The New York Herald Newspaper, December 19, 1870, Page 3

FRANCE, Herald Special Reports from ~. Paris and Versailles. Preparations Making for Another Great Sortie. THE FRENCH CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS, The German Line Extended and Weak. Four Months’ Provisions Remain- ing in the City. German Officers Dread the Result of Another Sortie. Von Moltke Apprehensive of the Forma- tion of New French Armies, Princo Frederick Charles Not to Advance Too Far from Versailles. Bismarck Anxious to Destroy the Republic. The French Armies on the Loire to Resome the Offensive, THE BELEAGUERED CAPITAL. TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. The Recent Sortie Satisfactory—Weakness of the German Line—Another Sortie Prepar- ing—Pashing Field Worke—Depleting the German Ranks—Surrender Unthought Of— Four Monthw Supply of Food Remajning— General Matters. Lonpon, Dec. 18, 1870, I have received letters from the New York HERALD correspondent in Paris, bearing dates of the 11th and 13th inst. From them I extract the following intelligence:— THE RECENT SORTIE SATISFACTORY. The letter of the 11th states that the recent sortie of the French army under General Ducrot was in every respect satisfactory to the besieged. It proved conclusively that the German lines are weak. The French are confident of thelr ability to break through the investing army at the proper moment. The active fleld army, commanded by General Ducrot, is in good health and spirits, and is ‘well fea, It numbers fully two hundred thousand men, and is well disciplined, armed and equipped. ANOTHER SORTIE PREPARING. Great preparations are making for another sortio from the city, It will be ona much larger scale than the first one. Nothing can be learned as to the date on which it will be made, but it is likely to take Place before long. PUSHING THE FIELD WORKS. Outside the forts the French works have been pushed forward with such energy and success that they have compelled the Germans to enlarge their Une of investment, which has, consequently, grown weaker. These field works enable the artillery and sharpshooters to command roads which were entirely out of range of their guns a few weeks ago. At the same time it must be said that the German positions have been enormously strengthened, but there is a scarcity of men to defend them. . DEPLETING THE GERMAN RANKS. ‘The reverses of the French at Orleans have been made known to the army ana people, who have re- ceived une news with marked equanimity. It is* generally believed that General De Pailadine’s army, though defeated, has done good service in depleting the German ranks, and consequently breaking the besieging force. SURRENDER UNTHOUGHT OF. Such a thing as capitulating 1s unthought of. Every Parisian is armed, and the people, as well as the army, are in good spirits and confident. The letter, dated the 13th, from which & great part of the foregoing 1s taken, states that Paris can hold out for at least three months longer without experiencing any great suffering. It is true that the mortality of the city is large, but it is not enough so to create alarm. No epidemics are prevalent, there have been no deaths from starvation and but little actual want. THE FOOD SUPPLY. In the matter of food the situation may be pro- nounced favorable. It 1s true that such articles a8 fresh meats, eggs, fish and poultry are gone, but there is a supply of horseflesh for two mont! of bread, wine and cheese for four months, and of salted meats and salted fish for two months. These provisions, it will be seen, will enable the city to hoid out four months. By order of General Trochu the government has taken possession of all articles of food and wine. At the present time the entire population 1s supplied with fcod by the military commissarlats in the same manner as the soldiers, and are allowed the same rations, GENERAL MATTERS, Some of the theatres have reopened, It Is be- lieved that the amusement which the people will derive from the drama will be beneficial, as it Will relieve the monotony of iife in a besieged clty. Ordinary goods are still plentiful. Numerous cabs are still to be seen on the streets, their horses not having been eaten, THE BESIEGING ARMY. TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD, Tho Truth of the Recent Sortie—Ducrot suc- cess'ul—The Germaus Ate tack—Demaud the Bombardment of Paris—Von Moltke ApprehensiveBismarcic Fear Another for Pressing the Political Movement. * Lonpon, Dec, 18, 1870. I have received despatches from the Nuw Yore HERALD Correspondent at Versailles, dated on the 43th Inst., containing the following intelligeace:— THE TRUTH OF THE RECENT SORTIR. Your correspondent writes that the German ac- counts of the recent sorties from Paris evade the truth in important particulays, ‘The French army, commanded by Geueral Dycrot, was NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1870.—TRIPLE SHEET. entirely successfal as far as it went. It captured and held the peninsula of Bt, Maur against all the German atzempts to recover its posi- tion, The French retired voluntarily only after in- formation had been received of the failure of General De Paladines to force back the German army near Orleans, THE GERMANS FEAR ANOTHER SORTIE. TAF tiem age gontdqnt sat. the French could have gone entirely aad ite fine of Investment had De Paladines’ operations been attended with any degree of success. The German leaders here are beginning to display uneasiness, Their line of investment has been weakened by reason of its en- largement, and they express fears of the success of another sortie if the French mass their forces upon any single part of the line, THE BOMBARDMENT OF PAR!S DEMANDED, Among the German officers and soldiers at Ver- sailles and around Paris there is a great demand for tne bombardment of the city. Three councils of war have been held upon the question, but no bombard- ment has taken place yet. VON MOLTKE'S FEARS, it Is stated that General Von Moltke fears the organization of large armies in the South of France, which being further away from Versailles than Or- jeans the Germans will experience more dificulty to reach them than they have to reach the Army of the Loire. General Von Moltke 1 unwilling to allow the forces under Prince Frederick Charles to advance too far from Paris, BISMARCK ANXIOUS 10 DESTROY THE REPUBLIC. Count Bismarck 1s pressing energetically forward the political movement to destroy the republican government, He is also said to regard the conclu- sion of a treaty of peace before long as absolutely necessary, and to effect bott objects 13 ready to enter into a coalition with the Emperor Napoleon or with any other Power willing and able to make terms, OPERATIONS ON THE LOIRE. TELEGRAMS TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. Chauzy Receiving Reinforcements—A General Advance of the French to be Made—A Gen- eral Dismissed. BorpEavx, Dec. 17, 1870, The Germans are retreating all along the valley of the Loire. CHAUZY REINFORCED. The Prussians did not attack General Chauzy yes- terday, as was expected, The forces under Chauzy have received heavy reinforcements. A SIMULTANEOUS ADVANCE PLANNED. 