The New York Herald Newspaper, October 3, 1870, Page 4

t eee EUROPE. Franco and Belginm—Prassian Role in Se- , dan—Terrible Condition of the ‘Popalation of Alsace. VIEWS OF COUNT BISMARCK. a Republic in France. GERMAN CONDITIONS OF PEACE. England—British Neutralliy—Tne Chances of Peace—Queen Victoria on the Loss of the Captain. AUSTRIA---SPEECH OF THE EMPEROR. Germany---Vessels Captured by the French Navy. The Foreign Press on Peace Negotiations. Circular of Jules Favre and Procla- mation from Victor Hugo. Defence of the Emperor Napoleon by His Private Secretary, King William’s Acceptance of the Emperor’s Sword. General Sheridan’s Opinion of the French Army. According to the Berlin correspondent of the | Times the number of French prisoners im German, 45 140,000 priv: generals and 4,800 officer Among them is Colonel Palikao, son of the late Min- ister, Who Is at Wesel. His mother js at Cologne. ‘The administration of the Russian Uxcheyuer has ordered 40,000,000 roubles belonging to it in the | Paris banks to be sent to London. ‘The cholera 1s raging through Persia and 1s bad in the south of Russia. In St. Petersburg there were 100 cases last week and forty-three deaths; but it is not epidemical as yet. ‘The Minister of War in the provisional govern- ment, General Le Flo, was one of the officers who were cashiered for resistance to the coup a ctat of December 2, 1351. The Corporation of the city of Stettin, by its advo- Stocklolm aguinst the King aud Crown of Sweden for the recovery of 80,000 thalers, borrowed by Charles XIL. from that city. A letter from Odessa, dated Prussia---The Question of an Empire or NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1870.—TRIPLE SHEET. ‘Wish for and an ample income procure. 1 only wish you could see the place now. Imagine several hun- dreds of the lowest scum of New York rowdies vetng let Into the Nouse of a wealthy resident in Fifth ave- nue and allowed to take what they like and destroy What they did not take. Sucn is the case at the Chateau de Bellevue, near Sedan. No sooner had the King of Prussia taken lis departure than a whole Host of Prussian and Bayarian soldiers broke into the louse. In half an hour the place was what ! see it now, @ wretched wreck Of furniture and everything else it contained. ‘The wine in the celler was drank: the pictures were hacked to piece: furniture, the plate aud all that could be taken away was stolen; the rest ruthlessly, recklessiy destroyed. M. Amoore hada very flue library, The smailer books have been taken away, the larger ones torn to pleces and strewn about the garden, Looking glasses have been smashed, bedsteads broken to bits, chairs torn piece from piece, tables split up with axes, In the stables there were four good car- rlages, two carts and six horses. All are gone. In the farm yard there were pigs, fewls, two mulch cows and some shecp. These have followed the horses and the carriages. Inthe barns there was a quantity of wheat straw that had not yet been threshed and some that tiad been, The soldiers have taken the former to make their beds and left the latter, The velvet couches of the drawing room, the spring mattresses of the bedrooms, the pillows of the beds and even the tapestry of the boudoir had been all cut open to tina out whether anything was concealed therein, In ene room a grand piano has heen smashed as if by huge hammers; in another a costly chiffunnicr of china wood and ivory has mos Win the same fate. Even the litle children’s toys have not escaped, but have been taken ont of the nursery, brokea to pleces and thrown about the garden, ‘Vajk of New York rowdies! 1 don’t believe that a tribe of red Indians would have com- juitted sueh wicked, wanton destruction, Nothin, that L ever heard of in the wildest and most wicked wars has ever come up to what | now see before me as 1 write these lines. And, be it remarked, that the owner of tais olce elegant home was not a man who had ever taken any prominent part against the army of barbarians now invading France. He was ang 18 Simply & hard working man of vusiness, who had brought into his native valley of the Meuse the of industry and ty e had learned in America. He had not even fed at the Approach ot the Prussians, His house had been fixed upon as the temporary residence of the King during the three days’ fight in this valley, but lie had merely retired to 8 couple of mies away. When ihe an, royal personage and hts staf left Believue M Armoore immediately went back to hts louse and found the work | have weakly described going on. He remonstrated with the senior oflicer present, and was told ia reply that 4 was certamiy deplorable, but that it could not be helped, and that {fhe applied to the King of Bavaria (most of the troops present, orall, Were Bavartans) he would be indem- With this consolation he was obliged to be THE PRUESLANS I hits pthers 1 could name, f And almost better off is man te have he town q deut the wives and nective houses, Al | nt iin in Sec y told the ina ive house that they Would Hot Sader iu French people in ius hotel, and that they would diuiag room way ove who Spoke in the wars | have ever heard of im the . ho Sooner Was the actual tighling at , than the conquerors did all they could to t ¢ tue people to retura to the peaceable ayoca- Bat it ts ith che Prussiay Not rhunph of alt the mills being stopped, bit in ters of the a. otel de VE o lodge in ‘this many have deliberately eur the straps and other gear of the wheels, = In Mouzon, the only cori bearnng part of the val they have forbid tue people to plongh the land for next ‘vest. They boast that what they do will never be heard of, tor (they say) they have bougiu up all the chief Kugiish papers, ana will not admit a French reporter to come near tacir ines, At Bulan, a Village two mitles from this, tiey shot the priest old man of eighty years of age, because, as they si: he hed advised the peopie to resist the Hoi carriages, carts and every kind of transport, i ed at once, without leave be: asked or in- 'y made as to who the property belongs to. But_ worst o! 4s the wanton, wicked waste. The Prussian soldiers seom to take a devilish deligut in spoiling and wasting even move than They take and use. For lustanee, when the tide of inva- sion rose higher and Ligher, and at last surged ip even to this part of France, use harvest had been gatnered tn, but the wheat aud barley had only hair ven Uireshed. Lean tully understand that tue sol that lmmense quantities of cor in that city, m anticipation of a brisk demind from | bot! Prussia and close of the war. France immed, British capitalists ly after ti re stated to have entered largely into transactions of this de- seription. The Russian press in general approves of the downfall of Napoleon, saying that he and his sy: deserved It. The Golos and the Exchange Ga. believe the republic to be the hope of F that in Italy, Spain and Portugal it will find a field ready for propagandism. ‘The Russian Czar, on receiving the news of the battle of Sedan, at Moscow, on the 34 September, gave a dinner, when, having drunk to the health of his royal