The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-19 00:00:00

DAY EVENING, JULY 19, 1864.

by men of all parties—by the large number of those
who disapprove Mr Chase's financial policy, as well
as by the smaller number of those who believe that
if he has not done well no other man in America
under the same circumstances could have done much
better—that Mr Chase's resignation was not accepted
because Mr Lincoln was dissatisfied with the finan-
cial results attained by, with, or in spite of Mr
Chase's management, but because Mr Lincoln and
a section of the Cabinet were eager to punish him
for having dared to aspire to the Presidency, or for
having publicly and privately expressed his con.
tempt for the whole body of his colleagues.
Mr Fessenden, who has not yet accepted the
perilous honour that the President and the Senate
have conferred upon him, and who is reported to
hesitate very greatly whether he shall do so, is not
known very extensively as a financier. He is chair-
man of the Finance Committee of the Senate, in
which capacity he has almost invariably lent his
support to the financial policy of Mr Chase. He is
is believed, however, to share the views of Mr.
Thaddeus Stevens, the chairman of the Committee
of 'Ways and Means in the House of Representa-
tives, on the impolicy of paying the interest of the
pablic debt in gold. Should he be really infected
with this idea, and attempt to carry it into prat.
tice, it is not difficult to foresee that his financial
career will be even more calamitous than that of
his predecessor. In any
case he will be a brave
man if he accept the office, and a fortunate one if
he make bad no worse in conducting it.
In addition to the disquietude caused by the milia
tary situation and the aspect of affairs in the Cabi-
net, the rapid depletion of the army makes wise
men, as well as timid ones, shake their heads. It is
confessed in both Houses of Congress that the con-
scription of last year is a failure, which has pro-
duced more exempts who have
paid commutation
money than soldiers who have done service in the
field. After many debates, during which several
contradictory resolutions have been affirmed, first in
the one house and then in the other, a final decision
has been made, by which a new and, as it is sup.
posed, a better system of forced recruitment has
become law, Mr Lincoln is authorised to call for a
quarter or half a million of volunteers, to serve for
one year, and deal to the rebellion the finishing blow.
If within 60 (some friends of the Government prefer
40) days the volunteers do not present themselves
a draught will take place, in which every man
draughted, whatever his business or profession,
must personally serve or find a substitute; in other
words, the Government will refuse to receive com-
mutation money, and will cease to charge itself with
the trouble of finding substitutes for those to whom
fighting is either disagreeable or inconvenient. The
draughted man must find another man willing to
take his place; and if he has to pay 1,000 dole. or
10,000 dole. to the newly arrived emigrant, the
native-born rowdy, or any other person willing to
take the risks of a soldier's life, it will be a matter
wholly between himself and the substitute. The
',rice of the raw material of soldiership will rise
and fall according to circumstances, and no longer
be regulated by a Governmental tariff. The unlucky
conscript will pay as little as he can. The intend-
ing substitute will extort as much as he can get.
"Food for powder" will have to be purchased on
free trade principles, and the owners of the commo-
dity will virtually rule the market. Under these
circumstances it will not be improbable if the
Government, which so particularly dreads a popular
outbreak in New York, should take measures
quietly, but effectually, to draught a much larger
number of rich men than of poor, and so keep the
poor in comparative good humour with a system
which nothing can render popular.
Yet in view of the urgent need of the Government
for men to deal " the finishing blow" which it ex-
pects to be struck within a year, it becomes interest.
ing to know whether it actually raised since October
last the 700,000 men it called out during that in-
terval ; and if not, what chance there is of its raising
500,000 at this time. If Mr. Wilson, Chairman of
the Military Committee of the Senate, be accurately
informed, the 700,000 men were positively enrolled
and paid for, at a cost of no less than 125 millions
of dollars. There exists no such force now, or Mr.
Lincoln would not need half a million of new recruits.
Grant's army does not number 200,000, whatever
nay Tniml-iarALI when itm crossed the Rapi-
dan, and it is difficult to see where an addi-
tional 200,000 are to be found if all the forces of
Sherman in Georgia, of Canby, the snece,v-,:cr of
B inks in Louisiana, of Wallace in Maryland, of Dix
in New York, and of every other army of occupa-
tion in every part of the States be taken into the

