The New York Herald Newspaper, August 9, 1870, Page 4

EUROPE. WAR DESPATCHES BY MAIL. First Reports from Napoleon’s Headquarters. The Force at Nancy and Scenes in the French Camp. MACMAHON'S MOVEMENT ON THE RHINE. Prussian Explosion of a Rail- way Bridge. ‘The War News and Exceite- ment in Rome. British Feeling, Politics and Progress. AT NANCY. Napeleon’s First Headquartere—Scenes Around tho Imperial Flagstafl—French FeelingHope and Confidence. IMPERIAL HEADQUARTERS, ‘Navoy, July 23, Taio, I arrived here yesterday morning. This town, sithough not fortified, is well situated for the head- quarters of the Emperor. Tie troops composing the Garde Imperial, amounting tn all to 25,000 men, have arrived, with the exception of a portion of the artil- lery, expected to-day. The whole force is encamped in @ plain watered by the river Menthe, I have Jast learned in camp that his Majesty will not be here before Monday. How long we will remain after ais arrival it is impossibie to predict. The utmost secrecy exists as to future movements. No one, from General Bombaki, who commands, to the coguettishly dressed vivandicres who are besieged by thirsty guardsmen, know anything; but all are anxious to move forward. The men are in first rate fettle and as lively as kittens, bathing in the Meurthe, stretched at length on the grass, shel- vered from the sun by their tentes @adrt, while lis- tening to the regimentul bands or playing at cards loto. The French soldiers are peculiarly clever in mak- ing themselves at home in camp. The Second Volti- geurs of the Guard only arrived this morning. Their camp is already in comfortable order. They are now boring for water, and i a couple of hours there willbe a plentiful supply. The men are cooking their dinners, which look most enticing. he weather ts fine and camp life is enjoyable. I have had some conversation with a corporal of Chasseurs, an intelligent fellow, but totally unable to under- stand what the war is about. He ts of opinion that European nations should never go to war, which is an expensive luxury for sovereigns, but destruction | © the people. “Well, then, you are not glad that war has been proclaimed?” I ventured to observe. ‘Tne corporal starting, a3 if stung by mosquitos, ex- claimed, “I? Why of course I am; France has been insulted. We are Gallic. Look at all these men ‘Thionville and Tréves, at present occupied by the Fourth Serpe, under General Ladmirault, It is com- posed of ali the troops drawa from the departments northwest, which formed part of the Chalons the Fant of this corps ig that under General Prossara, the Governor of the Prince lmperial. ‘Te Second cor 1s composed exclusively of troops which have just been exercised during six weeks in be great millitary manceuvres at the Camp of Cha- ons, In rear of the oc commanded by Ladmirault and Frossard, Marshal’ Bazaine, commanding in chief the Army of the Moselle, is concentrating at Metz four splendid divistons. the Third corps, 1s composed of three divis- tons of the Army of Paris, and of @ fourth division formed with the garrisons of Meta and Thitonvilie, ‘fhe Fifth corps, under General de Failly, com- prises the troops trom the Lorraine and Alsace, not embodied in the corps of Ladmtrault and Kazaine, with the addition of afew regiments drawao from the southeast of France. ‘The First and the Second corps, commanded by Marshal MacMahon aud General Douay (Felix), wiil be composed of all the troops from the southern provinces of Franve bathed by the Mediterranean, and the celebrated old hands from Africa—the Zouaves, the Turcos and the famous Chasseurs d’Afrique,—who figured successively 1m the Crimea, to Ttaly and in Mextco. ‘The Emperor, surrounded by his guards, under the orders of General Boubaki, will take up his posi- Uon between the Army of the Moselle, under Ba- gaine, and the Army of the Rhine, commanded by MacMalon, This crack corps’ will be posted between Metz, Noncy and Luneville, so that Rito wit wat, “auast ae ea el the Mosclie or the banks of the Rhine. ‘The Sixth corps, under Marshal Canrobert, nas taken % P tion at Chalons-sur-Marne, It is com- ol ps from the centre of France. T cannot as yet give you details with respect to the army that the fleet under Admiral Bouet-Wil- lanes” will transport to the north in the Baltic Sea, as the government has acted with great seorecy in respect thereto, The Mintster of Marine, “Admiral ult de Genouilly, has, however, already formed & division of 8,000 marines, under the orders of (iéneral de Vassoique. Before closing this letter let me gay a few words about the town selected for the imperial headquarters at the commencement of the war. Nancy, situated on the river Meurthe, is the ancient capital of the Duchy of Lorraine, now the department of the Meurthe. Under the reign of King Stanislas this town became one of the handsomest {n Europe. Although not a fortified tows, it is entered by eight gates of the Dorte ard Tonle order, ‘he popu. lation numbers 49,205, The Place Stanislas is | Very fine and is surrounded by Ove handsome pavil- tons, superb wrought fron gilt railings, two splendid fountains and a triumphal arch of the Corinthian order. It, moreover, contains statues of Louis XV., of the Génie de la France and of Stantslas, The entire work having been executed by artists of Lor- raine. Last night the place was crowded with tnbabit- ants to hear the retreat beating and to gaze on thé numberless officers of all arms sitting outside the densely packed cafés. Tie troops speak in the highest terms of their reception here, and well they may. In Paris they wero cheered; here aud boner, Ae route the people offered them unbounded hospitality. ‘We feel grateful,” said the seneenns, of Voltigeurs; ‘for soldiers who receive but five sous day have not much loose cash for luxuries.” In Paris there was plonty of enthusiasm, but here there 18 more. Ohildyen in arms crow Diop emi and those scarcely able to toddle sing the Marseillaise, THE FRENCH ON THE RHINE. With MacMahon’s Corps—First Operations of the French—The Rallway Bridse Blown Up by the Prussinns—War to the Bitter Eod— Force and Designs of the French. STRASBOURG, HADQUARTERS OF THE First FRENCH CoRPS D’ARMEE, COMMANDED BY MARSHALL MCMAHON, AND OALLED THY ARMY OF THE RUINE, July 23, 1870. Yesterday, about fonr P, M., having arrived from Paris a couple of hours previously, I went down to the Rhine to look at the outpests of the two armies that are now preparing for the impending struggte. The river is about two miles from Stras- bourg and is crossed by @ most beautiful railway bridge, of which such of your readers as have tray- elled in Europe must have a distinct recollection, One end of the bridge 13 on French soil, the other on German territory. It1s about two hundred and fifty feet long, and built of tron, of a most elegant around you now; how gentle they appear, ana re- | mark them when in batile; when the first shot Is , fired they will become demons, We are cannibals!” | and the corporal ground his teeth. I already thought they were, unto myself, ‘and shuddered. When