The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-03 00:00:00

in the meantime the execution troops would be on
the march, and the point of military honour would
be joined to the other considerations whieh rendered
it day by day more difficult for Germany to recede.

" In additio❑ to the two forms cited above as
capable, according to M. de Bismarck, of being
adopted by the King's Government, the Minister
also proposed a third, in stating that perhaps the
Britannic Government would be willing to address
itself to the Diet, communicating to that body the
disposition of the King's Government ; but he im•
medintely aferwards himself started the objection
that, if thia overture of the Britannic Government
related, as was reasonable to suppose it would, ex-
caclusively to the Federal question, the Diet would
be unable to receive it.

"I cannot conceal from your excellency that, par-
taking of de Bismarck's views of the necessity of
acting with promptness, I also think that there is
no occasion for the King's Government to place
form above reality, especially in its relations with
a political assembly organised as is the Federal
Diet. After the distinction laid down by M. de
Bismarck, in full conformity with the views of the
King's Government, between the Federal part and
the international part of the Dano-German ques-
tioa—a distinction which the English Cabinet has
eqaally adopted, and will well understand how to
carry through at Frankfort—it appears to me that
this question now prebents itself in an entirely dif.
ferent point of view to formerly, and offers to the
Government facilities it did not possess some weeks
ago.
" Sir A. Buchanan has told me Lord Russell had
supposed the vote upon the normal budget would
be already granted to the Estates by the declaraticn
of October 29, and at the same time he suggested to
me the idea of submitting to your excellency's exa-
mination whether it would not be possible for the
King's Government itself to make the declaration
to the Diet, taking the above supposition of the
English Minister as a point of departure.

"In the course of conversation M. de Bismarck
several times alluded to the necessity of Prussia to
take all possible care not to be able to be accused of
private negotiations with Denmark in opposition to
her allies, and this is the reason, I have no doubt,
for much of the reserve maintained by the Minister.
I am sure, however, that he would most willingly
undertake to realise the intentions of the King's
Government if he only saw how to do so without
exposing himself to a check.

" Requesting your excellency to consider this re-
port as perfectly confidential, I have the honour, &c.
(Signed) « QUAADE."

DESPATCH FROM THE DANISH AMBASSADOR IN

BERLIN,

" Nov. 3, 1863.

(Private and confidential.)

"Your Excellency,—ln connection with what I
have stated in my despatch of to•day's date as to
the various forms the King's Government, in Herr
WTI Bismark's opinion, might select to bring into
operation its eventual intention with regard to the
Holstein normal budget, I permit myself to submit
to your excellency a further proposition of the above.
named Minister.

" Atter he had stated his other proposals, Herr
von Bismark remarked that he thought he knew
another way which the King's Government could
cnoose, You are aware,' he said, 'that I have
always been of opinion that everything of a Fede•
ral character must first be detached from the entire
question in dispute. Its contents should be reduced
to the smallest possible proportions, by taking from
it, and connecting with the international portion,
everything which could be reckoned to belong to
the latter ; as, for instance, matters refei ring to the
positio❑ of Ho!stein in the monarchy, and to the
other portions of the country. Nothing would
then remain but what the Danish Government could
well leave to the Diet, and, provided this took place,
execution would be impossible as objectless. In
connection herewith the Danish Government could
never—referring to the resolution of the Diet, in
which that body, when stating its causes of com-
plaint against the Danish Government, has included
several non-Federal objects—issue an act expressing
what portions of the question in dispute, so far as
these are hitherto laid down by the Diet, lie outside
the competence of the Confederation. The act
should state it was self-evident the demands of the
Diet could not be met with regard to these objects.
The Diet would then be compelled, if determined
to carry out its will, to adopt a different course to
that it had hitherto taken. With reference to that
part of the question in dispute which remained, the
act should observe willingness existed to give
the Diet everything that could be obtained
by an execution, so long as its demands were limited
to full legislative competence for the Estates.'
"It seems to me that although a formal reason
for a new declaration at Frankfort may not be easily
discoverable from the present stand-point of the
Federal question, the general political situation yet
offers a motive for an act like that suggested ; and
it seems to me further that nothing would prevent
the act being attached to a reservation respecting
the share of Holstein in the national debt, which
latter is also an international matter.

"The chief reason for hesitation in adopting an
act of this character appears to me to consist in its
solemnity ; and it is therefore my personal opinion;
provided I may be permitted to give it expression,
that it would be far better if the King's Government
could determine to depart from form and give in a
further declaration at Frankfort. —I have the honor,
(Signed) " QUAADE."

DESPATCH FROM THE DANISH AMBASSADOR IN

BERLIN.

