biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-25

FAILURE OF THE PROPOSED ARMISTICE.

The Times says the telegram from our Berlin Cor-
respondent which we publish to-day appears to shew
that the effort made by our Government to bring
about an Armistice has already failed. We are told
that the latest suggestions came to nothing in con-
sequence of Prussia demanding that France should
consent on principle to a cession of territory.
This would be a very speedy answer to the proposition
made by the Ministry, and and the very rapidity of the
response may encourage the hope that it refers to some
earlier suggestion. There are, indeed, other reasons why
this hope may be entertained. We understand that the
proposal of an armistice was received by the Delega-
tion at Tours in such a spirit that our Ministers
were encouraged to suggest to Count Bismarck that
it might he of advantage to grant M. Thiers an interview
at Versailles. The great Chancellor has often enough
shown his urbanity in the matter of interviews, and a
safe conduct was at once forwarded to the veteran, Parlia-
mentarian. What can possibly result from the conver-
sation between this distinguished pair is more than we
can divine. M. Thiers has resorted to all the neutral
Courts of Europe on a volunteer mission, urging them to
combine against the formidable Power which has arisen in
Central Europe. He has addressed one and the same re-
monstrance, apparently without the alteration of a word,
to all of them. Will he now tell Count Bismarck that
as the Neutral Powers have refused to come to the
assistance of France, Germany must desist from attacking
her, because she has no allies ? Will he ask that German),
should of her own free will become less alarming ? Is it
to be hoped that Count Bismark will, on the other hand,
succeed in persuading M. Thiers and, through him,
France, that Alsace and Lorraine are neeessary to the
security of the German people ? It would be easy to
construct an imaginary conversation between the two
statesmen, but we cannot flatter ourselves that anything
real will come of their interview. Count Bismarck is willing
to humour and amuse any negotiator; but the conversation,
like the suggestion of an Armistice, must, in the language
of our Berlin correspondent, "come to nothing, in conse-
quence of Prussia demanding that France should consent
on principle to a cession of territory."
London, England, 1870-10-25

THE FRENCH ARTILLERY.

The Germans frequently volunteer the information
that the fire of the artillery in the French forts does very
little harm, but there is a good deal of testimony to the
opposite offered. Dr. Russell says that the fire of the
forts is at times very heavy if not very' destructive. It
demolishes incipient earthworks. Another Times corres-
pondent, writing from within Paris, says :—Still the Ger-
mans are as far as ever from an entrance into
Paris, if that is to depend upon their attacks. W e
heard wonders of what they were to do, but, literally,
they have done nothing. They have not been able
to erect a single battery against the outlying forts.
As fast as their batteries have been erected they
have been knocked to pieces by the unerring fire of
the forts—knocked to pieces before the guns in them
could be brought to bear upon the points of attack
with anything like accuracy. The ground about Paris
is measured almost to a centimetre. The gunner in
the forts may be the greatest fool in the world, but
he cannot miss the mark if he will only look at his
map and read the numbers right. In illustration of
this it may be stated that there was a great fog here on
the morning of Thursday last. Under cover of this, the
Germans went hard to work at a battery which they
were preparing in the neighbourhood of Montretout. The

fort of Mont-Val6rien opened fire upon them in the midst
of the fog; it was blind firing from the map, but it put an
end to their work, and must have rather surprised them.
Nearly every day they are unmasking some new battery,
and nearly every day it is destroyed.
London, England, 1870-10-25

SORTIE NEAR JOINVILLE.

aailles,
It report from General von Luckow, dated Ver-
October 23, says :—On Saturday a.sortie was
made in a totally new direction, across the Marne at
:Itiville-le-Pont, to the east of Paris, against the
Z 641.0118 of the Wurtembergers. The French, how-
ee; numbered only three battalions, with artillery
''d tnitrailleuses ; they were bravely repulsed at
khan2Pigny, just to the north of the peninsula of St.
rs au'', with the loss of three killed and thirtf wounded
"11 the part of the Germans.

OTIIER ENGAGEMENT AT BESANCON.
In front of Besancon General Cambriels reports,
ceder date of Sunday evening, that the enemy made
4
fresh attack on the position of Chatillon-le-Duc,
v
hich he had failed to carry on the previous day;
„11. t the assailants withdrew in the evening, having
1 the French in possession of their ground, and
148'4
(0, of several prisoners.
i3obelestadt has been shelled by the enemy
h~the 18th. The fortress vigorously replies to
fire.

EVACUATION OF ST. QUENTIN,
The Germans evacuated St. Quentin on the 23rd,
...`t are said to be withdrawing towards Laon, and
4; towards Paris. At Cambrai and Valenciennes
Iv vo preparations against an enemy go on; the
orks are put in readiness, the inundations are filled.
A and the artillery is mounted on the walls.
;I'ielts has not been attacked. The siege of La
Fete has been abandoned. The Mecklenburg Corps
ise
b,?teturning to Paris. There has been a small fight
Geween the captured garrison of Soissons and the
blood an troops who escorted it, but without much
kieashed• Seven Mobiles, from Vervins, were
London, England, 1870-10-25

A NATIONAL GUARD'S EXPERIENCE.

