studying the tactics of a former foe, from
whom the chances of war kept him apart in the great con-
test. Of course this is a momentous time for inventors.
The most amazing and incredible machines are offered to
the Government every day. Since General Trochu and
his officers naturally wish to test the proffered boon be-
fore accepting it, there is a terrible outcry amongst the
Archimedes of the period. We have not any news, ex-
cepting those meagre items which have been already
telegraphed to you. The enemy is closing round upon
us. It is an easy walk from the spot where lam writing
to his outposts. The moon which shines so brightly
through my window is silvering his camp. It
cannot be more still than the city spread beneath me.
There is no more singing in Paris ; even the Marseillaise
is hushed to-day. From time to time, when passing
through the sunny streets, I have heard it raised by
some shrill, childish voice, ignorant of the meaning
of its song. But the long files of the Mobiles
pass by in silence, keeping time only to the tattle of an
ill-beat drum. None hail them on their passage. The
' shadow of a dreadful fate hangs over us. Heavy
thoughts are in all men's minds ; and Paris is dumb,
grave, and stern."

Mn. Romucx.--Mr. Roebuck has just success-
fully undergone an operation which it is hoped may result
in the restoration of his sight, which has for some time
been failing him.—Sheffield Telegraph.

A. Colchester correspondent telegraphs that Mr.
John Gurdon Rebow, senior member for Colchester, has
for the last few days been dangerously ill at his
country seat, Wivenhoe-park, near Colchester, but last
evening his medical attendants were enabled to say that
the worst symptoms had abated, and hopes are expressed
that the hon. gentleman will recover.

M. Wasseige, representative for Namur, has been
nominated Minister of Public Works. He is one of the
leaders of the clerical party. The Ministry is now
complete.