The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENiNG, FEBRUARY 23, 186 L

groundless, the Prussian Ministers, with the want
of good faith that distinguishes them' when they
have a r eurpose to serve, allowed matters to go on
precisely the same as if no representations had been
made to, them. Recognising his mistake, however,
the Premier endeavoured to do away with the false
impression that had been created by making a speech
of a conciliatory character towards those who had
been treated unjustly. But the error was not
allowed to he so easily repaired, and Herr REICH-
ENHEIM, the manufacturer who had been so grossly
misrepresented in the petition, rose to express his
indignation at the whole of the transaction from
beginning to end. He declared that he did not
require any praise from Herr vox BIS3IARK, and
that the whole affair was a " puff," which was no
credit to royalty, and was a " puff such as had never
before been attempted in that or any other civilised
country in the world." What a failure was this
of all the Minister's high-flown harangue,
and what •an exhibition of insincerity and
mean devices. It must have been a most
mortifying occurrence for the statesman who is quite
sharp-witted enough to recognise the damage thus
done to his reputation. As for shame or sorrow at
having been proved to have committed an injustice,
that, of course, he could not experience, because he
is incapable of such a sentiment, and evidently acts
upon the principle of all things being fair in politics,
as supposed to be in love or war by some rather
lax moralists. It has come to something in the
annals of Prussia when the chief Minister is pointed
at in the popular Assembly of Representatives as
being the agent of a dishonest transaction, and
as having counselled the KING to bestow money
upon them who aided, by their one-sided address,
the Ministerial manceuvring to alter the laws rela-
tive to workmen. So strong was the impression
made that Herr von BISMARK thought it necessary
to make some remarks on the subject the next day;
but his excuses were as lame as his conduct had
been despicable, and with all his dexterity he could
make very little of his case. He was forced to
admit that the KING had bestowed money upon
these petitioners, though not " quite " so much
as had been stated, and thus endeavoured to extri-
cate himself from his awkward position by declaring
that the •Kings of Prussia had always considered
the poor favourably. Then, not content with his
own reasons, he fell back upon another mode of de-
fence, and said that the private acts of the KING
should not be criticised by honourable gentlemen.
This is quite ridiculous, because, in this instance,
the matter was of public import, and implicated the
conduct of Ministers to a great extent. The retort
of Herr REICHENHEIM was very strong, and Herr
BISMARK'S attempted ludicrous rejoinder failed to
gain applause. This episode must have been most
annoying to the Government, but it is to be hoped
may eventually prove of service to the members in
unveiling some of the Ministerial machinations which
certainly bad enough to alarm and irritate all up-
right minds and honest judges of public life.
The Liberal party do not agree respecting the
Military Bill of the Government. It is satisfactory
to find that the truth has been in some degree
elicited from members of the Prussian Legislature
respecting their recent vaunted military exploits.
It often occurs that in the excitement of alterca-
tion many unwelcome truths come out, and even
in this discussion it was observed by some
.that
there was no sufficient reason adduced for the pre-
sent system being maintained ; and the war, they
say, was no proof of its efficacy, because the
" Prussian army must, under all circumstances,
have been victorious against an opponent so weak
as Denmark." This admission must be recognised
as strictly correct ; but how much is it at variance
with the oft-repeated assertions and vehement gra-
tulations of the majority of the Prussians in high
and low ranks. It is not likely, under existing
circumstances, that this measure will be carried
this session ; and as one failure is generally the
precursor of another, Herr BIS3IARK and his coad-
jutors had better look out for evil days and inimical
encounters.

