The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-29 00:00:00

ME SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29. 1870.

A CLUE THROUGH A LABYRINTH.

GREAT BOAT RACE AT SOUTHAMPTON.

(CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAM.)

Another and yet another quarterly Index to the Times,
being issued from the press by Mr. Palmer as the months
roll round, seems to realise to us anew the immense bene-
faction he ha 3 bceowed upon his subscribers by this com-
pilation. Practice has already got his and his assistants'
hands well "in " to the work thus courageously under-
taken ; and, even now, although the series is of compara-
tively recent date, the Index, gnat ter after quarter, is ap-
prox4nating more and more nearly to perfection. Whim-
sically, it may be Laid, bat very distinctly nevertheless, it
recalls to our reco'lection one of the most remarkable of
the many wonderful definitions given to the world by Dr.
Johnson in the original quarto edition of his Dictionary of
the English Language, namely, the definition there given
by him of—
" Nrrwonk—Reticulations and decussations, with in-
terstices between the intersections."

The four-oared race between a Thames and a Southamp-
ton crew came off over a five-mile course in Southampton
Waters yesterday afternoon. The London crew were John
Coxen, 9st. 61b. ; Joseph Sadler, list.; W. A. Messenger,
list. 61b. ; George Hammerton, stroke, 12st. 41b.; Edward
Surk, coxswain, Est. The Southampton crew were W.
Budden, lOst. 91b.; T. Sutton, list. 81b.; S. Maple, list.
111 b.; J. Holderway, stroke, list. 51b.; h. Yarrold,
coxswain, Est. 121 b. The stakes were £2OO.
The Thames crew, who had the choice of
positions, took the lead at the outset, and
in a couple of minutes' time were a clear boat's length
ahead, rowing 43 strokes a minute. They were soon,
however, overhauled by the Southampton men, who suc-
ceeded in time heading them by a boat's length. By the
time half the distance was covered it was found that the
race was virtually over, the Southampton men increas-
ing their lead steadily, and coming in first by some 200
yards. Time 31 minutes.

A bewildering mass of network, of reticulations, of
decussations, ofiinterstices, and intersections is the Times;
but thanks to Mr. Palmer's industry and perseverance
every one of them is now labelled and can be upon the
instant identified. The maze of facts massed together
day by day, week by week, month by month,
in Printing House-square, can at length every quarter be
threaded easily enough under the guidance of Mr-
Palmer's Index-finger through all the winding involutions
of that great newspaper labyrinth. A friend, indeed, be-
cause so often a friend in need, is the compiler of this really
wonderful book of reference,

