The French mail of the 22nd July arrived on the 6th instant, with telegrams extending from the 7th to the 15th August. Wo had previously received one day's later date, vii Kinchta. These telegrams enable us to form a tolerably clear idea of the operations which have taken place at the seat of war, since the Crown Prince passed Wessenbourg. A general engagement took place on the 6th, of which the principal points seem to have been Worth and Forback. The former place is stated to be on the North of Wessenbourg, the latter is close to Saarbruck. The French were defeated at Worth, with the Joss of 5000 killed and wounded and 6000 prisoners, the Prussians lost 3,500. At Saarbruck also the fighting was severe, and the losses on both sides very heavy. The telegram says the French were greatly outnumbered. Saarbruck was burned and abandoned; and the French army fell back on the line of the Moselle.
After the defeat, Marshal Bazaine was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the army before Metz, MacMahon falling back and rallying his troops on Nancy. He appears, however, not to have held it, probably concentrating on Metz, to meet the battle which was imminent before that city; for Nancy was occupied by the Prussians on the 13th, after a. successful cavalry engagement at Luneville. On the 16th, ac-, cording to Reuter, the expected battle before Metz occurred, and the Prussians were again. victorious.
The French Ministry has resigned, and anew one been formed, with Count Palikao (General Montauban) Minister at War.
Large supplies have been voted; and all discharged soldiers and unmarried and childless citizens between 25 and 35 years of age, have been called out. A treaty has been signed, between England, Prussia and France, guaranteeing the integrity of Belgium. France has proclaimed the blockade of the North-German Coast; the French fleet was off Kiel on the 13th, A telegram dated July 26th, in an American paper, speaks of an expeditionary force of 30,000 men which was to be despatched to the Baltic, under General Bourber, to ce-operate with the fleet.
The latter comprised small gunboats, which were to act on the Rhine and Moselle.
News has at last reached home of the Tientsin massacre; the L. &: O. Express reprints extracts from Grant's telegrams, dated 22nd and 27th June, announcing the occurrence. The British Foreign Office had still received no official telegram. From the French Foreign Ofiice nothing had been heard, though we are told that the Gaulois of July 23rd contains a paragraph stating that the French Government have broken off negociations with the Chinese embassy, until they have obtained satisfaction for the massacre.
The homeward mail leaves to-morrow, by the P. & O. str. Ottawa.
The following ships have arrived during the fortnight:—Carricks, Liverpool; Magellan, Foreade de la Roquette, Sydney; Abbotsford, London.
And the following have sailed:—Mikado, and Riga steamer, New York; Wild Deer, Northampton, and Hwitly Castle, London.
The Northampton unfortunately got ashore on the North Bank, on her way out, but we are glad to learn that she was successfully got off on Monday evening, and has been towed into Wusung, where Surveyors have examined her and have reported that she is not in any way strained. She has lost a few patches of copper, but is pronounced quite seaworthy. About 3,000 packages of Tea which had been discharged into lorchas, will be at once placed on board again, and she will proceed to sea to-day, 8th.
A native shirting broker of some standing ins Shanghai has disappeared within the last 48 hours, carrying with him anative Bank. The liabilities are estimated at Tls. 40,000 to Tls. 60,000, falling chiefly on native Bankers and on three or four foreign hongs.
The chief news of local interest we have note, hangs upon the course of events in the North.
When the first apprehension of danger arose, after the massacre of Tientsin, the Council rightly took upon themselves the responsibility of arming the Volunteer Corps which was promptly raised. Their action in this respect has been since confirmed by the Rate Payers, who signed, nearly unanimously, a document, authorize ing the expenditure, which was circulated for their approval. In face, however, of the new demands which have been made, for-further expensive measures of defence, the Council seem to have thought it well to obtain a public vote of the Rate Payers, Consul has accordingly been requested to call a meeting on the 19th instant for this purpose, A general parade of the Shanghai Volunteers was held on Friday last, when, for the first time, our French comrades joined in the display. The Volunteers mustered in greater strength on the occasion than we have before sven them. They assembled on the Bund, and, after a few preliminary drill movements, marched on to the Race Course—Rangers leading, Artillery in the rear, Here the column was drawn up in line, and presented arms, while the French Volunteer Corps marched past, and took ground on the right. The whole line fired a volley, front rank kneeling; and were given the order to continue independent firing by Companies. The force was then faced to the left, and formed into open column, -with the Artillery on either flank; and Nos, 1 and.6 Companies were thrown out asskirmishers, keeping up rapid firing at an imaginary enemy beyond the Defence Ditch; the French in the meantime firing with admirable rapidity and precision, on the right. Falling back on their supports, the S.V.C. battalion was next formed into square, to resist a charge by the Rangers; and, after few more movements, was again formed into line, and gave three hearty cheers to the-French, which were as heartily replied to, as they marched past to the head of the returning column. In the middle of the Maloo, the French halted, while the 8. V. C. marched past; and a similar compliment was interchanged.
The noise of the firing brought out half the Chinese in the Settlement. A great number of foreign spectators wore also present, many of whom would have contributed very much to improve the effect of the parade, had they appeared in the ranks. We must also venture an expression of regret, that some seamen and marines from the Zebra and Benicia did not join in the parade. Such combined parades used to happen, in the days of the old Volunteer Corps; and the effect could not fail to be good, both on actors and spectators, We regret very much to say that a member of the French Artillery Ca, was badly wounded in the hand, by the premature explosion of a blank cartridge which he was ramming home, Some changes have been made in the organisation of the Corps, in order to promote harmonious working. Captains Thorne and Maclean have resigned the commandant ships of the Fire Brigade and of the Rifles, and Mr. Brewer has been appointed, by the Chairman of the Municipal Council, Adjutant-General of the whole Volunteer Corps, with the rank of Captain. We should, ourselves, have fa-youred the retention by these Officers of the commandant ship of the "two" brigades with which they have been chiefly associated. But the desire of the Council is evidently to obviate the distinction, and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.