The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-10 00:00:00

obtain their solution— somehow. Questions,
enigmatical to the last degree many of them,

are to get answered as best they may, any-
haw : whether satisfactorily or unsatisfactorily
remains to be seen. Difficulties, however tortuously
involved in the cunning webs woven about them by
antagonistic and unsympathetic diplomatists, are to
work out—if they can—their own disentanglement.
England turns with hopeless bewilderment and
with mutterings of suspicion, from the mere sug-
gestion of a Congress—that might (there is no deny-
ing this), if ably conducted, have led to a pacific
readjustment of differences! And, despairing thus of
any good coming from any such Congress,
England
tea ves everything to the chances of—War What-
over may now come of these long standing and still
existing, and some of them more than ever urges f,
differences—France may, with a certain show of
reason, charge England with having, by her rej,,,,,i,
war without
accuse France, cannot possib y
rendered war inevitable—Ed
effort whatever in
to discover
into
EMPEROR ofm akpilunnggainnyg
previously
pbaypnosdsiisbeitilivtsyin,nbe avoided
e over the
council board of a Congress among the
if
fy
mweaarn s might
of certain pacific not,
Nations. By entering into these sngges ted discus-
sloes at the council board of the Congress, England
would in no way whatever have t (1 sOO A pledged (any
more than would France herself)
to any decision at
all upon any single point under ld'
semssion.
It is idle to insinuate th t F
a ranee, 1)y suggesting this
Congress, was digging a trap CC r England, or for
any other of the Powers of ci
Ch •
-, stendom. If digging
a trap for any one, she was equally digging a trap
for herself. France, es a continental Power, is
more directly affected thari. England, as an insular
Power, can possibly be, by the various difficulties
agitating the family of the European nations. The
Danish Question, by re ason of its complication with
the Germanic Questi on, is brought to the very
threshold of France geographically. The Italian
Question affects France far more intimately in
many ways than it can possibly affect England.
It does so for orm reason, because France is what
England is not, a Catholic Power, the Catholic
Power, after Italy, as the Eldest Daughter of
Catholicism. It does so for another reason,
because France, during the reign of the
EMPEROR NAPOLEON 111., has shed her blood
(which England has not), has squandered her gold
(which England has not), in vindication of the
political rights and national independence of Italy.
It does so, for yet another reason, one more potent
still to the comprehension of all Christendom—
because France has an armed garrison at Rome—
France being thereby most intimately affected (as
England could not possibly be) by the mere discussion
of the Italian Question at this proposed Congress.
Finally—is it not obvious that France would have
appeared necessarily in a far more isolated character
at the council board of any such Congress than Eng-
land could possibly have done—because, as Nero-
LEON 111. long ago remarked, so modestly to all ap-
pearance, yet in truth so haughtily, he is a parvenu
among the Sovereigns—because as he just now said
to each of these Sovereigns he is the one to whom
ambitious motives have been mainly attributed
throughout Christendom—because he is, as we have
already observed, at the bead of the greatest military
power upon the continent—because he is a crowned
democrat—in a word, because he is a NAPOLEON.
England, however, through her judicious and
courteous Foreign Secretary, has declined point-
blank to take part in the Congress proposed by the
French EMPEROR. The alternative submitted to
Europe by the French EMPEROR comes back, there-
fore, rather vividly just now upon the general re-
membrance. If by declining to take part in a Congress
we do not actually " cry havoc and let slip the dogs
of war"—at any rate we refuse to attempt the
adjustment of stronger leashes than the old ones in
which thou) dogs have been so long and so fiercely
straining.

The news from Germany does not afford any
indication of a speedy or pacific solution of the
difficulties with Denmark. The Federal Diet has,
it seems, passed the resolution for Federal execution
in Holstein, for which many of the representatives
of the smaller States have been eagerly pressing.
The motion, it is true, was only passed by a small
majority, but, nevertheless, it is a decisive step, and
one likely to hasten the crisis that, thanks to the
stubbornness and shortsightedness of the Germans,
appears to be well-nigh inevitable. The Diet re-
serves to itself the settlement of the question of the
succession, being content to leave that matter in
abeyance so long as it has sufficient excuse for
coercing Danmark without pressing for ward the
claims of the Prince of A UGUSTENBURG. At the
same sitting of the Diet it was proposed by some of
the minor members that neither King CHRISTIAN
nor his rival should be recognised as ruler of
Lauenburg, bat that the Diet should retain the
administration of that duchy in its own hands.
This proposal, according to the usual form, was