THE EXPLOIT OF THE GARIBALDIANS AT
CHATILLON.
The Daily News correspondent at the headquarters of
Ricciotti Garibaldi, writing on November 20, says :—On
the 17th he (Ricciotti Garibaldi) was at Sanlieu (whence I
addressed my letter of yesterday evening), and whilethere
received information that 800 Germans belonging to the
7th Army Corps, 11th Division, 27th Infantry Brigade, 3rd
Landwehr Regiment were quartered at Chatillon whichlies
at about 30 kilometres from here, and 89 kilometres
N.W. of Dijon, on the road to Troyes. Ricciotti had with
him 560 men, composed of the Chasseurs du Doubs, the
Chasseurs du Havre, the Chasseurs de Lisiere, the Chas-
seurs de la Haute Savoie, the Chasseurs de Drole, the
Chasseurs des Alpes, and the Francs-tireurs des Vosges.
He immediately ordered a forced march to Mont-
bard, forty-two kilometres distant. He reached
this place during the night, and the following
morning set out for Culmier -le - See, where he
arrived at two o'clock in the afternoon. Ac Cuhnier-le-
See he rested his men, and at one o'clock in the morning
he marched towards Chatillon. At 5.30 a.m. he arrived
within a few hundred yards of the town, and immediately
divided his troops into two corps, one being sent to make
an attack on the western side, on the road to Tonnerre,
while the other attacked on the southern side. Eighty
men, the Francs•tireurs of the Haute Savoie, were then
despatched to surround the Hotel de la Cote d'Or, where
Colonel Ricciotti knew the staff officers were lodged.
The attack was commenced by surprising the
enemy's foreposts and the sentinels. A little be-
fore six o'clock in the morning the Colonel en-
tered the town at the head of his troops, and fight-
ing then commenced. The war cry was Garibaldi!
Garibaldi ! Almost all the German soldiers were in bed,
so that an immense number were made prisoners in the
houses, the doors of which were forced open. The
remainder rushed out only half dressed, with whatever
arms they managed to lay their hands on, and as they
appiared in the street were shot down. In the meanwhile
the Francs-tireurs of the Haute Savoie had surrounded
the Hotel de la Cote d'Or and surprised the officers in bed.
The greater portion of them were made prisoners, but
several desperately defended themselves and were killed.
Shortly after Ricciotti and his men entered Chatillon
aouriers on horseback were despatched by the enemy in
the directions of Chaumont and Laignes. After thirty
minutes' fighting a considerable number of the enemy
abandoned the town, escapading along the high road
towards Chaumont. The remainder, who had recovered
from their surprise, concentrated themselves in the Town
Hall, which Colonel Ricciotti decided on not attacking,
the enemy holding a tolerably strong position, and he
not wishing to lose men, his force being small. Besides,
news came that 4,000 Prussians were at Laignes, and
1,400 on the road between Chaumont and Chatillon, and
it was feared that reinforcements would arrive before the
Town-hall could be captured. I should mention here
that of the 060 men who marched with Ricciotti from Sau
lieu, 150 had been sent out reconnoitring, so that in reality
he made the attack with only 410 men, while the enemy
numbered 800. After holding the town for precisely
one hour and a quarter, news came to the effect that the
German troops, already signalled on the road from Chau-
mont to Chatillon, were only 5. kilometres distant. Col.
Ricciotti at once ordered a retreat, which was executed in
the most perfect order, the Francs-tireurs carrying along
with them 167 prisoners, among whom were 11 officers, as
well as 62 horses, four carriages, saddles, and harness ;
arms such as sabres, revolvers, and needle-gun rifles ;
quantity of ammunition, several cases of German cigars,
and boxes of papers and letters belonging to the staff.
The enemy's losses in killed and wounded are calculated
at more than 100, among whom two colonels and two
majors were killed—one of the colonels was
,the Ger-
man prefect of the town. From the state of his
helmet it would seem that he had been shot right through
the head, for the back chews distinctly the place where
the ball came out. Our losses were three killed and
twelve wounded, but one of these is very dangerously
hurt, and not likely to live for more than a
few hours. After retiring from Chatillon, Ric-
ciotti proceeded at once to Culmier-le-See, and
after resting his men for a few hours set out for Montbard,
where he arrived during the night. He has since heard
frem Chatillon that after his retreat the enemy left the
townhall and killed every one they found in the streets,
and even fired into some of the houses through the win
dows. A gentleman who escaped from the town during
the night, accompanied by his wife, says that patrols pass
down the streets every quarter of an hour, and that the
enemy talked of sacking the town during the night.

THE MONEY MARKET.

CITY, Two o'CLoox.

On the Stock Exchange to-day the settlement engages
attention, almost to the exclusion of general business.
The tone is steady, but there is rather a tendency to re-
action than to further advance. The Funds are lower.
Consols are quoted 921 to 93 for money and account ;
Foreign Stocks are dull, bur the prices now current are
about the same as last night, with the single exception of
Turkish, which are lower.
An instalment of 20 per cent., making 40 paid, falls
due on Thursday next on the French loan for 210,000,000.
Messrs. J. S. Morgan and Co. notify that they are
authorised by the French Government to receive the in-
stalments due, payable by decree in France, upon the
loan for £30,000,000 issued in Paris in August last, from
such subscribers as may desire to make the said payments
in London.
The Mexican dollars (2480,000) recently arrived from
Vera Cruz, have been sold at 581 d. per oz., being -id. de-
cline from late quotations.
Telegrams received from Lima announce that the bill
ratifying the Dreyfus Guano Contract, which lately passed
the House of Representatives, has now received the sanc-
tion of the Senate by 26 votes to 10. This question,
which has, for more than a year pait, strongly agitated
political feeling in Peru, is therefore finally set at rest.
At Frankfort quotations have been very firm. Austrian
railway shares have advanced 5 florins on account of the
opening of the line from Bresiach, on the Danube, to
Bodentach, on the Saxon frontier.
A report that the Silver Eagle, with troops on board,
from Sydney, had been lost off Cape Horn, is stated by
her owners, the Merchant Shipping Company, to be
wholly without foundation. The Silver Eagle arrived off
Queenstown on Friday last (all well) and proceeded at
once for Plymouth, where the troops are to be disem-
barked.
Berger, Spence, and Co.'s weekly report says :—The
continental trade generally has been very good, and large
quantities of alkalies have been shipped. American con-
sumption, although satisfactory, is not quite so extensive
as last week, and the Canadian trade is almost closed for
the season. The home market does not manifest so much
buoyancy as it did a few days ago ; but manufacturers
continue to be well supplied with orders in this branch
for present execution ; and, as a rule, they prefer waiting
rather than give quotations for forward delivery. There
is an improved feeling to be noted in the metal market of
the past week. Scotch and Cleveland pig irons remain
steady. Copper is firm, and tin maintains its value.
Lead continues to sell freely, and a lively demand is also
springing up for speller.

