The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-06 00:00:00

AFFAIRS AT LYONS.

A letter from Geneva to the Indepcndance .De je gives
some late news of Lyons. On the 29th, at break of day,
the Prefect was still a prisoner, though the other auth o
rities had been released on the preceding evening. The
Prefect was detained in the Council Chamber by
some excited individuals, who threatened to maltreat
him. The Garde National shrunk from beginning a con-
flict when the beating of guns was heard, and the 4th
battalion came up at quick step. Then was repeated the
, scene which I witnessed on the 15th of May, 1848, at Paris
when., the Hotel de Ville, invaded by the officials of the
revolutionary Government, resounded with the trumpets of
Grinard's company of the National Guard, and every one
asked eagerly which side the new arrivals would take. What
relief was felt when Guinard and his artilery shouted
"Vive la Constituante." The victory was won. It was
the same thing here. In the midst of the general emotion
3,000 resolute men, the Red Crosses, as they
are called at Lyons, flung themselves on the rail-
ings of
,the Hotel de Ville, and took possession of the
place, shouting "Vive la Rdpublique 1" " Vive the Lyon-
nese Municipality 1" " Vive Universal Suffrage 1" The
triumph of order was complete. After the arrest of the
ringleaders, the Prefect, released by the Red Crosser:4,
passed the National Guard in review, and was
received with indescribable enthusiasm, which was
increased by the news that a despatch from Tours had
invested him with full civil and military powers. The
Lyonnese have been greatly discontented owing to the
obstacles put in the way of all defensive measures by the
somewhat formal and routine military administration. -A
proclamation from the prefect, M. Challemel Lacour, was
soon after issued, and there was general rejoicing and
enthusiasm. It was resolved that if eufficient workmen
were not forthcoming for the fortifications, all the inhabi-
tants of the town, rich and poor, would work in turn at
them. The foreign element played an important part in
these disturbances. General Cluseret, who is no longer a
Frenchman, was the chosen leader of the insurrection,
and the Russian, Bakonnine, the cosmopolitan instigator
of all social disorder, was remarked at the head of the
bands who invaded the Hotel de Ville. He was arrested
and sent to join his coadjutors, Cluseret and Seignes, in
prison. Lyons is the second town in France, and
exercises an important influence on this part of the coun-
try, which for several reasons escapes from the influence
of Paris. Lyons is, in fact, the political capital of the
South, Marseilles and Bordeaux being chiefly com-
mercial. When I arrived at Lyons on the 27th September
I was surprised at the tranquillity of the city, and the union
perceptible among all classes. The next day there was
some disturbance, but merely of a passing kind. The
people understood that all questions of internal policy
must be adjourned until the Prussians are disposed of,
and the Gardes Nationales themselves have beers very
energetic in support of order. A letter from the
workmen's delegates, who made the demonstration on
the 28th, has been published, expressing their regret at
having been misled.