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nw? mt -?J-I I mm Jl-'J'-?t MTE ?T>" ct*-.v.; S i? ,*-va'/. TJ?.a '? .;t0 ;;i |^ .-. titre r. . ? tsa.yt .-."< .arv - ?t.*/ S ? (US - ,r,'.~"'v?f VOLUME X.-NUMBER 14SL CHARLESTON. TUESDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 20, 1870. i SIX DELLARS A YEAR: MIDNIGHT DISPATCHES. THERE IS NO PEACE. PRUSSIA. REEUSES TO TREAT WITH THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT. TROUBLE APPREHENDED FROM THE RED REPUBLICANS. English. Report?. LONDON, Septemoer 19. Tb? Globe comments severely on the supine Bess of the Parisians in permitting the Prus? sians to repair the roads and replace bridges on the line of their advance without interrup? tion. The London Journals have no telegraphic news to-day from Paris. The mail advices in? dicate that the besieged aad besiegers at Metz ??ffer greatly from disease and casualties. The village of 3asellles, near S?dan, has been destroyed by the Prussians, because some wounded fugitives, followers of the German army, were massacred in its streets. Pr ans ian Report?. BREM EX, September 10. The North German Lloyd's line of. steam? ers will commence running regularly between Bremen and the United States ports on the 1st of October. ' French Report*. . PARIS, September 19-Evening. The city is, quiet even tri dullness. The Boul? evard ' is crowded wlth'sbldlere, but there are no symptoms of disturbance observable. Prussia explains that she will be fully pre? pared to treat for peace ouiy when France pre? sents a government sufficiently stable to gua? rantee her ability to enforce a treaty. Affairs tn Purls. NEW YORK, September 19. A cable telegram to the Herald from Paris, says that four hundred Uhlans occupied Ver? sailles yesterday. The postal service has been suspended, and service by messenger will be organized. Several Prussian, scouts were killed yester? day by the Garde Mobile * Franc-tireurs in the vicinity of Paris. A cable telegram from London to the New York Times, says: "The correspondent of the New York Times, writing from .Paris on the 17th instant, says .General Vineroy led 30,000 troops in line last night to Vincennes, to dis? pute the passage of the Marne. The advance on the enemy yesterday was not great. Their troops are massed near the Seine ready to cross at any mum1 nt. Crossing the Seine at Villeneuve and St. Georges', they will pass in the vlplnity of Longemeau to. near Versailles. Established there, they wiltI push forward by the woods of Mendon to plant bat? tles on the heights if Clamant, and, if the city is bombarded, will open fire upon the van? guard from this point. They can greatly dam? age the city as tar as the Boulevard Peufer and Mont Parnassee. The northern army is marching on St. Denis. An announcement was made that a Socialist meeting would ' be held, at which Victor Hugo, Ledru Rollin, Louis Blanc and Hyatt would be pre? sent to protest against the mode ra ti ou of the government. The meeting was probably sup? pressed, as it has not taken place. The '-Reds" are struggling hard for the supremacy. Since morning the enemy has made some progress towards Versailles, fighting at Jurisy and Abo?. I saw a dozen wounded men carried to V^-de-Grace." ADDITIONAL DISPATCHES. CK ACE DIPLOMACY-M. THIERS'S PROPOSALS TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT-JULES FAYRETS OFFER TO BISMARCK-PROBABLE ACTION OF THE PRUSSIAN GOVERNMENT. " LONDON, September IC. Up to 6 o'clock yesterday alternoon M. Thiers had submitted ?o other tangible proposal teethe British Government than that the neutral powers should simultaneously exert their good offices for the restoration of peace. Lord Granville was Inclined to act upon this sugges? tion, but Mr. Gladstone thought that such an effort was sure to be rn ?Funde rete od; it would appear like a league against Prussia, and ''was a measure not to be adopted unless the parties thereto were ready to support their representations by force if they were not accepted-views which, of coarse, in? volved the total rejection of M. Thiers's propo? sal Following this rebuff, M. Thiers's pur? pose was to alarm England by declaring that a . general Republican movement was Imminent throughout Europe, and only to be repressed by strengthening the present moderate Gov? ernment in France. On the advice of friends, however, he abstained from addressing this menace to the English Government. It is ab? solutely true, as before telegraphed you, that M. Thiers ls here without Instructions, creden? tials, or the power ot* offering any guarantees on the part of France. Independently of M. Thiers, and before his arrival, the French Government, which does not conceal from the English Cabinet its anxi? ous desire for an armistice, had besought Earl Granville to transmiti? the Prussian head? quarters certain overtures tending to negotia? tions on specified terms. The answer receiv? ed from- Prussia takes the form of two ques? tions : : S F?rst. Supposing the terms of the armistice ?{rreed on. between you and us, can you under- 1 take that the French army will abide by them meaning by the French army al! forces ander Bazaine^ In Strasbourg, the Army of Lyons, and all other organizations ? ' Second. Supposing the army accepts, wili the nation? M. Favre replied: *We undertake to ans? wer for the army as for the nation. We will 1 convoke the Constituent Assembly in the shortest possible time, a fortnight at most, and submit conditions to that assembly which should be free to express the national will, we to resign our powers into it9 hands. Il such assembly accepts and ratifies our acts, that will be a full guarantee to Prussia." ] Obviously, this answer admits that the pres- ( ont Provisional Government cannot give any guarantee which, even if followed by an im- ( mediate armistice, might not be repudiated ( by the assembly. Prussia's reply, however, ls ; awaited, and meantime an attempt is making to.bring about a personal interview between Favre and Bismarck. As to the supposed purposes of Prussia to i treat with the Regency for peace, he writes by t ?st that his information came direct from the f ribo. Foreign Office. From other information, < 1 presume lt to be the view held and urged by I the Tory party at Berlin-that court faction t which does not fhare Bismarck's views, but i which has always retained considerable inf u- 1 euee over the Klag. la any case, it does not i extend beyond negotiations for peace, leavine i France to decide her own dertlnies thereafter. I persons in close relations with Bismarck insist i strongly that he holds very different views, i and tnat in tbe negotiations for peace he will < not discuss technical qneeUona, nor ask by l what title any French Government holds < power, provided It