The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-10 00:00:00

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

STRASBURG DECLARED IN A
STATE OF SIEGE.
We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
The Siecle has re-appeared for the first time since
its suspension. It publishes no leading article.
There is, however, a short note, signed by the edi-
tors, stating that their principles are unchangeable,
and that they abstain from comment on account of
the state of siege.
The illanileur publishes a decree, announcing that
all individuals placed under the surveillance of the
high police, who have been proved to have quitted the
place assigned them as their residence, may, as a
measure of general safety, be transported to Cayenne
or Algeria, for a minimum of five years, and a maxi-
mum of ten. The same measure shall be applied to
individuals found guilty of forming part of a secret
society.
The Prefects of the places under the surveillance of
the high police will in future give the Government the
right of fixing the place the convict shall reside in
after having undergone his punishment.
Paris and its suburbs are interdicted to these per-
eons, who are bound to quit in ten days after the pro-
mulgation of the present decree.
Strasburg is declared in a state of siege.
'We read in the Patric of yesterday evening—
"A Socialist insurrection broke out on Saturday
morning in the town of Clamecy. The firemen of the
national guard of the place, with th'e gendarmery, at-
tempted to repress the disturbance. Several persons
were killed, and many others wounded. The rioters
sounded the tocsin, and remained masters of the town,
which the authorities evacuated, taking refuge in the
neighbouring hamlets. The mob from the country, to
the number of from 5,000 to 6,000, entered the town.
The sub-prefecture was pillaged and sacked. Three
gendarmes were massacred, and the insurgents de-
liberated amongst themselves whether they should
not torture their victims before they killed
them. These details were given by a gendarme,
who was fortunate enough to escape. As soon
as the prefect was informed of these events, ho
left at the head of a squadron of chasseurs. On Sunday
evening the advanced guard met at about a mile and a
half from Clamecy a patrol of the insurgents, who fired
on the troops. The cavalry returned it, and five of the
rioters fell. An officer of the chasseurs was wounded in
the hand. Fresh reinforcements of troops arrived during
the night, and this morning they bivouacked within
sight of the town, where the tocsin was heard constantly
sounding. A battery of artillery was momentarily ex-
pected, and which. would be immediately brought into
play, in order to spare the blood of our bravo troops. It
is probable that by this time the riot has been put down."
The Espirance of Nancy states that, in the night
of the 3d, an attempt at insurrection was made in that
city. Two shots were fired at the gendarmerie, and
their commander was wounded in the shoulder. The
troops of the line, however, soon dispersed the rioters,
and made several arrests.
It is said that the town of Nevers is in possession
of the insurgents, and that the department of Var has
declared against the PRESIDENT.
The last accounts received by the Government, and
those which we find in the provincial journals, are
favourable as regards all the great points of the terri-
tory, and show that in the manufacturing and com-
mercial towns there has either been no interruption of
tranquillity, or the attempts of the enemies of order
have been promptly repressed by the energy of the
authorities, and the co-operation of the national
guards and other well-disposed inhabitants. We re-
gret to state, however, that in some parts the turbu-
lent portion of the population have, under the excite-
ment of anarchical leaders and chiefs of secret so-
cieties, been guilty of excesses which have created
alarm, and show what was to have been expected if
longer time had been allowed for organization. Sub-
joined are facts, which are not without interest :
At Poligny, department of the Jura, the following
took place:—" On receipt of the news from Paris the
chiefs of the secret societies assembled in committee on
the 4th, and resolved to make an appeal to their ad-
herents in the neighbourhood. Accordingly, in the
evening groups collected in the streets, and indulged in
violent language. The Sub-Prefect, not having tan
armed. force capable of resistance at his orders, con-
voked some friends to defend his authority. At mid-
night the Socialist contingents of the neighbouring vil-
lages arrived in arms, and at a given signal all the bells
sounded the tocsin. An armed band invaded the Sub-
Prefecture, and having seined M. Chevassau (formerly a
representative), Sub-Prefect, M. Gagneur, receiver of
taxes, and his son, M. Maguin, lieutenant in an infantry
regiment, on leave of absence, lodged them in gaol.
M. Outhier, who exercises the functions of Mayor,
attempted to oppose these arrests, but his authority
was disregarded, and ho was also placed in prison.
