The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-24 00:00:00

PRUSSIA AND THE DUCHIES.

BERLIN, Dec. 20.
The rumour of a correspondence between the
King of Saxony and the King of Prussia upon the
question of Federal execution is fully confirmed by
trustworthy details. For the better understanding
of its real bearing, it may ba as well to state that
the first letter of the King of Saxony was written
previously to the sth of December, i.e., before the
Diet had come to a definitive decision upon the sub-
ject. The King of Saxony stated his views upon
the execution question, which were in complete
accordance with those put forward by Baron
Beust. The tenor of the Prussian reply may easily
be guessed by what has since taken place.
Immediately after the result of the sitting of the
Diet on the sth was known here, Herr von Bis-
marck addressed a circular note to the States which
had voted against the cessation of Federal execu-
tion. The Minister pointed out that the desire of
the dissenting Cabinets to transform the execution

into occupation, or even sequestration, was directly
opposed to the fundamental laws of the Germanic
Confederation—that such tendencies bordered upon
acts without the competence of the Diet • that, in
case the majnr►ty should, under anftrrc sfebeic
attempt to exert pressure upon a member of the
Diet, Prussia would consider such an atttmpt as a
breach of Federal ties; lastly, that Prussia had no
intention of allowing her poliny to be influenced by
the decision of the majority, and reeerved to herself
full liberty of action in case of need.

This despatch, which may be looked upon as a
first:warning to Saxony, Bavaria, Wurtemburg, and
Brunswick—the dissenting States—and which con-
tain a positive threat by implying that cer-
tain proceedings might become dangerous to their
independent existence, loses none of its gravity be*
cause it applies to a past fact. It may be inferred
that Herr von Bismarck was desirous of preventing
any new steps in opposition being taken at the
Diet by the midcll3 States.
Much trouble is taken by the authorities to dis-
sip-te the uneasiness felt in the Duchies because
the Austro-Prnssian commissioners have placed
Prussian officials at the head of the postal and
telegraphic departments. It is stated that when
the Danes evacuated Schleswig they entirely dis-
organised the postal service and cut the telegraphic
wires; that the Prussian Administration has heen
forced completely to renew the staff as well as the
material of these establishments; and that the
interests of the Duchies themselves require that the
postal and telegraphic service in Schleswig should
be placed upon the same footing as in Holstein.

Itrthe question of the flag to be used by the tier•
cantile marine of the Duchies, Prussia has appa-
rently agreed to the proposal of the Viennese
Cabinet, which suggested that Schleswig Holstein
merchantmen should be permitted to retain their
national flag. It has been pointed out, however,
that ships sailing under the flag of the Provisional
Government of the Elbe Duchies will only have
such rights in foreign ports as may be granted
them by the various Governments, while vessels
carrying the Austrian or Prussian flags will be en-
titled to all the rights and privileges of those two
nations.

The Supposed Foundering of the Sbip
Floating Light,
0

-r ------

A few days since we announced the apprehended
loss, with all hands, of the ship Floating Light,
wi•ti a cargo of cotton valued at upwards of
.C 200,000, off the Welsh coast, whilst mining her
way up the St. George's Channel for Liverpool.
rile report was founded on the fact that several
bales of cotton beariog the same character of marks
as those stated in the ship's manifest having come
ashore on the coast of Pembrokeshire, as also a
stern board of ship bearing the name of the missing
ship upon it. The underwriters interested in the
loss resolved to send one of their agents along the
coast with a view of tracing any portion of the
wreck, they being satisfied that the vessel had
foundered with all on board. That officer has re-
turned, and in the course of yesterday made the
following report :—" I searched the coast from St.
David's Head to Tenby, and made inquiries, but no
precise information could be elicited as to the pro-
bable spot where the vessel lies. Such information
however, as could be gathered led to the conclusion
that it must be very nearly on a line drawn from
the Slashpole Head to the south-west point of Cald3
Island, about two and a half miles from the latter,
and one mile and a half from the Old Castle Head.
Bales of cotton have been found in the bay between
Old Castle Head and Lydstcp Point, and a New.
foundland dog, which had been identified as belong-
ing to the Floating Light, has been found alive in
the vicinity of Carmarthen Bay." It was from the
point indicated above that tie sound of guns was
heard and lights were sez:n on the night of Nov. 30
It is proposed to offer a reward to boatmen on the
coast to discover the exact position of the wreck.
Two boats were employed for one day searching, by
the agent of Liverpool, but the rocky state of the
bottom prevented the operation of sweeping for the
wreck. Bales of Cotton have bees picked up LA the
following places :—At Freshwater East, 9 bales
Manorbeer, 3--Tenby, 10—Saunderfoot,11—Flyn.
sten, 10—Freshwater West, 2—Milford Haven, 3
—off Caeldy, 2—Lllanelly, s.—and St. David's, 1,
Total, 61 bales. The Floating Light had nearly
5,000 bales on board: There cannot be much doubt
as to the fate of the crew, and it is somewhat re.
markable that none of the bodies have as yet been
cast up.

The Polish Trials at Berlin,

BERLIN, Dec. 22.

Judgment has been delivered today in the cases
of the Polish prisoners indicted for high treason.
The majority of the accused were acquitted. The
remainder were found guilty, under paragraph 66
of the criminal code, of acts tending to the commis•
sion of high treason. Extenuating circumstances
were, however, admitted.

Neither sentence of death nor of imprisonment
with hard labour was passed upon any of the pri-
soners in court.

In several cases the public prosecutor reserved

the right of preferring special charges.
Sentence of death was passed upon the following
refugees in accordance with the request of the
public prosecutor :—Dzialynsky, Guttry, lirotnie-
wicz, Skoraczewski, Taezinowski, Z tkezowski,
Radecki, Latowski, Jaroczewski, Seyfried, and
Lukaszewski.

