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Cfte Empire,
MONDAY, JANUARY <!16, 1871. ' '?
' ONE of the most important disclosures that
bas yet been made" publip bearing on the
responsibility., of those .ooncernod, in the
I present' European' war, is a collection of
extracts from reports and letters addressed by
tho Prefects of the several departments of
France to the Emperor, in July last. These
exit'note wore published in the'official journal,
by authority of the Provisional Government,
having been communicated by the Minister of
the Interior, M. Gambetta; for that purpose.
It appears that nine days,before the declara-
tion of war, the Minister of the Interior in
tho Imperial. Government, by, direction of the
Empérorj consulted the Prefects of the eighty
.ei»ht departments as1 to the general feeling o'
the people on the subject of wa'r.: It lias
always been the boast of Napoleon III. that
ho knew how to-interpret the genoral wishes
of the French, people, as none'but a Bona-
parte' had eyer done. . And it was in aooord
ance 'with the prudence ho .-hud exercised
throughout his reign, to seek by such an
inquiry to ascertain thc - real feelings of
the nation. But though willing to consult
the opinions of tho French people, it was not
in Napoleon to yield to tho conclusion they
affirmed, when opposed to his own precon-
ceived idea of what wou'd bo. for the glory of
France, and the stability of his own'dynasty.
T he replies of the Prefects are State docu-
ments; their validity, as indications of the
public sentiments, cannot be doubted. They
remain among ,the archives of Franco as
durable evidences of the state of public fooling
in all the departments on the eve of the war.
We havo at present only thc general descrip-
tion', coupled with a small selootion from these
extracts, in tho Jou<nal des Débats. But
with such documents laid up in the office of
the Minister of tho Inteiior, and published by
the official journal, i; would be unreasonable
to surmise that' any motives of self
justification or resentment could prompt
a journalist to attempt to deceive
the . world on a . matter of fact
The answers of the Prefects are published in
tho official journal without any commentary.
They occupy eight columns, and are left to
explain themselves and convey to the world
the belief of the Prelects as to tho actual state
of feeling in France on the subject of war unrt
peace. They tell their own tale. The
Journal des Débats affirms that the general
result is this-the opinion which was invited
in the desire and hope that it would bo in
favour of war, was in favour of ponce Thc
quotations given from thc documouts bear out
this general statement. The Prefects were
evidently anxious not to offend the l'mperoi
by replying in a manner at variance with his
wishes. They did not boldly and plainly
decíate »hat the people were against war, hut
wrote in a way which proves that they
: were under that impression. Thc Prefect ol
the Ain said : " With respect to the country
districts the occupations and thc anxieties ol
the Mtrv-ast engross the attention of the popu
ktion. It is but by slow degrees that the
nows of this grave incident will reach them.
