The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-29 00:00:00

GERMANY AND ITALY,

The Timer describes the relations between Austria and
Prussia and the Bund, and gives a sketch of the action of
Germany in its confederate capacity in the Schleswig-
Holstein question. The Bund is clearly entitled to pro-
nounce on the succession in the Duchies, and it is proposed
Chit Oldenburg, as an independent member of the
Confederation, shall distinctly make a demand
in the Federal Diet for such a purpose. The diffi-
culty is that Prussia and Austria have habitually
s the Bum' at defiance, and only the other day con-
c:udedi ut Gastein an a;r.iement in direct contempt of its
authority. The decision of the Bund it may be presumed
would be in favour of the Duke of Augustenburg, but
th nigh this would be a surrender on the part of Prussia,
it would be one whiih mi ht le easily and gracefully
made through the medium of such an authority. Austria,
on tare other hand, would succee 1 in her original and int.
medi rte purpose of preventing the territorial aggrandise-
ment of Prussia within the limits of the Confederation,
and that result should satisfy her, though the quarrel
between these old rives is of such long standing, and has
been so envenomed by recent proceedings, that it is hard
to measure the probabilities of the ease. The question,
however, if it could once be referred to the decision of the
Bund, may be regarded as settled, and with its settlement
would be terminated also that difficulty of Austria which
Italy has made her own opportunity.
The Herald notes with regret that during the last few
days the tone of the official and semi-official press of Paris
has been uniform'y hostile to Austria, and encouraging to
her enemies. This is the more serious as the cabinet of
the Emperor is Said to have proposed an " armed neu-
trality," a menacing attitude, that is, oa the part of France
and England, with or without Russia, " in order to enforce
by arms, in case of need, the results of the determination
of the cinferen2e." Thii country cannot be a party to
*chime for insisting on the cession of Venetia at such a
crisis as the present, when demanded from a proud people
by the menace of a toe who standing alone is insignificant
but who has chosen the opportunity of the quarrel
between Austria and Prussia to prefer demands which
she would not dare to assert in equal fight.

The Herald understands that the Chilian minis-
ter in this country has demanded his passports.

That it will be a full meeting at Ascot there seems
no doubt from the increased rentals put upon the villas and
cottages for the week, or rather the days, during which the
MOM last. The regulation standard for a villa near the
Cantle appears now to be settled at 100 guineas, although
one nobleman, it is said, pays 150 guineas for his house.

Notwithstanding the rumours of war the banks
at the Mine reoeive as many visitors this sown from the
various foreign countries as before.

The cultivation a tea in India is a great !meccas.
The government factory turned out 16,12filba last season,
of which 1,7331b5. were purchased from native Zernindars.

The Delhi Gazette of the 10th of April states that
a boy about 12 or 13 years of age has just been rescued
from the den of a wolf in one of the neighbouring jungles.
He goes on all fours very swiftly, and is fonder of raw
meat than anything else.