The Sun.
London, England, 1870-03-02 00:00:00

A FREE PARDON.

'The Home Secretary has granted a free and an-
eonditional pardon to Charles Spinks Shaw, for-
merly lace manufacturer ht Chilwell, near Not-
tingham, and afterwards a wine and spirit mer-
chant, who was convicted at the Liverpool Assizes
last year for uttering forged acceptances'of Smedely
and Son, Sandiacre, and sentenced to five years'
penal servitude. The application was supported by
the prosecutors, who now believe that Shaw had
no idea that the bills were forgeries.

The amount of the sums advanced in 1869 from
the Consolidated Fund for the purchase of bullion for
)inage at the mint was 250,000. Out of this £l3o,ooo'has
been paid to her Majesty's exchequer by way of repayment

The cod fisheries on the CaithnesB coast continue
productive. Considerable quantities of splendid fish are
being daily landed at Wick and other Caithness stations.
Fair catches of fine herrings are also being made.

Petitions in favour of the Church Rates (Scotland)
Bill are being promoted in numerous towns in Scotland.
There is also a memorial against the Contagious Diseases
Act.

Two eminent engineers are about to virit Wick, to
inspect the harbour works recently partially demolished,
and to report on what plan should be adopted in the future
erection of the harbour.

SMALLPDX IN PARlS.—Smallpox has been raging
with great violence in Paris for the last several weeks, the
deaths having been sixty, seventy, and even eighty a week.
The Prefect of the Seine has accordingly issued a circular
to the mayors of the twenty arondissements of Paris,
referring to the subject of vaccination. Public vaccination
has already been organised in the hospitals, and it is is
now to be extended to the various mairies, the mayors
bring directed to register the number of vaccinations a,.,1
re-vaccinations, and to classify the applicants.
TILE TREATY or PRAGUE.—The North-East
Correspondence states that Count Bismarck has afforded
to the French and Austro-Hungarian Ambassadors at
13,1rlin some explanations with respect to the King of
Prussia's speech. They have been fully satisfied with his
interpretation of the passages which related to the Treaty
of Prague and to the relations that existed with the
S.)athern States. The same journal declares that since
Cunt Daru became Foreign Minister there has been a
complete understanding between France and Austria on
all matters connected with European policy.
THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT AND THE COUNCIL.
—There seems no doubt among the French journals that
tlyi French Govern:nent has made some representations to
Chi Council, and that M. Darn has, in this respect,
departed Nom the course pursued by his predecessors, who
eajoined the most strict reserve on their ambassador, M.
BAnneville. The ...I.lonee;!r affirms that another remon-
strance will shortly be made, for the purpose of insisting
on the free expression of opinion, and deprecating any
interference with the public rights of France on the par*
of the Holy See and the members of the Council.

President Grant has just made an important de-
claration in favour of economy—" Whenever and where-
ever the closest scrutiny shall disclose the
,possibility of
cutting off a single dollar it shall be done.' This state-
ment has caused great satisfaction in New York, and,
combined with the refusal of the Senate to sanction a
further issue of paper money, has had a good effect en the
money market, . . _ _ _