Hut whatever may bo their desire for pence,
and'however much it may he needed by them,
they will, I am convinced, follow the curn nt
of publie opinion with a patriotism equal tri
the occasion." The Prefect of thc Aube said:
" "War is not desired, but it is dreaded." The
Prefeot of the Higher Alps said : " The
population will only display its feeling when n
definite resolution ii ¡is boen adopted;" and thc
Prefect of the Doubs wrote urgirg immediate
action, not because the people had a strong
and settled conviction thut war was necessary
for thc honour.of Franco, and a fixed deter-
mination to fulfil their pnrt in the inevi-
table struggle, but because he thought
any feeling in favour of war that might be
aroused in tho heat of the international con-
troversy would soon cool down if timo were
occupied in negotiation. His words are :
" Has not experience .shown, particularly in
the case of the Luxemburg affair, that the
national susceptibility is easily exeited among
us, but that a speedy reaction follows when
hesitation and diplomatic discussions are pro
traded?" All the feeling in favour of war in
this department was evidently, in thc eyes of
this prefect, so transient nnd superficial that,
unless war woro immediately proclaimed, it
would die away. And knowing too weil thc
wish of his Imperial master, he advised him,
in order to secure that wish, to hasten thc
decisive step that would summon all France tc
follow him in war. Tho Prefect of the
Creuse expressed his hope "" that
the country will not bo driven to
that extremity." Thc Prefect of thc Nièvre,
as if to evade thc question, said : "The only
anxiety of the people at this moment is the
continuance of tho drought;" thus in effect
proving that tho? were not willing to go tc
war. The Prefect of the Lower Loire, for ono,
was not afraid to speak decisively in favour of
peace. Ho replied : " As tho position assumed
by thc Cabinet appears to be tho surest
method of arriving at a pacific solution of tho
Spanish-Prussian difference, publie, opinion
has unreservedly approved the categorical
derivations '-ot thc Miuistor for Foreign
Affairs." 'Ibo Picfcot of thc Var was aiao
explicit in reporting the feeling of the people
in favour of peace; but ho honeyed over tho
unwelcome truth with a little flattery ; be said :
"I cannot affirm to your Fxocllcnoy that in the
Department of the Var, under present circum"
stances, a war could be popular; but the ruling
principle in thc public mind is confidence
in the Emperor and his Government, and n
firm resolution to follow them wherever they
may lead the country."' The Prefect of the
I Arîega «as equally explioît : " Thia news,"
I he.wrote, " coming in tho midst of profound
oalni, has caused great excitement. There ir
'a geneml hope that everything will be
attempted to render possible the mtintenanoe
of peace." Others speak more earnestly in
favour of peano, and compassionately allude to
other trials which had rendered the people in
their departments specially unfit to bear the
additional affliction of war. Tho Prefect of
the Ardeche, for instance, said : "War would
appear to us ns a fresh calamity added to those
of the vine disease, tho silkworm disease,
and the drought." The " Prefect of
the Somme Slid: " The,, country .requires
peace." i . .Tho . Prefect of, tho . (tine :
" A hearty peace is hoped for." The Prefect
of tho Oise: " It is hoped that the firmness of
the Government.will'coritribute' to" the main-
tenance of peace." -The ' Prefect of the
Moselle said: ' The- - inhabitants of this
department certainly do not wish for war, but.
orave for peace and most bitter cause bayo
those unhappy peoplo to mourn that tho
record of their sentiments had no more weight
with the'Government who sought it, for they
have been some of the greatest sufferers by
tho invasion. The Prefeot of Vaucluse was
moro outspoken than his fellow officers.'
He said : Tho peoplo are apprehensive
of war, and fear that the Emperor
may too readily permit himself to be dragged
into it." I ho Prefect of the S ord said : " By
all its interests the department of the Nord
clings to peace; but if honour and safety
should demand, it will resign itself to war."'
These are given as spécimens of thc common
feeling of tho French peoplo concerning penco
or' war. They show that the-Government
which hurried the nation into this disastrous
conflict had ample evidence, within a few
days of the proclamation of .war, that at all
events a very large portion of the French:
people were averse to war, though tliey
might be found, as their race always
had been, ready, '. when warlike uetion
was once 'taken, to. ; yield to- - tho
impulse of tho hour. Thoy 'prove that it wa3
not true that the nation drove onward a
reluctant administration into war,- but that
Napoleon III. and his compliant advisers, tho
chief of whom, OUivier, ' had bron eloquent in
the advocacy of peace, dragged' a hesitating
and unwilling peoplo into tho contest. They
also oxhihit, in the shuffling flattering answers
of most of tho prefects, the fatal result of des
potio rule on tho minds of its agents. With a
few noble exceptions,- these officials were
looking in the honest manly spirit that would
have taught them to tell tho timporor the
plain truth, as they saw it. If the Bepublic
does but touoh the holders of important offices
the supreme worth of truthfulness, as a means
of securing tho confidence of those to whom
they are responsible, the change. of
Government will be a cause for durable
rejoicing. There is a third lesson to be
derived from these reports of the prefects
though the Journal des Débats does not seem
to have noticed it. Bearing in mind the
enthusiasm with which the mass of the people
in Paris hailed the declaration of war,"and
the very large majority in tho Legislative body
who approved of it, by their votes and their voci-
ferous applause, one must conclude that while
the Emperor has no excuse for refusing to
recognize the national wish, as evidenced in
the replies of the prefects, neither the mass of
the Parisians, who exulted in his downfall, nor
the representatives of the people, who turned
ngainst the views nnd interests of their ctm
stitucnts, in order to joiu in pursuit of tho
phantom of military glory, can with justice
cast nil lite hlnmo of the war on their late
muster. Tho fact that, while thc people^
in tho departments were, ns a rule, desirous
for the maintenance of peace, most-of their
representatives iu the legislative body, borne
away by the authority of the Emperor and the
madness of tho Parisian populace, gave their
voice for war, proves the danger and injustice
of placing the French Parliament in thc
metropolis, where overpowering influences
may suddenly be brought to bear upon them
so as to hurry them into a, course of con
duot at variance with the opinions of their
constituents and with tho true interests of
France.
