The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-27 00:00:00

THE SUN. LONDON, THURSDAY EVEMNG, AUGUST 27, 1863.

very hard, and not to allow their time to be wasted.
The Emperor of AUSTRIA has come to a very wise
decision concerning the plan to be adopted in set-
tling the vexed question of alterations and modifi-
cations in the original proposal made. Tnis is, that
attention is to be paid to no representations
and propositions that are not collective.
This is very prudent, for in so mixed an assembly,
animated by such diverse interests, it is probable
that there would be an infinitude of suggestions
made, and thus al! chance of coming to an arrange-
ment anything Like that at first proposed would be
thrown away. By the several members of the Con-
gress objections have been raised to nearly all the
o
suggestions,t,but, by the adoption of the rule re-
ferred these strictures have not subverted the
first proposals. It is said that the EMPEROR has
s tot
complain.r e made promised that strict attention shall be plid to all
in unison,
It
is
certain a n d
dsoemthaenrdescaanndbedneso n
irreeas toha a
that little can be gained if these
innovations are
allowed to stand. Those who
do not recognise
their necessity, and agree to their
turn suggest others, and thus the difficulty
of con-
sidering the best means of fre orm would be prolonged
indefinitely. The President
of the Assembly
of the Congress of Deputies
the following impressive
passage :—" The National
party does not wish for a revolution, but if its
efforts to bring about a reform should be frustrated
by the Governments, it may be succeeded by a party
which will not only be less moderate in its preten-
sions, but will indulge in dangerous aspirations."
The truth is, that if an understanding is come to of
a satisfactory nature at this Congress, affairs will
doubtless be carried on more auspiciously in Ger-
many than they have been for some time past; but
if it should unhappily occur that any contretemps
arise in these arrangements which prevents their
final and satisfactory adjustment, things will be in
a worse state than ever. Expectations will have
been aroused that disappointment will render most
bitter, and the excited feelings that are now en-
gaged in watching the progress of events will be-
come irritated beyond endurance. This undertak-
ing is one of those precarious ventures that must
be fully carried out. No half measures will do, and
no promises without performance will satisfy or
deceive with their specious semblances the ardent
aspirations and longing expectations of a nation
that might have waited some time longer in
quiescence without changes being introduced, but
which cannot patiently brook any alterations that
are not improvements. It behoves, then, those who
are taking on themselves the responsibility of these
reforms to take heed that they are so in nature as
well as in name, that they may be readily recognised
as such by those for whose benefit they are said
to be desired, and not, as too often occurs, only im-
part satisfaction to their originators. It is said
that the Schleswig Holstein question has not been
engaging much attention at the Congress. If
so, the Assembly may find that they have made a
mistake. The latest intelligence from Denmark
states that there have been great military prepara-
tions in order to resist any aggressions made, in
case the Germans carried out their threats. This
portends that there will be resistance made if any
force is intended, and it would be well if due atten-
tion was paid to this matter, now that an oppor-
tunity has occurred for re-organising and remodel-
ling the affairs of the Confederation. The refusal
of the King of PRUSSIA to the second invitation to
join the Congress, which was conveyed to him in
person by the King of SAXONY, has doubtless sur-
prised no one. The reasons given before for non-
participation have been reiterated, and of course
every one knows that it is not because these reasons
are valid that they are persisted in, but because
they suit the purpose that the crafty advisers of
King WILLIAM have in view. Herr VON BIS.
MARX still persists in dancing perpetual attendance
upon his royal master. He is the shadow behind
the throne, indeed, and it will be well for his Sove-
reign if the darkness does not eventually pervade
the whole region in which he so pertinaciously
officiates, to the exclusion of all better advisers and
the hindrance of all good works. The Emperor
of
AUSTRIA has behaved in the most courteous style
and in the most liberal spirit in this . affair, but un-
fortunately he has not been met on equal terms.
The blame, however, does not rest with
can any discredit attach itself to his mode of pro-
cedure. Not to him belongs the odium
Kingdom of Prussia being ignored at an assembly
where she ought to have been pre-eminent in
authority and all powerful in influence.

AMERICA.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

SOUTHAMPTON, August 26.
A refugee had arrived in. Washington trom Lex-
ington, Virginia ; he reports great demoralisation in
Lee's army. Some Mississippian and Texan regi-
ments had left the army to go home, and were
driven back by Stuart's cavalry at the point of the
sword. Lee's army is almost in open mutiny. It
was currently rumoured that Lee had tendered his
resignation, and that he and Davis were at enmity.
Horses were exceedingly scarce in the rebel army.
The North German Lloyd's steam-ship America,
Captain Wessels, from New York on the afternoon
of the 15th inst., has arrived here. She brings 155
passengers for Southampton, Havre, and Bremen;
188,500 dollars in specie for England, and 1,603
dollars for Bremen ; a cargo of 1,200 ton; and 60
bags of mails.

The America experienced head winds during the
first four days of her passage.

NEW YORK, August 15, Morning,
General Meade is visiting Washington.
The Confederate cavalry have captured a Federa:
signal station near Warrentown.

Admiral Dahlgren's official despatches represent
that there is little doubt of a triumphant result of
the Federal operations before Charleston.
It is rumoured that the 300-pounder Parrot gun,
sent to Charleston to be used against Fort Sumter,
was lost overboard at Morris Island.
Commander Bell has superseded Admiral Farra-
gut in the Gulf department.
Numerous guerilla bands are marauding through-
out the interior counties of Missouri.
The British, French, Russian, Spanish, Prussian,
Italian, and Swedish ministers have left Washing-
ton, accompanied by Mr. Seward, upon an excursion
to the Northern lakes.

Mr. D'Arcy M‘Gee has addressed a letter to the
Montreal Gazette, stating that the Federal govern-
ment has erected a new fort at Rouse's Point, 45
miles from Montreal, with magazines capable of
containing supplies for a hundred thousand men,
also barrack accommodation for a permanent gar-
rison of five thousand men.

The plan contemplated at Washington for an
invasion of Canada is to march a hundred thousand
men up the district of Montreal, to cut the connection
between Upper and Lower Canada, to abstain from
meddling in local affairs, but to force the separation
of the upper and lower provinces by the mere force
of the army of occupation interposing its military
barrier to their intercourse. What would follow
such a separation has not escaped the calculation of
the Federal government.
Mr. MiGee urges the appointment of a Crown
Prince for Canada, adopting other means for her
closer connection with England; otherwise in the
day of need England will only give nominal assist-
ance.

The Canadian parliament assembled on the 13th.
The Governor-General directed the special attention
of the legislature to the militia law, which required
extensive amendment to make it effective. He
asked parliament to sanction the outlay incurred in
consequence of the last parliament ending without
voting supplies, and also for a pledge for the neces-
sary expenses for the current year. He recom-
mended the establishment of telegraphic and postal
communication between Lake Superior and the
Pacific.

The following is a summary of the late intell
gence received from Charleston :

CHARLESTON BAR, Aug. 10, P.M.
Gen. Gillmore has notified Admiral Dahlgz en
that he will be in readiness to open the grand as-
sault on Thursday, the 13th inst.
The navy is all ready, waiting for the army, so
that the fight, it is believed, will commence on that
day.