The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-31 00:00:00

Naval and Military Intelligence.

Major-General Sir Richard Dacres,K.C.B., com
mandant at Woolwich, last week terminated his
final inspection of the whole of the district within
his command, and forwarded a most favourable
report of his inspection to the Field Marshal Com-
manding-in-Chief. The term of his appointment
(five years) will expire to-day, when he will give
over the command to his successor—Colonel E. C
Warde, C. 8., who will be promoted to the rank of
Major-Gen., according to regulations, on his assum-
ing the post of commandant. Last night the officers
of the garrison entertained Sir Richard Dacres at a
farewell banquet given in his honour, at which were
present Viscount Sydney, Lord Lieutenant of Kent ;
Alderman Salomons and Mr Angerstein, the two
representative members of the borough ; Commodore
Dunlop, C. 8., Superintendent of the Dockyard;
Col. Mitchell, commanding the Woolwch division
of Royal Marines; Major-Gen. Sandham, Lieut.-
Governor of the Royal Military Academy; Col. Sir
David Wood, K.C.8., commanding the Royal Horse
Artillery; Brigadier General Lefroy, President of
the Ordnance Select Committee; Col. Hawkins,
commanding the corps of Royal Engineers ; Col.
Kennedy, C. 8., commanding the Military Train ;
Col. Hay, commanding at Warley ; the heads of
departments and officers commanding brigades and
divisions throughout the garrison, consisting of 110
persons. Sir David Wood, who had been elected
chairman, proposed the toast of the evening, which
was responded to in a manner which clearly denoted
the satisfaction it gave every one present to testify
at their farewell meeting their appreciation of the
sterling qualities which have marked the whole
period of Sir Richard's command. It was intended
to present the General with a valuable sword on his
departure, but he could not be induced to accept
any testimonial of valve.
The local corps of pensioners in the Chatham dis-
trict, having-completed their ananal course of train-
ing, under the command of Colonel R. Jenkins,
underwent their official inspection by Col. 'l'.
Lemon, C. 8., Colonel-Commandant of the Chatham
division of Royal Marines, on Chat ham-lines yester-
day. The number of men on the ground was nearly
400 of all ranks, formed into six companies; they
re presented what may be termed the effective por-
tion of the pensioners, the men beyond a certain
age being exempt from the annual training. Each
man was furnished with 15 raands of blank car-
tridge, in anticipation of the manoeuvres being
rather more extensive than those hitherto attempted
by the pensioners. After the customary salutes
the companies formed in line and went through
the manual and platoon exercise, at the termina-
tion
aand quick
which
marched past the saluting post
in slow time.A t the close of this por-
tion of the inspection the customary manoeuvres
were gone through, the whole terminating with
forming squares for the purpose of resisting cavalry.
The inspection concluded with the whole line ad-
vancing- in column and giving a general salute.

At the clue of the inspection Col. Lemon informed
the corps, through Col. Jenkins, of his complete
satisfaction with the manner in which the men had
acquitted themselves, and intimated that his official
report would be highly favourable. The pensioners
will re-assemble this morning at St. Mary's Bar-
racks for the purpose of returning their arms,cloth-
ing, &c., until they are again required for their
periodical training.
The mounted C battery 9th Brigade Royal Artil-
lery has received orders to hold itself in readiness
to proceed from Chatham garrison to Leith Fort
early in the ensuing week.
By direction of the authorities at the War
Department a number of new description of
military pontoons, similar to those in use
in the Austrian service, have been received
at the headquarters of the Royal Engineer esta-
blishment, Chatham, for use by the officers and men
of that branch of the service in pontooning opera-
tions, which commenced for the season yester-
day. The Austrian pontoons are considered to
possess several advantages over the ordinary
" Blanshard" and other pontoons in general use in
the English service, and in order to test their merit,
as well as to ascertain their alleged superiority,
they will undergo various trials, under every variety
of circumstance, during the present summer. The
portion of St. Mary's Creek at Chatham, hitherto
set apart for pontooning purposes, having been
taken in for the dockyard extension, a new pon-
toon-hard has been formed on the opposite side of
the harbour, near Upnor Castle, where a suitable
establishment and buildings have been erected for

the accommodation of the officers and men while
going through that portion of their engineering
instruction under Coi.Lovell, C. 8., the head of that
department.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS—May 30.

