The Sun.
London, England, 1867-02-13 00:00:00

FRANCE.

" M. Le Play, Commissioner-General of the Ex-
hibition of 1867," says a Paris letter in the Nonvel-
liste of Rouen, " has determined on convoking the
editors of the Paris journals to invite them to con-
stitute a syndicate for the purpose of regulating the
conditions of the sale of journals inside the building.
He has, also, it is said, the intention of offering to
the journalists a handsome room for receiving
guests, in which they may do the honours to their
colleagues from foreign countries.

M. Dello Sedie has been named Professor of Sing-
ing at the Paris Conservatoire, in place of M. Paulin
Espinasse, deceased.

The communal council of Brussels has just voted
a sum of 5,000 fr. to assist workmen in visiting Paris
during the approaching Exhibition.
The execution by the JuaristS iu Mexico of Mr.
Caraman, agent of the United States at Mazatlan,
is remarked on by the Patr ie in terms of horror and
disgust ; and that journal very naturally draws at-
tention to the dreadful situation of a country where
such acts seem to be considered as nothing un-
usual :

"It is hardly necessary for us," says the writer,
" to call attention to the frightful state of anarchy
to which this unfortunate land must be reduced, to
render such deeds possible. All circumstances com-
bine to give an exceptional gravity to the one before
us ; we see the partisans of Juarez, the pretender iu
whose favour the United States exhausted all their
complaisance, putting to death, without respite or
delay, an American citizen protected by diplo-
matic impunity, but sheltered in vain by the Fede-
ral flag. What a people ! What a social state !
Such is the barbari3m to which our intervention
flattered ,itself :to be able to put an end ! The
obstacles against which it had to struggle, and which
at last prevented its success, are now known to all
the world ; and in the first rank must be placed the
jealous animosity of the United States. We here
see the first fruits of that egotistical policy. If we
did not place the interests of humanity and civilisa-
tion above the satisfaction of our own self-love,
we might exult at this first scene in the drama
of Mexican anarchy, in which American pride
has received such an outrageous affront. As to
the rest, we see that the vengeance has been as
savage, as speedy, and as barbarous as the
wrong. Such doings are in the Roman fashion ;
this commander of a gunboat taking upon him-
self, immediately and without orders, to bombard a
town guilty of an outrage on his nation. The
Mexicans, so intractable in presence of the French
civilising and disinterested intervention, will very
shortly discover that they have lost by the change,
and that the inflexible and haughty protectorate of
America is far more severe than the other would
ever have become. But we are now, thank God,
about to abandon that devoted country ! We can
leave it shaking the dust off our feet ; but, to con-
fess the truth, we cannot be much displeased that
the Americans should undertake the task of making
us to soon regretted, and that the punishment of
that rude and ungrateful race should proceed from
the hard hand which its blind hatred invoked against
ourselves."

states that the Imperial Mineralogical SoctieTra's
just celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. After aTe
Deum had been celebrated, Prince Nicholas de
Leuchtenberg, the President, stated that he had
been honoured with a rescript from the Emperor,
in which his Majesty thanked the society for its
activity and useful labours. His Imperial Highness
afterwards announced the recompenses awarded by
the Emperor to the members, both Russian and
foreign.
BOURSE, Feb. 12.—Two o'clock.—The market to-
day is heavy, and quotations generally exhibit a
decline. Threes are at 69f. 75c. ; Italian Fives
have fallen I per cent., viz., to 54f. 60c. Credit
Mobilier shares have receded Gf. 25c. —to 526 f.
250. ; and Comptoir d'Escompte 2f. 50c. Credit
Foncier shares, however, continue in request, with
an advance of 2f. 50c.—at 1,525 f. There are no
fluctuations in the Railway Department. English
Consols are telegraphed with a decline of per
cent.

____
Three o'clock.—The market has closed as fol-
lows :

4i por Cents O9 50
Do. end month —
3 per Cents. 69 80
Do. end month 69 76
Credit Mobilior
Do. end month

Bank Sharps 3580
Italian Loan 54 60
Do. end month 54 60
Mexican Loan —
Do. Bonds
Spanish Throes
Home Debt —

Crodit Foncier —
Do. end month 1523

Deferred -
"AYB.