1t 18 understood now that the tour generals com- manding the main divisions of the Army of the Loire, viz.:—Chauzy, Bourbaki, Jaures and Jaw- Teziberry have concerted plans for @ simultaneous advance, all having been largely reinforced. A FRENCH GENERAL DISMISSED, The French government has dismissea General Sol from the service, The charge against him was that he hastily abandoned Tours, leaving behind guns and other material of war, though no enemy had appeared near the city. MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS. TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. Gambetta With the Army—Germans Concen- trating Near Yvetot—Uhrich’s and Bazuine’s Surrenders to be Investigated—Grand Re= view of Troops. BORDEAUX, Dec. 17, 1870. M. Gambetta is still with the Army of the Loire. GERMANS CONCENTRATING TO ATTACK HAVRE, The national forces in the North have gained fresh advantages. The Prussians now appear to be con- centrating near Yvetét to attack Havre. The latter place has 350 cannon and a strong garrison, and will be defended to the last. UHRICH’S AND BAZAINE’S SURRENDERS TO BE 1N- VESTIGATED, The government, in accordance with the law which condemns to death generals who too hastily surrender their posts, has ordered py decree an in- quiry into the capitulation of Strasbourg and Metz. As regards General Uhrich this proceeding is a mere matter of form; but in Bazaine’s case the immvestiga- tion will be a serious affair. GRAND REVIEW OF TROOPS. Another grand review was held here to-day of the new troops going to the front. The men gave en- thusiastic shouts of “Vive la Repuplique’” as they marched past the hotel of the Ministry. The French Driven From Vendome—frussian Success Nenr Longeau—Gunboats Cruising Between Havre aud Cherbourg. Lonpon, Dec, 18, 1870. Atelegram from Berlin dated yesterday (Dec. 17) reports that the French were driven from Vendome on Friday last. PRUSSIAN SUCCESS NEAR LONGEAU. A telegram from Dijon dated on the 17th inst., via Berlin, reports that the Prussians attacked the French near Longeau and drove them into the fortress. The l'rench lost two hundred men. CRUISING BETWEEN CHERBOURG AND HAVRE. French gunboats are cruising between Cherbourg and Havre. No Prussians have appeared near elther port. WAR FACTS AND INCIDENTS. in the Camp, the Cabinet and the Press. BISMARCK AND THE TELEGRAPH SYSTEM. The Versatiies correspordent of the London News says that the quarters of the North German Chan- cellor in Versailles may be viewed as the foremost telegraph office in the world, Thence run the wires by whuch” all Germany, and through Germany all Europe and America) may be moved. “An unpretending house in whe Rue de Provence has a sentry at the gate, and a North Ger- man tricolor displayed above the garden wall. Tuis louse is the telegraph orice. fHere is Bismarck quariered, and nere are the wires, late for so many millions of people, atiached te the instruments buat will fash Bismarex’s decree to Ber- jin or Hamburg, to Lendon or Constantinop The telegraph oilice in the Rue de Prevence is truly the foremost of its kind. You may watch very late be- fore you see the lights extinguished in Bismarck’s quarters. He 18 not one of those model “early-to- bea’’ people who are the deligni of teachers and guardians, The Chancellor's habits are rather a turning of night into day, He is said to do the most of fis work when the bulk of the German armies is buried in siumber. Returning home in the evening, he does more by lamplight than most men are tw achieve by daylight and lamplight together.” GENERAL WIMPEFEN AT SEDAN. A correspondent writing to the Loudon Times states that when in Sedan, on the 28tu ult., he saw the original ietter addressed to the Emperor by General Wimpifen, Commander-in-Chief of the French army, proposing to force a passage through the Prussian lines. The document was accidentally jound after his Majesty's surrender. As it may, por- haps, interest many to read the exact words used in aking 80 desperate & proposition, and as they have het hitherto been publisued in Eaglaud, he sends the follewing copy:— SIRF Je me decide a forcor In ligne qui se tronve devant Je Gl. Lebran et Je Gl. Ducrot plusot que d’etre prisonmer dans lis place de Sedan. Que votre Majeste vienne se mettre an milien de ses troupes, qui tenurout a houuenr de Lui onvrir un passage. is WINPRFEN. hr. Ler. Sept. A FRENCH OPINION OF PARE The France contains an article entitled, “Sommes-nous perdus? which forcibly de scnbes the irpe state of Paris, The writer says that the condition of the city has not im- proved in any respect. Something has been done to complete and unprove the fortificauons, but the Prussians have pushed on their works still more rapidly, Tne provistons too, espectally the fresh meat, are being exhausted, Nor 1s the spirit of the Inhabitants changed tor the better; some are @ prey to the most profound discouragement, while others are infatuated enough 10 imagine t Jat all Europe 1s azing at them with admiration, ‘The writer thinks it 18 high time ww put top to the pro- ceedings of the loafers the Boulevard: hink they can carn the character who patriotz Nanding about in the streets reaching tealdtiee icy featatt pad op rai very one Who speaks 0! Whinitsff6 treasod. His advice is that all who act thas should be drafted at once into the regular army. Paris alone canuot save hersell, The garrison may be equal to the Investing army in numbers, but it is far mene My discipline, a aiee i ey Cerinas lines were broken nothing wou oe Palued, fe youn. try is vast ie ‘i a miles rene aint di Bor ore