(Before Mr Payne.)

THE ALLEGED VICTIMS OF POLICE PERSECUTION.

William White, who was convicted on Thursday last of
shoplifting, and was sentenced to ten years' penal servitude,
was placed in the dock.

Mr Payne said—You were convicted before me, on
Thursday last, of the offence of stealing from a tradesman's
shop, in conjunction with two other persons, a roll of cloth,
of the value of £3. I have had you brought up to-day for
the purpose of informing you that I have, after considera-
tion and consultation with others, determined to postpone
your sentence until next session, to enable inquiry to be
made into the truth of your assertion that you were the
victim of police persecution. But I think it my duty, in
consequence of remarks which have been publicly made
upon the case, for the sake of the administration of justice,
to say a few words about it. It has been said that the case
was a trifling one. I cannot agree with that opinion. When
a single person steals an article of small value, the case
may be said to be trifling ; but when three persons, one of
them an old offender—go out together and remove for the
purpose of stealing from a tradesman's shop an article worth
several pounds, although through the vigilance of the police
they do not carry off the article, it does not appear to me to
be at all a trifling case. It has also been said that the jury
might have acquitted you. Ido not see how, upon the evi-
dence, and using their common sense, they could have acted
otherwise than they did. If they had found you not guilty
upon the defence suggested, they would, in substance, have
declared the policeman to have committed a most wicked
offence, viz., that of having failed in one charge, and, in
consequence, entirely fabricated, or, as it is called, trumped
up another, and this only on assertion without any evidence.
lam not responsible for the verdict ; but I feel bound to say
that, both in fact and in law, I consider it was a just one.
For the sentence I alone am responsible. It was proved that
on a former occasion you had been, for a robbery of silver
plate, sentenced to five years' penal servitude, which would
have expired on the Bth of this month, You were discharged
on a ticket-of-leave at the end of 4 years, and did not produce
any evidence as to how you had spent the past year. The
principle upon which I have acted in passing sentence is this
—as long as I can see any means of combining the reforma-
tion of the offender and the protection of the public, I always
endeavour to do so; but when, by numerous imprisonments
and a long term of penal servitude, it appears that the
offender will not reform, then I think it right to consider
mainly the protection of the public. But you asserted that
you were the victim of police tyranny. I have always had
a strong opinion, which I have often expressed in public,
against the interference of policemen with criminals who
have got into employment, and have several times caused
investigations to be made into such matters. I did not do so
at the moment in your case because I thought that as you
had instructed your counsel to accuse the policeman of amost
wicked charge, and which charge the jury had by their ver-
dict declared to be unfounded, I could not rely on your de-
clatation. But on the next day. and before the remarks
appeared to which I have referred, your counsel was told
that the court would do what it could to forward an inquiry
on the subject. I may further add that neither the jury nor
myself were aware before the verdict of the previous con-
victions. You will be brought up again next session, and
such sentence will then be passed upon you as any alteration
of the circumstances may require, or as after careful consi-
deration may be thought just and proper.
Mr Harwood (a magistrate on the bench)—Hear, hear.
(Some counsel laughed.) I am astonished that several
members of the bar shoutd look at me and laugh. I dont
know for why, b:lcause I concurred in the remarks of the
judge, and I should have thought to have been borne out
by them instead of being laughed at.
In a case of a prisoner named Henry Dixon, tried onThurs-
day last, he was brought up yesterday to receive judgment,
as a policeman stated that he knew the prisoner as a com-
panion of thieves, and had seen the prisoner frequently
within the last seven months in the company of two noted
thieves, The prisoner denied that statement, and said that
he was at that time in Feltham Reformatory. Yesterday it
appeared that what the prisoner then stated was correct, for
he was only discharged from there in March last.
Mr Payne said that the constable must attend to explain
his positive statements, and he should like to know why he
was not present now. Tne prisoner had been remanded for
him to make inquiries, but he had not attended, and he
should take notice of it.
Mr Ribton, who defended the prisoner, said a strict in-
quiry ought to take place, for if gentlemen of the bar said
anything against the police he for one knew what a burst
of obloquy they had to undergo, and he did say that the
police ought to be cautious in what they wore to, as they
were mostly the principal witnesses against prisoners.
The matter was then further deferred until next session.
(Before the Assistant-Judge.)
PROSECUTION OF VENDORS OF INDECENT BOORS AND

