The Sun.
London, England, 1870-09-10 00:00:00

to-night with cries of peace. The veracious newspaper
writers have persistently told us for many days past
that the man who dared to whisper this
accursed word should be art-tthema maranatha.
It is singular, such being the case, how
mildly men have to-night been discussing the
terms which France will accept. I find not the least dis-
position to kick against the payment of some such war
indemnity as eighty million sterling. Next, as regards
the fleet, I was astonished to hear a knot of Frenchmen
discussing the utility to France of a large and costly
squadron of fighting ships, when their country has so
little commerce to protect at sea. "If it
must be so," said one old wise man, " let
Germany have half our fleet. It is better for her than
for us to be at the expense of maintaining it." But of
course Alsace and Lorraine stick in the gizzard of all who
contemplate their cession. Little as the English news-
papers are read in Paris, I was surprised to hear how often
some words were repeated which appeared in one of your
contemporaries, and exhibited Bismarck as disclaiming
any desire to retain Alsace and Lorraine. But even the
cession of these provinces is to-night spoken of as a pos7
sibility. Under these circumstances many Frenchmen
are ready to exclaim that, if civilisation and the facile
intercommunication of nations are of any value, England,
Russia, and Austria ought at once to stop any fur-
ther effusion of blood. Whether rightly or wrongly,
England is credited with less alacrity in striving to bring
about an armistice than either of the other two great
neutral Powers of Europe. It is generally whispered
here to-night that M. Jules Favr-3 invited England
upon Monday last to step in as a mediator, but
that England declined. The new Minister for
Foreign Affairs then turned to Austria and Russia, and
found both of them willing and even eager to interpose.
We are credulously persuading ourselves to-night--
whether with or without reason you in England are in a
better position to judge than we are in France— that Baron
Beust has already opened communications with the King
of Prussia and M. de Bismarck, and that his overtures
have by no means been scouted or repulsed. It is true •
that the King of Prussia is credited with a foolish speech,
expressive of a determination never to negotiate or discuss
terms of peace with a Republican Government in France.
But a moment's reflection will serve to convince such
a far-seeing statesman as Bismarck that, if the
war continues for another month, France will probably
be Republican for the rest of the nineteenth century.
On the other hand, if peace is made at once, I for one
do not believe that a Republic will long be the policy of
France. In Paris and all the great towns there is un-
doubtedly a large majority of Republicans, but the urban
vote will be swamped by that of the provinces. It is
undoubtedly to the interest of the other monarchical
Powers of Europe that the establishment of a French
Republic should, as far,as possible, be discountenanced by
neutral nations. The only chance of resuscitating con-
stitutional monarchy in France will be by restoring to her
peace with the least possible delay."
The Paris Figaro of yesterday says France is pre-
pared to say to Prussia, the one man who let loose a dis-
astrous war upon the Continent is caged behind
Prussian fortresses ; France has repudiated him, and
lays down her arms. Prussia being threatened, violated
French territory in self-defence, but all menace against
Prussia has disappeared. Should Prussia put forward
a claim for money indemnity for her heavy expenses
during the war no one would contest her right,
but justice will not permit Prussia to change the
character of the war from one of defence to one of con-
, quest. Prussia deludes herself in supposing that
Alsace and Lorraine will be broken under her iron

yoke, v or that France, as soon as she had repaired
her disasters and recuperated her forces would not
rush and loosen the chains put upon her intrepid child-
ren by invasion. No European Power can any longer en-
wrap herself in the cloak of indifference now that the
equilibrium of Europe is threatened. France, Prussia,
Europe, Civilization, and Humanity must alike cry aloud
for an end of the carnage."

OUR COTEMPORARIES---This Morning

THE PREPARATIONS IN PARIS.

The Tintes observes that it must be admitted that the
steps taken by the new Administration show a serious
and resolute determination to fight to the last. The cir-
cular M. G-ambetta has issued to the Prefects, following
upon the appointment of a crowd of new Prefects,
indicates the policy of home government to be pursued
during the crisis. It indicates the resolution to resist
proclaimed in M. Favre's Circular, and which is con-
firmed by many independent circumstances. It
is even said that the Government have already
marked out the points where barricades should
be erected within the city should they be neces-
sary, but it is difficult to believe in the accuracy
of this intelligence. The statement that the Diplomatic
Corps will remove from Paris, if it be isolated by siege,
appears, however, to be substantially accurate, although,
as the new Republic has not been as yet, as fa
as we know, formally recognized by any Government
except that of the United States, the members of the late
Diplomatic Corps are in truth no more than so many
private gentlemen in Paris, awaiting the orders of their
respective Courts. It may easily happen that before
this time next week Paris will be wholly cut off
from postal and telegraphic communication, and
and we shall hear little more of what is hap-
pening inside it than we now hear of the inner life of
Metz. It is impossible to doubt the determination
of the Germans, and it is certain that as yet Paris faces
without flinching the terrible prospect of a siege. Darker
and deeper must be the misery suffered if that calamity
be encountered ; and it is possible, so great must be the
national disorganisation, that the contest will be pro-
longed in scattered provinces even when the capital has
fallen.