The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-25 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

It is in contemplation by the military authorities
at Aldershott to devote the building known as
" the Clubhouse" to the holding of assemblies and
fashionable reunions during the winter months.
The new packsaddle invented by Lieutenant
M'Mahon, Ist battalion Military Train, and de-
scribed in The Sun last week, was examined at Al-
dershott on Friday by Col. the Hon. H. H. Clifford,
V.C., Assist.-Quartermaster-Gen., on the South
Camp,:in the presence of several officers, when the
principle of the invention was highly approved.
The saddle, after a close examination by Colonel
Clifford, was placed on one of the largest horses
belonging to the Military Train, and it was demon-
strated by Lieut. M‘Mataon that by means of four
pairs of inverted screws it could be contracted so as
to fit the smallest pony; It was then handed over
Lieut. and Adjutant Devine, 2d battalion Military
Train, for trial, and the report of Colonel Robert-
son, C.B.

New colours for the 31st Regiment have arrived
at Aldershott, and will shortly be presented. The
regiment has seen much service in India, the
Crimea, and in China. In 1860 it left India for
China over 1,100 strong, and received during its
stay in that country a draught of 102 men. It ems
barked from the latter place for England 0n1ye642
strong, having experienced a total loss of 588 of
all ranks, or nearly one-half its strength, in the
space of three years and a half. It is not yet de-
cided who will perform the pleasing ceremony of
presenting the colours to the regiment, but it is
thought probable that the wife of Major• Gen. Sir
F. Lugard, C. 8., will accept the office, the gallant
major-genera: being the colonel of this distinguished
corps: The colours at present borne by the regi•
ment were presented at Dublin in May, 1848, by
the then Major- Gen. Prince George of Cambridge.
On Thursday afternoon the Cavalry Brigade at
Aldershott, consisting of the 14th Hussars and the
Ist and 21 Royal Dragoons, was paraded in front
of the officers quarters' for the purpose of witnessing
the presentation of a silver medal and a gratuity of
£l5 to Quartermaster-Serg. Henry Joshua Smith,
of the 14th Hussars, for long service and good con-
duct. The presentation was made by Col. Darby
Griffiths, 2d Royal Dragoons, who paid the highest
compliments to the quartermaster-eerg. and to the
general appearance and bearing of the troops. After
the ceremony the troops returned to quarters with
bands playing.
The monthly inspection of hospital buildings and
stores at Aldershott by the Principal Purveyor, Mr
11. Powell, took place throughout the past week, as
follows, commencing each day at 10 a.m. :—On
Monday, the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, 2d
and sth battalions Military Train, and Hospital for
soldiers' wives, Sec, ; on Tuesday, the Ist battalion
14th, 31st, 62d, and 85th Regiments ; on Wednes'
day, the Ist Royal and 2d Dragoons, 14th Has.
ears, 2d battalion 60th Rifles, and 62d Regiment;
and on the same day, in the North Camp, the 39th,
75th, and 83d Regiments. A medical officer at•
tendeded on behalf of each corps.
The monthly inspection of barracks at Aldershott
has taken place during the past week as follows :--
On Monday, the Commissariat Staff Corps, the 2d
And sth battalions Military Traiu, the 75th and 39th
Regiments ; on Tuesday, the Royal Artillery in the
permanent barracks, the Ist battalion 14th Regi•
ment, the Royal Engineers, the 59th and 83d Regis
ments ; on Wednesday the 62d Regiment and 2d
battalion 60th Rifles ; on Thursday, the let Royal
Dragoons and the 14th Hussars ; on Friday the 2d
Dragoons. The inspection commenced each day at
10 a.m., and in the Cavalry, Royal Artillery, and
Military Train the whole of the stable utensils were
laid out for inspection.
Lieut.-Gen. Sir John Pennefather, K.C.8., coma
manding the division at Aldershott, has consented
to preside at the sixth inaugural meeting of the Al-
dershott Institution for Mental improvement and
Social Recreation,to be held on Wednesday evening.
In reference to the examination in July, 1865, of
candidates for admission to the Staff College at
Sandhurst, a general order from the Horse Guards
announces that the examinations will comprise the
following portions of military history and geo-
graphy :—Military History—The campaigns of the
British army in the Peninula in the years 1808,
1809-10, with a general outline of the operations of
the Spanish armies so fur as they were calculated
to influence those of the British. Military Geo-
graphy—The geography of Spain and Portugal
considered with reference to milit .ry operations.
The following works may be read with advan-
tage, not to the exclusion, however, of others,
whether Englilla or French, which may throw
light on the campaigns to be studied—Napier's
Peninsular War, Brailmont's Life of Wellington,
Garwood's Despatches of the Duke of Wellington,
(selection) Macdougall's Theory of War, and La-
vollee's Military Geography. Candidates, on ap-
plication to the Council of Military Education, will
receive a copy of the synopsis of the studies pur•
sued at the Staff College, which may serve as a
useful guide to them in preparing themselves for
the examination.

