The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-08 00:00:00

representative assembly the following impressive
statements, we must admit that, if Austria be
doomed to fall irrevocably in the rank of nations,
it will not be because she has no true hearted
sons to tell her of her danger, and point out the
way to a better course than that which she has
now taken. "The Constitution is vague, contra•
dictory, faulty, and consequently requires revi-
sion." This is exactly what lookers on have been
declaring for some time past, but it is a new and
notable sight for a citizin of the Empire to bear
witness to this fact, and hence we hail the out-
break of national feeling as a forerunner of other
things of a similar description; and, at all events,
a fit and proper address for the occasion. Very
telling was the taunt in wh:c'a M. KAISERFIELD
told the House that the manner in which the
supplies were treated tallied with the Prussian
mode of procedure, but was not in keeping with
their Constitution. A more striking protest
against the misrule and mismanagement that hare
crept into the departments of the State in Ausa
tria has seldom been heard, and at this particular
juncture it is very appropriate, and it is to be
hoped will prove very effective. Certainly some
stirring up is wanted, when we consider the
tame and spiritless way in which the Cabinet of
Vienna is yielding to the demand of that of Berlin,
a glaring instance of which has just appeared in
the manner that the occupation of Schleswig-Hol-
stein has been settled. M. TON KAISERFIELD'S
address spoke to the assembly as the trumpet
blast that summons to death or victory. His zeal
was infused into his auditors, for all throughout
the course of his harangue we find repeated bursts
of applause, evidently proofs of the success of his
efforts. After deploring the inactivity of the Go-
vernment, he declared it to be " the cause of the
apathy of the people, an apathy the mere dangerous
because Austria will cease to exist when she ceases
to be a Constitutional State." This drew down
loud applause from all parts of the House. M.
♦ON SCHMERLING could not have felt very compli•
mented at the remarks which the determined and
outspoken Styrian deputy.made about him, but he
will be wise if he takes them to heart, and shapes
his conduct more in uniformity with the require-
ments of a free Constitution, and in accordance
with the spirit of a State that has promised to be
an example to other nations instead of a failure and
a reproach. What is affirmed in this luminous
discourse is so evident that it seems only strange
that some glimmer of its sense should not have
reached th'e minds of the Executive Government
and of the representatives before this. M. VON
SCHMERLING was plainly told that he was suffer-
ing from political " marasmus." This, though a
true statement, must have been an unwelcome
piece of intelligence to the statesman who thinks
so much of his management of public affairs.
Without having any recourse to taunts, M.
KAISERFIELD contented himself with say-
ing, sterner realities which are indeed always
doubly effective if people would only think and act
so instead of dealing in threatened tones and fierce
invectives that mar instead of making an effect.
Three years passed in intriguing is assuredly not
the manner in which to attain any settled purpose
or satisfactory result, and then the energetic
speaker here declares that "great questions cannot
be brought to an issue by petty measures." It is
a great point gained that we should meet with so
bold an exponent of truth and justice in the Aus-
trian Rsichsrath. An Opposition is not responsible
for the mistakes of a Minister, but it is bound to
protest against the error of his ways, and to give
timely warning of the sad consequences which will
infallibly ensue if a remedial agency be not at
work. Nobly and faithfully has Mr. KAISERFIELD
discharged this duty, and it is to be earnestly
trusted that his example will embolden others to
follow in his track, and to copy his good efforts
in the cause of freedom. They may do this with
the more readiness and energy because no time is
to be lost if they desire to prevent their country
from sinking into a state like that of Prussia,
which, during the last two reigns has been changed
so completely from what was once proposed to be
its position as a free and independent State. Not
often does, such dire necessity exist for plain speak-
ing as unfortunately now occurs in Austria, but it
is satisfactory to find a man who will put thinge in
their proper light, and call events by their true
names, even though the terms may not coincide
with the wishes of unworthy Sovereigns or un-
faithful Ministers.

ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.—The interna-
tional show of fruit, vegetables, roots, and gourds,
was opened yesterday at the Horticultural-gardens, Ken-
sington. The judges have awarded first-class certificates
for a collection of fruit (open to fruiterers only) to Messrs.
Webber and Co., Covent-garden--for pine apples, to Mr R.
Heather, gardener to Mr R. Pulford, Ember-grove,Thames
Ditton, Surrey, and Mr F. Ingram, gardener to the Queen
at Windsor—for grapes, to Mr A. Ingram, gardener to Mr
J, J. Blaney, Reading, Messrs 11. Lane and Son, Great
Birkhampatead, and Mr G. Tillyard—for pears, to Mr
Thomas Ingram, Mr G. Tillyard, Mr H. Beasley, gardener
to Mr Thomas Wood, Twyford Abbey, Mr S. Ford, gar-
dener to Mr W. E. Hubbard, Horsham, Mr C. Ross, gar-
dener to Mr C. Cyre, Newbury, and Mr S, Murray, gardener
to Mr R. J. Williams, Tryng Park—for apples, to Mr T.
Ingram, Mr R. H. Betteridge, Mr W, Hall, gardener to
Captain Tyrell, R.N., Elling, Mr S. Ford, Mr W. Pleater,
and Mr D. Lumsden—for currants, to Mr S. Ford—for
gourds. to Messrs, Sutton and Son, Reading—fur potatoes,
to Mr G. Curd, gardener to Mr M. S. Thoyts, Southern-
stead House, Reading, Mr C. Frisby, gardener to Mr J. A.
Chapman, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, Mr A, Moffat, gardener
to Viscount Maynard, Duiamow, Essex, Mr J.Veitch, Royal
Exotic Nursery, King's road, Chelsea—for mangold-wurt-
zel, to Mr S. Robinson, Shew House, Melbourne, near
Derby, and Messrs. Sutton and Son, Reading.

AMBULANCE COMMITTEE.—The Savannah Be.
publican says :—" A great number of our sick and
disabled men, just exchanged, will arrive here to-day (the
12th-of November), and we hope to see every carriage in the
city at the wharf. A hundred of the men have died since
they were embarked. To receive them a large detail has
come here from that famous benevolent association, the
Richmoud Ambulance Committee, who have borne so con-
spicuouS and useful a part in the rear of General Lee's army
from the beginning of the war. They have been with the
army in every battle of importance, and are among the first
to be notified by General Lee whenever an engagement is
looked for. They are truly good Samaritans—men of
wealth and high posit' on at home, and most of them beyond
the age for military service. The good they have done in
the field is incalculable, and in the prosecution of their work
their own private fortunes have been largely devoted to the
cause. They have every appurtenance necessary in their
humane vocation, such as hospital suppliesi, sugar, tea,
coffee, Bte., with utensils for preparing everything on a large
scale. They know all about sick and wounded men, how to
handle them, and what they require for their comfort, and
they are now among us to co-operate with our surgeons and
citizens in receiving and disposing of the large body of our
sick and wounded about to be committed to our hands by
the enemy. We commend them to the cordial hospitalities
of our people. Independently of their noble vocation, they
will be found gentlemen of the highest intelligence and re-
finement."

SUSPECTED I‘,URDEIt OF A WOMAN AT COLD.
STREAM.— On Monday morning the dead body of a woman,
named Thomson, wife of Alexander Thomson, china
merchant, was discovered in the house occupied by her
husband and herself at Coldstream. The deceased was
severely cut about the head, the limbs, and other parts
of her person exhibiting a number of bruises. The body
was found lying on the floor in front of the bed, which,
as well as the floor and other parts of the room, was sa-
turated with blood, and gave evid.:nen of a violent
struggle having taken place. The woman had been dead
for some hours. Thomson, her husband, gave the first
intimation of his wife's death, Stating that during the
night they had quarrelled, and that she had seized the
poker and ho the tongs, and they had fought together with
these weapons. Ile was found to be slightly cut on the head.
The police secured the poker and tongs, both cevered with
blood ; they also found a strong cord tied round one c.t de-
ceased's legs, from which it is supposed that the poor
woman had escaped from her husband's fury underneath
the bed, and that Thomson had used it to draw her forth,
which idea is strengthened by the fact that a quantity of
blood lay on, the floor under the bed,-4cotsmaii.,