NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 804, 22 April 1871, Page 3

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

London, March 16. The " News" special from Lille says the battlefields of the North threaten to become the focus of pestilence by floating bodies in the dykes. Active measures for interment are taken. A "Telegraph " special from Amiens pays the future army of occupation in France will consist of Saxons and Wurtemburgers. The Count of Paris renounces any intention on his part to compete with the other Princes of the royal house of France for t! e throne. A number of Germans have purchased a piece of ground at Bongiva, in the arrondissement of Versailles, for the purpose of burying their dead countrymen who have beeu temporarily buried in th vicinity. Precautionary measures are adopted by the French authorities against communication of infection to the people and soldiers Irom unburied corpses, and also against the spread of the rinderpest among cattle. New York, March 16.

The " Tribune's " Washiugton correspondent of the 15th says there is a rumor to-night, but it is not generally known, of advices received from Minister Sickles, submitting, as the result of his negotiations for several months past, a proposition from the Government of Spain for the sale to this Government of the Islands of Cuba and Porto Rico. The amount asked is believed to be $100,01)0,000, payable in instalments. London, March 16. The "Times" anticipates an easy settlement of the fisheries question, but is not sanguine with regard to the Alabama question. It regrets the Commissioners' limited powers. A long train of cars, filled with the German wounded, returning home, was run into yesterday by a freight train, near Puteaux, on the Paris and Ver. ailles Railway. Nineteen pasenger cars broken to pieces. The number of soldiers killed and injured unknown. Prince Frederick Charles has been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the army of occupation in France. His head-quarters will be at Rheims. Thiers declines to make a treaty of commerce with Germany, on "the ground that it is necessary for France to imitate the United States and restore the equilibrium by high tariff. Negotiations at Brussels are said to be going on between Favre, the French Plenipotentiary, and Van Arnim, the details of which will probably occupy months. Ducrot, Chanzy, and Faidherhe are working for the Empire. Bonapartist meetings in the provinces are numerous. Changarnier is seriously ill. The navy has been greatly reduced, and the dockyards at Lorent and Rochefort have been rented by private companies. The foreign squadrons have heen recalled. At Lille, on March 7th, General Paidherbe addressed the Twenty-third Corps, composed of the National Guard, on their disbandment. He thanked them for the manner in which they' had fulfilled the duties imposed by the Government of National Defence, and told them that they now return to their homes honoured by their compatriots ; they hare in themselves the elements of a superior army. He concluded by denouncing those who shirked their duty to their country, declaring that public opinion would punish them with eternal infamy. The Federal Council has arranged with the French Government for the return of the soldiers of Bourbaki's army. The transfer of the army will take ten days' time. The "Debats" calculates that the expenses of the war will be six milliards of francs.

The Beds propose a new Bepublic, with Victor Hugo for President; Garibaldi for Minister of "War; Blanc, Rochefort [since dead], and Flourens, Ministers.

A number of regiments of the line nave been sent to Versailles to protect the Assembly. Thiers' influence is waning. The "Etoile Beige" says the Mobiles sent to Algiers were disarmed by the natives, who are masters of the situation. A regiment of Zouaves baa left Paris to re-establish order. An Amiens despatch says, the greatest joy at the announcement of the conclusion of peace has been manifested at head-quarters, and throughout the First Army Corps. A Dresden journal says the French oflicers and all privates of the Mobile

Garde, prisoners in Germany, may return at once to their homes if they so desire, at their own coat. Soldiers of, the line and the Imperial Guard remain until arrangements for transportation are completed. The " Nord Deutsche Zeitung," today, states that the position of the German armies during the next phase of the occupation of Franco will be an uninterrupted line from the Lower Seine to Dijon.

An order has been issued that the Landwehr in the organized corps and garrisons shall be dissmissed to their homes. Prisoners from the ceded territories are to be released, but officers and soldiers from other portions of the French service will only be set at liberty after the negotiation for a definitive treaty of peace. The Belgian Government has appointed three persons to consult with the Municipality of Sedan in regard to measures for the disinfection of the neighboring battle-fields, and removing the carcases of horses from the Meuse, to prevent epidemic when the river becomes low.