he had biown off sufMicieut warilke steam he | became quieter, anid described the cordial manner ta which the Guard had been received along their line of route. Wherever the train stopped the people brought them drink and offered 1 them bouquets. “I refused the latter,” continued the corporal, “and said give them to us when we return as conquerors.” The worthy fellow had not the same scruples with respect to tne drink, I will Stake my existence. He has a whiskey eye. Atone place Where the train stopped, on my way irom Paris, a gentleman came to the carriage door and demanded money enough wherewith to | supply arink to the soldiers when passing | in the trains, ‘French soldiers do not | i beg,’’ sald a gentiemaniy old man in the carriage; “who has authorized you to veg for the army?” “1 am authorized to do so by the town,” replied the suppiiant. “We have already distributed forty barrels of wine.” The old gentleman in plain clovbes | found out afterwards was the general com- manding the Engineers. OPINION IN THE RANKS. igus his opinion of the and received for reply:—‘“The only thing we | dread 1s that the Prussians will get into their for- tifea towns and make it a long affair, With regard to the result we have no fear, Whether France fights Prassia alone or whether Prussia obtain allies the result wil be the same. We are sure to conquer.’ ¥rom nine hundred and ninety-nine out of ean thousand the same answer will be obtained, Wit! an army entertaining this conviction and thorough!; organized who can doubt the result? Unless, indeed, Providence should ordain otherwise the war has | assumed @ national character, Not only have the people demonstrated by nolsy clamor their ap- proval of the course taken by the Emperor, but duriog the past few days the Chambers and tne government have taken steps or have voted laws clearly indicating that the reply of the Emperor to tie Senate bas been well under- stood. It will be @ serious war, said the Emperor, aod the Chambers have endorsed the opinion. An extraordinary credit of 440,000,000 is accorded to the Minister of War; a credit of 60,000,000 to the Minister of Marine; the contingent of the class of 1870, at first fixed at 90,000 men, is in- creased to 140,000; volunteers for the duration of the ‘War Will be accepted (46,000 in Paris alone have al- ready volunteered); deputies are no longer in- eligible for commissions in the Garde Mobile; news- papers are forbidden to publish the movements of troops; the government has mobilized the entire army of the line; the Gardes Nattonales Mobiles of the three first corps d'armée have been called out; the batteries of artillery of the guard augmented. There will be artillery throughout the empire. Paris itself will have a seventh battery; and, in order to hasten the jormation of the skele- | tons of the Garde Mobile, the Minister hag delegated to the generais commanding his power of nominat- ing the oflicers. HOW THE ARMY IS MADE UP. Atthe present moment the composition of the French army on a war footing may not be uuin- teresting. The Garde Imperial—infantry. One battaiton of chasseurs & pied. ay regiments of volugeurs of tree battalions each. Three regiments of grenadiers. One regiment of Zouaves of two battalions, CAVALBY,—One regiment of carbineers of five squadrons; one regiment of cuirassiers of five squad- | rons; one regiment of dragoons of five squadrons; one regiment of lancers of five squadrons; one regiment of guides of five squadrons; one regiment of chasseurs of five squadrons. ARTILLERY—One regiment (mounted) of six bat- terles; one regiment horse artillery. ‘Total Imperial Guard, wwenty-four battallons, thirty squadrons, twelve batteries, LINE INFANTRY. Battaltons, 100 regiments of four battalions. 400 8 regunents Zouaves of three bi 9 1 regiment foreign, four battalions 4 8 regiments Turcos, four battalto 2 3 battalions from Africa.. 3 ‘20 battalions of chasseurs. - 2 CAVALRY. rons. 10 regiments of curassiers, four squadrons. 40 12 regiments of dragoons, four squadrons... 43 8 ‘ents Of lancers, four squadrons. . 82 12 regiments of chasseurs, five squadrons.. 60 8 regiments of hussards, five squadrons ru) 4 regiments of Chaseeurs d’ Afrique, six squad- - rons. . aot e¥ie ssh hbbeusee 8 regiments of spahis, ix squadrons. 18 ‘Total number of squadrons..?. ...... 262 ARTILLERY- regiments (mounted)' of twelve batteries each; four regiments horse artillery, eight batteries; one regiment pontoon corps, twelvé companies. ENGINERRS—Threo regiments of sixteen compa- oles, + . Total, 448 battalions, 262 squadrons, 212 baiteries 4 forty- t COMM] of engineers. On @ war fou! an consists of 900 hoe device, The centre part, which fs one hundred and thirty feét long, {8 a Mixture, built upon very strong stone pillars; but at each end | there 13 @ movable portion of about | sixty feet long, which can be turned back, as it were, and wheeled up parallel to each shore, thus | rendering the bridge utterly useless tor a time and completely hindering it being used asa means of crossing the river, but without destroying in any way the bridge itself should it be afterward wanted. | Now, the very history, or, rather, the very account, | of this bridge tsa history of mistrust that has ex- isted for years, ever since 1814, betweon France and Germany. When it was first constructed, some twenty-two years ago, the Grand Duke of Baden, Whose territory on the west ond it is upon, stipu- lated that it should be so built thatat any time, on the event of complications between France and Ger- many, either government should have the power of rendering it useless ag @ means of pas- sage, “but without destroying altogether a work which cost so much money, thus proving thateven so long ago as 1858 the foreshadowing of the war now about to break out was something more substantial than @ mere dream. When war was finatly declared the other day, Prussia at once took military occupation of the territory of Baden, and on either side the pontoon portion of tie bridge, of which I spoke above, was wheeled back to the shore, 80 that between the latter and the permanent part of the bridge there was @ space of sixty icet on each shore. ToPoGRAPaY. Last evening, on my arrival from Paris, I went down to loox at the bridge, and a more curious sigit it was impossible to tmagine. Upon the French side there was the outpost of an outpost—three men and a corporal, with a single sentry visible. Abouta hundred yards to the rear was a captain's party, and @ hundred yards again behind that was a bat- talion of infantry. Nothing could be calmer or quicter than the whole scene, On tho ugsian side a single sentry, with his piked helmet shining in the san, was aione to bs seen, although here and there might be distin- guished peasants and othera working in the fields, and a few soldiers in undress lounging about the custom house. It was in fact two giants looking on at each other in repose, and preparing for what must prove the death (as to European power) of the one or the other. From either side, a8 we looked on, afew passengers were passed over from one shore to the other, by Gerinan or French boatmen, who were not allowed themselves toland, On the French side there are enclosed swimming baths, such as you gee on the banks of the deine, one for Tadies, the other for gentlemen. Of both sexes sov- eral persons came down from Strasbourg while I was there to take their afternoon bath; for, next to #¢a bathing, bathiag in the Rhine 1s considered the most Invigorating regime that one can submit to in the summer. EXPLOSION.’ Ihad just tarned to ieave the spot, wondering in my own mind what would be seen here a week hence, when I felt the ground shake under me, and 1 knew instinctively that somewhere or other a mine had been sprung. 1 threw myself on my face, and the French ee near me did the same. The shock waa over in a few seconds, and when I raised a head it was to behoid a pointed shaped column of smoke some two hundred feet high ing in the air, pushing defore it, as it were, what seemed some light morsels of small sticks. Then arose the cry, “The Prussians have blown up the bridge; pass the word to the rear; they are going to attack.” In less time than I take to write the words the sup- orts and the reserve came down the road at what ench soldiers call the pas gymnastique, or what we call the “double quick time,” and in ten min- utes, or less, a brigade of infantry—risen as it seemed to me from the bowels of the earth—was on the spot. But the alarm was o false one—false, at least, 80 far as the attack was concerned. ‘As the smoke cleared away we could see that the Prussians had simply committed the utterly useless barbarity of blowing up the tron pontoon end of the bridge on their side, thus rendering it useless for trafic for at least six or eight months Giter this siruggle shall have ended. The Ught, email sticks that we had seen toased like playthings high into the air were large pieces of iron, that fell with & tremendous noise upon the Prussian side of the river, wounding, as we could see with our glasses, at least @ couple of the lookers on. COMPLETED. ‘This morning the Prussians Snished what, in their stupid wickedness, they commenced yesterday, They destroyed more effectually than before the! end of the bridge, and have now withdrawn from the opposite side to Strasbourg, or rather from imme- lately opposite to thia place. We could see their outpost at noon to-day going off on the railway. They are evidently trying to draw the French on, and have Oy laid o trap on the other side, But ‘his is conjecture, and caunot, for the present, be anything else, ges any OF THE RHINE. By the date of this letter you will see that Iam ron of 120 borses; 8 battery six guns al er bn! eers aud of the pon- of from 160 to ‘ men. COMMANDS. oom T have already given you the names of the com- Mandants of corps hott gd now give Rh ioe a eee which Sica enter eats with the headquarters of the First corps d’armée, commanded by General MacMahon, who arrived here from to-day, and who is by far tho most dashing soldier tn the French army. is of Irish origin, nis grandfather having left id On ace pee ‘of the persecution of (Re Vatnglics early La the ole si wren 7 ARSHAL MAOMAHON. 0" wv years of he He Ia entirely a golt- made man, and has risen to his present position ‘ougn his own merits, He has seen service in 8, thre Hc sa Soe fe NEW YORK HEKALD, TUESDAY, cept tn Mextoo, of which expedition he entirely dts- approved. THR CHTRY OF IIS STAPF 4s Colonel Colson, a man of about forty years of age, aud au oficer of great merit. THB CORPS D'ARMEE consiat of four divisions of infantry, commanded respectively by the following geuerais of division :— Ducrot; second, Douay; third, Rasalt; fourth, Lariique. Each divintom will consist of two brigade: each brigade of two regtmonts, och regiment ol three batialions of 509 each. ‘The cavalry of the cor» @armée consists of ono division, subdivided into four brigades, each brigade of two regiments, each regiment of five syuadrons, each squadron of two hundred horses. ‘The aitillery of the division consists of eight bat- teries of fleld guns aud four batteries of the terrible new. weapon of which we have all heard so much— the mitrailleuse. ‘ihe fact of halt of ail the latter weapons in (he French army being with MacMahon, added to the very significant fact that the Zouaves from Algeria and the Turcos, or native lignt in- fentry from that country, being also with him, shows. pila that he will have to sustain the hot- test part of the fighting, both at first and afterwards, ‘This army corps, too, has been given by the Emperor himself the designation of the Army of the Rhine, of which it is not a little proud, THR COMMANDER OF ARTILLERY under MacMahon 13 Gencral Forgeot, the same who, a3 a colonel, did such singular good service at Magenta with breech-loadera, THE NAVY Besides the above list of troops, of which more de- talis presently, there have arrived from Brest three hundred sallors of the fleet and the materials, ready to pat together, of a * FLEET OF SMALL GUNBOATS, eacn of which is to carry one heavy gun, and to neip on the Rhine the troops that are on land. THK WHOLE FORCE. The wholo of the first army corps, or army of the Rhine, consists of about 000 men, nearly all of whom have either arrived or will be here in the course of the day, The Bustern Railway of France has worked during the last ten days ten trains per day, and in each train there were about 1,600 men. Not a single accident of any kind has happened since the movement commenced. FIRST POSITIONS, The whole army 13 massed in Strasbourg, Colmas and Suverne, and is in excellent fighting order; but some of the regiments require to have rest before they move. STRASBOURG. This place in Itself 1s one of those many fine ola towns of Lurope which thousands of travellers have passed through, but which very few indeed have seen; and yet, any one with an eye for the beauties of tbe Gothic churches or who likes to have at the present Ogiimpse of what the middle ages must have been would Mud ample work to amuse himself for weeks. The magniticeat old Cathedral alone would take several days to see properly, But at present Lt 1s a town on the frontier of a country that is at war with lis neighbor, and when I have said this I have said all, From east, west, north aud south troops of all arms are pouring ta every day and all day. Tiere are uniforms of every color and kind aud slape to be seen; and from jhe Marshal himseif to the newly en- listed conscript, hundreds, nay thousands, of cvery rank in the army are to be met with, POPULARITY OF THR WAR, {t has been my lot in life to see many popular movements in various Jands, but until now { never saw anything of the Kind whicw seems to unite a whole nation like one man as this war bas doue in France, Before committing myself to this opinion, which { do with the utmost confidence, I have made it my business to talk with alf sorts and conditions of men upon the subject. Speaking Frencii quite as wellasI do Eng! and having mixea all my life with Frenchmen, I am fortunate in the facilities I have for the purpose. A little moro than a week ago I came to France, utterly misled by the English press and believing that the war was not poputar except with the partisans of the hagetestes family, Since then I have mixed with some of the highest and many of the lowest in the land. Among the former I have talked of the war with legitimatists and Orleantsts, who hate the very name of Napoleon. What they one and ail say 4s that the waris necessary—absolutely necessary— in order to re-establish the balance of power in Europe, and that they don’t praise the policy of Napoleon because it will do his dynasty good, but because It 14 for the good of the country. “I don’t fight for Napoleon; Lam fighting for my country,” is a common expression among the young inen who belong to families in which the toast ‘to the health of Henry V."