The New York herald., 1870-08-09

N rrcu0u ram Is cruising OH Dover.
Pleasure travel continues In Switzerland despite
the excitement the war occasions.
The increase of the bank rates has had favorable
enect upon the grain market by purgng 1t Of specu
iatlve operators on borrowed capital.
Ireland receives the news OF the French defeat
with profound sorrow.
The Prusstan forces menace Metz ana st. Avoid.
There were illuminatlons ana public rejoicings
last night In Hamburg, Dresden Bresau and other
cities
The French prisoners are everywhere kindly
treated,
Details Of tho Battle OF Weisseubur9-King
William Anxious for Action-The Assault on
the French OutpOsts and Its ResuIts.
LONDON, August 8, 1870.
Aspecial correspondent writes from Mayence on
Thursday:-
This evening came despatch from Wessenburg,
announcing Prussan victory and the occupation
OF weissenburg. have seen the official despatch
and obtained the following additional details-
The King, on his arrival at Mayence called coun-
ell OF war and urged that the the existing in.
tivtty ceased the better, anu pressed advance.
His opinion was adopted and orders telegraphed to
attack the French outposts in the nelghDorhood of
Landau and Weissenburg.
Prussan force composed OF two line regiments,
one regiment OF Bavariau troops and some artl-
lery together about 900 strong, drove the French
before them into Wlssembourg.
The artillery was then brought up and opened on
the fortifc Of the town. The caught
fire. Seeing this and some confusion among the
French troops the Prusslans could no longer be re-
strained by their officers, who were anxious TO
reduce the town by cannonade.
The soldiers rushed forward with the bayonet and
surprised the French, who, not expecting an In.
fantry attack lor hours to come, were barrcading
and entrenching. The Prussians lost heavily, but
took eight hundred prisoners and the town. The
greatest enthusiasm prevails here and there Is an
immense crowd about the palace waiting to cheer
the King.
The same correspondent writes from Mayence
Friday midnight:-Half the prisoners taken at
Weissenburg were first marched from the citadel to
the railway They put good face on the matt er
and showed true French gaiety- The large crowd
received them WELL throwing packages Of tobacco
and cigars to their beaten foes The sOd ers all be-
longed to the Seventy-fourth regiment OF
the line. The officers were allowed to re-
tain their swords, and will be paroled on
reaching Munich. The other 400, taken at Weissen.
burg, went late last night to Erlurt There were 800
IN all. As before, wine and cigars were offered by
the Germans. but the French desired to pay for
everything. The privates were disarmel. but kept
sonaly know that the French story OF 25 O)O Prus-
slams at Saarpruck Is FALSE,
FRENCH ACCOUNT
A special correspondence sends from Nancy FRI
day morning. the following account OF the battle at
Wissembourg from the French slde:-
Whle General Douay's division, composed Of the
Seventyfoartl and Fiftioth regiments OF tho line,
the Sixteenth battalion OF chasseurs on foot,
one regiment OF Turcos and one rcgl-
ment of mounted chasseurs were busy
yesterday In the ncighbOrhood OF Wssem-
burg. They were actually started by q tremen-
dous discharge OF artillery AS the patrols, which
had been posted all along the frontier, had not
signaed the presence OF any Prassian troops, the
men believed for moment that they were sur
rounded by the enemy. This was not the case; but
the PrussianS, IN great force and vel supplied
with ariery, appeared on the heights OF Schwergen
occupying the whole OF the cou TRY near the ANAL
Davarian village or t.ia, name General Douay
ordered his troops to advance before the enemy
keeping as much a, possible behind WIssembourg
which lay Just between then ana the rrussan forces
But this precauton proved quite USELESS because
the guns were pouring a tremendous fire upon them
and The troops were fall ng in great numbers.
In the village Of Weissenburg itself tie French
retired from their iJrmer position and commenced
marching. On the right side OF the village the Prus
three rounds fell equally in Welssenburg and In the
midst OF the troops. Several houses were on fire
and large number o. soldiers lay dead wounded.
AT about eleven O'Clock General Vohcan's division
was commencing to retire. However, a new attack
was ordered. The Turcos led the way, and, bayonet
in hand, threw themselves on one OF the Prussan
batteries of artillery. All proved to be useless Had
the French Insisted on attacking the enemy any
longer there would nor have been one Of them
left alive on the ground. AS soon as what
was left OF General Douay's force began
retiring the Prusslan artillery was after them
1t was about twelve O'Clock when General Donay
fell victim to the Prussian artillery. The troops
commenced running without order. crossing the
roads and vineyards until again reaching the farest
part Of Weisenburg The number Of dead and
wounded must be very large
The remaining troops are eager to revenge the
death of their late general.
The Situniion in Paris Most Critical for Ma
pOIeon-shnlne and Humiliation ut the Army
Defents-At the fOint of Revolution.
LONDON, August 8, 1870.
The news from Paris grows hourly more serious.
None but Official accounts can come by telegraph.
1t Is from letters and Paris journals that all nelli-
gence must be gathered The declaration Of the state
| Of siege does not repress popular demonstra.
| tions, and It Is very doubtful whether the
government has force to keep order Or to put down
| any considerable demonstrations. The repub-
| licans believe that their hour approaches,
| and Paris at this moment is as likely to
rise against Napoleon as to arm a2aist Prussia.
correspondent writes on Sunday evening
rage, the fury, the disappointment Of the Partisan
| population at finding there has been q series OF
| defeats on French soil, instead OF the
| easy military promenade which they expected
| are beyond description We already feel
the state OF sege. Something serious, which cannot
fathom, has taken place, for all The cafes on the
| boulevaris are shut up. could not get from the
Boulevard Monmartre to the Boulevard des Itaiens,
| It being barred by troops.
| Iexpect to seel frightful catastr0phes from the
temper OF the people. The population Is furious on
| reading the proclamation OF the Empress and the