The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-29 00:00:00

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plan has been recommended to the Princes at
Frankfort. It is in this, however, that its weak-
ness consists. It is rejected by the democrats, cen-
sured by the professors, and found unpalatable by
Young Gera.any generally on account of its aristo-
cratic features_ The Princes in person are to rule
in the Confederation. The Federal Council is only
an adjunct to the Directory of six. The Assembly
o+: Popular Delegates is to be simply a deliberative,
not a legislative body; it is to be chosen by the
Diets, and not by direct election from the people ;
it is only to meet once in three years, and its reso-
lutions must pass through the ordeal of an Assembly
of Princes. To give the chief power to such an
assembly would be to place the German people over
the German Sovereigns, a proceeding in every way
inexpedient, and one which those Sovereigns are
certainly not inclined to sanction. The great objec-
tion to this plan of reform is its onesidedness, its
being an Austrian scheme, and giving greater influ-
ence to the South than to the North of Germany.
The rivalry between Austria and Prussia is now
more pronounced than ever, and so long as Prussia
refuses her adhesion to it, it is difficult to understand
how any such alteration of the constitution of the
German Bond can pass into law, and be accepted by
Germany. If all the states but Prussia should agree
to tit would be tantamount to a splitting'of Germany
into two halves, instead of promoting anything like
political unity. All the voting and all the resolu-
tions at Frankfort are null and void in presence
of the stubborn fact that the King of Prussia,
although twice invited to the Conference, refuses to
attend it, or to have anything at all to do with its
deliberations. The memorial presented on the 3d
of August by the Emperor of Austria to the King
of Prussia at Gastein, after urging with much force
the necessity for a federal reform, admits that the
will of Prussia may legally and in fact prevent it.
But the other Princes, it is maintained, may cause
such a reform to be accepted in their states, and
may "give the most extended application to the
right of free union." If by this it is meant that
the smaller states may become confederate with
Austria to the exclusion of Prussia, then cleariy
this reform would involve the disruption instead of
the reconstruction of the present Confederation.
Nor can we believe that, even if the Princes had
been argued over into the belief that it was advis-
able for them to bind themselves together under the
leadership of the Southern power their diets or peo-
ples would ever be induced to take that view of
their interests. Such a confederation might suit
Bavaria and Wurtemburg, it would never be ac-
ceded to by any state in Northern Gemany.

Legacy to Queen Victoria---Singular Legal
Proceedings.

A singular case has just been brought before the Tribunal
of the Seine. It appears that a lady, a native of London,
who was married first to a rich English gentleman, was
married a second time to a French nobleman, Count de Silly.
She died in October last, and in her will, which contained
numerous legacies, was the following bequest :—" I bequeath
to her Majesty the Queen of England a sum of 100,000 fr.,
to be employed for the benefit of the London poor." The
several legatees and the executors wrote to the English am-
bassador to acquaint him with the fact, information of which
was in due time transmitted to her Majesty, who decided to
accept the legacy. One of the legatees then insinuated that
her Majesty should let the relatives have the money. The
English legal authorities were consulted, and they gave tho
opinion that the relatives had no right to the money of
which the Queen was the sovereign dispenser, unless they
came under the category of the poor. The general legatees
then required the royal signature legally affixed to a formal
document, and they proceeded to summon the Queen to ap-
pear on the 2d of July, either in person or by procuration.
The summons was sent on the 22d June. The case then
came:before the Tribunal of the Seine, the plaintiff applying
that an order should be made for the payment of the legacy
to her Majesty's ambassador. The legal representatives of
her Majesty proceed to contend that the money should be
paid over to the ambassador, who was recognised by all legal
authorities, many of whom were quoted, as representing in
everything the person of his sovereign. A. precedent was
cited, in which a legacy to the Pope of an estate had been
given over to the Nuncio after some dispute. The ques-
tion, the advocate for the Queen contended, was not one
of private law, but of international law. The advocate
on the other side maintained that the legacy was made
to the Queen as a private individual, and the intentions of
the testatrix would not be carried out unless her Ma-
jesty became personally the almoner of the sum left at
her disposal. The ambassador represented his govern-
ment, that is, the Chambers of his country, the ministry,
and the royal person; but he could not represent one of
those parties separately from the rest. The French law
knew neither sovereigns nor ambassadors. The Queen
ought to submit to the requirements of that law, and to P°
her signature at the foot of a special and authentic procars-
tion. That was the only guarantee which the legatees
could have that the sum left had passed into the august
hands for which the testatrix had destined it.
The President of the Tribunal, M. Benoist, decided in
favour of her Majesty, saying that an ambassador repre-
sented his sovereign in a supreme degree, and that all he
said and did was substantially said and done by his
sovereign,

