The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-01 00:00:00

ENGLAND'S NEUTRALITY.

A dispatch has just been published from Earl Granville
to Count Bernstorff, dated the 21st October, replying to
his note of the Bth inst., on the subject of the alleged
breaches of neutrality by England. Earl Granville says
the Cabinet has never hesitated as to the course which
should be pursued, and refers to the rejection by the
House of Commons on the 4ch August of a
clause prohibiting the export to belligerents of arms
and munitions of war, and to his own expression of
opinion on the 22nd July. He justifies his having
instituted inquiries into cases mentioned by Count Bern-
storff on the ground of wild rumours circulated and bitter
articles inserted in German newspapers, and observes that
his authorities, viz., the Customs officials, the Board of
Trade, and the Small Arm.; Department of the War Office
must be more trustworthy than reports obtained by offers
of pecuniary reward. Having observed that in a
previous despatch he had shown the majority of
the facts alleged by Count Bernstorff to be
unfounded, Earl Granville refers to the state-
mens that 40,000 rifles had been ordered by Count
Palikao, and says that no trace can be discovered of any
such order having been received in this country, and that
if it was received it was not executed. As to the estimate
that the number of firearms shipped to France between
the 30th of August and the Bth of September was 120,000
to 160,000, the return shews that the supplies were less than
those drawn by France from the United States, whence
no exports have been made approaching the figures men-
tioned. Yet no instructions similar to Count Bernstorff's
have been addressed to his colleague in the United
States. With regard to the sale of the Hypatia
and Norseman, these vessels were dispatched
before the Foreign Enlistment Act, 1870, came into ope-
ration. Consequently, no proceedings could be instituted.
He reaffirms that the opinion of the Neutrality Laws
Commission was against any prohibition of the export of
arms, although this opinion was not embodied in their
report. Referring to an alleged devatch of the Duke of
Wellington, Earl Granville points out that it was a
minute on the draft despatch of Mr. Canning, the Duke
demurring to a statement that the export of arms
was not contrary to law, basing his demurrer on a
special case in which England was bound by a treaty with
Spain. Mr. Canning, however, insisted and the Duke
gave way. With reference to a prohibition of the export
of arms to be used in hostilities against the Danish
Government in 1813, this was a special case under a treaty
signed in 1670 and subsequently confirmed. Earl
Granville, in conclusion, remarks that the British
Government has been vigilant in checking any
symptoms of violation by British subjects of existing
law, as in the case of the two vessels above named
and the Irish ambulance corps. He is glad to
find that Count Bernrtorff disclaims the doctrine of
benevolent neutrality, observing that good offices
may be benevolent, but neutrality, like arbitration,
cannot be so, and he adds that the special point adduced
as evidence of Prussia's desire to increase the active free-
dom of commerce, is one which may be viewed differently
by independent powers in proportion to their maritime
strength. It is not for the first time that Earl Granville
informs Count Bernstorff that her Majesty's Government
have no jealousy of German unity, and he now expresses
his belief that so just and thoughtful a nation will not
permanently butertain feelings of rancour against England,
or, he may add, the United States, for adhering as neu-
trals to the practice which they had always adopted. In
fine, Earl Granville adheres to the one pla n argument
that international law does not forbid the export of arms,
and that it is not for England to alter international law,
much less to alter it during war time, for the benefit of one
belligerent.

Glanders among horses is causing great havoc at Saar-
'muck, where the riuderpest has almost disappeared.

At the Loire army there is an execution every day, and
the soldiers seem to be getting quite used to such scenes.
Men are shot for insubordination, &c.
The Emperor Napoleon was made aware that the fall of
Metz was imminent some days before it took place. He
seemed in great consternation.