allord no suppiles to t bs fhe two ques- tons of real {mportanes spa there an army ia the provinces capable of raising the siege of Paris! and, if 80, are there provisions enough in Ue city to Cnabic it to hold out til it is relieved’ If either of these questions must be answered in the negative, the writer earcestly imbreats the authorities pot to continue the resistance until Count Bismarck’s prophecy 1s falfiiied, Mt the Provinoss leave Paria to her fate there 18 no reason. Why she should sacrifice herself for them. Though she Cannot ulone ciguge the course of the war, or eveu continue her resistance with any hope of sac- cess, she Cam Bull inflict Kevere losses on the Ger mans, who would therefore at present grant her favorable terms. [fa hopeless defence be continued unui a her resources are exhausied she Wil be entirely al their mercy, THE PRESENT FRENCH REPUBLIC. The Pesier Lloyd says:—“We do not believe those are right who consider the events of the last few months a suilicient cause lor declaiming about the moral decline of the French nation and the de- generacy of the Latin race. The people are, we be- lieve, prey nearly what they were eighty years ago, but it seems as if the ideas which have the power of iufuencing them had suffered a change. ‘The idea of the repubile of to-day and the idea of the republic of three generatious ago are two very dif- ferent things, Die republic now in practice 1 only negative; it siguifies merely the absence ef a sove- reign, while eighty years ago it was rich in positive signiilcance, and included everything great and unl- veraal which the age produced. The repubiican form of government, in its naked simplicity, hewever de- sirable lt may appear to some, could Lever produce SUCH Marvellous eilects @n the minds of men as were calicd (orth by the great French revolution. These ellects are to be attributed less to the political as- pecis of the first repablic than Co the maicrial ana social ideas which 1t embodied. Lf the first revolu- ton had done no more than dethrone the dynasty, Uithad not inscribed on its banners the names of liberty and equality, Which were then aew ideas and theictore possessed of a tenfoid power, it woud not have formed a new era in the history of the worid. It would not have leit aay grouter traces than a forcible change of dynasty usually makes ou the history of a country. Its greatness cuvisists in the Jact that It overthrew, not ouiy a throne, bata soctal system which hed existed for a thousand years, and substituted tor an unjust @ just forin of society. Its Unexampled influence over the whole of Kurope arose irom the fact that the best and most important ideas which it embodied weye not imseparavly con- hected With any single form of government, but Might be realized 1m @ monarchy as well as a repub- lc. And these id: a Splie of their immense nificance, Were expressed in short and sitaple be! tences Which every citizen could undersiand and remember. They were grand and suupie, ke the Copernican sysiem, let us say; and as the valter com. pieiely Cuanged the views of mankind as vo the con- struction of the universe, the Frenca revolution in- troduced a new, popuiar and easly compretensible theory of political and social life, in this fact lay the secret of its unconquerable power. lt would be as great a mistake to expect the saine efecta from the proclamation of a republic ow as to suppose that an exposition of the move- Mmeunts of the heavenly bodies in our days could pro- duce the same excitement which the first discovery of the laws that regulate them once did. The ideas proclaimed by the first revolution liave become the common property of mankind, just as mueh as the discoveries of Copernicus and Newton. ‘Their first proclamation rendered a second unnecessary. ‘The political and sociai improvements which wi now wim at diver from those of an earlier period fa twg respec! Firstly, they are reforms tn detail, aud are Not intended to destroy the existing social system, bat to develop it; and, secondly, they cannot be advecated by means of short and sinple dogmas, which appeal to the imagination of the people. The ‘volution, Which scattered ther rich heard of Ideas reely among the people, has exhausted ter store and can offer little that is mew. It is our task to care for the plants which are springing (rem the seed she has sown. ‘the ideas of our ewn age a rather to the intelligence than the imagination o! the people. Thetr influence 18 not, on that account less wholesome aud lasting, but it 1s slower and therefore less likely to preduce great and sudden displays of enthusiasm among the masses, In order to produce outoursts of popular passion, We Will not say equal, buc in any respect similar to those of the first French republic, the present leaders Would have to enter the ficid of secialism. Thre nd new systems be found; there alone is it possible to proclaim dogmas to the people witu the air ofa prophet. The doctrines of the revolution were eternal truths, * * * It would be unjust toas sSert that the Frencit nation had not given admirable Bae of heroism in this desperate war, but these ave been prompted by patriotism rather than their republicanism, They have shown the world tat pa- triotism can do much, but not everything.” A FRENCH SPECULATOR IN THE CAMP, As a parallel to the contractor for 200,000 uniforms, Wwe met at Lille, says an English writer, a youngster of only eighteen years, a Londonized Freachman, who had disposed, for his principal, of nearly a hundred thousand army shirts to the French govern. ment, at 3f 65¢. each, and had made on w part thereof a bonus of 4,000), WAR BOOKS AND BOOKMAKERS, A very Mood of political pamphlets relating to this War, says a correspondent in Liile, imundates the bookstalls of Brussels and Lille, they being pub- lished in these two cities chiefly. Two or three are worth review. The well Known “L'Homme de Se- dan,” by Count de la Guerronnitre, already in its sixth edition, 18 now followed by “L’Hemme do Metz,” from the same pen, and by another “L’Homme de Metz,” by Albert Alexandre, “Direc- teur du Journal la Vérlté.” Then thece 18 “L?acte d@ Accusation de Bazaine,” by H. Nazet and A. Spoll (the same writers who, in the eudieton of the Klowe Belge, describe the “Moselle Campaign”). Another is entitled “Na- leon ITI; qu'avez-vous fait de ja France ?? “Republique ou Monarchie,’? by