For Account.
Orleans
Northern 1205
Lyons and Mediterranean 9lB 76
Southern b7l 25
Western. —
Eastern 547 50
Sardinian 9O
Austrian
Lombard 4lO
North of Spain —
S aragose a —
Ditto to Barcelona —
Roman.. 9O

REFORM DEPUTATION TO MR. GLADSTONE.—A
deputation, consisting of Mr. Beal, Mr. Howell, Mr.
Ernest Jones, Mr. Merriman, Mr. Hawker, Mr. Greer, Mr.
Dell, and other gentlemen connected with the Reform
League, attended yesterday at the residence of Mr. Glad-
stone, to present him with an address emanating from the
League. The deputation was met by Mr. Bright, who in
a few words introduced them to Mr. Gladstone. Mr. Beal
then read the address, which was expressive of congratu-
lation on the hon. gentleman's return and restoration to
health. It further conveyed the confidence reposed in
Mr. Gladstone by the deputation ; and, while remarking
on the honesty of purpose ever evinced by him, added
that the deputation looked forward with a belief that he
would continue to do them justice. Mr. Gladstone, in re,
ply, dwelt on the necessity of a settlement, but especially
of a prompt settlement, of the question of reform ; and
said that unfortunately the counter manifestations which
had taken place in the country of feeling and opinion op-
posed to that of the Parliament of last session, although
not only justifiable, but necessary, hal tended somewhat
to give the country the appearance of a divided nation in
the eyes of the world, and did iu a certain degree tend in
that direction. It was desirable, he thought—and no doubt
every gentleman present agreed with that view—to re-
move such impressions, and to increase that tendency to-
wards union and good feeling which had been growing up
in England between all classes until lately. He said that
the address took far too favourable a view, not of his ser-
' vices, but of his efforts, and that while ho hoped it would
not increase his own sense of them, he could assure the
deputation that they might rely upon his best services to
the community. The agitation gave him no ground for
apprehension. lie of all things desired that the problem
of reform might bo worked through, and harmony restored
in the nation. Mr. Beal then thanked Mr. Gladstone for
the courteous manner in which he had received them, and
the interview, which lasted about ten minutes, was at an
end.

The following is a summary of the information
now in the hands of Mr. Fenwick, the chief con-
stable of Chester, the doubtful points of which ap-
pear to have been in a great measure confirmed by
the experience of the last two days :
The Fenians have recently organised in New
York a band of 50, whose special mission it is to
proceed to England and Ireland, and endeavour to
resuscitate the dying brotherhood. These men are
understood to have arrived in England. Fifteen
of them are stationed in the metropolis, and there
form a Directory. Eight of them arc ex-officers of
the American army. There are also similar Direc-
tories at Liverpool, at Manchester, at Leeds, at
Glasgow, and at Birmingham. For some time past
these Directories have been making arrangements
to concentrate their forces upon some place which
was to have been named on Friday. This was not
done, but a meeting was called for Sunday at
Liverpool, and it was then resolved to attack Chester
Castle the following day, seize the arms deposited
there, cut the telegraph wires, tear up the rails, and
make good their escape by rail to Holyhead, and
trust to fortune to get across to Ireland. What
arrangements were to be made for their reception
in Ireland has not transpired. It was also under-
derstood that they would attack the Banks and
jewellers' shops. It was also given out freely at
the meeting why Chester Castle was selected. Up
to midnight on Sunday Chester was not protected
by more than half-a-dozen soldiers, on guard at the
Castle, and twice as many unarmed policemen in
the city. Under their protection were no less thaw
9,000 stand of arms (a few weeks ago there were
30,000, but the bulk have been removed for con-
version into breech-loaders), 4,000 swords, and
900,000 rounds of ammunition, in addition to
powder in bulk. There were also stored in another
part of the Castle 900 stand of arms belonging to
the Militia; and in a small building in the city were
200 stand of arms belonging to the Volunteers. It
was stated that the whole force stationed at the
Castle was one company of the 54th Regiment, and
that they were disaffected. It was stated in proof
of this that they had admitted Fenian officers,
' shown them through the barracks, the armoury,
and, in fact, permitted them to acquaint themselves
thoroughly with the place.
The first intimation received in Cheater of the
intended raid was at 12.30 a.m. on Monday by Mr•
Fenwick from Mr. Superintendent Rydo and De-
tective Inspector Carlisle, of Liverpool, and was to ,
the effect that an ex-officer of the American army,
who produced his commission as an officer in the
Fenian service, had revealed the whole plot to them.
The Mayor of Chester lives at Broughton-hall in
Flintshire, so Mr. Fenwick at once saw Mr. Mays/nor
Williams, the Deputy-Mayor, and from him went
to the commandant of the detachment at the Castle.
Prompt measures were taken, and the commandant
telegraphed to the Assist.-Adjutant-General at
Manchester for a reinforcement. They next went
to the station, and gave instructions for the trains
to be watched as they arrived. At 2.30 a batch of
30 fellows arrived from Liverpool, and were evidently
under the command of an officer. They marched
up and down the platform by twos and threes,a,nd at
length took possession of the first-class refreshment
room. They were soon followed by further detach-
ments of from 30 to 60, from Liverpool and some
from Manchester, all of similar appearance. These
dispersed quietly into the town. Early in the morn-
ing the Volunteers were called out, but as there was
some doubt whether they could act except in case of
invasion a telegram was sent to Mr. Walpole, and
his answer was that Volunteers ought not to be
employed in their military capacity in quelling
disturbances, but in point of law they would be
Justified in acting as individuals in aid of the civil
power, and in a serious emergency they might use
their arms if necessary. The Volunteers were there-
upon sworn in as special constables. By the assist—
ance of the police at Liverpool and Manchester the
Chester police were kept apprised of the different
departures of suspected bodies of men. At 3 o'clock
it was ascertained that over 500 of these men had
arrived. About the same time it was ascertained
that a number of their officers had been in Chester
over night. Early in the afternoon the strangers
became much bolder, and assembled in threatening
bodies. Fortunately at this time a company of the
54th Regiment arrived from Manchester, and the
police are strongly inclined to think that this fact
saved the Castle from an attack early in the evening,
Affairs went on quietly up to 4 o'clock, when a train
from Manchester and Staleybridge brought a rein-
forcement of 400 in one batch. Later ou 40 men
men arrived from Halifax, and 70 from Leeds.
Shortly after 5 it was ascertained that the Fenians
numbered from 1,400 to 1,500. A number of men
who were supposed to have been leaders collected at
- Lna been informed they
wouia meet for orders.
Spies and scouts had been sent out among the
Fenians early in the day, but found them extremely
reticent, and could get no clue from them. At 6
p.m. these touts brought information that the men
were forming in column on the Liverpool and other
principal roads.