Baron Barude, General Caille, LeDemoulard and Declerque are appointed Plenipotentiaries of France to negotiate the dual treaty of peace. The Due De Nqailles is appointed French Ambassador at St Petersburg, and Count De Nogue Minister to Constantinople. Thiers, replying to the question of Germaine, said the expenses of the war outside of Paris, exceeded 1,100,000,000 francs. By the new military law everybody serves compulsorily three years in the regulars, and afterwards in the reserves. Marshal McMahon and General Cremieux are in Paris It is reported from Paris that the Government intends to levy a tax on the imported raw material, especially textile fabrics. The tax on cotton alone is expected to produce annually from 60,000,000 to 80,000,000 of francs. Foreign manufactured articles will also be taxed proportionately. DETAILS OF THE TERMS OF PEACE. Article first specifies the line of demarcation. Article second provides that France will pay Germany five milliards of francs ; one milliard, at least, in 1871, and all the rest in the space of three years from the time of the ratification. Article third provides that the evacuation is to commence on the ratification of the treaty by the Assembly; that the German troops will then immediately quit Paris and the left bank of the Seine, also the departments of Cher, Indre-et-Loire and Seine Inferieure. The French troops will remain behind the Loire till the signing of a definitive treaty of peace, except those in Paris, where the Government is not to have exceeding forty thousand troops. The Germans evacuate the right bank of the Seine gradually, after'signing a definitive treaty and the payment of half a milliard francs. After the payment of two milliards, the Germans will only hold the Departments of Marne, Ardennes, Meuse, Vosges, Meurthe and Belfort. After the payment of milliards the Germans will only keep 50,000 troops in France, but if sufficient money guarantee be given, the Germans will evacuate completely at once, otherwise three milliards will carry interest at five per cent, from the ratification of the treaty.

Article fourth provides that the German troops make no further requisitions ; that the French Government will find food for the Army of Occupation in theceded Departments ; that favourable arrangements will be made with the inhabitants, and time given them to move, if they please, and that no obstacle will be placed in the way of emigration. Article fifth provides that peace be proclaimed when the Assembly ratifies. Article sixth provides that the prisoners be immediately liberated on the ratification of the treatv, and the French railroads will lend carriages and engines at the same price as to the French Government.

Article seventh provides that after the ratification, the management of all the Departments occupied will be handed over to the French officers, subject to the German commanders, and in the interest of the German troops. Article ninth provides that it will be understood that the Germans have no authority over the Departments not occupied by them. ALSACE AND LORRAINE TO BE YIELDED FOR PAT. Paris, March 15. Bismarck has informed Thiers that, being embarrassed in organising politically and commercially the ceded provinces, owing to the determined resistance of the inhabitants, and the representation that German commerce will be damaged by competition with Mulhouse manufactures, he will abandon Alsace and Lorraine if the indemnity be increased one and a-half milliards. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. The fortune bequeathed by Mr Brassey. the railway builder, is, probably, the "London Observer" says, the largest which ever passed the Court of Probate in London—for tho very few estates which exceed his in value are usually transferred by settlement. This fortune ia believed to

exceed seven millions sterling, the personalty jalone having been sworn under six and a half millions. With the possible exception of the Rothschild family, this is the largest amount of money ever accumulated by one man in Europe by industry and enterprise. [The late Mr Morrison's for'une was equally large.] A certain sensation has been produced, I am told, in England (says Dr Russell) by the statement that "Prussian officers discuss the question of an invasion of the British Islands as a possible operation. Captain Hozier, however, will doubtless inform his Government that it is a common practice for officers of the Prussian Army, as a part of their military education/to devise plans of campaign in all accessible countries ; that they project a campaign in Russia, or in Turkey, or the Danube, on the Po, or in Spain, with professional interest. It would not be surprising if a campaign in England, and the way of opening it, come within the scope of their interesting problems.