? (the Count de Chambord) t3 drank every Sunday. And wo, proves the truth of what I say more than the fact that a very great number of young men of good family have volun- teored to go as private soldiera to the war. Inone regiment of chasseurs & cheval alone there are some men of means—men who-have most of them: formerly served as oficersin the army, and who now put on a private soldier’s jackel in order to aah through the war and then leave the service without any remuneration whatever. AMONG BUSINESS MEN here tt is exactly the same. Yesterday I dined and to-day I breakfasted at a table d'héte whére none but commercial men are to be met with. But al- though they know—and they greatly regretted—that the English press was running @ muck at the French Emperor, they one and all declared that the war was necessary, absolutely necessary, and that it was far better to ght and have It over than to maintain that armed peace which is more expensive than war, ve- cause it lasts so much longer. AMONG THE LOWER ORDERS, Here there can be but one opinion as to whether the war ls popular. Spegk to the readest of the roa republicans and he will at once say that the Em- peror is vindicating the honor of the country. I saw ‘at Nancy, two days ago, @ lady who was wishing her two sous fareweil, She was & middie aged woman, and probably the wife of a well-to-do shopkeeper. They were her only sons. One had been on leave from his regiment, in which he is a lieutenant; the other had but passed through the Military College of St. Gyr. The pace lady was much affetied, for both were ordered to join regiments en route for tne frontier. “Never mind, madame,” said an old work- man standing near her, ‘never mind. If you lose them both you will be doing much pour la ‘patrie.” Tho lady dried her eyes and repeated, “C'est vrat; c'est pour la patrie” (it 1s true; the sacrifice is for our country), and some of tuepeople about began the song, ; Allons, enfants de In patrio, Le jour de glotre est arrive, nd the young fellows were carried in triumph to the railway carriage, some thousands joining ta the chorus, What can you do witha people like this? They will fight—they belleve they are in the nght— aud nothing will prevent them doing 50, Another case I saw was still more touching. A man who belonged to the reserve—that tg, who, hev- ing served his reven years in the army, hac ne bome, married, got on in business, bul was table to be called out io the event of war, was so called out. He was a housepainter by trade, and bad a wile and two smail children who Could just toddie. He was on the way to the railway siation; his wife, poor creature, trying her very soul out, but apologizing to lier humbie companions for doing so, saying that France” had @ right to her husband’s services aud she was wrong to cry. Aud the two little fel- lows—three and four years old respectively—each holding a Ginger of their father's hand, were march- tng in step and singing the old refrain— A cay eat, Ga y est, Cay est. A Berlin, a Berlin, & Berlin. To mo tt seems that the very stones of France are in favor of this war, and that if such a people are beaten 1t will be wonderful, PRUSSIAN SPIES. ‘Not a day has passed since I have been here with. Out twoor three persons being caught and accused Of being spies. Yesterday an American, whose name did not transpire, .was taken, but Itberated directiy, as he could give a good account of himself, But a Frenchman, Who was taken with him, has been detained; why Iam not able tosay. And as J am writing this letter a man tn very dirty, ragged clothes, but evidently a Prussian officer, has teen marched by my window. He was caught sketching the ramparts of the fortress, and numerous notes relating to the French atmy were found upon him. Poor fellow! By all the rules of war his Ife 1s not worth very much, But why do commanders employ such very dirty means of get- ting at the truth? Why do they risk men’s lives, for that seldom if ever turns out to be worth what is paid forit? The French are very wide awake in this Tespect, and a spy within their lines bas hardly a chance of getting away unobserved. NBWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS, An order has come out absolutely prohibiting newspaper correspondents from going into the army when it moves. I went to see General Ducrow, who commands the First division in MacMahou’s corps @armée, and who ts an old triend of mine, I knew him very well ju Syria, where the French sent an expeditionary army in 1860, after the massacro of the Onristians. He has promised to in- troduce me to Marshal MacMahon, who, by the way, I knew in Algeria more than ten years ago, but holds out litue hope that any exception could be mide in my favor. How- ever, [told him point blank (laughing, of course) that go I would, and that no one could hinder me— at least under certain conditions. He laughed and said he was quite certain that he would see me thus pe what he knew of me, And he is right; for go must and go I will, But how I go is @ question which I would rather not publish just at present. There are some haif dozen loafing tdiota of lish- meo, pelongits to small papers, who are trying to get leave to go, and have not the pluck to go with- out leave. They will see nothing, invont falsehoods and sneer down those who write the truth. There are @ host of French correspondents here also; but few of them have the knowledge of the special cor- respondent craft which would enable them to take the measures I have tn this matter, PRINCE NAPOLEON, the cousin of the Emperor, has lately resurned to France, and asked his relative to give him a com- mand the army. The Lo Bae: refused point blank, and the consequence 1 that his Highness ts Mas) angry indeed. A French officer of high rank told me yesterday that if the Prince was given a divisional command, not one general in the whole army would serve under him, and there would be a <egular mutiny among the men. THB CAVALRY FOR MAO MAHON’S ARMY, ‘This force has not yet arrived, but some regiments are expected to-day. There are algo several ufaniry corps #till behind, ENGLAND, Strict Neutrality—No More Alabama Difficule tea. Lonpon, July 23, 1870, With regard to the war this governmunt will pre- perv a strict