--
account. If in October last the Federal Govern-
ment had not s single soldier in its service, it would
seem from Mr Wilson's figures, corrected by those
of the existing armies in field or garrison, that in the
short space of nine months the Federal Government
had lost in killed, wounded, and disabled, as well as
in prisoners and deserters, fully 300,000 men. But
as, prior to the levy of this particular 700,000, the
Government had on its own showing fully 500,000
in the field, it will follow, if it have no more than

400,000 at this moment, that it must during these
nine months have lost the services of at least 800,000
men—killed, wounded, disabled, prisoners, deserters,
and soldiers whose term of enlistment had expired,
and who have not been induced by bounty money,
or patriotism, or any other consideration to revolun-

teer into the service. If this be a true computation,
it will abundantly account for the necessity of Mr
Lincoln's new levy. But will the men answer to

the call ? And will money, in default of patriotism
secure them P These questions must either be an•

swered in the affirmative by facts, or.it will not be
the " Northern rebellion," but the
Government,
which will receive the finishing blow, and drift
away into financial collapse and political ruin.

Railway and Other Companies,

nAILWA.Y BILLS.

Yesterday four comm.ttees of the House of Lords as-
sembled to consider the various bills transmitted from the
House of Commons. The first consisted of Earl Devon
(chairman) and Lords Hawarden, Moason, Abinger, and
Congleton, the bills being those for the London and
Brighton Company's additional powers—Portpatriek Rail.
way, for new works and steamboats—Dublin Trunk Con-
necting Railway, and Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln-
shire Steamboats. Having approved the London and
Brighton Bill, Mr Calvert and Mr Rodwell were heard for
the Portpatrick Railway, and the evidence for the promo-
ters occupied all the sitting.
The bill for the Scottish Can-
tral Railway Company's stations was considered and passed
in a committee of Lords Egerton (chairman) Methuen, De
Manley, Mostyn, and Stewart. The Launceston, Bodmin,
and W adebridge was also
Passed, and that for the Teigu
Valley subsequently considered. Another committee, con-
sisting of Lords Silchester, chairman, Melville, Seymour,
Inchequin, and Overstone, had before them the bills for the
Drayton Junction, St. lielen's, North Staffordshire (New
Works), and Silerdale, Madeley,
Round having been heard for the promoters of
the Drayton Junction, Mand Drayton, Cannock
Chase, and Wolverhampton. Mr Denison and Mr
and Mr erewether against, for
the London and North. Western the committee passed
PPa and Mr Bidder were heard for the—
,/
Gloucester and Ledbu in Lord Eversley's Com-
,
the bill. Mr Cri
mittee, the 'evidence occupying all day. The Worcester
and Dean Forest, and the New Brunswick and Canada Land
were passed in Lord Redesdalo's, and the Much Wenlock
and Severn Valley in Ur Massey's Committee.

farmers and others; also to persons on the coast for the con-
veyance of fish and other produce to excellent markets.
Resolutions were unanimously passed in favour of the
proposed line, which was to be constructed at an estimated
cost of £5,500 per mile; and owing, it was believed, to the
great advantages the line would confer on the districts
through which it was intended to pass, it could not fail to
be remunerative to the proprietors. Local committees were
then formed with a view to obtain the necessary subscrip-
tions for shares and otherwise to promote the success of the
undertaking.

BIRMINGHAM BANKING.
Yesterday the directors of this bank declared a dividend
for the past half year of 100, and a bonus of 10s. per share,
payable on the Ist of September next, being at the rate of
20 per cent. on the paid-up capital.

