Mr. Worth, a British subject, who left Paris in a balloon, and has been captured at Verdun, and sent to the Prussian Head-quarters at Versailles, from whence, according to the telegram from Colonel Walker, also inclosed,* he is to be sent to Prussia with other persons who have left Paris in an unauthorized manner.

Assuming that Mr. Worth has not compromised his character as a non-combatant, and that he accompanied the French courier in the balloon for no other purpose than to effect his escape from the seat of war, Her Majesty's Government think that he should be allowed the immunity of a non-combatant. I have therefore to request that your Excellency will express to the Prussian Government a hope that, in case Mr. Worth is able to satisfy the German military authorities that he was a bond fide passenger without any unneutral object in view, the intention of sending him to Prussia will be abandoned, and that he will be set at liberty, if not at once, at all events after such reasonable detention as may be necessary, on military considerations, to prevent the disclosure of any discovery which he may have made in passing over the German lines.

I am, &c.

My Lord,

No. 15.

Mr. Littlewood to Earl Granville.-(Received November 12.)

110, Cannon Street, London, November 11, 1870.

I CONFIRM my letter of yesterday's date, in which I request the release from the custody of the German authorities, of Mr. Frederick Gonner Worth, through the intervention of Her Britannic Majesty's Government, and am anxiously waiting your reply; since which I have received your Lordship's telegram and letter of the 10th instant. For these I tender my sincere thanks, especially for the consideration shown therein to Mrs. Worth's feelings.

I am, &c. (Signed)

HENRY BUCKNALL LITTLEWOOD.

Sir,

No. 16.

Mr. Otway to Mr. Littlewood.

Foreign Office, November 12, 1870.

I AM directed by Earl Granville to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date requesting his Lordship to demand the immediate release of Mr. Worth.

I am, in reply, to inform you that Lord Granville, not being in possession of information which could justify his making such a demand, has instructed Her Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin to represent to the Prussian Government that Mr. Worth should be allowed the immunity generally accorded to non-combatants, provided he can satisfy the German military authorities that he was merely endeavouring to effect his escape from the seat of war without any unneutral object in view.

Foreign Office, November 12, 1870.

I TRANSMIT to you herewith copies of correspondencet received from the friends of Mr. Worth, a British subject, who left Paris in a balloon, and has been captured at Verdun and sent to the Prussian head-quarters at Versailles, from whence, according to the telegram from Colonel Walker, also inclosed,* he is to be sent to Prussia with other persons who have left Paris in an unauthorized manner.

Assuming that Mr. Worth has not compromised his character as a non-combatant, and that he accompanied the French courier in the balloon for no other purpose than to effect his escape from the seat of war, Her Majesty's Government think that he should be allowed the immunity of a non-combatant. I have therefore to request that you will take any opportunity which may offer to intercede in Mr. Worth's favour, and to express a hope that, in case he is able to satisfy the German military authorities that he was a bona fide passenger, without any unneutral object in view, the intention of sending him to Prussia will be abandoned, and that he will be set at liberty, if not at once, at all events after such reasonable detention as may be necessary on military considerations to prevent the disclosure of any discovery which he may have made in passing over the German lines.

No. 18.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

GRANVILLE.

(Extract.)

Colonel Walker to Earl Granville.—(Received November 14.)

Versailles, November 8, 1870. LATE yesterday I was informed that an English subject named Worth was in prison in Versailles, being one of three persons who were captured a week ago in a balloon near Verdun. As soon as I had dispatched my business this morning I visited the prison, where I found in a solitary cell a young man of this name, who informed me of the circumstances of his capture, which are contained in the accompanying letter, which I have the honour to request, after perusal, may be forwarded as directed to his mother. I had enough conversation with him to satisfy myself that there were no discrepancies in his story; but beyond sanctioning a supply of proper food and other comforts to him, as he informed me that his own funds were completely exhausted, I have taken no steps for his release, as I am desirous before doing so of obtaining the advice of Mr. Wodehouse, who, though hourly expected, has not yet made his appearance at Versailles. Mr. Worth informed me that he was, in the first instance, to have come out of Paris on the 27th, with the party expected on that day, but that becoming impatient at the delay he engaged a place in this balloon, for which he paid 1007.

I have just received your Lordship's telegram of yesterday evening respecting Mr. Worth, and shall now take such steps as I may find possible, and telegraph to the Foreign Office in the course of the day, further reporting my proceedings by letter. I cannot forward Mr. Worth's letter to his mother, it has not been returned to me from the Office of the Staff of the IIIrd Army, but I have been informed verbally that it has been "provided for." Mrs. Worth's direction is 11, Sandfield Place, Lewisham, and I think it might be as well to inquire whether she receives the letter, and when.

No. 19.

(Extract.)

Colonel Walker to Earl Granville.-(Received November 14.)