The following were sentenced to one year's im-
prisonment :—Z )rawski, Mankowski, Czartoryski,
Kosinki, Sezoniecki. Kurnatowski, Mielecki, Hule-
wicz, Smitkowski, Zahlocki, Moszczenski, Mittel-
stadt, Mart well, Natalis, von Sulezzyski, Kalkatein,
Collier, Cbotomski, Ketezynski, and Schultz. ff:,
15 months' imprisonment—Kyrnarkiewiez and
Jorochowsk;. To 18 months' iutpuip:onment—Rus-
tejko and Theodor von Jankowski. To two years'—
Ko3inki and Niegolewski.
_ _

following were acquitted :—Laczynski,
Sikorski, Swinoz,,ki, and Szoldrski.
In the cases of Arndt, Bronikowski, Jaraczewski,
Oppen, Kozycki, and Krolikowski fresh proceed-
ings will 133 institute.
On the proposition of the counsel for the defence
all the accused were permitted to remain at large
under certain security until they undergo the sea-
tence—Martwell and Rustejko, being foreigners.
Mono excepted.

At the Bove-street Pelle:eke:ea y•:!:.y. Mr Edward
Weston, proprietor of the Holborn Music Hall, appeared
before Mr Vaughan to answer a summons charging him
with having represented certain dramatic performances at
that establishment without being licensed to produce stage
plays.
Mr H. T. Roberts appeared for the prosecution, and Mr
Stanley for the defence.
Mr Roberts stated that he appeared for Mr Horace Wigan,
lessee of the Olympic Theatre, the nominal prosecutor ; but
Mr Wigan wished it to be distinctly understood that ha
was not puttiog himself forward invidiously in this matter,
but was acting on the behalf and with the concurrence of
the profession as a body, and virtually he (Mr Roberts)
appeared for the managers of nine London theatres, via.,
Mr Mapleston, Her Majesty's Theatre—the Opera Com-
pany, Covent-garden Theatre—Messrs Falconer and Chat.
terton, Theatre Royal Deury•lane—M. Pechter, Theatre
R.eyal Lyceum—. Mr Webster. Theatre Royal Adelplii— Mr
Buckstone, Theatre Royal Haymarket—Die E. I'. Smith,
T nheatre Royal Astley's—Mr 11. Wigan
(the prosecutor),
Theatre Royal Olympic—and Mr Caae, Maryletcne
Theatre. It was necessary that some gentleman should act
on behalf of the entire body, and it had been arranged
that Mr Wigan should be the gentleman who should take
that duty upon himself. The practice of representieg at
music halls certain performances of a decidedly theatrical
character had come to such a pitch that it was felt to be
necessary that the managers of theatres should interfere to
put a stop to such proceeding for the protection of their
own interests. There was no vindictive feeling on the part
of Mr Wigan or the other proprietors against Mr Weston
personally. On the contrary, they admitted that an esta-
blishment could not be better conducted, with the excep-
tion of this particular proceeding, which was an infringe•
meat of the law. The entertainment complained of was
what is commonly called a "duologue," and it had been
decided that a " duologue'',was a dramatic entertain-
ment, Indeed, he believed it might be applied to stage
dancing, though he certainly did not think that his
clients would act advisedly in curtailing public amusement
by insisting upon that point.. But when it cares to thie,
that plays, such as operettas, burlesque's, fr.a the like were.
produced at these music halls, it was time for them to de-
fend their own rights and interests. In thi; cage, as ho
understood that Mr Weston would plead guilty, there Was
no desire to press for a penalty, or, at ail events, for more
than a nominal penalty. Mr Weston wasa Melly siivet-
,ablet sued:bad only been aingled2uajekpresetek4eiein.
'i•st inailiertirlbelkottna
had cemmitted an infraction of the law. He -muststimerve,
however, that in all future cases, after this warning,- the
prosecutors would press for substantial penalties. Lie must
mention also that though these proceedings were taken
under a clause which only allowed 420 as the maximum
penalty, there was another clause under which all persons
concerned were liable to penalties of £5O. He should also
observe that if these entertainments were carried on in de-
fiance of the law, that fact would have its weight with the
licensing magistrates. The present proceedings were taken
merely for the sake of example,
Mr Stanley said he appeared for the defence as so'.icitor
to the Metropolitan Music Hall Proprietors' Association.
He was rather surprised that the managers should have
thought it worth their while to take these proceedings, as
the appliances at the command of the music-hall proprietors
would not enable them to compete with the theatres.
tinder the circumstances he had recommended Mr Weston
not to be one of the two parties who were necessary to a
quarrel, but to submit to a conviction. At the same time
he did not wish to admit, as a matter of precedent, that the
entertainment in question was a theatrical representation.
It would be left to some other music hall proprietor to fight
that question.
Mr Vaughan said the act of parliament was every strine
gent one, and properly so. Mr Weston ought to remember
that he was liable to a penalty of £2O for every day the
entertainment was repeated. As there was no desire to press
the matter, he should only impose—for the purpose of
showing that the law c -mid not be broken with impunity—
the neminal penalty of 20s and costs.

COALS.—The LILLESHALL COMPANY'S
COALS.
Direct from their own Collieries.
Marquis'. 2ss. per ton. I Double... 21s. per ton.
Top 24e. „ Deep 22s. „
W. 11 screened and delivered within five miles of their De-
pt ts, Westbourne Park-road, W., and 17, South Wharf,
I,4,ldington, W., and Maiden-lane, N.
Best Coke

Terms cash.
JOHN SCOTT, Sole Agent.