uncle of Prussia, he broke the glass accord- ing to German custom, which prescribes that none shali drink again trom a glass which has been uscad* Tor very solemn toats, Tho Holle Belge reproduces under reserve the fol- lowing statements published by the Echo de Luren- —“Count Bismarck 1s said to have asked ¢ tons of the E overnment re ting the age ou the Sistof August of a corps of Sugny and Pusemange, who h France without bemg uthorities,” The Zot £ s if U's statement 1s notgtr ont wouldjdo well to c 1 ntradict tt, can de Believne-Scene of urrender=@he Pros in Condition of Alsace-Starvation the PeopleNewspaper Corre: te—Prussian Pretexts Against Bel, nvasion & tically Commenced—7T n Soldiors and Omi- 3 of WarePrussian CHATEAU Di be in New York and tn Boston, v cliles of America, al persons who not only remember, but were ¢ vitness ctvil war in Syria in 1860, common!y known as the massacre of the Christians, by the Druses of Mount Lebanon. Iwas tn that couniry et the time, There mu: eo @ little he!p and kindness from more than one Alocrican Protestant missionary who has live wey years in the land and knew it and its people well. To those gentlemen 1 would refer i I wanwd any one to explain tn a familiar manner the murderous war now going on in France. In the place of Druses write the word Prussian; instead of Monut Letanon call the cow hatis | being destroyed Franec; for De: Kanumar and other towns that burned and razed to the ground write or speak of fazalle and a score of muti lately flourishing Fre: titaae will be perfect. Ii Mhese lines, but the truth m pel of God is nov truer th hosts of Germany ha extermination: openly and avo say that not only must the army of Pra exterminated, but that the people, thet manufacturers, the working Wealth and the wealthy industry of this ouce fair land, must be swept away forever. 4 SCENE OF NAPOLEON'S SURRENDER. Iwrite this letter from the Cua & house which will be hencefort renowned in lustory asthe one in which the ex-Empcror Napoleon gave p hia sword to the King of Prussia, ana virtually ut an end to the imperial dynasty. Surely, if there aspot on earth which ought to be free froin the Vandalism of the invading army t! is this place. Surely, if the Prussians were as other men, they ‘would have held sacred a house in which the fruits of their last great victory was consummated. To make assurance doubly sure, the owner of the Chateau de Bellevue, after the departure of jug William and his staf, offered to turn the large ms of Lis house into a hospital for the wounded. offer was accepted, but it did not avail bim much When the King of Prussia left the place his was as Nandsome and comfortable a residence cowd be found in France. Monsieur Amoore, the met, 19 @ well-to-do cloth manufacturer, a self- jade who has lived many years in the United he erent admirer of the great republic of the h tow nd imf- with regret that 1 write st be told, and the Gos- 1 that the conquering ve turned this war inte one of thetr of ‘est, and who took pleasure in having about him ~ | the he Belgian govern. | and as | j the truth do not, and they cannot, tell the | wi 1 they did so they would very soon, | get their room would be preierred to uy With the army of untied Germany. 5 ja is not the newspaper correspondents | Maing t that st misery main the x the | an de Bellevue, | 5 shonld Teqire straw upon which to lay; but 1d they Not take that out of which the corm had been threshea. the untireshed for onever they get a chance 2 better nse y b » the unthres! a and leave the mouths e said tl } that rr | soldiers w the k Lreply, is it probable | under such perfect discipline | should be so utterly | 1 not much more likely superiors the continnal expression ihe Prencht nation, they lave come to the | that against the people of this country every kind of oppression 1s perfectly justitiable aid highly to be bie, thatan army hen under arms on off duty? Is ing from their of hatred against BLE CONDITION OF ALSACE. act, becoming @ very sertous question | What Will become of tese provinces during the months now approuching. The conditton of of Lorraine, of 2 part of Champagne and of nnes Is exactly what Mount Lebanon was | In 1860 after the villages bad been burned and | ked by the Druses, There ts, however, thus dif- | Terence iu favor of the Syrian pagans, that thi ched wine, and tat they invariably respe women. 1 mucii of the P | | red are ly well authentl- us class. But tacy do 1 the young girls ihey with violence atl who jy. But most bratal actual pl m to take in the gs of their conquered encinles. Yesterday, ich of Freneh prisoners were being marched 40 Prisca, Isaw two inst sin which a came ont of and ofered ir uufortunate fellow country- t Ity. oth cases te thrust back the women soners to take the offered rts of pros | ly ad a naif { millions of months | help for them tn the pres- 18 thinklug of how many Prus- sed at Hie siege OL Paris, or Now 1 be killed att them fn the future, y, horses fo plough nor hey had all these, thelr ihem to do anything. uvon the antiorities 1 to plough the kd or PRuSS $ it, you w haye lie spondemts with the Prus: | the first place, aithonga How c: corre- Lreply that in hose gentiemen may tell these fac begun, mc ir sp Prussian forces, one of them knew anything of eds of King Wiliiam’s Legions. We, more nfortuaate men, Who haye peen detailed by our 5 papers to tollow the French army, has always been the losiig ul behind the carriage, and we the mischief that the venicle The French authorities com- ted and persevered ta a very great plunder. would not let any presa writer be with their luverent headquarters, and the consequences were | they hed no one etther to ring their praisea nor | apologize for thelr faults, Not so with the Prus- stuns. It is seidom in these ont of the way parts that Lcanever manage to get hold of an English newspaper; but when 1 do so, | confess that the lavished upon the Prussians by the spectal espondents, and the abuse heaped upon the n, fairly astounds me. {none London print | § zaine cailed (by the specist corzespondent of | that paper wao ia with the Prussian army before | Metz) “uuprincipled,"” his only crime being that ho | 1S making one of the most heroic defences ever read of in alstory against the invaders of his country. Not a word do the London papers say—t am sorry to say that [ have not seen an American newspaper since war coramenced—abont the splendia defences by the French of Strasbourg, of Toul, of Pitche, of Mentmedy or of Metz; but every Prussian } spoudents who were with the not and | side. | cannot hi the sruailer aay, & well intentioned goose, but about aa likely to Ve his employers a sound view of what was go- ng on as he Was LO be President of the United Stutes. He was an Eagiishman and, Englishman luke, a few elvil words from men ta high positions seomed to have completely turned hts brata. an his opinion there never Wasa Frenchman who spoke the truth or did a ctyil thing; nor was there ever a Prussian who told au untruth or was not a modet of politeness, He was dining av a table d’hote crowded with French ladies aud gentlemen, nearly all refugees from the ruManly rudeness and robber like proceedings of the Prussians, and yet he nad the ene taste during the whole of the dinner to hold forth in the loudest of tunes upon the tntamy of (he Freuch army and the herole conduct of the Prussians, And this before a company eee under thet recent national misiortunes. 