The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-31 00:00:00

The fact stated by Sir WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, that,
out of 3,000 of his guns, no one has burst explosively,
is certainly testimony in his favour ; but the Com-
mittee frankly state that, while every witness has
borne testimony to the superior range and accuracy
of his guns, great doubts are felt whether they
would not prove too delicate and liable to disorder
to be extensively relied on in actual warfare. It
is, certainly, not much use to provide armies with
ordnance for experiments which will not serve for
a campaign ; and this objection, if well-founded, is
a very serious one. The details of the system the
Report does not, of course, enter into, merely stating
that the -weight of scientific evidence is against any
breech-loading system for the larger guns. The
Armstrong shell is universally admitted to be the
most succt esful, and in that Sir WILLIAM bears the
❑ndisputed palm. We hope this inquiry and
Report will lead to practical consequen2es, and
secure s reform and re-arrangement of our ordnance
system on a scientific, impartial, and satisfactory
basis. Enough has been already spent to secure to
England the pre-eminence in all such matters—a
superiority which her engineering skill and me-
chanical appliances ought surely to give her.

The interview of the King of SWEDEN with
,he King of DENMARK will doubtless produce

some effects. The particulars are strictly private
for the present, the Danish President of the

Council being the only other person present
After the interview of the Sovereigns the Presi

dent had a conference of an hour and a half with

,he King of SWEDEN. This intelligence is o

great importance, and the conference with the
-- - •

Minister seems, if possible, more significant than
even the interview with the King on the part of

:he Kirg of SWEDEN. It seems, too, that his

MAJESTY concurs with the Danish authorities in
the views they entertain in the present discussion,

and it is earnestly to be hoped that he will lend
them his aid and assistance in the difficult and

dangerous position in which they are placed

When we recollect the force of the expressions that
were used by Lord PAL3IERSTON the other night
in the HOUS3 of Commons, the state of affairs for

Denmark appears much more encouraging. The
noble lord could not have spoken in stronger terms
than those he employed on that occasion, and

doubtless the effect of his words has already been

very great. If the King of SWEDEN will render
his assistance, and employ his powers as a media'or
between the two parties, or at least testify his
intentions to be an ally, if circumstances should
make necessary any immediate succour, the result
cannot be otherwise than propitious. It is to be
hoped the Germanic Confederation will take heed
of these circumstances, and now withdraw their
absurd pretensions, and alter a line of conduct which
is based neither upon reason nor honour. If so, all
Europe will have cause to rejoice at the happy issue
of a long vexed question, and also at the removal of
an irritating subject of dispute that must eventu-
ally have drawn many other nations into the con-
flict and entailed the most serious consequences.
The Danes deserve great credit for the spirited way
in which, for so wary years, they have maintained
their own rights, and not given way in the face of
obstacles most difficult to overcome, and in spite of
an opposition that many more powerful states
would have thought it hopeless to compete
with. It is an instance of the value of persever-

ante, and if they eventually gain their point, its
success will be mainly due to their own native in-
dependence and daring evinced throughout. Meet-
ings between crowned heads are the fashion just
now. We learn that the Emperor of AUSTRIA is
likely to pay a visit to the King of PRUSSIA at
Gastein, in the early part of August. It is possible
that this visit may be of service, for it is well
known that the Emperor's views regarding Poland
are of a very favourable character to the right
cause, and his immense influence may be of essen-
tial service in the object of satisfactory adjustment,
which is desired by all well-wishers, The King of
PRUSSIA has now been some time in retirement.
He will have had leisure to reflect upon the conse-
quences of the changes and innovations that his
Ministers have effected in the Constitution of the
State, Perhaps an important personage now com-
muning with him may inform him of the deleteri-
ous effects that his tyrannical course has had on
the country, in the opinion of lookers-on in
neighbouring countries. It is with Poland,
however, more than with Prussia, that the Em-
peror of AUSTRIA can be of essential service.
Affairs have been much worse in that country
since the Prussians so strenuously supported the
Russians, and if the King could be led to see the
importance of terminating such a deplorable state
of things speedily, it might be of great benefit to
the cause of peace. At present it would seem as if
King WILLIAM was urging on the Government of
St. Petersburg to use their utmost vigour in restor-
ing order, and then to maintain discipline with
strong measures, assuring them of his faithful ad-
herence tlnd continued assistance. The French
papers assert that now Lords PALMERSTON and
RUSSELL have agreed to support energetically the
common actio❑ of the three Powers, and have for-
warded communications to that effect to Paris and
Vienna. If that is the case it is not likely that the
Austrian EMPEROR will now draw back, especially
when it is recollected how decided a stand vs as
taken by his Government a short time since, and
the reception of the Russian despatch. Altogether,
then, there is a chance of good resulting from this
meeting, and it is high time that some indirect in-
fluence be exerted, as it is evident that the prospect
of open assistance is very doubtful. It is dreadful
to contemplate this state of things going on much
longer in Poland, and unless some one takes an
especial interest in the welfare of this unhappy
land, and also possesses power to be of service as
mediator, no prospect of better days seems likely
to dawn.