SEPTEMBER the fortified place of Paris not being given into our hands, we shall keep it invested during the armistice, which latter would otherwise result in Paris being able to oppose us at its expiry, reinforced by fresh supplies, and strengthened by new defences. M. Favre peremptorily declined handing over any portion of the works of Paris, and also refused the surrender of the Strasburg garrison as prisoners of war." At one of the interviews M. Favre called Strasburg the key of the house, leaving it doubtful which house he meant. "I replied that Strasburg was the key of our house, and we therefore objected to leaving it in foreign hands." 28.-Strasburg surrenders early this morning after a siege of unexampled severity. General Uhrich's starving force amounted to 17,000 men and 400 officers; and they handed over to the Prussians 1,100 cannon, 12,000 chassepots, 6,000 cwt. of ammunition, and 50 locomotives. An official The surrender was unconditional. account set forth that 400 houses had been burnt down, 1,700 civilians killed, and that 8,000 people were shelterless. The public damage was set down at 180,000,000f. 29.-Notice issued from Prussian headquarters that in consequence of General Ducrot having merely made a secret journey to Pont-àMousson, and not delivered himself prisoner there as stipulated, the consideration hitherto shown to captive French officers would have to be essentially restricted. Prussia prohibits the solicitation of subscriptions for the poor of Bazeilles, as implying a false interpretation of "the sentence executed against the village in virtue of the laws of war." 30. The Government of Tours issue a decree ordering all Frenchmen between the ages of 21 and 40, and all those who have already volunteered, to be organized into a Mobilised National Guard; all men from 25 to 35 who are subject to the army law to remain in the Mobilised Guard till their services are required by the Minister of War. Another decree places all Franc-Tireurs at the disposal of the Minister of War, and subjects them to the same discipline as that governing the National Guard Mobile. With the view of facilitating the negotiations for an armistice, the Government Delegation at Tours fix upon the 2nd instead of the 16th October as the day on which the elections were to take place for the Constituent Assembly. (See Oct. 7.) Heavy fighting at Metz, near Colomby and Ars-la-Quenexy. October 1.-New postal regulations authorizing the use of a halfpenny stamp for newspapers and printed matters under two ounces, with postal cards and open envelopes of the same value. At Rome, up till 11.10 this evening, the votes in favour of union with Italy were 40,805 1870. The Leonine City was ayes, and 1,500 noes. · Count Bernstorff, the North German Ambassador, writes to Lord Granville that the attitude of the British Government had changed with reference to the belligerents, and endeavours to prove that the position now taken up of defending the supply of arms and ammunition could not be justified either by English "As for the municipal or international law. hope expressed by your Excellency, that the German people will in a cooler moment judge less severely the attitude of the Government of Great Britain in this question than now in the heat of action, I regret that, in consequence of your Excellency's note of the 15th ult., added to the knowledge that our enemy is being daily equipped with British arms, I cannot share it. 2. In the course of their attacks on Metz, the Prussians destroy the villages of Morelly and Nouilly. 3.-The Danish Rigsdag opened by the King, who expressed a hope that the questions still pending with Prussia might be settled in a way securing future independence and ensuring good relations with southern neighbours. 4.-George Chalmers executed within the walls of Perth county prison for the murder of the toll-keeper at Blackhill in December last. He declared his innocence to the close and in the face of unusually persistent efforts from the officiating clergyman to relieve those present (951) "from the very distressing position in which we are placed." 4.-Epernon occupied by the Germans after a sharp engagement. Died at Cannes, whither he had retired for the purpose of recruiting his health, Prosper Merimée, French critic and historian, aged 67. 5.-Lord Elcho, in a letter to the Times on our reserve forces, proposes that every man should be liable to be trained to efficiency either in the militia or the volunteers; that the ballot should be enforced for the militia to such an extent as to maintain that force in the numbers deemed sufficient; that no substitute be allowed, but that men should be able to avoid a term of service in the ranks either by becoming thoroughly efficient volunteers, or by rendering themselves thoroughly qualified officers for the militia. Reilly and Co., gunmakers, Oxford-street, fined 20/. for attempting to forward 2,000 gunpowder cartridges by railway to Paris, under pretence that the packages were filled with vegetables. Intimation given that the Royal headquarters of the German troops were to be removed from Ferrières to Versailles. Died, aged 63, William Allen Miller, F.R.S., Professor of Chemistry in King's College, London. 