A letter in the Nord, dated the 15th instant, says :
" We have been now for a month blockaded, and almost
without news from the outside. The time is very long,
and provisions begin to decrease. God knows how long it
may yet last ! Our principal occupation is at this moment
the service in the National Guard—a compulsory duty,
which is divided as follows : " From seven to nine in the
morning, firing practice and bayonet exercise, and duty
on the ramparts every five days, without mentioning
fatigue duties inside the walls from time to time.
Nothing can be more amusing than to see the detachments
which do duty on the ramparts. As the duration of
the service is twenty-six hours, each company
is provided, in the character of a full train,
with a vehicle for the transport of baggage and
of the canteen. The Guards, who do not make
use of the canteen, carry provisions. For the rest
horseflesh forms the basis of our meals. Uniform is not
absolutely de rigueur, but the men have nevertheless a
martial aspect, which prevents the variety of costume
from being noted. The greatest variety exists in the
coverings of the feet, ranging from high boots a recuyer
to cloth gaiters and laced shoes. The arms are not
more uniform, consisting of chassepots, fusils a
tabatUre, and carbines of Delvigne : but all the
arms are in good condition, and the Government
may reckon with certinty upon the National Guard
for the defence of the ramparts. I somewhat
neglect the canteen, preferring to take with me provisions
which I club with a friend of mine and with the proprie-
tor of one of the great restaurants of the boulevards,
whose contingent is the less likely to be despised In that
rations are fixed at 200 grammes a head, and for six meals the
fillet of horse becomeh, almost invisible. As to the nights
of duty they must be spent under the tent upon straw,
which is not renewed every morning, and the dogs •of the
neighbourhood are not kept off as carefully as they
might be."
London, England, 1870-10-25

NAVAL AND MILITARY.

-•
The 31st Company of Royal Engineers is to go from
Chatham to Cork to relieve the 21st Company, and the
34th is to go to the Curragh, where there are no Engineers
stationed at present.
The colonelcy of the 72nd Highlanders is vacant by
tue death of General Charles G. J. Arbuthnot, at
Folkestone.
There have been some further troubles with the crew
who were hired to take the Cerberus out to Australia. On
Saturday another sailor was arrested in Rochester for
having left the ship that morning without leave. The city
magistrates dealt with him leniently, and only imprisoned
him for a day, with a loss of two days' pay—the largest
amount which can be forfeited.
The report that the Thunderer, now building in Pem-
broke Dockyard, is to be a similar ship to the ill-fated
Captain is a mistake. The Thunderer is to be a low free-
board turret ship, without masts, and will be different in
almost every respect from the Captain.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
of Wales, attended by the Viscountess Walden and
Colonel Keppel, honoured the Strand Theatre with their
presence last evening.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales leaves
town early to-day for Newmarket, to witness the race for
the Cambridgeshire, after which his Royal Highness will
proceed to Sandringham.
The Home Secretary arrived in town yesterday
morning from Scotland.
SHIPPING CASUALTIES.—On Sunday the screw
steamer Fawn, Prentice master, of Sunderland, in making
for the harbour at Lowestoft, hugged the North Pier too
closely, and struck. The vessel drifted to the back of the
North Pier, where she stranded. The sea was too rough
to admit of a boat getting near her, but Captain Hender-
son, chief officer of the Coastguard, ordered the rocket
apparatus out immediately, and, under his directions, the
crew of fifteen hands were safely landed. The steamer,
which was bound from Oronstadt for London, will, it is
feared, become a wreck.

OUR COTE7PORARIES—This Morning
London, England, 1870-10-25

THE APPROACHING ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

The investigations of astronomers have, of late,
been especially directed to solar peculiarities, and,
consequently, the great eclipse which is to occur at
the close of this year is exciting a great amount of
interest in the scientific world. Preparations have
been made on a liberal scale in the United States,
and a regular expedition has been sanctioned by
Congress, in which the scientific observers are to bo
assisted by the chief of the coast survey, an assistant
from the Washington Naval Observatory, two
officers of the army, and two of the navy, a
grant of 30,000 dollars being made for the purpose.
They will carry out a complete set of instruments, and
their attention will be particularly devoted to the
time of apparent contact of the sun and moon, the
physical constitution of the corona, and to all the
phenomena which the spectroscope, the polariscope
the photometer, the photograph, and the best instru-
ments for magnetic and meteorological obser-
vations can reveal. The party are to leave
the States on the 2nd of November for Liverpool,
whence they will proceed to Syracuse, Sicily,
where their observations will be taken. Another
group of savans will start for Gibraltar, to study the
solar aspects in Northern Africa. The Americans
were much gratified by the success of their observa-
tions in August last year, when the total eclipse was
visible on a regular line from a central point in
Alaska to the coast of North Carolina. No eclipse was
ever, they believe, so well observed, since the grand
eclipse on February 18th, B.C. 3102, recorded by the
Brahmins in their astronomical work, Surya Sid-
dihanta. The importance of some of the
results obtained in 1870 have stimulated the
astronomers of the United States to make extensive
preparations for the minute and careful observation
of the forthcoming eclipse. It is to be hoped their
European fellow savans will follow their example.
London, England, 1870-12-17

THE LUXEMBURG DIFFICULTY.

The desire of Prussia for Luxemburg would pro-
bably be great at any time, for it is a nice, useful bit
of territory, but in view of the annexation of Alsace
and Lorraine it is especially valuable. • It
rounds off the whole " agglomeration." It, moreover,
secures another fortress, completing the tremendous
chain which, with Metz, would menace France; and
it puts the Prussians in possession of a military road
into Lorraine, for which they must • have greatly
hungered during this war. There can hardly
be any doubt as to the ultimate effect of such
temptations. The liandelsblad of Amsterdam re-
commends that the King of Holland should abdicate
the Sovereignty of the Duchy of Luxemburg in
favour of some German Prince, assuming the consent
'of the population. This is not a promising sugges—
tion. Bismarck would be very glad to give the
duchy to " some German prince," for such a ruler
would very
soon be disposed of ; but " the consent
London, England, 1870-12-17

London : Printed by GIDEON ACLAND .1301(00; H;
No. 112, Strand, Printer, And Published by Sir
THE SUN Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct o
Savoy, in the County of Middlesex,
Saturday, December 17, 1870,
London, England, 1870-12-17

EVILS OF THE WAIL.