COUNTRY MARKETS.

.

LIVERPOOL—FRIDAY.
At this day's market the unfavourable state of the
weather imparted rather more firmness to the wheat trade,
and the transactions reported were at very full prices.
Barley, beans, and peas steady, and unaltered in value from
lormer rates. Oats and oatmeal as before. Flour a dos,/
trade, and must be quoted in favour of buyers. Indian
corn firm.

WAKEFIELD—FRIDAY.
To-day we have a quick sale for both new red and white
wheat, at rather more money than the extreme prices of
last week, and an improved demand for old sorts. Other
articles sell in retail.

STAMFORD—FRIDAY.
A good quantity of new wheat came to hand to-day, the
quality of which was very satisfactory. The demand was
steady, and prices is per qr lower. Barley at top prices.
—White wheat, 445.t0 48s ; red, 44s to 47s per 36 stone.
Barley, malting, 37s to 42s ; grinding, 30s to 32a per qr.
Oats, 24s to 268 per 24 stone. Beans, old, 41s to —a per
qr. ; new, 39s to —a.

EXETER—FRIDAY.
Wheat, white.. Cs 3d to 6s 4d Barley. 3s 6d to 4s 3d
Ditto red. ..... .6s Od to 6s 3d I Oats .........2s 9d to 3s Od
Flour, fine, 35s to 36s ; seconds,l34s to —s per sack.
1
Fat beef, p sc., 10s0d to 11s6d CATTLE
Ewes, per as .... 51d to 61d
Pork carcases, 7s Od to 8s Od Wethers, d 0....,,,. 7d to —d
Lamb, p 1b.......—d to —d Fat calves, d0...61d told.
Rough fat, 31d per lb.

BRISTOL SUGAR—FRIDAY.
The market this week has been healthier than for some
weeks past, and whilst importers are more firm, buyers
show increased confidence. Rum heavy, and some small
parcels of Demerara have brought is 6d to is 8d per proof
gallon ; Jamaica, 2s 10d.

Foreign Mail Packet List.

MAILS DUE.

Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton. ...... Sept. 18.
a Mar
..... Jrazil and Cape Verds, byvi British ipll ea
.... Sept. 12. acket. ...... . Sept. 3.
Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena.. Sept. 28.
China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton. Sept. 1.
via Marseilles ...Sept. 1.

.................
Falkland Islands
Gibraltar, via Southampton ............
.. . .... Se 1.
India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton.. Sept.pp 1
via Marseilles cept. 12.
India (Bombay), via Southampton ............ Sept. 10.
via Marseilles
Portugal....
Sept. 3.
Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Sept. 1.
via Marseilles Sept. 4.
Newfoundland .. Sept. 2.
'Oporto and Vigo
by U.S. packet....
U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet.... Sept. 2,
by Canadian packet. Aug. 28.
W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Tenerife .. Sept. 10.
Bahamas, via New York ........ Sept. 24.
Mexico
Al
Cal parts of West Indies, includins Chili, Peru,
Sept. 13.
lifornia. and British Columbia.. ......... )