The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-15 00:00:00

THE LUXEMBURG QUESTION.

BERLIN, December 15.

The King of Holland has made the declaration
that nothing will induce him to give up Luxemburg.
Prussia, it is said, has made a demand for a money
indemnity from Luxemburg.
BERLIN, December 14, (1.21 p.m.)
There is reason to believe that the King of Rol-
and, who is likewise Grand Duke of Luxemburg,
has been for some time aware of the intention of
Prussia to recede from the Luxemburg Neutralisa-
tion Treaty unless the French Consul were prohibited
from assisting the escaped prisoners to return to
France and re-enter the army.

It is denied in Prussian official circles that there
is any analogy Between the denunciation of the
Black Sea and the Luxemburg Treaties. Russia, at
the time the alleged infractions of the Black Sea
Treaty were committed, never favoured us with her
opinion that the Treaty had been invalidated, but,
waiting ;her opportunity, denounced it when the
Powers were otherwise engaged ; but Prussia re-
ceded from the Luxemburg compact the moment it
was violated, in order to inform the Luxemburg
Government they had forfeited the neutral action
accorded them, and would be henceforth regarded
as responsible agents.

BilmssELs, December 14.

Count Bismarck complains in very strong terms,of
the conduct of the French Vice-Consnl in Luxem-
burg. M. Servais, the Minister of State in Luxem-
burg, das declared to the deputies that he warned
the Vice-Consul, but did not dare to interfere
with his proceedings. He warned him even before
the capitulation of Metz.

THE MINISTERIAL. CRISIS IN
HOLLAND.
THE HAGUE, December 14.
Yesterday evening the Minister of Marine in-
formed the Second Chamber that he and the Minis-
ter of the Interior had not been successful in their
endeavour to form a Cabinet, and had sent in their

resignation.
The. Liberal member Jonckbloet said that the
Ministerial crisis had now lasted since the Bth of
November, or rather the end of October, and that
the circumstances of the moment required its speedy
termination. The Luxemburg question might prove
dangerous, and colonial affairs required serious atten-
tion.

There was, he contended, no political reason
for the crisis, which was due merely to personal
differences in the Cabinet; and he hoped that
the Crown would take speedily some decisive
measure with regard to the formation of a
Ministry.

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

ST. PETERSBURG, December 15.

In reply to Prince Gortschkoff, Count Bengt, in
his last note, says :—" Austria adheres to the Con-
ference without previously adopting any resolution
as to the questions to be discussed. She is only
animated by the desire to insure peace in the
East, and to effect a lasting settlement of,
the subjects 'of dispute now prevailing, and
at the same time to spare the national suscep-

tibilities of Russia without weakening the guaran-
tees which had been judged necessary by the

Powers."

An Imperial manifesto has appeared ordering a
levy to be made of six men in every thousand of the
male population.

RECRUITING IN RUSSIA..
ST. PETERSBURG, December 14.

An Imperial manifesto and ukase, signed yes-
terday, has just been published. It orders that
the recruiting on the new plan is to begin in
February and end in March, and, is to be con-
ducted with all speed. Six recruits are to be
taken per thousand souls, and one and a half per
thousand, besides, in the western provinces, to fill
former deficiencies. All young men under 21 years
of age, students in the higher Government academies
and teachers of primary schools in Poland, are
exempt. The sum of money for which exemption
may be purchased is 570 roubles.

CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES.
WASHINGTON, December 13.

General Butler has presented a petition to the
House of Representatives, signed by 2,000 citizens
of Gloucester, praying Congress to demand an in-
demnity for the losses entaiied upon American fisher-
men by the action of Canada, ;and to declare, as a
retaliatory measure, that commercial intercourse with
Canada should cease. This petition was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

CHARLES LAFITTE AND COMPANY.
The arguments in the case of the claim of £150,000 by
Monsieur Charles Lafitte against this company were con
eluded yesterday. The Master of the Rolls reserved his
judgment.

THE RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT BARNSLEY,

The inquest on the bodies of the fourteen persons
who lost their lives in the collision between a goods
train and a passenger train at Stairfoot, near
Barnsley, on Monday, was opened at Ardsley on
Tuesday afternoon. Witnesses identified nearly
all the deceased ; and Mr. S. Bowring, the station-
master at Stairfoot, described how the waggons dashed
into the passenger train just as it was about to start from
the station. The detached waggons of the goods train
had come a distance of two miles before they met the
passenger train. The inquiry was adjourned.
(CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAM.)
Up to a late hour last night no further deaths had oc-
curred amongst the passengers in the railway collision at
Stairfoot, near Barnsley. Several of the sufferers, how-
ever still lie in a condition that is exceedingly critical.
Amongst the worst cases are those of Mrs. Burkinshaw
and her child, and Mr. Thomas Hammond, of Ardsley.
It is now ascertained that not less than 30 or 40 persons
are injured by the accident.