In one respect, at anyrate, according to the French
Republican papers, France has gained, and Germany
has lost, by tho war. The former has got rid ot,
an empire, the latter has had one 'imposed upon.
her. . Here is unquestionable proof of the chas-
tisement of Heaven. "Ah !'" says' the Siec/e, "you
Germans will find out. You will enjoy some of
the experience that has cost us so dear; and serve
you right. The order that reigns at Warsaw will
reign throughout the new reich, and the same
sort of liberty too. Independence will be stifled.
German science will be enlisted in the service of the
Prussian State; and " the spirit of German discussion
will be put under a bushel,—that is, under, the
helmet of Bismarck." Clearly the enemies of Fiance,
in getting an Emperor hove met with an unhoped-.
for disaster.
London, England, 1870-12-17

THE OBJECTIONS TO RECRUITING.

Lieutenant-Colonel Shakspear is one of those who
consider we should profit by the experience of the
war to imitate the Prussian mode of recruiting. The
essential difference bet Ween the two systems is, he
observes, that Prussia, can rapi,tly•fill up her ranks in
a fortnight, whereas we may lose the empire or fail a
friend while fruitlessly, struggling to raise our infantry
to an effective standard. Lieutenant-Colonel
Shakspear has taken some pains to elicit the popular
feeling on the subject of enlistment, and he arrives
at the folloWing conclusions : Men in the army as a
rule find the life attractive, and many, would enlist
on trial if they could do so for a short time, not
liking the idea of being retained by penal
laws in time of peace. The enlistment

for " general service" is a great objection
to many, as it prevents the selection of a
regiment and comrades. The Royal Commission on

Recruiting in 18(18 recommended that every recruit
should have the option of enlisting for any particular
regiment, the evidence adduced spewing that the
enlistment for general service would ruin recruiting.
The pay of the army is not the general attraction,
and the uncertainty attending pensions quite spoils
their effect. Lientenant-Colonel Shakspear re-

minds us that of the 3,00.0 men who desert
every year only one - third ever rejoin,
and the missing 2,000 most probably become out-
casts or vagabonds. Surely, he says, we should
think of some plan to save us from this injury,
and he recommends that those who wish to
enlist should be able to do so for six months at the
first, to try military life, and also that the whole

male population should be liable to military service,
which would neutralize the feeling of class. In con-
nection with this subject, it may be mentioned that
a large proportion of the recent recruits are deficient
in physique, notwithstanding the lowering of the
standard.
London, England, 1870-12-17

UNEMPZOYED WORKING MEN.

A conference of working men has, been held at
the Mission Hall, West Smithfield, for the, purpose
of considering the practical measures that can be
adopted to provide work for the thousands of work-
men out of employmout who., are drifting into
pauperism and crime. Mr. Catlin, the City missionary,
who • presided,!said that he had called the meeting.
together at the request of hundreds of destitute
workmen whdth ho was acquainto. With in the
pursuit of his missionary calling. -Various suggestions
Were made with a view of iurthering the objects of
the meeting.. The opening of workshops in different
districts in the metropolis was proposed, and it was
also said that an effectual way of employing the idle,
unskilled labourer of the metropolis was to cultivate
the waste lands, which would be reproductive labour.
The use of the spade could .be quickly learned
by A labouring man. .one. of the speakers con-idered
emigration to be injurious to the country by de-
priving it of useful artizans, and declared that if the
resources of the country were only fully developed it
might, support double the present population.
It was resolved that a committee s'iould be appointed
to draw up a scheme which might be subinitted to
the consideration of another meeting for the same
object. The-proceedings throughout were conducted
in the most orderly manner.
London, England, 1870-12-17

PORK FOR THE FRENCH TROOPS.

Messrs. Fenelly and Redfern, of London, yesterday re-
covered £450, at the Liverpool Assizes, from Messrs.
Fowler Brothers, of that town, as damages for unmarket-
able pork supplied, and intended for the use of the French
troops.
London, England, 1870-12-17

RUMOURED BATTLE OUTSIDE PARIS.

Rumours were current at Lille yesterday (the
16th) of a fresh sortie from Paris. The E.ho du Nord,
alluding thereto, says there is some talk of the
French having invested Versailles, and the German
staff being surrounded. The report is not credited.
There is, however, a firm belief there to-day that
some important military event has occurred, the
details of which are awaited with great impatience.

TIIE GERMANS RETURING TO AMIENS.
HAVRE, December 16.

The Germans are retreating from Havre, and are
returning to Amiens, by Dieppe. They are said to
number 12,000 men, with 12 guns.

ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT ON THE LOIRE.
Advices from Bordeaux of the 15th state that M.
Gambetta was still with the Army a the Loire, and
that he announces a combat between General
Chanzy and the Prussians on the previous day. The
General still maintained his position.
London, England, 1870-12-17

THE LUXEMBURG QUESTION

BERLIN, Docerbber 19 (3.40 p.m.)

Explanations and assurances have been given by
the Luxemburg Government which remove all
danger of a conflict.-7 imes. _

PEsTE, December 15, 3 p.m.

As an answer to the complaints of Prussia respect-
ing the allegcsl breach of neutrality by Luxonaburg,
the French Government has called upon this Go-
vernment to effect the return of 8,000 Austrian rail-
way waggons, which are kept back on the German
lines, affording great help in the transport of the
German armies.

The Telegraph publishes the following tele-

grams :

BaussELs, December 19 (8 p.m.)

Over and above the denunciation of the neutrality
of Luxemburg, Prussia has it in oontempla-

to exact from the Grand Duchy a pecu-

niary indemnity, her claim for which will be
grounded upon certain proceedings of the Vice-
Consul of France which were tolerated by the autho-
rities of Luxemburg. Prussia, according to advices
received from Berlin, does not intend to cause her
circular to be followed by immediate consequences.
She wishes only to define the situation with regard to
future contingencies.

BERLIN, December 10.

The Devi)lad of Utrecht asserts that the abdication
of the King of Holland as Grand Duke of Luxemburg
may be expected.
The Kreuz Zeitung ridicules the notion that Count
Bismarck's Note demands pecuniary compensation,
which cannot be demanded from an incorporated

country.
The Luxemburg Gazette denies, on authority, the
Belgian statement that the German Government has
come to an understanding with the Grand Duke for
the transfer of Luxemburg. _ _

A. quantity of Chassepots, purchased in Luxem-
iurg, have been confiscated by the police.
THE HAG (rm., December M.

A. Rotterdam paper, the .News, says that it can
contradict, on good authorty, the report that for a
month past the Grand Duke of Luxemburg has
been negotiating with Prussia for the cession of
Luxemburg.