The Accident on the North-Eastern Railway

NEWCASTLE -ON-TYNE, Monday.
All the persons injured by the accident to the Scotch
express from London on Saturday night are doing well, and
there is no reason to think that any of them will be perma-
nent sufferers. It is thought that the accident to the engine
was occasioned by jolting across the colliery railway lines
at Washington. It is a most marvellous thing how the pas-
sengers escaped as they did, for the train was heavily laden.
The Newcastle Chronicle of this morning gives the fol-
lowing details of the accident :
" The scene of this casualty is within 300 yards of the
Washington station, and the stationmaster was still on the
platform and looking after the train when it occurred, the
first intimation he had of the accident being the turning over
of one of the foremost carriages and a cloud of dust rising
from the spot. The Scotch express does not stop at 'Wash-
ington, and therefore at the time of the accident would be
going at a high rate of speed, though not at its greatest
velocity, the acute curve at Victoria-bridge necessitating a
slower pace than where the line is nearly straight. It may
be assumed therefore that the train could scarcely have
attained its greatest speed so shortly after passing the curve.
The train was composed of nine first and second class car-
riages, one saloon carriage, and the guard's van. The car-
riages were of the best description, being the most roomy
and convenient on the line, and, with the es.ception of the
saloon carriage, forming a portion of what is called the East
Coast Joint Stock. That is, these carriages belong jointly
to the North British, North Eastern, and Great Northern
Railway Companies for the working of the through traffic,
The usual size of the train is about four carriages, includ-
ing the guard's van, The number of carriages composing the
train on this occasion made this the largest Scotch express
that the company has ever had on the line. When about
120 yards from 'Washington station the axle of the leading
wheels of the engine snapped about the centre. The frac-
tured ends of course dropped down upon the sleepers, the
first one they came in contact with being snapped asunder
as if it had been a match, and the two portions drawn for-
ward in the shape of an obtuse angle. The engine still rushed
forward, the axle ends ripped up the surface of the sleepers
in their progress, but without materially affecting the gauge
of the rails. After going a little distance, the leading
wheels of the engine came off, and the end dropping down
brought the locomotive to a standstill. Singular to relate,
the engine and tender ran a distance of 180 yards ahead of
the train before they stopped. It is supposed that the sud-
den jerk succeeding the accident snapped the connecting
coupling between the engine and the first carriage. It is
then assumed that a portion of the broken axle and a wheel
of the engine was left behind, and the first carriage—a
second class—coming in contact with it, the serious accident
which we are now recording was the result. The first
carriage was thrown off the rails, and turned completely
bottom up as it rolled down the embankment. The
earthwork at this point is about seven or eight feet in
height, a narrow strip of ground planted with potatoes
extending from the foot of the embankment to the
hedge. The carriage was caught in its descent by a
telegraph post, and the resistance of this obstacle and the
tension of the wires arrested its progress. The top of the
post was snapped off, and the wires, nine in number, were
also broken, which accounts for the interruption of the
communication with Newcastle. Had it not been for the
pest and wires arresting the carriage on the side of the
embankment it must in all prob ,bility have rolled entirely
over, and in that case it is net too much to say, without
the slightest exaggeration, that scarcely a single occupant
could have escaped with life, or if he did it must have
been with the most serious injuries. As it was, it appears
to have been only short of a miracle that they escaped as
they did. The sides of the carriages were not separated
from the bottom frame work, but were broken into splinters
from top to bottom, held together merely by the partially
separated wooden fibre. It is astonishing that so few of the
sufferers were wounded by the splinters which must have
been flying about. The carriage was reduced to the most
complete wreck that could be conceived. The passengers in
this carriage were those who sustained the most serious in-
juries and wounds, The force with which it rolled over
must have burst open the doors, as several of the passengers
were thrown violently out in the direction of the hedge.