PRINTS.
John Pearson, of No. 2, Millbank-street, Westminster,
and Jean Paul, of Cecil-court, St, Martin's .lane. were in-
dieted for uttering and vending certain indecent prints and
books.
Mr Sleigh prosecuted on behalf of the Society for the
Suppression of Vice, and Mr Ribton defended the prisoners.
Both the prisoners pleaded guilty to the indictments.
Mr Ribton said he wished to address a few words to his
lordship, as this was a very peculiar case as far as Pearson
was concerned, and he did sincerely hope that when his
lordship was made acquainted with all the circumstances,
he would consider the ends of justice would be answered if
Pearson was allowed to go out on his own reoegnizances, or
find substantial bail to come up for judgment when called
upon. He had spoken to Mr Sleigh, who represented the
Society for the Suppression of Vice, and he was content to
leave the matter in the hands of the court. He should call
a number of witnesses to show that Pearson had borne a
good character, had been for many years in the service of
Mr. Carter, a builder of Bastcheap, and as regarded the
charge against them, it came out in this way :—A cata-
logue published by him was sent to the country, and this
was submit'ed to the society. The prisoner Pearson lived
at No. 2, Millbank-street, Westminster, and a person went
there to purchase such articles as were referred to in the cata-
logue ; buthe wished to state that these books and prints were
purchased in an ordinary sale in the rooms of auctioneers
of undoubted respectability, and those catalogues he held in
his hand, and where his lordship would find a description of
the books an i prints then before the court. He referred
amongst others to lot 321 in one of those catalogues. This
was Pearson's first offence, and as he had bought these
examined the catalogues,
things at public auction, together with their being no pub-
lic
Tehx he
wouldi
Assistant-Judge,
si oisntbateno
dealtt s-hjoucdkwgeit,saving
publicnmercifully
by the Court.
decency, he trusted the pri-
sonerasked if the attention of the society had been directed b
them, as they were catalogues issued by some of the most
respectable book auctioneers of the metropolis.
Mr. Sleigh said the society were not aware, and they did
not believe until they saw them that these persons would
sell such objectionable books.
Mr. Ribton said when the defendant was waited upon by
the officers of the society he showed them the catalogues,
and told them where the books were purchased.
The Assistant Judge would like to know the person in the
country to whom the catalogue was sent and the position of
life ho was in.
Mr. Sleigh said sometimes information came anony-
mously to the society,and there were obvious reasons for this.
The Assistant Judge—Have these catalogues been sent
to schools or establishments ?
Mr. Sleigh—No doubt they are extensively circulated,
but it i s only nl
witnesses
re calledth at wew hearho
gave of them. Pearson a
good
Several
character.

In the case of Paul it was said that he went to another
person, on being applied to, and procured these objection-
able things for him.
Paul said the man had been for two years a personal
friend, and had dined and drunk at his:house, and he only
got these things at his earnest request.
The Assistant Judge said this was a most aggravated case
as regarded Pearson, and he must express his surprise that
8144 firms as have been mentioned should have in their

catalogues and sell such works as these, The catalogues
issued by Pearson appeared to have been widely and exten-
sively circulated, He had not the slightest excuse for doing
so, as he was in employment, and with a good income, while
for his own advantage he was circulating these infamous
publications throughout the kingdom. A large number of
persons were joined together and used the greatest exertions
for the purpose of extending principles of morality amongst
the people, but here was the source of poison which might
carry ruin into the families of all. The court would but ill
discharge its duty if it did not pass upon Pearson a severe
sentence, which was that he be imprisoned and kept to hard
labour for 12 months. As regarded Paul his offence was
not so bad, and the sentence of the court was that he be
imprisoned and kept to hard labour for six months.

It was also ordered that the attention of the book auc-
Loneers should be drawn to their catalogues.

Brutal Assault by a Schoolmaster,

Edgar Glennie Smith, a schoolmaster residing at Becken-
ham, was summoned yesterday at the Bromley petty ses-
sions, of which Mr. Alderman Wilson was chairman, for
having on the 12th inst. unlawfully assaulted and beaten a
little boy eight years of age, named Robert W. Ruck, son
of Mr NV. Ruck, a solicitor, residing at Grocers' Hall.
Mr Sergeant Ballantine appeared for the prosecution, and
Mr It. Adams for the defendant.
The case excited a considerable amount of interest, and
the small room at the Bell Inn in which the magistrates
meet SVF,A crowded to excess during the hearing.

