The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-03 00:00:00

TEE SUIN,II LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 3, 1865,

LONDON, THURSRIY, AUGUST 3, 1865.

___,,,, _

The Imperial Decree that has lately been issued
by Austria is very important, and promises well for
the future policy of that country. It is evident that
the change of Ministers recently effected is very
significant, and betokens that a higher principle
pervades the Government than has prevailed for
some time in high places. This decree enacts the
cessation of all pending prosecutions under the press
law, and the remission of all punishments which
are being carried out in pursuance thereof, not
excepting even those cases in which part or the
whole of the guarantee money required by the
Government as a guarantee has been forfeited. It
seems as if it was determined that nothing shall be
left out in this proclamation that was wanting to
render it effective and comprehensive in its charac-
ter and bearings. A new era may be thus considered
to have fairly commenced, and certainly the best
results may be confidently expected to ensue from
this wise and statesmanlike cause, this open and
and generous conduct.

The vexatious restrictions that have been placed
on the Press, and the wholesale persecutions to
which it has been subj •
ected, have long ben a stand-
ing disgrace and a great drawback to the continental
nations. It was at one time confidently expected that
the French EMPEROR would relax the stern rules
which bound the press in that Country, and it was
certainly trusted that the march of progress in
Prussia would permit this unfailing auxiliary of a
constitutional Government to exist in freedom
worthy of the name. Both these aspirations have
been disappointed, and it is therefore the more
striking to notice this advance on the part of Aus-
tria, which has hitherto been regarded as far behind
the others in enlightenment and progress. The sub-
jects of FRANCIS JOSEPH may nosy, however, Fondly
compare their own position with that of their neigh-
bours and others, and rejoice at the unexpected and
advantageous turn which events have taken.
Nothing could more plainly show the desire to
make atonement for past deficiencies, and to take
vigorous measures for advancement in the future
than this resolution concerning the freedom of the
press.

It is not only at borne that Austria has evinced
this determination, but we learn from the newsfrom
the Duchies that the Austrian Civil Commissary,
Baron VON lIALBIIVBER, has published a protest
against the arrest of M. MAY, the editor of the
Schleswig-Holstein Journal. It appears that this
arbitrary proceeding was adopted by order of the
Prussian Commissary, Baron VON . ZEDLITZ,
without the knowledge of the local Go-
vernment and of the Austrian authorities.
tis highly satisfactory in every respect that he

should have done this ; for, apart from the impor-
tance of the affair in itself, it is very important that
the arrogance of Prussia should be checked. Really
there is no saying what might be the consequences
if a lame or supine policy was followed at Vienna,
for every day brings fresh intelligence of the imper-
tinent interference and unscrupulous designs of
Prussia. The Baron very properly declares this
action to be a gross yid' tion of the rights of
Austria to the co-possession of Schleswig-Holstein,
of his own authority and the law of the land.
Certainly it is open to all these objections, and may
fairly be characterised as one of those intrusive acts
of unwarrantable assurance, which only such Minis-
ters as llerr IlismAncE would support on sanction.
At any rate the decided attitude which Austria has
assumed is something to rejoice at, and it will be
strange if the crafty designs and selfish schemes of
Prussia are carried out without a strong opposition
from many quarters from whence, doubtless, much
resistance is not expected. Such a greedy and un-
scrupulous nation must expect neither friends nor
allies.