caa guarantee the execu- I tion of the terms of peace to which lt agrees. AH ANGLO-PRUSSIAN UNPLEASANTNESS. LorooH September IC. The London pnpers ot to-morrow Will pub nab an interesting correspondence between the Pruseiaa Ambassador at London. Count Bern cttorff. and the English Foreign Minister, Earl (granville. Count Bernsiorff complains of the violation of Ebglisb ne otra' ?ty involved in ex? tensivo sales of Encash arms to France. He niece to various caece which have come with:n his knowledce, and wiods np bj savin? ; hat England will be morally responsible tor the blood shed on foreign fields through the agency cf a few En gb eb tradesmen. Count Bern e torn" claims, herein copying Mr. Seward very closely, that the war would nave ended soon?r, ard that fewer Germans would have been kill ed, had not England permitted ines? abuses to be perpetrated. Earl Granville replies in a dis? patch, dated only yesterday, by traversing the aseorliooB of Count Hernstorff. He goes on to sav that durrug the Crimean war Prussia, pretending to be neutral, permitted the Rus? sian Government to bring arras bought in Belgium through the Prussian territory. He repels the accusations levelled at Great Britain : declares that the attitude of England should be one of benevolent, not malevolent, neutral itr; aid fays that the sort of neutrality which Prussia asks would bave been necessarily hos? tile to France. The markets of England- should be, and must be,open to both partie;.' - THE POPE NOT TO FLY. LONDON, September 16. Tba highiet Catholic authorities here do not expect the Pope to leave Rome at all. It is believed that tbe Holy See will arrange a complete concordat with the Italian Govern? ment, and accept aa inevitable the IOBS of the temporal poner. As a distinguished Catholic prelate said yesterday, "the restoration of an Italian sovereign to Rome- only pats the cbnrch back to the ages before Constantine." THE EXPLOSION OP THE CITADEL AT LAON. ; LONDON, september 16. Duke William Mecklenburg's official report says that the capitulation ol'Laon took place on the basis of that of Sedan, arms to be laid down, Gardes Mobile to be discharged on parole, and the line of infantry to go under escort to the city. Many of the officers. In? cluding the French commander, remained' In the yard of the citadel. When the last man. had passed the citadel gate?, two powerful de? tonations were heard in quick succession. The powder magazine, shells, cartridges and mine exploded, and all in the yard were buried un? der the ruins. -There was fearful destruction, and the losses cannot be ascertained. THE CEO PS- C ANA DIAN ANNEXA. TION-CUBAN AFFAIRS. .. LONDON, September in. The Shipping Gazette anticipates that there will be too much cotton and too little corn from the Southern States. Cotton prices are low, and there is much activity in Lanca? shire. A Canadian writes to the Bermingham Ga? zette that the present liberal government ol the colony will draw Canada to annexation with the United States, or lo independence ol' Great Britian. The shipments of cotton from Bombay since last reports have amounted to 70,000 bales. The Havana, Jamaica and West India tel? egraph was opened to the public to-day. The tariff of rates from the United States is $2 SO to Cuba for ten words, and $5 to Jamaica. Every additional word to Cuba 25. and to Ja? maica 50 cents. It ?3 reported that Banbeta has surrendered. All the children of all slaves captured will, after sixteen year's apprenticeship, be treed. THE CHINESE BRUTALITIES. LONDON, September 19. The advices from China show that there is no prospect of peace. Governor Rankin has been assassinated for alleged sympathy for the foreigners. THE TEHUANTEPEC EXPEDITION. WASHINGTON, September 19. The Tehuantepec surveying expedition will sail In about two weeks. The Bank of Louisiana has been converted into a National Bank, with a capital of $600,000, GOLD AND BOND MARKET. NEW YORE, September 19-Evening. Gold opened quiet, but was very dull during the afternoon, and closed steadier. Sixty-twos 12|; fours ll I; Aves 12, newioj; sevens 10?; eights 10$;' forties 6$. Tennessees C1J, new:60*; Virginias 65; Louisiana? 71, new 62; levees 74, eights 86; Alabamas 100, Aves 68; Georgias 82, sevens 90; North Carolinas 50.}, new 29J; South Carolinas 86, new 69. LONDON, September 19-Evening. Consols 92;. Bonds 90J. The stock market ls improving under reports ot peace negotia? tions. FRANKFORT. September 19-Evening. United States securities firm. Sixty-twos 94. VIRGINIA AFFAIRS. RICHMOND, September 19. Tne police to-d&y arrested Henry Burton in the act of pouring metal into counterfeit five cent pieces, which were lound in the building. Several influential colored citizens visited Governor Walker this morning to ask that col? ored men be admitted to the Jury box. The Governor inlormed them that the Legislature had not altered the old code so as to admit of it, and he advised them to appeal to the Leg? islature, which meets next month. YELLOW FEVER IN NEW ORLEANS. NEW ORLEANS, September 19. T^ere were fifty-two deaths from yellow fever, for the week ending at six P. M. on the 18th. Of 'these twenty-eight were natives of the State, nine of France, three of Germany, three of the United States, two of Holland, two of Nova Scotia and five of other countries. Ten were interred September 12th, three on the 13th, ten on the 14th, ten on the 15th, seven on the l Otb, nine on the 17th and three on the 18th. The death? from other fevers were twenty-one. Total interments for the week, one hundred and seventy-one. The rever ij not declared epidemic. IMPORTANT RAILROAD DECISION. PHTLADELPHL*. September 19. In the case of the Philadelphia and Reading ?tailroad Company ve. tte Internal Revemie Collector, Judge Strong decided that the divi lends and interest paid by a railroad company, >o and after January 1,1670, were no: liable o the internal revenue tax. A TALKING M ACH rx E.-Oa S&:urday ?n cxb> >ition cf quite a novel character was oneued at be new buildirg called the Pilais Royal, ?r rvie street, Oxlord circus. It is an exhibition >f a talking machine, which by mechanical :ap )liances is made to give forth utterances re lembhng those of a haman borne. It ia the nvention of Professor Faber, of Vienna, and ias been constructed andpateoted by him, and j s certainly a wonderful specimen of haman ngennity. It is true, the question mav arise, ' saere ia the v.tility pf it, 69eiug that every '> nan. woman and child, possesses a ta:king nachine, mor j or less perfect, of his or her )wn. But the micbiue has its utility never ihelesF. for ;.t illus'ratoe a much neglected sci- 1 anoe ol' acoustics. Moreover, rt is high Iv iu ?erestine as showing how far ingeuntty miy go. I'he machine bas a month, with tongue and lips, which are set in motioa bv a meobanictl 1 apparatus which sets free a portion of air from I a large bellows, tnd so control it aa to nro duco the Bound rt quired. It prouounced, wit b great clearness, every letter of tho alphabet 1 many words, aod a few saatcnoas oerteW not - rt merely set words, bat any words the audience , chose to nama, i U also laughs \ a id wared other cries exoreasive of human picoas To the astonishment aooarently of every one who l beard it.