The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-11 00:00:00

an impulse of vanity, but [here, at any rate, is plain
speaking again i] because lam a sovereign the most
credited with ambitious projects, and I have it at
heart to prove by a fre,nk and loyal step that my
131 e object is to arrive without a shock at the paci-
fication of Europe ." The last paragraph of the
telegram containing the text of the EMPEROR'S
letter offers to the acceptance of the Sovereigns,
the French capital as the place of rendezvous.
And the EMPEROR does this, it must be allowed,
with incomparable cleverness. Having remarked
with a gracicuy, air of courtesy, " If this proposition
be accepted, -I pray you to accept Paris as the place
of meeting," NAPOLEON adds, by way of explaining
his reason for naming Paris as the place of ren-
devous, q‘ Europe would perhaps see some Advan-
tage in the capital, whence the signal for overthrow
has Po many times issued, becoming the seat of
conferences destined to lay the basis of a general
pacification." While the telegraphic wires have
been thrilling under the waters of the Channel
these words of weightiest import, the Cabinet Coun •
cil has been sitting to decide as to the answer which
shall be returned to the French EMPEROR in the
name of the Sovereign of ENGLAND. And the
decision to be arrived at by the deliberations of the
Cabinet is one indeed of a most momentous
character, one fraught with most solemn responsi-
bilities. Waiting it in eager expectation—we can-
not but count with implicit confidence upon the full
appreciation of those responsibilities by the patriotic
statesmen to whose care has been confided, in the
Interests of the English Crown and of the English
people, the opening or the shutting of the gates of
the Temple of JANUS.

The services rendered by geographical discoverers
are too often accomplished at no small cost. We
are very ready to think that the glory of discovery,
the triumph of success, the reputation which a for-
tunate explorer acquires among his fellows, are
ample compensation for the toils, the hardships, and
the dangers of the task. There is no doubt that as
it is an enterprise undertaken almost more than any
other in obedience to a strong natural bent, so the
searcher is willing and ready to pass over a great
deal that less eager travellers might angrily resent,
or at least complain of very seriously. Still there
are wants to be felt and perils to be encountered,
which, however bravely borne, must occasion suffer-
ing and distress, which we who reap the benefit of
the knowledge thus hardly acquired should not
lightly estimate. The direction in which the atten-
tien of our geographers is now chiefly turned is
one replete with difficulty and danger; but although
we have to lament the untimely demise of many
valuable followers of science, yet the advantages of
carrying the blessings of civilisation into the heart
of a vast continent and the nations now sunk in the
depths of barbarism are great enough to soften the
inevitable regret and to sustain the energies of the
survivors. It is now some years since Dr. LIVING-
STONE, in his double capacity of discoverer and
missionary, drew public attention to the vast
capacities of the interior of the southern part of the
country. Since then Captains BURTON and SPEKE,
Consul PETHERICK, and others, have been largely
extending their researches, bringing the most hope-
ful accounts of the possible future of the land, if
but dark and doubtful representations of the now
existing inhabitants. M. Du CHAILLU, of gorilla
celebrity, has assisted to popularise the subject,
until Central and Southern Africa, thanks to one
and another, are no longer words of mysterious and
unknown import. The value of these researches
will be more apparent in a few years' time than at
present, since we may reasonably hope that the
cultivation of the cotton plant will work a rapid