Amid the more exciting news from the larger
European kingdoms, and the anxiety with which
the American intelligence is looked for, it is not un-
interesting to watch the progress of the quiet penin-
sular kingdoms. It is not without satisfaction that
England sees these ancient monarchies emerging
from the cloud that has so long overshadowed their
destinies, and showing some signs of desiring to
keep pace with the liberality and intelligence of the
times. Spain has latterly given evidence of im-
proved political wisdom by her renunciation of San
Domingo, and by her recognition of the Italian
kingdom. By the former act she has proved that
her people are no longer disposed to sacrifice the
interests of the country to empty pride, although
the haughty Spaniards must have felt such a sur-
render especially mortifying and uncongenial. The
lavish expenditure of life and money to a profitless
end has been therefore arrested, and though Eng-
land has not proved a very urgent creditor, she can
scarcely fail to remember that Spain is heavily in
her debt, both in money and in promises. Her
obligations as to slavery have been shamefully
neglected, and Cuba, as every one knows, has long
been the stronghold of the obnoxious traffic. Her
little neighbour, however, who has on many
occasions set her a praiseworthy example
of spirit and consistency, is now going to
show her the way to better things, and we
are glad to find the young King of Portugal, in his
speech at the opening of the Cortes announcing
that a strict law for the final abolition of slavery in
the Portuguese possessions will shortly be brought
forward. This will be an important step, and it is
one which certainly an European kingdom is bound
to take. The abolition of slavery in America will
of course give a severe blow to the traffic, but there
will probably be still means of disposing of the un-
happy slaves in other quarters. If Spain can be
induced to follow the example of Portugal, and to
fulfil her pledges, there will be some hope of a
death-blow being given to a system which is a dis-
grace to the civilisation of the nineteenth century.
The young King of Portugal has shown every de-
sire to wear his crown worthily, and he is right in
estimating the total abolition of slavery as a most
important measure. his Majesty also stated in his
speech from the throne that the financial condition
of the country was satisfactory, and that laws would
be submitted to the Cortes by the Ministry relative
to the Duoro wine trade and the importation of
cereals. It is to be hoped that the young King and
his Ministers will recognise the value of free trade,
and will, as far as possible, conduct their custom
laws and trade regulations in accordance with those
enlightened principles which have proved so bene-
cial to this country. At all events Portugal is cm
the path of progress, and we must have patience
with her efforts.

The visit of Queen EMMA to this country has
directed the attention of a good many persons to
the condition and prospects of the Sandwich Islands.
It is no longer such a marvel, as it was wont to be,
for royalty to quit its own domains and gratify its
curiosity, or consult its interests, by travelling
through other kingdoms. Of late years, indeed,
the wandering dignities have been almost as nume-
rous as in the days when " kings' sons" went out
to seek fame and fortune in the highways, where
they constantly met royal ladies disguised as dairy-
maids or shepherdesses. Our own heir-apparent,
if he has not made the tour of the world, has visited
the most remarkable spots in it, and continental
monarchs and their queens and princes no longer re-
gard it as indispensable to the safety of their dynas-
ties that they should remain to watch their people.
Even Indian princes and other Eastern potentates
have grown familiar to us in our own busy streets,
so that the visit of Queen E3131A is by no means a
nine days' wonder, although some circumstances
render it peculiarly interesting. The Sandwich
Islands have been fortunate in possessing a succes-
sion of singularly enlightened kings, bearing
the name of Kamehameha. Queen E3131A
is the widow of the last of these, and her
I visit to this country is understood to be with
the object of interesting English Christians in the
' erection of a church and schools and other benevo-
lent objects-in Honolulu. She is described as an
intelligent and dignified woman of agreeable man-
, ners. The Sandwich Islanders are as a race much
altered from the days of Captain Coox, whose
name unfortunately is inseparably associated with
Karakakooa Bay. They are likely soon to assume
a position of considerable importance in the com-
mercial world, and the report just published by
Mr SYNGE, the British Consul-General at Honolulu,
on the trade of the islands, will be read at the present
time with interest. They possess great natural
advantages and capabilities, and their value to Bri-
tish merchants will arise from their dealings with
Victoria, Vancouver's Island. The principal part
of their trade has hitherto been carried on with San
Francisco, as the nearest and most convenient port,
but there are some obstacles in the way of trade
there in the system of bonding goods. At Victoria,
on the other hand, the port is entirely free, and a
competition has consequently sprung up between
beenm
la;
epbb underrated,ilitie
Victoria and San Francisco. It is believed that the
natural c •
softhe
aSnadndthwai et hunlslands a have
-
tinuance of secure and free Government, and the
stimulus of enterprise and capital, they
the West Indies of the P-eifi e c will become
. Ai r. kATRGE reminds
us that these islands are in the same l • atitude north
that Mauritius is in the south, but that the com-
merce and products of the latter are nearly thirty
times greater than those of the former, al-
though the Sandwich Islands are far larger
and possess many advantages
of soil and
climate. Hitherto the islanders have been chiefly
occupied with the cultivation
of sugar, which
is very productive, the export—which was a little
over 5,000,000 lbs. in 1863—having more than
doubled last year. There are immense tracts of
uncultivated land which are believed capable of
producing sugar, but it has been suggested that
cotton would be likely to thrive from the success
attending the cultivation of the Peruvian cotton
plant on a small scale. Mr. SYNGE is anxious to
point out the increasing value of the trade of these
islands, and how useful it may becom-, to Great Bri- _