Yesterday 100 non-commissioned officers and men
of the Chathom division of Royal Marines Light
Infantry, under the command of Capt. E.A. Wylde,
left head-quarters for the Government rifle range
at Milton, where they will undergo a course of
ball practice previous to embareation. A detach
ment of 50 men of all ranks joined the division at
Chatham yesterday from Deal, to be attached to
the service companies.
The screw gun vessel Torch, 5, having been masted
in the stream, is now in the hands of the riggers in
No. 4 dock, at Chatham, where she is being fitted
aloft and inboard, for commission. She is to be fitted
with new boilers, her present boilers having been
found so defective that they are now being taken to
pieces. During the time she has been in the ship-
wrights' hands the Torch has undergone a thorough
repair, upwards of one-half of her timbers, together
with the greater portion of her planking, having
been taken out and new substituted. She is intended
to be commissioned for service on the coast of Africa.

Th© screw corvette Scout, 21, 400-horse power,
fitting for the first division of the Chatham Steam
Reserve, in place of the Clio, 22, 400-horse power,
has been fitted with a poop in addition to a new
topgallant forecastle. She will shortly ba out of
the hands of the dockyard officials.
The large Warrior target recently experimented
upon at Shoeburyness has been conveyed to Sheer•
ness dockyard in the Dave naval transport, and is
being taken to pieces in the north camber by a party
of shipwrights. The remains of the Lord Warden
and the Scott. Russell iron target have been landed
at Chatham dockyard from Shoeburyness. They
are E 0 much battered that they are only fit to be
broken up for the general service of the dockyard.
The Ringdove, 4, screw gun vessel, Commander
Ralph A. 0. Brow u, arrived at Spithead yesterday
from China, after a rather long passage, having
experienced several heavy gales of wind. She sailed
from Hongkong on the 12th of May. She is ordered
to be officially inspected at Spithead to-day, and
will afterwards go into Portsmouth harbour to dis-
mantle and pay out of commission, which dates back
to October, 1859.

The Imperial Russian corvette Rhinda, screw, 11
guns, sailed from the Motherbank, off Ryde, Isle of
Wight, yesterday morning for Cronstadt.
The military invalids and time-expired soldiers
on board the sailing transport New Era, the arrival
of which vessel at Spithead from Madras was an-
nounced in The Sun of yesterday, were disem-
barked by Government steamer yesterday, the in-
valids being sent on to the Royal Victoria Military
Hospital at Netley, and the time expired men to
the depots of their respective regiments. Capt. Ifark-
11,eas, of the 25th NJ., arrived in military charge
from India, and D: Fitzgerald, of the Ist Dragoon
Guards, in medical charge, As soon as the disem'.
barcation had been effected the New Era railed
from Spithead for the Thames.
The Sharpstl,ootc!,4-gun screw sloop, iron, Lieut.-
Commander Ciavering, fitted out at Portsmouth for
:service on the Brazil station, steamed out of the har-
bour yesterday' for, a trial of her roachinary, and
afterwards returned to the harbour to carry out
some trifling alteration found to be required. She
is expected to sail finally from Portsmouth this
morning for a probable 10 days' cruise in the Chan-

nel, at the close of which she will leave for the
Brazils, calling in at Plymouth Sound.
The Dutch 50-gun screw frigate Narger, which
arrived at the Nore on Thursday, after being in
collision with a merchant vessel off the North Fore.
land, as already detailed in The S I-as been in.
Viee•Admiral Sir C. T ttbot, K.C.8.,
spected by
naval Commander.in.Chief, who with his suite
visited every portion of the vessel. Previously to
the inspection the captain and principal officers of
the Nargen paid their respects to Vices Admiral Sir
C. Talbot. The frigate is quite new, and is excel-
lent condition. The damage she has sustained
appears to be rather serious; but the exact amount
cannot be ascertained until the frigate has been
docked. On Saturday the War Department trans.
port Bomarsund, Mr Spicer master, went down from
Chatham and unshipped the powder and shells from
the Nargen, for conveyance to the magazines at
Upnor Castle, where her ammunition will be stored
during the time the frigate is under repair. She will
remain at her present moorings until Thursday next,
which is the earliest day the tides will allow of her
being floated into the basin, and docked for the
purpose of making good her repairs. This, in accord-
ance with orders received at Chatham, is to be
undertaken by the dockyard shipwrights. During
the time the frigate is under repair, a portion of the
naval barracks will be appropriated for the accom-
modation of the officers and crew.

