The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-04 00:00:00

sonniers blew up yesterday afternoon. M. Lapie, a lieu-
tenant of the Garde Nationale, who superintended the
fabrication of the shells, was killed ; four others were
dragged from under the ruins, more or less wounded.
Yesterday morning 600 shells had been delivered ; luckily,
there were not more than 100 in the place at the time.
This disaster was accompanied by a phenomenon which
astonished everybody and frightened not a few. A lurid
glare was seen in the sky, covering almost the entire
heavens It suggested thoughts of fearful warlike opera-
tions, and the whole population turned out to see it. It
transpired that it was She Aurora Borealis. The appear-
ance was repeated this evening. It was one of amazin
beauty.
More revelations of Imperialist misdeeds. Amongst
them comes out the fact that several Republicans of the
lower order were not unwilling to take bribes for working
on behalf of personal government, whilst actively preach-
ing popular doctrines.

OCTOBER 27.

The Radical paper, Le Combat, published this morning
the following notice, with a black border : "The Bazaine
plan. Fact true, sure and certain, that the Government
retains as a secret of the State, and which we denounce as
high treason. Marshal Bazaine has sent a Colonel to the
camp of the King of Prussia, in order to treat for the sur-
render of Metz, and a peace, in the name of his
Majesty the Emperor Napoleon." This caused great ex-
citement ; a deputation of the National Guard went to
the Hotel de Ville. The Government declared itself
unable to communicate with Bazaine, and demanded that
the announcement in the Combat should be considered
an infamous calumny and treason. A delegation of the
National Guard also went to the newspaper office. One
of the editors declared the statement to be true, and said
it could be proved that the Government knew of Bazaine's
conduct three days since. These sayings and doings may
seem foolish to you outside who know what the facts are,
but we do not know.

THE PROPOSED ARMISTICE.

EARL GRANVILLE'S DESPATCH AND COUNT
BISMARCK'S REPLY.

The substance of Lord Granville's despatch to the
British Ambassador at Berlin respecting the proposed
armistice is given in the North German Gazette. Lord
Granville begins by recapitulating the exertions made by
the English Government to prevent the war and limit its
extent. He refers to Bismarck's circular of the 11th ult.,
in which he spoke of the probable death of hundreds of
thousands from starvation as the certain consequence
of the maintenance of the struggle. Her Majesty's
Government feel it their bounden duty to leave nothing
unattempted to avert so great a calamity. They are only
actuated by sincere anxiety for the welfare of two friendly
nations. No doubt there are strong grounds for extreme
measures against Paris, and it cannot be questioned that
its reduction by famine or bombardment is authorised by
the usages of war, but since it involves such fright-
ful consequences every one must admit that it
should not be resorted to until all other means
have been tried. The bitter memory of the lost
three months may be effaced by time ; but the likelihood
of a new and irreconcilable war must be greatly increased
by the bombardment of Paris, the death of masses of
helpless and unarmed people, and the destruction of
artistic and historical treasures of unquestionable
value. Such a catastrophe would be terrible
for France and dangerous for the future peace of
Europe, and would be, her Majesty's Government
believes, most painful to Germany and its rulers.
Lord Granville adds that since the French Government
declined peace negotiations, the English Ministry have
urged them to accept an armistice, which might lead to
the convocation of a constituent assembly and the resto-
ration of peace. They have counselled them to make
concessions compatible with honour. The Germans have
had two great moral supports in the war. They have
fought to repel a threatened invasion and to assert their
national right to sell-development. The fame of these
efforts will be increased if it can be said the King of
Prussia exhausted every effort to restore peace before
attacking Paris, and that the conditions of peace were
just, moderate, and in harmony with the feelings of
the age.
Count Bismarck's reply is of course addressed to Count
Bernstorff, and is dated Versailles, October 28th. The
summary already published pretty accurately represents
the spirit of the document. The Prussian statesman
notices his offer of an armistice to M. Jules Favre, and
remarks that the German Government was willing to
permit the elections for the Constituent Assem-
bly to take place in all parts of the country
occupied by German troops. Again did he
offer, continues Connt Bismarck, by means of some
friendly citizens of a neutrai state (General Burn-
side and his compattions) to permit the elections to take
place, either to allolrthe deputies of the nation to enter
Paris, or those of Paris to repair to another part of the
country. These offers have always been rejected. The
German Gc vernments therefore decline all responsibility
for continuing the ward outrance. "We can only thank
her British Majesty's Government if it makes the attempt
to caution the French Government against continuing in
their wrong and dangerous path, and if it endeavours to
render them accessible to considerations which are cal-
culated to spare France the further progress of her social
and political disorganization, and to protect her brilliant
capital from the devastations of a siege. We cannot,
however, suppress the apprehension that, owing to the
delusions in which the Paris rulers seem to indulge, the
well-meaning intervention of the English Cabinet will be
misinterpreted by them. They are likely to regard
the humane sympathy which prompted that intercession as
support rendered them by the Neutral Powers, and to
derive from it an encouragement which, perhaps,
might bring on results very different from those
contemplated by Lord Granville. That after
our experience of the French rulers we cannot
take the initiative to reopen negotiations, Lord Gran-
ville's despatch seems to imply. In acqnainting him with
the whole contents of this communication, I request your
Excellency to assure him that, actuated by a sincere
wish for the restoration of peace, we shall willingly
accept and examine any proposition that may be made to
us by the French, with a view to commencing negotiations
for peace."