tain if a British free port be preserved so near as
Victoria, and he suggests that a screw steamer
direct between Honolulu and Panama would be of
great assistance to British commerce ; also that a
very moderate subsidy for carrying the mails would
induce the Honolulu to place one on the route. A
considerable traffic would, it is thought, be gained
by establishing a connection with the -West India
line for passengers, and with the Liverpool steamers
for cargo. Our merchants would do well to look
to these matters, since there is no question that
these islands will rapidly develop° into considerable
commercial importance, and the character and in-
telligence of the people will offer every facility for
the establishment of a valuable trade.

None o► the arrangements of the public service
reflect so much disgrace upon those connected with
them as the manner in which the payment of prize-
money is conducted. It is positively scandalous, and
it seems extraordinary that no reformations are
made, when notice has so often been called to the
subject in both Houses of Parliament. Over and
over again have the authorities been warned, en-
treated, and exhorted to amend their ways in this
respect, but to no purpose. A sort of fatality or
infatuation seems to possess them, and the indif-
ference manifested is utterly unaccountable and
wholly inexcusable. In last Tuesday's Gazette there
is a notification concerning the second distribution
of the Lucknow prize-Money. It is quite out of
character that in 1865, then, and not till then,
compensation should bo awarded for the services
rendered in 1858. No terms of censure can be
too severe that stigmatise such proceedings, and
hold them up to the reprobation of the community.
What must foreign nations think of us ? Certainly
it is rating the gratitude of England at a very
low figure that so many long years should elapse
before due tribute is paid to those so eminently de-
serving of it . The siege of Lucknow was one of
the most important events of the war. It was sus-
tained with a fortitude and heroism that could not
have been surpassed, and its relief was also a great
trophy of military manoeuvres. It is no mat-
ter, however, whether the services rendered
are great or small, important or tri-
vial, the same delay takes place. It is to be.
hoped that the new Parliament will take up this
question, and insist upon something being done to
remedy the glaring deficiencies that take place in
this matter. No excuse can possibly be made to
the length of time that elapses, and interminable
delays that are constantly interposed, and the sooner
a charge takes place the better it will be for the
good of the service, the credit of those concerned in
the disfribution of prize-money, and the honour of
the country. The whole community are more or
less interested in the management of this affair, and
it is due to the spirit and devotion of our army
and navy that no more indifference be manifested.