-london Jfeix^, Augx;;. 29. . THE WAR IN FRANCE. NO ARMISTICE OR PROSPECT OF PEACE. CONTINUOUS FIGHTING GOING ON YES? TERDAY AROUND PARIS. THIERS GO.VE TO INTERVIEW THE CZAR. A FROTHY CIRCULAR FROM JULES FAVRE IN JUSTIFICATION OF THE NEW REPUBLIC. N APOLEON" SAYS NOTHING CAN KEEP THE PRUSSIANS OUT OF PARIS. PRUSSIA RELUCTANT TO MAKE PEACE AT PRESENT. PARIS TO BE STARVED OUT. JVOO-V DISPATCHES. Fighting Around Paris. Tocas, September 19. Continuous fighting is now going on around Paris. No particulars. No Armistice. LONDON, September 19. The armistice reported to have been effected is without foundation. There ls no prospect of peace. An Application to Russia. LONDON, September 19. The steamer Jerome Napoleon, with Thiers aboard, has gone to St. Petersburg. " Important Circular from ?ales Favre. PARIS, September 19. . The Journal du R?publique publishes a cir? cular from Jules Favre which covers the fol? lowing points : First The reason why the elec? tion of the members of the Constituent As? sembly is to occur on the 2d, instead of on the 15th of October. Second. Answers to the objection made re? garding the de jure character of the present French Republic. Favre admits the irregu laiity of its formation, but argues that the ur? gency of the case, the defence of the Integrity of tlie soil of France and of the national honor. Involved a return of tho delegated powers to the people. . . Nothing, he adds, is to be expected from Prussia. Her supreme will and exaltation from success are Irreconcilable with calm Im? partiality and statemanshlp. Two hundred thousand victims have been already sacri? ficed to her ambition, and lt. ls certain tlint she will exact terms from France which the present momentary and incomplete trnv ernment should not accept. Hence, we convoke an assembly, freely chosen to decide. What we ask now ls to give France our heorts and our blood. Then let France decide: not our transitory authority, but immortal France arising herself toTSoTTfr?nt Prussia, France, released from the winding sheet of the Empe? ror, frank and generous, is ready to immolate herself for right and liberty, disavowing all those exalted political Ideas of the old govern? ment. France has had no ambition but to remain mistress of herself and to develope her materi? al and moral resources. It is for this she asks a cessation of hostilities, but she wil prefer a thousandfold of disaster to dishonor. Favre adds: "Mankind must admire but pity the spectacle of Paris without looking TO the left or to the right, or backward, defending her resources and her freedom" y JO HT DISPATCHES. Prassfan Reports. BERLIN, September W. It is officially reported that while Napoleon was at Namur, in Belgium, he eulogized the discipline and courage of the Prussian soldiers, and said that nothing could keep them out of Paris. There has been no blockade of'the Baltic for a week. The North German Gazette says that thc French Republic exists de facto and the Em? pire de jure. We should treat with the govern? ment that offers the best conditions. Italian Reports. FLORENCE, September 19. When the troops entered Velletre they were received with great enthusiasm. General Hoaxes ls marching on Rome. Rome ls still unoccupied though closely In? vested. The Italian Chambers will be convened at an.early day to hear the result of the Plcbis citum In Papal territory. Spanish Report?. MADRID, September 19. Minist ev Olozaga's recognition of the French Republic has been approved by Spain. A Republican demonstration in favor ol France has been made at Toledo. The raising ol the blockade of the Baltic and North Seas has been officially announced. Olozaga breakfasted with Prim at Servans. He explained his prompt recognition of the French Republic, claiming that he was fully justified by dlepatcbes he received from Sa gosta, recommending that he should recog? nise the Republic. English Report-:. LONDON, September id. Favre has set out for Meaux, under a Prus? sian safeguard. Whether or not he wlli be officially received is still a matter of doubt. Only a handful ol French troops escaped from Metz. Toni is vigorously pushing the siege. Military experts are of the opinion that Metz cannot hold oat much longer. Forty millions of roubles lately deposited in the Bank of France by Russia, Luve beer: trans? ferred to the Bank of England. Vareoloid is raging acoc^ the Fren:h .ind Prussians at Magdeburg. Genera- Failly is not dead. He and Lis fami? ly and staff occupy p^ace'.y apartments at Mayeuce. The captured French c ILcers are sumptu? ously provided for by their captors. They are ?riven the choice of towas for residences, and ire allowed the some pay and perquisites as when at home. The Countess o? Cowley has had a long in? terview with the Emperor in behan of the Em? press. The PoBt says tha: a balloon with Ave tbcus iBd letters from Met.', bas been captured by ihe Prussians. Bazaine, in one of his letters, writes that his irmy ie well supplied with everything neces? sary, and that bis troops were victorious in fvery fight up to the 31sL The correspondent of the Daily News, says that Bismarck Intends to starve out Paris un? less Metz and Strasbourg ore surrendered. ATbe Germans laugh at Bazaine's hopes ol escape from Metz. On Friday Granville made certain sugges? tions to Thiers to submit to the Provisional Government. These suggestions caused the interview between Favre and Bismarck, which it ls believed will result in a cessation ot hostilities. Prussia says distinctly that she has not re? cognized any French Government, either Im? perial or Republican. She ls reluctant to make peace at present. ' ? French. Reporta. PARIS, September 19. - The Swiss, American and Belgian Ministers decline to quit the city. Many Prussian scouts have arrived under the walls of the city. The Bed Republicans are still putting plac? ards on the walls denouncing the present gov? ernment. Trouble Is apprehended.' The railway to Calais has been cut at Corglaue. TOURS, September 19. It ls thought certain that Jules Favre has gone to the Prussian headquarters; yet no basis for negotiations has been arranged. Heavy ' Fighting*. .Nsw YORK, September 19. Special telegrams state that there was a heavy two hours' fight within ten miles of Paris to-day. The French were beaten back, but inflicted much damage. Favre's circular ls generally approved. " Minister Motley on the War. - WASHTNOTCW, September 19. Minister Motley has telegraphed the State Department that Prussia does Rot Intend to confine negotiations to the Emperor or to the Regent, but objects to negotiate with the present government, on the ground that it is incapable of furnishing any absolute guar? antee. Bismarck and Favre have had a con? ference, but thc result has not transpired, jj DEFENCE OF JP.?R?8. Can Fails Hold Out Till the French Mil? itary Organisation is Complete ?