neutrallty, : A royal proclamation haa been lssued (0 command sultable conduct to the Queen's subjecta and others under her protection, reciting the penalties of the Foreign Enlistment act, which will be well remem- bered in America, It ts clearly intended not to have any more awkward eesicE grow up from slovenly observation of the duties of a neutral. No more Al an ereita eacape Cron Eeemess I if ie can be prevented. ‘There ts no attempt to define what is “contraband of war.’ bat we are told that the prize courts of the ney tye Power are the proper authorities to decide ln disputed cases of prize; and a frank warning is yiven that any Briitsh subject etting into trouble with either of the combatants y iniringing the rules of international law or ‘ihe modern usages of nations” need not look to this gov ernment for assistance, a8 ait he will receive is ‘the Queen's high displeasure.” Great Britain and Amorica=1 War Retrospect and War Actuulities=The Amorican Demo- cratic Fight and the Battles of Kings and Emperors—Po.icy and Dangers of the Great Powers. Lonpox, July 21, 1870, A little more than nine years ago in a small town on the bunks of the Mississippi 1 sat one memorable Saturday till midnight, and far beyond it, uatening to and writing down the interpretation of the olick- ing of the telegraphic instrument which was telling ofthe bombardment of Sumter and the commence- ment ofa great war which lasted for five years, cost hundreds of thousands of lives and saddled our country with a dept which still bears heavily upon ita industry and resources. To-day, in a great city on the banks of the Thames, the same Invisible but not inaudible messeuger {a clicking of news of war once more to my ear, and again it is my lot to chronicle ft, There as I was writing the sound of the drum and fife was heard in the streets, and the measured tramp of armed men resounded on the pavement as the volun- tary contingent of the litte Western town was hastening to its central square to be mustered into the service of the State, which it was, to the number of 1,000 men, by breakfast time on Sunday morning. By noon they were organized into companies, and by three o’clock they had started by rail en route to the rendezvous at the State capital. Here, from the window at which Isit, I can see a regiment of Infantry manwuvring ia Hyde Park, and can hear the well known crack of the Enfleld rifle as the men practice file firing. I startattne sound. Can Eng- land be preparing to take part in this war as llinols was in that? No, not yet. But how long will she be able to keep out of it? Time alone cau show. Our American fight was a people’s fight and had an object at its very beginning, and the outside world could sympathize with one party or the other, as their opinions or thelr sentiments might dictate, ‘The fight now commencing in Europe ts a fight of kings and emperors and dynasties, and neither side has any very strong claim upon the approval or sym- pathy of mankind. To some it seemed only right that the government of the United States should co- erce, by war, @ rebellious facton to submit to the administration of the executive authority by the man constitutionally chosea by the citizens to wield it. To others it appeared that, as all people had a fundamental right to be governed in what manner and by whom they pleased, the rebels were sols tee tifled in resisting to the best of their ability and in og to set up for themselves. In this war between two of the countries of Europe because @ third has chosen for its king a prince whom one docs not want, but suspects the other does, tt must strike the poo le of the world in gen- eral, and the people of the United States in partivu- lar, a8 having been declared by one Power, wijhout adequate cause, and accepted by the other with un- due precipitation. Spain, once the arbiter of the world, surely has the right to choose whom she will for her king, if she is so foolish as to want 2 king at ail, when she bas gone on so well as a repudiic, which she has been to all intents and purposes tor nearly two years past. After getting Tid of an ettcte aud corrupt dynasty 1t 18 folly for the Spanish people to want to set up @ new puppet to begin another, which will, in ali probability, soon become as effete and corrupt as the last, and have to be got rid of in the same summary manner. But, nevertheless, if Spain go wishes it, and the Spanish fetlotd elect to offer their vacant throne to Prince Leopold of Ho- henzollern Sigmaringen orto Prince auybody else, if it were even to the son of his late Abyssinian Ma- Jesty King Theouore, 1 cannot see that any other na- Non baa any right to have anything to say in the matter. Spain, as now situated, with her soil half culti- vated, her commerce, once the wouder and envy of the world, reduced to almost nothing, her internal communications undeveloped, her manutactures hardly worth speaking of and her colonies and Rhee: lige hearly lost, has enough to do to rehabilliate herseif among the great Powers of the earth, and can only want to be let alove. Whether she is to be kingdom or republic no king or president with average common sense could for a moment think of eny her in any war, unless it might be to ro- sist the invasion of her soil. No considerations of the balance of power could or should have any effect on Spain or her pecple. Her object alone should be the bappiness and prosperity of herself, and no foreign country shouid interfere with her accom- lishinent of that object. France and peer it Rates of each other, and anxtous to show the merits of the armies which they have organ- wed, might be permitted to fight out their fancied goaral on the soll of either country; ut for the interesta of other nations whose progress aud peace Is dis- turbed by their wrangling. Belgiuni, which inter- poses between thom, if its neutrality is interfered with or its territory violated by either of the belli- gerents, will not cali in vain for the support of Eng- tand, and upon her historic soil, which has before now been the chessboard of nations, the decisive suruggle may be made. If England interferes Russia may make that inter- ference the occasion or the pretence for an attack on India or Egypt, and Austria 13 not likely, in the eveut of the tnitial success of Prussia, to stand quietly by and see Prussta become Germany or Ger- many Prussia, The United States may be drawn into it, at sea at least, if she consents to permit Prussian owned ships to sall wnder the Stars and Stripes, and 80 the Whole world may soou be ina blaze. In the meantime, England wilido the carrying traie for them all, we having no ships, and Congress, in its wisdom, having decliued to consider the message of President Grant recommending such a change in our navigation laws as would permit our merchants to buy loreign built yessela. Englishmen are congratu- lating each other on ‘Change, on tho streets and in the clubs that this most statesmanlike m essage—or ajl the messages—of the President has becn tabled and treated with contempt, ‘The Kimperor Napoleon now says