Artillery Competition for the Cambridge
Prize,

Yesterday was the third day of the National
Artillery Association's meeting at Shoeburyness, and
the prize competed for was that called the " Cam-
bridge Prize," presented by the Duke of Cambridge,
and value £6O. The weather was boisterous in the
extreme, and during the greater part of the time
occupied in firing there was a drenching downpour
of rain. Before the competition of the day opened
the two detachments that were prevented from firing
for the Queen's Prize on the previous day by the
coming in of the tide, completed that match. These
two detachments were of the Ist Kent, and they
choose the 68-pounder with which to shoot. The
first detachment made eight points in 6 min. 22 sec.,
and the second made 11 points in 8 min. 10 sec., so
the great prize of the meeting, and the honour of
wearing the first Queen's badges for artillery practice,
will fall to the second detachment of the Ist Sussex
(Brighton), the same detachment which carried off
the " Palmerston Cup" on Monday. The detach-
ment was under the command of Capt. J. W. Silver-
thorne, and was composed of Sergeant G. Tuppen
(No. 1), Corporal Lewer, Bombardiers Chatfield
and David, and Gunners llobden, Rowe, Hill,
Whitehead, Dudman, and Coppard. The Brighton
men were entered only for these prizes, and took
their departure yesterday amid the congratulations
of their comrades. The firing for the Cambridge
Prize then proceeded under Colonel Fisher, of the
Royal Artillery, the same regulations being observed
as on the previous day's firing—namely, that five
rounds should be fired from any chosen smooth-bore
gun (18, 32, or 68 pounder) at 1,250 and 1,500
yards, the first shot of every five at the first range,
the others at 1,500 and 1,250 alternately. Though
the firing was not so good as on the previous day,
when the weather was calmer, the shooting gene-
rally was very satisfactory, and the time so well
kept that only one detachment was deducted for
being over the eight minutes allowed, and in
that case only ten seconds extra were taken. The
prize fell to another Sussex corps, the 2d detachment
of the 4th Cinque Ports, who made 26 points with
the 32-pounder in 6 min. 58 sec. The next score
to this was that made by the Sheffield men, the 4th
West York (not West Norfolk, as stated yesterday),
who made 21 in 6 min. 14 sec., and but that one
shot scored nothing in elevation (it being necessary
to obtain points in both elevation and direction to
count), they were at one time looked upon as the
winners, they having gained a reputation the pre-
vious day by making 25 in four shots and in the
short space of 6 min. 56 sec. One detachment was
deducted the value of a shot, 5 points, because the
rammer was put in the gun without the vent being
properly served, and while Colonel Fisher did not
overlook the least imperfection of drill, he often took
occasion to give detachments very hearty commen-
dation for their steadiness in serving the guns. In
this competition the Ist Kent, the only men who
fired with the 68-pounder, made very good practice
with this gun, which is on a traversing platform ;
and the 2d Middlesex fired very steadily, and made
good shooting. The encampment has been put to
great inconvenience through the severe weather, and
a great annoyance has been found in the earwigs,
which are more abundant here than at Wimbledon.
A serious difficulty arose in regard to the commis-
sariat ; but this has been overcome in a great mea-
sure,
and, while the privates and non-commissioned
officers are provided for by the garrison tavern, an
officers' mess has been successfully established under
Lieutenant Starkey, of the 4th Cinque Ports.
Colonel Harcourt, the president of the Association,
was present superintending all the arrangements.
The camp is under the command of Colonel Glad-
dish, and a little incident which occurred the
evening before last will show with what strict-
ness its rules are enforced. The officer of the
guard on going the rounds to see all lights
out, found a member of a London Artillery corps,
not encamped on the ground, in one of the tents
with a light and enjoying himself. His attention
was called to the fact that lights should be out, but
he having treated the order as a joke, the matter
was at once reported to the Camp Adjutant, Capt.
111‘Kowan, who requested that the man should be
brought before him. The Volunteer guard were
ordered to this duty, but for some time the man
could
dsthenmarched off to the
Campl
not be found, and when he was at length dis-
covered lew a snugly
Adjutant,
to
dres s
d w e
from whom he received a sharp lecture, and having
made his peace by apologising, he was allowed to go
again to bed.

GALLANT CONDUCT OF A LAD.--Yesterday morn-
ing 'a number of boys were bathing on the south shore of
the Thames, between Waterloo and Westminster, bridges,
when one of them, named William Thomas Pinkey, aged
10, got out of his depth, was carried away by the current,
and sank. This was observed by another lad—Wm.Willot
aged 12—who went in after his companion, as did. also
another boy named Farrill. On getting to the spot Farrill
began to sink, and would have been drowned, but Willot
got him out of the water, and afterwards dived and re-
covered the body of the other lad, who was quite dead.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE ATLANTIC CABLE.

The following telegrams have been received by
Reuter's Telegram Company (Limited), from R.
A Glass, Esq., Managing Director of the Telegraph
Construction and Maintenance Company :
VALENTIA, Wednesday, 8 p.m.