The rest of the passengers either extricated themselves from
the wreck of the capsized carriage or were assisted out by
the Washington stationmaster and others who were speedily
on nit, „i,,+ est— +es accident. The beCOU4 from
the engine (also a second class) ran past the capsized car-
riage and turned on its side. It was a good deal damaged,
several of the panels being broken, and a large strip torn off
the solid wood bottom frame. The passengers in this car-
riage were not so seriously injured as those in the carriage
first described, although many of them sustained serious
contusions. The third carriage (a first class) was completely
smashed up, the sides fallingoutwarde and crushing up into
fragments. How the occupants of this carriage escaped in-
stant destruction is inexplicable; and what is even more sur-
prising is that some of the passengers escaped uninjured,
while none of the others were very seriously injured, so far
as we can learn. Another first class carriage in passing the
capsized carriages gave a sudden swerve and stove in one of
its corners, but without sending it off the rails. The twist of
the carriage must hive been of a most violent nature, as
one of the axles, a piece of wrought iron about six inches
in diameter, was bent into the shape of a bow. The rest of
the carriages were not injured beyond a few bruises and
chafes. As soon as the sufferers were extricated from the
wreck the more seriously injured were conveyed to a cottage
near, where they were atiended to by the medical gentle-
men from Newcastle. Mr I. L. Bell, of Washington Hall,
was on the scene of the accident soon after its occurrence,
and gave every assistance in his power in seeing the injured
passengers attended to. As Drs Heath and Embleton and
Mr Joseph Fife were first on the spot after the accident,
they at once attended to the injured, and had nearly got
through the whole of the cases when Sir John Fife, Dr
Annandale, and Mr Hardcastle, who came by a later train,
arrived to assist them. The mad of Mrs Ogle, of Kirkley-
hall, was much cut about the face, and had also sustained
contusions on other parts of the body, Mr W. Lockay
Harle, of this town, had four children in the train on the
road home from school in London for the holydays. Miss
Sarah Harle was the most seriously bruised and contused
of the four; Miss Anne Hark) was also shaken and bruised;
Master James Harlo sustained a serious bruise over the
temple, and his brother, Master Frederick, a contusion on
the arm. Most of their luggage was smashed up in the
general ruin, as was that of some of the other passengers.
Mr Mark Phillips, of Snitterfield, Warwickshire, formerly
M.P. for Manchester, was in the train at the time of the
accident. Ho was very much bruised and shaken, and had
afterwards to be supported to the train which conveyed the
passengers to Newcastle. He proceeded to Tynemouth, and
as late as yesterday was still suffering from his injuries to
that extent that he had to be supported when ho wished to
move. Mr James Clarke, professional reporter, Mr Calling-
ham, Mr Elliott, and Mr Sawyer, four gentlemen who
were coming to assist the staff of the Newcastle Chronicle
during the meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society, were
also among the severely injured. They were seriously
wounded, in addition to sustaining severe contusions. Their
injuries have incapacitated them from attending to work,
and it will, we fear, be some time before Mr Clarke, Mr
Callingham, or Mr Elliott will be sufficiently recovered so
as to resume their professional duties. Mr Duckworth, a
nephew of Mr Phillips, was slightly bruised and scratched.
A gentleman named Windham was slightly injured. The
Rev. H. S, Hicks, incumbent of St. Peter's, North
Shields, who conducts the services in the Sailors' Home at
that place at present, was seriously injured about the ribs
and cut on the head and knee, besides sustaining several
other bruises in different tarts of his body. He is likely
to be confined to his bed for some days. A Mr and Mrs
Snow and a Miss Paul were also injured, and were taken,
at their own request, to Durham, were they were at-
tended by Sir John Fife. Their injuries were principally
contusions, none of them of a serious character. They were
sufficiently recovered yesterday to be able to resume their
intended journey as soon as they think fit. Among other
persons in the train who escaped without injury beyond a
severe shaking were the Duke of Montrose, Lordi Lovaine,
M.P., Mr S. Beaumont, M,P., the Hon. Mr Coke, M.P.,
Mr IL Hodgson, M.P. and Mrs Hodgson, Capt, William-
son (of Whitburn), Col. Miller (Fusilier Guards), Mr John
Fenwick (London), and Admiral Sir A. Milne, who has
just retsurned to England."