THE CONFERENCE.

ST. PBTERSBURG, December 16.

The Russian courier was to arrive yesterday in
London with the decisive despatches respecting the
Conference. Iu official circles here the action of
Prussia with regard to Luxemburg is approved.
London, England, 1870-12-17

THE WEST INDIA CABLE.

Submarine cables appear to be unfortunate just
now. We learn by the Panama papers full particu-
lars of the loss of the West India Cable, which was
being successfully laid, under the superintendence of
Sir Charles Bright. The task of laying it was
throughout one of extreme difficulty, owing to the
variations in the shallow water round the islands.
The Dacia, the cable ship, started from Aspinwall on
October 24th, followed by 11.M.5. Vestal, which took
the lead, for the compasses of vessels laying the
cable are liable to error from the constant change in
the mass of iron on board, occasioned by tire paying
out of the line. The weather was bad, but on the
26th the Dacia was 225 miles from Aspinwall, The
next morning an irregularity was observed in the elec-
trical tests, and the Dacia was stopped to pick up the
Cable. A sudden change of wind (mimed while the
line was being passed from the stem to the bow for
this purpose. The hawser fouled the ship's side, was
cut through, and let the cable go to the bottom.
Two attempts were made to recover it, but in vain,
and the Dacia, in her efforts to recover it, lost 800
fathoms of wire rope, and 200 fathoms of chain. The
wire rope snapped with a strain of eleven tons,
throwing down the captain and, rendering him in-
sensible for several hours. With the buoy, which
they lowered to mark the spot, the DaCia lo'st 1,000
fathoms of ten-inch hawser, and 50. fathoms chain with
two mushroom anchors, as well as 150 fathoms chain
and two powerful grapplers. The weather being very
bad and the Dacia short of coals, the vessels were
obliged to return to Kingston; but . Sir Charles
Bright says there is no cause fo:. uneasiness as to
the final object, though the weather may delay the
work some time. The depth of water where the
lino was lost is only 900 fathoms, and cables have
been recovered from much greater depth. If the
grappling was delayed by the unpropitious weather
Sir Charles intended to proceed with submerging
the cable to Puerto Rico and St. Thomas, being
evidently determined not to relax his labours until
the whole of his troublesome undertaking is accom-
plished. •

;411
-
,/°`•
titrirrt
London, England, 1870-12-17

PARTRIDGE AND COOPER,
MANUFACTURING STATIONERS,
192, FLEET-STREET. (CORNER OF CHANCERY-LANE), LONDON MO,
PIM PUBLIC r.UPPLIED AT WHOLESALE PRIORS,
AND

JARRIAGE PAID to the 00IINTRY ON ORDERS OVER 20e
Per ream. 0. d

Fine Cream Laid Note; a cheap paper... . ....
Superfine Cream Laid Noto ; much approved
Superfine Thick Cream Laid Note ;especially recommended 5 6
Extra Superfine Double Thick Cream Laid Note .—. 7 0
Straw Paper, " Patentt" adapted for rapid writing _ 2 6
Large Commercial Note Papers 85., 4s. 55., and 6 0
Foolscap Papers, blue or cream.......... 105. Bd., 12s. 6d., and 14 6
Outsides F0015cap«....«..«.....»...........«.» »........«.......... 6 6
Letter Paper for scribbling plain, 45.; ruled ditto, 4 6
Tinted Lined Note ... . .... five quires for ls. 6d., or 5 6
New Vellum Wove "Club House" Note, five quires for 2s. 6d.
Bilpettne Cream or Blue Envelopes, 4s 6d, be 6d, &Os 8d ..
Large Blue Wove Commercial Envelopes, 45 pesl,ooo
Cheap Buff Colour, for circulars, &0.,
COLOUR STAMPING (Relief) reduced to Is. per [101). Polished
steel dies sunk by the beat artists in the trade at about half the
prices charged by the retail houses.
An ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE, containing full descrip-
tion, with prices of Account Books, Copying Presses, Inkstands,
Stationery, Cabinets, Postage Scales, Despatch Boxes, Travelling
Writing Oases. Desks, post free. Established 1841
London, England, 1870-12-17

SIGNALS ON RAILWAYS.

A simple plan, by which accidents upon railways
might be diminished, is propOsed by a gentleman
who writes from Owen's College, Manchester, to the
Times. his suggestion is that as fog .signals are
'independent of the state of the weather, they should
be applied to the line of rails, and give warning
simultaneously with the " light " signals at
every signal . station.. ..The inability of the
signalmen to place detonators on the line
rapidly, the correspondent thinks, might be
remedied by the erection of some mechanical appara-
tus which, as the trains approached, should alter the
light signals and adjust fog signals to the rails by
one operation on the part of the man in charge.
London, England, 1870-12-17

MR. OITiLDERS'S MINUTE.

It is fully conceded now that the responsibility
with reference to the loss of 11.M.5. the Captain was
so singularly divided that it could not be laid heavily
on any of the designers, constructors, or naval over-
seers of the vessel. Mr. Childers's minute on the
subject, whilst elaborate, is impartial, and does not
hinge blame on any party. Nevertheless, he
admits that certain precautions were omitted. So
little, we are assured, was the question as to the posi-
tion of the centre of gravity in the Captain con.-
sideied as a critical one, that the ship was sent to sea
three times before it was tested, and even when a
trial was made nothing alarming was apparently
revealed. Mr. Childers, it may be observed,
does not pass over without notice Mr. Reed's
evidence given at the court martial, to the
effect that "a friend of his—an admiral—took groat
pains to impress on Captain Burgoyne the danger of
the vessel's capsizing," under a large stretch of
canvas. The First. Lord of the Admiralty observes
that he cannot bring himself to believe that the
memory of the ex-constructor was accurate when he
gave these details, as if they correctly described his
anticipations, a • heavy responsibility rests upon him
in never having warned the Controller of the Navy
of the Captain's danger, but, on the contrary, recom-
mended that she should be tried at sea. Mr. Childers
has no intention of allowing the loss of the Captain
to prejudice the turret system.
London, England, 1870-12-17

BRIGHAM YOUNG'S INCOME TAX.