-The Probabilities Considere*!. [Communication to" the London Times.] As the issue of the Franco-Prussian war now appears to depend on the defence ol Paris, it will be of interest to consider whether there aro sufficient grounds for expecting that the capital will be seriously defended, and if so, whether she will be able to hold out long enough to give time for completely organizing the military insurrection of the French people. It Is admitted on all hands that such organiza? tion ls making rapid and thorough progress. It is now nearly a week since a correspondent of the Times stated "that an observant English friend who returned 'yesterday from a 1days' ramble in Central France I sneaks with the greatest admiration of ihe spirit, courage and patriotism he everywhere noticed; the whole population is arming and drilling;" and he proceeds, to ob? serve that "a country like France is not to be conquered even by a million of well-trained and well-armed soldiers belonging to one of the most warlike ot European races." Allson remarks that thc French excel all nations In their faculty for rapid military organization. It ls generally admitted, even by Prussian writers, that six weeks' drill suffices to convert a re? cruit into an efficient soldier, and th? Garde Mobile and other raw French levies have now been drilling five hours a day for over three weeks. It ia stated by one of your contempora? ries that the whole nation 1B arming, -and that these levies will soon amount to THREE MILLIONS OF MEN", two-thirds of whom may be considered service? able under anns. . You Moltke ls reported io have said that If Napoleon did not see the Rhine by the 21st of July he would never see It; and General Trochn might possibly now retort that if King Winiam does not enter Paris by the end of September he will never enter lt. As it ls thus evident that the future place of France among nations will depend on the number ol days that Trochu can detain King WU" m- un? der the walls of Paris, we may be assu.ed that a population so patriotic and so enthusiastically proud ol the prestige and military honor of la grande nation, will do their very utmost to de? fend the capital, and will shrink from no sacri? fices, however crucial, that - seem calculated to insure the discomfiture of the Prussian armleB. Though'it thus appears certain that-Paris will be seriously defended, it seemB to be generally assumed in this country that such defence can? not be sufficiently prolonged to secure the de? sired result-first, because so populous a city would be speedily starved out, and, secondly, because the population of so luxurious and splendid a capital would never endure ? bom? bardment. Let us consider how fatthesetwo objections are applicable to TUK ACTUAL StTCATIOX. As regards the first, even assuming that the place will not be sufficiently victualled to sus? tain a month's siege, lt cannot be starved ont until it is invested, and lt seems to be admitted that the circuit of the cordon of forts which surround Paris is too great to admit of com? plete investment by any force which the Prus? sians would have available for the purpose, after deducting for the dally increasing detach? ments that will be required to guard their com I munlcatlons against the levies marshalling I everywhere to intercept them. The enceinte of this CORDON' OF PORTO. ! exceeds twenty six miles, and the circle ot fire commanded by thc heavy naval guns, with which they are being armed, would probably increase the circuit of a complete investment to about forty miles, and In the face ot the 150,000 men occupying the circle of forts, and possessing the advantage ol interior lines o? communications, the Prussians could scarcely afford to divide or extend their forces to the oxtent required for a complete Investment. The French seem to consider the west and northwest of the cordon too strong to be as? sailable, and to be of opinion that the portions of the enceinte most likely to be attacked are those to the north and east, lying between the Slene, at St. Denis, and the Marne, near Its confluence with the Seine, Immediately east and south of the Bois de Vincennes. This con? stitutes a line of defence about nine miles In length, defended by eight or nine insulated forts, with numerous redoubts In their inter? vals, all said to be armed with a proportion of the heaviest riced guns used in the navy, and as this line of forts is distant from nearly four to over five miles from the Place dc la Bastlle and Boulevard de Magenta, to which must be added the further distance which the ranee of their heavy guns would command, it is evident that no poriion of Paris lying within the late barriers could be effectually bombarded until the exterior line of lcrts was broken through. And if the hastily constricted earthworks that defended the south of Sebastopol were able to keep ont the French and English for twelve months, is it too much to expect that the far stronger works that defend Paris should weepy t he Prussians ior half as many weeks ? And, after six weeks of unsuccessful assaults, delivered with the lavishness of life they have hitherto displayed, what would be the LOSSES 0? TEE PRUSSIAN ARMT besieging the place ? At Sebastopol the guns ot attack and defence were equally matched, and were but ordinary siege and naval smooth bores; at Paris, those used on both sides will be rifled; but the French forts will be armed with the heaviest naval guns, some of them 400 and M)0-pouaders, whllo according to the '.Journal of the United Service Institution,1' the Prussian siege guns only throw a proiectile of flften-seven pounds, with a charge o"f one tenth; and with the railways broken up In their rear, how many weeks will it take tbe Prussians to place a siege train, even of such guns as these, in position against 6t. Denis? 