6. Mr. Goldwin Smith writes: "Having left Germany unaided to fight for her life, we cannot now presume to protest against her taking advantage of the fortune of war to secure herself effectually against such attempts for the future. It is to be hoped that all true Liberals throughout Europe will be led by this experience to labour more steadily, and combine more closely, for the gradual abolition of dynastic and aristocratic institutions, and for the tranquil inauguration of Governments thoroughly in unison with those popular and industrial interests, the ascendancy of which is the only security for international peace, as well as for national progress and happiness." Died by his own hand, Dr. A. Matthiessen, Professor of Chemistry, St. Bartholomew's Hospital. 7.-Serious misunderstanding prevailing between the Government at Tours and the National Defence Committee in Paris regarding the contemplated election of deputies, M. Gambetta is selected by his compeers to proceed to the former city and explain the position of matters in the capital. He left Paris in the forenoon in a balloon named the "ArmandBarbès," accompanied by a secretary and aeronaut, passed safely over the Prussian lines, and reached Rouen in the evening. He at once issued a proclamation announcing that Paris had been invested for seventeen days, but that up till now the fire had prevented the enemy from establishing the smallest work. Every one is at the post assigned to him for fighting. The enceinte is uninterruptedly covered by the National Guard, who from morning until night drill for the war with patriotism and steadiness. The experience of these improvised soldiers increases daily. Behind the enceinte there is a third line of defence formed of barricades, behind which the Parisians are found to defend the Republic, the genius of street fighting. All this has been executed with calmness and order by the concurrence and enthusiasm of all. It is not a vain illusion that Paris is impregnable. It cannot be captured nor surprised. Two other means remain to the Prussians-sedition and famine. But sedition will not arise, nor famine either. Paris, by placing herself on rations, has enough to defy the enemy for long months, thanks to the provisions which have been accumulated, and will bear restraint and scarcity with manly constancy, in order to afford her brothers in the departments time to gather." 7.-General Garibaldi arrives at Marseilles from Caprera, Neu Brisach refuses to surrender, and is bombarded by the Germans. Marshal Bazaine makes another desperate attempt to break through the Prussian lines in the direction of Thionville. 8.-Judgment given by the naval courtmartial on the loss of the Captain. They found that the vessel had "capsized by the pressure of sail assisted by the heave of the sea, and that the amount of sail carried at the time of her loss (regard having been had to the force of the wind and the state of the sea) was insufficient to have endangered a ship endowed with a proper amount of stability." The Court also found it their duty to record that the Captain was built in deference to public opinion as expressed in Parliament and through other channels, and in opposition to the views and opinions of the Controller of the Navy and his department, and that the evidence all tends to show that the Controller of the Navy and his department generally disapproved of her construction. It further appearing on evidence that before the Captain was received from the contractors a grave departure from her original design had been committed, whereby her draught of water was increased by about two feet, and her freeboard was diminished to a corresponding extent, and that her stability proved to be dangerously small, combined with an area of sail under these circumstances excessive, the Court deeply regret that, if these facts were duly known and appreciated, they were not communicated to the officer in command of the ship; or that, if otherwise, the ship was allowed to be enployed in the ordinary service of the fleet before these facts had been sufficiently ascer tained by calculations and experiment." Ia returning Mr. May's sword, the president said the Court was satisfied that everything had beca done to save life, and that the conduct of the survivors reflected credit on themselves and the service to which they belonged. OCTOBER 8.