The signals from the Great Eastern became un-
intelligible at noon to-day. No communication has
been had with the ship since, and no information
has been received. Cause unknown.

VALENTIA, Thursday, 11.30 a.m.
No information received from ship.
Cause unknown.
No communication with ship.

THE BRAZIL AND RIVER PLATE
MAILS•

SOUTHAMPTON, AUG. 3.

The Royal mail steamship Oneida, with the above
passengers,
mails, has arrived here. She brings 89
£14,881 in specie, 10 packages of diamonds (value
not stated), and 1,786 packages of cargo, consisting
chiefly of tobacco, cotton, coffee, ipecacuanah,
and tapioca.

The British war ships Egmont, Martino, and
Gleamer were at Rio.

The great naval engagement between the Bra-
zilian and Paraguayan squadrons resulted in a
complete victory of the former.
The details of this bloody naval engagement show
that both squadrons fought with great heroism.
The battle lasted from 9.30 in the morning till 6 in
the evening. Both combatants exhibited great
bravery, and the slaughter is described as terrific.
The Paraguayan fleet was composed of eight steamers
and six boats, mounting 80-pounders, and also a
battery of 40 rifled cannon. The Brazilian fleet
numbered nine gunboats. The engagement oc-
curred three leagues below the city of Corrientes.
The loss of the Paraguayans was very great, and
their fleet was all but annihilated. Upwards of
300 men were lost by the Brazilians, in-
cluding 19 officers. The city of Corrientes
was deserted, most of the population having
fled to towns lower down the river. The main army
of the Brazilians, 17,000 strong, was encamped on
the banks of the Uruguay, in Entrerios, and on the
confines of the Brazilian territory another wing of
14,000 men. A body of Paraguayan troops, 20,000
strong, having desolated the province of Corrientes,
burst into the Rio Grande, swept the banks of the
Parana, and were now marching (?) the province.

News from Rio de Janeiro announces that the
Emperor, accompanied by the Duke of Saxe and
the Minister of War, departed for Rio Grande on
the 10th.

The condition of the Brazilian army in the south
was unsatisfactory, typhus and dysentery making
sad ravages. The ambulances and hospitals were
badly supplied.
At Bahia the sugar market was quiet; freights,
355. to 40s. for the Channel.

At Pernambuco sugar was unaltered, and cotton
advancing,

SPAIN.
MADRID, JULY 29.

The semi-official Correspondcncia de Espana of
to-day says :—" In view of the endeavours of some
journals to make it believed that the Spanish Go-
vernment yielded in the Italian question to arrange-
ments previously made with the Emperor, and to
the counsels of France, we feel bound to make
two important revelations. In the first place, at
the sole conference which the Duke of Tetuan had
with the Emperor at Chalons, not a word was
spoken relative to Italy ; and, in the second, the
French ambassador at Madrid knew nothing of the
resolution of the Spanish Government until after it
had been communicated to the Pontifical Nuncio
and the Italian Charge d'Affaires in Madrid. The
Government of Spain is Spanish, and while valuing
the amity of France, as well as that of other nations,
in this question, as in all others, it has only re-
garded, and will always exclusively regard, the
national interest."

The General Sanitary Administration has issued
the necessary orders with the view of preventing
the entrance or prevention of cholera morbus in
Spain. The public health throughout the Peninsula
is at present excellent. In Valencia alone have
occurred some cases of sporadic cholera, or rather
bilious fever, of the character usually prevalent at
this season of the year.

The Sanitary Administration of the Balearic Isles
has declared arrivals from the coast from Alicante
to Barcelona subject to observation. It is well
known that in the Balearic Isles the most rigorous
precautions have always been observed whenever
the appearance of epidemic diseases has been
apprehended.
The Queen of Spain, under present arrangements,
will set out from Granja on the Ist August. Her
Majesty is expected to visit the Basque provinces,
Navarre and Logrono, and some towns of Castille
and Arragon.

brought the sitting to a close with an explanation as
to the object of the Congress.