Tile HARBOUR DEFKNOES.-On Saturday momios-,
a1-, 10 o'clock, tbe Government steamer Thetis conveyed
t! o following members of tho Government and of tho
I'of-nce Commission down tho hnrbnur, to inspect the
I rogre-s marlo in tho defensivo works now being con-
structed :-Sir James Martin, tho Hons, W. 0. Win-
deyer, J. Iîobcrtson, J. Docker, F. Lord, and Messrs.
liar not (Colonial Architect), Moriarty, Major Shep-
herd, and Lieutenant Wilson (secretary to tho Défonce
Commission). Tho various pointa visited were the
South, Middle, and George's Heads, after whioh tho
liarty returned to Fort Macqunrie to witneBB the
practice by tho Naval Brigade, reported in another
column.
Mn. FonsTEn AND TIIK LAND LAWS. -A pu bl io meet-
ing was hold at Queanbeyan last Tuesday, to consider
Mr. W. Forster's «peech on tho land laws. Mr. W. G.
O'Neill occupied the ohair, and in tho course of his
observations said ho "held in his hand a copy of tho
speech delivered by tho member for Quoanbeyen when
bo introduced his pet tcheme for amending tho Land
Acts, Had that speech been delivered hy Mr, Forstor
ri week! or an hour bofore ho (tho chairman) nominated
him for this oleotorate, ho would have cut off hw right
nrm before ho would hare dono so." Aftor.somo dis-
cussion, tho meotiBg adjourned until tho 1st February
next.
ACCIOENT.-Last night, shortly before 10 o'clock,
Mr. Maxwell, tho agent for the Flour Company in
Sussex-street, wa» proceeding homo on horseback, on
tho Surry Hills-road, when he was thrown from his
seat into the road »nd Btverely injured ; ,so much so
as to make tho bystanders believe that ho was killed.
\Ve_ are glad to state that such was not tho caso. On .
. recovering consciousness ho waa removed by some
frionds, and tho necessary attendance was provided.
MatANciiOLY DEATH moir DIIOWNINO.-On Satur-
day, about 3 o'clock, some boya wero bathing in n
swamp, called tho' " Nanny," which Uos between tho
rifle range. Paddington, and tho Kandwiok-road. One
lad. about ten years old, named John Lyons, whilst
walking, nf tor a toy-boat, got out of his depth iu a
hole, and wns not got out for sonio minutes ; thoso
around wero all young, and did not know what to do,
hut seeing a young mirri (who is rm officer in one ot the
merchant vessels in our harbour), they called him ; ho
went, and immediately did all ho could to try nnd
offect a recovery. Not succeeding i s he could wish, bo
sent n mensonger to tho rifle rango to scok medical aid.