Some curiosity is naturally felt respecting the
terms which Austria and Prussia are likely to come
to concerning the Duchies, but nothing definite is
as yet decided upon between the deliberating
parties. It seems pretty certain, from all accounts,
that Prussia will take the lion's share in all the
partitions, and that her grasp of power in the dis-
puted territories will be firm and extended. So
much for the fulfilment of promises and the ratifica-
tion of engagements. If only half of the suppo-
sitious proposals see the light, which in all proba-
bility they will, the Schleswig-Holsteiners will have
s cause
forward to
in regret
f atvhoeu r dayo
fw hae n tchhaenyg pe
.0 t
Nt. hvehme n-
a nspellviaele
Prussia
has settled the military and naval organisa-
tion of the Duchies, the occupation and command
of the chief fortifications, &c., it is evident
that very little will be left for others to do
in respect to the conduct of important matters,
and the influence on interests vital to the mainte-
nance of the Constitution.
Austria is very likely to be foiled in this matter,
and to find that on her side a very bad bargain
has been made, owing to the cupidity of one side
and the treachery of the other. It is very likely
that this will be an instance of the folly of trusting
to an unscrupulous ally ; and the result is the More
to be regretted because it is most likely that the
the Duchies would fare better under Austrian rule
than under Prussian management. The Emperor
of Austria keeps a little more to appearances than
his brother Sovereign of Berlin, and besides his
Ministers are some degrees in advance of the Berlin
Cabinet in point of rectitude and manifestation of
propriety. The Duke of AUGUSTENBERG and his
party are not in a very enviable position
just now, and if their only consolation be that
Austria Will not accede to the proposals of Prussia,
they
,are leaning on a broken reed, because it does
not appear likely that the Government of Vienna
are prepared as yet to proceed to extremities. The
Austrian Note, which professes great dislike to the
tactics of Prussian policy, cannot be regarded as an
infallible test of future conduct, because it has often
been shown that vox et praterea nihil is the watch-
word of the enemies and discontented allies of
Prussia. It is this tame-spirited course which has
given so much fatal strength to the actions of Herr
vox
hnwieses sp
dAolicy NvßinKt ho, hasdetermination and
ol
wet ol encouraged
ira
hindrance.vbee
etondsehpol him to pursue
such unfortunate occurrences inwoGrilneeaarsdlotnnitamhnoaernaffeoyufitr;imersnti,
and in the end a kinder course would have been
pursued towards Prussia, because with one thing
and another she is now prolonging a very suicidal
policy, and rushing along a course that must sooner
or later end in ruin.

THE DAVENPORT BROTHERS.—The Brothers Da-
venport were last evening to have given the first of
two performances at the Public Rooms, at Hull. They
arrived in the town yesterday with their manage; Mr.
Palmer, and Dr. Ferguson ; but during the afternoon it
oozed out that Messrs. Hulley and Cummins, of Liverpool,
had also made their appearance in Hull. This report was
followed by a statement that the performances would not
take place, and when the hour for opening the Hall arrived
there was but a small number of persons waiting for ad-
mission. The doors were kept closed, a notice being
posted that the performances were postponed. " Great
disappointment was expressed," says our correspondent,
"that the anticipated row wall not to come off."

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

SPAIN.
MADRID, FEB. 22 (Evening).

The Official Gazette publishes a decree reducing
the rate of interest to be allowed by the Bank of
Deposit to 3 per cent. for sums deposited for two to
six months, to 6 per cent. for nine months, and to
7 per cent. for one year.

ROME.

ROME, FEB. 22 (Evening).

The Giornale di Rona of to-day says :—" 571
convicts belonging to the provinces annexed to
Piedmont have been surrendered by the Papal
Government to the French authorities, who have
already transported them to their new destination."

RUSSIA AND BOKHARA,
ST. PETERSBURG, FEB. 23.

The Journal de St. Petersburg contradicts the
statement published by the Bombay papers that
Russia had sent valuable presents to the Khan of
Bokhara, and says that since 1858 no Russian am-
bassadors has gone to that country. It also denies
that a numerous body of labourers are engaged in
making roads to Bokhara, and points out that as
Tuschkend is not in Russian occupation, it is im-
possible for Russian authorities to have proclaimed
in that city a remission of taxes for two years.

THE PRISONERS IN ABYSSINIA.
ALEXANDRIA, FEB. 11.

Intelligence received here from the confines of
Abyssinia states that no change for the better has
taken place in the State of Abyssinia affairs. The
captives, Messrs. Stern, Rosenthal, and the English
Consul, have not only not been, set at liberty, but
have suffered from great violence. According to
information received from different authorities the
prisoners find themselves placed in the most pitiful
condition, as the rainy season has gravely affected
their health. The ostensible cause of ill treatment
on the part of the King seems to lie in the discovery
which his Majesty made in the journal of Messrs.
Stern and Rosenthal as to his maternal descent.
Mr. Stern mentioned in his confiscated papers
that the King's mother had been a vendor of kosso, a
medicinal fruit that is constantly used by the Abys-
sians. Mr. Stern was quite right in his assertion,
for it is quite true that the King's mother was a seller
of kosso, whereas his father was a relation of Ded-
jaji Comfoo, the Governor of Dembea, who beat
back several times the Egyptian troops that came
from Sennar. In the beginning of his reign the
King (who was then a true liberal man, and not a
despot, as he has become since the death of Mr. Bell,
his adjutant, who kept him in a moral check), often
used to say, "If I do not help the poor people, they
will complain of me before God, for I myself have
been a poor man."