"Nov. 5, 1863.
" M. le Ministre,—The English Ambassador has
received acommunication from Sir A Paget upon the
question treated in despatch N 0.27, and M. de Thile
mentioned the same point to him yesterday, but
neither the Under■ Secretary of State, whom I also
saw yesterday, nor M. de Bismarck have made any
observation to me upon the subject. Sir A. Bn.
chanan, to whom M. de Bismarck has not spoken
any more upon the point in question, told M. de
Thile• that he thought it better not to touch upon
the past. The Under• Secretary of State did not
insist, and I think with Sir Andrew that there is
no room for us to engage in any discussion in this
respeet.

I have just received information from Copen.
hagen which suggests to me some observations
I venture to submit to your excellency. I
understand from this source that your excel-
lency still entertains the idea of awaiting a Fede-
ral decree to realise the intentions mentioned in
despatch No. 25, and Sir A. Buchanan tells me that
according to his information, your excellency has
spoken of eventually communicating the said inten•
tions through the united committees. As I under.
stand the Federal act, and according to what has
been told me here in the most authentic and positive
manner of the routine of the Diet, this assembly
has bat one resolution to take in the phase at which
the Holstein affair has now arrived. It can only
pronounce for one or the other of two alternatives,
a. e., tertcum non clatur. Consequently as soon as
the decree now in question shall have been pro-
nounced, the opportune moment for making a sup-
plementary declaration to the Dietshall have passed.
The declaration can be made, it is true, at the final
summons of the States carrying out the execution ;
but while waiting, many things may have changed,
and the opportunity would probably not be the
same.

" Just as I than consider that it would be very
desirable for the King's Government to decide upon
setting aside form, and making the final declaration
to the Diet without delay, although no formal mo.
tive offers itself for Lis step at the present moment
—and so long as the said Assembly has not expressed
itself upon the declaration of October 29—so I will
not conceal from your excellency that I, for my
Part, do not see the slightest probability that the
Government could succeed in bringing its eventual
intentions to the knowledge of the Diet by means
of the united committees, as neither the King's Go-
vernment nor the King's Minister are in official or
ta beingove
overture
thus e
direct relations with the said committees. The lat-
ternoton the
strictly compelled to give effect
o n
part of the King's Govern.
went, and the
toriously less well disposed, it is to be foreseen that
majority of their members being no-
a step t'ken towards these committers would not
officially come to the knowledge of the Diet,—l
have the honour

(Signed) " QUAADE."

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The Hornet, 17, screw sloop, of 735 tons and
100 horse power, Commander the Hon. It. Hare,
arrived at Spithead yesterday on her return to
England from foreign service, to dismantle and pay
out of commission. She sailed from Trincomalee
on the 22d of May, the Cape of Good Hope on the
12th of July, and St. Helena on the 25th. Her
news from the two latter ports has been antici-
pated. Very fine weather was experienced from
the Cape of Good Hope to the Channel.

The naval cadets belonging to the Imperial
French training corvettes Le Bougainville and Le
Chasseur, now lying at Spithead, were engaged
during yesterday and Thursday in visiting Ports-
mouth dockyard and other public establishments
of the port. An intimation had been given that
the cadets would visit the Excellent gunnery ship
at 1 p.m. yesterday, in order to witness the usual
Friday afternoon's drill and firing on board that
ship, but the visit was postponed at the last mo-
ment, owing to the boisterous state of the weather-
For the same cause the afternoon's drill and prac-
tice on board the ship was confined to the lower
deck battery. The gun ports were all closed, and
the guns all secured in-board as they would be at
sea in a heavy gale of wind. A roll on the drum
and the guns were instantly swarmed round by the
seamen from the mess-deck, conspicuous among
whom could be seen the white flannel guernseys
and trousers of the young officers training for gun-
nery lieutenants. In a few minutes every gun had
been cast loose and two rounds each of the tube
firing gone through. To this succeeded two broad-
sides with shot at 1,000 yards, and two with shell
at 1,250 yards. The practice closed with &converg-
ing broadside of shot and shell, the ship being sup-
posed to be so surrounded by smoke or tne darkness
of night that the enemy could not be seen from the
gun deck, and the order to fire being given to the
officer in charge of the battery from the upper deck
througha voice tube. The ease with which the gnus
were handled, and the perfect discipline and cat-
like agility of the men were extraordinary, even
for the Excellent. It is significant to notice the
feeling entertained, without a known exception, by
the officers and trained seamen of the Excellent
with regard to the different guns on board. Thus,
while no confidence whatever is placed in any de-
scription of cast iron or homogeneous made gun,
every possible confidence is placed in a coil-built
gun, from the fact that if the one gives way it
breaks itself up, and would destroy the men works
log it, while if the other, the coil-built, goes it
merely opens its coils and lets the gases escape
without further damage. Ou: best smooth-bore
cast-iron gun—the 95 cwt. 68-pounder—rarely re-
mains serviceable after firing 200 rounds, while
there are coil-built guns which have fired their
thousands of rounds. One of Sir \V. Arm-
strong's 70-pounder wedge-loading guns now
on board the Excellent has fired 300 trial
rounds, and 100 of these continuously by
having a double crew relieving each other
every 25 rounds. This is considered on board the
Excellent to be the most perfect breech-loading gun
that has yet been produced. Among other trial
guns now on board are two 64-pounders, one rifled
after the French cannon rage, and the other on Sir
W. Armstrong's shunt principle. These two guns
are to undergo a competitive trial as' soon as their
ammunition can be provided.
Her Majesty's iron steamship Oberon, built at
Deptford in 1847 by Messrs. Rennie of half-inch
plates, is now undergoing a thorough overhaul at
Woolwich. The under part of her bilge has been
repaired, and some few of the plates have been re-
placed by new ones. Her interior, which was
payed down with Day's and other patent marine
cements, in order to test the superiority of the
compositions for preserving the rivet-heads, &c.,
from rust has been recoated throughout with Day's
composition, which was proved superior, and is now
introduced generally in the service. Her sides are
being experimentally coated with Hay's protective
and anti-fouling varnishes.
The hired transport Swan yesterday went down
to Woolwich and shipped a number of 110-pounder
Armstrong guns and other war stores for Halifax.

