The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-01 00:00:00

THE SUiN, LONDON, MONDAY MORNING, AUGUST

during which Count Bismarck always desired that his per-
sonal ideas should be adopted. The letter continues
thus :—" In one of these conversations, in order more
clearly to comprehend his combinations, I consented
lo draft them, so to sayf at his dictation. The form as
well as the contents clearly shew that I confined myself
to reproducing the scheme as conceived and developed by
him. Count Bismarck retained the draft,wishing to submit it
to the King. I informed the Imperial Government of
the communications which had been made to me." The
Emperor rejected them as soon as they came to his know-
ledge. The King of Prussia himself did not appear to agree
to them, and since then M. Benedetti had not resumed the
subject with Count Bismarck. In conclusion, M. Bene-
detti says—" The object of Count Bismarck in publishing
this document has been to mislead public opinion, and to
anticipate indiscretions which we on our side might have
committed."

of the French troops has been well received at
the Vatican. France has received personal assur-
ances from King Victor Emmanuel, that Rome
should be respected, and the September Convention
scrupulously observed. If, however, contrary to expecta-
tion Garibaldian bands should be formed, they would be
immediately dissolved by the regular troops.

Three companies of a battalion of Chassenrs arrived o
Saturday at Marseilles from Rome. The remainder I(
the troops are expected in successive detachments.

In the Italian Chamber of Deputies yesterday, Signor
Visconti- Venosta stated that the French Government
had officially notified the Cabinet of Florence that France
was disposed to revert to the September Convention by
withdrawing her troops from Rome. The Italian Govern-
ment had taken note of this determination, declaring at
the same time that Italy, having never, as far as she was
concerned, given notice of withdrawal from the Conven-
tion, would continue thoroughly to execute its provisions,
reckoning upon a reciprocal scrupulousness on the part of
France in observing her own engagements.

ABROGATION OF THE AUSTRIAN
CONCORDAT.

The Vienna Official Journal has the following note :
In consequence of the definition of the dogma of In-
fallib'ity the Government has resolved no longer to main-
tain the Concordat vt ith Rome, which will therefore
cease to be valid. The Chancellor of the Empire has con-
sequently taken steps to notify the Roman Curia of the
formal abrogation of the Concordat, and the Emperor by
an autograph letter, has instructed the Minister of Pub-
lic Worship to draw up the necessary bills to be sub-
mitted to the Reichsrath for That purpose."

THE DAN ÜBIAN PRINCIPALITIES.
The Bucharest newspapers mention a xumour of an in-
tended occupation of the Danubian Principalities by
Russia, and advocate the armament of the troops and an
energetic attitude on the part of the Government.

AUSTRIAN DIFFICULTIES.
An Austrian Imperial decree has been published this
morning, ordering the dissolution of the Bohemian Diet,
and immediate new elections. The Prime Minister gives
as the motive for the dissolution of the present Bohemian
Diet, the expediency, of throwing open to the entire popu-
lation of Bohemia an opportunity of bringingabout a com-
plete representation of the different provinces in the
Reich3rath. "This," the 'Minister concludes, " would
be followed by a definitive removal of our internal dif-

erences.:

expressing the love and respect of the Conference scut by
the venerable Dr. Dixon in his extreme age and blindness.
Discussion on the case of Mr. Hughes was resumed at
eleven, and was concluded at two o'clock. The 'report to
be published on Monday. The Rev. John D. Gedenis to be
on the commission for the Revision of the 01(1 Testament.

Mr. Geden is one of the most accomplished linguists

the kingdom.

At midnight on Saturday a party of miners and iron
workers at Motherwell, near Hamilton, Lanarkshire,
having quarrelled, a free fight ensued, lasting two hours.
One of the miners, named Groggan, was so much injured
that he died this morning.