Persons in debt may obtain instant protection against
imprisonment or seizure of their goods, and an entire release
from all debts and liaLilities without publicity, by application
to Messrs. Marshall, solicitors of the Court of Bankruptcy,
Charges under £5 payable by easy instalments. Offices—
(established 1830), 12, Hatton-garden. City branch-6. Moor-
gate-street, Bank.—ADVT.

[ADVERTTSEMENT.I—HoIIoway's Ointment and Pills.—
Premature Decline.—The unwary and thoughtless may
save themselves a sea of troubles in the future by an early
recourse to these excellent curatives. All blotches from
whatever cause arising, all enlargements of the glands
wherever situated, irritating sores and debilitating dis-
charges may be safely and certainly cured by employing
Holloway's Ointment and Pills in accordance with the in-
structions wrapped round each pot and box. No timidity
need deter the weakest from applying to these restoratives,
which exert the threefold qualities of purifying, regulating,
and repairing without disturbing the stomach, annoying
the nervous system, or rendering confinement to the house
necessary. Holloway's medicaments will stem the source
of many maladies, which, if neglected, perpetuate misery,

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS,

TIMES.—We shall not pretend to emulate Ameri-
can contemporaries in speculating on the causes
which have given rise to the resignation of Mr.
Chase. Whether it be that he thus resents the
imputations cast upon him by General Blair, not,
as was commonly believed, without the inspiration
and encouragement of Mr. Lincoln; whether he has
not yet abandoned all hopes of becoming President
himself; or whether Mr. Chase feels that his part
is played out, and that he is fortunate in escaping
froni the duties of disentangling a web which has
fallen under his hands into such intricate confusion,
we do not care to inquire. Enough for us that he
is gone, and, like Ulysses of old, has left behind him
a bow which no one else will be able to bend.
Whatever be the talents or courage of his successor,
he cannot hope to achieve the wonderful feats that
Mr. Chase had accomplished. We may have great
poets, but we never can have another Shakespeare,
for even if his genius were to descend on another
mortal, we cannot give him the pure and untried
language out of which he wrought his wonderful
conceptions. Even so America can never have
another Chase, because she can never offer to any
man the same extraordinary amount of material
prosperity, created out of the riches of a virgin eoil
by all the art and science of advanced civilisation,
which Mr. Chase found, and which it has been his
lot to destroy. If Themistocles was a proficient in
the art of making a small city into a large one,
Mr. Chase is a least equally entitled to claim the
credit of making a great State into a little one.
Yet let us not be unjust even to this mighty master
in the art of ruin. Candour must admit that the
problem set before him admitted of but one solution
—a solution more or less complete, according to the
genius of the philosopher to whom it was submitted.
That problem may fairly be said to be—Given a
nation determined on war, thirsting for revenge,
insatiable of empire, steadily resolved to conquer,
but equally resolved to conquer without any im-
mediate personal or pecuniary sacrifice, to extract
from it men, materials, and money. As regards men,
the resources of voluntary enlistment were very soon
exhausted, conscription did not yield what was re-
quired, and the only resource left was to bribe into
the ranks those who could neither be forced nor
persuaded. Thus enlistment very early became a
question of pay and bounty, and the supply of men
speedily resolved itself into the deeper and more
difficult problem of the supply of money. How,
then, was money to be obtained P According to Old
World traditions, the first step would seem to be to
increase to the utmost possible limit the taxation of
the people. But Congress, with a keen eye to its
own re-election, was unwilling to impose unpopular
burdens on its constituents, and it seems that the
whole contribution which the United States have
made towards bearing by immediate taxation the
expenses of that mighty war in which they are en-
gaged has been the collection of a sum of ten mil-
lions, by which the war revenue of twenty-four mil-
lions exceeds the old peace revenue of fourteen mil-