Colonol liichardenn at once crossed tho fence, and ran
towards tho swamp, and he,'with tho young sailor,
carried the lad to tho ranger's hcuse, whore two
medical men from tho volunteer force visited him, nnd
did all in their .power to restore animation, but without
ctTeot ; tho Ind died. Tho remains were removed by
tho police. Tho father of tho deceased is teacher ut
thu Sacred Heart school. Tho efforts made to Bavo the I
?Inreascd wero creditaWo .ind praiseworthy in the
Ur h-st degree. An irqiic^t -.kilt be lipid Ibia.niurniutr
at tl o'clock, at the Viutoiiuu Inn, South Head-road.
TUB HAUDOOK DEFENCES.-Tho preparations for
defending Port Jackson have created a great deal of
excitement in Sydnoy, if wo may judgo from the very
largo number of excursionists that - visited the vnrious
various points of interest yesterday. Tho Watson's
Bay itcamora were compollod to toko extra trips
throughout the day, and .wero, most inconveniently
overcrowded ;.. nnd tho pits now being Bunk at tho
South Head wera inspected by thousands of ¡visitors.
EniUTUM.-In the advertisement of Dr. Lang's
testimonial in Saturday's issuo, tho third name,
Thomas Gilbert, should nave been Thomas S. Mort,
OPKNINO or TUB WARWICK AND TOOWOOMBA
RAILWAY.-Th« format opening of the Warwiok and
Toowoomba railway on tho 10th instant, says the
Brisbane Courier, wa» a great success. All the peoplo
of Warwick seemed to have turned out to meet the
visitors, who numbered between six and seven hundred.
Tho Acting-Governor, Colonel O'Connell, with the
Minister for Works, tho Minister for Lands, the
l'ostmaator-General, the Attorney-General, and several
members of the Legislative Council and Legislative
Assembly arrived at «2 o'clock, and wore mat and
welcomed by tho mayor and corporation of Warwick
who presented an addrosB. Thc line was thoa formally
declared "open." and tho party at once proceeded to
the banquot. Tho banquet was held in a large atone
goods shed very tastefully decorated. Mr. W. H.
Walsh, tho Minister for Works, presided, supported by
tho Acting-Governor and tho Ministers of the Crown
who wero present. Mr. James Taylor occupied the
vice-chair. About 300 persons sat down to a
very oxcellent spread. Mr. Williams, the contractor,
was complimented on all sides on tho very successful
and satisfactory manner in which he had completed his
contraot, nnd tho hope was expressed that hie services
would soon be required to carry out further works of
the same kind. The weather wai fine, the whole of the
arrangements were excellent, and they were carried out
without o single " hitch" of any kind. ' .
QUEENSLAND GOLD-FIELDS'- INQUIRY.-It is under-
stood, says the Brisbane Courier of the 11th instant,
thal the Hon. RatcliftV Pring, QC; will be gazetted
within a day or two M a commissioner, appointed in
consequence of a vote of tho Legislature, to . visit the
different gold-fields of thia colony during the Parlia-
mentary recess, " to take "evidence and examine into
the present management of the gold-fields, and to pre-
pare a report thereou, whioh may serve as a basis fur
future legislation thereon^" -The oomuussioner's secre-
tary will be Mr. Dys m Aplin (broth'r .of. the lato
Government geologist of tho same name), who has had
much experience as a working miner, or as the manager
of mining companies, in New Zealand, Victoria, and
Queensland. The commissioner will leave for Bowen
by the Black Swan, which is expected to ' sail next
Thursday, and will than visit,! in order, the Ravens-
wood, Cape River, and Gilbert Uiver gold-fields. On
his return the Rockhampton and Gympie gold-fields
will be visited. "We would suggest that in each of
those places, some local notion should be taken that
would insure the commissioner having evidence or
representations made to him that would guide bim in
forming a oorreot opinion as to tho wants and wishes
of the miners;
' A COMPLICATED CASE.-A Tttthcr complicated case
carno before tbo President of the Hoard of Land and
Works, Melbourne, on Tuesday, for his decision. Il