1 only Wonder he Was not throttied by the Frenchmen pre- sent, Under suntiar circumstances Germans would have murdered him, Americans would have lynched lim and Kuglishmen thrown him out of the wine dow. And yet this is the kind of men selected by a respectable paper Wo give an impartial account of what 1s going on at the seat of war. PRUSSIAN PRETEXTS AGAINST BELGLUM, It is to be feared that the matter of which L gave you some notice in my last letter will soon turn out to be an accomplished fact. J allude to Prussia seeking a pretext upon which to invade Belgium. Little by little, ling upon line, trifle after trifle, the German newspapers are raising wp among the Ger- man people a clamor, such a» on the other side of the thine passes for public opinion, in favor of the cupation of the country. Inch by Inch the thin of the wedge 19 being driven in. It began, Prussian like, 4 usking the Belgian government to allow the French wounded and prisoners on parole to go rout Belgium on their Way back to France. Aso natural sequel to this it was insisted that uf the French wounded were allowed to pass through the country the Gerinan wounded ought to have a simt- iar permission, In vain did the in authorities protest that the teave given to the French wounded to pass throagh (he country was only Eiger because ihe Prussian authorities insisted upon the permission being granted. I! was, however, the old story of the wolf and the jamb, and, as might have been ex- pected, the lamb got the Worst of the discussion, ‘rhe leave was at last reluctantly given, aud almost before it could ve telegraphed to Berlin the wounded Prussians commenced passing jbrough Belgium at the rate of eight hundred and a ¢ onsand day. It was a regular case of “no compulsion, only you must.”” Then, a8 4 matter of course, and as ‘the Belgian government had very truly foretold would be the case, the German wounded, many of whom were very slightly 80, and the French commenced rt they gota chance. The Belgian people are entirely French in their sympatuies. ‘fhe very name of Prussian 1s abhorent to them for the Vilianies they committed in this country in 1815, and not yot forgotten by the grandchildren of those who were, I those days, (he sulferers. Whenever there w dispute ina tavern between a French and a Prussian soldier the Belgians took the part of the former. This was made a cause of comptaint to Berlin, and thence to the King of the Belgians. An inquiry, as Lmentionga tn my last letter, was Insti- tuted into the matter by the Belgian authorities aud found to be ali rubbish. THE INVASION PRACTICALLY COMMENCED, Then the Prussians, by way of keeping their | wounded in order 83 they passed through the coun. try, have been accompanied by a certain number of Prussian officers und sold By dogrees, but with that speed which distinguisbes all’ that Bis- niarek does, the number at their unwounded officers and soldiers was increased, until at last it seemed 4s if the Prusslun myasion nad already commenced, Presently to the unwounded ofticers were added more and more unwounded soldiers, and within the last few days these have come and gone with parcely the p of conveylag w across Belgian, which was looked upon Joke of the pas ent they come i main and depart, as it seemeth good to them. sian ofMicers sv abont the hotels in Belgium ud seem to make themselves quite at home, some of them are eugaged in making maps of the coun- talk without reserve of taking Belgium so soon as they ve finished with France, aud augit at the Idea of Engl italy or trla coming to the rescue. ne aiter Belgium Holland, afte 5 a? as what they say; and their “nal fun’? se to me very like “whole carnest.’’ And Iam very tar from being the only one in the there is sorrow in the horizon for Belgium, Tr GIAN ARMY. The Belgian government itself evidentiy thinks that tt is as well to be prepared for tue worst. Their gullantilitte army—and yet why we should call an army of 110,000 a little one would be difficult to ex- Q—is ona war footing, and an excellent, well drilled force it is. The men are small but active, stuut fellows, The cavauy is very well mounicd, 10,000 Im numbers and far superior to the enc arm, Their artillery ts after the same model as the Prussiaus—si - parts wno believes that ndmirably worked, like men ‘in the de- tred of the Prassians is jnore a religio in tational feeling. ‘Lhey have not forgotten how, when the ferces of ine uniied Powers were in Belgium in 1615, the only troops that behaved vadiy to the people were the {are now turning the iairest and most es of France mto a ho’ tt lived on th: out at always ne of | ry soldiers Dilleted upon the * more willing tcllows. 1 anxious to make themseives useful in Way or otter, and were either playing with the children, he’ ping tie cook, assisting the groom, or Working in Uze garden, PRUSSIAN SOLDIERS AND OFFICERS. Here tn the Chateau Bellevue there are half a dozen Pruss.ans bulleted. They si to divide their ume pretty equally between eating, smoking and blaspnaeming. I never saw such great, hviking, useless annuals. They are no doubt good at fighung, but off duty are Most offensive. The only man ® Prussian soldier seems to have the slightest respect for 1s his own offic Iauter certainly does not ireat thos man being. As | write th a Prossian sub- lieutenant ts blowing up one of the men quartered here lor some negiectot duty. Merey npon us how the man talks! His tone and manuer to the soldier are as if the latier Was @ nigger slave. How the men stand it or how the superior oficers aliow tt, is wonderful. Surely this is disciplize carried to an extreme. But at least not ards others, , Una never me Pwh tand s ab by tetr officer icst tyrants in the world towards ail they don’t fear. An Hour hence {have 10 doubt bat that the men [have just seen siand a per Ll be plea- sautly thieving in or VILLAGE OF POUSMANG ACKOSS THE FRONT I continue this letter at Pousuas hamlet about twenty yards on ti tke fronuer, and Lhave jus Wisied bon chance to two ome crack light cavalry regiment, who were prisoners on the 2d of this month with the rest ray, but wo would not give ther upe hor Nos to serve against Prussia w wat, They were in consequence of war, aud weve have morrow irom Sedan te Prussta, | Shey managed, ov 0 pt. 15, 1870. pretty ittle Belgian side ot by the rand and ends, bout and time are now on t snised 11 blouse: moi peasants, and old shoes. y nave nothing | but wiiat they stand upright ave manager to keep by them moucy eneugu to help thei ou UAPED PRISONERS OF Wan. me that of the 80,000 men that sur- readcred with MacMalon, at least 20,000 have mi reat number of them hu Oo Pari, They were a paper J told and were quite astounded them of the republic in Fran ° plished fact, What a change does trouvle