Amed¢e Deroide, is a deduction in favor of the former, from the facts of the present war. The ‘‘Réponse @un Allemand aM. Victor Hugo" (anonymous) seems hardly worth while as far as the question turns on Paris chiefly, and tor the rest the auther appears quite as passion- ate an extremist as Hugo himself. ‘La Chouanne- rie en 1870” and “Etudes Militaires,’’ by Jules Labbé, are hints and argumeats on the organization for the guerilla war, ‘Descriptions des Fortifications de Paris,” by L. Vandeveide, leaves one in doubt whether ’tis simply a good-natured attempt to satisfy @ legitimate curiosity or an attempt at warning against the probable German plan of attack. There are yet others; but I have, I supose, strained your readers’ patience enough for a day. THE GERMAN HOSPITAL IN THE PALACE OF SAILLES. VER- The North German Gazette gives an account of the military hospital at Versailles. The wounded are placed in the picture galleries, the large win- dows of which are opened so that the alr is kept pure. Every patient has a bed, with one or two mattresses, two blankets and clean sheets. The body linen and sheeis have often, from the nature of the wounds, to be changed daily, and in five weeks 7,946 articles have had to be washed, without reckoalag a large number of bandages, and 366 mattresses. The Gallerie des Batailles 1s devoted to the medicines and the thousand other requisites. Lhe food 18 prepared in two kitchens in different wings of the palace, in order to expedite its passage to tie hespital rooms. Besides the usual dlet of meat, white bread, and wine, ham, sausage, fruit, champagne, &c., are provided tor the severely Wounded. ‘Tae fruit | Lit bas by the palace gar- dens, and the champagne is the gift of the King of Prussia, who daily sends orderlies with newspapers, aud irequently delice ‘The King and the Crown Prince often visit the ‘alescent. Those not con- ined to their beas can walk out on the beautiful terrace, and even the ‘bedridden are placed there when the weather permits,in order to Strengthen body and mind by the splendid pros- pects. Smoking, newspaper reading and letter writing go on, nor are iriendly visits and religious conversation wanting, while divine service is fre. quently held in the large apartments, MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS The story of the Neue Frei Presse that the Ger- Mans, on taking possession of Metz, foumd in that Place a sum of 49,000,000 francs {s a pure invention, A Swiss paper, the Lugerner Zeitung, recently published a pretended despatch from Count Bis- K to the Not German Ambassador in Flor- ihe position of the Pope. No such rv emanated from tae Federal Chan- cellor, We learn from the Provinzial-Correspondenz that the Reichstag, besides voting the necessary supplies jor ng on the war, wilt huve to deliberate en the reception of those South German States which have announced their readiness to enter une North German Confederation, From the day of the capitulation ef Metz, when 178,000 French surrendered, til the 12th of Novem- ber, or in abous twe weeks, the German arin| made 14,000 more uch soldiers prisoners of war. Ot these, 4,400 were taken in Scilettstadt, 220 in Fort Mortier, 5,000 in New Bretsacn, 1,400 at Bourget, about 4,100 at Verdun, imeluding two generals, eleven staff officers and 150 subaltern onicers; 3u2 ab Monterau and 800 at Bretenay and in other skit- mishes, - The pieces of caupon captured ip ali these AdWUe QUBOULLEd LO 57a LIFE AMONG THE FRANCS-TIRBURS The Campaign in Cen- tral France. Across the Country—Dangers—Fired On—Among the Francs-Tireurs—Who They Are aid What They Are—With Garibaldi’s Army—Talk with a Garibaldian Offi. — cer—Sentiment of the People of Lyons—Ihe Desire for Peace. a StrasBoura, Province of ae} Noy, 22, 1870, Ihave just reachea here from an unavoidably pro- tracted tour In Central France, after the rudest war experience I have yet encountered since hostilities commenced, A contaci of over two weeks’ duration with Francs-tireurs—surprises, arrests, endless de- lays, execrable wet weather, not to mention other douceries of tife in a hostile country—would by this Ume have made me aware that a correspondent’s mission in searcn of the news warlike of the day forces him to alight on anything but beds of roses, had I not known that litte {tem before, LIFE AMONG THE FRANCS-TIREURS is a rather dangerous kind of life, by the way; for, as you tiave heard, these patriotic gentry just new swarm in every section of France, giving extreme concern and harassment to the Prussian lines and detachments, and earnest anxiety to all civilians whose ebject is to travel m France at this critical juncture, This is the second trip and the second section of the country in which I nave had the lot to meet with the small armies of the republic, and to incur narrow escapes from their skirmishing opera- tions; but of course 1¢ happens that Iam in their way, not they in mine—they are trying to defend their native soll, whereas mere talkers and writers cannet complain if on their errand of picking up the aetails of the war they meet with innumerable vexations and get run ever rough shod now and then, as I have been,’ altnough without any malico prepense on the part of the excited warriors. THE FRENCH LINES NBAR LYONS. Isent you several notes written by the wayside; but I am in ignorance whether you ever received them, for they were mailed by hand. Having ar- rived on the main line of communication between the Rhine and Paris, 1 ascertained that the com- mand of Prince Frederick Charles had actually started from the neighborhood of Metz, and that his Royal Highness, now Marshal of Prussia, had set out, with his headquarters, to reinforce General Werder’s army and to push @ general onslaught on Lyons, it being aimed to crush resistance in that stronghold before tt couid bud, ripen and produce frult @ la Parisienne, With the view to get up at the front of the projected siege operations in time to, witness the first preparations and engagements, L determined to push on ahead with the vanguard of Prince Frederick's army, composed of Werder’s men, leaving the heavy columns to come up with their bulky ambulances in the usual less rapid man- ner, That was +B PLAN OF CAMPAIGN when L left to go forward, aud the ome on whicn 1 based my movements. I need scarcely add just here that by the time I was at my end of the rope, or