change in the fortunes and habits of the natives,
The demand for labour, the peaceable and profitable
employment, will be mighty agencies in the work
of reform and civilisation. That some refining in-
fluences are sadly needed among the African abo-
rigines has been abundantly proved by the revela-
tions of those hardy and adventurous travellers who
have penetrated beyond the accustomed limits. In
the very interesting address delivered by Sir R.
MußemsoN to the members of the Royal Geogra-
phical Society, the savage and inhospitable nature
of these central tribes was spoken of. The Baron
VON DECKEN, a Hanoverian nobleman, who has
displayed the most liberal and intelligent interest
in the cause of geographical discovery, encountered
very serious obstacles in his efforts to pursue his
course. This nobleman, who has fitted out a whole
scientific expedition at his own cost, has recently
explored the highest mountain yet known to us in
Eastern Africa, This mountain had been pre-
viously declared by a German missionary to be
capped with snow, bat his assertion was received
by many persons, among whom the President,
with the simplicity of real knowledge, modestly
included himself. It seems, however, that the
missionary was quite correct in his statement,
which Baron VON DECKEN has verified by two
ascent; one reaching to an altitude of 14,000 feet
above the level of the sea. This enterprising tra-
veller further ascertained by trigonometrical mea-
surement that the summit of the mountain was over
20,000 feet in height, and that its snow line de_
scended below 16,000 feet—thus, in the words of
Sir RODERICK MURCHISON, " satisfactorily esta-
blishing a grand and new phenomena in the physi-
cal geography of Africa." The Baron, like other
enthusiastic followers of science, is willing to incur
real danger in pursuit of his object, and endea-
voured, though vainly, to reach the spot where
ROSCHER had been murdered, with the hope of
obtaining the papers of that intrepid traveller. He
was unfortunately obliged to relinquish this design
from the hostility of the Arab traders and the de-
sertion of his porters. This latter misfortune is one
to which all African exp'orers are liable, and every
reader of their narratives must remember how often
their porters threaten to proceed no further, and
how sometimes they fulfil the threat to the great
loss, inconvenience, and danger of their em-
ployer. Although forced to abandon his first
pbreoejneetz,aisa
however,e the Baron's journey yet bore
valuable fruit, for the specimens of the rock which
he bnoug
ht with him show the mighty peak to have
thewith by volcanic action ; and not content
DECIiEN :formation already acquired, Baron VON
of Kiliman'i w
arProPoses to explore Kenia, the rival
Keniat which has the
mountain already ascended.
grapher, has been volt yet been reaehed by any geo-
af i
Reild.iro
for on the line of the equator
200 mile 3 north
of man
tThehi
receive
sße
ea
or on ned
ehasex-
pedition,
y
now come to England to equip.
and it is gratifying to
find o that so
v r
enter-
prising and liberal a traveller
assistance from our authorities.
Itisto be hoped
new' undertaking will ntit
he saddened by
so
ohapthis w s
infol an adventure es his last, which unfortu-
nately wes the occasion of the untimely death of a
geologist, Mr. Meunier) la,
gifted young
who lost his life on the Zambesi. The Baron
him-
self had to encounter great perils; in one epot Only
pacifying a hostile chief by consenting to drink
blood with him. This reminds one of the incident
in the reign of Terror, when :Mademoiselle de
SOMBREINT was forced to quaff the same deadly
I" The
draught to the toast of "A bas les aristocrat's •
naturalist will learn some new and curious facts
from the Baron's account of his travels—among
them the existence of an insect so venomous as to
destroy goats and asses in a day or two. In com-
, eatmoretion of the servieee which he has rendered