and mts- fortune make in a man, Four months ago [ saw both thes utiemen in Loudon, where they had come to see the great race of the year, the Derby, run. In those days there were haraly two greatoi “swells” in the inodern Bapyion, and I question whether either one or the otier would have walked, or could have walked, ten miles to save his !tfe, they tell Here they are, certainly very thin, », 80 long as they were prisoners a pound of bisenit have ne(ther of them change of othes, nor dot believe they can have had @ bath for a fortnight, But they are as lively as possible, and were as much obiiged to me for afew miles lift in my carriage as if I had taken them im @ four-in-land drag to see the Goodwood Cup run for. The last time | them was at the Grand Hotel on the Boulevards Capucins at Paris, at a farewell dinner givet by a few friends before I left for usbourg. ¥ wishing them good night that e@ me promise I would dine with them @ Berlin, ‘Th, me Shen ning, they ma at must have been about the 14th July, and now, on the 16th September, I meet them wandering in the forest of the Ardennes, having escaped from Prus- sian custody, the French army “nowhere,” the Em- peror “knocked ont of time,” a republic at Parts, and some of the finest provinces of Vrance under the heel of Bismarck, My friends told me of a very absnrdand yet a very bold escape of a number of zonaves the other day Being looked upon as extra dangerous characters, these prisoners had a special guard told off to take care of them and sce them sate into Germany. ‘Tie zouaves were some 500 in number, the soldlers sent, to guard them about fifty. When a coupie of marches out of Sedan, as the Prussian guard, having piled thetr arms, were cooking their dinner, the gouaves made a rush at the Prussian arms, got hold of them aud their potiches and were making off. Some of the guerd tried to stop trem, but it was corporal who performs the slightest act of bravery has nis name handed down to posterity. Lmay be wrong, but in strikes me very strongly that much of this gross partiality 1s caused by a spirit of funkeyism which your bold Brivoa has more or less as a chronic complaint. When a correspondent of the press rides proudly to the battie field with royal princes; when, as he (the correspondent tells us, Bismarck shakes him by the hand, or when Stetnmetz asks his advice, he is apt to lose bis judgment and his vision and to see things only through rose colored spectacles. I met ove of these gentiemen not long ago at Bouillon. Tie was the correspondent of a well-known London found to be Impossible, all the more so as their former prisoners were now armed, At last 4 pariey ensued, The Prossisns said they could not go back to Sedan, as If they did so they would certainly be shot for having allowed their prisoners to get awa: At last an arrangement was come to by witch t zaine’s army has broken thro: is on the march for Paris by jan, intend to retake, if possible. It is said that Canro- bert commands them, and that the force thus es- eaped consists of 6,000 men, I send on @man with telegram of this news to send it th h the wires by London to New York. At first I did not believe the tale, but certain facts I have since learned made me change my opinion. All day Prussian messen- gers going to Boulllon with telegrains Dussed me on the road, And towards evening, as I gained the direct road from Sedan to the Belgian frontier, I found a regular exodus of persons from the former town flying for refuge to the confines of the lat- ter. For at least tive miles there was one long strmg of carriages, carts, gigs, cabriolets and even wheelbarrow, in which the unfortunate people were fiving towards Belgium, a8 tf from the wrath to come, Upon inquiry I found that Sedan had once more been placed in a state of siege; that the unfor- tnate Mayor ol the place had been arrested and ordered to furnish 1,800 beds for the troops within two hours, apd that the inhabitants had been wi that, should the alarm sound in the alae. a light was to be placed at every window, and aX doors and shatters to be thrown open, In the meantime rumors increase respectung: lac Mahon, and canards of the very wildest xind are flying about in every direction. BOUILLON, Sept, 16—4 A. M. PRUSSIAN TERRORISM. Having no inclination to test the temper of the Prussian authorities when their Juck was under a cloud, 1 thought it more discreet to retire with the crowd towards Belgium, and got here jour hours ago, dead beat, after as long and as weary & day as I ever remember. The principal facts the day I sent onto tie telegram office here yesterday after- noon, and shall now be in time to post this letter betore the Brussels mail leaves. ‘That tuere is something or other in tne wind, and that the said “something” is mot favorable to the Prussian arms Tam quite certain, The little town of Boutllon 1s fuller than ever, There must be at least 0,000 or 10,000 persons in the streets without shelter for the night, and of these nearly all are refugees from Frauce. The Prussians have ceriainly managed to carry out one part of their ramme,.. iever conquerors to estal in the hearts of the conquered have so done, 111s pittable to see the poor people who have rushed here from Sedan to-day; and what {s more lameniable—I ought to say more disgusting—is the fact thatthe Prassi authorities in town have most avctdedly helped to increase the panic, They do not seem to want the citizens of the place to live under them in peace, But, bad as tuey are, I hardly beheve they would promote this exodus unless they feared ‘that the town of Sedan would be vombarded, If such is the case. the story about Bazaine is far from improb- able. One little event has we. me to-day, An English nobiciuan I met at Douzy the other day, and ‘Who upheld most stoutly that the Prussians were the mildest of conquerors and the gentlest of rulers, has been to Sedan te-day, and has seen what was going on. He has come back quite disen- chanted with his Prussian iriends, and, what is more, owing to the rush of persons from Sedan here, he bas been cut out of the only chauce he had for a bed, and has to pay ten francs for the privilege of sleeping in his railway rug on a billiard table. with a number of unwashed, fresh air hating, soap and water non-using Frenchmen. J hope he likes it, But 1 wish I had the power to send all the lazy do-nothing idlers who flock out here under pretence of helping the Wounded to sleep in the stables of the Hotel des Postes, which is, without any exception in the world, Ishou!d imagine, the dituiest house ever opened for the entertainment of man or beast. I am going back to Sedan to hear and see what is really going on, and will not get back in time to finish another leticr to-day. ‘he report now—six A. M.