The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-10 00:00:00

vo

LONDON, THURSDAY
u
_ EC. 10, 1863.
It was an alternative that NApottoN 111, recently
oi•lid that
submitted to the Sovereigns of
Earo
alternative was one in every way ru:t _c
entous.
Either—a General War or a general Paclt.em.
lon. Or
—if not that precisely, at any rate what may
thus expressed—Either an imminent probability
or
be
all but certainty of War, of a General War among
the Powers of Europe, or an attempt at least, an i,„_
mediate and strenuous effort at a General Pacifica,.

tion.
Seeing now that there is to be no such Congress
as the one proposed by the French EMPEROR—for
the refusal of England to take part in it abstracts
at once from the notion of that Congress, even sup-
posing any Congress at all to be held, its only
authoritative character, that of its universality—
secing now, we repeat, that there is to be
no such Congress as the one proposed by
the French EMPEROR., the one inevitable
conviction to be arrived at thereupon is—that
there must be war. It is the admitted conviction
beforehand of the despotic ruler of the greatest
military nation upon the E Iropeau continent. The
Emperor has avowed such, quite frankly, to
be hie firm conviction—he did so, in effect, in the
very ae~ of submitting his alternative to the
European s,verci4ns.,,, or, in other worsts,
to
the European
lt,i ns and their respective
Governmente, wart
or Peace, ho virtually sub•
mitied to them as
the alternative—his courtly
letter to the European
btovereigns meaning
elm Choose for youreeivz,
cur!ly, rudely, precipitately, She
has chosen.
hgl
will
of the, Congress—she will
eQosent t have none
no attempt
even at, a pacific adjustment of
long-standing, and
some of them, of late, more and, afore
hoes
entangled differences. The Italian
r !Ale% thesly
Polish Problem, the Greek Question, the Rsnien
Question, the difficulty about Venetia, and the
difficulty about Schiessvig-Holstein-- all these
things are to be left still purely to the
Chapter of Accidents. The problems are to

obtain their solution— somehow. Questions,
enigr aatical to the last degree ?,/lf.lly of them,
are to get answered as best tb,ey may, any-
ha F' : whether satisfactorily or unsatisfactorily
re, Elaine to be seen. Difficulties, h owever tortuously
ins olved in the cunning webs wo yen about them by
ant agonistic and unsympathetic diplomatists, are to
we). :k out—if they can—their own disentanglement.
En gland turns with hopeless bewilderment and
wit h mutterings of suspicion, from the mere sug-
gek tiou of a Congress—that might (there is no deny-
ini this), if ably conducted, have led to a pacific
red Ldjustment of differences! And, despairing thus of
eyay good coming from any such Congress, England
1€ e ves everything to the chances of—War ! What-
ever may now come of these long standing and still
ex isting, and some of them more than ever urgent,
differences—Franca may, with a certain show of
re ison, charge England with having, by her refusal,
rendered war inevitable—England cannot possibly
laccuse France, cannot possibly accuse the French
EMPEROR of plunging Europe into war without
previously making any effort whatever to discover
it! war might not, by possibility, be avoided
b:y means of certain pacifio discussions over the
c ouncil board of a Congress among the
Nations. By entering into these suggested discus-
-5 ions at the council board of the Congress, England
would in no way whatever have stood pledged (any
more than would France herself) to any decision at
sell upon any single point under discussion.

h is idle to insinuate that France, by suggesting this
Congress, Was digging
a trap for England, or for
any other of the Powers of Christendom. If digging
a trap for any one, she was equally digging a trap
for herself. France, as a continental Power, is
more directly affected than England, as an insular
Power, can possibly be, by the various difficulties
agitating the family of the European nations. The
Danish Question, by reason of its complication with
the Germanic Question, is brought to the very
threshold of France geographically. The Italian
Question affects France far more intimately in
many ways than it can possibly affect England.
It does so for one reason, because France is what
England is not, a Catholic Power, the Catholic
Power, after Italy, as the Eldest Daughter of
Catholicism. It does so for another reason,
because France, during the reign of the
EMPEROR NAPOLEON 111., has shed her blood
(which England has not), has squandered her gold
(which England has not), in vindication of the
political rights and national independence of Italy.
It does so, for yet another reason, one more potent
still to the comprehension of all Christendom—
because France has an armed garrison at Rome—
France being thereby most intimately affected (as
England could not possibly be) by the mere discussion
of the Italian Question at this proposed Congress.
Finally—is it not obvious that France would have
appeared necessarily in a far more isolated character
at the council board of any such Congress than Eng-
land could possibly have done—because, as Naro-
LEON 111, long ago remarked, so modestly to all ap-
pearance, yet in truth so haughtily, he is a parvenu
among the Sovereigns—because as he just now said
to each of those Sovereigns he is the one to whom
ambitious motives have been mainly attributed
throughout Christendom—because he is, as we have
already observed, at the head of the greatest military
power upon the continent—because he is a crowned
democrat—in a word, because he is a NAPOLEON.
England, however, through her judicious and
courteous Foreign Secretary, has declined point-
blank to take part in the Congress proposed by the
French EMPEROR. The alternative submitted to
Europe by the French EMPEROR comes back, there-
fore, rather vividly just now upon the general re-
membrance. If by declining to take part in a Congress
we do not actually "cry havoc and let slip the dogs
of war"—at any rate we refuse to attempt the
adjustment of stronger leashes than the old ones in
which those dogs have been so long and so fiercely
straining.

