EUROPE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 17, Issue 952, 24 February 1871, Page 2

EUROPE.

London, December 30; The French army, commanded by Faid-.. herbes, was attacked on the 23rd December by General Manteuffel, to the northeast of Amiens ; both sides claim the victory, night putting an end to the battle.. The trial of the directors of the Monarch, Marine Insurance Co. has terminated in a verdict of " not guilty." It is stated that the Queen intends to ; open parliament in person. The Fenian convicts have been released conditionally upon leaving the kingdom. The foundation, stone of a new. General Post Office has been laid by the Hon. Mr. Ayrton. A scheme for the fortification of London, is said to be under consideration. Lord Lawrence has been elected chairman of the London School Board. A serious railway accident occurred on, the 6th December, between Sunderland and Newcastle, in which Fred Young the actor was killed. The Roman Catholic Bishop of Brisbane,, in a speech made at the meeting at St. Anne's Hall on the 9th inst., expressed hia sympathy with the Pope. The postal rates on letters between Eng-i land and Australia are reduced to 9d pec half oz. J. O. Hamley, from New Zealand, has. been appointed Deputy-Comptroller in, Dublin. General Robert S. Schenck has accepted the post of American Minister to London. A new cabinet has been formed in,, Greece. King Amadeus has embarked for Spain. A protest has been issued by Don Carlos, addressed to the Spanish people. At the half-yearly meeting of the London, Chartered Bank of Australia, held on Dec. 9, a dividend of 4 per, cent, for the half?, year was declared.

On the 20th December the Prussians seized six English vessels at Duclar on the Seine, which they scuttled and sank, to impede the navigation. The Prussians fired upon the crew, and robbed the vessels, because they had landed coals without a Prussian permit. It was stated that they were taking in ballast. Her Majesty's ship Psyche, which was sent out to watch the solar eclipse, struck on a sunken rock near Catania, and was lost, but the crew were all saved. The French camp at Bondy has been broken up, and the batteries there silenced. It is stated that the capture of Avron has caused great discouragement in Paris. It is reported that the sufferings of the population in Paris are excessive, but, beyond the bombardment of the forts, little damage has been done that cannot easily be repaired. The official journals of Paris declare that the government rejects all idea of capitulation.

The bombardment of the whole of the Paris forts continues lively on all sides. Forts Noisy, Nogent, Vanvres, Issy, Montrouge, and Ivry are silenced. Paris was on fire at several places on the night of the 10th. Very severe weather has set in for the last week, and all the ponds in the parks in the neighbourhood of London are frozen over.

A serious accident occurred, in which a son of Mr. Walter, of the Times, was

drowned

It is reported that 10,000 incendiary shells were fired into Paris on the 15th. It is stated that a protestation, signed by all the n embers of the Government, was issued against bombardment without notice, so as to allow the women and children to leave the city. On the 18th December, a deputation from the Reichstag presented an address to King William offering him the Imperial Crown of Germany. The King replied that it would be only obedience to the unanimous wish of the German nation, expressed through its representatives, to recognise this call, which he regarded as dictated bv Providence.

On the 4ih January, the Germans officially announced that the country people around Orleans and Artenay were starving, and were fed by the German commissariat. On the 20th an attempt was made to assassinate General Prim at Madtid, while proceeding in a carriage from the Cortes. The minister of war was also in the carriage. The Marshal and Adjutant were both wounded —not dangerously. General Prim was struck by eight bullets in the shoulder, and a finger of his right hand has been amputated. Belfort is being besieged by the German army. The defenders are acting on the defensive pending the result of the siege of Paris.

Gambetta left Bordeaux for General Chanzy's bead-quarters at Vendome. The towns of Behrogine and Bechaune were burned.

On the Bth Rocroy capitulated, the Germans capturing 70 guns and 300 prisoners. General Faidherbes claims a victory at Bechanne, though the Germans assert that they intercepted his advance on Paris. The German batteries have reached the Bridge of St. Michael across the Seine, and the French have unmasked additional batteries on the south side of Paris. The Germans attacked Dijon in great force on the 22nd, but the French maintained their position. Batteries have been brought within 300 yards of the forts of Paris. The King of Prussia has accepted the Imperial Crown by proclamation. A great sortie took place on the 20th from Fort Mont Valerien ; it was repulsed. The bombardment continues with good results. Lavnlle and Tours have been occupied by the German forces. Soigny has been burnt. The German army occupies Beaumont, Alencon, and Dole. London, Jan. 23. General Bourbaki's army is in full retreat, being victoriously pursued by General Werder. They were beaten before Autun, after several hours' fighting. 4000 prisoners and 20 cannons were captured. The Hon. Mr. Childers has resigned his position as First Lord of the Admiralty, in consequence of ill health. General Sir William Denison, K.C.8., late Governor of New South Wales, is dead. Vigorous sorties were made on the 12th towards Bourget, Donchery, Meudon, and Olamart. They were everywhere repulsed.