The Schleswig-Holstein Question,

FRANKFORT4ONaTIIE.MAINE, OCt. 22.

A meeting of the Committee of the Assembly of
Members of German Diets took place on the 16th at
Weimar, to receive the political and financial report
of the managing sub-committee, andntake into con.
sideration the present position of the Schleswig-
Holstein question. The meeting was attended by
delegates from Bavaria, Brunswick, Coburg, Franke
fort, Gotha, Hamburg, Hanover, Hesse-Darmstadt,
Prussia, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Weimar, and
Wurtemberg.
The report laid before the meeting entered first
into details of financial matters possessing no gene-
ral interest, and passed then to a recapitulation of
the course of the committee since the last meeting
(April 9 and 10). It entered upon a statement of
the success of the chief measures advocated by the
Committee, and concluded by detailing the steps it
recommended to be pursued. The following report
of the subsequent proceedings, and the views ex-
pressed by the Committee, are furnished by the Sec-
retaries of the Assembly :

"I❑ the debate which ensued the Committee had
first to take into consideration the progress of the
movement up to the present time in view of the re•
suit to be attained by the impending conclusion Of
peace. When, after the death of Frederick VII.,
the entire German people demanded with unanimity
hitherto unexampled, war for the separation of the
Duchies from Denmark, and institution of the legi.
timate heir to the throne, the great German Powers
declared at the sitting of the Federal Diet of the
28th of November last year, that they considered
themselves bound by the Treaty of London, and
would require nothing more from Denmark than
the fulfilment of the obligations undertaken by that
treaty. Faithful to this declaration they sent their
troops some wees afterwards to Schleswig, not to
wage war against Denmark, but to take the duchy
in pledge upon the basis of the London arrange.
ments. In the meantime the national movement
had found common expression of the unanimous
will, based upon the union of all patriotic parties,
in the resolutions of the Assembly of Members of
the German Diets which met in Frankfort on the
21st Dec., as well as some organisation in the com-
mittee of 36 chosen by the Assembly, and aboot 700
Schleswig-Holstein associations connected there-
with. Through the moral pressure they first exer-
cised upon the middle States, and by the help of the
latter also upon the two great German Powers, they
succeeded, aided by the blind obstinacy of Denmark
and the valour of the Austro-Prussian troops, in
driving these two great Powers further and further
past their original limit, so that at last the loose tie
of personal union was all with which they attempted
to hold fast to the London Treaty.
" In the Easter meetings held throughout the
who'e of Germany, nearly 300 in number, the na-
tion once more solemnly and decisively declared its
will in regard to the impending Conference of the
European Powers. When therefore this Confe-
rence met, the protest signed by 1,388 members of
German Diets was issued and laid before it. This
document alluded to the solution required by right
and the will of the people, and contained a solemn
protest in the name of the assembled nation against
every settlement of the future of the Duchies with• li
out, and in opposition to, their own wish. Shortly
afterwards followed the protest against the arbi-
trary division of Schleswig, to which nearly 400
associations, almost all the Diets then sitting, and
two large popular assemblies in the Duchy,
gave in their adhesion. These different ma-
nifestations have assuredly not been with.
out influence upon the German and foreign
Powers, of which tho verbal and written expressions
of English statesmen alone give sufficient proof.
The eampsign recommenced after the failure of the
Conference finally led to the entire prostration of
Denmark and the conclusion of the preliminaries.
The simultaneous appearance of the Oldenburg
candidate called forth a further protest, in which
the immediate recognition and institution of Duke
Frederick were demanded. The position of the
Schleswig-Holatein question has since undergone no
further material change, nor has any great and
universal expression of the popular will taken place.