The news from Germany does not afford any
indication of a speedy or pacific solution of the
difficulties with Denmark. The Federal Diet has,
it seems, passed the resolution for Federal execution
in Holstein, for which many of the representatives
of the smaller States have been eagerly pressing.
The motion, it is true, was only passed by a small
majority, but, nevertheless, it is a decisive step, and
one likely to hasten the crisis that, thanks to the
stubbornness and shortsightedness of the Germans,
appears to be well-nigh inevitable. The Diet re-
serves to itself the settlement of the question of the
succession, being content to leave that matter in
abeyance so long as it has sufficient excuse for
coercing Denmark without pressing for ward the
claims of the Prince of AUGUSTENBURG. At the
same sitting of the Diet it was proposed by some of
the minor members that neither King CHRISTIAN
nor his rival should be recognised as ruler of
Lauenburg, but that the Diet should retain the
administration of that duchy in its awn hands.
This proposal, according to the usual form, was
referred to the committee, but it is difficult to see
what grounds it is based upon, since Austria and
Prussia were themselves compelled to admit that
the claim of King CHRISTIAN to Lauenburg was
indisputable, and the conduct of the inhabitants of
the duchy affords no pretext for interference. The
KING has already expressed his sense of their fidelity
to his throne, as offering a favourable contrast to
the proceedings of their more turbulent neighbours.
At the close of last week a meeting was held in
the duchy of the nobility, peasantry, and mem-
bers of the Assembly, at which a resolution was
passed declaring their intention to remain faith-
ful to Denmark, and to recognise King CHRISTIAN.
The conduct of Austria is anything but satisfac-
tory. The Emperor has suffered the Danish Ex-
traordinary Ambassador to quit Vienna without
being received at Court, although his office was to
notify the accession of the new King. So marked
of the
'light is certainly significant of mischief, and
follows strangely
the view.
3otiln\gely on the withdrawal of the patent
,if
Austria
It is not easy to understand
with her
may chance £0 re
part in a strife
Holstein she is una
for her. In
and veryworltuacitria in this matter. She is acting
encouraging
....,.Federal execution in
g a serious responsibility,
roost
herself with Eng-
pro bab ly
. necessary and useful
She will find it diffaeult _
to her.
whose alliance is
to explain how it
land,
tee t her representative at the,
was ee. Diet encouraged
the project of execution in Hcaat_.ia
el —a "
step of
which no one can foresee the con„cluen_._.
Th,
tone adopted by the two great German tul Powers
with refcrenco to the pretensions of th© prince
of
AUGUSTENBURG indicated moderation and
good
sense ; but the favourable signs were of brief surd_
tion, and the Governments appear to have already
" le
yielded to the foolish clamour of the p,eo, It is
certainly tempting to transform ea unpopular Ad-
ministration into the leaders of the people by sup-
porting those views of pretended liberty and real
ambition which all Germany has gone mad about.
The Austrian Emperor, however, does not seem to
he much inclined to stand popular suggestions, to
judge by his reception of the Municipal Council
of his capital. A deputation having presented
him with a petition relative to the much-vexed
question of the Danish duchies, FRANCIS 'JOSEPH
assared the members of his d . . ottanlieution to finial

his duties as a Prince of the Confederation, but
politely intimated to them his opinion that it would
be much better if they restricted their energies to
the consideration of municipal questions. It is to
be feared that the influence of Prussia will have
some weight on the Austrian Government, and so
long as Kiel remains the object of Prussia's ambi-
tions, and Herr von BISMARK retains the office of
First Minister and royal confidant, that influence is
sure to be mischievous, Yet Austria and Prussia
are neither of them prepared for the consequences
of the rash and hasty step to which they are now
giving their sanction. The order for the advance
of the Federal troops into Holstein was despatched
immediately on the passing of the resolution in the
Diet, and Denmark, as we have known for some
time, has expressed her intention of regarding such
an act as a cams bclii. Tho withdrawal of the royal
patent leaves the complainants entirely without
excuse, and that act indicated a spirit of concilia-
tion and desire for a pacific settlement which it is
but too evident is not reciprocated by the German
Powers, small or great. There seems now but little
hope of avoiding hostilities, though if we reckon on
the proverbial tardiness of Federal movements, there
is still room for diplomacy to make another effort.
Unfortunately, it is impossible for Denmark to
satisfy Prussia without surrendering the port of
Kiel, and as she will not, of course, do that, the
Schleswig-Holstein question, whose very name has
become a bugbear to politicians, has not been heard
the last of. Earl RUSSELL, to whose extraordinary
conduct last year much of the present complication
may be attributed, had better follow up the despatch
in which he disposed of the pretensions of the Prince
of AUGUSTENBTJRG, by another communication re-
minding the German Governments of the obliga-
tions which they incurred by the Treaty of 1852,
and the right which England has to expect that
they will abide by their engagements. If Austria
and Prussia support Federal execution in Holstein
and Lanenburg they are certainly not observing
their guarantee of the integrity of Denmark; and
it would be well to convince them that, although
their memories may be conveniently short, England
has a more faithful recollection of the terms of the
agreement solemnly ratified by most of the Euro-
pean Powers.