lions. Ready money, then, being out of the question,
there lay before the eyes of Mr. Chase the boundless
and enticing field of credit, and the question natu-
rally arose how the credit of the community could
best be employed towards satisfying its enormous
demands. To an ordinary mind the question would
have been between the issue of Government securi-
ties and the inflation of the currency. It is here
that we recognise the hand of the master. Instead
of troubling himself, as a common man would have
done, with arguing the respective merits of these
two schemes, Mr. Chase's mighty mind elevated it--
self above the controversy, and determined to re-
concile the conflicting merits of worthless paper and
depreciated stocks by boldly grasping both in the
same scheme, and working at once the issue of
bonds to the utmost extent to which they could be
sold, and at the same time over-issuing inconver-
tible paper till it requires some two hundred and
fifty dollars in paper to purchase a hundred in
silver or gold. Nay, more, as if these desperate
expedients were not enough, Mr. Chase's genius
contrived to combine theni ; he contrived to sup-
press the notes issued by private banks ail over the
country—notes varying in value according to the
state of the eurrency in each Province; and by
giving the banks leave to issue Government notes
against Government securities he contrived to obtain
the very utmost that could be got upon credit from
a people firmly resolved upon war, but still more
firmly resolved that only by borrowing and tamper-
ing with the circulating medium would they contri-
bute to its expenses. These great principles once
thoroughly understood, the career of Mr Chase be-
comes simple in the extreme; like Columbus's egg,
the whole difficulty disappears the moment the
manner of action is explained. The maxim which
lies at the bottom of the system is to banish from
your
mind all idea of paying the principal, and, in
order to make the required sum which is never to
be paid as large as possible, to be particularly care-
ful with regard to the payment of the interest. In-
to the school of which Mr Chase
may be -
'the forbearance of money,—it is rather a bait by
means of which fresh money may be obtained. As
long, therefore, as more money can be got, the in-
terest must be paid with the utmost punctuality ;
the sum borrowed may have sunk by the deprecia-
tion of the currency to two-fifths of its metallic
value, but the interest multi be paid in gold,although
by that means the charge is more than doubled.
Having thus done everything in hie power to drive
gold out of the country, Mr Chase's system required
him to do everything in his power to keep it back,
and hence a number of operations which consisted
in selling at a loss whenever gold showed an incon-
venient tendency to rise, and expelling it from the

country by prohibiting those who dealt in it from
selling it like any other commodity in open market,
with the intention, when no more money was to be
borrowed, of repudiating first the interest, and,
after a decent interval of suspense, the principal.
If any one doubts the truth of this picture, let him
ask himself by what means he supposes that the
present currency of America is to be restored
to the standard before the war, or how he can
suppose that any one in his senses who ever
meant to pay would be borrowing money at a rate
of interest more than double of that which it nomi-

nail), bears. Let us, however, be just to Mr. Chase

He had not many weapons in his armoury—he had
prmises which he could break—he had a currency
which he could debase—and he had some gold,
which, if not wasted in the expenditure of Govern■
ment, might do good service in ailuring fresh sub.
scribers to his ever open loans. He has used them
all to the utmost. Actual money he would also
have used if he could have got it. But it would be
unjust to deny that he has done all that could be
done with the two great substituted powers, bound-
less abuse of credit and the investing worthless
paper with the privilege of legal tender. He has
❑ot saved his country, but he has given her, in ex-

change for inevitable ruin, a very fair opportunity
of dragging down the rebellious South into the
same destruction with herself. The wisest thing
he has done is to watch the gradual inflation of the
bubble, and to leave the agreeable task of assisting
at its bursting to Mr. William Pitt Fessenden, a