almost jam up on Lyons, the Prince’s army was no- where in my rear, but had changed front to its right flank and oblique from Troyes via Fontainebleau towards Orleans, 1a consequence of the victory gained by General Paladines at Baccon the 9th inst. The Prince divided his 80,000 men in three corps and launched them separately by forced marches in the most threatened direction with the usual Prus- sian energy and decision; and, perhaps betgre you receive Unis letter, you will have heard that he bas given the hand to Vou der Tann and shattered the French, PRINCE FREDERICK CHARLES’ ARMY, His troops, Lam convinced, are capable of giving @ severe shdck to any force they may encounter; and I am disposed to believe, even from what I hear from the French themselves, that neither the mobillers nor the national guardsmen anywhere can. withstand fim. At present writ ng we de not hear that the Prince has been engaged. I hope to be present when he is, True, we were led to believe by the despatch of King William of the 18th inst, that the whole French army nad been defeated at Dreux; but that despatch turns out to have alluded to a very small skirmish which took place at that paint, By the Way, that village was very near to Versailles to be occupied by a French armed force; and { hear that Versatlles got a considerable scare for lis new royalty. ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I moved down across country and by the nearest reutes to the nelghborheod of Dijon and Besangon. li was along this part of my travels that I encoun. tered the deiachwents of Francs-tireurs in their most threatening atitiute, as tiey were in search of a Prussian te fire upon at almost every step. They were constantly causing alarms, and once again, while going along the maim route peacefully, m: imarch was suddenly arrested by u dropping fire dl- rected from out a Chick wood upon the soidiers, of whose perils | had to take that share falling to me from being in their coinpany. Fortunately, the soldiers were sufilciently numerous to beat the wood in every direction, and to prevent a very long con- tnuance of the fire, which, while It lasted, consisted of A SHOWER OF BULLETS, rather thicker and heavier taan agreeable. Without any damages, but with loud oaths from the soldiers, the free shooters wok to their heels, anc were out o| sight and hearing in atrice. They numbered about twenty or thirty, as far as could be made out; they fred very excitediy and hastily, but yet we had their balls whizzing aout our ears audloly enough, some sifiking at a proximity of a few feet from us, Ee surprise was so sudden that we considered our- Selves lucky with such @ narrow escape. The soldiers, of course, fired back wildly oa the first im- puise; but they soon went into the wood to search jor their invisible enemies, without, hewever, flnd- ing them. Such is the RISK OF MARCHING ON FRENOM ROUTES now; nor did such @ procedure on the part of the people of the country give us a very lively feeling of security for continuing the march. But we were in the midst of them, and going forward was not worse than going back, evensupposing that our ob- Jective points had not lain in the front. A part of the way I proceeded witheut the accompaniment of troops, and then, again, 1 was beset by the inevi- table guardians of the roads and forests. But bar- ring the delay caused 1 must say that when I was brought into contact with the men of the blue blouses, AMONG THR FRANCS-TIREURS, Ihad notto complain of their treatment after they had ascertained my nationality and had secured roof of the peaceful mission upon which { dared to e roaming about their sacred soil. They were lively always after that, and chatted freely, being very anxious to hear the news in general, end ef the whereabouts of their enemy's columns in particular, Such questions I had to be on my guard to avoid, for several good reasons, and they were never rude in pressing them after my stating squarely the posi- tion in which I was placed. They seemed intelligent; most of them, with good manners, were ignorant, i found, of the art of reading and writing with pro- priety or impropriety. (There 1s the victory which France will liave to gain—education of all her chil- dren, before she can ever be again strong.) Some of the men wore a fanciful unliorm or some token of the sign military; but most of those I met alone on the road were isolated cases in blue blouses, bearing arms in their hands, They belonged to the working classes, but there was no other work but vo hunt Prusstans and no emperor to prevent their having Weapons, SPIRIT UNDAUNTED. Many such did 1 pass, as well as villages, where the inhabitants were en the qui vive for ihe toe vaders, and where ail the eatabies and drinkabies were far from peing exhausted. In fact, | found that the nearer { reached towards the South, towards Lyons, the more plenuful were provisions, the more prosperous the look, the less damage and frighul appearance of war. Few or no tuvaders were the cause ofit all, The whole region | travelled ov emed a land of plenty—of wine, truit, bread and meat—by the side of desolated Kast France a the battered environs of Paris ny SQoUrning plac detachments of G re | Aas sure to dis- feasung—not Lasting orSnerely gnaw- bone, but living off ch fat of the land as they had not seen since their entry on French soil. Lyons and Souta France are justly looked forward to by the Teuton betmg the happy land of Canaan. Whether they, as so many new Moseses, be reiused entrance therein remains to be seen, Ali that I saw as iar ast went, and all that I had from very retlat ine to believe that as to pr ri french sources, Induce sious and well stored hes France could keep up the war without accounts | trouble, other tags being equal, which they are | not—rather to tle contrary, DLIONs On reaching the nelghberhood of Dijon I found that place occtpied by the Prussians, anu the van- guard of the french resistance, under the command of General Garibaldi, stationed or picketed at Dole Believing that Prince Frederick was coming on as rapidly #8 possible, and Would hasten to oceupy the whole region clear up tg the gates of Lyons, | con- cluded to drive omand see for mysel{ the state of Ue people, their de! and to have a peep at the manner of wariare earried on by the Garibaidians. Having all my papers en: gle, and having beea well