referred to the committee, but it is difficult to see
what grounds it is based upon, since Austria and
Prussia were themselves compelled to admit that
the claim of King CHRISTIAN to Lauenburg was
indisputable, and the conduct of tho inhabitants of
the duchy affords no pretext for interference. The
KING. has already expressed his sense of their fidelity
to his throne, as offering a favourable contrast to
the proceedings of their more turbulent neighbours.
At the close of last week a meeting was held in
the duchy of the nobility, peasantry, and mem-
bers of the Assembly, at which a resolution was
passed declaring their intention to remain faith-
ful to Denmark, and to recognise King CHRISTIAN.
The conduct of Austria is anything but satisfac-
tory The Emperor has suffered the Danish Ex-
tra°, •
&
, nary Ambassador to quit Vienna without
ein .
Rreceived at Court, although his office was to
I::telifiYghtht ieaccession of the new King. So marked
certainly significant o(mischief, and
follows strap
Ivßely on the withdrawal of the patent
of the 30th
It is not easy to understand
the views of koallt'i
in this matter. She is acting
reap
ponsistency and duplicity, and
with her wonted
in a strife which •
may chance to
pleasant results from her
part
aue
ve,,,raylittle real concern
sede.ral execution in
for her. In encourabain
nous responsibility,
herself
y wanitdh
useful En-
sheroibe taabnidyeretmakbirungiiinz
to exp how it
Holstein
and very p
queu%eesB,tePT:te
Eng-
land, whose alliance is most tee,„„or
to her. She will find it difficult
reeenuttaiotinveinat
lithoeiapte
encouraged
was that her rep
the project of exec
tone adopted by the two great German powhich no one can foresee the conse
wers
with reference to the pretensions of the Prince of
ATIGUSTENB URG indicated moderation and good
sense ; but the favourable signs were of brief dura.
tion, and the Governments appear to have already
yielded to the foolish clamour of the people. It is
certainly tempting to transform an unpopular Ad-
ministration into the leaders of the people by sup-
porting those views of pretended liberty and real
ambition which all Germany has gone mad about.
The Austrian Emperor, however, does not seem to
be much inclined to stand popular suggestions, to
judge by his reception of the Municipal Council
of
his capita]. A deputation having presented
41131 with a • •
petition relative to the much-vexed
question of the Danish
duchies, FRANCIS JOSEPH
I aßsatzd the members of
his detercui..ation to fulfil

his duties as a Prince of the Confederation, but
politely intimated to them his opinion that it would
be much better if they restricted their energies to
the consideration of municipal questions. It is to
be feared that the influence of Prussia will have
some weight on the Austrian Government, and so
long as Kiel remains the, object of Prussia's ambi-
tions, and Herr von. RISMARK retains the office of
First Minister
t A Austria
s t rtihaa taillfi influence
Prussia
sure to be mise,n'iv
ire prepared for the consequences
of
the as
and(i( them
hasty step to which they are now
neitherrgiving th'Jir sanction. The order for the advance
of the, 7.:s'ederal troops into Holstein was despatched
inarc'ediately on the passing of the resolution in the
1 Liet, and Denmark, as we have known for some
time, has expressed her intention of regarding such
an act as a casus Mil. The withdrawal of the royal
patent leaves the complainants entirely without
excuse, and that act indicated a spirit of concilia-
tion and desire for a pacific settlement which it is
bat too evident is not reciprocated by the German
Powers, small or great. There seems now but little
hope of avoiding hostilities, though if we reckon on
the proverbial tardiness of Federal movements, there
is still room for diplomacy to make another effort.
Unfortunately, it is impossible for Denmark to
satisfy Prussia without surrendering the port ot
Kiel, and as she will not, of course, do that, the
Schleswig-Holstein question, whose very name has
become a bugbear to politicians, has not been heard
the last of. Earl RUSSELL, to whose extraordinary
conduct last year much of the present complication
may be attributed, had better follow up the despatch
in which he disposed of the pretensions of the Prince
of AUGUSTENBURG, by another communication re-
minding the German Governments of the obliga-
tions which they incurred by the Treaty of 1852,
and the right which England has to expect that
they will abide by their engagements. If Austria
and Prussia support Federal execution in Holstein
and Lanenburg they are certainly not observing
their guarantee of the integrity ot Denmark; and
it would be well to convince them that, although
their memories may be conveniently short, England
has a more faithful recollection of the terms of the•
agreement solemnly ratified by most of the Euro-
pean Powers.