1 am told that, according to the "arithmetic of sieges,"' as sieges were be? fore the introduction of rifled guns, forts euch as those around Paris might be expected to hold out six weeks; but what effect will-the em? ployment ol' rifled guns of a power'BO unpre? cedented in siege operations-as those" with which the works of Paris are said to be armed ha'e in prolonging the duration of the defence ? I am not aware of any experiments on the penotration "In made earth" or any rifled ordnance heavier l han the ArnMtroDg ' 110-pounder, the penetration of which gun was determined by experiments instituted by the select committee ol ordnance in 1863. The result was aa follows : Penetration In made earth of 110-pounder Armstrong, 21 feet 3 inches; 40-pounder Armstrong, 14* feet ll inches, 32-pounder smooth bore, 9 feet 3 Inches. A paper on the results of these experiments, by Captain Boileau, B. E., ls published in the Journal of the United Service Institution lor December, 18C5. CAPTAIN* BOILEAU'd C0XCLU8I0N8 fro ri these experiments are as follows : "For breaching earthwork a few heavy rifled guns are far more userai for tue purpose than a number of smaller calibre. Now, as we ex-, peet to find all fortresses of the present day armed with rifled guns, possessing destructive powers, and with accuracy of aim at least ? equivalent to the 110-pounder Armstrong, we at once see that the rules which have hitherto been universally accepted with regard to the, thickness and relief ol parapets, Tn the con? struction of earthworks both for offensive and defensive purposes, have become obsolete, and that the minimum thickness that should now be given to a parapet ls twenty-five feet, with a reliei of from ten to twelve feet. Again, In looking to the increased range, as well as to the accuracy of aim and destructive powers ofrlflegunsoi the.present day, fresh difficul? ties present themselves. We And that the first parallel, with the batteries usually con? structed In lt, can no longer be established at six hundred yards, but will have to be com? menced at a much greater distance; that the rate of progress of the saps and approaches will be much slower; that the undefended spaces In advance of a fortress will now be considerably reduced; that a much more extended front will now be covered by the Are of Its guns, necessitating the occupa? tion ot a much greater extent or ground than would hitherto have been found necessary; and there is yet one most Important fact we must not loose sight of In consideration of this subject, viz, that the guns of the besieged will be of much larger calibre than those of the be? siegers. These are points that tell heavily against the besiegers and their chances of suc? cess when carrying out the_detai ls of attacks ia accordance with principles which have hitherto proved sound and eminently successful. In fact, the Increased difficulties and vast expen? diture ol men and means that must now be experienced .by a besieging force, are such as to render the question of attack one well worthy of the time and attention of the most compotent authorities, with a view to the es? tablishment' of general principles for futur? guidance belter suited to thc emergencies of the case than those which have hitherto been set forth, but have now become deficient and inapplicable. It ls obvious that these conclusions apply with much greater force to the employment of rifled 400 and 600-pounders in the defence than they do to the Use of only 110-pounders. The anxiety of the Augsburg Gazette for an immediate advance on Paris, before the arma? ment of her forts with naval artillery ls com? pleted, is very natural, and possibly the design of the apparently precipitate advance of a por? tion of the Prussian army on Paris may be to cut the railways connecting that capital with the great naval arsenalB< with the object of arresting the armament of the forts. And. similarly, the intention of McMahon's raid to the West may have been to draw off the Prus? sian army, so as to give Paris time to complete her armaments. It ie, of course, possible that the French War Minister has not availed himself of his opportunities for arming the Unes of Paris with naval artillery to the extent that the French papers assert; still more possible that the defence may be paralyzed by divided coun? cils and dyiastlc jealousies. But, if the rulers of the hour could but emulate the terrible en? ergy and more than Roman persistence of the Committee of Public Safety ol 1793, the ulti? mate result ot a Prussian siege of Paris would not admit of a moment's doubt. I am, slr, your obedient servant, HEXKT CONTBBARE. ' PRUSSIANS J Y ACTION. Mr. Friedrich Kapp writes to the Nation, from Berlin, an Interesting let)er, from which we make a few extracts: Our most competent Judges say that che chassepot is decidedly superior to our needle gun, and that the former in the hands of our soldiers would already have ended the war. The French are too Inexperienced, and too quick In the handling of this tremendous weapon. As when used, lt "kicks" badly and huns, they Are too high or at random. 'The mitrailleur ls not as dangerous as lt has been represented by the French, but Its value has been underrated by us, for its wounds ore fearful, and the appearance of the soldiers killed by the mitrailleur ls ghastly. Its effi? ciency is in some way limited, as its bullets do not spread. For this reason It was rejected by our military men when offered to them some ?ears ago. Borne of our men bad Ave or six ullets In their breasts, running parallel with each other. If our soldiers are Inferior in point of arms,' they are superior In cool bravery and exact aiming. In the battles around Metz we have lost as many men. if not more, as in the two battles of Leipzig and Waterloo together. We must loose more, as we have always to at? tack In the open field, while the enemy gene? rally only defends his fortified positions. In the whole Bohemian campaign ot 18C6 we lost 13,000 men-about 6000 by cholera and -7000 killed and wounded. In this campaign the battle of Vlouville, on August 1 ti, alone cost us more than 15.000 men. Some battalions were almost annihilated, two and even three cavalry regiments were reduced to one, and the death ol one-third of the officers seemed the general rule. In order to detain and to retain the enemy on his retreat from Metz, the cavalry of the Guards had for hours to bear the brunt of the battle. As sure death was before them, and as they had to spare their numbers, the single companies drew lots which should first attack the enemy. Not the 600-"Into the valley of death rode" the 6000. Light and heavy brigades were reduced to one-fourth of their original number. Not less bravely fought the infantry of the Guards at St. Privat, which was the key to the enemy's position on the 16th of August. The riflemen (Sch?tzen) lost all their officers, the majority of them killed, and the remaining 400 men, of originally 1000, were led back by an ensign. Among the killed at the same place was Prince Felix 9alm-Salm, Major of the Fourth Grenadier Regiment