acquainted With the great red shirt chieftain in years gone by in Italy, | struck out to bis lines, con- Hiding that 1 Was werely a fererunner of the regue | the lars on tho way to attack Lyons. Thad ao dtMoutty CROSSING INTO THE GARIBALDIAN LIN. which were found very slim very rly quartered. “Garibaidi’s headquarters were in Dole; Dut his force, amounting perhaps to 4,000 men of all colors and nationalities (principally Italians and Spantards), was scattered around loose over an ex- Lended line, picketing at this village and at that, The men seemed poorly equipped and scantily clad, complaining of the weather and the cold nights just Becin tu earnest, The General himself! being on the wing I was unable to have achat with him, as 1 Would haye liked to have had; for although L kpo' thg old fellow to be extravagant in his réd ideis, ‘sUll know that occasionally he seems to have an In- suunclive perception of the truth, Which enables him Wo give on things and men What may be termed the common sense view, I feel sure that he would have told me some truths about the nature and the pros- pee of these French of to-day, for he has studied hem, and, with all his impracticable fancies, he is @ man of aheerr ial. RARIBALDI'S SONS. I, however, saw kis sons—both serving under him. Riciott, the younger, twenty-iive, is a general, and a soldier of decided prestige and talent. He wins his way and 1s capable ef doing something. Accora- ing to the telegram from ‘Tours he has just cap- wured and defeated 800 Prussians at Chatillon, I have reason to believe that this achievement 1s ex- aggerated, for his force ts slim; but he couid act if he had thé men. He is much liked by his followers. Menottt, the elder, thirty-three, 18 also popular and amiable, but rather more so than taleuted, Be 18 classed as “not much.’”? All the Gartbaidians have been made citizens by the republic, amd Gambetta has made Garibaldi a general of the French ariny, Lrenewed my acquaintance with many of the Gari- baldian warriors Who went through the campaign of Sicily, Livay résumé their sentiments by con. densing the statements made to me by one of the General's cluet staff oillcers, @ colonel, He said:— “Weare haviug A ROUGH TIME of it, on account of the weather. Besides, we have nothing, and there seems Lo be no organization to be expected from Tours, where ali is contusion, as hereabouts. We have to shiit for oursely There is acertain jeaiousy in regard to us all, and the General 18 het seconded atall by the French ofl. cers. Butno matter, We hope for the best, and, at all events, we tight for eur principles, (or the universal republic, for humanity. We are noi tight- ing here merely for this poor French nation, deserv- ing of the pia aud help of all nations—of your re- ublic, of England, O1 that very italy whose king has outlawed us, and who goes shuinefully to the theatre every night to pass away the time while our sister nation bleeds! What kind of ctviliza- tion or humanity is tks that allows France to be atruck down in this manner? No, sir; the idea of humanity does not exist in this nineteenth century, with all its boastings. way I is HOt Understuo pronery even supposing that 1t bas entered into the eads and hearts of men. Just look at the egousm of the peoples and their governments. Yes, there are individuals who have suffered, really suf- fered, and they understand what the word humanity should mean—akind, brotherly, fellow feeling—but they are few. I have had five campaigns. I was captured by the Bourbon troops; I was weak, they Were strong and subjected me to every indignity. 1 was thrust Into one of those cells at Gaeta, where a aged had nothing to eat but # small crust of read, amid filth, vermin and rats, were many died of starvation, and where some became old men in a few weeks, owing to the tortures inflicted. 1 was visited one day by the Queen of Naples in her tour ef Inspection at the establishment. The guar- dian came to my bench and struck me a terrible cull in the side to apprise me of the presence of the Queen, I fainted, The Queen extended te me suc- cor and punisted the brutal guardian. she saw iy pitital state and had compassion on me. 1am sure that she bad @ real sense of humanity apout her in acting ax she did. I told her at the time that 1 saluted her, net asa queen, the wile of the oppressor of men, for my principles haa placed me in prisen, put as a woman who had displayed a good heart. Lalluae to this example of my own experience to show you that one must really suifer, perhaps, before one can fully appreciate the feeliag or the {dea of what the word Bumanity should signify. I teel for ethers, in short, for I have suffered terribly, France is suiter- ing terribly, and therefore we liave come to her suc- cor, We have a geod many ba@ subjects coming to us here from Italy on voluntary enlistments, but the General is going to put a stop to their coming, We are on aforeign soil and upon a delicate mission, We do not wish mauvais sujet Lo arrive from Italy todo us harm and weund the good reputation which it is essential for success Lo preserve among the excited French, Italy may be united, but lis government is a shame. I was a captuin in the Toquler army. I resignea to’come here with the General, THE PRIESTS DOWN ON THEM. As for the Santo Padre (the Holy Father, the Pope), he 1s.now the happiest man in the world, ‘That whe Florentine government bas takea things off his hands, he drinks, @ais and waiks about quictiy, se- cure in his occupation at the Vatican; he ts mach better off now, persoually, and it is ouly Antovelli and the Jesuits who are raging. Here we have had something to do With the Jesuits and the priests and they are all down on us, We have shut them up in several places and they are ail cursing us and work- Ing against us. It astonishes us to see what an lunmense lafluence they Rave over the people here, ‘The French are far more priest-ridden than the Italians. At present the priests are doiag more harm to the country than the Prussians. Their bishops and archbishops all work for the Pope, ‘They send him tetters of condolence and encourage- ment from emineat Frenchmen, and are collecting all tho money they can to aid in recuperating the temperal power—money which should go for the nauonal deience. The government does not take strong measures against tuem, and even we have been accused of dealing too