that the neutral- ity of Belgium will be respected, even strategically, and Lhave no doubt he go means to respect it ag long as he can; but, if the exige” cies of war demand it, who can donbt that he woul«isesitate for a mo- ment to take a short cut across Belgian territory. How long will South Germany bo able to keep out of the mess? France may attempt to reorganize the old Confederation of the Rhine—in a military, not a commercial sense, If suecessiul the end will soon come, and the glory wiil be hers. On the other hund, Prussia may coax or force Wurtemburg, Bavaria or Baden to her side, and, other nations holding oif, the end will come just as goon and the glory will be with ner. So it will be all for glory, and, as it was with us, a tremendous debt will be created by all the Powers which participate in this quarrel, which, as it 13 not with us, their limited boundaries ard thetr aristocratic forms of fovernment will not permit them to pay off and re- duce as we have done ours, but which will be a bur- den on the shoulders of the peopie greater than they can bear. Vive ia glotre! The Question of Belgium. Lonpon, July 26, 1870, The English interest in the war is strength- ened and intensified by the apprehension that Great Britain will ultimately be drawn into the quarrel, Grave fears are entertained that such may be therre- sult, and already preparations are being made vy the government to prepare for such an emergency. Belgium 13 the weak point so far as England is con- cerned, John Bull is bound to that little dependency alike by treaties and by personal connection. The Court at St. James has always been closely allied to that of Brussels, and the aus 7 belief is that if the patie f of Belgium {8 violated by either of the Hs hata gl also will have to unsheath the enould such an event happen it is my belief that the cause of democracy will be very greatly strength. ened in Europe. . The Premier Overworked and Cabinet Ex- haustion—Mr. Gladstone in I! Health—Queen Victoria and the /Court—Eccentricities of Royalty—The Chance of Democracy. Lonvon, July 25, 1870, Wars and rumors of wars, coalitions and rumors of coalitions, leagues offensive and defensive, fill the public mind with the gravest anxioties, dis- tarb the equanimity of English statesmen and cause something like consternation at the Court. ‘Taxed beyond the powers of physical endurance, Mr. Gladstone finds himself at the outset of a tre- mendous European crisis worn out in health and quite unable to grapple with the work which is daily imposed apon him. Well skilled as he is in all the windings and intrigues of European diplo- macy—versed aa few men aro in all the history of Continental nations—liberally endowed as he is by nature fer grappling with difficulties and tura- tog aside danger, Earl Granville yet finds the bur- den of the Foreign Office at this momentous epoch well nigh intolerable, and is glad to seok the assistance and advice of his colleague the Premier, Never, perbaps, in modern history has an occasion arlaen that more stronals soauires the exerciae of AUGUST 9, 1870.-TRIPLE SHEET, wisdom and judgment; and before the Franco-Pras- sian dispute is settled the ancient routine and cum- brous red-tapeism of the Foreign Department will be tested to their utmost. Earl Granville is ex- tremely anxious to do all he oan to uphold the dignity of England while mediating as far as cir- cumstances will permit. He works night and day, and counts no toil too great which is likely to be in the least degree productive of, good results, Almost every hour he {sin commanication with Mr. Gladstone, and the two are having a heav, time of it, what between hard work and want o! sufficient sleep. The Premier's health is in fact causing the greatest apprehension to hia friends. He has gone through @ session of altogether un- recedented hard work. Irish land has vexed im and education has ted him; and just at the very time when he was looking forward to the repose of the recess has coise the terrible con- tinental complication, with all its heavy calls upon hia time and mind. Great as is the strain which has thus been put upon Mr. Gladstone, it has been vastly aggravated by an unfortunate whim of the Uecosg Disre- garding altogether the convenience of her ministers, she has gone down to Osborne on the plea of ill health, and cannot be scen except A an immense amount of trouble. Her Cabinet ministers whom the exigencies of the public service compel to have daily audience with her, are compelled to use the telegraph extensively and under venient amount of travelling. rl Granville, especially, is at his wits’ end as to what courso toadopt. Communications from the Continental Courts pour in upon him hourly, most of which require to be submitted to the Queen, and couriers have constantly to be despatched to tho Isle of Wight conveying messages and receiving answers. Mr. Gladstone is by uo means pleased that her Majesty should have absented herself from Lon- don at so critical a time, and some of the minis- ters, whose duties have thereby been very much increased, are inclined to resent her conduct. Til health is the plea that is urged by the Queen by x of excuse; but this is an apology which 6 public generally refuses to accept. Her state of health is not such as imperatively to demand that she should reside at the seaside. Mr. Glad- stone is much more In need of quiet and repos he is, in fact, serlously ill, and yet he sticks to his post, d makes eyery consideration give place jo the exigencies of the public service. I need not say that tho Queen’s conduct upon this ocoasion has been very mnch ani- madverted upon. It has beea condemned in the most unmeasured terms, and is causing the radicals and republicans to raise their old cry against the ugelessness of royalty and the expense of court pomp and parade. ere her Majesty suffering any physical or bodily pain her subjects would unanimously sympathize with her; but very few among the people really believe that such is the case. fae ipyegt ca no longer seek to disguise the fact that she has ak extremely eccentric since the death of the Prince Consort. Formerly she was the idol of the people; she went out and in among them freely and unconstrainedly, dis- charging the duties of her high station to the satisiaction of all but the extreme democrats. Now all this is changed. She is whimsical and irritable, takes strange notions into trer head, and juite wilful,and even obstinate. She keeps her- self locked up in her state apartments and is scarce seen by any buther ministers, Even when she does consent to take part in some public memorial she generally breaks her promise, says she has a megrim, is overcome by the heat, or is unable to bear the fatigue consequent upon an appearance among her subjects. It is not to be wondered at that such a Puccal peo- ple as the Bugiieh should resent such conduct and should raise the question “Of what use is there having @ queen at all?’ Least of all surprising is itthatat a time of great public danger and anxiety, when the whole Continent of Europe is wrapped in the red flame of war, there should be much open grumbling at the course she is pur- suing. This discontent on the part of the public has iound voice in the columns of the London Times itaglf, which has léctured her Majesty very severely for her seclusion, and spoken out some home truths which have literally caused the hair of rigid old tories to stand on end. What the immediate result maybe fs not of much importance; but the ultimate result of hor conduct will most assuredly he to give an im- petus to the democratic movement in England such as it has not yet acquired. Vast Preparatious for War. {From the Cork Reporter, July 23.) All kinds of British stores and materials fof war- lke purposes are to be put ina state of readiness, Ej\Jorts for that purpose are being made at the Royal Arsenal and other government establishments at Woolwich. In accordance with an order from the War Office, to the effect that everything was to be placed in a state of efticlency, a working party proceeded yesterday from the Royal Carriage epartment to the grand depot for the purpose of overlooking and ropairing where necessary tho stores, consisting of = carriages and iimbers be- lonping: tothe Royal Artillery siege trains, together with the reserve stores for artillery. ‘These are re- quired by the artillery only when on active service, and have not.boen used for some years. Great activity prevails in most of the departments tn the Royal Arsenal. esterday morning over 300 men and boys were taken on. In the Royal Carriage Department. about 100 smiins und 100 carpenters were entered, Tho remainder, Recap ary So laborers and boys, were taken on in the yer Laboratory Department. The scene in the square gerd the main gate of the arsenal was one we have not witnessed since the close of the Crimean war. The square was literally filled with workmen anxious to gain employment, many of whom had come from @ long distance icr that purpose, At nine o'clock they were allowed to go down to the department with the other workmen, and the au- thorities selected those they required. The greater part uf tho day was occupied by the medical oMcers In passing those engaged, The number of hands wiil be increased in most of the departments untt! at least the reserve stores are placed on the ordinary | among footing, below which some time since they have been allowed to sink. First Actiona, Treves, July 27, 1870, A slight encounter took place yesterday at Rheim- hen bridge between French and German troops. e The former were repulsed aud leit one dead on the eld. On Tuesday, 25th, four German oMicers and four @ragoons making @ reconnotssance were met aad dispersed near Niederbronn by a French regiment of cavalry, and one alone returned. ROME. The War Nows in the Holy City—Infallibility and the Sword—Summons to the Kuights of Maita. Rome, July 16, 1870, ‘The shrill clarion of war so suddenly aad startitugly sounded on the Franco-Prussian frontier has not failed to produce a thriliing effect on the decisions of the court of Rome for the delays and difficulties that were foreseen a few days ago; with respect to the promulgation of the infallibility dogma have vanished, as if by enchantment, and that ceremony is positively announced for Monday next, the 18th inst. . No doubt Plus IX, bears in mind the old proverb, “Delays are dangerous,” and resolves to carry his hardly won attributes into effect before the tncaicul- avle contingencies of war may render them mere abortive scuemes. Two days ago a German prelate, the Bishop of Wurzburg, residing at tho Austrian ecclesiastical establishment of the Anima, died of Roman fever in its most violent form, called permceosa, together with his servant, after o1 eight hours’ iliness, They had been taking a carriage airing in the cool of the evening after a sultry day, but on returning home they were both seized with shiverings, then delirium ‘and finally death. With such examples aud the war news before them it is not surpris that the fathers should be most urgent to complete the business before them on the best terms that they can obtain, and then take oe as speedily as pos- ie A meherel Cover} Be Eaves expected for jonday night and Tues . On ascount of the suddenness of this windup the splendor of the accompaniments of the ceremony will not be so great or complete aa if there had been a little more time to prepare them. The principat point of interest remaining is to know: how many ‘and which of the opponent bishops will remain to thunder out their non placet actuaily ta the Pope’s hearing. Several have already left Rome, satistied with thetr protest in the general Co! ation, aud the government docs not object to their golug, mind- en of tne Itallan proverb, “4 nenico che sugge ponte oro." * The Knights of Malta now in Rome are s0 few in number that they do not sufice for a guard of honor; ‘aphed to les for ten kni Sime to Kome directly to mount guard in the Coun- cll Hall on Monday morning. FOUNO DROWN:0, ee An inquest was held on Sunday, at Peliam Bridge, Westchester county, by Jueiice Meeks, on the body ofan unknown man, which was washed ashore on Long Island Sound, near that place. The remains had evid been im the water several days, and were clad Ine ‘white shirt and linen drawers, no marks of violence were discovered the Jur, dered 4 verdlot of Peete kay Grownlpa. a fs supposed PP tiere been an inmate of one of the unilo instirabions la tao vicumly of the Sood, PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE Prominest Arrivals in This City Yesterday. Colonel Fane, of Gigland; George M. Pullman, of Chicago, and General 6. HB. Marvin, of Albany, are at the Brevoot Honse, Senator J. W. Nye, of Nevada; D, 8. Wilson, of Towa; -Oharles Knapp, of England; Major 8. P. Armstrong, of Ohio; Colonel J. P. Sandford, of lowaj Captain H. B, Lowry, of the United States Navy; J. W. Le Barnes, and C, BE. Sherman, of Washington} Dr. L, Jones, of Texas; F. H. Pierpont, of Virginia, and C. Stanford, of Schenectady, are at the Aster House, James H-Gould, of Savannah; Major N. T. Greer, of Memphis; E. B. Judson, of Syracuse; General J. ©, Fremont, of Tarrytown; Genoral J. Hayden, United States Army, and Dr. R, 0, Muatone, of Ten nessee, are at the St. Nicholas Hotel, Dr. Vedi, of Washington ; H. S. Towell, of Mon taua; A. Geessell, of Memphis; a. T, Wilson, of Washington; T. W. Bally, of St. Joseph, Mo., and J. K, Atterly, of Miastsstppt, are at the Metropolitan Hotel. Colonel S$. M. Johnson, of Washington: p, r. Ken- ner, of New Orieans; H. Gebhard, of Japan; Colonel ‘W. J. Whalen, of Charlestown; H, 0. Leroy, of Poughkeepsie, and fH. F. Newhall, of Boston, are at the New York Hotel. D. Al. Follett, of Boston; T. H. B. Davis, of New Haven, and.F. P. Steele, of Philadeipbia, are at tha Westminster Hotel, Commodore Strong, of the United States Navy, ts at the Clarendon Hotel. Colonel B. M. Leatherman and W. R. Moore, of Memphis; Colonel H. 8. McComb, of Delaware; Coi- onel W. Montgomery, of London; M. Cortright, of Erie; 0. Bushnell, of New Haven; General A. Ba ford, of Kentucky; Colonel J. Archer, of St. Louls; Judge Comstock, of Syracuse, and Dr. Kirwin, of Montreal, are at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Mr. Estrader, of the Spanish Legation; W. 8, Ban tington, of Washington; T. E. Raesale, of Washing- ton, aud 0, A. Longfeliow, of Cambridge, are at the Albemarle Hotel. Colonel O'Donnell, A. R. Parkhurst aud B, A, Coray, of Balumore; General Barnum, of Syracuse, and Enoch Taylor, of Memphis, are at the Hodman house. a Personal Notes. 