Versailles, November 9, 1870,

IN continuance of my despatch of 8th September, I have the honour to forward to your Lordship Mr. Worth's letter to his mother, which has been returned to me, there being no reason to hinder "the forwarding of the inclosed letter to its address." The perusal of this letter will save me a world of trouble and loss of time. I, this morning, with full permission of the Prussian authorities, again saw Mr. Worth in prison, and afterwards waited on the Commandant of Versailles and the Chief of the Staff of the IIIrd Army, who informed me that, as I have just had the honour of telegraphing to your Lordship, he will, like all persons who attempt to pass the Prussian outposts without permission, whether by land, water, or air, be deported to Prussia under suspicion of being a French spy. It will, therefore, be in the power of Lord Augustus Loftus to take further steps for his release, if considered advisable. I shall continue to furnish him with some small comforts, and advance him a little money on public account, which he has promised shall be repaid to Her Majesty's Treasury. His place of business is 110 Cannon Street, London.

I, yesterday afternoon, again visited Mr. Worth in prison. In view of his contem

plated deportation to Germany, I have sanctioned his procuring some warm clothing, a second pair of boots, and a change or two of linen, He appears to be a respectable and intelligent young man, and has answered all my questions with readiness and apparent frankness. I answer for no one, not even for myself at times; but he certainly has not made the impression on me that he has anything to do with politics whatever. If he is a French spy, he is a very clever one; but up to the present time I have every reason to believe that he is just what he represents himself to be. He tells me that he is in business at 110 Cannon Street; that his mother lives at the address forwarded yesterday, and which I am now going to telegraph to your Lordship. He says, further, that if he had not been anxious to get back to his mother, and to his business, he would have remained in Paris, as he said himself, "just to see the affair out." He further tells me that meat was getting short before he left, on the 27th October, and that he does not believe that Paris can hold out after the end of this month. He does not appear to have been subjected to any examination since his arrival here, beyond the search of his person by a policeman; and had it not been for a fortunate accident I should not have learnt that be was in prison until the receipt of your Lordship's telegram yesterday morning. I have been very careful, both with the Chief of the Staff of the IIIrd Army and the Commandant, to make no remark as to my opinion of the justice or injustice of his treatment. He may be what they assume him to be; and as his papers have been taken from him, and are in the hands of Count Moltke, as I was informed by the Commandant, I have no other means of verifying the truth or falsehood of his statements to me than my habit of dealing with men, and his tone and manner while conversing with me.

Inclosure in No. 19.

Letter from Mr. Worth to his Mother.

The Prison, Versailles, November 5, 1870.

ON Thursday, October 27, I left Paris by balloon, in company with three others. We left with a north-east wind, which would have carried us into Belgium, but the wind changing to direct east, we were carried on to the Prussian lines.

We left Paris at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and as at half-past 4 it was almost dark, we were obliged to come down to earth. Just as we emerged from the clouds, at about 250 yards from the ground, we were welcomed by a shower of Prussian bullets, some of which pierced the balloon, and in order to avoid being hit we were obliged to come down at a tremendous force. When we touched the ground there was, of course, a terrible shock. I, fortunately, did not lose my presence of mind, and held on by the cords, so that I did not feel it so much. In jumping from the balloon, however, I was thrown some 30 feet into the air, and fell all of a heap, without being hurt in the least. Two others jumped after me (M. Adin and M. Cuzon) neither of them hurt. The fourth, however, lost his presence of mind-a M. Mauciare-and did not follow our example, so that he was carried away in the balloon. During all this, which only occupied some seconds, the Prussians still continued their firing, and it is only by a miracle that we escaped. On waving a handkerchief, however, they at last ceased, and we were made prisoners. We fell just outside Verdun, which is still being defended by the French. From Verdun we have been brought to Versailles (it has taken us eight days to get here), and, although prisoners, we have been well treated. As none of us have any political mission, it is possible they may give us our liberty in a few days; but there is just a probability of our being sent into Germany as prisoners of war; in the latter event you will not hear from me for some time. The reason for my leaving by balloon was, that I wanted to get home and to my business.

(Extract.)

No. 20.

Lord A. Loftus to Earl Granville.-(Received November 14.)

Berlin, November 12, 1870. ON the receipt of your Lordship's despatch of the 9th instant I instructed Mr. Dering to call on Baron Thile to inquire whether he had received any information on the subject of the arrest and detention of a British subject named Worth, who had descended in a balloon within the Prussian lines, and had been made prisoner.

Baron Thile stated that he had received no information on the subject, but that he would immediately make the necessary inquiries.

On seeing Baron Thile to-day I informed him of the substance of your Lordship's second telegram, stating that Colonel Walker had seen Mr. Worth, and that he was to be sent to Prussia like others who had escaped from Paris in an unauthorized manner.

I observed to Baron Thile that I could not understand on what grounds a British subject descending in a balloon should be subjected to arrest and detention.

Baron Thile replied that he had received no information on the subject, but he said it was probable that there were other grounds for his detention, and he presumed that papers had been found on his person of a compromising character.

