The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-18 00:00:00

SIEGE RECORD OF METZ.

The special correspondent of the Times has collected
some very interesting facts connected with the siege of
Metz. The blockade of Metz commenced on August 19
and terminated on October 29, or a little over 70 days.
In the month of August the consumption was,-52 horses,
1,517 oxen, 1,269 calves, 1,330 sheep, 1,353 pigs, and 18
lambs and porkets ; in September, 975 horses, 353 oxen,
48 calves, 919 sheep, 1,091 pigs and 17 lambs. The
accounts are made up to the 28th of each month, and from
September 28 to October 28, 1,897 horses, 90 oxen, 6 calves,
169 sheep, 301 pigs, and 4 lambs or porkets were killed.
From October 28 to October 30, when the town
commenced re-provisionin, 124 horses were killed, and
scarcely another animal. `this was fora population about
40 per cent. larger than usual. The number of horses
killed for the use of the army averaged from 140 to 150
per day. There was a total of a little over 10,000, which
tallies with these daily figures. But it was not until
September 10 that the army began to eat horseflesh ; as
regards other cattle the correspondent could not procure
estimates of the consumption outside the walls. The
several corps and divisions had slaughter-houses
of their own and kept their own accounts. For
the garrison inside the city and in the hospitals,
numbering 40,000, there were at the commencement
of the blockade 600 oxen, some pigs, but no sheep.
In reference to the mortality during the investment of
Metz, the correspondent says :—" The average daily mor-
tality of Metz is from five to six. '. During the sieve it
rose to 25 daily, the highest maximum of any one day
being 35. It has sunk in the last ten days to 20. As re-
gards the army, those killed during the sorties were mostly
buried where they fell. The deaths in camp and hospital
were in August 468, in September 2,094, and in October
1,522. This last is not complete. This mortality arose
chiefly from three epidemics—dysentery, typhus,
and smallpox. In the first stage of the siege
dysentery was formidable, in the second typhus,
in the last, and at this moment, smallpox.
The writer proceeds to give extracts from a complete file
of one paper and the odd numbers of another, which are
interesting in that they shew how the people were deceived
in the matter of news, and record the action of the mili-
tary authorities. He goes on to say : "On October 15
appears a decree of Coffinieres, ordering that in future
only one species of bread should be made, and strictly
delivered by ticket-400 grammes for adults, 200 for
children, 100 for infants. This woke up suddenly the
population from the delusions which the journals
were daily propagating. On October 16, the
commander sharply replies to an address from the
Municipal Council expressing their dolorous astonishment
at the tardy intelligence given them the day before of the
approaching failure of provisions, and stating that the
city will not assume the responsibility of a situation of
which they neither knew anything nor were forewarned.
On October 20, 12,000 rations were to be delivered daily to
the indigent, and on the 21st the military authorities
notify that they can deliver no more horses for the city.
The number which have died during the siege from ex-
haustion and want of forage and shelter has been enor-
mous. On October 22, at the meeting of the Council, Gene-
ral Coffinieres and a number of officers enter. He has
come to tell them plainly the position of the city as
regards provisions. He can give bread to the army and
city for very few more days. As to the few horses left,
he has come to consult with them upon the best means of
consuming them. On October 23 the General issued a
decree for a mixed commission, civil and military,
charged with the selection of the horses remaining to
be killed in succession, and paid for by valuation. -As
coal was running short, no gas was to be burnt after
seven o'clock. On October 26 the horses sold
by auction for the abattoirs realised prices from
60f, to 700 f., a curious discrepancy of values
seeing that they. were all sold ptxely as butchers' meat.
After noticing the announcement of the impending capitu-
lation on the 27th of October, and the scenes which ensued,
the 2'imes correspondent concludes :—Doubtless France
has been betrayed- -there is no question whatever upon
this point, but by whom, aud.by what? By her own over-
weening vanity and presumption, and by the writers who
have pandered to these national frailties in her public
press.

In the Court of Exchequer it teas been decided
than an architect, where a building has not been corn•
menced. is bound to hand over his plans. This does not
rule the case where the building has been completed.
RAILWAY ACCIDENT AT LYONS.— An accident
occurred a day or two since on the Mediterranean line,
near Lyons. A train of goods, en route to Marseilles,
was delayed by an accident to its engine. Another engine
was sent to take it on, and during the moment it passed
to the head of the train the latter was moved on to the
other line. Unluckily at this very moment the Lyons
express came up and dashed into the goods train. For-
tunately the passengers by the express escaped without
fatal injury. An employe in the Post Office was much
hurt.
• •

-- -
CONFERMENT OF DEGREES.—III a congregation
held at Oxford yesterday, the following degrees were con-
ferred :—B.D. and D.D.: Augustus Jessott (Worcester).
Master of Arts : T. Blunt (Magdalen Hall), Augustus
Legg (Christchurch), D. Lysson (Exeter College), S.
Packford (Brasenose), W. Duggan (Lincoln), C. Reade
and E. Richards (St. John's) ; J. Lee (Anson University),
E. Penford (Worcester), A. Lloyd (St. Edmund's Hall).
Bachelors of Arts : C. S. Taylor (Merton), C. J. P. Clay
(Trinity). .The Taylorian Scholarships will prob4Ply not
be awarded until Monday.