The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-30 00:00:00

THE CONSPIRACY AT COLOGNE.

The Allgemeina Zeitung states that the French
prisoners at Coblentz, and Mayence, numbering
60,000, plotted an outbreak on the night of
Christmas Day. They proposed to fall on
their guards at a given signal, disarm and
kill them, and then hasten to the French
frontier, where they calculated on assistonce,
especially in Alsace. The military and police
authorities had, however, a timely warning, and
on the 24th brought up considerable reinforcements
of infontry and artillery. At Cologne 10,000 troops
were posted in the barracks, ready to march out at
the first beat of the drum. No outbreak, however,
was attempted. Many of the prisoners had pre-
viously asked whether they would be allowed to
receive Christmas presents from France, and, being
rnswered in the affirmative, boxes containing
weapons were forwarded to them. These were con-
fiscated. At Coblentz a chest arrived, addressee to
a French officer, which was proved to contain five
six-barrelled reuolvers and a dagger, concealed in
clothing. '1 he defiant and. insolent demeanour of
the officers is strongly complained of, and 300 of
them have consequently been removed from
Wiesbaden to tho eastern provinces, where
they will be subjected to stricter au•
pervision, and will be further from the
French frontier. On the 19th two officers escaped
from Dusseldorf, and a number of Mobiles recently
attempted to escape from the Saxon fortress of
Konigstetn, having constructed a rope out of towels.
They were, however, detected in the act. It is said
the prisoners will in future wear an epaulette, on
which will be stamped the place where they are
interne], and their name, battalion, and company.

ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF

MARSHAL PRIM.
MADRID, December 28.

While Marshal Prim was proceeding to the Cortes
from the Ministry of War some individuals fired at
his carriage in the Calle Alcala.
The Marshal was wounded, as was also one of his
adjutants, but not dangerously,
Eight balls entered the Marshal's left shoulder ;
seven have been extracted. A. finger of the right
hand had to be amputated, and it. is feared it will be
necessary to amputate another.

In the debate on the Civil List in the Cortes
Marshal Prim said that he would override the Con-
stitution, if necessary, in order to save the liberty of
the country. He also said l►e intended to tender his
resignation to his Majesty, as he was desirous to re-
tire into private life.
The utmost indignation is felt at the villaneous
attempt.
The authorities at once took steps to repress any
outbreak, and also for the arrest of the assasins.
The city remains tranquil.

MADRID, December 29.
The Marshal is progressing very favourably.

GREAT FLOODS IN THE CAMPAGNA.
ROME, December 29.

A great part of the city and the surrounding
neighbourhood is under water. Considerable damage
has been done.

(CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.)
A SCHOOL BOARD FOR LEICESTER.

Last night a meeting of the representatives of the
various trades was held in the Town Hall, when it was
decided to nominate throe working class candidates to the
School Board. Tho candidates are to favour secular
education and Bible reading in the school, and are to be
recouped for their loss of time by contributions from the
various trades unions. The contest is expected to be
very severe, a proposition to avoid a struggle, by
allowing the nomination of five Churchmen and
Dissenters, two working men, and one Roman
Catholic candidate being rejected, although approy.d
of by the Bishop of Peterborough. Eight
Churchmen, including several of the clergy, besides
several schoolmasters, have already been nominated.
The Dissenting party intend to put in nomination 18 can-
didates for the 13 seats. The Liberal Registration Asso-
ciation will reduce this number to five, and use every en-
deavour to return them with the three working men's can-
didates, so as to secure a majority of Dissenters on the
Board.

THE FRENCH REFUGEES IN JERSEY.
Monsieur Clavoine, Vice-Consulate at Jersey for the
French Republic, has just issued a proclamation, which
has caused much consternation among the French refugees
in the island. It is ordered that French citizens, from
nineteen to forty years old, are liable to be successively
levied whether they have satisfied the conscription or not,
or whether married or unmarried. They must present
themselves at the Vice-Consulate before the Ist January
in order that they may take their posts in the army. De-
fault will be considered as desertion.

THE ADJOURNED INQUEST ON THE BODIES

KILLED IN THE BIRMINGHAM
EXPLOSION.

Yesterday was the day appointed for holding the ad-
journed inquest upon the bodies of the seventeen persons
killed on thel9th inst. at the explosion at Messrs. Ludlow's
ammunition manufactory at Witton, near Birmingham.
When, however, the names of the jury were called over,
one of them, a Mr. Taylor, did not answer, and the
coroner, Mr. Hooper, said he had received what purported
to be a certificate from Mr. Hopkins, surgeon, to the effect
•that the absent juryman was suffering from catarrh, and
would be unable to attend. The Coroner added that he
happened to know Mr. Hopkins's handwriting, and he was
satisfied that the certificate was a forgery. A policeman
was then despatched in a cab to Mr. Taylor's house, with
instructions to Mr. Taylor to attend the inquiry at once.
He was, however, absent from home, and on the police
asking where he had gone he was informed by Mr. Taylor
that he had gone to his medical adviser, and that lie after-

wards intended to go to market. The market was
searched by the officer, but he could gain no tidings of
Mr. Taylor, and returned to Witton and reported to the
coroner that his search had been in vain, and
that he understood Mr. Taylor had gone to
market. The Coroner said there was no other course
but to adjourn the inquiry, and order Mr. Taylor's
recognisances to be estreated. He regretted that he could
only inflict a fine of £lO, and if he could order Taylor to
pay a penalty of £5O or £lOO he should certainly do so.
He (the Coroner) regretted the great inconvenience that
had been caused to the jury and several legal gentlemen,
also to Captain Majendie, the Government Inspector,
who had come from London, especially to attend the in-
quest. The inquiry was then adjourned to the 16th of
January.

The Lords of the Admiralty have presented to Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Sir J. M. Burgoyne a flag, mounted on a
boat-hook, both of which were saved from her Majesty's
ship Captain, as a momento of his son, the late Captain
Burgoyne, who went down in that ill-fated vessel.