The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-19 00:00:00

GERMANS ADVANCING ON CHAUNY.

the Germans have evacuated Amiens, and are falling
back in the direction of Clermont. On leaving
Amiens they announced that they would shortly re-

turn thither.
Sever. hundred Prussians are holding the citadel of
Amiens. Rumour says that General Faidherbe has
advanced beyond Amiens. The general reports from
Corbie that the Dragoons of the North have cap-
tured 30 prisoners, 27 horses, with waggons loaded
with arms and flour. 1,000 Germans are reported
at Chauny. A battle is looked upon as imminent
between Amiens and Ham.

ARREST OF PRUSSIAN DEPUTIES.
BERLIN, December 18.

Herren Babel and Liabknecht, both Deputies of
the North German Parliament, and Herr Helmer,
have been arrested at Leipzig on a charge of high

The Prussians have evacuated Beauvais in haste,
leaving at :the' railway station an immense amount
°f requisitions, and announcing that the town
Would be heavily fined if they were touched. The
vrnssians, on leaving, took the direction of Gisors
and Gonesse.

A. German column of 20,000 men was signalled on
Friday coming from the direction of Soissons, march
towards Chauny.
The Echo du Nord believes that the object of
the rapid movements of the Prussians in all direc-
tions is to interfere with the march of General
Paidherbe.

EVACUATION OF AMIENS.
A despatch from Lille, December 17, states that

IHE aSUN, LONDON, MONDAY ,VDECEMBER 19, 1870.

THE M ONE Y _M A_ N. k ET.

CITY, Two o'CLooK,

The Stock Markets is very dull, owing to the approach
of the Christmas holidays and the close of the year.:
tlnglish railways are higher.
Consols are quoted 911 to 91a. ex div. for money, and
91 13-16 to 91 15-16 ex. div. for the account.

Foreign stocks are almost Rithout change. French
Six per Cent. Defence Loan, par to prem. ; Italian,
55a to 551 ; Peruvian, 922 to 93/ ; Russian, 83 to 85;
Spanish, 31i to 311 ; Turkish Fives, 44k to 44g.
The German Loan is quoted to 1 prem.

E.ELEASE' OF THE 'IRISH POLITICAL
'PRISONERS.

The following letter ha§ been sent by Mr. Gladstone
to Sir William Carroll, the late Lord Mayor of Dublin,
as the gentleman whosename appears first among those
attached to a very numerously-signed petition presented
to the Prime Minister by Mr. M`Carthk Downing,
M.P. :

The Report of the London and River Plate Bank
(Limited), to be presented on the 23rd inst., states that,
notwithstanding political disturbances, together with the
continued depression in fhe price of wool, and the low
rate of interest current at Buenos Ayres, the regular
business of the bank has not suffered any diminution.
The Directors recommend the ordinary dividend of 5 per
cent. for the half-year ended the 30th of September.
Among the indications of the past two years of the
determination of the Spanish Government to maintain

" Downing-street, IGth December, 1870.

" Gentlemen,—l have to inform you that her
Majesty's Government have carefully considered
the case of the convicts now undergoing their sen-
tences for treason and treason-felony. aid that they have
recommended to the Crown the exercise towards them of
the Royal clemency, so far as it is compatible with the
assured maintenance of tranquillity and order in the

country.
" They will therefore be discharged upon the condition
of not 'remaining in, nor returning to, the United
Kingdom.
"These prisoners were most justly condemned for par-
ticipation, either secretly or by open violence, in a con-
spiracy which, if any degree successful, would have Filled
Ireland with misery and bloodshed; and the same principles
of justice which dictated their Sentences would amply
sanction the prolongation of their imprisonment if the
public security demanded it.
It is this last question, therefore, which has formed
the subject of careful examination by her Majesty's
Government, and they have been able to come to the
conclusion that, under the existing circumstances of the
country, the release of the prisoners, guarded by the
condition which Ihave stated, willbe perfectly compatible
with the paramount interests of public safety, and, being so,
will tend to strengthen the cause of peace and loyalty in
Ireland.

the principles of financial honesty may be cited the fact
of their having, upon proper evidence, given new bonds
for otters destroyed. On questions of this kind a shabby'
course—such as that pursued by the Italian Government
a few years back—involves damage to a country which
would not be compensated even if the amount iavolved
were a hundredfold that which is saved.
The Mexican Diario Official of the 10th ult. announces
the complete recovery of President Juarez, who has re-
turned to public business.
The Manchester Courier states :—" At a meeting of the
creditors of Mr. Samuel Shaw, the only surviving repre-
sentative of the firm of Peter Shaw and Co., cotton spin •
ners, Micklehurst-mil, Mossley. The liabilities were
£23,552, of which £2o,933were secured, and that the assets
were calculated at .£1,513, only a small portion of which
could be realised.