A curious case was tried at the Southwark
police-court on Tuesday. A poor woman was
proved to be determined to get into prison, and
for this purpose she employed herself in smash-
ing windows. She made a regular system of
this, as it was shown that she gained her end
in a surprising manner. She had been convicted
before for destroying a considerable quantity of
glees, and had been sentenced to six mouths'
hard labour. From this she was only discharged
on Monday, and now recommenced her game.
Grown reckless by success, however, she had
become a little incautious, and actually went so
far as to tell one of the witnesses that while at
Wandsworth she had " gammoned " the autho-
rities. Her list of luxuries is sufficient to create
astonishment in the minds of those initiated into
the mysteries of these arch-deceivers, and will
excite the just indignation of all capable of re-
cognising the incongruity of such occurrences.
The following is the communication made by the
prisoner—" She had daily half a pint of wine,
one pint of stout, a quart of milk, one quart of
tea, two eggs, one custard pudding, one pint of
beef tea, two oranges, eight ounces of bread and
butter, and four ounces of bread." Strange as
this may appear, it was corrobarated by applica-
tion to the governor, and the relieving officer
very truly added that it was not to be wondered
at that she preferred the House of Correction at
Wandsworth to the workhouse. In a smart
sketch published some years ago, which satirised
the mariner that prevailed for pitying criminals,
and affording to them the privileges denied to
the lowest and deserving members of society, it
was said—" Strange age that thus offers a pre-
mium, and surely if this sumptuous fare for crime'
is to be enjoyed by those who exercise their
skill in "smashing windows" the punishment
will scarcely hold a deterring influence suffi •
cient to render glass windows other than
very precarious property indeed. It was very truly
observed that she had great success in imposing
upon the medical authorities of prisons. It is
greatly to be regretted that such things should
be permitted. Here is no isolated instance of
wrong-doing—no misdemeanour which arises from
temporary irritation or traceable misfortune—but
a systematic course of swindling which unfortu-
nately is suffered to succeed, and thus prove a
scandal to the treatment of offenders. In this case
it is satisfactory to find that Mr. BURCHAM was a
match for the wily deceiver, and hardhearted
enough to prevent her enjoying the luxuries of
the suburban retreat she so delighted in. He
directed her to fiud bail for six months, and in
default to be committed to Horsemonger-lane gaol,
where he did not think the surgeon would be
" gammoned.'' Such was the proper treatment of
eo notorious a cheat ; but it is worth while to con-
eider the defects of a system which gives rise to
these impostors, and is so rife with all kinds of
deception. The game is always being played by
such prisoners as this JANE MAYOR; their name is
legion, and they abound in all places of criminal
resort. So long as the powers that be persist in
making prisoners as comfortable as they possibly
can, and supply abundantly to the thief, the mis-
creant, and the ruffian those comforts and luxuries
which are denied to the pauper, and unheard of by
suffering virtue and honest poverty out of doors,
so long will the avenues to the prison be thronged
with eager applicants, and the sombre entrance to
the grim abodes regarded ae the portals which lead
to the possession of unparalleled benefits. There is
something very unsound in this system, and it
is time that we should dispel the illusion that
has hitherto surrounded us in regard to this ques-
tion. Let prisoners who are really sick or suffering
be treated with care, consideration, and kindness.
No needful alleviation should be refused, and no
necessary means denied, but due restrictions ought
to be imposed, and where the line is drawn which
declines to afford luxuries to the distressed, it should
leave unsupplied the prisoner and not the pauper.
The commission of crime and the perpetration of
minor offences must not convey a carte blanche to
the offenders to seize on all the alleviations which
the authorities can bestow. It is really quite oat of
character that such impostors as this woman referred
to above should be suffered with impunity to out-
rage public propriety time after time, and her re-
tribution should be an entrance to comparative
comfort, and an enjoyment of luxuries that many a
mother would give the world to obtain for her
sucking child, and many a starving family would
rejoice in. It is as well that this should have
COCIITiCa ; it may perchance open the eyes of those
in"; persons who have been so grossly
deceivedwell-eauta
tmr
ea
ar
tt ymr
es.
n by such specious pretenders and would-be
t Athl leo Nvia,st ing
lefeosront hfeorsabkeer ofw argumentwould
dbaveb
thateen
her illness, as lac,
called it, required such careful
the prison altogether,nia
a burden upon funds re-
quired and then
to dismiss her frommve
There is no more
she would not h
for worthier persons.
cruel injustice to the deserving than
to encourage
crime in the way that is now " Prevalent ; there is