The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-08 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S T ELEGRAMS. )

T HE CONGRESS.

PARIS, DEC. 8.

The replies of the Emperor of Russia and the
Kings of Saxony and Wurtemburg to the Emperor's
invitation to the Congress have been published this
morning. The Emperor of Russia states that he
has always recognised the utility of an understand-
ing among the Sovereigns. All the acts of his
reign attest his desire to substitute relations of con.
fidenco and concord for the state of armed peace,

weighing so heavily upon the peoples.
His Majesty then says that he had taken the
initiative in this direction by the reduction of his

array, and continues :
" Eventualities of a nature to menace the security
and even the integrity of my states alone caused me
to abandon this path. I have an earnest desire to
be able to re-enter it, and spare my people the sac-
rifices which their patriotism accepts, but for which
their property suffers.
" Nothing could better hasten this movem
than a general pacification of the questions which
agitate Europe. I should be happy if your Ma-
jesty's proposition lead to a loyal understanding
between the sovereigns; but for this to be practi-
cally realised can only proceed from the consent of
the other great Powers. It is indispensable for
your Majesty to define the questions upon which
an understanding would have to be arrived at, and
the bases upon which it would be established.

" The object of the pacification of Europe will
always have my most earnest sympathies."
The first conference took place yesterday, at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for the conclusion of
a treaty of commerce and navigation between France
and Sweden.

THE SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN QUESTION,
VIENNA, DEC. 8.

The Vice-Admiral Irminger, the Danish Extra-
ordinary Ambassador charged with the notification
of the accession of King Christian IX., has left this
city without being received by the Emperor.
This circumstance is regarded as a confirmation
of the view that, in spite of the withdrawal of the
March patent, Austria still insists upon Federal
execution in Holstein.

A deputation from the Municipal Council of
Vienna presented a petition to the Emperor yester-
day relative to the Duchies of Schleswig and

Holstein.

The Emperor, in reply, said he did not deem it
necessary to assure them that, in this question, he
should fulfil his duties as a Prince of the German
Confederation, and strive with all his power for the
preservation of the constitutional rights of the
Duchies. His Majesty stated, however, that the
Municipal Council would do much better if, instead
of discussing high political questions, they would
direct their activity more to commercial affairs.

FRANKFORT-ON-MAINE, DEC. 5.

The sitting of the Diet, which was to have taken
place on Thursday, was adjourned to-day, and im-
patient folks imagined the week would not close
without a definite decision. They have been de-
ceived, however, for the Diet will not sit to-day, but
has postponed its meeting until Monday. This
fresh delay is attributed to the difficulty of the two
great German Powers in coming to an agreement
with the other members of the Confederation.

Austria and Prussia, in fact, are in open oppo-
sition to their confederates, who persist in wishing
to occupy the Duchies, in order to hand them over
at once to the Duke of Augustenburg.
The movement, however, continues throughout
the country, and is strengthened by the nfficial or
tacit assent of the Governments. King Maximi-
lian of Bavaria ie expected with the utmost im-
patience, as it is believed he will place himself with
Saxony at the head of the German patriots. Com
ruittees are constantly upon the increase; subscrip.
tion lists fill rapidly, many persons giving conside-
rable sums; recruiting offices have been opened—
among other places, in this city—and men of great
influence, through official position and fortune,
figure among the most vigorous promoters of the
movement.

Little probability, therefore, exists that the minor
States will change in opinion. Voluntarily or in-
voluntarily they are dragged on by their subjects,
and several of the evening papers say that the rea-
son for the Diet not sitting to-day is that by Mon-
day all the envoys will have received full powers
to vote the occupation of the Duchies. This pre-
supposes that hopes are still entertained of the two
Great Powers 'ultimately. joining the National
party, considering themselves released from the
Treaty of London by the promulgation of the new
Danieb Constitution in Schleswig.
The official journal of the Grand Duchy of Baden
speaks upon the subject as follows
is It is possible that Austria and Prussia, taking
into consideration the manner in which they regard
the obligations incumbent upon them through the
Treaty of London, may be prevented from acting
against the Protocol-King in the Duchies of
Schleswig-Holstein and Lauenburg. But this
protocol in no degree imposes upon them the obli-
gation of undertaking anything in his favour, and
of obstructing those Governments who, free from
all real and fictitious ties, are ready to pronounce
themselves against him, and to defend the
good right of Schleswig-Holstein and of their
Duke. Neither Austria nor Prussia are entitled to
dictate laws to the Confederation in this respect, to
cause the protocol of London to be ratified, and to
indicate the moment when the Diet has to
defend the resolution passed by the majority.
These two Powers no longer possess the right of
determining or rejecting the means fitted to put the
vote of the majority in execution, or to attribute to
an action in which they take a part, a character in
conformity with their views. If the Diet passes
any other decree than that of continuing the execu-
tion, the order given to the four States entrusted
with carrying it into operation will have ceased to
exist. The Diet must then issue fresh directions
as to levying troops, as to their command, and as
to the civil Commissioners it intends to appoint.
The Groat Powers will there be entirely freo to hold
themselves aloof from these measures, conformably
to the policy they still pursue. The Confederation
has force sufficient at its disposal without them, to
attain the object at which it desires to arrive, to
give liberty to Holstein, and to continue the former
right of alliance of Holstei❑ and Schleswig."

FRANKFORT, DEC. 7.

The Federal Diet has passed by a small majority
the resolution for Federal execution in Holstein,
reserving to itself the settlement of the question of
the succession.

The order for the advance of troops into the
Duchy was immediately despatched.

DRESDEN, DEC. 7 (Evening).
The Dresden Journal of to-day publishes a tele
gram from Frankfort, stating that in to-day'n sit-
ting of the Federal Diet the representatives 01
Weimar and Saxe-Meiningen introduced a proposi-
tion that neither the king of Denmark nor the