—is that Bazaine has re: cut through the Prussian lines with 6,000 men, and that he lost as many in doing what he has. Lt 1s further affirmed that he has slipped past Sedan on his road to Paris, This, however, is hardly possibile. How- ever, We shall see, During the night nme telegrams: were sent up from Sedan to the statiou here, to be forwarded to Berlin, h the Prussians, and which piace ay PRUSSIA. Empire or RepublicMonarchists in Terror Oficial Argamentation—A Vacated Throne— Russian InflnenceReactionary Tenden- cies—Hostilc Spirit--The Laon Catastrophe— Napoleon at Wilbelmshohe—A Curringe Ride. BERLIN, Sept. 17, 1870. The official press nere 1s evidently tu avery un- Pleasant position, While yesterday compelied to prove that the upstart Louts Napoleon 1s one of the greatest miscreants under the sun, tt is to-day com- pelied to give out another cue—viz., that the Em- peror Nap. is, after all, a clear thinking statesman, i makes « curious impression to read m the leader of tne Nord Deutscie Allgemeine an apology for the Freuch Emperor. Because he maintained, in his conversation with Count Bis- inarck, that he had not been in fayor of the war, he appears suddenly to have become the pet of the Prussian government and its oficial press. Ger- many, says the latter, iu very clear terms, can acknowledge at present no other government in France except the Emperor. 1s not that tantamount to saying that peace can be negotlated only with the empirey It must be admitted that the case is an extraordinary one—the capital of a country at war selzing the government and replacing it by another, compelling the opponent, in the event of negotiations for peace, to elect between the old and new govern- ment. All theortes in international questions re- specting the acknowledgment of a new government are based only on the supposition that the country with the new*government is at peace with tie other from which the acknowledginent is expected. > DE FACTO AND DE JUR! So inuch is certain, says the official organ, that a State which acknowledges the de acto government of another is not obliged to acknowledge tt de jure. And such an acknowledgment is still less obliga- tory when said State chances to be at war with the new government. ‘The possession alone of govern- ment is not suficient to constitute a right to such governmen:. It requires certain attributes to con- stitute the fact of po: 10 2 fact of right, and of these attributes that State which 1s asked to ac- knowledge is the only judge. It 1s even questionable if the new “Gouvernement de la Défense Nationale” is a de facto government of France. At all events, to acknowledge it as such would be the utmost concession that could be made to it. Hence, at war with France, we are fully at liberty to negotiate peace with the aforesaid or with the Imperial go winent. With « choice G many would be justified in treating that go’ ernment which would be most ace, Offer the best conditions and give te tiosi substantial guarantees. THE PROVINCIAL CORR iH ridicules cans, Who imagine t have declared the abrogatio pf the emp mati armies should at once re to the ott side of the Rhine, without any other spoils of vic- tory than tie pardon of tue French republic for their audacious invasion, z After voluminous argumentation it says that the future government of France should be left entirely to the decision of the French people. Germany hi nol, nor will ii, Mterfere with 10; se did not ask, as the price of victory, a change of government, and cannot accept such a change as payment, even in part, of her account, Of whatever iinportance to France might be the dethronemen Napoleon tt is no guarantee for us and for the pe fine world: sttll less so because ‘the few days that have passed since the change of government linve sufficiently shown that the new, temporary power {8 possessed of that same conceit and arrogauce which huve always blinded the French people. If in the face of unparalleled defeat and the de- struction of all serious military opposition the re- publican goverument defies the conqueror with lan- guage such as if coustanily employs, what de- jugions would not be eatertamed by the government and people of France if war should be withdrawn from them before they had come to a_ full consciousness — © their position. ‘the more the political life of France 13 governed and determined by Paris the more it wil necessary to put a damper upon French arrogance in its headquarters, and bring it to the conscious- ness that the quiet and peace of the world must no longer be the tootpall of the humors and frivolity of a morally debased peonie. A united Germany can- noé stop its march of victory through France without accomplishing this task. Republic, empire or Kingdom—that France itself may determine for the present and future. Our aim is a peace adeqnate to the bloody eacrifices, and with real and permanent securities. Such a peac God willing, we will dictate in Paris, A VACATED THRONE. In thus arguing, then, the official press ignores that part of Count Bismarck’s statement respecting the declaration of Lows Napoleon that he was not in a position toenter into any negotiations as sov- ereign, but intended to surrender only his person to the King of Prussta. His weatment at Wilheims- dhe night have roused again imperial ambition inhim. it ia not unlikely that he has revoked the decree by which he contided the Regency to the Em- press, but to-day the Emperor and the Pe tt are scattered to the four winds, Are German bayo- nets to restore the humiliated Caesar to the French throne? Such would be the case. ag @ peace, negotiated with an imprisoved Emperor, under the pressure of incarceration, would be nul! and void. The man who raised him- self to the throne by perjury, whoso life has been a continued Iie, but who, by the oficial Prussian organs for a few days past has been termed “a olear-thinking and eeing statesman,” would, if restored to power, violate any promise he might whole party, French ond Germans, agreed that firat, the arms should be broken up at once; second, that the ammunition should be destroyed, and thirdly, that Ceretmts| and guard should start to- gether toseek their fortune elsewhere. They were last met by a party of luncers (French), who had ve a3 a prisoner at Willelmshihe, Louis Napoleon ES been Emperor of France by the will of the french. It is immaterial that he afterward assumed the additional “By the Grace of God;" it is by the ‘will of thesame French that ho 1s no longer Emperor, ‘The Regency bas in a cowardly manner run away. evening paper and of a New York journal ay | also escaped from prison, walking along arm in arm | Nothing remains bat to open preliminaries for peace the batile of imagined that talk of bave To hear him one would marck guides the alfaira of Pruasia ell. 80 argez, cogdas coumsurs tbat a cultivated vasye could [{ be gules ‘the opinion of Bismarck. He was, [dare in the most amicable manner possidle and making for Luxembourg. ESCAPE OF CANROBERT FROM METZ. News bas Just reached me tha a portiog of ga- with the existing government, and the when arranged must be ratified by regularly elected Oham- bers. Vatil tuts Las been dame the copawy will have .t¢ submit to an occupation by the German fs Interesting to woace that the ellieal St bevers: burg Journal of yesterday, takes precisely the same view. “A durabi foetee ae “ id pOt be obtained by reestablishing Napol ” RUSSIAN