appeared that a person named Cruise, the keener of ar
hotel some time since, selected a seotion of eighty noroe
of land at Trentham, under the forty-second clause ol
tho Land Act. The applicant soon after died, and thc
land'reverted to his wife, who. was left with four chil-
dren. Mrs. Cruise, wishing to have some assistance in
managing the farm, solicited the Rid of ber brother-in
law, Peter Cruise, who left his occupation in Nen
Zealand, and settled down on the land at Trentham
where he worked for about fifteen months. Matten
were made pretty snag on the farm, and a decent home
stead put up, when ooo Edmond Buckley appeared on
the scone, and after a little auooessful wooing, obtained
the hand of tho widow Cruise. _ Previous to this, how-
ever, it is asserted that a promisa was made to Peter
Cruise that the land in question should bj transferred
te him for bis uso and occupation, and ho was also ti
roceive a sum of L150 ns payment for his fiftcer
months' service. Applications in writing were made it
the Board of Land nnd Works to allow of the tranBfe
taking placn. and to ono of the documents, bearing dati
Ootober 18G9, tho name of Edmond Buckley appeared a
a consenting party, airs. Buokley now stated that sin
was induced by tho threats of Peter Cruise tn givo ho
consent to tho transfer, ns he was in rho habit nf exhibit
iag pistols, which he said wara for warning nfl Buokley
before his marriage with the widow, Buokley denie«
the authenticity of any of the doauinonts hearing hi;
signature, and boldly stated that n. forgery had beei
committed. Mr. Macpherson said that ho must hnv.
further information on tho subject beforo he arrived a
a decision ; but if he found that Buckley had conscntei
to tho transfer being made to Oruiao ho should allnv
it. Otherwise he would not. Cruise seemed to consido
it vory hard that ho should not have tho land after b
had sold off at n sacrifice all ho possessed in No'
Zealand to como ovar hera and assist his sistor-in-U'
to rear the children, but, from letters read at th
board, it was ovideut that Hrs. Buckley had alway
intended that tho land should remain iu her possessio
as a future provision for tho children. In oounectio
with this same case, an action was, a short timo agc
brought in tho county court, before Judge For'jci
by Peter Cruise against Mrs. Buckley, to recover on
promissory note for L100, but tho a.ise was dismisser
as the judgo held that tho promise had neon mad
under intimidation. Cruise then prosecuted Mn
Buckley for perjury, arising out of this action, an
wbon tho case was heard nt tho last criminal sessions
she was acquitted. To add to tho complication, tl
man Long, who is alleged to have written thc lotto]
to the Board of Land and AVorks with reforonco t
the transfer, is said to . have proceeded to England.
Telegraph.
THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SEKVICE.-Tho corre
pondont of a Dunedin contemporary, who signs hin
self " Old Jaok," has addressed a letter on tl
above subject, from whioh wo take the extracts givo
below. We do not wish to be understood as endorsin
all that the writer states, as wc are not in a position t
to-it his accuracy, hut simply give his statements :i
bearing upon a matter of much interest at tho proser
time :-" Old Jack" says :-" I am surprised tbnt r¡
one has yet contradicted the vory inaccurate stat
ments published in tho New Zealand (rapers coi
corning the agc, tonnago, fcc., of tho North Paciti
Transportation Company's steamers, whiah aro to I
put on tho roiitQtbetween Now Zealand uud Cidifornii
Thoy aro said to bo all over 2200 tons, and built i
18G5. Now, tho Nevada was built sumo time befoi
1852, as I went on bo.trd nf hor when I visite
California in that year. I visited California as a shi
master in 1851, 1852, 1853, and saw tho North Facii
Transportation Company's steamers. They wer
and still arc, tho usual showy kind of ocean paddl
wheel boats whioh tho Americana have alwu;
built, with largo area of deck-houses roofed over wii
a 'hurricane deck,' frail built, and weakly fastened !