The troubles of income-tax payments appear to
extend to the Salt Lake, and Brigham Young has
appealed for an abatement of the assessment against
him for the year 1868. The demand, which

he wishes to be relieved from, is suffi-
ciently heavy, for the tax amounts to 39,000
dollars, and the penalty for non-compliance
with the law is 19,000 dollars. The illustrious Mor-
mon pleads that his income is entirely a voluntary
matter with his people, and consequently is to be
regarded in the light of a gift, and not of an income.
Should the Government refuse to entertain this
plea, he has another in reserve. Congress last session
passed a law relieving the Shakers and several other
religious communities from the strict construction of
the law governing the collection of income tax, and
allowing the usual drawback for every five persons in
the community making their annual returns. Brigham
Young therefore claims this allowance. The assessor of
Utah failsto be duly impressed by the prophet's logic,and
puts forward a counter statement, and the Acting
Commissioner of Internal Revenue is considerably
'perplexed between the disputants. Congress will
probably be referred to in the matter.
London, England, 1870-12-17

MINISTERIAL CRISIS IN GREECE.

The King of Greece not having accepted a pro-
posal of the Cabinet to dissolve the Chamber oi
Deputies, the Ministers have sent in their resigns,
tion.

Negociations are being carried on with M. Com
mounduro for the formation of a new Cabinet.

(CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAMS.)

THE MAJORITY OF THE MARQUIS OF ELY.
At a meeting of the inhabitants of Enniskillen, heldlast
night, it was resolved that rejoicings should take place in
honour of the attainment of the majority of the Marquis
of Ely, and of his coming into the neighbourhood. An
address of welcome is to be presented in the town hall,
on Thursday, and the streets are to be decorated.
London, England, 1870-12-17

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

SUN OFFICE, 8 .+•M.

THE NV- A-B

THE SIEGE OF PARIS.
VERSAILLES, December 16 (5.30 p.m.)
The forts are quiet, the new battery outside Val -
rein shelling abortively.
A French detachment suddenly appeared at Cha-
teaudun, but were driven out yesterday.
The Bridge of Blois has been blown up.
Several attempts at assassination have been made
near Versailles.
The weather is fine.
Batteries are being prepared.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE CROWN PRINCE OF
PRUSSIA, VERSAILLES, December IG.
The German troops are everywhere in good
spirits, watching keenly for any movement of the
French. The Wurtemburgers and Saxons, who
lost so heavily in the recent sorties, are perfectly
ready to renew the fight, and the German field
works have been strengthened with a view to future

use.
On the other hand the French are very active, and
seem to hold every point of importance. They have
decidedly advanced their line of defence to the east-
ward by guns planted on the peninsula of La
Varenne, in the bend of the Marne, and by a battery
at Avron, in front of Fort Rosny.
The feeling of the German troops is in favour of a
bombardment, and the men grumble much because
Paris is spared. It is
.doubted whether the experi-
ment will be tried yet awhile. It would lead to a
very serious artillery duel, and to large sorties by the
whole French garrison.
London, England, 1870-12-17

CHRISTMAS BEFORE THE CAPITAL.

Dr. Russell writes from Versailles :—I deeply regret to
think that we shall spend Christmas at least here.
Christmas trees are arriving from Germany ; invitations
to Christmas dinners are tieing given, and many a good
case of wine is on its way to the various head quarters.
But the great festival is fifteen days off
yet, and a capitulation, an armistice, or anything
else may be effected before that. There is not an officer
nor a man in the German armies who would not
rejoice at it. They all heartily wish the campaign at an
end. I believe they would rather spend their Christmas
at home than win another victory equal to that of Sedan.
But none of them are prepared to lower the terms of peace.
They declare that they entered on •the war as one of
defence ; they argue that they are still on the defensive,
and that in their case the proposed annexation is not
aggression, but only the requirement of reasonable security
that they may not be assailed in future. Alsace and
Lorraine keep us here.
London, England, 1870-12-17

rlll-I.EATRE ROYAL, HAYM ARK ET.-Twenty-
fifth Night of a NEW FAIRY COMEDY. Fins
EVENING (Saturday), to commence at Seven, with the WOLF
'AND THE,LAMB. Messrs. Chippendale, Howe, W. Gordon,
Madame E. Fitzwilllam ; after which, at a quarter to
Eight o'clock, a new Fairy Comedy, in Three Acts,
entitled THE ~PALACE OF TRUTH. Characters by
Mr. Buckstone, Messrs. Kendal, Everill, Clark; Rogers,
Braid, Mesdames Robertson, Chippendtile, C. , Hill, Fanny
Wright, and Fanny Gwynne. After which UNCLE'S WILL--
Mr. Kendal and Miss Robertson. Concluding with BLUE
DEVILS. Box office open daily from 10 tills.

OPERA COMIQUE.—The most beautiful Theatre
in London, will re-open for the English Dramatic Season
on Saturday, December 24, at popular prices, from 6d. to 7s. 6d.

VERA COMIQUE.7-Mr. :G.:F. ROWE will

l i make his re-appearance in London in a new and Striking
Drama, founded on Charles Dickens's celebrated novel "Our
Nlntual Friend."
' .

OOPERACOMIQUE.—FOUND pflowNtp, Or
OUR MUTUAL FRIEND, December 24, with the most
powerful company in London. Entirely Now Scenery-by Albert
Callcott.