The Germans report that General Werder repulsed every attack made by Bourbaki on the Ist, along the whole line. The battle lasted nine hours. General Faidherbes has occupied Albert, and is now advancing southwards. News by balloon post, dated the 10th, states that the bombardment was very violent. Two thousand shells fell in Paris on the night of the 10th—reaching the Pantheon, the Sorbonne, St. Sulpice, and several private houses. The conduct of the population is admirable, and they are declared to be more than ever determined not to surrender. The barricades at Mont Rouge and Yanvres, it is said, are burning, and shells have fallen in the garden of the Luxemburg, The siege of Langres has been raised. Generals Bourbaki and Garibaldi are marching on Nancy and Belfort. General Bourbaki's head-quarters are at Dijon. The Germans announce that General Werder has stormed and taken Valliers, with 600 prisoners. The French attempted to retake it, but were repulsed. They, however, claim the victory. General Manteuffel has been appointed to command the army against Bourbaki. Garibaldi has surrendered with 3000 prisoners. The French report the complete repulse of the Germans, on the 30th, and the capture of their position before Vendome.

The German account of the same affair states that the French attack was repulsed. The Germans evacuated Bondy on the 31st, after a short engagement with the franc tireurs, and are falling back on Gien. The King of Prussia made a speech thanking the army for their exertions. He said their task was not finished, they must complete the fight to bring about a permanent and honorable peace. On the 14th General Trochu issued a proclamation declaring that Paris will never capitulate.

A French redoubt at Clamart has been occupied by the Prussians, and the guns mounted there turned against Paris. A conspiracy has been discovered between the French prisoners detained at Mayence, Coblentz, and Cologne, 50,000 in number, their object being to fight their way back to France. The scheme, however, was frustrated. On the 30th December, Mezieres capitulated. The Germans captured in this place large stores of provisions, 116 guns, nad 2000 prisoners. Severe fighting occurred between Erras and Bechanne, on the 2nd and 3rd of January. The French claim a complete victory.

The Saxons have occupied Mont Avron, capturing a great quantity of artillery and ammunition, and two 24-pounders.

Vitry has been destroyed. The Germans have evacuated Dijon. The French state that General Roy has captured the Prussian position on the height of Labonalle.

Fire.—A fire was discovered about 9.30 this morning on the premises of Mr Mitchell, fell monger, Meanee. The fire broke out in that part of the premises known as the "pulling shed," where the wool is stripped from the skins, and burnt fiercely for some time. The wool shed was in imminent danger, and was only saved by great exertions on the part of those present. Fortunately assistance was soon available, and the fire was brought under, the destruction being confined to the shed where it originated.

Resident Magistrate's Court.— Yesterday the case of Merritt v. Karaitiana came before the Court, a claim of ,£lB for wrongfully impounding certain cattle. Mr Carlyon appeared for the plaintiff, Mr Maddock for defendant. The case was twice adjourned to allow certain legal points to be settled. This morning G. H. Swan as trustee in Foeett's estate, sued H. Ford for J£l9 10s 9d. Mr Ford put in a contra account of £4 17s 6d, part of which Focett disputed The magistrate struck out 12s in the contra account, the price of certain "glasses." Mr Focett did not dispute these items, but the magistrate said that while the law did not prevent a person paying such a debt privately, it was not recoverable in a Court. The law known as the " tippling act" was passed in the reign of George 11, to check the prevalent evil of drunkenness, and-jinder its provisions a publican could not recover a debt of

less than .£1 incurred for liquor at one time. The act was very strict, so much so that if a traveller had a'glass of liquor, value 6d to his dinner, value Is 6d, and did not pay. cash for it, the landlord could not recover more than the Is 6d in a Court. It must be distinctly understood that intoxicating liquors did not come under the head of " refreshments." Judgment for <£l6 1& 3d, and £1 2s costs. Higgins v. Carlceek. —A claim of ,£4 6s. Judgment by default for amount claimed and 10s costs. Knowles v. Rees. —A claim of £5 19s Id. The magistrate said he must strike out an item of " interest " which appeared in the bill. Mr Knowles protested strongly against the item being struck out, saying that it was a hard case that a tradesman could not recover interest on an account which had been standing for two years. He pointed out that on his bill-heads were prinled "12J per cent charged after three months."—The magistrate said he fully admitted the fairness of the claim, but the revenue laws of the Colony required that no interest should be charged without a properly stamped agreement between the parties, and unless such an agreement could be produced no such claim could be allowed. The Court could not lend itself to an evasion of the revenue laws.— Mr Knowles said this was something quite new.—The magistrate said the Stamp Act had now been in force something like two years; he had never allowed a claim of this kind unless a stamped agreement could be shown, and the practice of the Court in such cases was well known by this time.—Judgment for j£4 17s 9d and 16s costs.

The relative value of gold and silver in the days of the patriarch Araham was one to eight; at the period b. c. 1,000 it was one to twelve; B. c. 500 it was one to thirteen; at the commencement of the Christian era it was one to nine ; A.D. 500 it was one to eighteen; a.d. 1100 it was one to eight; AD. 1400 it was one to eleven; a.d. 1613 it was one to fifteen and a-half ; which latter ratio, with but slight variation, it has maintained to the present day. In view of present events, the Saturday .Review writes :— '* The two most polished and advanced and educated and representative nations of the world have not got beyond the natives of Dahomey. Or rather, having acquired the notions of justice and right, ha\ing gained intellectual and scientific and literary advancement, being in the very van of civilization and education, thev have deliberately fallen back upon barbarism in its very worst aspect —barbarism, that is, without the excuse of ignorance and moral and intellectual darkness la human progress an illusion 1 Have we exchanged one barbarism for another and the present barbarism the very worst because mixed up with so much of what is advance and refinement and the higher development of man ? Or is it the old devil which has i eturned, bringing with him seven devils intellectual, educated, philosophical, scientific, and artistic devils?"