-Mr. Ruskin writes to the Telegraph that neither the French nation nor their Emperor brought on war by any present will of their own. "Since the days of the First Empire no cottage in France has been without its Napoleonic picture and legend, fostering one and the same faith in the heart of every peasant boy, that there is no glory but in battle; and since the founding of the Second Empire no street of any city has risen into its foolish magnificence without collateral proclamation that there was no pleasure but in vice.' As to our own duty, Mr. Ruskin wrote, "We ought to help France now if we did anything; but of course there remains for us only neutrality-selling of coke and silence (if we have grace enough left to keep it). I have only broken mine to say that I am ashamed to speak, as being one of a nation regardless of its honour alike in trade and policy; poor, yet not careful to keep even the treasure of probity; and rich, without being able to afford itself the luxury of courage.' In answer to inquiries through Count Arnim, Count Bismarck assures the Pope that he might count upon the assistance of Prussia to secure his departure from Rome with all due honour. The Chancellor of the North German Confederation at the same time addressed the Italian Government on the subject, pointing out that it was the duty of the King of Prussia towards his Catholic subjects to aid in upholding the dignity and independence of the Pope. The Italian Government answered that no doubt could exist with regard to the intentions of the King of Italy to uphold the dignity and independence of the Pope. Prussian attack on St. Quentin repulsed. Conference at Vienna between M. Thiers and Count Beust. The English steamer Despatch attacked in Jersey harbour by a French mob, to prevent her carrying grain away from the island. 9. Garibaldi received by the Government at Tours, and appointed to the command of Volunteers. Royal decree issued declaring that Rome and the Roman provinces constitute an integral part of the Kingdom of Italy. 10.-Meeting of the London clergy at Sion College, to consider a proposal for renewing a An opinion Twelve Days' Mission this year. given by the bishops was read, expressing a hope that no religious services should be used in church other than those which are contained in the Prayer-book, or consits of the very words of Scripture; that no ritual should be used in any church in excess of, or in addition to, the ordinary ritual of such church; and, in particular, that no unauthorized form be introduced as a renewal of baptismal vows; that although every facility should be given for personal private communication with the clergy to those who are troubled in conscience or who require further comfort, counsel, or instruction, the services shall not be made the occasion of recommending the practice of habitual confession to the priest as a duty of the Christian life." 10. Prussia issues a manifesto to foreign Powers, protesting against being held responsible for the calamities likely to arise in the event of the Provisional Government refusing to capitulate till compelled to do so by starvation. "The absurd destruction of railways, bridges, and canals within a certain distance of Paris has not stayed the progress of the German armies for a moment; and all communications by land and water necessary for our purposes have been restored in a very short period. But we have only restored what we require for the military objects we have in view, and enough remains demolished to interrupt easy communication between the capital and provinces for a long time to come. The German commander in the case above mentioned will find it absolutely impossible to provision a population of nearly two millions even for a single day. Neither will the neighbourhood of Paris for a distance of many marches supply any means of succouring the Parisians, all that there is in it being indispensably required for the troops. Nor shall we be able to remove a portion of the population by the country roads, as we have no available means of transport. The inevitable consequence of this will be that hundreds of thousands will starve. The French rulers cannot but foresee this as clearly as ourselves. We can only fight out the quarrel forced upon us, but those who bring on such extreme consequences will be (See Oct. 20.) responsible for them." The French defeated at Artenay by General Von der Tann. 11.-Margaret Waters, "baby-farmer," executed within the precincts of Horsemonger-lane prison. She wrote a statement last night explaining that her difficulties were first created by contracting a loan for which she had to pay exorbitant interest, and that when she resorted to baby-farming it was chiefly with the view of She adearning money to support herself. mitted laying down the bodies of five dead children, but declared that the whole of them died of convulsions or diarrhoea. She perfectly understood why the case had been " up" against her, but still thought that the parents of the illegitimate children, who wanted to get rid of them by any means, were more to The prisoner blame than persons like herself. walked to the scaffold with a firm step, and, after the rope had been adjusted, uttered, in a calm and composed tone, what was described by those who heard it as a beautiful extempore prayer. She appeared to die instantaneously. "got The French make a sortie from Montmédy and capture the garrison of Stenay. Capture of Orleans after a sanguinary conflict between General Von der Tann and the Army of the Loire. The battle lasted from 9.30 A.M. till 7 P.M., and was fought on very difficult ground. (953) 11.-General La Marmora arrives at Rome as Lieutenant-Governor of the Roman provinces. 