of the Guards, the same officer who served during the last war in the United States, and whom President Lincoln encouraged with the words that his quality as prince would not pre? vent his promotion if he behaved well. He afterward did well under and towards poor Maximilian. At Sf. Privat he fought anti fell like a hero. Salm's wife, well known to the former Army of the Potomac, is one of the most efficient nurses In thc field, and nobly works In the hospitals. Of Berlin boys, the son ol Secretary Count Itzenputz was killed, while Bismarck's son was' severely wounded near Metz, both serving as privates in a cavalry regiment. Sons of men of science, like young Langenbeck and yoong Grimm, were also killed in that battle. The officers of the 24th Infantry announce the death of 14 of their comrades killed In the battle ol the 16th, where the 72d likewise lost 13 of their officers. In short, every dav. every newspaper brings us the ?ad news of a fearful havoc among our troop?. The loss ot rank and file is always in proportion to the above numbers, and, still worse, we lose In our privates the flower ol' the nation, while on the French side the edu? cated classes do not serve in the army. Our young men ate not the proper opponents ?o 'Zouaves and Tiircos. If Is a blessing for humanity that seven eights ol these Africans have been extirpated. The favor which other French prisoners regu? larly ask lrom our keepers, is to be kept sepa? rate from the zouaves and Turcos. In thc be? ginning the latter were received in the private hospitals, but they have committed such out? rages that thev now are sent to the royal hos? pitals. Thev attacked the stewards in a most coward.lv manner, and grossly insulted the nurses who tended them. Here In Berlin, and in a neighboring town, two sick Turcos tried to violate two Sisters of Mercy. For these reasons they must now be watched like wild beasts by armed sentries. ?The French officers taken prisoners general? ly behave well. During daylight they are al? lowed to go free. When they first arrived they put on airs, but since they have been threatened that they would be confined to their moms, they strictly obey every order. Our soldiers even have to salute them first when they meet them In the streets. It strikes our officers that the superiors of these French prisoners cares BO little for their subordinates that thev rarely ask for the condition ol the wounded, do not asfist- or advise their men, or show them any sympathy. As a .significant illustration, I record the fact that out of 130 French officers-I say officers-who are con? fined at K?nigsberg, 17 cannot write their names. Their special business of marching at the head of civilization has evidently pre? vented these seventeen officers from learning to write. I copy this-fact from an official statement. As I another Illustration of the standard of. the school ol education of the two armies,, I will mention the extent of the correspondence of some ol 'our troops in the field. According to a statement made by the General Postoffice Department, there are In - Berlin above 46 clerks working exclusively tor field service. They receive from and send to the army 200,000 letters per day, and daily tor ward, besides, 40,OOO thalers, consisting in great part of money letrera of one or two thai era each.' The mall matter for our soldiera la dally sent from Berlin In two lots, containing 238 mail-bags altogether. Since the-mobiliza? tion of the army, 10,000 000 corresponding' cards have been distributed. These cards are about six inches by tour, ot stiff, good paper, and have the blank of the address printed in front, while on the back there is room for a short letter, which may be written in pencil or Ink. They do not require an envelope, and are especially adapted for short communications. On the whole, the field post service is admira? bly organized and conducted. It is performed by the active field postoffices. Every one of the thirteen corps has a general field pos to ff .8 .and four field-post expeditions, viz: one for the general and staff command of the corps, two tor the Infantry divisions, and one lor tbe re? serve. Besides, there are special offices for the headquarters of the King and for the chief commands ot the three great armies, lor tbe six cavalry divisions, and lor the four landwehr divisions. All the field postoffices, amounting to seventy-one, and the whole personnel of about 1000 men, besides many hundred wagons and horseB, march, along with their respective divisions, conducting their post department. They receive the lettere lrom home for the soldiers, assort and pre Sare the field-post correspondence lor dlstrl utlon, which must take place in regular order, beginning with the battalion and so on downward.' They likewise receive and'regu? larly collect the letters which the soldiers write home, and assort them lor the different routes they have to toke. They keep up the communication between . the troops in the | enemy's land and home. There are field post offices along the military rou..;-. Each of the three armies has one field postmaster for the military roads, and two inspectors; they are under the chief command of the military roads, which bas to secure the connection bf an ?Op?rating army with its base of operations and with the territory to which the latter be? longs. The chief command of the militari roads ls charged with providing th? means and expenses of the transport of ? the mails. While no letter has been lost which was writ? ten home by the soldiers In the field, it hap? pened here and there that, on account of th? inaccurateness of the address, a letter written to the soldier has been lost or miscarried. As a rule, it can be said that every letter wbich| besides the name of the soldier, had. the num? ber of his regiment, has been delivered. THE FAS H IO SS. - ; I ?? ! Indications of Antmun Styles? There are at present revolutionary tenden? cies in drapery. The excessive "bunchings," the airy, dashing confusion of trimming and arrangement, are losing their rule, and My Lady Fashion has taken it Into her head to as? sume the pose statuesque. It is plain to be seen that the distracting intricacies of puffing and slashing the stiff elaborations of Involved trimmings, without beginning or end, are not to be popular during the coming season. The elegance of garments will depend upon their generous amplitude of draping upon soft, full outlines, and ornamentations at once simple and rich. The skirts of walking-dresses must touch the ground at the back, and almost conceal the pretty feet in front. This length is the regula? tion, and in good taste. Extremists permit them to drag, but this is a return to folly not to be tolerated. IL is ordered that all