INFLURNOE, In regard to peace negotiations it was ramored that Hon. Mr. Bancroft had received instructions to oifer mediation op the part of the United States overnment, though it has been stated since that there was no foundation to the report. The people of Germany are still agitated respecting any inter- ference of foreign nalions in fixing the terms of peace. With tae exception of a sinall party called social democrats, nothing less than the acquisition of Alsace 13 considered accoptable. The Cologne Gazette says that “Germany is Ine debted vo Russia, next to the bravery of its troops, for the favorabie position which enubies her to ale tate her own terms of peace. Russia nas becn friendly and us@lul to us mt our strife with France, ‘The Czar appreciated our position in a well-meaning and intelligent way. It ts owing to his determina- tion that Denmark adopted a sensible policy towards Germany, and the same might be said with respect to Austria, Austria’s neutrality necessarily in. Nuenced Italy, and confirmed the pexerne in Florence in the policy of standing aloof, Engiand has seen Mt to place its commercial interests in the foreground, peace negotiations none of the neu- tral Powers except Russia shoulé be considered.” REACTIONARY TENDENCIES. Such positive statements us the above are gen- erally based on oiicia! views, and we find them cor- roborated by similar articles in government organs, teeming with devotion to Russia and eulogizing the Manverer: History will enlighten us cn the merits of this Russian sympathy, which, unt now, when- ever it was shown to Germany, had to be paid ior rather dearly, #0 that, in tie eyes of the ple, friendship with Russia and reactionary tendencies belong tugetiier. HOSTILE SPIRIT. The catastrophe at Laon, though not yet fully ex- plained, is considered here as Porie t or oak right treachery, and naturally causes intense a nation, This venomous hostility of the French, which Sores 8@ much ground for complaint, has in turn so much embittered the Germans that they on their part begin to pant for revenge, and even the official! Prus Staats Anzetger asks the question, “How can we continue to show any consideration to such un opponent?” A visitor at Cassel, speaking of an ostentatious promenade of the tmperia! prisoner at noon the day before yesterday, in his spite goes far. mh to attribute this demonstration to the fact that Napoleon had just received tuis, to him, gladsome news from Laon:—‘‘He sat with three officers in @ coach and four, bebind which rode three mounted officers in gala uniform, and at the side another ugh oficial. An outrider and two postilions were in advance. He drove slowly, doubtless in order to ve the numerously assembled a chance to look ab in. Indeed, this distinguished guest has attracted many strangers anxious to see him to this place, and some of whom fiad to remain several days before they could enjoy this opportu- nity. it seemed also that Napoleon anxiously coyeted the favor of the pulp. bowing to right AL left from is carriage, whether his greeting was re- turned or not. He wore on this occasion a sword, which he conspicuously exhibited, The terrible news of Laon, casting such a dark shadow on the Frenca nation, was not yet known to the public on the promenade, otherwise seme of those who Lifted their hats to the Emperor might — tn have turned away in disgust. Napoteon is and wili remain forever the evil doer woo has brought such infinite misery to both the German and French nations.” This writer, however, is foreed to admit Tat no one at the time of the promenade knew of the tidings from Laon, 80 no one can with certainty attirm that they had reached Napoleon. And ins much as (he commonest prudence would teach him lat his fate as « prisoner is largely dependent on his own good conduct, it seems Cxiremely unlikely that he would have commutted such a blunder as ty here charged to nis account. a BISMARCK. A Conversation with the [ron ( Opinion of German Troops—Pa: Not to Re Attacked=Starve the Besieged—Pros- pects of Pence=France to Be Rendered Harmless. A correspondent of the London Standard, writing from King William's headquarters at Rneims, under date of September 13, gives the following interview with Bismarck: To my opening observation that we had not gone as fastas, when I first had the pleasure of secing hn, he had joculariy promised I heneceiortn should, his Excellency replied that few people had any idea of the difficulty of transporung anarmy of three hundred thousand men,“ And remember,” he said, = * firs they fronted the then they turned and fronted the north: then the northeast; and after Sedan, besides seeing after 100,000 prisoners, they had to wheel right round and march southwest again.” “The German troops mareh well,’ he added; “they: have actually made their thirty Engiish miles in a day, With, of course, a rest ‘afterwards; but cen miles a day, continuously, is the most that can be counted on. PARIS TO BE STARVED OUT. Tasked if he thought the French would defend Paris. “We shall not attack it,’ he susw le “What will you do, then *” [asked. “We snail enter it without attacking ii. We shall starve it out. 1 urged that tt tld require 1,200,000 men to invest Paris, He explaiied that it would not be invested in that sense. ut,” he sald, “we shall post our armics around it, according as 1s thought best, and we haye 60,000 cavalry who will answer for ‘They will perpetually sweep and scour th actually ocenpied by our troops, and Nov A MORSEL OF FOOD WILL BE ABLE TO ENTER PARIS. Why should we att and undergo fresh sacri- fices gratuitously? There are fighting persons mn Paris, Who might give us irouble the rst and pu: bly the second day if we attacked. The third day, if we leave them alone, they will be more troublesome to Paris itself, food becoming scarce. We will begin with the third day. Why run our heads againsi a wall? He spoke with the utmost con'donce of system, and Licave his views just as they were stated, When I suggestea that, while Paris was being Unus starved ino sabmisston time would be given for the formation of a new French army south of the Loire, he replied, “Not an army; only numbers of armed peopic: We took 1,5000f such near St. Menehould with a singie squadron of dragoons, [t 13 possible that the French- Mian may be made a good soldier in three months, but we shall not give bim three months, and tn any case the so-called army will be withou serving the name. If they tnsist on iighting, we and good. They will be slaughtered. But it is a pity. ROS PRCTS, ‘Touching upon | pects of peace, he inquired — “win whom? Through whom? W the gentieiaen I of the p. nd their representatives’ Whe saw the p * he went on, “after his surrende! ing himself a Tas ulin if he was disposed to put forward any request for peace. The Mmperor repiled that he was not in & position to do so, for he dd left @ regular governni in Paris, with the ppress at iis head. ONLY TH tis plain, therefor “that if Prance posses: Empress and Prince Tap be arded a% an abdication said, very positively, he could not so con: eit. The Empress had been forced to go by the gentiemen of the pavement, as ihe Corps L auf (ngs; but the ac- svemnent was not nad veen obliged to suspend it ton of the gentleman of the legal. They could not make # goverument. The question as—Whom docs the fect stil obey? Vom does the army shut up in Metz sull obey ? Per- haps BAZATN! STILL RECOGNIZES THE EMPEROR. If 80, and we choose to let him to Paris, he aud his army would be considerably more than the gentiemen of the pavement aud the so-called government. We «do not wish to dictate to France lier form of govern- ment; we have nothing to say to it, That is her atair? 