harshly with them. It is true the General will not tolerate thelr doings, more especially a5 we have had proof that they are acting as spies for the Prussiaus. Withal we hope on and intend to dg eur best. ONTINUING ON SoUTa, IT reached as far as the railway line runping between Lyons and Geneva, At the station of Culoz only an hour or two's ride from Lyous, [ found the trains Moving as usual, With only sight deviations from the ordinary time tables, and couveying loads of French relugeed from the threatened city Lato Switzerland, National guardsmen were met, whe were gn a few days’ leave of absence to convey their families and chattels into a spot of safety—Swiss neutraldom. I conversed with many of them in regard to Lyons, its defences and the sentiments of the people in the South. The accounts taliied invariably as to the general desire for peace:—"La pats, la patr—qu’ on la jasse, qwon la susse (Peace, peace; let it be made.) Some with whom I ta.ked were Intelligent men of wealth and pesition in Lyons, all beiouging to the National Guard and on short turlough, I make a rcsume of What they satd, as follows:— Lyons is naturally strongly situated, and we have worked hard and made it still stronger by artficiat defences. It is now guarded by a strong garrison, and has heavy guns brought from the seaporis. We are all made soldiers up to sixty. The old uftn are in the sedentary guard of defence; while the yousg of twenty-five years, though married, are consigued to active service, This 1s blamed while the still younger, from seventeen to twenty are not touched, although they are eager to be drafted. We wiil de- fend the city perhaps two months. There are pro- visions in plenty, But then the city must be taken at last, and what then’ Will we have advanced our cause? Not a whit; we will oniy have been sacrificed, What will be true of Lyons, if attacked, 18, we Bee by sad experience, true of alt France— left to unorganized forces. Ali sensible people see it and say 1t now that Metz has failen, But we dare not speak out our sentiments openly as we do in private; for we would have to sulfer the penalties of mob law. All our large cities are now governed by municipal councils composed of the most ignorant and unworthy portion of the citizens. WE DARE NOY TALK OUT, WE CANNOT ACT. ‘The demagogues have the lead, and ail 1s confu- sion and improvidence. There is ne head. it is only too sadly seen by us all, and hence the geueral sentiment is that France 1s being sacrificea when there 14 no proper direction to make our strength availaple. ‘The best thing that could happen would be for Paris to make peace; for then all France would yield under that influence. Peace should have been made at Sedan, as soon we saw that the nation had no head ner could expect to have one. What we desire 1s @ good government, under whatever naine. ‘The nation would not suifer Na- polcon again. The Orleans have the best chance of Satistying the national will now. Probably the re- public might last a year or so. Gambetta 1s a mere tulker—a lawyer; yet there is something we like in him, and it is the fact that he has some idea of order and bas enforced quiet at Lyons and Mar- seilles, where wild confusiqn reigned not many weeks ago, Let him go turtiler and make peace. But we are afraid he ts too inexperienced to see that his course virtually sacrifices tue true interests of the nation. THE WHOLE PEOPLE ARE FOR PRACE. Out of 500,000 Inhabitants in Lyons 259,000 at least are of our way of thinklag., You ask if there 13 a real, serious desire on the part of the French people of tne South conquer or die in the national de- fence. No, because there is this general sentument, that there is no leader capable of driving cut the Germans, We have plenty of everything; as yet nothing is lacking. OF course business is ata stand- still, Our sik commerce aad manuiactures are all down pretty muck; perliaps there is scarcely ou elguth of our silk trade remaining. There are apout ten large dealers and manufacturers who still keep and up work for the large supply sent to Ame England; but ail the small fry, wio emplo four of five huadrea workmen only, have shut up shop. The army at Lyons bears ihe name of “The Army of the South and 18 60,000 strong, and commanded by a new general just sent from Tour ‘The first one sent us was not egreeable vo the t Of our municipal council, who removed in. generals and discipline ure lacking; arais are pi Tul; many have been recelvea from Americ give great satisfaction to all. The men are charmed With these perfected weapons, WHAT NuW BXCITES ALL MINDS fs the attitude of Russta. A child could have seen that Russia would not lose her opportuutty as soon France should be crushed. cailed upon aud to help her naturai ally three months aso. Il plainly saw it and told the English so at the beginniag of the war. P for England to sw suifer too, resisiance serious. Our disasters fh ail (he more because it has isolated by the action of England. We ing to see What England will du. This plac fectly quiet, Belfort and one or two resses, Such as Montinedy and Mézteres, are besieged must give up soon. ‘Ti nt of the citizens of Strasbourg bears stilla decided French bias in sympathy werday one of them chalked on the walis that Trochu had sortied with 100,000 men and Wed 8.000 Prassians and spiked 120 siege tecen, she whi have to Yet could she join in and help us now, would sull be long and e discouraged the nauen made to feet so all walt in Fran LUXEMBOURG British Agitation Over the Conti. nental Diplomacy, aes The Nation Humiliated by the Prussian Poliéy Towards the Grand Duchy—Premier Glad- stone’s Cabinet at the Crisis of Its Minis terial Existence—Russian Defini- tion of the Situation, ENGLISH DIPLOMACY, TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD. Bismarck Demands a Grand National Dim culty—The Nation Humiliated—A Chango of Cabinet Imminent, LONDON, Dec, 18, 1870, The reported submission of the English govern- ment Lo Bismarck’s overbearing demands relative to the Luxembourg question and the territorial future of the Duchy intensifies the feeling of indignation which prevails generally against the Gladstone Ministry. Earl Granville opposed, it is sai humihation, The Standard newspaper (a Tory organ) deciares that the ministerial course of the “peace party’? completes England’s abdication of her position as @ leading