The spoil captured at Metz is estimated to be 3,0
cannon £1,600,000 belongfng to the army, and B°°'
of the public moneys of the department. to
Captain Wagner, of the Elise, from Rio Graild°l:
Hamburg, states to his owners that on the 16th insi'•
vessel was captured by a French ship of war and taken t-
Cherbourg.
its of
The whole number of French prisoners in the lian— to
the Germans amounts now to four marshals, about
generals, 10,000 officers, and 323,003 no n-c munissiode°
officers and privates. I; It
The capitulation of Metz was announced in the Etig-.5:11
papers on the 27th. On the 29th the Siecle came out u;
an announcement that the fortress was still in a Poe°
to resist many-days.
The whereabouts of the Loire Army, so long in doubt;
has at length been established. There is, at all events]
very large force, not fewer than 80,000, concentrated
the neighbourhood of Salbris.
At Bitsche the siege is carried on in extraordinary stpot
Both sides avoid any attack. The Germans are not
strong enough to take the place, and there is no idea.
reinforcing them. The gates of the town are 'open'
vehicles and provisions pass without hindrance.
According to the Libert4 of the 28th inst. the CTeyeril*
meat of Tours have decided to remove first to Perigee
then, in case of further misfortunes on the Loire, to
mont-Ferrand. It is M. Gambetta who has induced
Government to take this resolution in opposition to the
preference manifested by his colleagues for Bolo° tin
Toulouse.
The inhabitants of Treven " make no bones" about
toe
e
annexation question. They petition Count Bismarck t
retain Metz, observing that it is of no use taking o°l°
of the fact that no German is spoken in the neighbour
hood of the fortress, for in those parts of Lorraine will:
German is spoken, and in Alsace, the hostility of ,-6
population to Germany is as great as in Metz.
people's inclinations must be disregarded.
The numerous Jewish populations of Russian rel/at
are openly manifesting an almost stronger symPathl
France than the Polish population themselves. In a greed
many towns of Poland and Lithuania religious aer'`egi
have been held in order to implore the blessing of lies
upon the French arms. As this French sympathy has bee-
increasing, these services were forbidden by the authorities'
and those who had got them up were heavily fined.
The investment of Phalsbourg goes on very slowly4°,
more than a fortnight not a shot has been fired on eitilfie
side, and the outposts yawn at each other. The garriec:,
1,500 Mobiles, are suffering great privations, and lid
nothing but bread. Even salt is beginning to fail thou,
and but for well-organised smuggling they would ion'
~,40egil
have been forced to surrender, as would be the Gas;
if the Germans had heavier guns.
eti
A correspondent of the Times saw near Metz a wretch a
group of wounded men lying on stretchers, with head de
limbs bound up, while their bearers were posed that a
ivy
photograph might be taken. "It was no little relief vi
me, and I am sure it will be to your readers, to find tiOt
this was a mere photographic farce, and that the inet3l:„
the tedious operation was over the wounded jumped fre'-t
their stretchers, threw off their mock bandages, and W,111e:0
about their usual duties sound in wind and limb.
whole thing was a mere sham, and many such shame
got up up daily by enterprising photographers."