BOURSE, Aug. 2.—Two o'clock.—The monthly
settlement of operations on Railways and all Foreign
Stock takes place to-day under favourable auspices ;
the report is remarkably cheap, and in many cases
a thiport is obtained for the loan of shares. The
d6port on Credit Mobilier Shares has varied from
lf. to 3f. 50c., on Spanish Mobilier the &port is
50c. The Nord d'Espagne has 50c. to 25c; deport.
Northern are carried on at par. Lyons with only
25c. report, and Orleans 3f. to 2f. 50c. Telegrams
from London show a relapse of on the Consols.
The difference between Cash and Account on the
Threes is sc. to 6c. This Stock varies between
67f. 65c. and 67f. 72 e. Mobilier Shares are at
732 f. 50c. after 727 f. 50c. The cours de compen-
sation is fixed for the following Stock Companies
as follows :—Credit Mobilier, 730 f. ; Spanish Mobi-
lier, 460 f. ; Comptoir d'Escompte, 935 f. ; Northern,
1,043 f. 50c. ; Lyons, 850 f. ; Italian Fives, 64f. 35c.
Three o'clock.—Threes, for the Account, are
lower than yesterday, and have further lost the
&port. Credit Mobilier and other Shares leave off
on the contrary with an advance, the last quota-
tions being as follows :

41 per Cents 97
Do. end month —
3 per Cents. 67 70
Do. end month 67 70
Credit Mobilier
Do. end month
Bank Shares 3600
Credit Foncier 1255
Italian Loan 64 90
Do. end month 64 77
RAIL'

Ditto Threes —
Mexican Loan 461

Do. Bonds -
Russian —
Austrian
Spanish Threes
Homo Debt —
Deferred
Roman —

VITS.
Cash. Amt.
•.• 840
••• ... 1055 --
... 558 75

Orleans
Northern
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern
Western
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain
Saragossa
Ditto to Barcelona
Boman

- - ... 520 -

- - ... 270 -
410 -
- ... 480 -
- - 183 75
- - 318 75

217 50

SLAVERY IN CUBA.

(REUTER'S EXPRESS.)
MADRID, July 30.
The question of slavery in Cuba has lately been
occupying the attention of the Madrid press. The
Democracia has published a scheme proposed by Senor
Orense for the immediate abolition of slavery in the
Spanish colonies. An equally radical project has
been put forward by the Marquis of Albaida. This
would declare slavery abolished in all the Spanish
provinces of the New -World, indemnifying the slave-
owners by a paper issue created for that purpose,
bearing no interest and redeemable within a certain
number of years. The produce of the national pro-
perty in Cuba and Puerto Rico might be dedicated
to this purpose and would suffice, in the opinion of
the marquis, to liquidate the new debt.
The E poca in an article upon this subject says :
" The present slave population of both sexes and
all ages in the Antilles is calculated at 400,000.
Taking into account that although a young and
robust negro is now worth over $1,000; women,
children, and old men, fetching a lower price, are
included in the above estimate of 400,000, we may
without exaggeration fix the mean rate at $5OO a-
head, which would make the total amount of com-
pensation 4,000 millions of reals. The indemnity
thus reaches an amount almost beyond our powers.

" But the question should not, in our judgment,
be regarded from this point of view alone. We
have not so much to consider whether we have re-
sources or not to meet the burden which emancipa-
tion would impose upon the Treasury, as to weigh
the inconveniences and advantages of emancipation
before entering upon an undertaking which might
give results very different from those looked for by
the extreme Abolitionists.

" The Democracia, according to Senor Orense,
resolves the question by the simple formula of ' de-
claring slavery abolished in the cause of humanity.'
This would doubtless be very sentimental and very
philanthropic, but it would at the same time further
the interests of our Antilles and those of the negroes
themselves ?
" We may be allowed to doubt it."

