The Sun.
London, England, 1870-07-26 00:00:00

RETIREMENT OF THE PRUSSIANS.

The Emperor's departure for the seat of war is again
postponed. Several journals state that his Majesty will
not leave Paris until the middle of this week. Seven
generals commanding in various armies of the service
have been appointed as the Emperor's aides-de-camp.
The Prince Imperial will have two aides-de-camp.

Marshal Ma,emaho-i has arrived at Strasbourg.

The correbpond, a s of the French Press generally con-
cur in representing the Prussians as making a retrograde
movement, and manifesting an intention to await the
French attack on the line of the Rhine.
Latest advices state that the French base of operations
extends from Strasbourg to Thionville, the centre being
established at Bitche and St. Avoid, with a second line
at Metz, capable of extension to the centre and to Thion-
vine.

All the head-quarters of the various army corps are
established in fortified places.
Adiniral Bouet Willaumez assumed the command of the
Northern squadron at Cherbourg, and hoisted his flag on
board the Surveillante. He issued a very brief but stir-
ring address to the sailors of the fleet.

Marshal Baraguay d'Hilliers has assumed the command
of the army of Paris.
It is stated that preparations will be commenced very
shortly for placing the fortifications of Paris in a propel
state of defence.

The agriculturists of the district of the Upper Rhine,
between Belfor, St. Louis, and Huningue, had been re-
quested to get in their crops as speedily as possible.
Each French regiment is now provided with 330,000
cartridges.
The Siecle demands the immediate reorganisation of
the National Guard throughout France as a wise and
necessary measure.

REPLY OF FRANCE TO THE PRUSSIAN

DENIAL.

It is semi-officially stated that the French Government
intends publishing a despatch of M. Benedetti relative to
the views of Prussia on the Hohenzollern candidature in
1869, in order to reply to the denial given by Count
Bismarck and Baron Thile to the facts stated in the
despatch of the Duke de Gramont.
It is officially announced that the French Government
being desirous of lessening as far as possible the dis-
turbance of business and private correspondence has re-
solved to allow the unrestricted transmission of interna-
tional telegraphic advices provided that they shall not
be expressed in a secret language. The announce-
ment says :—" The Prussian Government has not shown
the same regard for private interests as has been done by
this Government, since after cutting the direct lines of
communication between France and Prussia, it now abso-
lutely interdicts all telegraphic communication between
the Empire and North Germany."

A Council of Ministers has been held at the Tuileries,
at which the Emperor presided.

VISIT OF THE EMPRESS TO CHERBOURG.
The Empress visited the fleet at Cherbourg yesterday,
and was received with great enthusiasm. An Austrian
squadron of evolution is expected at Toulon. An official
decree, dated the 23rd inst., has been published, appoint
lug Viscount Treilhard Minister of France to the United
States. The Minister of War has ordered works to be
commenced to place the fortifications of Paris in a state
defence. A Council of Ministers was held yesterday at
the Tuileries, at which the Emperor presided.

NEUTRAL CARGOES.
The following Note has been addressed by the Duo de
Gramont to Lord Lyons :--

•` Paris, July 23, 1870.

. _
" M. l'Ambassadeur,—l have received the letter which
your Excellency did me the honour to write to me yester-
day, asking me in the name of your Government if the
decision just taken in favour of enemy's ships bound for
ports of the empire freighted on French account before
the declaration of war would be extended to such of the
said ships as may before the 19th of this month have
shipped cargoes on neutral account for neutral
Ports. In adopting the arrangements referred
to in the note inserted in the Journal Officiel
of the 20th, the Emperor's Government had no
other intention than to provide, in the interest of French
coramerce for a situation not included in the declaration
of the Congress of Paris of the 16th of April, 1856, as to
maritime war. In fact, without an exceptional measure
such as that which has been taken, the ships in question
and their cargoes would have come under the application
of the general principles of international law, and would
have become liable to confiscation in case of capture.
With regard to neutral cargoes shipped under the enemy's
fiag, they are covered by the general privilege
sanctioned in their favour by the declaration of
1856, and his Majesty's Ambassador in London
has been instructed to make known to the Government
of the Queen, in a note of which your excellency will find
a copy herewith annexed, that in case of the capture of
German ships, neutral cargoes which may be found on
board them will be restored to the parties interested on
proof of their nationality. To go further than this and
free enemy's ships for the sole reason that they are bound
to s neutral port, and have put to sea before the com-
mencement of hostilities, would be an actual relinquish-
ment of the rights of war. Allow me to add, M. l'Ambas-
sadeur, that the line of conduct which we have adopted
during the present war in regard to neutrals and the
enemy's flag is strictly in conformity with that which, at
the suggestion of England and in concert with her, we
adopted in 1854 during the war in the East.—Receive, &c.
(Signed) " GRAMONT."

REPORTED ILLNESS OF THE EMPEROR
NAPOLEON.
According to the Dail) News it is stated in private
letters from Paris that the reason why the Emperor Napo-
leon does not at once proceed to the seat of war is that
he is suffering from an aggravated attack of dysentery.
Other reports from Palls deny, however, that this is the
case. His Majesty, it is affirmed, is suffering
from the complication of internal disorders to
which he has been subject for several years.
In some quarters it is doubted whether he
will be able to join the army at all. The Morning
Post says the most recent advices represent the Emperor's
health as excellent. His Majesty, in a letter written to a
friend in this country, received only yesterday, speaks in
terms of firm conviction of the irresistible impulse of the
French nation ; and, expressing his confidence in the jus-
tice of their cause, avows his determination to do his duty
by his country.