The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-02 00:00:00

THE MEXICAN THRONE.

Some of the papers have lately spoken of a
Spanish Prince for the throne of Mexico, as the
Emperor, vexed at the attitude of Austria on the
Polish question, has changed his mind with refer-
rence to the Archduke Maximilian. On the serGe
authority one of the objects of the Empress's visit
to Madrid was to propose that arrangement to Queen
Isabella. The Mexican derutation, who have offered
the crown to the Archduke, and who are still in
communication with him, positively deny that there
Is any truth whatever in th'se statements. I\o
doubt the "Notables" of Mexico left it to the
Emperor of the French to choose another Prince for
them iu case the Archduke refused; but the depu
t.tion, who continue to be the representatives of the
Mexican Assembly, affirm that the Archduke will
start for Mexico the moment the result (which is not
doubtful) of the election is known. The Spanish
Princes are Don Francisco de Paulo, the uncle of the
Queen, who is about 75 years old ; Don Hen rique,
his son, who 16 or 17 years ago married a lady in
private station ; Don Sebastian, his cousir, who is
53 years old and has no issue; and Don Juan. There
remains the Duchess of Montpensier, sister of the
Queen, but who would hardly be proposed by the
Emperor. If the convention of London be still
considered in force, Spain, England, and France
bound themselves by it to seek for no territorial
4cquisition and no particular advantage from the
expedition to Mexico.

The Empress, who arrived at Toulon on Thurs.
day morning, was waited on shortly after by Vice.
Admiral Want Bouet Willaumez, the Maritime
Prefect, to take her Mjesty's orders for the day.
Atter breakfast the Empress visited the vessels of
war at anchor in the roadstead, commencing by the
steam liner Ville de Paris, bearing the flag of Vice"
Admiral Rigault de Genouilly. At half•past 1 Bbe
went to the building yard of Mourillon, where fl
gallery bad been erected for her to witness the
tauach of the ironclad frigate Provence,
place with perfect success. The Empress appeared
much gratified at the sight, and congratulated
isthe
naval engineets on the result. The Prover icetif,
fine vessel and will carry 38 guns, with an en glinieteod
whisk took
1,000 horse power. Her Majesty afterwards vi
the Arsenal and all the different establish
men
o'clock she gave a dinner on board.es Tge:t
to s
all
the
After 'Elinor
produced a it the high civil end naval authorities.
through the ev olu-
proceeded amid, the
the experimental squadron
night,
h"wehnich
tions of a combat by
railway station,
acclamations of the crowd,.
rik-
ing effect. At 9 o'clock
at St. Cloud at 4 plater-
started for Paris, arriving teo the • .
day afternoon.

NARROW ESCAPE OF THE PRINCE OF WALES.
—A case beard in the Peterborough County Court
this week disclosed the startling fact, which has hitherto
not been made public, that the special train by which. the
Prince of Wales travelled from Halifax to London, on the
6tb of August, narrowly escaped the fate of the Lynn ex-
cursion train, At the Helpstone croesir,g, where both the
Midland and Great Northern lines inter sect the road, an
attempt was made to drive a bullock acroi ,s the Great Nor-
thern line. The gates, it seems, are only a single pair'
and when open to the road are also open to the line, so that
there is no protection for anything passing, In the present
instance the bullock which was being driven along voni
rather wild, as single bullocks frequently art) when sepa-
rated from the herd. Two or three servants stood on one
side of the crossing to prevent its going down tbe line, and
the gateman himself stood on the other side so thalt it should
not get on the line. In spite of these precautions, however,
the bullock gave the gateman the slip, and trotted compla-
cently along the metals. Almost at this instant the royal
express train dashed past, striking the animal behind,
happily throwing it off the line, so that any further
,sacci-
dent was avoide.l. Strange as these facts are, the Suton
decision upon them is still more remarkable. l
being brought against the company for the value- o af° thebullock, Mr. Ellis has ruled that the company are
aiinply
bound to provide a passage across their line, and
bullock being
1'
be net
responsible for what may occur through a
wild or badly driven. This decision, which is probably
sound in point of law, throws a new light on the question
of level crossings, and public will learn with s
one pri9o
that should a train ever be upset through the eccentricity
a bullock at one of these unprotected crossings, no
bu
a small country hltelier will be responsible for the acei d
—Pet6rboroic4 ddratiser.

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