With regard to Mr. Worth I observed that his escape by a balloon was an incident of so novel a character that it was quite beyond the existing provisions of the laws of war, but that I could not conceive it possible that a neutral subject could be arrested for the mere fact of descending in a balloon at a place where he had evidently not intended to alight.

Baron Thile promised to bring the subject before Count Bismarck.

No. 21.

My Lord,

Mr. Littlewood to Earl Granville.- (Received November 16.)

110, Cannon Street, November 15, 1870.

PERMIT me to thank you for your Lordship's communication of the 12th instant, in reference to Mr. Frederick Gonner Worth; and I trust by this time your Lordship is in receipt of further information from the German authorities. I also beg to thank your Lordship for your letter to Lord Augustus Loftus at Berlin, for which place I leave London to-night.

Will you allow all matters relative to this case to be handed to Mr. Alfred Batson Joyner, of 60, Cornhill, during my absence?

I am, &c.

(Signed)

HENRY BUCKNALL LITTLEWOOD.

No. 22.

My Lord,

Earl Granville to Lord A. Loftus.

Foreign Office, November 16, 1870. WITH reference to my despatch to your Excellency of the 12th instant, and to your despatch of the same date, respecting the case of Mr. Worth, a British subject, who has been captured at Verdun, after escaping from Paris in a balloon, I transmit herewith extracts of Reports from Colonel Walker on the subject ;* and I have to request you to renew your representations to the Prussian Government in favour of Mr. Worth's speedy release, unless he should be proved to have been implicated in any unneutral proceeding.

Your Excellency's language to M. de Thile, as reported in your despatch above mentioned is entirely approved.

No. 23.

I am, &c.

My Lord,

Colonel Walker to Earl Granville.-(Received November 18.)

Versailles, November 14, 1870. I HAVE the honour to report that late last evening I received a note from Mr. Worth, in which he informed me that he was warned to leave Versailles for Germany at 6:30 A.M. to-day with a convoy of prisoners of war. He also requested me to advance him 100 francs, and informed me further of the articles of clothing which, in accordance with my instructions, had been purchased for him, and of the probable amount of the outlay for his food. I at once went to the prison, gave him the 100 francs, for which I took his receipt, and promised to write this morning to his mother and to Lord Augustus

* Nos. 18 and 19.

Loftus respecting him. I have not in any respect altered my opinion of Mr. Worth. If he is, as General von Blumenthal alleged to me, a French spy, he is one of the best I have ever seen, as his whole appearance and manner are calculated to disarm suspicion. I beg to remark that Mr. Worth has been subjected to no examination of any kind while in Versailles. I have been very careful in not expressing any opinion respecting this case, nor, in default of instructions from your Lordship, have I taken any steps beyond visiting and assisting my countryman in distress, and affording him the means of providing decent comforts. Mr. Worth only told me last night of some papers, valuable only to himself, which were taken from him at the time of his capture. If I can find in whose hands these papers are, I will endeavour either to reclaim them or to procure their transmission to Her Majesty's Embassy in Berlin.

My Lord,

Colonel Walker to Earl Granville.-(Received November 18.)

Versailles, November 14, 1870. SINCE Mr. Wodehouse left Versailles I have learnt that Mr. Worth has been sent to Minden, where he will be brought before a court-martial. The matter is therefore removed to the sphere of Her Majesty's Ambassador in Berlin, to whom I shall write to the same effect to-morrow. I have also ascertained that his papers are here, and have requested that they may, if possible, be separated from those of his companions, and that I may be allowed a sight of them. Whether I shall succeed remains to be proved.

I hope to find an opportunity of sending on this letter by a safe hand, so as to overtake Mr. Wodehouse before he leaves St. Germain. Mr. Wodehouse lunched with the Crown Prince to-day, which made him somewhat later in starting than he had at first intended.

My Lord,

Mr. Joyner to Earl Granville.-(Received November 18.)

60, Cornhill, London, E.C., November 18, 1870. REFERRING to Mr. H. B. Littlewood's letter to your Lordship of the 15th instant, regarding the case of Mr. F. G. Worth, will you allow me to call your Lordship's attention to the inclosed copy of a letter received from Mr. F. G. Worth, and which appeared in the "Standard" of this morning?

Under the circumstances to which Mr. Worth alludes, viz., that they had no political mission, and, that he merely took the opportunity of endeavouring to escape per balloon, being very anxious to return to his home and business in London (the latter as I know requiring his immediate presence), I respectfully request your Lordship's earnest demands for his release from Prussian captivity.

I have, &c. (Signed)

H. BATSON JOYNER.

My Lord,

Inclosure in No. 25.

Letter from Mr. Worth to his Mother.

[See Inclosure in No. 19.]

No. 26.

Mr. Joyner to Earl Granville.-(Received November 18.)

60, Cornhill, London, November 18, 1870. SINCE I had the honour of addressing your Lordship, this morning I notice a paragraph, referring to Mr. F. G. Worth, in the letter of the "Times"" correspondent, dated Versailles, 14th November, to which I beg to call your Lordship's attention.