FEARFUL COLLIERY ACCIDENT AT
I'EN GAM.
On Friday morning, six men were employed in drivin
two branch headings at the New Pit, near Pengam
Three men were in each heading, both of whicl

reached towards the old working;, which had been
closed for forty-two years, but of the close
proximity of which the men appear to have been ignorant.
A shot was fired in one heading, and the men retired for
the explosion, after which one of the three men thought
he heard a trickling of water. They advanced to see, when
the whole burst upon them in an overwhelming flood.
Two of the men hastened away, giving the alarm. There
were about 100 men dowh at the time. The third man,
Thomas Prosser, must have been struck by something, or
becoming confused and terrified, have stumbled and
fallen, for he was drowned, his body not being re-
covered until four p.m. :here are three shafts and a
ladder pit, so that the men were quickiy out of the
way of the water which came rushing in upon them. Two
men, however, VI. Morgan and David Davies, turned
back in search of their sons, Richard Morgan and John
Davies, and all four were cut off by the accumulating water.
It was at first feared that the five men were lost, but by
dint of pumping, syphon pipes, and water trams, the
water was speedily got under, and a fall of almost 2i
inches obtained per hour, so that at 3.30 some brave
fellows penetrated up the working and found the body
of one man, Thomas Prosser, who leaves a
widow and six children totally unprovided for.
At this time, too, not finding any more bodies, the
searchers shouted, and thought their calls were responded
to ; this filled all with hope. At 5.30 p.m. some more
men ventured down, and returned with the as-
surance that their shouts were answered, and
that the poor fellows had retreated to the higher
workings and were safe. At 6 p.m. others who had
gone down reported that they saw a light, shewing that
the sufferers had air, and that all cause for fear of

death from suffocation was at an end. At 6.30 a band
of four brave fellows went down, determined to wade
through and to remain until they had found their fellow-
workmen. We may add that this new pit, which has a
depth of 90 yards, has been in full working for 20 years,
and has had but one accident in all that time—that was a
boy killed by a fall. The pit is owned by the Nessrs.
Protheroe, of Newport.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

CITY BETTING—SATURDAY.
ST. LEG-ER.
9to 4 agst Kingcraft (offered)
7to 1 agst Macgregor (offered)
7to 1 agst Palmerston (offered)
1000 to 70 agst Kim?. o' Scots (taken)
20 to 1 agst Captivator (offered)
500 to 20 agst Astolfo (taken)
1000 to 15 agst Valois (offered)
PLACE BETTING.
7to 1 agst Astolfo (taken)
• CESAREWITCII.
1000 to 10 agst Sweet Sound (taken)

CAMBRIDGESHIRE.
1000 to 10 agst Sweet Sound (taken)

THAMES REGATTA.

This great national meeting for watermen that some
twenty years ago used to be anticipated with as much
eagerness by the river-side frequenters as the Derby is by
the turfmen, is likely to bring a good show of provincial
crews. The Tyne will send two, the Wear one, and
the Clyde is again to have a wonderful four that can row 48
strokes a minute for 15 minutes. It must be. a matter of
regret to Londoners to hear, how ever, that the Thames
ill probably be beaten again by strangers, as the
feuds amongst the watermen and the apathy that amateurs
show in supporting professional rowing' is as strong as
ever. When we consider that Royalty has a goodly batch
of watermen of its own,and that something like 2,000 free-
dom men are working on the Thames, it seems the more
remarkable that such a national undertaking like this
regatta should be left to be carried out by a few Univer-
sity men and half-a• dozen zealous London oarsmen.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—Five Shilling Day.—Admis-
mission by season tickets, 5,252; ditto on payment, 1,437;
total visitors, 6,689.

DEATH OF Mg,. GEORGE HODDER.—We regret to
announce the death of Mr. George Hodder from the
injuries he received about two months ago by a carriage
accident in Richmond Park. The deceased received
severe injuries, and the base of the skull was fractured.
Duringthe long interval which has elapsed since the acci-
dent he has scarcely ever exhibited mental consciousness,
and in spite of the excellent nursing and admirable sur-
gical treatment he received at the Richmond Infirmary,
he gradually sank, and died yesterday afternoon. Mr.
Hodder was a well-known journalist, and at the time of
the accident was engaged on the Morning Post.