Had Theodoros been a man of Napoleon's stamp
he would not have felt ashamed of his descent,
nor would he have had recourse to the absurd idea
of being descended from King Solomon, who had a
son, as the Abyssinians say, called Menelei, who
was sent to Ethiopia, which was then subjected to
the Queen of Sheba. Hence the royal family of
Abyssinia consider themselves to this day as the
lineal descendants of Solomon, an idea to which
King Theodoros attaches the greatest importance,
and which he is said to have strongly stated
in his late correspondence with Napoleon to out-
do the latter in respect of genealogy. Theodoros,
very angry at Mr. Stern's assertion, wished to know
the source from which he had derived his informa-
tion. As he would not mention the name of his in-
formant, the King ordered him (Mr. Rosenthal) to
be beaten and put to the Abyssinian rack, i.e., the
wrist of the hand and the upper part of the arm of
both gentlemen were firmly tied with ropes, in
consequence of which the blood was forced out of
the tips of the fingers. After the prisoners had con-
fessed the rack was removed, but one may imagine
how dreadfully they suffered. Whether the efforts
made by the English Government in behalf of the
prisoners will not be too late, and whether they will
lead at all to a satisfactory result, is still doubtful.

PRUSSIA.
hERLIN, FEB. 20.

The bill authorising the Minister of Commerce to
establish branches of the PrusAan Bank in German
non-Prussian towns has been referred by the Cham-
ber to the Committee on Commercial Affairs,
augmented by seven members. It is believed that
the committee will recommend the adoption of the
bill. The Minister of Commke intends to pro-
ceed immediately afterwards with the establishment
of a branch at Hamburg.

Public attention is eagerly drected to the debate
about to open in the Chamber upon the railway
question. A resolution proposed by Herr MichaeliE,
one of the editors of the Nationd Zeitung, and seve-
ral other members of the progress party, demands
the postponement of the definitive vote upon the
railway bills until the Budget of 1865 has been
agreed to. The reason stated is that these bills
imply either a guarantee of interest on the part
of the State, or a loan to provide funds for
constructing the projected linN. But, say the
movers of the resolution, the Chamber cannot au-
thorise the Government to conclude any loan before
it shall have recognised the right of the Chamber to
control the Budget. The Budget, however, in-
cludes the army Bill, upon which agreement be-
tween the contending parties has already been
declared impossible, so that a second dead-
lock seems impending. The progress party
will support Herr Michaelis's resolution,
which, though considered Iby part of the
Left centre premature, will probably be carried.
Should such be the result, a dissolution is generally

expected.
It is still denied that the Government has any in-
tention of consulting Schleswig-Holstein notables
upon the Ministerial proposals as to Prussia's future
relations towards the Duchies. People add that
such a step would not be justifiable, as the only
question hitherto has been concerning eventual pro-
positions, which could only settle future relations
in case the Duchies should be constituted an inde-
pendent State

LAW INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn.)
IN RE LORD THOMAS PELHAM CIINTON.

An application was made this morning by Mr. Whiting,
an attorney, of London, for an adjudication in bankruptcy
against Lord Thos. Pelham Clinton, at present described as
of Paris. It was sworn under an affidavit that Lord Clinton
had full notice of the present application, and his Honour
granted the order, but advising Mr. Whiting to be very
careful how he acted upon it, as there was a case now
before the:House of Lords upon this very question.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE,--This Day.

MARLBOROUGH-STREET.

FORTUNATE CAPTURE OF A DARING TIIIIF—ROBBERY AT
A WATCHMAKER'S.--John Perkins, described as a clerk,
but who refused his address, was charged before Mr. Knox
with stealing a gold chronometer, of the value of £7O,
from the shop of Mr. Charles M'Dowall, watchmaker, of
No. 26, Jermyn-street.
Mr. M'Dowall said that on the previous afternoon the
prisoner came into his shop and asked to be shown some
gold watches, stating that he wished to purchase a gold
chronometer. He showed the prisoner several, and he
then said he would call again, and just as ho (prosecutor)
was putting them back, the prisoner bent over the counter,
took up one of the value of £7O, and started out of the
shop. An outcry was raised, and the prisoner was pursued
and caught by a constable.
Police-constable John Holman, 326 A, said that on the
previous afternoon he was told by a man that three men he
pointed out had robbed a watchmaker, the man stating
that the prisoner was the one who had the property.
He pursued the prisoner, and after a severe chase over-
took him and took him into custody, and while on the
way to the Vine-street police-station he threw the gold
chronometer, produced, down an area, and it was subse-
quently given to him by a person who picked it up.
George Randell, a paper hanger, of Sutton-street, Com-
mercial-road East, proved seeing the prisoner while in
custody of the constable drop the chronometer down an
area. He picked it up and handed it to the constable.
Mr. Knox remanded the prisoner, stating that he had no
doubt it would be found that he was known.