The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-09 00:00:00

Railway Traffic Returns for the Week,

The last week's railway receipts ascertained up
to this day are in round figures as under :

Great Western ... ...
North Western ... ...
South Western ... ...
Brighton. ... ... ...
Midland ... ... ..
South Eastern ... ...
Great Northern ... ...
Lancashire and Yorkshire
Bristol and Exeter ...

1865. 1864.
• £68,701 £68,566
... 111,291 105,762
... 23,358 22,134
21,305 19,732
... 48,609 47,832
~. 23,275 22,650
• 89,990 36,658
.„ 38,958 34,308
6,434 6,276

North Eastern

69,060 63,656

Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln 20,699 18,197
Great Eastern 33,370 32,343
London, Chatham, and Dover ... 8,788 7,517
These returns, when compared with those of the
corresponding period of last year, are generally of a
very satisfactory character. On the Great Western
there is an increase of £135, on the North-Western
of £5,529, on the South-Western of £1,224, on the
Brighton of £1,573, on the Midland of £777, on the
South Eastern of £625, on the Great Northern of
£3,332, on the Lancashire and Yorkshire of £4,650,
on the Bristol and Exeter of £l5B, on the North-
Eastern of £5,404, on the Manchester, Sheffield,
and Lincoln of £2,502 ; on the Great Eastern of
£1,027, and on the London, Chatham, and Dover
of £271.

The Germanic Diet•

FRANKFORT, Nov. 5.

At the sitting of the Diet yesterday, the Govern-
ment of Bavaria, Saxony, and Hesse brought in
the motion for the solution of the Duchies ques-
tion so long discussed by the German press. After
recapitulating the various proceedings of the great
Powers at the Diet since the middle of the year,
with reference to Schleswig-Holstein, the motion
proceeds :
" After mature deliberation the movers entertain
the conviction that the motion of the 27th July (for
establishment of a generally recognised legal situa-
tion in the Duchies) is in no way settled by the com-
munication of the great Powers on Aug. 24 (notify-
ing the Gastein Convention), and that it is of equal
importance to the rights and interests of the Diet
as to the Duchies and their hereditary prince that a
resolution should be come to upon that motion as
early as possible. Irrespective of the fact that no
period has been appointed for the further communi-
cations promised by Austria and Prussia, the entire
object of the motion would be frustrated by delay,
and the Diet would have to renounce all co-opera-
tion in the definitive settlement of the Duchies
question, for which, at least, the agreement of Aug.
20 in no way offers cause. The movers do not at
present consider it fitting to enter into any explana-
tions upon this convention, not wishing to anticipate
the deliberations and report of the committee. They
content themselves rather with pointing out that,
with regard to the definitive transfer of the Duchy
of Lauenburg to the King of Prussia, preceded and
followed by the free assent of the population and its
representatives, the question of the applicability of
the Federal Austragal tribunal to the hereditary
claims set up by several members of the Diet re-
mains open, and that the terms of the provisional
arrangement respecting Schleswig and Holstein, far
removed from rendering the motion of the 27th
July superfluous, on the contrary present the most
urgent cause for accepting the spirit of that motion.
To say nothing upon other points, it suffices to
keep in view that the so-called provisorium departs
just from the main point which has hitherto been
upheld, as well by the Duchies themselves as by the
Federal Diet, for the defence and maintenance of its
rights, viz.—from the principle of the indivisible
union of both countries. It must also be remarked
that not the slightest hint of any participation of the
population and their representatives in the ultimate
settlement is contained either in the Convention
of the 20th August, or in the declaration of the
24th. The movers therefore consider the Diet as
equally justified and in duty bound, now, while the
negotiations as to the ultimate settlement are still
pending, to express its opinion and use its influence
that the result of these negotiations shall correspond
to the general right. As, however, there are no
means at command to induce the majority of the
committee to deliver its report, the above-named
Governments apply directly to the Diet, repeating
their motion of the 27th July, with the modifica-
tions rendered necessary by circumstances, and re-
questing that a vote may be taken upon the same
without reference to the committee. For these
reasons the above-named Governments move that
the Diet be pleased to resolve upon requesting the
Governments of Austria and Prussia-1• To con-
voke at an early date a general representation of the
Duchy of Holstein, based upon free election, to co-
operate in the definitive solution of the questions
still pending with respect to the Elbe Duchies ; and,
2. That they will use their influence to obtain the
entrance of the Duchy of Schleswig into the Ger-
manic Confederation. The above-named Govern-
ments at the same time request that voting may
take place upon this motion at one of the earliest
sittings of the Diet."
In accordance with an amendment brought in by
Austria and Prussia, the Diet resolved that it would
vote in a fortnight whether the motion should be
referred to a committee, or whether, as the movers
request, it should be taken into consideration at an
early sitting without previous reference.