LONDON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2712, 15 October 1870, Page 3

LONDON.

(FRO.M OUR. OWN roRHKSPONDENT.)

August 12th.

A few hours after Iclosed my letti r of the sth [not received], a battle was fought at a place called by the French Froscheveiler, by the Germans, Stadt Wurts ; which haa changed the course of all subsequent events, and which may alter for good or evil the destinies of France for the lifetime of the present generation. In a hasty attempt to retrieve the affair of Weissenburg, in wliich General Douay was killed and his detachment routed, Marshal M'Mahon was provoked into engaging the army corps under the Crown Prince, which, screened by the thick woods of the locality, he under-estimated in a fatal degree. Eager for distinction and burning to avenge the loss of their comrades, who had been totally overpowered by numbers, the French charged their opponents with great spirit, and on more than one occasion appeared to be successful, but fresh Prussian battalions hour by hour debouched from tho forest near the Rhine, and drove them back. Eleven times the onslaught was renewed, the loss in killed and wounded on both side 3 being terrible. Towards sunset the French, exhausted and dispirited, gave way, and leaving their baggage, cannon, and encampment in the hands of their foes, retreated in great disorder from the field. Two eagles, the military chest, and four thousand prisoners were among the trophies of the victory. The Marshal having been fifteen hours on horseback, without breathing time or food, fell from his horse during the retreat, and was with difficulty rescued by a trooper who soon after passed the spot. It is now known thafc the French were outnumbered by nearly four to one, but the effect of the tidings throughout Furope was electrical. Paris, which, on the circulation of a false report on Saturday afternoon, had run wild with the exultation of supposed victory, was literally stunned into comparative silence by the blow. The truth, moreover, waa disclosed Uit partially. On Sunday night the Empress came to Paris, and early on Monday issued a proclamation desiring the preservation of order, and bidding the people await the decision of the Legislature, which was summoned to meet next day. From the headquarters of the Emperor bulletins arrived hour after hour unfolding the details of the disaster, and giving orders for fresh armaments. On Tuesday Paris was decla-ed to be in a state of siege, and when the Corps Logislatif assembled, the party of the Left broke forth into loud denunciation and reproach of the Government. M. Kuratry actually moved that the throne should be declared vacant, while M. Jules Favre moved the appointment of a Committee of Pnblic Safety to take the direction of aiFaira out of the hands of Ministers. A large majority negatived both suggestions ; but the violence of the language used on both sides exceeded all precedent or limit. Finally, the vote of want of confidence was proposed and carried by M. Duvernois, whereupon the Ollivier Cabinet resigned. On Wednesday Marshal Mont mban, Comte de Palikao, known chiefly for his capture and sack of Pekin, was named Minister of War and Premier. MM. Magno, Duvernois, Chevreau, Admiral de Genouilly, and Baron David, all of them stanch Imperialists, were, by the advice of M. Rouher, called to office. The Prince de la Tour d'Auvergne, formerly ambassador in London, on being named Minister for Foreign Affairs, declined ; and the portfolio has since been offered to M. Drouyn de Lhuys. The first act of the new Government has been to suppress the Rappel and the Reveil—the two most ultra-Republican papers; the next, to engage 30,000 workmen on the recentlyneglected fortifications of Paris. Arms and uniforms have been offered to men of every age who are ready to be sent forthwith to the army ; and many thousands are reported as offering themselves. But the capital having been stripped of troops, all but some twenty thousand men, it has been decided by the Chambers to embody the National Guard on the democratic footing whereon ifc was organised in 1831, and the Government have not thought it possible to refuse. Virtually this hands over the custody of Paris to its own citizens ; and should there be another military reverse, there can be no doubt that the fabric of the Second Empire will vanish like a dream.