weak hulls, with perpendicular oyliudors high uboi
tbo water lino, and pomlotuus, old-fashioned, sea-siw
ing walking boam ovurtopping tho hnrrioauo docl
Hitherto theso boats have been running ou a line i
coast noted for its smooth sea, fino weather, and frc
dom from hurricanes or severe gales, with places i
sbeltor to rmi for if needed ; but they aro quito uni
to contend with tho heavy «caa und gales of thcao lal
ludes, and their chanca of surviving if caught in
oycloue nour tho Fijis is very small indeed. . . .
Tho terms of classification in American Lloyds a
much easier, and Mr. Webb, tba shipbuilder, hoing ol
of tho potentates of tho 4 groat Republic,' cai
through his personal iufluenco ami tho 4 al II light
dollar,' obtain from American Lloyds any cia
ho wants for his vessels. Tho N.P.T. Co. a
now probably chuckling , over the gullibility i
us antipodean benighted Britishers for . havir
obtained LGO.00O per yaar subsidy for the empioyinoi
of three nhl boats that would not be considered se
worthy to oross the Atlantic, nnd one of whioli is moi
Ht for a coal or hospital hulk, or for conversion ini
fuel «nd old iron, than for tho work contracted for.
is u woll-kuown fact that, that by tho United Stat
system of measurement, tho tonnage of u vessel
inailu out to bo about. 30 per cent, greater than if me
sured by tho British system. Every colonial shi]
owner knows this who has purchased a United Stati
built vessel, nnd had lier moasured and registerr
under thu British Hag. The N.P.T. Co.'s boat
which aro stated to be over 2200 ton?, would m
register over 1500 tons by liritish register, nlchoug
tho largo amount of frail and spacious upper woi
nliovo 1 ho main deck, ndded to tho hullB of Amonen
ocean stonmers, makes thom' appear nine
largor to an unnautical visitor on board,- Bi
their cabin accommodations aro really spaciou
convenient, - and sumptuous, and will bo groat
admired by tho colonists, and so long as tl
4 clerk of tho weather* favours them with smooth sei
and fine weather, they aro nil that could bo desirci
But when caught in a gale of uny severity tho pa
songera would bo safer on boord of almost any one .
our little coasting steamers. Tho Americana hm
always built tho most magnificent river steamers in tl
world ; but so far thoy have signally fulled in ocer
steamers, both in respoot to their sea-going qunliti
and speed. . Nono of 'tho Californian or Panama boa
havo a higher speed than ten and a half knots, son
only eight and a half. It ia open to anyon o in tl
colonies to obtain correct and truthful informatii
from Now York or San Francisco concerning tho ng
tonnage, &o.t of tho N.P.T. Co.'s boats by writing
BOHÍO person-one of tho British Consuls, for instant
- who either knows nil about them, or who w;
make careful inquiries, nnd'tho result will co
robórate my statements. I wonder if it h
occurred to Mr. Vogel to maka such inquiries ; or il
».be N.P.T. Company m'anagcV through their n;:uiit, in
\»ny nftun resorted to in .America, to muk.,, the
satinlK-d with tho agc, scK-woitiiiue«i. spceu, etc..
tho boats, and agree to the LUO,000 a year suban
without any-further inquiries!1 I do nat sao wli
benefit tho colony will receive hy insisting on BO mai
1 ports of oall. It is luther a noteworthy oiroiimstan
that, while tho United States Government jealous
protcots its foreign carrying trade by forbidding tl
registration of fort-igu-b'uilt vessels under tho U.S. flu
nnd HB coasting trndo by forbidding foreign vea»<
from carrying mails, passengers, or goods, froiú:"ói
U.S. port to another U.S. port, oui- colonial Cover
meut is actually soliciting U.S. shipowners to connie
I with our coasting steamers,"
$