The Epoca then proceeds to describe the difficult
state of things produced in the United States by
the comparatively sudden emancipation of so many
slaves, and continues :
" The danger which Inspires so much apprehen-
sion in the American Republic is what we wish to
avoid in the flourishing colonies of Spain. We com-
prehend the impossibility of maintaining slavery,
now abolished in all the nations of both worlds ;
we energetically condemn this traffic in human
flesh, a relic of past ages which modern civilisation
cannot tolerate ; but we do not wish that, in re-
medying the evil, recourse should be had to means
that might aggrave it, and lead to deplorable com-
plications—perhaps irremediable conflicts.
" The new state of things created in the United
States imposes duties upon the Spanish Government
which it cannot ignore without prejudice to im-
portant interests. It is necessary, to prepare the
way, and proceed cautiously but firmly on the path
of abolition. Realised in the manner proposed by
Senor Orense, the results would be far from cor-
responding to his confident expectations.
" The sudden change from one system to another,
by radically altering the social conditions of Cuba
and Porto Rico, might for the time being cause the
death of their agriculture and commerce, and be
the origin of a general perturbation, which, after
the horrors of unbridled anarchy, would place them
in the condition to which the unhappy Dominican
Republic is now reduced.

" Slavery may be abolished progressively, prin-
cipally by preventing the slave trade by the utmost
vigour the law permits until it is rendered alto-
gether impossible. This accomplished, liberal
measures might be adopted with regard to the ne-
groes b9rn in Cuba or Porto Rico, and those born
to married slaves, whose declared liberty would be
the basis of the future emancipation. If the Go-
vernment act with will and determination, slavery
will have disappeared before many years from our
Antilles without producing the difficulties and
troubles which occupy those who, having proceeded
with too great haste, are now experiencing the
consequences of their want of foresight."

The Arrests in Schleswig-Holstein.

SCIILESWIG, July 31.

The following protests have been published by
[Ten von Halbhuber, the Austrian Civil Commis-
sioner in the Duchies, against the arrest of Herr
May, editor of the Schleswig-Holstein Zeitung, and
the expulsion of Herr Freese, a member of the
Prussian Chamber of Deputies :

" From a verbal communication just made to me
by Herr von Zedlitz, the Prussian Civil Commis-
sioner in Schleswig-Holstein, I learn that he has
thought proper to calve Herr May, editor of the
Schleswig-Holstein Zeitung, to be arrested in Altona
upon the ground that, being a Prussian subject, he
has broken the laws of his country. I protest
against this act, executed without my consent, as
being a forcible violation of the Austrian right of
co-possession, of my jurisdiction, and of the laws of
the country, and I request the Prussian Civil Com-
missioner to withdraw the one-sided order issued by
him.

(Signed)

" VON HALBIRTBER,
" Austrian Civil Commissioner
in Schleswig-Holstein."

" By a letter just received from Dr. Freese,
Member of the Prussian Chamber of Deputies, and
new residing in Kiel, I understand that in a com-
munication from your Excellency of the 26th inst.,
he had been ordered to leave the Duchies within 24
hours, that in case of non-compliance he would be
compulsorily conveyed by military to the Prussian
frontier, and would be arrested in the event of his
return to the Duchies.

"As the chief civil tribunal in the Duchies has
.alone power to exercise the authority of Govern-
ment, I therefore declare this and every such like
one-sided order issued by your Excellency a violent
act directed against the Austrian right of co-posses-
sion, and invalid in a legal point of view,

(Signed)

" V01:4 HALBHUBER,
" Austrian Civil Commissioner
in Schleswig-Holstein."

LITERATURE,

Charles Dickens's Serial Story.

Our Mutual Friend. By Charles Dickens. No. XVI.
Chapman and Hall.

