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

PRUSSIA AND THE DUCHIES.

BERLIN, D 23. 20.
' The rumour of a correspondence between the
King of Saxony and the King of Prussia upon the
question of •Ft deral execution is fully coefil reed by
trustworthy details. For the better nederstanding
of its real bearing, it may be 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.
s; Immediately after the result of the sitting of the
Diet on the &h 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
•
11- .trderacies bordered upon
acts without the competence of the Diet; that, in
case the majority should, under any circuenstanoes,
attempt to exert pressure uison a member of the
Diet, Prussia would consider sech an attempt as a
breach of Federal ties; lastly, that Prussia had no
intention of allowing her policy to be influenced by
the decision of the majority, and reserved 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 eter•
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 middle States.
Much trouble is taken by the authorities to dis-
sipate the uneasiness felt in the Duchies because
the Austro-Prussian 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 pieced upon the same footing as in Holstein.
In the question of the flag to be used by the mer•
eantile 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 retai❑ their
national flag. It has been pointed out, however,
that ships sailing under the flag of the Provisional
Government of tha 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
ations.

The Supposed Foundering of the Sbip
Floating Light.

A few days since we announced the apprehended
loss, with all hands, of the ship Floating
wi:h a cargo of cotton valued at upwards of
1:200,00, off the Welsh cost, whilst inking her
way up the Sr. George's Channel for Liverpool.
The report was founded on the fact that several
bales of cotton bearing the same ch,iracter of marks
as those stated in the ship's manifest having come
ashore on the coast of Pembrokeshire, as alau a
stern Load of ship baring 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 cfficer has re-
turned, and in the course of yesterday made the
following report :—" I searched the coast from St.
David's Head to fenby, and made inquiries, but no
precise information could be elicited as to the pro-
bable spot where the vessel lies. Saeh 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 Caldy
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 Lydstep 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 the sound of guns was
heard and lights were seen 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 been picked up at 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, 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 round 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, Wotnie-
wicz, Skoraczewski, Taczanowski, Akf
Radecki, Latowbki, Jaroczewski, Seyfried, and
Lukaszewski.
The following were sentenced to one year's im
prisonment:—Z irawski, Mankoweki, Czartoryski,
Kosinki, Skzaniccki, Kurnatowski, Mielecki,
wicz, Stnitkowski, Zablocki, Moszezenski, Mittel-
stadt, Mart well, Natalis, von Sulerzyski,
Chotemski, Ketczynski, and Schultz. To
15 months' imprisonment—Kymarkiewicz and
Jurochowelti. To 18 months imprisonment —l"tus-
tej ko and Theodor von Jackowski. To two yeani'—
iii(Hinki and Niegclewski.

The following were acquitted :—Laczync..ll,
Sikorshi, Swinazski, and Szoldrski.
In the cases of Arndt, Broulkoweki, Jaraczmski,
Oppen, Kezycki, and Krolikowski fresh proceed•
ings will ba institutes'.
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 sen-
tenee—Martwell and Rastujko, being foreignem
alone excepted.