A curious case was tried at the Southwark
police-court on Tuesday. A poor woman was
proved to be determined to get into prison, and
for this purpose she employed herself in smash-
ing windows. She made a regular system of
this, as it was shown that she gained her end
in a surprising manner. She had been convicted
before for destroying a considerable quantity of
glass, and had been sentenced to six mouths'
hard tabour. From this she was only discharged
on Monday, and now recommenced her game.
Grown reckless by success, however, she had
become a little incautious, and actually went su
far as to tell one of the witnesses that while at
Wandsworth she had " gammoned " the autho-
rities. Her list of luxuries is sufficient to create
astonishment in the minds of those initiated into
the mysteries of these arch-deceivers, and will
excite the just indignation of all capable of re-
cognising the incongruity of such occurrences.
The following is the communication made by the
prisoner—" She had daily half a pint of wine,
one pint of stout, a quart of milk, one quart of
tea, two eggs, one custard pudding, one pint of
beef tea, two oranges, eight ounces of bread and
butter, and four ounces of bread." Strange as
this may appear, it was corroborated by applica-
tion to the governor, and the relieving officer
very truly added that it was not to be wondered
at that she preferred the House of Correction at
Wandsworth to the workhouse. In a smart
sketch published some years ago, which satirised
the manner that prevaiied for pitying criminals, '
and affording to them the privileges denied to
the lowest and deserving members of society, it
was said—" Strange age that thus offers a pre-
mium, and surely if this sumptuous fare for crime"
is to be enjoyed by those who exercise their
skill in "smashing windows" the punishment
will scarcely hold a deterring influence suffi •
cient to render glass windows other than
very precarious property indeed. It was very truly
observed that she had great success in imposing
upon the medical authorities of prisons. It hi
greatly to be regietted that such things should
be permitted. Here is no isolated instance of
wrong-doing—no misdemeanour which arises from
temporary irritation or traceable misfortune—but
a systematic course of swindling which unfortu-
nately is suffered to succeed, and thus prove a
scandal to the treatment of offenders. In this case

is satisfactory to find that Mr. BURCHA3.I was a

match for the wily deceiver, and hardhearted
enough to prevent her enjoying the luxuries of
the suburban retreat she so delighted in. He
directed her to find bail for six months, and in
default to be committed to Horsemonger-lane gaol,
where he did not think the surgeon would be
" gammoned." Such was the proper treatment of
so notorious a cheat ; but it is worth while to con-
sider the defects of a system which gives rise to
these impostors, and is so rife with all kinds of
deception. The game is always being played by
such prisoners a, this JANE MAYOR; their name is
legion, and they abound in all places of criminal
resort. So long as the powers that be persist in
making prisoners as comfortable as they possibly
can, and supply abundantly to the thief, the mis-
creant, and the ruffian those comforts and luxuries
which are denied to the pauper, and unheard of by
suffering virtue and honest poverty out of doorai
so long will the avenues to the prison be thronged
with eager applicants, and the sombre entrance to
the grim abodes regarded ae the portals which lead
to the possession of unparalleled benefits. There is
something very unsound in this system, and it
is time that we should dispel the illusion that
has hitherto surrounded us in regard to this ques-
tion. Let prisoners who are really 13;ck or suffering
be treated with care, consideration, and kindness.
No needful alleviation should be refused, and no
necessary means denied, but due restrictions ought
to be imposed, and where the line is drawn which
declines to afford luxuries to the distressed, it should
leave unsupplied the prisoner and not the pauper.
The commission of crime and the perpetration of
minor offences must not convey a carte blanche to
the offenders to seize on all the alleviations which
the authorities can bestow. It is really quite out of
character that such impostors as this woman referred
to above should be suffered with impunity to out-
rage public propriety time after time, and her re-
tribution should be an entrance to comparative
comfort, and an enjoyment of luxuries that many a
mother would give the world to obtain for her
Booking child, and many a starling family would
nl`ne°in, It is es well that this should have
occurred; it
may perchance open the eyes of those
well-meaning
persona who have been so grossly
deceived by Ruch
specious pretenders and would-be
martyrs.
Allowing for the sake of argument that
her illness, as she called it, required such careful
treatment, the best lesson for
her would have been
to d ss her from the
Prison altogether, and then
inni
she would not have been a burden upon funds re-
quired for worthier persons. Ti .
&ere 18 no more
cruel injustice to tie deserving than
to encourage
crime in the Way tam is now so prevalent; there is