The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-24 00:00:00

THE RETREAT TO MONTMEDY.

The Paris eOrrespondent of the Pall Mall Gazette,
writing on Monday night, says after two days of great
anxiety people breathe more freely this evening, consider-
ing that Bazaine is not only safe but formidable to his
enemies. The Marshal is said to have telegraphed
to the War Minister that he is executing his retreat
with regularity, and carrying with him all his
artillery, baggage, and provisions. He asks
for a little patience and absolute silence as to
his movements. It was for this reason that Count
Palikao refused to tell the Chamber all he knew this
evening, although much impatience was manifested to
learn how Bazaine was extricating himself. •The Liberte
affirms that the Marshal has gained the line of rail from
Mezieres to Montmedy, and that he has received
the provisions and ammunitions which he had
awaited several days, and which had not been
able before to get past Sedan in conse-
quence of the übiquitous Uhlan. The Libertl also
knows that Marshals Bazaine and MacMahon are about
to effect their junction, and that they are already in
communication. According to the writer, too much
importance should not be given to the fact of
the railway communication between Paris and various
parts of the east having been cut off. According
to the Lzberte the Prussians were totally defeated on the
18th, when they. left 40,000 wounded on the field of
battle, and had to demand leave to send them
home through Belgium and Luxemburg. The Em-
peror, it is added, has left Chalons with MacMa-
hon's army, leaving behind him all his baggage,
and intent on carging at the head of the
cavalry of the Guard. In addition to these rumours,
which have restored confidence on the Boulevards, it is
said that the Crown Prince has suddenly arrested his
course-7-7ft:- tztinge-quence of the inability of Prince
Frederick Charles and Marshal Steinmetz to get rid
of Bazaine and co-operate in his movement on
Paris. It is true that M. Lesperut, deputy
tried to get to Chaumount on Saturday, and
was obliged to return without seeing his constituents.
He announces that the army of the Crown Prince is
marching on Vitry-le-Frangais by Saint Dizier, Chateau
Neuf, and Ligny, at the rate of twenty-six kilometres
a-day. Those who maintain that the Crown Prince has
suspended his march credit him with the intention of
falling back to aid the " Red Prince " and Steinmetz to
finish off Bazaine. A third version is that only a portion
of the Crown Prince's army has retrograded to Bar-
le-Duc with that intention. There is a great deal
of uncertainty still, but not the same despondency
as yesterday. M. Jeannerod, the able corre-
spondent of the Temps, was at Rheims on Sunday even-
ing, on his way to Chalons, when he learned that the
camp was breaking up, and the news had hardly reached
him before he heard the drums and bugles of regiments
on the march, and saw "at the same time a long column
of all arms wound along the Laon road as far as the eye
could reach." This looks as if Mezieres were MacMahon's
ol- jective. "In the same manner as after Woerth and For-
bach I felt comforted by the aspect of Bazaine's splendid
army, so on seeing the fresh troops, which have as yet suffered
none of the hardships of war, I felt hope return again.
Eighteen trains have arrived at. Rheims since noon, and
many more are expected to-night ; at this rate in a very
few days our effective in men and stores will be entirely
replenished." _

THE EASTERN FISHERIES.—The Great Yarmouth
boats engaged in the North Sea herring fishery have made
a fair beginning this season. Deliveries have already been
made by from thirty to forty smacks. Prices have ranged
at from £lO to £2O per last (13,200 fish).

The Lords of the Admiralty have given directions
that no surplus stores nor ships which could be of service
to the belligerents shall be sold until peace be proclaimed.
The determination respecting the men-of-war has been
the result of a communication received at Whitehall from
the Foreign Office.

A SUSPECTED FENIAN.—At Bolton an application►
for the transfer of a beerhouse license from John Proctor
to Daniel Nearey has been opposed on the ground that
the latter belongs to the Fenian organisation. The appli-
cant stoutly denied the charge, and at the suggestion of
the chief constable the case was adjourned for a week.

The steamboat Silver Spray, while coming up the
Mississippi from New Orleans, bound to Cincinnati, ex-
ploded her boilers near Memphis on the 30th of July, at
midnight, and soon after catching fire, was burnt to-the
water's edge. The passengers and crew had little time to
escape, and twenty-one were either drowned or scalded
and burnt to death, while some twenty others were
seriously injured.

The Dean of Chester headed a deputation to the
magistrates of Chester, and presented a memorial pray-
ing their worships to refuse all new applications for
licenses at the forthcoming Brewster sessions, and to
make a large reduction in those already in "mischievous
existence." The Dean stated that in Chester there was
one public-house to every 24 other houses, and that every
five public-houses found employment for one policeman.
The magistrates promised to do all they could to put a
restraint upon intemperance.
AMERICA AND THE WAR.—The Germans through-
out America are very active in raising funds for aid for
the wounded in Germany, and over $40,000 is said to
have been subscribed for this purpose in New York city.
Very few recruits for the Prussian armies have left, how-
ever. The French in New York have also opened sub-
scriptions for the benefit of their wounded. North.
German ships in American ports, with some few excep-
tions, are being laid up to avoid risk of capture. An
order for the purchase of 50,000 tons of hay for the French
army has been received at St. Louis.
SINGULAR DISCOVERY AT SEA.—Captain
of the ship Argo, belonging to Messrs. Pollock and Gil-
mour, has made a very singular discovery at sea, while
on a voyage to Quebec, on the 9th July last. It appears
that while taking soundings in about 35 fathoms water on
St. Peter's Bank, the lead brought up a spade half guinea
of the reign of George 111., dated 1788, and in a wonder•
fully good state of preservation. A similar incident has
probably never been recorded in the annals of a seafaring
life.
CUBA.—News from Habana, dated August 3rd,
says that the hot weather, the rains, and the prevailing
sickness are paralysing all operations in the field. It is
said on good authority that Bembeta, who has returned
to the Santo Espiritu region has united the greater num-
ber of the insurgents under his command. General
Rados says he has troops enough to finish the war, but
Spanish residents think the hostilities will probably be
prolonged through the winter.
TIIE FENIAN PRISONERS IN THE UNITED STATES.
—The Philadelphia correspondent of the Times writes :
" Now that the Fenian prisoners have been incarcerated
in the State prisons of New York and Vermont, efforts
have begun to secure their pardon. Having been con-
victed in United States? Courts, the power of extending
clemency to them lies with President Grant, and as the
Fenians have influence at the polls, it may, be that, aided
by the politicians, they will succeed in their petitions for
pardon. Already several members of Congress in districts
that have a large Irish vote are labouring for the pardon,
the release of General O'Neill being the first one urged.
The argument made is that the law has been fully vindi-
cated by the conviction and sentence ; that this satisfies
the British Government ; and, therefore, no international
question will be involved in a pardon. The President
will visit St. Louis in a few days, and the Fenians there
are contemplating a demonstration on his arrival to urge
him to pardon O'Neill and his fellow-prisoners."