1 pointed out that it would be extremely dificult ior the Freneb people at the pres ment even to employ the means ne ascertaining the national will. **That ts their 1ook- ont,” replied his Excellency. “We know what we want, and that is cnough for us.” GERMAN CONDITIONS OF P! This observation led tip to what Gerinany will con- sider indispensable conditions of peace. Count Bis- Marck disclaimed all desire of fucrease of territory vor popwation for mere increase sake, aid it was a nuisauce to ve German subjects who speak French. “But,” he continued, “tne present is the twenty-fifth time tn the space of a hundred years that France has made war on Germany on some pretext or other. Now, at least, our terrible discase of divided unity being cured, we have contrived, by the help of the hand of God, io beat her down. It is idle to hope to propitiate her. She would never Jorgive us for beating her, even it we off the world, and forebore from ask- uses of the war, TO BE RENDERED HARMLESS. § t forgive you for Waterto Was only by accident that she did not make war upon you on account of 1f She could not forgive Sadowa, though {t was not fought against her, and she will never forgive Sedan. She must therefore be made harimiles We must have Strasbourg, and we must haye Mets even if in the latter case hola merely the go wortit we garrison, and whatever else is necessary to j1uproy our strategic position against attack from her. We do not want the territory as territory, but as a giacis between her and us. At tue commencement of this war, had the Emperor displayed energy, he might have attacked Southern Gerinany before we could have done anything. Why he did not doit we do not Know to this day. He had an army of 160,000 men ready to be moved in o day. We cannot’ do that—we are too oor, But France can afford it; and having missed doing the energetic and daring thing once, she wouid Know better next time, and would do it if we do not take precautions, and make it impossible by improving our froniier. Had the attack been made at once on South Germany we should have lost Its as- sistance, not because the South Germans are not well Aisposed, but because they would have been crashed, ‘The late King of Wurtemberg said tome one day, *You are always very frank with me; I will be frank with you, Ifthe French were to pounce apon my people, and I were eating soldier's bread in your camp, how should I feel? My people, oppressed with exactions, would beg of meto come home aud make tery ~ Uvh the conquerors, The abit ws mearer strong against French attack on that side, That ta ba) we must have Strasbourg, and an improved miler, We will fight ten years sooner than not this necessary security.’ JULES FAVRE’S COMMUNICATIONS. T asked if he had received any communications from M. Jules Favre, ‘Not directiy,’’ he answered, ‘but through Lord Granville, and indeed also through Vienna, M. Favre 18 anxious to know if L shall receive communteations from him, and if tt Will be possibie to open negotiations for peace on the basis of the int ity of the French territory. ‘To the first questiou, I can only say that e I~ thing that comes from or through Lord Granville will receive my best attention, though I cannot at present recognize M, Jules Favre as Minister of For- eign Affairs for France, or a8 capable of binding the nation; and as to the second question, I am surprised that he did not ask if Germany would not defray all the expenses of the war. The position of the French 1s worse than ever. Had the Emperor still been at the head of he and his system had friends in Austria, in Italy, even in Russia. All are airaid to catch the contagion of republicanism, and consequently the republic, if it 18 to be, will be ‘without friends,” CIRCULAR OF M. JULES FAVRE. ‘The following ts the full text of the circular issued by M. Jules Favre on 17th September, in explana- tion of the decree which hastens the elections to the Constituent Assembly. Its substance has been already given by cable: — I will sum up our entire . In. mccepting the perilous taal whlch vas imposed upon is by the ht ates eee vernment we but one tdea—namely, to defend our erritory, Ya.taue our honor and to give back to the nation "We should have wished that thin crest nat sn n completed without transition, Dut‘the rst neces: to face thé enemy. P to ask ots We take account of the feelings to which the greatness of her lossesand the natural exaltaiton of victory have given riso in her. ‘These. f ings explain the ce of the ‘confounding with ¢ ‘Vhese latter will bestt an implous war, in which more alreauy fallea. ‘Co force conditions upon could not accopt would only be to compel a continuatjon the war. 11 {s objected that the government {s without regu- lar power to be represented. It is for this reason that we im- mediately summon a freely elected Assembly, We do not attribute to ourselves any other privilege thau that of giving Our soul and our blood to our country, aud we abide by ite sovereign judgment. It is, therefore, not authority reposed fm usforaday. itis immorial France uprising before Prus sla—France divested of the shroud of empire, free, generous and reudy to immolate hernelf for right and liberty, isavowing ali politic! conquest and ail violent propaganda, having no other ambitior. than to remain mistress of hersel and to develope her mora! and materia! forces and to work fraternally with her neighbors tor the progress of civiliza- tion, It is this France which, lef ler free action, immediately asks the cossation’ of the war, but prefers ite disasters a thousand times to dishonor, Vainly those who set loove a terribie scourge try now ty escape the crushing responsibility by faisely alleging that they yielded to the wish of the country. ‘This calumny may Welude people abroad, but — there no one among us who does not refute it work of reyoltiug bad faith, ‘The motto of the elections in 1869 was peace and liberty, and the plebiscite itself adopted it as {te pro- ‘It {s true that the majority of the leglelative body like deciarations of the Duc de Gramont, but a few weeks previousiy it had also cheered the peaceful declarations of M. Oilvier. A majority emanating from persoual power believed iiself obliged to fuilow doctlely and voted trusiingly; butthere fs not a sincere person ta -urope who could atria that France freely consulted made war against Prussia, Ido not draw tue conclusion {rom this that we are not responsibie. We bave been wrong, and are cruel- ly expiating our having tolerated a government