" The Committee estimated at its fall value the
greatness of the result gained for Germany by the
liberation of the Duchies. The nation ha 9 the greater
reason to appreciate this success with satisfaction as
it has been mainly owing to the newly strengthened
power of the national mind, and the national will,
that the victory is due. This satisfaction, at the
same time, must not go so far as to lead us to easy
security and tame resignation in all that may hap-
pen. The separation of Schleswig4lolstein from
Denmark was merely the first half of the national
programme, and we must not forget that even this
was only attained by a course diametrically opposed
in more than one direction to that desired by the
nation and marked out by right. The second and
cot less important part of the problem—the consti.
tution of an iudependent State of Schleswig-Hol-
stein under its legitimate Prince elected by the
people—has not even yet found its accomplishment.
It has still to contend with serious difficulties; the
national interests bound up with it may still be in-
jured in the greatest degree, and it is especially the
guides of the policy of the two great Powers
whose proceedings constantly challenge anew the
distrust of the nation. As they declined to allow
the people of Schleswig-Holstein to partici-
pate in the conflict, as they subsequently refused
it a voice i❑ debating the terms of peace, so they
still withhold from it the execution of its right to
participate in the decision of the internal future of
the country.

"The committee was, therefore, unanimously of
opinion that the movement should be continued
with all possible energy, and that in particular the
committee itself, as organ of the assembly of mem-
bers of the German Diets which replaces the Par-
liaments not yet attained, should not cease its
action until the national programme in the Schles-
wig Holstein matter should be thoroughly carried
out. Up to that time the union of all patriots formed
for the settlement of a cause removed from party
strife should be unalterably upheld.
" It is especially important to dwell upon the
hitherto disregarded and still threatened right of
determining their own future accruing to the
Schleswig Holstein people. This right demands,
above all, the immediate convocation of the Diet
elected according to the fundamental law of Sept.
15, 1843, and the final recognition and institution
of Duke Frederick. This right further demands
free determination of the new relations of the coon..
try towards Germany, based solely upon German
interests and its own; of the question whether any
and what treaties shall be concluded with Prussia ;
of the adhesion of Schleswig Holstein to the Zill-
vcrein, advocated alike by its own interests and
those of Germany ; and, lastly, of the entrance of
Schleswig into the Germanic Confederation, an
levent already provided for by the constitutional

law, and equally inevitable by Schleswig and the
whole of Germany.
We are firmly convinced that the Schleswig.
Holstein people will as hitherto faithfully fulfil its
duty towards itself and Germany, and not falter in
adherence to its internal freedom, and that it will
in especial manfully defend its constitution against
all attempts at attack. No alteration of the same
that may be required must take place save in the
way laid down by the constitution itself. We hope
not less assuredly that the entire German nation
will stand unhesitatingly beside its Northern
brothers in their struggle for their rights and liber-
ties. The more it finds common political action im-
peded by the faults of the collective German con-
stitution which have been so clearly displayed in
the course of the past year, and so long as its
righteous claim for a German Parliament and an
improved central power is not conceded, the more
incumbent is it upon the Diets and upon every
single citizen not to abandon this great national.
cause until it has been brought through all difficul.
ties and hardships, and the right of Schleswig-
Holstein has been happily led on to victory. If
we all do our duty, this object will be as certainly
attained as the results gained by the nation up to
the present time.—By order of the Committee,
" Dr. S. DULLER and G. Fr. lioLB."

THE DUKE OF AUGUSTENBURG,

BERLIN, Oct. 23,

The semisofficial Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung
of today makes the following statement with re•
gard to the Duke of Augustenburg :
" Prussia and Austria had placed their signa-
tures to the London protocol not because they had
greater sympathy with the line of Glucksburg than
with any other line, but because, in 1851, the pro-
tocol appeared to those Powers the best means of
defending the rights of German nationality in the
Duchies against Danish encroachment. This means
with regard to Danish policy has proved ineffectual.
It would have proved equally ineffectual had the
choice of the Powers assenting to the protocol fallen
upon any other Prince in the regulation of the
succession question. Had the condition of affairs
at the conclusion of the London protocol been
of such a nature that instead of the Glucks-
burg the Augustenburg line had been summoned
to the Danish throne, the armies of the German
great Powers in 1864 would have fought against
the Danes under the leadership of the Duke of
Augustenburg. Thus stood the matter. At the
moment when King Frederick VII. died the Ger-
man great Powers waged a war for the interest of
Germany and of the German inhabitants of the
Duchies, but they waged no war for the interests of
the hereditary Prince of Augustenburg, whom they
in fact would have fought against had he by the
treaties of 1851 been declared the successor to the
Danish Crown.

The Franco-Italian Convention.