Mr Sergeant Ballantine, in opening the case, said that
the summons was taken out under the 24th and 25th of
Victoria, which gave to the magistrates the power of sum-
marily dealing with cases of this description in a manner
which they had not previously possessed. The defendant
was a gentleman keeping a private educational establish-
ment at Beckenham, and the complainant a child, eight
years of age, who had been placed under his care. The
father of the complainant, being desirous of sending two
of his sons to an establishment where they would be taken
care of, sent them down to Mr. Smith's school. As one of
the sons was of delicate health, suffering from glandular
swellings, it was considered necessary that they should be
sent to a school where they would be treated with the
greatest kindness. Accordingly the boys were sent to the
defendant's school on the express understanding that per-
sonal chastisement was on no account to be resorted to. and
it was upon the assurance that Mr. Smith would only use
persuasion and endeavour to win the love of the boys
that they were sent to his establishment. Notwithstand-
ing this, however, the conduct of the defendant towards
the younger boy was such as to render him unfit to
have tho charge of children, and which he could not
but term brutal in the extreme, The boy was set
to learn lessons, and because he was unable to ac-
complish them to the satisfaction of the defendant, he
flew at him and beat him unmercifully about the face and
head, so as for a time to completely shatter his nervous sys-
tem. His head, face, and ears were fearfully bruised, and
although he was immediately placed under medical care the
marks of violence had not yet disappeared. The ordinary
excuse which schoolmasters put forward in such cases could
not be used hare, inasmuch as Mrs. Ruck—being of opinion
that personal chastisement did very little good to children—
had expressly stated that it should not be used to her boys ;
and in consequence of 111 r. Smith's statement that he never
flogged his pupils she had been induced to send her sons to
his schools. The conduct, however, of the defendant on the
day in question was more like that of an Irish labourer
having no control over his temper than that of a man who
had charge of the education of children, The elder boy,after
his brother had been beaten, found means of writing to his
mother and relating the circumstances. The father, imme-
diately upon being made acquainted of the fact, went down
to the school, took his son away, and placed him under
medical care. He would call evidence to prove the state in
which the boy was found by his parents. His client brought
this case forward simply on public grounds, and he trusted
the Bench would so deal with it as to make it an example
to others who had the care of children.
Mrs. Esther Ruck, the mother of complainant, deposed
that her youngest son was of delicate health, suffering from
enlargement of the tonsils. When she first saw defendant
she asked whether his boys were ever beaten, as she strongly
objected to that mode of punishment. He replied that they
never were, remarking that he began by making a boy love
him. She consequently sent her cons on the 13th April.
On the 12th of May she received a letter from her eldest
boy, who stated that his brother had been severely beaten
by the defendant. Her husband immediately fetched
him from the school, when she found some bruises about
his head and face, his ears being completely black ; there
were also marks over his nose and neck, and his eyes were
also blackened. She communicated with Dr. Jefferson,
who immediately attended him. His nervous system was
much shattered by the treatment ho had received, and
when he moved about he complained of giddiness and pains
in the head. She could hardly say that he had recovered
now. Two other medical gentlemen, Mr. Barford, of
Wokingham, and Mr. Burney, of Croydon, had also at-
tended him.

in cross-examir alien by Mr. Adams, the witness said
she had distinctly told the defendant and his sister that her
son was suffering from ill health and must not be beaten.
Esther Ann Ruck, the daughter of the last witness, who
was present at the first interview with the defendant,

corroborated her mother's evidence in every particular.
Robert Ruck, the complainant, deposed that on the 12th
inst. ho was unable to do the work set him by Mr. Smith,
who consequently struck him on the head and lace with
his hands, repeating it about 30 times. He tried his beat
to do the task, but was unable.