which led e S| gramme. cheered the to ruin, Now we adult the ob nto repair by a men sure of justice tho fil it has done; but af the Pow with which it Las 80 serious'y compromised us takes ad- vantage of our mis! Hm us, we Bhalt oppose a desperate resistance, and 1 will remain well understood that it fs the nation, properly represented tn a freely clected assembly, that this. Power wishes to destroy. is being the question’ raised each one will do his auty. Fortune has been hard upon us, but she is eapable of un: looked-for revolutions, which our determination will fortin, mpathy for us ie Europe begins to be mor being re-awikened. Tho sympa sole us and do us honor be deeply struck by the noble attitude of Par ist of 80 many terrible causes for excitement. Serious, confident, ready for the ut, most sacrifices, the nation in arms descends into the are without looking back, and having before its eyes thia simple but great duty ~ the defence of its homes and independence. Trequest you, sir, to enlarge upon these traths to the prescaative of the government to which you are accvedited. He will sve their importance, and will thus ovtain a just Ltew of our disposition, igh Cavinets con ey in the in ENGLAND. The Chances ef Peace. The Pall Mall Gazette of September 19 concludes an article under the above heading as follows:— So long aa there ts a reasonable chance of mat. taining the national territory Intact France cannot Without disgrace give up a population which has be- come an integral part of herself and only asks to be allowed to remain so. As to whether there ts such @ reasonable chance in the present case outsiders can, of course, judge tosonie extent, They can estt- mate the delensive capabilities of the fortifications of Paris and military value of the new troops which General Trochu 1s organizing. But they cannot estt- mate tye worth of the nauonat enthusiasm whl underlies and prompts these preparations, and con- sequently they are not in a posivion to criticise with any completeness or accuracy the conclision to which the provisional government may come. All that can be said at present is that the conduct of ad that M. amaursisin the best availabie hands, Favre's last circatar is written tu a to: once conciliatory and dignitied. if Germany were willing to put up with securities: which do not involve surrender of territory, tt does not seem that there would be any serious’ obstack to the restoration of peace. As Yet, however, there ig no good ground for supposing that she will be thus moderate. it is possible, no doubt, to con struct & very strong case against @ policy of annex- ation, aud we may be sure that Count Bismarck has long ago sar (ithe question from this among other points of view. But it must be borne fu mind that political considerations are not always para- mount in the Prussian Court. The ‘King aud the aristocracy have always been intensely military, and recent events cannot certamly hs tended to inake them less so. The military argument, there- Jore, is sure to have its fall welght with them and not unlikely to have more than 13 1 t. If Count Moltke says that the itabie frontier mmarck migut not were prepared to show that t froutier would only make an © probable. ne Opinions of the London Press on British Neutrality. ‘The Times thinks it ts not tp be dented that Count Bernstortf in his correspondence wiih Lord Gran- ville nas failed to esta a nan grievances ‘That he claims in substance too much at our hands the Times does not affirm, but his clair is upon wssumptions whien our Foreign easily disposes of ‘Throughout Lord G however, a careful reader wi f iiternational law hab the operation of this ended. Tuc only argue riimert is that al the expositions vit ow admis law inight properly ment vrged wth that a change of sirable, could not be introduced to the pr bof any parucwar belligerent daring actual Grant Bue at the time Unis special caange was pressed upon the ministry there Would have been very littic prejuatce utlending it. The whole foriune of the then doubtiul. The order, ii must be thed, couil not be made now, but i might have been ade two montis ago witit infinite advantage to advantage except to Zs all par cons cur in reprobating. uv News remarks that the conclusion to which the correspondence appears to point is, that during the pending war it would be tupossible for her Majesty’s government to tnterpose for tue pur- pose of fecing us from a national disgrace, and whatis not unlikely to be the forerunner of a na- Uonal calainity; but itis to be hoped that the great Powe! when tranquillity 13 restored to Europe, will consider how far the doctrine of international law on the subject of contraband of war ts agreeable to the precepts of justice aut the dictates of com- mou sense. Even if they siiould not do so it is dis- tinetly ineumbent on Parliament to inguire at the earliest opportunity whether tt would be, as Lord Granville says the Neutrality Commissioners af- firmed, impracticable and impolitic tor us to pro- hipit (he export of munitions of war. The asser- toa that tt would be impracticable ts umply refuted by the fact that we do it successinily whenever we are on the eve o$or involved in war ourselves. ‘The assertion that it would be impolitic is certainly rendered more than doubtful by she correspondence published on Saturday. ‘The Standard cousiders that Lord Granville has answered the protest of the German ambassador with perfect cogency and conclusiveness. He ia willing to bring the question affecting the future ob- ligations of neutrals under the general consideration of the Powers concerned, but avowediy without munch hope of good results, There are, the Standar@ thiaks, reasons for regretting even such & conc sion as this. England, as a great maritime Power, 15 likely to be the loser by any change which throws on neutrals the burdens hitherto borne by bellige- rent fects, and go tends to equalize the weaker and the stronger navy, so far as tts eficacy for other pur- poses than mere fighting in tine ts concerned. If once We enter on tie course proposed we shal! be subject to an increasing pressure to extort from us concessions that are simply imconsistent with our existence as a commercial aud manulacturiug people. Message from Quéen Victoria on the Loss of the Captain. The following message from the Queen has been recetved by Admira! Sir Sydney Dacres:— The Queen has already expressed to several of the widows and near relatives of the unfortunate suf- ferers in the late shipwreck her Majesty's deep syin- pathy with them in their afiitcuion, but there are many Others equahy deprived of husbands wr re! lives whom the Queen is unable to reach except through an official channel, Her Majesty therefore desires that measures may be taken to signify to the widows and relatives of the whole of the crew, Of all ranks, who perished In the Captain, the expression of her Majesty's deep sympathy with them, aud to assure them ‘hat the Queen feels most acutety the misfortune which hag atonce deprived her Majesty of one of the finest supa of War ond of so Many callant seamon, and