gentleman said to be a firm believer in Mr. Chase's
system. Such faith at such a moment merits that
crown of martyrdom which it is assuredly destined
to receive. It is really not worth counting by how
many hundred millions of dollars the expenditure

of the present year will exceed not only ail the
revenue, but all the loans which can be contracted,

or by how many hundred millions more the esti.
mated expenditure of the coming year will exceed
the estimated revenue, nor what is the precise figure
of the present funded and floating debt of the
United States. These vast sums lose all their sig-
nificance for want of a unit in which to calculate

them. Sir Robert Peel asked, " What is a pound?"
and the question was answered ; but who can tell
us what is a dollar ? It has been 4s 6d—it has been

is Bd. What it is today no one knows—what it
will bb a month hence no one can even imagine.
There is no fixed point, the abyss has no bottom,
the lever no fulcrum. This is the chaos over which

Mr Fessenden is called on to preside. Nothing in
Mr Chase's administration has been so wise as his

leaving it, and it will be very difficult for Mr Fes.
senden to do anything more foolish while he is in
office than he has already done by accepting it.

POST.—If the truce which has been concluded
between Denmark and the German Powers should
form the introduction to a permanent peace, no
State will feel more sincere satisfaction at such a re-
sult than Great Britain. It is for peace that our
Government have persistently striven since the very
commencement of the Dano-German dispute, and,
though their efforts failed of success, they will
find in what has now taken place the most con-
vincing evidence that the hopes which they ven-
tured to entertain were not entirely Utopian. Den.
mark, having failed to obtain through the media-
tion of the neutral Powers terms to which she con.
ceived she could with dignity assent, has now
treated with her adversaries directly, though upon
what basis is not precisely known. It may be
assumed that the conditions of peace will be less
favourable than those to which the German Powers
gave their acquiescence at the Conference, but it
does not therefore follow that eventually Denmark
will suffer more than if she had blindly yielded to
the dictation of the German Plenipotentiaries. We
are too apt toreproach with their misfortunes those
whom we are unwilling or unable to help, and in the
present instance we must confess that Denmark has
received almost as much censure from her frionds
as from her foes. Whenever she adopted our advice,
but nevertheless failed to benefit her position, we
unhesitatingly ascribed the failure to tardinest 3 she
evinced in following our counsels ; and when ever,
on the other hand, she refused to accept our guid-
ance, wo took immense credit to oursolvo for