From the evidence of Dr. Jefferson, Mr. Barford, and

Mr. Burney, it appeared that the boy had been most bru-
tally handled, and that his health had thereby been consi

derably impaired for some time. The bruises which they
found on his head, neck, and ears, must have been caused
by extreme violence.
Mr. W. Ruck, the father of the complainant, deposed to
having, in consequence of a letter from his eldest son, gone
down to the defendant's school at Beckenham, when he
found his youngest boy in the state already described.
In cross examination he admitted having used very

strong language towards the defendant, and threatened to
knock him down, remarking that the Wet° in which he
found his son made him lose all control over his temper.
Mr. Garrard, the boy's grandfather, corroborated the
statements of the former witnesses, with regard to the in-
juries inflicted on the complainant.
For the defence, Mr. Adams called

The defendant's sister, who stated that the was present
when Mrs. Ruck first saw her brother, and she did not
hear him say that he never beat his boys.

Robert Farquhar, an assistant to the defendant, said that
he had assisted in teaching Robert Ruck, aid bad found
hint to be an obstinate boy, and deserved the thrashing
which the defendant had given him.

Five boys, named Henry Wilson, William Grove Parker
ISl‘Crea, henry Ilot, and Carlton Adams, were called, and
stated that the complainant had not been severely beaten,
having o-ly received a just punishment, which they would
not have objected to themselves.

In cross-examination by Mr Sergeantßallantine, M'Crea
admitted that the defendant had previously told him to say
that Robert Ruck had not been much hurt, and that ho de-
served the punishment.

Mr Ottawell 'Witte; field, of Sheen, with whom the de-
fendant had been a teacher for some years, and the Rev. W.
Chalmers, rector of Beckenham, spoke to the defendant's
character, stating that they believed him to be a quiet, good-
tempered man, and could net account for his having beaten
the boy Ruck.

Mr Sergeant Ballantine having replied upon the whole
case,

The magistrates retired, and after an absence of about a
quarter of an hour, returned, and fined the defendant £5.
There was a counter summons taken out by the defend-
ant Smith against Mr Ruck for an illegal alleged assault,
arising out of Mr Ruck having shaken his fist in the de-
fendant's face.

After a brief consultation, however, with Mr Sergeant
Ballantine, Mr Adams consented to withdraw it.
The parties then left the court.

Another Benefit Society in Trouble.

At the Southwark Police Court yesterday, Mr Ody, the
solicitor, of Trinity. street, Borough, attended with a poor
man to ask for a summons against the treasurer and
trustees of the Helping Hand Benefit Society, held at
the Watertuau's Arms, Barnham-street, Tooley-street, to
show cause why they neglected and refused to pay his client
John Huggine, a free member, a certain amount due to him
from the sick fund of the society,
Mr. Ody said his client was a very poor man, and some
few years ago was induced to become a member of the Help-
ing Hand Benefit Society on account of the high promises
set forth in their book of rules. He paid his contributions
regularly, and considered himself entitled to any benefits
alluded to in the rules, one of which sot forth that any mem-
ber becoming sick shall be entitled to 10s. a week for so long
a time. His client unfortunately for himself became sick a
short time ago, and was compelled to declare himself on the
sick fund, He received the weekly sum regularly for a few
weeks, but all at once it was stopped, and when he went to
the society to know the reason, he was told that he had
been expelled because he had broken one of the rules of the
society by being out of his house beyond the hours specified
in the rules. He explained that the poor man was in want
of a loaf of bread, and while he was gone to a baker's near
his house for one, he was met by one of the stewards, and
he reported the circumstance to the society, and on that sole
account he was expelled.
The Clerk read the rule in question, and observed that
there could be no doubt that the rule applied to members
following some employment. It could never have contem-
plated a poor man being expelled for buying a loaf of bread.
Mr, Ody was of the same opinion, and he contended
that
it was a hard case for this poor man. These societies, if
allowed to go on uncontrolled by the law, would be a curse
to the poor man instead of a benefit. Therefore he hoped
his worship would grant the summons applied for.
The Clerk—ls the society enrolled according to Act of
Parliament, and are the rules certified by Mr. 1 idd Pratt?
Mr. Ody, after examining them carefully, replied in the
negative.
The Clerk told hire that as such was the case the magis-
trate could not interfere, ge millet go to the County Court,

SPYRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS,

---- -.a-

TIMES.—The wearisome but inevitable prelimin-
aries being et an end, the Conference has at last
entered on the business of pacification. Whether its
success will be equal to its good will remains to be
seen. This depends almost wholly on the spirit
in which the German Powers receive the compro-
mise which the neutral States have submitted to
the belligerents. It is proposed that Holstein and
that part of Schles wig which contains a German
population should be definitely annexed to the Ger-
man Confederation. What is to be the extent of
this State, who is to be its Governor, what relation,
if any,it is to bear to the Danish Monarchy, are
questions on which opinions may be divided, and
which, at any rate, have not yet been formally ex-
amined, for the hare proposal so to divide one of the
Duchies was sufficient for a single meeting of an
assembly of which promptitude is certainly not a
conspicuous quality. It can hardly be said that
the scheme of a personal union finds much favour
with any party. The Danes are against it; the
inhabitants of the Duchies look upon it as likely to
lead to a revival of the alleged oi,pressions exercised
during the late King's reign ; and Europe generally
judges that to create a stir' larger Holstein, with a
divided allegiance and antagonistic authorities,
would be only to sow the seeds of future disquiet.
We may then presume twat the meaning of the neu-
trals, or of this country, at least, was that the Ger-
man population of the Duchies should be severed
from Denmark by being placed under an indepen-
dent Sovereign chosen by themselves, or succeeding
according to hereditary right. Whether the Prince
of Augustenberg or any other scion of German
Royalty shall be the chosen of the Ccnference or of
the Schleswig-Holsteiners is a matter of indifference
as soon as it is admitted that a part of the disputed
territory is to be finally separated from Denmark.
Nor can we suppose thatthe precise limits of the new
German State have been fixed upon by any of the
representatives. If the Duchy be divided according
to race and language, it is easy enough to point out
a portion which must be German and a portion
which ought certainly to be left Danish ; but between
these two there is the much-contested district which
has been the cause of most of the bad blood between
German and Dane. In all but the most northern
region of the Duchy there are Germans to be found,
and even in parte where the Danes are the majority
there are not only Germans scattered about the
country, but congregated around little centres so as
to form communities having a public opinion and
capable of taking part in public life. To draw the
line, therefore, between the hostile races will be a
matter of no little difficulty. While a mere cutting
off of the southern districts of Schleswig 'and an
annexation of them to Holstein would leave thou-
sands of German families shut out from their cher-
ished nationality, a line drawn much north of
Flensburg would undoubtedly include a great num-
ber of thorough Danes, and make them follow most
unwillingly the fortunes of the new Dachy. The
reception, however, of this proposal by the repre-
sentatives of the belligerents was such as scarcely to
encourage the neutrals to enlarge on details. We
are afraid that neither Austria and Prussia on the
one side, nor Denmark on the other, gave reason to
hope that the well-meant proposition which received
the sanction of this country was looked upon with

favour by them. It may be that the Germans heard
with suspicion the desire expressed that they should
abandon their scheme of a fortress on the Eider and
should not consent not to fortify Kiel. These pro-
positions were made on Saturday, and formed part
of the plan for dividing the Duchy of Schleswig.
What may be the purpose of the neutrals in urging
this we are unable to say. It seems to us that it
Southern Schleswig be made German the Eider will
be a purely German river, and the right of the
Confederation to place a fortress on it can hardly be
contested by any foreign States. As little does the
fortification of Kiel seem a scheme which should
excite any suspicion on the part of foreigners, or
justify their demanding of Germany that the project
should be abandoned. Kiel is the best harbour
which Germany would possess in the Baltic. It is
the harbour which would be the headquarters of a
national fleet, if ever one should come into exis•
tence. For years it has been coveted by Germany
for this one purpose, and if it passed into their pos-
session, and became a station for any frigates or
steamers of the future, the Germans would natu-
rally be as anxious to place it in security as we
ourselves are with respect to Portsmouth. They
might fancy that on their fleet depended their
whole power in the Baltic, and this fleet would not
be safe unless they had the means of making their
chief harbour secure against an attack from the
navies of England or Russia. But whether these
matters influenced the belligerent representatives,
or whether the project of allowing Denmark to re-
tain ar.y part of Schleswig was in itself inadmis-
sible, the Prussian and Austrian plenipotentiaries
merely undertook to refer it to their respective Go-
vernments. Then came on their part the counter-

proposition which has been for some time expected.
A few weeks since something like jealousy reigned
between the two allies, Austria, which had never
entered into the war so enthusiastically as her

neighbour, began to conceive that she had been led
on by the wily Bismark in order to aggrandise
her hereditary rival. The Prussians, who had been
eclipsed by Me Austrians during the early part of
the eaeapaiga, no sooner captured the position of
Ds hbol than they were suspected of forming de-
signs unworthy of the disinterested spirit in which
they professed to have begun the war. To extend
the Prussia❑ States into the Danish peninsula,

and to cccupy by right of conquest the territory
from which they had forced the vanes, was the pro
ject attributed to theta; and this belief was so ge-
neral as to force us to the conclusion that it was not
altogether unfounded. We cannct but think that
there were persons at Berlin who were disap-
pointed to dud how much such a scheme received

the oppositicn of Aus`ria and excited the of
the smiler States. But if the project was seriously
enter rained it has now been completely abandoned.