OPERA COMIQUE.—FOUND DROWNED or
OUR MUTUAL FRIEND. • Supported by Messrs. Samuel
Emery, John Nelson, W. ld'lntyre, Charles Warner (by permis-
sion of W. 11. Liston,. Esq.), Edwin Stanley, and Granville
Pettifer Mesdanies Ernstone, Patti Josephs, Holston, Manders,
Tilly Earl, and Miss Rose Lisle.

EGYPTIAN HALL,. PICJOADILLY.

War day at 2.80 and 8 p.m.
POOLE and YOUNG, the Proprietors and Exhibiter.4 crt the
Overland Mail, by Telbin and Grieve,. Albert Smith's Egyptian
Hall Panoramas, beg to announce a new subject—
THE PRESENT WAR
ifetween the French and Prussians.

---• •
EachTlPure on 600 square feet of canvas, and painted by
'7 England's greatest scenic artists.

THE NATIONAL MUSIC.
THE FINEST QUARTETTE IN EUROPE:
POOLE AND YOUNG,
THE EGYPTIAN HALL ONLY.
THE WAIL-POOLE AND YOUNG'S PANORAMA,
London, England, 1870-12-17

THE TREATY OF 1867.

The treaty guaranteeing the neutrality of Luxem-
burg was signed in London on May 4th,
1867. The contracting parties were the
six" PoWqrs, 'Holland and DelgitiM. The docu-
ment contains seven articles, decreeing the =tin-
t flances of the union bet Ween the Grand Duchy and
the House of Orange Nassau, the neutrality
of the little territory, the demolition of the
fo-rtress (which has never been properly demolished),
its, evacuation by the Prussian garrison, and the
ratification of the treaty within four weeks. The
neutrality of Luxemburg was guaranteed by France,
Austria; Great Britain, • Prussia, and Russia. What
this guarantee Ineant was the subject of a contro-
versy in both • Houses of Parliament, and some
curious fencing took place. Lord Stanley hell that
the liability of Eng-land to uphold the treaty was
limited," for the guarantee was collective, 41 not
binding upon any single power—which meant that
if one or more of the parties uudertoOk to violate
the conditions, we could not be called upon to
interfere.

" Such a guarantee has .obviously rather

the character of a moral sanction to the arrange-
ments which it defends than that of a contingent

liability to make war. It would, no doubt, give a
right to make war ; but it would not necepsarily
impose the, obligation. That would be a qUestion
to consider when the occasion. arose." Vie have
of late years received some curious illustrations of
the value of national guarantees. However, there
is no doubt that the Conference of 1867 prevented a
war, and that is a great deal.
London, England, 1870-12-17

BALLOONING.

M. W. de Fonvielle, who is writing his experiences
of ballooning in the celumnsof Nature, declares that
he hopes soon to start upon a return journey to Paris
in a balloon, when he will adherestrictly to the results
of his considerations after the last voyage. These con-
siderations lead him to believe that the motion of a
balloolL should be slow, and that land should
always be kept in sight of the observer.
On his trip, from the French capital, M. de
Fonvielle had' with him an apparatus of his own
invention called an aerial planchette for helping
aeronauts in" the determination of their way, but he
lost every confidence in the% instrument. The only
London, England, 1870-12-17

THE LATE MR. MCDOWELL,

The death of Patrick McDowell has inflicted a
severe blow on the world of art. The story of the
eminent sculptOis early life affords another instance
of genius attaining distinction in spite of difficulties.
Ho first showed the direction of his talent when he
was only eight years old, being then a pupil at a
small school in Belfast, of which town he was a
native. His education was far from being a liberal
one, as his father met with a reverse of fortune; and
the young Patrick at the ago of twelve was
apprenticed to a 'coach-builder in England.
Happily • for him, the bankruptcy of his
employer released him from his engage-
ment, and, having mado the acquaintance of
a Frond' sculptor, ' he was able to follow his
cherished pursuit. While still very young he sot up
as a sculptor on his own account in London, and ob-
tained his first commission for a marble, group from
Mr. Cooper, formerly M.P. for Sligo, who probably
felt an interest in him as being a young countryman.
The work, whose subject was Cephalus and Procris
was a success, but a greater triumph was achieved,
by his famous " Girl Reading," which at once ele-
vated him to a high rank among sculptors.
He made a tour in Italy at the suggestion
and with the assistance of Mr. William Beaumont,
of Yorkshire, and on his- return completed several
of his most famous works. In the Gieat Exhibition
of 1851 Mr. McDowell's groups occupied a promi-
nent position, and he has contributed statues of our
national celebrities to the House of Lords, Green-
wich Hospital, the Dublin Courts, St. Paul's Cathe-•
dral and the Mansion House. Mr. McDowell, who
had entered his seventy-first year, was elected an
R.A. in 1840: •
London, England, 1870-12-17

THE CAPTURE OF MONTMEDY.

A despatch lrom Longuyor, dated the 15th, says
that the Prussians yesterday (the 14th) entered
Montmedy.
3,000 prisoners and 65 guns were captured, and
nearly 300 German prisoners released.
The toss during the bombardment of the Germans
is stated to be very large.
London, England, 1870-12-17

PARIS IN THE DARK.

The Telegraph thus refers to the position of affairs in
the French capital :—" At night-fall Paris is now dark,"
say the telegrams; "there is no longer coal enough for
gas." Here is one of the incidents which remind us how
utterly new is the tremendous experiment of war, at this
moment carried out by the Prussian investment of the
great city. Paris in the dark at night ? What can she be
like without all the old effulgence of evening illumina-
tion? She expected hardships, fighting, wounds,
death ; but did she recollect that she would have to bear
this too? He who would picture to himself a panorama
of Paris as it at present exists must conceive only murki-
ness, obscurity, and gloom—not the darkness that may
be felt, but darkness made dimly visible by a few feeble
endeavours to atone for the lack of that radiance which
gave new enchantment to the night. No doubt,
some of the attempts made by the leading trades-
people
in Paris to light up their shops are highly
ingenious, and in their way successful. But it
must be inexpressibly dreary and miserable to
grope about till dawn brings another day of siege. That
the once brilliant metropolis has so held, and is still hold-
ing, and may continue to hold, out for weeks to come
with desperate determination, who can deny ? Her mea-
sure of misery may not yet be filled. We shall hear
from day to day of other articles of universal
necessity exhausted. Everything is possible in
a siege, and perhaps one of the most curious
characteristips of beleaguerment is, that it in-
vests all kinds of common and domestic obi-cts
with peculiar solemnity. Gaslight—one of the most mar-
vellous discoveries of the age—was yet in peaceful times
a very prosaic and commonplace thing. But in the
idea of Paris without gas there is the realisation of
a fate as awful as that painted in the well-
known poem of Byron. One thinks with a shudder of
the end drawing nearer and nearer as the " DarknesEr
deepens.
London, England, 1870-12-17

THEATRES, AND AMUSEMENTS.

