My Lord,

Inclosure 2 in No. 65.

Mr. Harriss-Gastrell to Lord A. Loftus.

Berlin, December 13, 1870.

I HAVE the honour to report that I have received the inclosed letter from Mr. Worth and that, on the occasion of my taking leave of the Governor of Cologne, his Excellency referred to the case of Mr. Worth, by saying, that in all probability the case, in spite of its graver aspect, would be allowed to die out ("weglaufen").

(Signed)

I have, &c.

J. T. HARRISS-GASTRELL.

Inclosure 3 in No. 65.

Mr. Worth to Mr. Harriss-Gastrell.

Sir,

Military Prison, Cologne, December 9, 1870. AS I see that I am now permitted to write in open letters to Her Majesty's Government, I take the earliest opportunity of replying to your note of yesterday.

I am glad to find that my trial may shortly be expected to take place, and when I I know what are the charges formulated against me I will instruct a lawyer for my defence if necessary. I do not think, however, that such will be the case. I must admit that I fully expected to be set at liberty immediately on my arrival in Cologne. Had it not been that I had paid for my place in the balloon at a moment when I believed that I could not get out of Paris by other means, I certainly should have left at the same time with Mr. Wodehouse at the commencement of November.

I regret excessively that it was impossible for you to pay me a visit here, but I have to thank you for doing all you could under the circumstances, and more especially for having spoken to Mr. Pepys on my account.

Lord A. Loftus and Earl Granville are still, I believe, exerting themselves on my behalf. I need not tell you that, if these exertions should shortly prove successful in procuring my liberty, I shall be more than glad, as for painful family reasons my presence in England is very necessary.

Again thanking you,

P.S.-If you would write me a line in reply to this I should be pleased. Here I am tolerably comfortable, thanks to the consideration of the Governor of Cologne ; but still I am in prison.

No. 66.

F. G. W.

My Lord,

Mrs. Worth to Earl Granville.-(Received January 7, 1871.)

11, Sandfield Place, Lewisham, December 27, 1870. I FEEL myself compelled at last to address you respecting my poor son, Mr. Frederick Gonner Worth, who was taken prisoner by the Germans for leaving Paris in a balloon. Colonel Walker has kindly written to me several times relative to his capture, which was on the 27th of October, and I find that during his long detention at Versailles he would have been treated as a common prisoner had not Colonel Walker supplied him daily with proper food and necessaries. He is now in captivity at Cologne, and it seems there has been time for Her Majesty's Government to find out why he, a gentleman, should be subject to such treatment; also why he is detained. No one has told me the cause of his imprisonment, or what will eventually become of him. This is indeed a great trial to me, his mother, for he is my only child. When I think of his blighted prospects, and myself, left almost without means, on account of his being so unjustly deprived of his liberty, I think your Lordship will not be surprised at my feeling weighed down with anxiety and grief.

Colonel Walker states that he believes my poor son quite innocent of any charge

whatever; therefore it is with that assurance I feel bound to ask Her Majesty's Government, through your Lordship, to adopt immediate measures on his behalf.

Madam,

Mr. Otway to Mrs. Worth.

Foreign Office, January 4, 1871.

I AM directed by Earl Granville to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th instant, on the subject of your son's capture by the German troops after leaving Paris in a balloon. I am to inform you in reply that Her Majesty's Government, acting under the advice of the Law Officers of the Crown, have done all that is in their power on your son's behalf. Both Mr. Odo Russell, at Versailles, and Her Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin, have been instructed to represent that Mr. Worth should be released, provided that he can prove himself to be free from complicity in any unneutral proceeding.

Mr. Harriss-Gastrell, Second Secretary in Her Majesty's Embassy at Berlin, has recently been sent to Cologne to report upon the case, and states that Mr. Worth is considerately treated, and is allowed freedom of letter-writing, although Mr. HarrissGastrell could not obtain permission to see him. It was understood that the charges against Mr. Worth will be communicated to him as soon as they are drawn up, after the conclusion of a preliminary investigation which was going on at the time of Mr. HarrissGastrell's visit. A reasonable time-two or three weeks-would then be allowed Mr. Worth to prepare his defence, and permission has been obtained for him to employ legal assistance if he should desire it.