The King of Prussia seems to have found that if he
wishes for the "hegemony" of Germany he must
not begin by seizing for his own use conquests
made in the name of the Fatherland. The two
allies have been recaociled, and have returned to
their old affection for legitimate right. The gainer
by this renewed unity of view is the Prince of Au-
goatee burg. This Prince has played a part suffi-
ciently politic since the Danish quarrel became
serious At first he entered Holstein with the
occupying army, and received the homage of his
would-be subjecte, But when the allied armies
began the campaign, and he received a significant
hint to desist from pressing his pretensions, he re-
turned to comparative retirement, and thus avoided
acquiring the of those who were able to make
or mar his fortunes. The Prince is now reaping the
fruits of his prudence. To his hereditary claims
to the favour of the inhabitants is now added the
support of the two victorious antagonists of Dan-
mark. After considerable discussions, both Prussia
and Austria have agreed in urging his claims to the
three Duchies of Schleswig., Holstein, and Lauen-
burg, on the ground that the Treaty of 1852 has
been set aside, and that the Prince is the legitimate
heir to the throne of all three. A proposition to
this effect was made on Saturday at the Conference,
and formed the counter 'proposition to that which
found favour with the neutrals. Ofcourso, the Danes
were instant in their rejection, but they, too, have
referred home, and the Conference meets again on
Thursday for them to bring forward their own pro-
posal. Thus there is at leant this gained, that each
party has made, or is about to make, its proposal,
the belligerents being likely on each aide to ask
more than they expect or will be content to take.
For our own part, we cannot see anything better
than some such compromise as has been suggested
by the British Government. To divide the people
of the Duchies according to their race and 13nguage
is the best way of composing disputes which arise
from the administration of a people's affairs by
officials who are strangers in speech and manners.
There can be no disgrace to the Danish Court if it
accepts this ; nor, on the other hand, can the Ger-
man part of the Duchy complain if a certain num•
ber of Danes are allowed to remain in the Monar-
chy in which they have been born and bred. Pro-
bably, if Prussia and Austria agree to this project,
the resistance of Denmark may be overcome; but
should they persevere and demand the Danish por-
tion of Schleswig for the Prince of Augustenburg
in the name of hereditary right, a contest may re•
commence likely soon to grow dangerous to the
peace of Europe.
POST.—The causes of the frequent rebellions of
the natives of New Zealand against English rule
are by no means so recondite as the speeches of some
of those who joined in the debate in the House of
Lords last evening would lead us to believe.
Scarcely any nation ever yet ousted another—
whether by fair means or foul—from its territorial
possessions without from time to time being obliged
to employ violence to secure the fruits of its pos-
sibly easy and peaceful conquests. 'the tale of our
New Zealand colonisation is one with which in all its
essential particulars we have been long since made
familiar. It is the old struggle for supremacy
between a civilised and a savage race which in our
own persons we have waged before in every quarter
of the globe, The Anglo-Saxon is driving out the
barbarian, and, however the process may be Effected,
however various the means which are employed, the
result must always be one and the same. Some
races gradually vanish, and are silently absorbed,
without making an effort to avert their inevitable
fate; whilst others, either more conscious of the
dangers to which they are exposed, or more ener-
getic, make spasmodic but vain attempts to preserve
their existence. Of the two classes, examples are
furnished in the Australian continent and its ad-
joining islands; for whilst in the former the