those prospective advantages which would, as
believed, unquestionably have flowed from to_
policy which we indicated. So it has been fre.l
the day when Lord Wodehouse arrived as SPeet
Envoy at the Danish Court to that on which the
several Plenipotentiaries took leave of each an%
after their last meeting in Downing.street. That
the course of proceeding is unfair and unre.a„.
sonable everyone will allow, but nevertheless it Iv":
probably be persisted in until the Dano-Garman`
war is brought to an end. Even now the Darlijih
h
Government are reproached with the obstinacy Ns't,
which they refused to assent to the proposals Dv"'
by Austria and Prussia at the Conference • and,;in;
directly, no little credit is claimed for the' Eng'sh
Cabinet in having supported those proposals whi°
the folly and shortsightedness of Denmark Pre;
vented her from accepting. As representations
this kind are undoubtedly marked with much plau-
sibility, it may be as well to inquire whether they
admit of being substantiated. Without referringis
detail to the several schemes advanced at the Goa;
ference for the settlement of the differences penal!
between Germany and Denmark, it may be s'
0f
le
cient to say that the partition of the Dacs
Schleswig was suggested by the neutral power
tt
the line of the Schlei being named as the la°,s
suitable for the future frontier. To this the Danes
assented; whilst the Germans demanded that 'eh
division of the Duchy should be made as far nerde
as Apenraad. Although this proposal was rsil,„s
by the German Plenipotentiaries, it is by rce"ii-o
clear that even the p,a3session of all that part of t
Danish peninsula south of the point indicatedl
them would have satisfied the Governments W 11,4,0
they represented ; and, indeed, if we might jeusgi
from appearances, we should say that the prcPse;
in question was not made in good faith. 'Dwelt;
Denmark adhered to the suggestion made by I'll
neutral Powers, and when an agreement betice,s
the belligerents upon this point was found impcssi'l,
she, in common with the German Powers, thous f
with more frankness, declined to submit the lice of
partition to arbitration. The war was resureed.
~.
Alsen was taken and Funen threatened, and ther;
upon Denmark sued for peace from her hither'd
relentless adversaries. A truce has been agreeo
upon, and negotiations for a permanent peace !fit
in progress. But are we therefore to conclude t""r
Denmark has been compelled to submit to hare aei
conditions than those with which Germany `von
„,1
have been content a month since ? We are
to think not. Denmark, as we pointed out
late occasion, stands in a twofold relationshil? to
Germany—namely, as an independent State anxtes"
to retain its poli:ical unity, and as a Europel
Power affecting by its existence the interests 05
other States. Now, during those long and fruitlesf
negotiations which culminated in the Conference of
London, Denmark sought to preserve her nation°',
integrity through the good offices of the great nen.,
tral States, which, as she knew, possessed a Pe d,
sonal interest in the maintenance of her indePes
ence, and which she believed would exercise ttle'ft t
influence, material and moral, to avert ue
threatened destruction. It was natural, therofer°d°
that she should range herself by the side of Engio!,,t
and France, and treat through them with
enemies. But, when she found that they were a";
willing to accord to her the protection which amh
needed, it might occur to her that if she complet,l
eig
4.
abandoned a iink of connection which hampered ""
movements without imparting to her any additicast
strength, she might be enabled to effect a eettlerale
more favourable than any she could hope for if tdo
previous sanction of England and France were Wage
indispensable. This, we believe, furnishes the ir
explanation of those direct negotiations betvreew
Denmark and the German Powers which are 009
to all appearances, harmoniously progressing
i
But although the Danish Envoys are entitled
to go direct to Berlin and Vienna without pass'''
through London and Paris, it is needless to said
that neither of the great maritime Powers, ass
more especially France, have abandoned all iiir;
rest in the future of Denmark, The Scandina%tit.
kingdom might, for example, assent to an arrar;so
ment with the German Powers which would
it, personally considered, be more advents
geous than the division of Schleswig at Apenrstiaut
but which France would not assent to—we 030,
,6-
the admission of Denmark into the Germanic 14
federation. Every politician knows that even el
the line of Apenraad were agreed upon betWeth
Denmark and Germany, the absorption of IC,,srbe
Schleswig and Jutland into Germany we'll" nt
only a matter of time. The Danish Governaleiv
may, therefore, conceive that it would be infinite
better to enter bodily into the Bund, and preservie
o
the independence of the Danish monarchy, than
allow it to be absorbed piecemeal. This, hovievtof
as we pointed out a few days since, is but one. 11
several courses open to Denmark, any of villlvof
would be at least as favourable as the scheme
settlement proposed at the Conterence by the Ge_;,_
man representatives. We think it right, howeve',:
to give it special prominence, not merely because".
has been much canvassed, but because the gill
of the French Government have intl'
mated that its realisation wuutu kstvo tiov to 5
complications. A consideration of this kind would
scarcely deter Denmark from entering the Confe`
deration, as she cannot be expected to consult till
interests of those who have left her to contend
alone with Germany ; but whether it would har
the effect of preventing the Bund admitting tut'
Scandinavian kingdom would remain to be seen'
The negotiations between the Danish and German
Governments are of course secret, and some timo
may elapse before even their basis is made known;
but, however they are conducted, or upon what
footing, we must not hastily conclude that the
Danish question is on the point of being definitively
settled.