I am to add that, from the confidential assurances received from the Prussian Government, Mr. Worth's relatives need entertain no apprehensions about his life.

No. 68.

I am, &c.

Mr. Littlewood to Earl Granville.-(Received January 13.)

My Lord, I HAVE refrained from addressing you since the 12th of December last, acting under the advice of your late Under-Secretary, Mr. Otway, who stated he thought the matter of Mr. Worth would be better if it were not pressed, but considering it is now one month since I troubled your Lordship, I doubt not that you will be able to give me now the reason of Mr. Worth's detention by the German authorities.

110, Cannon Street, London, January 12, 1871.

I have, &c. (Signed)

HENRY BUCKNALL LITTLEWOOD.

No. 69.

My Lord,

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

110, Cannon Sereet, January 16, 1871. I CONFIRM my letter of the 12th instant, which I fear has not reached your Lordship, as I am without a reply thereto. May I ask whether this is so?

I have, &c (Signed)

HENRY BUCKNALL LITTLEWOOD.

My Lord,

No. 70.

Earl Granville to Lord A. Loftus.

Foreign Office, January 17, 1871.

I SHOULD be glad to learn from your Excellency whether any progress han been made in the proceedings against Mr. Worth, referred to in your despatch of the [175]

E

10th ultimo, and in previous correspondence; and whether you have any information as to when his trial may be expected to be brought to a conclusion.

No. 71.

I am, &c.

Sir,

Viscount Enfield to Mr. Littlewood.

Foreign Office, January 17, 1871.

I AM directed by Earl Granville, in reply to your letter of the 12th instant, to inform you that Her Majesty's Government do not feel that they would be justified in remonstrating with the North German Government upon the fact that Mr. Worth's trial has not yet been concluded.

The Secretary of Her Majesty's Embassy at Berlin, who was sent to Cologne last month to inquire into this case, reported that, after the indictment against Mr. Worth was completed, two or three weeks would be allowed to him to prepare his defence; and, under these circumstances, it does not appear, so far as Her Majesty's Government are informed, that the delay has been unreasonable.

Her Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin has, however, been requested to report what stage the case has at present reached.

My Lord,

Mr. Littlewood to Earl Granville.-(Received January 20.)

110, Cannon Street, January 19, 1871.

I CONFIRM my letter of the 16th instant, and to-day (the 19th) have received your Lordship's reply to my communication of the 12th instant, dated the 17th.

I take due notice of your remarks regarding Mr. Frederick Gonner Worth's trial; also that you have written to Berlin on the subject, for information on the state of the

case.

Permit me to bring before your Lordship the facts of this case.

Mr. Worth has now been in prison since the 27th of October, 1870, making nearly three months; his mother, father, relations, and friends do not know what he is detained for, more especially tried by court-martial. Therefore may I ask what information Her Majesty's Government has on these points.

I may inform your Lordship that, for a gentleman to be engaged in business, and without notice to be placed in confinement, also being denied communication with the outer world, is complete ruin to him, and such is the case with this gentleman.

I heard from Cologne yesterday, when the letter stated he was to be tried on the 17th; therefore I have no doubt your Lordship will be able to give me full particulars of the trial.

My Lord,

No. 73.

Mr. Littlewood to Earl Granville.-(Received January 23.)

110, Cannon Street, London, January 23, 1871.

I CONFIRM my letter of the 19th instant, to which I am without any reply. This morning I have advices from Cologne, which state that Mr. Frederick Gonner Worth has been tried, and his papers have been submitted to the Emperor at Versailles.

With this information, allow me to suggest to your Lordship the advisability of communicating this fact to Mr. Odo Russell.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

HENRY BUCKNALL LITTLEWOOD.

Sir,

No. 74.

Viscount Enfield to Mr. Littlewood.

Foreign Office, January 23, 1871. IN acknowledging the receipt of your letter of this day's date, I am directed by Earl Granville to acquaint you that he has lost no time in taking the necessary steps by telegraph for obtaining from Versailles the information you desire relative to the trial of Mr. Worth.

I am, &c. (Signed)

ENFIELD.

No. 75.

Earl Granville to Mr. Odo Russell.

(Extract.)

Foreign Office, January 23, 1871. I HAVE been informed to-day that the trial of Mr. Worth at Cologne has been concluded, and that the papers respecting him have been sent to Versailles to be submitted to the Emperor.