M. JULES FAVRE ON THE ARMISTICE.
The text of M. Favre's last circular to the diplomatists
has been published in the French papers. He says it is
necessary for him to reply to Bismarck's circular, inas:
much as the Prussian Chancellor speaks as through the
Government of National Defence hed directed M. Thiers to
open negotiations, and Prussia had only consented out of res-
pect for the character of the envoy, and the desire of con-
ciliation. M. Favre says it is important to remember
that the proposal for an armistice originated with the
neutral Powers, and he cites a long passage from
Lord Grauville's despatch to Lord A. Loftus, and says the
English Ambassador at Tours employed the same
language without ever raising a doubt that an armistice
must necessarily be accompanied by a revictualling of
Paris. The opinion of Bismarck himself could
scarcely have been different, since during the mission
of General Burnside he spoke to him of an
armistice without revictualling as being what the Govern-
ment of National Defence could not accept. None of
the Powers entertained a doubt on the subject,
and M. Thiers himself never questioned the prin.
ciple, but merely its details. The statistics of
daily consumption were carefully prepared by the
Minister of Commerce, and M. Favre plainly intimates
that Prussia would have agreed to these terms had it not ,
been for the news of the bricute of the 31st. The Govern-
ment, he says, are ready to convoke an Assembly if an
armistice with revictualling is allowed ; but it must be
understood that in refusing it, Prussia, in spite of all her
declarations, seeks to augment their difficulties by pre-
venting them from consulting France.

The Edinburgh Courant states that 2,109 Snider-
Enfield rifles intended for the use of the Queen's Edin-
burgh Rifle Brigade have been brought from Birmingham
to Edinburgh.

CHAMPION'S BILLIARD MATCII.—A match be-
tween J. Boberts, jun. (the champion) and J. Bennet, for
the champion challenge trophy and £lOO, was played last
night, at St. James's Hall, in the presence of a large
gathering of the nobility and gentry, amongst whom were
the Nawab Nazim of Bengal, the Princes his sons, and
suite. The champion played indifferently at tho com-
mencement of the game, and, moreover, had very bad
luck. Bennet was altogether as fortunate, making several
lucky flukes from time to time. The game was 1,000 up,
and when the first 100 was called for Bennet, who took
the lead from the commencement, Roberts stood at 76.
At 200 for Bennet, Roberts stood at 144 ; and for the
remainder of the game the respective numbers were as
follows :-300 and 238, 400 and 295, 500 and 354, 600 and
446, 700 and 553, 800 and 635 ; 900 and 764. At the close
of the game, which was, as usual, 1,000 up, Roberts stood
at 905, having made some magnificent play towards the
last, and shewing that he possesses the quality of fighting
a good up-hill game. The best break by the winner was
47, and by Roberts 54. Long odds were laid on the
winner, whose victory was loudly cheered.
A SKELETON KEY THIEN.—A lad of about 18,

gave the name of Cox, was brought up at the West
minster Police-court, charged with stealing a skeleton
clock, valne £4. Mr. Thomas Hawkins Rogers, of 16
Peterborough-road, Fulham, said the clock produced was
stolen from his house on the 19th pf September, or there,
aborts. lle identified it at a pawnbroker's on Saturday
week. Walter Bird, assistant to Messrs. Debree and
Avant, Drury-lane, produced the clock pledged on the
26th of Sept. for 15s. by the prisoner. Mr. King, a carman,
proved giving prisoner a ride about the time of the robbery
and he had a clock with him like the one produced. It
was pledged in the name of Henry Palmer, an associate of
the prisoner, and now in custody for various offences. A
detective proved searching the prisoner's room ; he found
three Brainah keys, and all the robberies had been done
with these keys. Remanded for a week.