aboriginal inhabitants disappear before the advance
of the settler and make no sign, in the latter tbeY
challenge his pretensions, dispute with him inch by
inch the territory which he covets, cud
sacrifice their lives in efforts to arrest his progress'
The New Zealanders are a hardy and a resolute
race ; and when, upwards of five.andstwentY
years ago, British colonists first settled on the,l,r,
shores, careful observers predicted that the tasA
which the settlers were preparing for them-
selves was one of no ordinary difficulty. Indeed,
so deeply rooted did this conviction become,
that the Home Government, then directed by
Lord Melbourne, used its influence to arrest the
scheme of colonising New Zealand. Its efforts,
however, were vain, end from that time to the
present it has been cue long struggle for pre''
eminence between the immigrant and the native
population. Whatever course we had pursued►
whatever might have been the policy we had
adopted, it may be regarded as an accepted fac',
that the New Zealand race never could have been
amalgamated with our own, and never would have
given way to the slowly but surely increasing nel°;
vial population without some such efforts to assert
its independence as that which we are now in self'
defence ccmpelled by force of arms to repress. var
government in New Zealand may have been faulty,
but, even if it had been unexceptionable, the,
Maories would sooner or later have rebelled.
Although, however, rebellion in New Zealand
might be considered as a necessary evil of sndea:
vouring to colonise that country, it is not the lees'
incumbent on the British Govenment to adopt every
means which seems calculated to reconcile the OW
flicting claims of the colonists and the natives. "
cannot be denied that the Government have been
most desirous of conciliating the aboriginal populbes;
tion ; but it is very questionable whether the
method has been pursued to gain that end. Whe
the first rebellion was suppressed, in 1847, the
colonial authorities exercised almost absolute con-
trol in the administration of affairs, and there are
those, amongst whom is Earl Grey, who attribute
the recent disturbances to the modifications intr.
duced in this form of government. A large section
of the colonists demanded representative institutions
and a responsible Government, and their demands
were complied with. An act was passed in tae
year 1852 by the Imperial Parliament, creating, sr,
to speak, a constitution for the colony, and giv,,il4"
to the settlers the institutions they desired. or
fortunately, however, some of the principal adnil'
nistrative offices were made elective, and the exeere
tive power was thus placed in the hands of the
settlers, whilst a short time afterwards the auth.o,
rities were made responsible to the Colonial Legir
lature. This, Earl Grey maintains, was a grave
error, nor was it redeemed by the seeming shas,
'
given to the native population in the add:1101,S„
o
tration of affairs. It is probable that, bad tu
absolute regime been persisted in, and bad the
supreme power not been placed in the hands h'
class which had the strongest motives for abusi%
it to the prejudice of the native population, rnattert
might, for a time at least, have followed a differen_.
course. But, as we have already observed, sonnet
cr later the Maories would have become alarmed. %
their gradually waning influence, and would
appealed to arms. Whatever the form of gos'er"t
meat, or in whatever hands it was placed, the gr,EB,
point in dispute between the colonists and the avc::l
rigines would equally have remained to be decide
ci
namely, the right of possession in the soil. As /
Lyveden expressed it, the settlers desire to acquire
the land and the natives to keep it, and these ee't
flicting desires cannot both be satisfied. A o°s,
important question, however, was raised last ev,e-.,6
mg, which, though not hitherto overlooked, 11,0
never elicited a final reply. By whom should the
expenses of these repeated wars be borne—by tut
mother country or by the colony ? A loan is ab°ello
being raised to defray the expenses entailed by twl
present Maori rebellion, and the proposal that 't
should be guaranteed by the Horse Governree%
naturally presses this matter on our considerations',
a most practical form. However interested tPi
mother country may be in the preservation of
colonies, it is apparent that it is the primary dnt
the colonist to protect themselves. If, with a T.l•is
to their own personal advantage, a number of Erl'„s
to
eaed
subjects choose to settle in what may be regal.
as an enemy's country, they should be preparedly
bear the risks incidental to such a venture in cue,
sideration of its prospective advantages. If tb
are compelled to make war with the natives in erd
e'r
to maintain their already acquired possessions, tele
are not entitled to call upon those whom they haw;
left behind in the old country to pay the eigllei%is
of a war projected for their exclusive benefit. i."O,
was fully recognised by Lord Granville last 2ce,o
ing. The colonists, he said, were bound to meet l';G,
charges of the present war, and, should not hePer
suppress the rebellion at the expense of the rtlet"."ts
country. This is reasonable; and if the colerll'at
in New Zealand think otherwise, and suppose til."11
English taxpayers will pay their debts, they '
find themselves mistaken.