The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-26 00:00:00

struggle, nor have they abandoned all hope that
Austria and Prussia may soon find out that there is
e limit even to German patience, and that the dig-
nity of the Diet and of the nation is not to be out-
raged with impunity. The people here, in short,
rely not a little on the chances of foreign interven-
tion and domestic revolution. Already the move-
ment in the South of Germany has found powerful
and daring leaders, and some of the minor Govern-
ments there are said to be contemplating the con-
vocation of a national German Parliament. Unable
to cope with the might of Prussia and Austria, and
to unite their votes for the choice of a powerful,
able, and popular leader, the minor German Powers
look up to the French Emperor as their protector,
and there is no doubt that a cannon will not be fired
on the Eider if that great monarch raises a little
finger to forbid it.

In the midst of all these doubts and perplexities
the position of the proclaimed Duke of Schleswig-
Holstein and that of his Government will not be
materially altered. The Austro-Prussians, at least,
have engaged to interfere with none of the present
arrangements of this Duchy. I have already stated
my opinion that Prince Frederick of Augustenburg,
after giving a proof of excessive daring in coming
to this place at first, condemned himself and his
people to inaction from no perceptible reason at all,
unless it was a natural lack of energy and enterprise,
or a somewhat inopportune regard for legality, or,
again, deference to the King of Prussia, by whose
favour the Prince is said to set great store. It is
questionable whether the advance of the Austro-
Prussians will inspire with good courage and resolu-
tion people who have as yet shown bat little of it.
They still hope that the Frankfort Diet may now be
induced to recognise the Duke, in which case the
organisation of the army will be immediately pro-
ceeded with. They complain of the great difficulty,
not to say utter impossibility, of finding arms at
any price. Some of their beat friends,:however, are
sure that they could have had not only arms,
but officers and materiel, and even whole corps and
armies, from some of the minor German Princes,
who were ready to go to all extremities for the
Duke if he would only bestir himself, and act with
readiness and decision. Baden, Coburg, Brunswick,
and others, I know, were among the most earnest
and pressing in offers of that nature.
The expected advance of the Austro-Prussians is
looked upon as a national calamity by the people of
Kiel, who have taken down all their flags in sign of
monrning. A very cold reception awaits the troops
to-morrow. Upon the abandonment of the line of
the Eider Canal by the Saxons and Hanoverians,
the frontier will be guarded to-night by youthful
volunteers from this city, who have been mustering
up into battalions of national guards for the pur-
pose. The Eider Canal, as I before told you, runs
at the distance of only three or four miles from
Kiel, and the Danes, who are on the north bank of
the canal, could carry the town by a coup de main
were it left altogether unprotected.
P.S.—The Saxons and Hanoverians are concen-
trating at Hohenwestedt, between Rendsburg and
itzehoe.