European Power. ‘The Ministry ls accused of cowardice in refasing to publish Count Bismarck’s letter or their own executive reply thereto, Jt ls anticipated that a most violent attack will ye made on the Cabinet immediately after the meeting of Parliament, The downfall of Gladstone’s Ministry is regarded as imminent, THE RUSSO-EUROPEAN UKASE. this last act of What Holland ‘Must Do and What Prussia May Do—Defiuition by the Czar. Bexirn, Dec. 17, 1870, Russia, in reply to the Prussian note in regard to Luxembourg, says the King of Holland must dise prove the charges brought against the Duchy or give guarantees that its obligations of neutrality Shall not be violated again, If, however, the charges alleged are proved, “Prussia is justified in annexing the territory.” REAL ESTATE MATTERS. The Up Town ‘Travel Conundrum. Statistical and Financial Reasons for Its Quick Solution—Movements in Brooklyn—The Extension of Flatbush Avenue. ‘The great question in the real estate market in the approaching period of expected activity is that of up town travel, Rapid transit from end to end of the Island 1s the great desideratum at this ume, and, tn fact, a vital necessity, mm connection with the growth of New York and the support of the greag real interests belonging to the metropolitan district, THE ARGUMENT im support of this position 1s nether new nor mise understood by those likely to be affected by whe hoped for result; but its leading points, as suce cinctly arranged by an advocate of one of the proe posed methods of relief is worth repetition. STATISTICS, s From 1800 to 1860 the established ratio of increase in population was @ fraction over 28 per cent for every five years, This ratio would ave given, in 1870, @ population of 1,334,073, an increase for the decade of 520,404, and one-quarter of which equaig 130,101. ‘The population of 1860 was #13,669, and in 1870 1f Was 926,341, an increase of only 112,672, being 17,409 less than one-quarter of what it ought to have been, and showing an actual loss of 407, in the growth of the city. Again, from 1850 to 1860 the ratio of increase was 57.83, and from 1860 to 1870 it was only 13.84 per cent, when it ougut wo have been 03.98 per cent, showing an actual loss of 50.14 percent. A loss of three-quarters would have shown a [oss of 47.98 per cent. The facts prove that since 1840 the growth of the city has been above Fourteenth street, and the 407,732 lost population was lost to that section, and if such loss had not taken place there wowd not now remain a single vacant lot below 155th street. This decrease of population resulted in the loss im value of the taxable property on the upper part of the island to an amount exceeding $500,000,000, a tax on which of only two and a half per cent would have produced a yearly revenue to the city of $12,500,000. This depreciation in the value ot property, together with other evils and injurtes to life, heaith and finane cial prosperity, has been caused by the WANT OF ADEQUATE MEANS FOR THE ACCOMMODATION OF TRADE AND TRAVEL between the upper and lower limits of New York. ‘The facts show that the value of property depends upon the distance its occupant is compelled to travel to bis place of business; and that distance is not measured by miles, but the time and convent- ence of the transit. The time required to travel from Harlem is over two hours, while that from Elizabeth, N. J.—just twice the distance—is only i) minutes, ‘or this reason, under the present conditio: of the means of travel, the tutrMisic vatue of property im Elizabeth is more than double that im ‘arlem, The increase of population at Harlem, ine creasing the number of passengers, would lengthen the time of travel, add to its inconvenience, and thus depreciate the value of the real estate, unless the facilities for transportation were enlarged at the same time. The facts show that the property in the lower part of Westchester and the upper part of New York must continue to depreciate in value, year by year, with an increasing ratio of decline, corresponding with the means provided for the accommouation of travel to the localities adjacent to the lower part of the city. To illustr: Elizabeth will increase in popula tion as it becomes more convenient to the business centre of New York, while Harlem will decline in ie Tatlo of the tine and difMcuity of travel to thag locality. ae is generally understood in real estate circleg that THE LEGISLATURE, during its next session, address itself actively to the solution of this problem. The varjous pros yho have schemes on hand that are certain d, cach one thinking is the pest and the cither too expensive or impraciicabie, are either ‘“4aying pipe” or endeavonng to “manufacture public Opinio’ so as to o—aln control of the Legislature. One thing 18 in—the Ting 1s pledged to put im operation sow acticable scheme that Will not take too loug or ‘require too much money to carry out. ‘the members are loaded up with uptowa property, and are stil baying, and their luter are involved in such ‘successful Present indications pomt to a modification nd an eXtension Of the charter of the and Railroad Company as the great question will be satisfac me torily soived. IN BROOKLYN there was an equal awakening of interest in respect to the future o: tie real estate market as we hav noticed in New York, ‘The programme ot operations for the coming spring ts an extensive one, and if 16 only draws promises to create constderable excites ment, Some transactions on alirge scale are re« ported recently, but without particulars; hence we prefer (0 pass them over. ‘The long agitated EXTENSION OF PLATBUSH AVENUR Is expected to go throagh the Legislature positively ‘Ubis session, und real estate has been quite active for some time past along the line of vhe expected tin- provemer Continued iM a straight line, which is We believe, the mtention, the Rew avenue will ters minate at the junction of Adams and Sands streeis, or at the contemplated eatrancg to the bridge, furnishing @ straight road from ew York to Prospect Park. ‘The intermediate course will take in the corners of Willoughby and Epnve streets, Myrtle avenue and Gold street, Jay aild Concord and Nassau and Pearl streets. Among the buildings to be demolished in thi¢ Haussmannizing work will be the school nouse of St. James’ parish, on Jay street, and Ule Bishop's resis dence, Mearly Opposite, I el i