The information is not official, and I cannot vouch for its accuracy; but I should wish you to ascertain whether the papers have reached Versailles, and if so, to inquire the result of the trial, and the nature of the sentence which has been passed.

My Lord,

No. 76.

Mr. Littlewood to Earl Granville.-(Received January 25.)

110, Cannon Street, January 24, 1871. I CONFIRM my letter of yesterday's date, and am now in receipt of your Lordship's reply.

Allow me to offer your Lordship the thanks of Mr. Worth's relatives for the prompt manner in which you have sought the information required by them.

I need hardly say that I shall be thankful to receive any news that may arrive from Versailles.

Foreign Office, January 27, 1871.

I AM directed by Earl Granville to acquaint you that Mr. Odo Russell has again been requested by telegraph to report, as soon as possible, any information which he may obtain at Versailles respecting the proceedings against Mr. Worth.

(Telegraphic.)

I am, &c.

(Signed)

ENFIELD.

No. 78.

Earl Granville to Mr. Odo Russell.

Foreign Office, January 27, 1871.

I TELEGRAPHED to you to inquire into the case of Mr. Worth, as I am told that it has been referred to Versailles. Report to me upon it as soon as possible.

My Lord,

No. 79.

Mr. Odo Russell to Earl Granville.-(Received January 30.)

Versailles, January 25, 1871. ON receiving your Lordship's telegram of the 23rd instant, I once more appealed to Count Bismarck on behalf of Mr. Worth, and hope that he will at last soon be released.

I am, &c.

(Extract.)

Lord A. Loftus to Earl Granville.-(Received January 30.)

Berlin, January 28, 1871.

I HAVE the honour to inclose to your Lordship herewith copy of a report I have received from Mr. Harriss-Gastrell on the case of Mr. Worth, now under confinement in Cologne, having been made prisoner by Prussians out of a balloon from Paris.

From this report your Lordship will see that the trial has taken place, although the sentence has not been definitively pronounced, the decision having been referred to the higher military authorities at Versailles.

It appears that the offence of which Mr. Worth has been guilty is of a graver nature than was at first anticipated, and that he has acknowledged to have been the writer of a letter to Mr. Littlewood, which was captured previous to his own arrest, and which contained an order for the purchase of arms for the French Government.

(Extract.)

Inclosure in No. 80.

Mr. Harriss-Gastrell to Lord A. Loftus.

Cologne, January 26, 1871. THE letter which so gravely compromised Mr. Worth, and to which I referred in my letter of the 8th December last, has been acknowledged by Mr. Worth to be in his handwriting. It is signed by him, is addressed to Mr. Littlewood, and contains a direct order for arms for the French Government. If this letter had been found on Mr. Worth, it appears that the laws of war would have permitted him to be forthwith shot by his captors. Luckily for Mr. Worth the letter was captured in another balloon about four weeks before he was himself captured. Of this fact Mr. Worth made use in his defence.

The necessary court-martial has already been held upon Mr. Worth, and a judgment passed. This judgment has been referred to Versailles for revision.

The Governor offered Mr. Worth the services of Herr Fischer, a well-known cle and experienced lawyer of Cologne, who is acquainted with the laws and procedure of military justice, and who is now acting as a Landwehr Adjutant. Mr. Worth accepted Herr Fischer for his defending counsel. The chief plea raised in the defence was, that Mr. Worth had endeavoured soon after writing the letter to obtain repossession of it, t that the holder of it caused it to be sent out of Paris by balloon post, refusing to give it up. Others were the absence of proof that Mr. Worth had in any way actually contributed to the supply of any arms to the French Government, and also the absence of proof that he had himself dispatched the letter written during a momentary absence of reflection.

I am glad to add that Mr. Worth is still treated with the considerateness I had the honour to report in my letter of the 7th December last.

Your Lordship will understand how, under these circumstances, Mr. Pepys has not been called upon to find a defender for Mr. Worth.

No. 81.

Mr. Littlewood to Viscount Enfield.-(Received January 30.)

(Telegraphic.) 110, Cannon Street, London, January 30, 1871. WILL you kindly telegraph me any news you have of Mr. Worth at once?