The subscription for the London Tramways Company
will close on Tuesday for London and Wednesday for the
country.

" There happily appears to be a concurrence of circum-
stances favourable to such an exercise of the Royal prero-
gative of 'mercy.
" Ireland is at present remarkably prosperous, and ge-
nerally free from turbulence or disorder. Its quiet condition
shews a most marked improvement upon that which pre-
vailed a year ago.
" Since that time Parliament has again proved, as
it had done in they previous session, its readiness to
confront the most difficult question of Irish legislation,
with a view to sincere reforms and effectual remedies ;
while it has not failed to maintain the authority of the
law by conferring special and necessary powers upon the
Irish Government.
" These things have swelled the numbers and strength-
ened the hands of that great body of all parties and
creeds, representing the property, intelligence, and religion
of Ireland, which is on the side of order and loyalty,
while they have weakened the powers of disaffection and
revolution.
" The earnest desire of her Majesty's Ministers is to
act in all things so as to favour the advance of this healing
process, and it is because they believe that the release of
the convicts now suffering under sentences of imprison-
ment for treason and treason-felony will assist in this
work that they have arrived at their present decision.
That decision, they are well aware, is in accord-
ance with strong opinions and compassionate feel-
ings very widely prevalent in Ireland • but, happily,
not displaying themselves in any popular agitation or
any turbulent demands, such as would render compliance
inconsistent with the due authority of Government, or
afford to the evil-disposed an excuse, of which, there can-
not now be a shadow, to misrepresent an act which is
one of pure clemency on the part of the Queen. —I
have the honour to be, gentlemen, your very faithful
servant, " (Signed),
" W. E. GLADSTONE. 7

ADELPHI THEATRE

On Saturday night last another popular favourite
ret;red from the stage. Madame Celeste selected for her
final appearance the part of the Abbe Vaudreuil, and
that of the wronged and suffering Miami in the ever
Green Bushes. Mrs. Keeley, in Betsy Baker, once again
played with all her old characteristic humour and force ;
and Mr. Buckstone also appeared in Box and Co; to the
great graVication of the audience. At the close of the
farce the curtain rose to discover the whole of the members
of the Adelphi company surrounding the retiring actress.
When the tumultuous cheering had sufficiently subsided,
Madame Celeste, under strong emotion, was led forward
by Mr. F. B. Chatterton, and thus addressed the house :
Ladies and Gentlemen,—Permit me to say a few words
before the curtain falls to close this performance and my
theatrical career. That career I commenced at an early
age in America. Soon after I appeared in London, which
ever since became my adopted home—a home endeared to
me by the friendships I have formad and the kindness I
have at all times experienced. I have also paid several
visits to America ; and five years since I ventured alone
even to Australia. At home, in London, in America, and.
in Australia, I never can forget the kindness, the patron-
age, the support the public ye afforded me, or the cour-
tesy and consideration I have at all times received from
the Press in these countries, as well as from the different
managers with whom 1 have been professionally
engaged. To them all I feel that a deep and lasting
debt of gratitude is due, and tender them my sincere
thanks. (Great applause.) But, ladies and gentlemen,
one word I must speak, though that word hangs reluc-
tantly upon my lips. If on these boards I have had to deli-
neate scenes of sufferinc, and pain, believe me no word
ever yet seemed so hard to utter, so full of sorrow, as the
word " Farewell" this night—no separation ever ap-
peared so keen as that which comes upon me now. I
have to say farewell to you, my friends and patrons,
who have ever given me your support ; to you, my
brothers and sisters of the same profession, from all of
whom I have always received the most unvaried kindness
and consideration. Farewell, then, one and all. May
every happiness and success in life attend you ; and, in the
more familiar language of my native land, I most grate-
fully and respectfully say, ' Adieu.' "
Immense cheering followed, amidst which the curtain
descended.