I❑ consequence of repeated suggestions made by
Mr Turner, the master-shipbuilder at Woolwich, for
an immediate augmentation of the establishment of
the dockyard, as well as for the important increase
of skilled ironworkers, the Lords of the Admiralty
yesterday despatched an order to Woolwich sanc-
tioning the proposal that the number be raised to
1,120 men of all trades, to constitute the permanent
establishment. About 100 additional men of various
trades will likewise be taken on as " permanent
men."

The paddlewheel steamer Salamis, 4; 853 tons,
250-herse power, Commander F. G. Luttie, in ac-
cordance with orders to that effect telegraphed to
Chatham, has taken her departure from the Med-
way for the eastern coast of Scotland, to attend
upon the Osborne, 2, paddlewheel steam yacht,
Staff-Commander G. H.K. Bower, which conveys the
Prince and Princess of Wales and suite to Denmark
Since the Salamis was last at Chatham she has been
employed principally on particular service, and on
the breaking out of hostilities between Denmark
and the German Powers she was despatched to
cruise off the island of Heliogoland to watch the
Prussian and Danish squadrons. She subsequently
conveyed the members of the Fishery Commission
on a tour of inspection to various parts of the coast.
During the time the Salamis was employed in these
duties her performance, both under sail and steam,
more than realised the expectations formed of her
by her designers and builders at Chatham Dock-
yard, the vessel making from two to three knots per
hoar more than on the occasion of her official trial of
speed at the Maplin Sands; while on some occa-
sions she attained a speed of 18 knots, and even 20
knots per hour, Some inconvenience has arisen ow
ing to her boilers having originally been covered with
felt ; and on two or three occasions fire has actually
broken oat on board from this cause, necessitating
the cutting away of some portion of the decks and
funnel casings to get at the seat of the fire. Since
the Salamis has been in harbour, however, this has
been altered, and the boilers covered with firebricks
and clay, which will prevent any similar occur-
rence.

The Misletoe, 2, 60-horse power, attached to the
second division of the Chatham Steam reserve,
having, upon being surveyed by the Admiralty and
dockyard officials, been found in an exceedingly rot-
ten state, orders have been received directing her
to be broken up, and she will accordingly be taken
to pieces at Sheerness dockyard. The Midetoe was
built for the Admiralty during the late war, and has
seen very little service, while for the last few years
she has been lying idle in the Medway. It is pro-
bable that many others of the gunboats attached to
the Chatham Steam Reserve will, upon examination,
be found in an equally rotten condition, and fit only
to be broken up.

The ironclad frigate Research, 4,200 horse power,
Capt. A. Wilmshurst, which sailed from the Nore
on Wednesday to join the Channel squadron, steamed
through Spithead yesterday, and continued her
course to the westward, through the Needles-
channel.

The fine frigate Arethnsa, 35, 3,141 tons, 500
horse power, attached to the first division of the
Steam Reserve in the Medway, will not, according
to present arrangements, be commissioned until the
sister steam frigates Octavia, 39, 3,161 tons, 500
horse power, and the Constance, 39, 3,213 tons, 500
horse power, are ready for the pennant, when they
will proceed together on an experimental cruise to
test their sailing► and eteamieg qualities. The Are-
thusa would bejready for sea in a few days, bat from
an announcement received at Chatham from Ports-
mouth and Devonport, where the other frigates are
fitting, neither of these vessels will be ready for sea
for at least a couple of months to come.
According to annual custom the returns have been
forwarded from the Admiralty to Chatham dock-
yard of the intended alterations in the number of
mechanics and other workmen employed at that
establishment for the ensuing year. From the cir•
camstance of Chatham having become almost exclu•
sively an iron shipbuilding yard, a considerable in-
crease will take place in the number of mechanics
employed at that establishment. Accordingly the
order directs that about 50 of the hired mechanics
are to be established, and there will also be a rather