FRENCH VA LO un.-6 ern' an correspondents of 0)
that the French fought much worse at Orleans than 70
the earlier battles of the war. One writer says that
•French cavalry regiments, under General Michel, pre
tempted a weak attack on the Prussian cavalry, but Wes,
promptly repulsed, and four or five Chasseur battaliono
decidedly the best French infantry, scarcely awaited
the/
serious attack, but retired after a few rounds, though hot
subsequently attempted a street fight in Orleans itself,
without the least success. The Mobiles fought th
best. A correspondent of the Cologne Gazelte
"The most obstinate and determined resistance ~W„,
offered in Chateaudun by a body of 4,000 Mob
This is, indeed, the more surprising as, up to the Fest
time, the Mobiles and regulars vied with each other in. 7„;
stability. But only latterly it his been shewn that 'f
Arthenay and Orleans, according to the statements °
03
1
competent authorities who were present, the regn,`,,,,
form far the most useless and unstable portion of b"
Army of the Loire. The battle which preceded
capture of ChAteaudun, which is not a regularly forti the
fiho
town, was so violent and so obstinately waged by
enemy that our artillery were obliged to open fire two
and bombard the •
MR FRENCH PRESS ON THE PEACE NEGollit'
TIONS —The Patrie thinks it would be advisable to lenl
what the proposals are before rejecting them. Sll°°L
the Berlin Government not refuse the negotiations t'D,"
French Government ought to accede to them. Franc"
has no right to expose her people any longer to war' t
paralyse industry and ruin commerce if she can 0,4°;iy
4;
honourable terms :A peace, and she must take care not 4
alienate Europe. It was the great mistake of the fa,'s
Government that it .did not manage its alliaue°o
well. The Republic must avoid falling hi%
the same error. The Patric complains that those who at,
in favour of accepting the offer of mediation made 111
England are accused of forming intrlgies with t;
1,
f°l.
Orleanist party. The France thinks that tie proposal
an armistice assumes quite another chslass.;er when Pq;
sented by the neutral Powers from that which 4
would have presented at the interview at Ferrire
or even in the officious undertakings of General Burly
side. The intermediate pOwevs, whose position gives theft
an equal right to be heard in the two camps,throw the weight
of their influence in favour of peace, and it is import3llo
that the Government at Tours should not refused t ,11,,
overtures made by Lord Lyons, and supported 1.2
the representatives of the other great neutral Poweb
In the event of the failure of thesa negotiations, it is inli
portant that there should be no doubt as to the cans° °3
the failure. If France welcomes the proposition that 1,
made to her the responsibility of the affair will fall OP°l
Prussia. The Siecte desires that no more shall be said °
ult
a peace which they never accept, for it would, res
in lowerinc, France and reducing her to a Power of th
second order. Notwithstanding their reverses, the Frenc il
are in a better position than the Prussians. Negotiation;
must be put aside, and war alone can suffice to get rid 0'
the Prussians.
ANYTHING RATHER THAN FIGHT.—As for the
food, it is abundant, and regular in delivery. The field
in which the oxen are killed, and which is close to the
part of the camp I live in when I am there, is rather
curious sight. The large expanse of ground is covered
with flayed animals, which are being cut up; with clunt,
ters and other parts of the oxen which have bee,
--
already cut in pieces; with heaps of skins Or
ther on ; with oxen tied down by the hocno,!
being felled with huge mallets, &c. All this
clone by the men of the Intendance, and here we notiee,.a
fact which snakes one question whether France is t,loije
warlike nation it has got credit for. The duties of 1
soldiers of the Intendance are certainly the most el s:
agreeable of any military duties, without the excitemenl
and glory of bearing arms and of fighting, for the men 3
the Commissariat, or riz pain-set, as they are nickname,'
never have to fight. Well, since the decrees calling
arms men from 23 to 35, &c., it is wonderful how youn,
'
men have flocked into the ranks of the Commissariat;
for, by anticipating the call, they have the privl.
lege of choosing their corps. It has beep
found necessary to close the list for eggagenttfl's
volontaires to these corps. An officio* d'intenclance, Wh
was showing me over the place, said, " You see that gtll
cooking our breakfast; he is a young barrister. Tull
cleaning those pans is a banker's clerk. As for that one
helping to skin the ox in yonder field, he was a lawyee',
and was just about purchasing his etude." (In Franc'
they purchase an etude or practice.) Certainly it is Veil
unpleasant to be taken and forced to become a soldier,
but since they had to do it, it is wonderful that yotols
men should be found who prefer taking all the drudgery'
and even a greater share of the drudgery, in order to
non-combatants.—Daily .IVews' Correspondent with. t''
Loire Annm.
. [ADVERTISEMENT. Holloway's Pills. —Wrongs snad3
Right.—Every day that any bodily suffering is persnitte
to continue renders it more certain to become chronic or
dangerous. Holloway s purifying, cooling, and streng'
thenino. Pills are well adapted for any irregularity of tl?
human body, and should be taken when the stomach
disordered, the liver deranged, the kidneys inactive, th°
bowels torpid, or the brains muddled. With this medicine
every invalid can cure himself, and those who are -wen'
and infirm through imperfect digestion make themselveB
stout and strong by Holloway's celebrated Pills. When
the system is out of order, and an unusual depression
weighs clown the spirits, a few timely doses of this 'ma '
cine will dispel the tareatening illness and spare suffering'

BIRTHS.

On'the 25th Oct.,_ a 31,
_Park-street, Grosvenor-square'

- the wife of G. 70. Trel!elyan, M.P.,. of a son.
On the 28th Oct., at Weybrid,ge, Surrey, the wife of
Gardner, Esq., of a son.

MARRIAGES.

On the 27th Oct., at Queenshill, Kirkcudbright, J°llll
Neilson, Esq., Summerlee Iron Works, to Jennie, the
daughter of the late James Beaumont Neilson, Esq., °
Queenshill.
On the 26th Oct., at the Church of Our Lady Star of thl
Sea, Greenwich, D. O'Connell Smithwick, Fsq.,
son of E. Smithwick, Esq., of Kilcreen House, 10;
kenny, Ireland, to Louisa Caroline, eldest daughter 0'
B. J. Wahnesley, Esq., of Sholley House, Blackheath,
Kent.

• DEATHS.
On the 26th Oct., Emma Jemima, Dowager Visconntess

Hereford, aged 53. v
On the 28th Oct., at 35, Clarendon-road, Notting-bill,
Mr. George Squire, of Jerinyn-street, aged 66.

Loudon : Printed by GIDEON ACLAND BOYCE,
No. 112, Strand, Printer, and Published by
THE Sus Office, No. 112, Strand, in the Precinct of tile
Savoy, in the County of Middlesex.
Tuesday, November 1, 1870,