walking skirts have the blas flounces in preference to every style of pleating, puffing and niching. These may be used as headings, but rarely alone. This is well; with the long, gracefully looped upper skirt, a degree of fullness about the lower one ls necessary to a perfectly artis? tic effect. A few violent r?volutionnaires are attempting to bring back the crinoline In its pristine glory, but as yet there are no evi? dences of their success. Bustles of graceful shapes, however, are universally worn. Many,, women have these made to order and fitted to the figure, as they don't always give the re? quisite roundness to the hips. Overskirts are absolutely indispensable io maintaining the equipoise of all wefl-conducted feminine minds. They are to be long,.straight, and quite full, and looped carelessly in the soft, heavy folds that give dignity to even the most insignificant figure. With walking dresses this skirt may be either closed or op%n in front, tn the heavy wool fabrics it will be closed and looped in any pretty way the wearer chooses. In silk, and the rather stiff poplins and bril? liantine, the skirt bangs much better.if open anti looped by long tapes from the side. Ia long costumes the skirt is of course open, showing the trimming on the front breadth of Ahe lower skirt, and, Il full, falling in a looped half-train behind. Many over-skirts ot evening dresses are cut In elegant rout/ded forms, ana left undraped. ADOther style of over-dkiri rather pleasing in effect is very short and plain in front-a basque tablier, with as little trim? ming as possible about the edge, but longer at the sides and back, which are elaborately or? namented. Waists for home and full dress will continue to be heart-shaped. For the street they will be a little hlgber at the throat than daring the past season. Waists of handsome home dresses for full figures are open to the belt, and have broad rolling lappels. Young wo? men wear thia style In ilgbt silks, with a broad ?ileatcd trimming cf the material edged with ace. With this waist, the sleeves- must be tight from shoulder to elbow, and finished there by a deep frill of lace. Square-necked waists will still be worn. All waists will con tinne short on the shoulder. Sleeves are both close and flowing, but the latter will not te found without the former. The sabot shape promises to maintain its pop? ularity. The co^t sleeves'with a frill at the elbow will not be worn as much as lormerly, and tbe hanging page sleeves are somewhat pass?e. Coat sleeves will be tighter, defining more the shape of the.arm. when that limo is not particularly plump, a little thia humbug of a wadd!n? brings out the requisite lines of beauty. The handsomest coat sleeves are cut and sewn in exactJy as are a man's. The style of full bias purls at the shoulders ie to be re? vived. All slender women should wear them, as they broaden the shoulders and shorten the arms, as no other complication of dress can. The prettiest sleeve, par excellence, for street and home wear ls the coat, reaching to within three inches and a half ot the wrist, and finish? ed by a graceful frill. If the wrist be hand? some, the effect is specially good of course. Ii not, a long glove and bracelet will make it so. This sleeve, we are told, is worn more than any other in Paris and London. The newest suits are made with either a casaque charmingly draped, or with two skirts and a paletot fitting the figure, cut in pointed vest shape in front, and rounding away at the side into .i litLe longer slope than we have been used to wear. The vest io the important feature o? most imported costumes, and will probably be generally worn this season, as lt is extremely'becoming. It is at the same time elegant and Jaunty. These vests are sometimes made separate from the over-gar? ments with which they are worn, and often have a sailor .or large Byron collar of the same material. When a suit and its trimming are made ol the same stuff, the basque is pointed at the waist, and the vest simulated by trim? ming. When two materials in different shades are used, as cashmere and gros grain, the vest and collar are made of the silk, and under 'the latter is worn a cravat, the color of the cashmere casaque. Pretty house dresses ?re made with round belted waist and vest. One, ' specially charm? ing, is or some soft, white, all-wool stuff trimmed wilb bands of bias black velvet The vest is of black velvet fastened by cameo buttons. Inside' the velvet collar is basted a frill ot lace. Cashmere costumes are the dain? tiest worn this fall and the first in feminine favor. They are ' usually made with overdress or casaque, and worn with a groe grain skirt of another Shade or the same color. Tue casaque is trimmed with bands or. pleating* o 8S?S??ffi5F very narrow SnfL^h Bowa of'Waa gros grain wi be much used for trimming anl looping; Su ta of black cashmere are genen?y Mmmed with guipure lace and. iiarWfolda or Wack fothin?tif?1115^S?5 ?S2r t 2Sd mofe jFxeM In effect than if axtiS ?D8: ?Slt %a m 8UCh exqulslte ?ii h? t?1/ M 80ft ^Uen materials fflL' rfnih- ^-rarinos, Berlin,, and ?2? ?5f?i,*5?ei et?- Poplins are a ie neavier than ladies' cloth and,a Hal? ter. These cloths are nearly allin ?arfc rieh colors-and indeed, it ls client thatWth t h e advent of more artistic drapings wen?y wel? come the graver, more t?Ungmshe?Lcolors. It's a-comfort to know that the startling compli? cations bxtlnt which have obtained durinz the last lew years, are .-at last ladt*. into ob? scurity: ' The different shades of dark -bide, gray, garnet and rich nutty brown, promise to be the moat popular.-. So lt, all-wool plaids ia green, blue and black, trimmed with black velvet or gros grain, will again be.seen,, .With these suits, black vests, fastened by "moss agate buttons, are imperative. The loose jackets slashed In the back will be worn.this, season, except in the shawl costumes,1 and even they are thought to be prettier halt-fit? ting. These costumes-ate so much worn now that many women hesitate In buying them, not caring to toss their 'Individuality Into the stream of gray mixture. The handsomest ones are imported, and cost from $3?