The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-02 00:00:00

FRANCE,

Nothing could be more magnificent than the
fancy ball given the night before last by the Minister
of Marine and the Marquise de Chasseloup-Laubat.
Although the preceding fete had been so splendid it
was surpassed by this second one. The lady of the
house, in an Eastern dress of the richest description
and wearing a magnificent coronet of diamonds,
did the honours of the evening with admirable
grace. The Emperor and Empress were present as
dominoes, as were Prince Napoleon and the Princess
Clotilda, the latter in white and wearing a beautiful
shawl of point d'Angleterre, her hair powdered, andl
ornamented with diamonds, and the Prince in a
Venetian mantle. The- Princess Anna Murat wore a
dark dress, silk and gold, with a poniard at the side
and diamonds in the hair ; the Princess Kosakoff
as a Queen of Sheba ; Mme. Poix, Night ; Mme.
Costlier, a Greek girl of Smyrna ; the Marquise
d'Aligre, a Rainbow ; Mlle.Slidell, Queen of Hearth ;
the Mlles. Vuitry, Red Riding Hood, and a Peasant
Girt ; the Baroness de Launay, a soubrette of Louis
XV.'s time ; and Mlle. Errazzu, Diana hunting.
But it would be an endless task to enumerate all the
splendid costumes of a company composed of the
most beautiful women and the highest dignitaries in
the French capital. Two surprises added to the
attraction of the evening ; one was the appearance
of a charming procession of young girls belonging
to some of the first families of Paris, and represent-
ing pupils of the navy. They entered to the sound of
military music, and were escorted by others attired
as sailors, Mlle. Alice Pilte bearing the standard of
the battalion ; the second was a cortege of Cochin
Chinese magnificently attired, escorting a car on
which reposed Mme. Bartholony, splendidly attired.
The fete was from the commencement most ani-
mated. Supper was served at two, but dancing
was afterwards resumed with additional spirit.
Commencing at 10 at night, the ball lasted until
half-past five the next morning.
BOURSE, March I.—The market is dull, with a
somewhat downward tendency. Threes, for the
Account, are now at 67fr. 45c. Mobilier are un-
changed at 923 fr. 75c. In Railway Shares there
are few transactions, with but little change, and
prices generally pretty well sustained. The market
closed with more firmness, and at rather better
prices. The following are the last quotations :-
41 per Cents 96 50 f Italian Loan 64 60
Do. end month I Do. end month 64 65

3 per Cents. 67 55
Do. end month 67 45
Credit Mobilier 917 50
Do; end month
Bank Shares 3500
Cr3dit Foncier 1280
Boman
RAIL'

Ditto Threes —
New Mexican
Russian —
Austrian
Spanish Threes
Home Debt
Deferred
VAYS.

Cash. Acct.
Orleans
Northern lOl5 ... 1013 75
Lyons and Mediterranean 945 ... 945
Southern 582 50 ... 580
Western MB 75 ... 538 75
Eastern
Sardinian 307 50 ... 305
Austrian
Lombard 546 25 ... 545
North of Spain 322 50 ... 322 50
Saragossa 390 ... 390 ---
Ditto to Barcelona 177 50 ...

PRUSSIA AND AUSTRIA.

BERLIN, Feb. 27.

Letters from Vienna state that the Emperor
Francis Joseph, with his immediate military staff,
attaches so much weight to the alliance with Prussia
that he is well disposed to accede to the demands in
the recent despatch. The Cabinet, upon the other
hand, entertains an entirely opposite view.
Lengthy negotiations will most probaby take
place upon the subject. In this capital, not-
withstanding the late steps in advance, no inten-
tion seems to exist of abandoning the policy of
delay. Now, as previously, Prussia does not desire
a speedy settlement of the Schleswig-Holstein ques-
tion, but a settlement according to her own views
and interests.
The general opinion in Governmental circles is—
"lf we cannot come to such an agreement as we
wish, we'll wait, and not allow any settlement to be
made at all. We have plenty of time. The Duchies
are in our hands, and we have all the means at com-
mand to turn the provisional state of affairs to
profit."
It is admitted that no decision can be come to
without the assent of Austria, but stress is laid
upon the fact that Austria is equally unable
to act without the co-operation and against the
the wish of Prussia. Officials have been heard to
say, in a somewhat boastful style, " We knew very
well that we cannot give what we strive after with-
out Austria. But Austria cannot force us to
accede to her wishes if she refuses her assent to
ours. Nor can she proceed to a definitive settle-
ment in the Duchies upon her own account against
our veto. The present provisional state must there-
fore continue."

It is asserted in various well informed quarters
that these are the comments passed upon the
Prussian demands. The Feudal party declare most
positively that Herr von Bismark will in no case
allow Prussia to be either manoeuvred or voted out
of her present position in the Duchies.
Little regard is paid here to the policy of the anti-
Prussian coalition of the Middle States. The motion
talked of as intended soon to be brought forward by
Herr von der Pfordten, the Bavarian representative
at the Diet, for the recognition of the Duke of
Augustenburg, will be most energetically opposed.
The semi-official Norddentsche Allgoneine hints

the same thing. Should an attempt be made by
this coalition to effect an alliance with France, it is
thought far more probable the Emperor Napoleon
will prefer going into partnership with Prussia than
with a split-up fraction of Germany.
In any case friendly relations with France will be
carefully kept up, as it is impossible to say how soon
they may be wanted. *Herr von Bismark has not
the remotest intention of swerving from the line
he has adopted, or of surrendering one iota of the
claims advanced for Prussia.