12. The Jockey Club carry a resolution for resuming the Second Spring Meeting, discontinued since 1855. General d'Aurelle de Paladine assumes the command of the Army of the Loire. M. de Kératry arrives in the Département du Nord in a balloon. Died at Lexington, Virginia, aged 64, General Robert E. Lee, a brave and skilful leader of the Confederate army, who twice threatened by the capture of Washington to turn the tide of success, and accomplish a revolution which would have changed the destiny of the United States. 13. The foundation-stone of the new Edinburgh Infirmary laid with masonic honours by the Prince of Wales, who had the preceding day been installed as Patron of the brotherhood in Scotland. Announcement made of the intended marriage of her Royal Highness the Princess Louise to the Marquis of Lorne, eldest son of the Duke of Argyll. The Middlesex magistrates refuse to renew a dancing licence to the Alhambra and Highbury Barn. Breteuil and Epinal occupied by German troops, in each case after a slight resistance. The French, without any provocation, it was reported, shell and thereby set on fire the Palace of St. Cloud. * — Various encounters, but attended with no serious or decisive result, take place beyond the walls of Paris. M. Gambetta availed himself of the opportunity to issue another proclamation, urging the provinces to do their duty. 14.-Capsizing of an iron vessel in Mitchell and Co.'s shipbuilding yard, Low-Walker, Tyne, causing the instant death of six workmen engaged near the keel, and serious injury to several others. The railway station at Strasburg reopened for traffic. General Boyer arrives at Versailles with proposals for the capitulation of Metz. 15.-The King of Portugal opens the Cortes with an assurance of his determination to maintain a strict neutrality in the war now going on between France and Germany. 16.-Soissons capitulates after four days' fighting. The North German Confederation issue Exchange Bills to the value of six and a half million thalers, bearing interest at the rate of 34 per cent. for six months. 17. Advices from Havana make mention of a hurricane along the north coast of Cuba, in which as many as 2,000 lives were said to have been sacrificed. 18.-Châteaudun taken by the Prussians, Von der Tann, after a bombardment of ten hours' duration. The Ministry at Tours now take alarm and prepare for flight to a city further removed from the enemy, 18.-Replying to Count Bismarck's circular respecting the interview at Ferrières, M. Jules Favre writes: "It is well that France should know to what lengths Prussia pushes her ar bition. She does not stop at the conquest of two of our provinces; she coldly and systemati cally pursues her task of annihilating us. France has no illusions left. For her it is now a ques tion of existence. In proposing to her the sacrifice of three departments as the price of peace, the thing offered her was dishonourthis she rejected. It is now proposed to punish her with death. Such is the position of affairs but we prefer our present sufferings, or pers and our sacrifices, to the consequences of the inflexible and cruel ambition of our enemy. France, even if ultimately vanquished, wil remain so great in her misfortunes that she will become an object of admiration and sympathy to the whole world. She required perhaps, to pass through a supreme trial-she will issue from it transfigured.' 19.-The Cambria steamer, trading between New York and Glasgow, wrecked in a severe storm on Instrahull rock, coast of Derry; 170 people on board, only one passenger-John M. Garthland-was saved, and he had been drifting on a capsized boat for hours when picked up by a passing steamer. Several smal boats, he was understood to say, were launched from the Cambria, but none were able to live through the gale in the dangerous locality where she struck. Two or three bodies were afterwards cast ashore and identified, as was also a portion of the wreck. A torchlight meeting, small in numbers and otherwise insignificant in influence, held in Palace-yard, to urge on the Ministry the duty of instantly recognising the French Republic and mediating in her quarrel. The Duke of Aosta formally notifies to the Regent of Spain his acceptance of the candidature for the crown. Died at Edinburgh, aged 71, George Moir, LL.D., formerly Professor of Rhetor and Belles Lettres. 20.-Lord Granville, writing to the British Ambassador at Berlin regarding Count Fis marck's circular of the 10th, remarks: "There are degrees of bitterness, and the probability of a new and irreconcilable war must be greatly increased if a generation of Frenchmen bebi the spectacle of the destruction of a capital-a spectacle connected with the death of gress masses of helpless and unarmed persons, and with the destruction of treasures of art, science, and historical reminiscences which are of t estimable value and cannot be replaced. Such a catastrophe would be terrible for France, and dangerous, as I believe, for the future peace a Europe; while, as her Majesty's Governme believe, it would be more painful to none that to Germany and its rulers." Explaining the exertions put forth by her Majesty's Government to secure the armistice, Lord Granville continued: "During this war two moral causes have to an incalculable degree backed up the great material power of the Germans. They have fought for the purpose of repelling a threatened