THE CHARGE OF SHOOTING A FATHER.—At
Shrewsbury Assizes, on Saturday, Charles Wilson, aged
19, was charged with
attempting to murder his father,
Dr. Wilson, at Wem, in Shropshire. The doctor., it may
be remembered, was asleep on a sofa in his dining-room
when he was awakened by two shots from a revolver, both
of which took effect, but not fatally. The defence was,
that the prisoner had always been an affectionate son and
could have had no motive for such a crime, and that there
- was nothing to prevent a stranger from entering the house
and firing the shots. The jury took this view of the case
and acquitted the youth. ,
ALFRED DE MUSSET S " RHIN ALLEMAND."—
The song of the " Rhin Allemand "—a very different im-
promptu, due to De Musset, who wrote it in answer to
Becker's proud " Sie sollen ihn nicht haben, den freien
deutschen Rhein"—is also to the point now. It was at
Madame Girardin's that this was inspired. A great
number of illustrious guests were gathered that evening
around the celebrated hostess, and all were praising the
peaceful and noble lines in which Lamartine had already
answered the German poet. But Madame de Gifardin
got a little impatient at the praise, and said that shf would
have a more defiant answer, and gave the key note " Nous
l'avons en votre Rhin Allemand." Alfred de Musset
seized the challenge, and was forthwith exiled into the
garden with a cigar, which was not yet smoked out when
he was in the salon again, reading out his bold and bril-
liant verses.— Parts Correspondent of the Queen.
The Emperor of Russia is to go to the Caucasus
on the 11th of August.

The Earl of Glasgow has contributed £25 to the
fund for rearing the monument to Robert Bruce, designed
by Mr. George Cruikshank.
The Turkish iron-clad corvette, Fethi Bulend, 4
guns, arrived in Plymouth Sound, on Friday morning,
after a fine run down Channel from London. She will
sail to-day for Constantinople. The Commander-in-Chief,
Admiral Sir H. Codrington, K.C.8., paid her a visit of
inspection on Friday.

The Queen has given commands to have forwarded
to Windsor Castle for her Majesty's inspection the pic-
ture of " Christian Martyrs in the Reign of Diocletian,"
and other works by M. Dora, one of which, " The Psal-
terion," has been purchased by her Majesty for the
Royal collection.

The South London Press mentions a most revolting
it►ustration of what may result from gross ignorance. A
woman brought to a surgery the other day a child in a
nearly dying state, and the doctor elicited from her that
she had been administering spiders to it as a cure for
whooping-cough.

At the Maidstone assizes, on Thursday, a builder
named Foreman and his wife obtained a verdict for £l,lOO
damages against the mayor and corporation of Canter-
bury. The defendants had left a heap of stones in the
roadway, and the plaintiff and wife drove against it in the
dark, the vehicle was upset, and they sustained serious
injuries.

The Sporting Gazette announces the death of the
Rev. Charles Clarke, of Esher, better known under his
nom de plume of " The Gentleman in Black." Mr. Clarke
was the author of many clever and amusing works, notably
" Charlie Thornhill," " A Box for the Season," " The
Flying Scud,"&c., and was a regular contributor to Bally
and other periodials.
A Birmingham correspondent telegraphs :—Two
leading firms in Birmingham are reported to have just
received extensive inquiries from Government for military
arms to be supplied in a very short time. An unusual
activity has sprung up, and the number of hands em-
ployed in the military trade is being increased as fast as
men can be got.

The Goodwood Meeting, says Bell's Life, has in-
fluenced future events in a very small degree only, and
the St. Leger betting is not likely to be disturbed at all by
the result of any races save those in which Tabernacle and
Sunlight played so conspicuous a part. The running of
the first-named colt in the Stewards' Cup proved that
we were fully justified in selecting him to win that race,
and if the horse can stay he may be four .d a very ugly
opponent by the present St. Leger favourites.

The Rev. John Farrar, who has been elected
president of the Wesleyan Conference in succession to the
Rev. F. J. Jobson, has for many years held high rank in
the connection, and has filled most of its leading offices.
He was called to the Wesleyan ministry forty-eight years
ago, and during twenty years of that time was engaged in
the instruction of candidates for ministerial work. He has
gone almost every circuit for which the Wesleyan body
provides, and is held in high esteem as a preacher.