During the whole of the night the tocsin was sounded at
intervals, and the drums beat the rappel; barricades
also were thrown up. In all the neighbouring villages,
too, the tocsin was rung. The next morning was ra-
ther more quiet; but groups assembled in the streets to
read the proclamation which the men who had possessed
themselves of the public authority caused to be stuck up.
It was an appeal to arms, and was signed—H. Bergerg,
provisional sub-prefect; J. B. Lamy, provisional mayor;
and Dorrival, provisional commander of the Republican
Guard. The mail from Paris had to go across
the plain to reach the town, but the letter-bags
were seiz ql by the insurgents. By order of the pro-
visional sub-prefect two young men went to the
houses of different persona, and took away their
arms. The Hotel de Ville and the sub-prefecture
were occupied by the insurgents. As time wore on,
however, these men began to feel afraid as to the con-
sequences of their acts; and when in the evening they
learned that some bands which they had sent against
Lone-le-Ssulnier had been dispersed—also, that strong
bodies of troops were marching against them, and that
Arboit, Salins, and the greater part of the department
remained tranquil—they lost all courage. They ac-
cordingly released all the prisoners, removed the barri-
cades, repaved the streets, and took to flight. Shortly
after the troops, headed by the prefect, arrived by forced
marches in the town, where some arrests were effected.
The prefect afterwards visited Arbois and Salina, and
returned to Lons-le-Saulnier. Subsequent accounts
state that the disturbances had broken out anew at
Poligny.
" On the 6th a tumultuous crowd, carrying a flag on
which was inscribed the word Constitution' marched
towards the artillery barracks at Strasburg, but scarcely
had they arrived in front of it than they were charged
by a detachment of horse artillery, and put to flight.
The flag disappeared, and several arrests were made; at
ten o'clock in the evening the city was perfectly quiet,
and the public establishments open as usual.
"At Clermont-Ferrand, on the sth, a crowd, to the
number of from 150 to 200, many of them strangers to
the place, assembled opposite the Post-office, awaiting
the mail from Paris. On its arrival the crowd attempted
to take possession of the letter bags, but were prevented
by the soldiers stationed to preserve order. In a short
time after the town was perfectly tranquil.
" On the sth the workmen at the tannery of La Suze,
near Le Mans, to the namber of from 300 to 350, invaded
the mairie of the commune, where they took posses-
sion of the arms, and afterwards proceeded to the gen -
darmery barracks, where they took five of the gen-
darmes prisoners. On hearing of this the Socialists of
Lo Mans prepared to unite with them. Considerable
agitation prevailed, and it was said that an attack was
to be made on the Hotel do Ville. The measures
adopted by the civil and military authorities were, how,
ever, so prompt that no attempt was made, and the
crowds which had assembled dispersed on the appearance
of the patrols, which were ordered to clear the streets.
An armed force had been sent to La Susie, where the in-
surgents had erected barricades, but little doubt existed
that they would soon be dispersed.
" Some disturbances broke out at Nouvy, near
Nevers, but they were promptly repressed. Three
rioters who had been taken with arms in their hands had
been shot.
" Accounts from Dijon state that the assassin of M.
Marey-Monge is known, but he has taken to flight. He
is one of the leaders of the demagogical party, and an-
other of the chiefs, who has been arrested, is accused of
being an accomplice with him."
The Bourse continues to be well attended, and there
was a considerable amount of business transacted there.
The Five per Cents. opened at 951. 75c, rose to
96f. 70c., and closed at 96f. 60c. for the end of the
month. The Three per Cents. closed at 58f. 850.;
Orleans Railroad Shares, 910 f.; Rouen, 5941.; Havre,
2231. 75c.; Great Northern, 477 f. 50c; Avignon, 203 f.
75c.; Vierzon, 442 f. 50c,; Basle, 160 f. ; Bordeaux,
365 t; Paris and Strasburg, 373 f. 75c.; Tours and
Nantes, 258 f. 75c.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, DEc. 9.
Boulogne and Amiens, 10 —Centrali of France :(Orleans
314—Northern of France, 141,4—Orleans-and Bordeaux, 41A3
IN—Dutch Rhenish, 3%—Luxembourg,
and Vierzon),
—Paris and Rouen, 23—Paris and Strasbourg,l2%—Rouen
and Havre, 8:1 Sambre and Meuse, 3% Tours and
Nantes, 6VB.