to the cause of science, the Hanoverian explorer was
on Monday ranked among the honorary members
of the Royal Geographical Society. Such incidents
prove the advantages of such a society which is
able promptly to acknowledge the public debt and
to pay homage to enterprise and intelligence when
exerted for great ends of lasting benefit to the
community.

As was anticipated, the KING opened the Prussian
Chambers in person. This was so far satisfactory,
as it evinces a determination on his part to come
more prominently forward than he has recently
done Nothing can be more deleterious than for
the SOVEREIGN to hold back, and keep aloof, as it
were,
from all important questions, and leave the
discussion and arrangement of affairs to the
Ministers. This monopoly of power is al ways in-
jurious to the interests of a State, and in the case
of Prussia has proved singularly adverse to the wel-
fare of the nation. Apart from the fact of its having
been delivered in propria persona, this address of
King WILLIAM'S is anything but a promising one.
It holds out no hopes of anything approaching to a
readjustment of the difficulties which last year pre-
sented themselves so constantly at the debates in
the Chamber. Instead of a conciliatory tone being
adopted, it would appear that the Royal Address
intimates a determination to continue the same
course, and to pursue the same line of policy as that
which has aroused the indignant remonstrances of
the great body of the people, and called forth the
sympathetic eorrow of the nations of Europe. It
seems in some way a mockery for such a message
to commence by expressing a wish that the diffe-
rences between the Government and the Chamber
may terminate. It is of no avail to utter these pla-
titudes when all experience testifies to the contrary,
How can differences cease when the cause of disa—
greement remains unchanged, and there seems no
desire to alter any of the vexatious proposals that
have so irritated and annoyed the deputies, and also
the people in general. In the first place, some
most extraordinary measure is proposed in re-
ference to the Budget. Taking for granted
that this will not be settled, there is to be some
sort of indemnity provided for the Government,
which will most likely cancel the effect of anything
advised by the Chamber. At all events these words
seem pretty significant in their way, " that without
endangering the most important interests, the
KING can only assent to such a budget as shall
ensure the maintenance of the new organisation of
the army." It is a novel mode of carrying out the
tenets of a free constitution, and a strange manner
of addressing an independent assembly, to baso all
arguments on the premises that the KING has settled
beforehand what is and what is not to become law,
or to point a course of action from which there shall
be no departure. It would be more in unison with
the dictates of common sense if all attempt as a re-
presentative assembly was abandoned, and a regular
form of arbitrary Government was substituted. The
people of Prussia will not allow themselves to be
hoodwinked into the belief that time had worked
wonders for them, and that the wise and beneficent
rule of this Sovereign has created peace and pro-
sperity for the land. How can the prevailing sen-
timent be other than that of disappointment, when
such a failure is exhibited to the world as this
attempt to solve an irritating point of discussion
between the Ministers and the representatives of
the people. Foreign affairs do not seers to be
any better than home ones in the manner
in which they are discussed in this speech. The
allusions to Federal execution in Holstein are most
unsatisfactory, and demonstrate a reckless persist-
ence in the harsh and arbitrary measures that have
already drawn down so much disapproval. Esti-
mates are to be laid before the Chamber, in case the
application of " extraordinary means" from Prus-
sia are rendered necessary. This looks very much
like a predetermined plan and a concerted arrange-
ment in high quarters, and the supposition is put
in to give grace to the affair, and make it appear a
little more honest and honourable. The conclusion
of this address is fine in its language, but the inter-
pretation that is sought to be put on the expressions
is not a fair one. First of all, the deputies are in-
formed that "They live in an agitated time," and
also that a yet more disturbed future may await
them. This is true enongi:, but that is not their
fault, nor that of their predecessors either. It was
the entire doing of the Ministers that the fracas
arose, which has cost so much in reputation, pro-
sperity, and good-will is Prussia. The concluding
words of advice are most ill-timed. The deputies
are urged to come to an understanding on home
questions, the more readily because of foreign mis-
understandings. This might have come very well
from a monarch whose aim and object has hitherto
been to maintain inviolate the principles of the
Constitution, and to uphold with might and
main the existence of those measures which
guarantee the rights and liberties of the subject.
As unhappily it is too well known that the present
ruler of Prussia has listened to the counsels and
sanctioned the decrees of those whose purpose has
been to uproot established customs, and remodel,
or rather destroy, the plans which have seemed to
secure the best advantages to the people, it is merely
a waste of time to appeal to the patriotic or chi-
valric sentiments which are wont to animate men
in moments of great national peril. There is no
common point round which divers interests may
assemble in Prussia at this moment. That vantage
ground has been abandoned by the Ministers, and
they cannot now return to it. They must play out
their difficult part without such false supports, and
stand or fall upon thefr own merits. It is much to
be regretted that things should have come to such
a pass, hut it is almost as much to be deprecated
that a false impression should be given to affairs of
moment, and that those who have chosen to assume
a false position should deny the issue they have
provoked,and refuse their share of the responsibility.
If the Deputies are meu of sense, spirit, and dis-
cernment, they will not brook this false position
in which they are placed; they will refute the im-
putation put upon them, and deny the aspersions
cast on their disinterestedness. It is theirs to do
their duty to the country whose welfare is at
stake, and to defend the interests of the people who
sent them to be representatives of their rights,
and, if need be, the champion of their liberties
and the vindicators of their privileges. The glory
of such a success will be all their own, and, at any
rate, no confusion that arises can be laid to their
charge, but the grave responsibility will devolve
on those who first made the attempt to change
the existing state of things, and thus provoked a
struggle whose commencement has been a source
of great disturbance, and whose conclusion may
se alter the aspect of affairs that this generation
may not witness its ultimate effects.

TELEGRAPHIC FEAT.—The Emperor's speech on
the opening of the Session consisted of 2,044 words.
The transmission by telegraph from the central station in
Paris commenced as son as it was ascertained that the
reading had been completed, which was at about half-past
1. The average time occupied in the transmission to the
principal cities of France and Europe was an hour and a
quarter. The capitals for Which the longest time was re-
quired from a want of direct comtuunication were Rome,
St. Petersburg, Athens, and Lisbon. The speech was
nevertheless received everywhere before the evening, and
the journals of the whole of Europe produced it on the fol-
morning; the saute As those of Paris,—aalignani.,