The Memorial Dijolomatique has the subjoined—

"Diplomatic communications of recent date have
definitively enlightened the French Government
as the attitude taken by the Austrian Cabinet in
presence of the Franco-Italian Convention of the
15th September. The Cabinet of Vienna is desirous
of an alliance with France, as it has been in the
past and will be in the future. Such is the gene-
ral situation, and no circumstance has hitherto
transpired to produce any change. As to the
treaty of the 15th September, the Austrian Govern.
ment declares that it accepts with confidence the
guarantee with which the French Government had
surrounded it. I❑ its eyes the value of the treaty
consists solely in the signature of France; but that
suffices for the Cabinet of Vienna, and it desires
nothing more. As a proof of the sincerity of its
intentions towards France, the Austrian Govern.
ment engages not to exart any influence on the
ulterior determinations of the Holy Father. If the
Pope consults the Cabinet of Vienna as to the course
he shall take with regard to the Roman Conven-
tion, the Cabinet of Vienna will advise his Holiness
to accept purely and simply the situation induced
by the new arrangements, Only, according as that
situation shall be developed in one sense or another,
Austria reserves for that moment its rights as a
Catholic Po per.

The same journal likewise says :
"`Ye arc informed that Spain has addressed to
the French Government its answer to the commu-
nication of th 3 Franco-Italian Treaty of the 15th
Sept. The Cabinet declares that it has no wish to
oppose any obstacle to the developmept of the
situation produced by the Convention signed by
France. It adds that it relies on the engagements
take❑ by the Cabinet of the Tuileries to keep Italy
and the Italians within the letter of the treaty, and
that Spain has not at present, in its quality as a
Catholic Power, any objection to make against the
arrangements concluded."

PARIS, OCT. 22.

The new pamphlet, of which a summary has
been telegraphed, is entitled "La Convention du
15 Septembre, 1861," and is supposed to proceed
from a semiofficial source. Its main argument
seems directed to prove that France and Italy can
have no other object in view than to execute faith-
fully and loyally all the points of the convention,
securing the possession of Rome to the Pope, and
granting Florence as the definitive capital of Italy.
The pamphlet concludes as follows
" France is alone at Rome, because she is there
carrying out the common task of Catholicity; but
if, after long andirpersevering efforts, she should not
attain her object by reason of the duplicity of Italy,
as the question of the Papacy is not of a kind
which can always remain without solution,
it is probable that the Catholic Powers
would ultimately put in their claim to take part
in the matter. In
place, then, of sympathis-
ing with t
France, e Italians might well end
ter.
; that is to say,
n
by having the Austrians, the Spaniards, the Por-
tuegiguhesbeeuarns who woulddßavaria perhaps Bavarians at Rome
not so much assist
as we should in the removal of the difficulties in-
herent to the position of the Italian Kingdom.
" These eventualities, which the most ordinary
commonsense indicates, have been seen by Italian
statesmen as well,as by us, and it is to remove them
that they have desired, in getting the Conventioa
of the 15th of September last to obtain the assist.
mice of Fran Ce.
" The time al which France should draw her
troops from Rome, was pointed out in advance by
the very object of her policy—it was the time when
in quitting the States of the Church she could leave
behind her the Papacy respected and guarded by
Italy herself. The evacuation was opportune, it
was even necessary, as soon as it became possible
without danger—but if the value which the French
Government attaches to the independence of the
Holy See has been hitherto placed beyond doubt by
15 years of respectful and Efficacious protection, it is
rendered still less dubious by the precautions with
which the execution of the Convention of Sept. 15
has been surrounded.

"France assuredly believes in the loyalty of the
Italian Government, since she has accepted its en.
gagements ; but, without attaching any doubt to its
desire to remain faithful to them, she has been able
to foresee the difficulties which, in a country still
agitated and occupied with its definitive organisation
hostile parties might entail upon their punctual exe.
cation. It is to give Italy time to strengthen herself
in her new resolutions, and to draw nearer to the
Holy See that France has stipulated the delay of two
years for the entire evacuation of Rome; it is fur-
ther, and, above all, to give the Papacy time to seek,
to ripen, and to organise, without surprise and prey
cipitation, the means which France has reserved by
the convention, with a view of providing for its in-
ternal security. Under the shadow of the French flag
the now army will be organised, small but sufficient
to maintain order, and composed of elements which
the Holy Father will have judged the most appro-
priate to his position. Those who, having lived in
Italy, know that the population of the villages, and
the immense majority of the population of Rome,
are at bottom Beveled to the Papacy and its paternal
rule, are also aware that the problem of the security
of Rome is reduced to watching and keeping down
a certain Amber of blunderers such as all great
cities contain. A small army, supported by the
goodwill of the Roman population, will be sufficient
for this task, as soon as the Italian Government shall