DRURY•LANE--A Domestic Hercules. Amy Robsart.
Phobus's Fix.

IlAvmenxET—The Wolf and the Lamb. The Palace of
Truth. Uncle's Will. Blue Devils.
THBATAR . The Abbe Vaudreuel. Betsy
Baker. The Green Bushes. Box and Cox. Milliner's
Ho Mao,.

Elizabeth, or

VAUDEVILLE—ChiseIIing. Two Rases.
the Invisible Armada.
STRAED—On and Off. Diving ttl; Fstso. TllO Idle
'Prentice.
GLonn--Board and Residence. Taming of the Shrew.
Marco Spada. Ballet Divertisement.
OPEP.A. CoMIQUE -La Joie Fait Pont Le Vicomte.
Letorieres.
ST. JAtizs's—To Oblige Benson. Fernande. Christ-

mas Eve.

OLYMPIC—NeII and (Burlesque) Paul and Virginia.
ROYALTY Wealth, and Whittington Junior and his
Sensation Cat.

GAIETY—Happy Village. Fra Diavolo. Trombalcalzar.
QUEEN'S—Aunt Charlotte's Maid. Richelieu. Day after
the Wedding.

STANDARD —The Wife's Tragedy.
Wakefield.

Ballet. Vicar of

HOLBORN—The Married Bachelor. The Odds. Jezabel.
PRINCE 01.1' WALES'S. - Queen Stork. Ours. Locked
In.

PoLYTEcnim—Professor Pepper's War Lecture. After-
noon and Evening.
EGYPTIAN HALL—Poole and Young's Panorama of the
Franco-Prussian War.

AMPHITHEATRE AND CIRCUS (liCibOrn)—Scopes in the
Arena.

St Jeans% llALL.—Christy Minstrels. Every evening.
PALMS RovAL—Professor Faber's Talking Machine.
A.LHAMBRA—Promenade Concert.
MADAME TIISSAIED'S (Baker-street)—From 10 n.m. till 10
p.m. ls.; extra rooms, 6d.

aFgie, _ . ,K7:l
asur

LONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1870.

WHENEVER anyone attains a certain amount of
notoriety now-a-days, ten chances to one but he
writes a novel. The Italian Condottieri GARIBALDI,
wrote, only a few months ago, a couple of novels.
The late ex-Chancellor, Lord BROUGHAM, left
among his unpublished manuscripts a regular three-
volumed contribution to imaginative literature. The
Conqueror. of Scinde, the late General Sir CuAnr,Es
NAPIER, wrote and published a chivalric historical
romance born from his own lively imaginings. 'The
popular reader, formerly the popular preacher, Mr.
J. C. M. BELLEW, gave to the circulating
libraries, a very few years ago, a love story
of the orthodox dimensions. The Revivalist of the
last century, the Rev. JOHN WESLEY penned, or at
any rate edited, that amazing figment of "The
History of Henry, Earl of Morland," iu which we
read, among other things, in regard to the exceed-
ingly, sensitive and impressionable hero, that upon one
occasion, when greatly niovee by some incident, he
'retired into the bay window and wept for the space
of three-quarters of an hour. If only' Mr. STURGEON
would think well of the notion, he might name his
own priee for the copyright of a highly humourou%
religious narrative from his own hand, Li which, in three
volumes, he might illustrate a new what he has so OftVll
London, England, 1870-12-17

THE AERATED NATURAL IRON WATER
is distinctly Tonic, and is a delicious beverage for giving strength
and vigour to the system. See Medical Certificates, vide
Press.
Price Os. per dozen.
Of all Chemists and Family Grocers.

-- -
Hampers containing 4 dozen 225., delivered free within twelve
miles of London ; 9d. per dozen allowed on returned Empties.
Convalescent Homes and Sehools supplied at wholesale prices,
For further particulars apply to
WM. WHITTLE AND CO.
63, GREAT TOWER-STREET, LONDON, E.O.
"The Aerated Natural Iron Water is a very pleasant and
invigorating effervescent Chalybeate, and may be taken as an
oadinary beverage with great advantage."—Queen.
Six dozen hamper, 365. is. per dozen allowed on returned
empties, and Os. on hamper. Of all chemists and family grocers;
or Richard Davis, 20, Maddox-street, Regent-street. W. Whole-
sale only of William Whittle and Co., 63, Great Tower-street,
E. C.
London, England, 1870-12-17

SORTIES FROM BELFORT.

Intelligence has been received that the defence of
Belfort was being carried .in the most vigorous
manner, sorties taking place very frequently up to
the 15th. The forest of Bosmont, Grand Bois, and
the village of Artilmans had been captured by the
Germans, with the loss of 79 men and two officers.
The French loss is put down at 90 men and one
officer.
London, England, 1870-12-17

LAT]

The fo
rein shel
A Fre

teaudun,

The B

Severf

near V©l
The vi
Batter

The 1

spirits, N

French.
lost so l
ready tc
works h,

Ou th
seem to
decided'

ward b
Varenne
at Avro:
The fi
bombari

Paris is

mont w

-very ser
whole F

RUA

Rum
16th) 01
alluding
French
staff bei

There

some i
details (

The I

returnii
number

ANOT
Advi
Gambe
that hi

Chanzy
Genera

A de
that tl
Manta
3,001

nearly

The
is state

Inte
Belfor

mantle
the 15
the vii
Germs
The I
officer

A i
Versai

after I

Germ
report
terrul
which

Th(
in or(

Diem
days

T h
and
betwi
Th
tha 1
London, England, 1870-12-17

SALMON CATCHING.