As yet no disrespect has been publicly ! shown to the Empress, who presides at the sittings of the Cabinet of the Tuilleries, and who is described as doing all that a graceful and brave, though a feeble and prejudiced woman can do in the dreadful emergency. The Emperor remains at Metz, having appointed Marshal Bazaine to the command of the whole army, under his own direction as Sovereign. His health is said to have suffered materially by the labours and anxieties of the past fortnight, and his physicians, M. Nelaton and Baron Larrey, positively forbid liis making any bodily exertion which it is possible to avoid. It was about this time last year that his constitutional malady attacked him so severely, and should it return ia the midst of a crisis so distracting, the worn-out mechanism of mortality may suddenly give way, and solve all political complications in a summary fashion. Meanwhile Napoleon bears himself, it is said, with rare equanimity and dignity. No persuasion will induce him to think of returning to Paris until he has retrieved the dishonour and discomfiture brought by his rash tempting of fortune on the arms of France. In reply to a pressing telegram from the Empress, he is stated to have answered, "Yes, I shall soon return, dead or victorious." During the last three days, reinforcements of all kinds have been sent to the front ; and every effort is making to provision Metz, Mat-sal, Nancy, and Luneville, in case they should be beseiged. But S'rasburg, on the extreme frontier of Alsace, was drained of its garrison by M'Mahon in his ineffectual attempt to drive back the Prussian army ; and to-day we have intelligence that it has been regularly invested by a powerful German force. If anything could add to the exultation felt throughout Germany, it will be the recovery after a hundred and ninety years of the old Imperial city, whose inhabitants still speak tho language of their Teutonic fa'hers. Already people are everywherediscussingon what terms Prussia will be content to makepeace. Forthe future tranquillity of Europe, the question is an all important one ; for it is hopeless to expect that dismembered France will rt main long at rest. The senso of national vexation at what has already occurred could, in point of fact, be restrained at the presont moment by no feeling less paramount and intense than the fear of national mutilation, Ihe very mention of wliich drives every Frenchman to the verge of insanity, and to avert which he wonld unhesitatingly see any dynasty or form of government overthrown. The invasion of French soi^

l y outnumbering forces, and the loss of guns, eagles, officers, and thousands of rank and file made prisoners, makea men of all classes half forget for the instant their rage at the Emperor's want of caution and judgment, in their frenzied x. al for the expulsion of the invaders. It is in obedience to this national instinct that the Due D'Aumale and General Changarnierhave offered their services to Napoleon 111. That ofthe veteran Orleans general has been accepted, and he is now sitting in Council of War at Metz. A great battle is impending, a battle like Solferino or Sadowa, which may change the whole current of history for the remainder of our time. Neither side is as yet quite ready, each desiring to concentrate ere they encounter each its utmost available resources. There are all sorts of conflicting stories about the comparative value of needle-gun and Chassepot, Gatlin and mitrailleur. Nobody seems to doubt that the gallantry of the combatants and the perfection of their discipline are equal. There is, indeed, the grea'est doubt whether it is now possible for the Emperor to bring up anything like the same number of troops as his opponents, and a great _ portion of his sudden levies will go into action un- | trained or but half-trained. Tt is sickening to think of the havoc that is imminent, and all for what ? The future historian may make it out, and condense the meaning in a fine sentence; but what poor widow or orphan on either side of the Moselle (for of the Rhine we talk no more in these days) can be made to understand why the head of the household has been taken away, and his mutilated corpse laid in some va3t aceldama. Personal Government and secret diplomacy are splendid things for the lucky impostors who contrive to live by them ; but half Europe is to-day quivering with fear as to the consequences of a few mistakes they have made in their selfish game. Lord Granville has succeeded in making a supplemental treaty with Prussia and France, for the reassurance of the integrity of Belgium, to which Austria has acceded, and to which Russia is invited to accede. England bind 3 herself during the present war, and for twelve months afterwards, to send a'fleet and army to the defence of the integrity of Belgium, against whichever power shall infringe it. But it is stipula'ed that we are not thereby to be considered as undertaking to co-operate with the other power in the general operations of the war. Lord Cairns and Mr Bernal Osborne criticised sharply the provision of the treaty on the day of the prorogation. Ministers defended their handiwork, and there was no time for any general debate. Baron Brunow, on behalf of his Court, has expressed his willingness to become a party to fhe treaty, if its scope be extended to the protection of Holland and Denmark. The friends of the last named country tremble for its safety now that t the French expedition thither has been abandoned, and that the continuance of its existence as an independent state, seems to depend upon the will and pleasure of the Court of Berlin. King Christian is much distrusted by his own subjects, who regard him as half a Prussian. The English funds and shares generally have been rising all this week, in consequence of the relief of the public mind from the apprehension of our being drawn into the war by our Belgian guarantee ; and yesterday the Bank of England reduced the rate of discount to 5h per cent, which it is expected will be followed ere long by a further reduction. Messrs Featherston and Bell are still here, but contemplate setting out on their voyage homeward in the course of next month.