The Express.
London, England, 1866-04-09 00:00:00

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WES heit4o
mow and lies
ing language.

the q'

down

MONDAY

theieit is mite to be reit
aidate the House of Caen-
by the anew of threaten-

MI MEWS FROM ORRMOTY.

The Times findssid'esast parallel between the events ihr-
tem years ago, when a aloud of war between Austria
and Prussia was suddenly dispersed through the failing
heart of the late King of Prussia, and the state of affairs
which seems probable at the present moment. Fortune,
so long tied to the oar of Count Bismarck,
seems on the point of deserting him, end the King
appears now to insist on the maintenance of peace. The in-
terim°e of the Tina from the late proceedings is that there
is a fair chance that the peace of Europe will not be vio-
lated. After having refused to fight for such a prise as
Schleswig-Holstein, it does not seem likely that the King
of Prussia will draw the sword merely on the question
whether the two powers will submit their differences ac.
cording to the Fundamental Act, or whether they will con-
tent themselves with mutual assurances of amity and good
wilL The question is like most German quarrels ;it rises
into some degree of interest as soon as there is a chance of
either party coming to blows, and subsides into tameness
and insipidity as soon as that crisis has passed away.
The Daily News takes a different view of the latest
announcements, which it thinks are not of a nature to
encourage the hopes of the preservation of peace. All it
can gather from the Prussian answer to the Austrian de-
claration of March 31, is that Count Bismarck will
go on his way, advancing to his end without look-
ing to the right hand or to the left, or wasting
words with anybody. If this is a sound in-
forms*, the danger of war is great indeed ; for
if Count Bismarck has used language as menacing as this
on some former occasions, he has never done a) under
circumstances which lent so much gravity to a decision.
It is now three years since Count Bismarck declared in the
Prussian parliament that the territorial boundaries of
Fronds were too narrow, and that they must be enlarged
by means of " fire and steel." Some saw in his words a
foreshadowing of the atrocious policy whiob he has since
so steadily pursued, but it is most unfortunate for Ger-
many that the late ministers of the Emperor of Austria
were not of the number. The Austrian government has
given the minor states notice of its intention to appeal to
the Diet to settle the political status of the Duchies.
When that body has given its decision, Prussia must
either give way or fight. There is no other possibly leans.
The Pod also thinks that the chances of pesos are, if
anything, diminished by the note of the Cabinet at
Berlin. Prussia will not discontinue the mobilisation of
her armies, and asks Austria to do so under conditions
which reader' her compliance impossible. On the attitude
which France may think proper to assume will, however,
in a great de see depend the policy of the Cabinet at
Berlin, and what that attitude may be is still uncertain.
The Herald considers it not impossible that Austria
may nes the Czar's offer of mediation to offer terms to
Prussia which will give her substantially what she wants
whilst they do not look like a complete surrender on the
Austrian side.
To the TelegrapA the tempest appears to be gathering
on every side. All that can be said in favour of a pacific
solution is, that German powers speak much and threaten
often before taking decisive action.

WS TOPICS.

The Times reminds its readers that the Fenian con.
'piracy has produced some benefits both in Ireland and
Canada. It has especially shown that no appreciable sec-
tion of the Canadian people desire to out in their lot with
the United States, and it has materially advanced the ques-
tion of provincial confederation. A different feature in the
affair is that it shows us what is still left unforbidden by
laws which are presumed to keep nations at peace with
each other. The Penises, we are assured, and we willingly
believe, will not be allowed to cross the British frontier if
the Americans can prevent them ; but it is surely worth
while to consider whether such overt and undisguised
professions of • purpose heinously unlawful might not be
brought under the, cognisance of law as well as the at-
tempt itself.
Mr. Lowe having bad the praise of boldness is now, the
Daily News observes, a candidate for that of ingenuity,
his explanations of his March speech leaving the impres-
sion of a man who wants to retreat from a polition which
he had assumed with much ostentation, but to do so with-
out being seen to fall back. This the Daily News proceeds
to show by extracts from the speech referred to, before
which, it maintains, the explanation given to the electors of
Caine that his words referred entirely to the existing con-
stituencies and bad no reference to the MUM of the
working population, entirely disappears.
The Star enters with some detail into the claim to the
position of a royal princess advanced by a private indivi-
dual, Mrs. Lavinia Ryves, a claim which it is probable
will be brouz,ht to a legal issue in the course of next
month. The statement of Mrs: Ryves is briefly this—
that George IlL's marriage with Queen Charlotte was an
act of bigamy, his former and lawful wife, Hannah
Lightfoot, being still alive. From all the circumstances
of the case the Star anticipates that the trial will prove
an interesting and curious addition to our collection of
causes celeores.