Special Commissioners have been holding au inquiry
into the legality of "fishing mill dams" which are
fixed engines employed to facilitate the taking of
salmon in the Hampshire Avon. The Avon is cele-
brated for its fine salmon, and it appears that a
peculiar method for catching them is adopted.
Hatches are constructed in the various mill dams,
on the river, and for fishing purposes there are
placed in front of the hatches " racks "—a sort of
gridiron—of perpendiCular wooden or iron Lars two
inches apart, which effectually stop the pro
gress of salmon up and down the river
when the sluices or hatches are lifted to let the
water flow through. The mode of fishing which is
adopted is to raise the' hatches, when the rush of
water attracts the fish, the hatches are then dropped,
and the pools fished with a draught net. The upper
proprietors complain that these fisheries interfere
with the supply of the river. The conservators of
the district declare that the continuance of this
system will prevent them from improving the breed
of fish. Some ancient deeds were produced before
the Commissioners, shewing a title to fisheries at the
places mentioned, but they contained no mention of
" racks." On the other hand, proof was adduced. of
Ora repair of racks in 1799. The Commissioners
reserved their decision.
London, England, 1870-12-17

THE CARDIFF ABDUCTION CASE.

The Rev. Nathaniel Thomas, Baptist minister, and his
wife, appeared again before the Cardiff magistrates
yesterday, to answer the charge of perjury alleged to have
been committed in their trial for abducting the Jewess,
Esther Lyons. Several witnesses were under examina-
tion for the prosecution ; but their examination was not
completed at the rising of the court. The case was
again adjourned until to-day.

THE MURDER OF A SCHOOLMASTER IN
LIVERPOOL.

The trial of Richard Edwin Howchin, for the murder
of Mr. Christian Flueck, a schoolmaster, in whose em-
ployment he was as an assistant, was commenced at the
Liverpool Assizes, yesterday. The case for the prosecu-
tion was concluded when the court adjourned.
London, England, 1870-12-17

NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE.

AQUA AMARELLA restores the Human Hair
to its nristine hue, no matter at what age.
JNO. 00 NEIL and 00. have at length, with the aid of one of
the most eminent Chemists, succeeded in perfecting this wonder-
ful liquid. It is now offered to the public in a more concentrated
form, and at a lower price.
Sold in bottles, 3s. each; also 56., 7s. 6d., and Its. each, includ-
ing brush.
Red Bull Wharf, Angel-passage, 93, Upper Themes-street, Lon-
slon,
London, England, 1870-12-17

RAILWAYS.

Bristol and Exeter B6 88 Do Ist Pref 80nd5.... 66 58
Caledonian - 563, 7
859, 5,6, 51 9 Grand Trunk of Canada
Great Eastern
389, 3 - 379
Great Northern
Do A 133 134 Grand Trunk of Canada
1339 4th Pref Stock
Great Western .692 701 169, 9
70. 699, 709, 891 Great Indian Pen g 5'% 0 107 108
Lancashire & Yorkshire 13291339 1079, 9, 8
1329 Great Western ofoanada 14 149
Lon, Brigh, and S Coast 409 41 ' 149, 9
409 Do Up c Bonds. 1873.. 98 100
Lon, Chat, and Dover
129 Do 3 p c prof. Issued 80 9dis Bpm
Lon and North-Western 12711281 Madras guar 5p p
128, 79 N. ' Railway of Canada,
Lon and South-Western 90 91 -6 p c Ist Fret Bonds
909, 1 Oudo and Rohilkund g
Man, Shef, and Lincoln 4s'; 46 spo
459 Scinde, Putijaub, and
Metropolitan
629, 31 Bahia and San Francisco
Midland l2B 1289 g 7 D 0
1289, 8 Belgian N Junction
North British .-. .34' '35 Buenos Ayres Gt Sthrn.: .242 25
North-EasteniCousols.. 14391449 25
1432, 49, 9, 2 Dunaburg and Witepsk 189 181
Houth-Easterti 741 741 Dutch-Rhenish • 22 23
ktlantic and St Lawrnee 75 77 Eastern of France _..
=_iombay, Baroda, and Great Luxembourg
Central India. g 5 D 0.. 10411051 113, 9
Buff and Lake Huron .. 39 49 Lemberg Czornowitzgua
Do 59 pc 80nd5,1872-3-4 79 81 7 Zia
Cape guar 6p c
East Bengal guar 5p o 10491059 Ottoin(Smyrna to Aidin) 49 59
East Indian, g 5 p c
MI (Limited) guar 7p o .. 141 15
Grand Trunk Canada
119 San Paulo (L) guar 7p a 209 213
DO Equip Alert Bnd 1 South A ustu & Lom-Yen 143 143
charge 6p a
• 899 909 Southern of France ..,.
Do 2nd d. o
Scrip .... ldis Ipm
London, England, 1870-12-17

A BARQUE DESTROYED BY FIRE

A telegram has been received at North Shields an-
nouncing the total destruction by fire of the North
Shields barque Saxony, at Vera. The vessel was bound
for the Tyne, laden with Esparto grass and lead. She
was a vessel of 438 tons register. The crew were all
saved. The cause of the fire is unknown.

BOILER EXPLOSION AT HANLEY.
A boiler exploded yesterday afternoon at Messrs.
Fox's colliery, Hanley. It had been unused previously
for twenty years, and was now, without proper testing,
brought into full work. The premises were much
damaged, and portions carried to a great distance. Five
children playing near were severely scalded, one of whom
is not expected to live.