4 The Regents of the University of the State of New York conlerred the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature upon Aoratio Seymour and Willlam Cullen Bryant. * William Cullen Bryant fa with bis family at the old homestead in Cummington, Berkshire couaty, Mass. Miss Agnes Ethel has gone to Lake Mahopac. Harriet Beecher Stowe is in Stockbridge, Masw The R. A. M. of Stockholm has made an Honorary Fellow of Madame Clara Sohumann.—Bosion Adver> aser, THE DISCUSSION ON POLYGAMY. Tho Backdown of Brigham Youna—How the Rev. Dr. Newman is Received by the More mon Organ in Salt Lake. (From the Salt Lake News, August Ei. Several allusions have been made of late in the public journals to the proposed visit of Dr. New-~ man, of Washington, to this city for the purpose of holding a public discussion on the principal of celestial marriage, or as it is called, polygamy. Somo of those who have written upon this subject seem to be under the impression that Mr. Newman has been challenged to come here and discuss, and that it is in acceptance of that challenge that he roposes to visit this city. What share the Doctor as had in putting this idea in circulation we can- not say. We first saw 4 siatement made in the New York Hepa to the effect that Dr. Newm: had received a challenge from the authorities the Church in this place to come here and discuss the subject of polygamy, and that in response to it he was making the necessary preparations. ‘This we knew to be untrue, so far as the chal, lenge being sent from here was concerned, and we also knew that Dr. Newman must have bee: aware of the falsity of the statement, and that, neeessary, he would deny it. This was our rea- son for suffering the article to pass without notice. But it seems that Dr. Newman is willing, if:not de sirous, that the impression should prevail through- out the country that he is soming out here for the purpose of holding a discussion on the principle mentioned, and that his visit is in response to an invitation or ohallenge to take effect from bere; for despatches have been sent over the wired stating that he was preparing to come; and the last, published a few days ago, stated that he was going ‘‘to start the next day for California, atop- ping at Salt Lake City, to debate with the chamy pions Lap Safe Nov, there is not the slightest objection to Dr. Newman or any other respectable Christian min- ister of character and standing coming here and speaking in our Tabernacle and to our congrega- tion upon any principle which he holds as # part of his religion; and we do not presume there would be the least objection to his speaking against any principle in which we believe, so long ashe confined himself to the Bible, and his lan« guage were courteous and fair. From the earliest lays of our settlement of this country ministers of every denomination, who were men of respecta- bility and standing among their own people, have, had this liberty freely accorded them whenever they requested it, and frequently withoat asking for it. Apostates from the truth—for reasons which aro patent to every person of reflection—aro the only class who have been denied the ae Bat our elders, In their visits to the East, have not equal liberality extended to them. One gentleman to whom, at his request, the privilege of speaking twice was accorded on one Sunday last summer, when visited by our elders after his return home, per- emptorily refused to give them the uso ue his meeting house, and scarcely treated them with ordinary civility. In nearly every instances when ministers have been appea ed to for the use of their meeting houses the results have been simf ar. If Dr. Newman should come here to lecture we Sa that before he have the punices of thi Tabernacle accorded him he shall pledge himsel to grant to any elder of reputation and standing in the Church of Jesus of Latter-day Sainte the same oppor: Sh of speaking in his church and to congregation in Washington city, when- ever the request shall be mas of him, he of course roger" the right, as we do here, of reply- ing to or following him in his remarks, Dr. New- man, or somebody for him, wishes the country to nderatand that he is coming here to lecture. He ls preceded by a grcat flourish of trumpets, and itis looked upon as a matter of course that he will have the Tabernacle and the congregation to listen to him. Wedo not know ier he is coming or not, or if he does come whether he will } be desirous to speak or not; but if he does ha ought to ask for nothing here that he would not be willing to grant in return at eee These one-sided favors, however good the 0- sition may be that prompts thom, inevitably be- come tiresome after awhile. 4 HEAVY FRAUD IN. JERSEY CITY. Last evening detectives Carroll and McDonavan arrested @ man named Benjawin G. Briggs, in Jer- sey City, on @ charge of tendering forged checks tor $2,000 and $1,600. The complainants are Messra, Adolph Huttemeyer and Alexander Bruce. The former alleges that Briggs aber from him the store at 04 Newark avenue, Jersey City, and at four o'clock in the afternoon, when tho bauk~ had: closed, gave him a check in payment for $2,000. hen Huttemeyer presented the check the bank next day he found that no auch individu: ‘as Briggs kept any account there. He algo charges the prisoner with having stolen fifty cents from the tlilin his store. Bruce accuses Briggs with cheat- ing him out of $1,600 by the similar process of ten. dering a bogus check, The accused was committed to await examination. An individual named Oliver H. Taylor was algo arresied as an accomplice of Briggs. A HORSE THIEF CAPTURED IN HOBOKEN, A German named Frederick Beyer was caught tn Hoboken by ald Ringe yesterday for stealing @ horse from a farmer in Hackensack. The animal was in his possession and ho confessed to havin) taken it, He was committed to prison to awail trial. CRICKET. A game of cricket will be played on the grounds of the Manhattan Cricket Club, between tho Paterson frat, eleven and the Manhattan seoond eleven, to morrow morning, at ten o'clock. MURDER WILL Ovt.—An old murder has come to light at Norfolk, Va. The Journal of that place says:—“During the war a soldier was mard near the old race course, on the road to Peddle’s Rest, and robbed of about $250. A letter has been re- celvea in this city, giving a full ant of the mur. Sete tor ceene en setectivenciea.? It mppearal upon the track of the tet the party muraered was of good family, bi wilaly disposed, and his relations are a $e all in thelr power to bring. tho justies, Whoever they may De’ ned ty Darden ta