foreign invasion, and of asserting the right of a great nation to constitute itself in the manner best adapted to the full development of its capabilities. The fame of these exertions will be increased if it can be truly said in history that the King of Prussia exhausted every effort for the restoration of peace before the order for the attack on Paris was given, and that the conditions of peace were just, moderate, and in harmony with the policy and feelings of the present age.' Count Bismarck replied, that he thought English mediation was being misunderstood in Paris and encouraging further resistance, while it was quite clear that after recent experiments Germany could not take the lead in negotiations. "We shall most willingly receive every proposal which may be addressed to us from the French side and which may lead to peace negotiations, and we shall examine them with a serious desire to the re-establishment of peace." 20. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge resolve that a grant of money not exceeding 10,000l. shall be applied before the 1st of January ensuing to the building and enlarging of schools in connexion with the Church of England, and the erection of teachers' residences. A short Pontifical bull affixed to the doors of the principal churches in Rome, announcing the suspension of the Ecumenical Council in consequence of the sacrilegious invasion of Rome, which might restrict the liberty of the Pope and bishops leaving for their sees. The jubilee granted on the occasion of the Council was continued. - Prince Gortschakoff instructs Baron Brunnow to make intimation to Earl Granville that the balance of power established by the Treaty of 1856 in the East had been disturbed to the detriment of Russia, and that the Emperor intended to secure the just rights of that country. Died at Romney Abbey, Herts, aged 63, Michael William Balfe, a popular English composer. 21. Dr. W. Wright, of Queen's College, elected Arabic Professor at Cambridge. St. Quentin taken by the Prussians after a slight resistance, and a fine of 80,000l. levied on the city. Sortie in force from Mont Valérien repulsed with a loss to the French of two guns and 200 prisoners. 23.-Hopes of peace again excited by the publication in the Times of a despatch from Tours, announcing that England was likely to submit satisfactory terms to secure an armistice. 24. The fortress of Schelestadt capitulates; 2,400 prisoners and 120 guns captured. At Balmoral, her Majesty in Council declares her consent to the marriage of the Princess Louise with the Marquis of Lorne. - M. Gambetta issues a menacing proclamation, urging the communes to increased resistance against the enemy, under pain of being denounced through the Moniteur. Died in Dublin, aged 81, Lord Avonmore. He was succeeded in the title by Major Yelverton, defendant in the Longworth case. Died at his residence, Gloucester Villa, Richmond, aged 93, Lord Onslow, the oldest member of the House of Lords, and a Harrovian, belonging to a "set even older than Byron and Peel. 25. The statutes determining the constitution of the new governing bodies of Winchester, Harrow, Rugby, Shrewsbury, and the Charterhouse Schools published in the Gazette. 26.-The Tours Government issue a decree authorizing the Minister of Finance to contract a loan of 10,000,000l. by public subscription in France and England. Issued at 84. Intimation made that Senator Morton, the Minister selected to succeed Mr. Motley in London, declined that post on the ground that the ascendency recently gained by the Democrats in the Indiana Legislature would lead to his seat in the Senate being filled by a Democrat. 27. Another war incident, stupendous in magnitude if not in its influence, took place today in the surrender of General Bazaine at Metz, with 150,000 prisoners (the Imperial Guard and 3 marshals, 50 generals, and 6,000 officers among them), and 20,000 sick and wounded. "This (wrote King William to Queen Augusta) is one of the most important events of the month. Providence be thanked!" The interview to arrange the surrender was held at 3 A. M. this morning, with Major-General Von Stiele, Chef d'Etat-Major of Prince Frederick Charles. The general conditions of the terms of surrender were then agreed to, but the meet; ing was adjourned till 5 P. M., when the terms were finally agreed to at Frescati, outside Metz. The conditions were: (1) All the fortresses and arms to be given up to the Prussians. (2) All officers to be admitted to parole. (3) All others to be prisoners of war. At one o'clock, writes the Daily News correspondent, it was ordered that the French army should formally lay down its arms. "There was no set ceremony, yet the affair was imposing from its very simplicity. It was conducted in detail, each corps laying down its arms in the neighbourhood of its own station. I saw the 3rd Army Corpsthat of Leboeuf-disarm itself. The Marshal himself came first, a scowl upon his swarthy features. He wheeled to one side, and stood by the single Prussian officer whose duty it was to superintend the stacking of the arms. Regiment after regiment the men defiled past, piling their arms in great heaps at the word |