> to $40. : They are made ;1rom shAwler7 or '?ex? quisite fineness, possessing not only fringe, but solt-sbaded borders. The oversklrt and loose jacket have these borders stitched ca above tbe fringe. Pretty aults,ic very dark gray, with borders shading into black, are shown Ipr second mourning. Elegant anita in dark Scotch plaids, with half-fitting Jackets, have long scarfs of the same, which are passed over the right shoulder and tied tinder the left arm, a few inches to the.back and down upon the' skirt The sleeves of the imported shawl cos? tumes ar?iiPually coat;' while those .manufac? ture;! here, costing from $12 lo $16^have louee .hanging sleeves. A few imported suits are of plaids, a little heavier ?.han the shawls, and trimmed with'woollen fringe made expressly to match. These suits are very attractive, and cost $35. Early fall suits in Japanese silks and In black, brown, and gray gros grain, are elab? orately trimmed'with lace and flat pleatmgs. Very distinguished costumes of black grosgrain have un draped overaklrts and wide sleeves, and are .trimmed with broad flat pleatings of the same, beneath which are visible a row each ol black thread and white ' Duchesse lace. Velveteen, has disappeared. Velvet wRl .;pe worn somewhat as a part ol costumes, but not as a .whole. Sailor costumes will be seen oh the street this fall, worn by young girls with slender, erect figures. Th?se are rainer quaint and dashing In effect. and are made or gray and dark blue cloths into skirt and blouse with broad sailor collar. The collar and sleeves are edged with a narrow band and pleating of black gros grain, while the skirt has a broader trimming of the same round the bottom. A looped oversklrt of the gros grain ls wprn with these suits. When they are of a deticaVgf?? tint, gray silk ls used for trimming and over skirt:' The collar and the deep cuffs are some? times embroidered with anchors in black or gold thread. Cloaks and wraps are not very abundant. The universal ^mtt" drove them from the field long ago, and, though they make fitful and desperate charges every season, they are never very successlnl. The most striking Im? portations are half-fitting jackets of satiny dark blue or brown cloths, slashed behind, and sometimes at the sides. They are gene? rally trimmed with heavy silk embroidery or delicate round braids, stitched on In elaborate figures. Cloaks of heavy silk will be tined and trimmed with short furs-chienv for driv? ing. Open breakfast Jackets, ol dark cash? mere, with vests of the sam?: trimmed with brilliant Oriental embroidery, are thoroognjy captivating. . ,-, satin has reappeared as a trimming, and will be much "worn during the lall and winter. Gros grain folds and pl eatings maJjitala-.rWr-as? cendency. There ls . much' reluctance mani? fested in giving up the blas velvet bands, but Paulina says that they are doomed. They will, however, still be used upon costumes of black silk. Gimps are handsomer than ever, and are in favor. Very beautiful embroidery in silk applique ls used with charming effect Jet trimmings are again to be worn, hut in new styles. The bosds .are cut in innxrmerabje facets and the gimp ls bidden- aa .much as poe .piole. Lace wiu be much used " for trimming. I mmense quantities of Valenciennes and Ducn ? sse are sold. The Duchesse ls very striking ia effect, but Paulina thinks Valenciennes pre? ferable, as it is much softer and more airy. ... Evening dresses in satin and' faille, with fauze overdresses, are best liked at present bey are trimmed with puffs-, pleatlngs, lace, and very lull silk roches. Puffs are rarely seen now, except on evening dresses. Muslin plcatings, under silk ones, will still be used. Gros grains with satin stripes are usually worn with lace-overdresses, the long-trained skirt often left perfectly plain. For costumes con? sisting entirely of neavy materials, as satin, velvet and silk, the short; skirt with court train is a more graceful style than .the long skirt and un draped -overdress. The new waist for evening dresses ls quite high on the shoulders and at the back, but very lbw on the bosom. The neck is edged by a wide, upright frill of lace, in imitation of the antique, raff. Organdy costumes almost. covered with lace will be worn by younggirls; about these dress? es not a particle ol color mustappear. ' The fall bonnets are enchanting little affairs, glpsylsh In shape, with a dainty curtain cf silk' or lace coquettishly peeping over the heavy brsidg of hair. The trimmings are scaris-of gros grain, royale, or velvet; with- delicate jet aigrettes and pendants, ostrich tips, and soft, crushed roses. Lace is used mostly as a back? ground for flower cl us tera. The scarfs are laid in folds about the saucy little crowns, and fastened on the leftside by bowa and. Jet orna? ments, and are left hanging in two streamers of unequal length. Bows, feather tips, aad flowers nestle on the top and over the right ear in delicious confusion. . A veo- pretty bon? net of clear white straw for September has. a cape and scarf of black gros grain and profuse clusters of white roses and black ostrich tips nested in black lace. Many velvet bonnets are in different shades of--color? exquisitely grad? uated. Most of theie ' are In the soft, quiet colors, which harmonize with all complexions, and for "lighting up" they ; depend.: upon flow? er clusters of delicate brilliancy. AU bonnets have gros grain or velvet strings. As a mat? ter ofartistic form, all round-faced women should wear these tied under the chin, while those with oval faces should tie them 'ander the lett ear. Round hats, if less audacious In eflect, are certainly prettier, and more becoming than those ol'last fall. The high crowns. and-.in? coherent trimmings whicti gave a flippant air to the sweetest, most spirituelle face, are dis? appearing, and in their places we have very distinguished hats .of the English tarban tbapes, with moderately high, .flat crowns and rolled brims. They are charmingly trimmed with broad scarfs of velvet gros gram and royale. These scarfs are arranged infolds around the crown, and the fringed ends are left floating at the left Bide.. Soft, massed clusters of feather tips, long ostrich plumes, ]>eacock's breasts ana flowers are disposed in a carefully careless way over, the crown. Black, brown and gray straws are so covered with binding, scarf and feathers, that lt: is 'al? most Impossible to recognize the foundation. Yet with all this mass of trimming these hats express dignity and piquancy. Long- ostrich feathers are used only on round hats, while che short tips are placed upon both hats and bonnets. Grebe is obsolete. Peacock tips will be more popular/than ever before.., Straw hats ?or early fall have braided coronets bf velvet and silk, with scarfs br Frou-Frou gauze twist? ed about the crown, and falling in a three cornered streamer on the left side, the point finished by a soft crimped tassel. Black and brown straw sailor hats with high crowns have-a careless, saucy air? and are the appro? priate undress head-gear for bright young ?f?p t BBSS WSSSVSSffi way. , , mm * * SESSION OF TBE OBAN* LQWtMi BALTIMORE, September 19, The Grand Lodge is In session.. 'Twenty four giand lodges ^^^^bit^fm?pf^ menu are represented. . ~ orrpEBIOR COLOGNE WATEBJ tfanuiactnxed vaA :?f nate bj . . ? . vi Dr. H. EAEfc oe? lia AteeUuf streow