Captain Smith, the county chief constable, had
draughted a body of the county constabulary into the
Castle to assist the military. Telegrams were for-
warded from time to time to the Secretary of State.
A copy of the following anonymous letter sent to
Major Grey, chief of the Liverpool Police, on
Monday morning, was received by Mr. Fenwick in
the evening, and coincided singularly with the in-
formation already in his possession :

"Dear Sir,—You could do your country much service,
as at present there are GOO men in Chester, to be increased
by night to 700, to take the arms and ammunition of the
garrison ; and, as the garrison is disaffected, it is supposed
they will do it with it little loss. They are to leave Bir-
kenhead by every train from the first in the morning. All
to be there by seven at the latest. They leave in numbers
of from 50 to GO in every train."

At night Mr. Johnson, the Mayor, convened a
public meeting, which was most earnest, and over
500 citizens were sworn in as special constables, and
paraded the town in large bodies throughout the
night. The following magistrates—The Mayor, Mr.
Maysmor Williams, Major French, Mr. C. E.
Walker, Mr. A. Potts, Mr. Frost, Mr. R. Frost,
Mr. Rogers, and others, were in constant attend-
ance for the purpose of swearing in special consta-
bles, and for advising on the action to be taken. It
was deemed advisable to call out the yeomanry, and
for that purpose the permission of Lord Grosvenor
and Lord de Tabley was telegraphed for. Lord
Grosvenor replied that he would come down by the
night mail, and accordingly he and Lord Richard
Grosvenor arrived in Chester at 12 48 on Tuesday
morning, and remained with the magistrates through
the night. Before leaving London Lord Grosvenor
communicated with the Commander-in-Chief, who
at once telegraphed that he had ordered a battalion
of Guards by special train to Chester. During the
night the Fenians evidently came to the conclusion
that the preparations were too much for them, and
as the night advanced parties of tens and twenties
were seen leaving on foot for Warrington and other
neighbouring towns.

Although all danger of any serious attempt had
died away after the town's meeting, the police were
*kept on duty, as many suspicious characters were
still to be seen in the streets. About 9 o'clock yes-
terday morning two haversacks with green bands
and a quantity of ball cartridges of private make
were discovered on a piece of vacant land close to
the railway station. Shortly after this three or four
suspicious-looking fellows were arrested in the sta-
tion yard, and being unable to give any satisfactory
account of themselves were sent back to Manchester,
whence they said they had come. After this all was
quiet again, except the assembly of a large crowd in
the station yard, until a quarter to 11 o'clock, when
a special train conveying the Ist Battalion of Scots
Fusilier Guards drew up, and as they formed on
the platform, 500 strong, they were received by the
inhabitants with a cheer which showed how much
their anxieties were removed by their arrival. They
were divided into two detachments, one of v hich was
accommodated at the refreshment-room of the Rail-
way Hotel, and the other at the Assembly Rooms
until arrangements could be made for quartering
them. All Chester turned out to welcome their de-
fenders, and it was conceded on all hands that with

Court•