The Fourth Book, here commenced—judging it
merely fromthese opening chapters—will, evidently,
in the fullest meaning of the words, be the crowning
quarter of " Our Mutual Friend." " A Turning "
—it is called—this same Book the Fourth. Sym-
bolically, we presume, by reason of its being a long
lane, proverbially, that has no Turning, while this
lane as we all of us know only too well is one now
fast drawing to an end. " Setting Traps," the first
chapter of this last book of the story is entitled :
some of these said traps being set by no less
wily and desperate a Hunter than Bradley
Headstone, the schoolmaster, for the catching
(if possible) of that wild amphibious animal,
half Land Rat, half Water Rat, late of the
river-side back-slums, now of Plashwater Weir-
Mill Lock, the Honest Man, otherwise Rogue Rider-
hood. Mr. Riderhood, when we first catch a glimpse
of him, here, in this August number, sits on one of the
blunt wooden levers of his lock-gates, dozing, in the
tranquil summer's evening. And in one of those
strange grotesque sentences (wondrously realistic in
their way), that no one but Mr. Dickens would ever
dream of writing, we read about that one coarse
figure in the lovely landscape--" As the Rogue sat
ever and again nodding himself off his balance, his
recovery was always attended by an angry stare
and growl, as if in the absence of any one else
he had aggressive inclinations towards himself"
Hailed, to the working of his creaking windlass and
sluices, by the cry of " Lock, ho ! Lock !" past
Riderhood there conies a boat—" A little less on
you and you'd a' most ha' been a Wagerbut,"
says the Rogue to himself and in the boat
an amateur sculler, recognised by Mr. Rider-
hood as " T'other Governor," to wit Eugene
Wrayburn. Chaff is all that Eugene has gaily
to fling back, with a careless disdain, to the surly
brute of a lock-keeper in answer to the latter's
sullen greeting—" I got the place, and no thanks
to you for it, nor yet none to Lawyer Light-
wood" Our recommendation's saved, honest fel-
low, intimates Eugene, for the next candidate
—who'll offer himself on your being transported
or hanged. " Don't be long about it, will you be
so good ?". says Eugene, with his airy chaff—
(" cheek," Mr. Riderhood himself calls it afterwards
in his more blunt vernacular, when relating the
circumstance savagely to the schoolmaster)—the
imperturbable young barrister, then, bending
gravely to his work again as he sculls off into the
distance. There it is—almost immediately after-
wards—that Riderhood has the opportunity of
recounting this little incident to Bradley Headstone,
who has been, then and there, revealed to the won-
dering lock-keeper, in the guise of a bargeman, in
garb the very double of himself, Rogue Riderhood !
" What did ho say ?" asked Bradley, referring to Eugene
Wrayburn.

" Cheek" said Ridarhood.
" What ?"

" Cheek" repeated Riderhood with an angry oath ;
"cheek is what he said. He can't say nothing bat cheek.
I'd ha' liked to plump down aboard of him, neck and crop,
with a heavy jump and sunk him."
Bradley turned away his haggard face for a few moments,
and then said, tearing up a tuft of grass :

" Damn him !"
" Moroar !" cried Riderhood. "Does you credit !
Hooroar ! I cry chorus to the rotherest !

We have been thus particular in commenting
minutely and in detail, as it were, upon the last-
named little incident, not only because of the won-
derful grimly humour latent in that exultant admi-
ration of Riderhood's at Bradley's opportunely
blurted oath—" Hooroar ! Does you credit,
rotherest P—but because—yet more deeply latent
in the incident—lying perdu, there, like a hushed
rattle-snake in the grizzly shade—there lurks what
(or we are much mistaken) will prove to bo the
inner meaning, the whole passion, anguish, horror
of the plot. The end of the fierce chase so long
maintained by Bradley is manifestly coming. The
significance of those two young figures confront-
ing each other (preparatory to some deadly
struggle) at the bottom of the green cover of each
number of " Our Mutual Friend," during these
last sixteen months, is at length, we may be sure
of that, about to be explained. The pursued, it
is true, is, in this current number of the tale, not yet
brought to bay—is, in effect, as it appears, wholly
unconscious of being still pursued in the country,
as he was conscious of having been watched and
tracked of late in town. The fierce and deadly
malignity of purpose evidenced by his pursuer,
throughout this present instalment of the narra-
tive, being principally and very powerfully evi-
denced by the Traps he is Setting, as already hinted
at, with a view to divert suspicion from himself, and
to turn it, on the contrary, in the direction of Rogue
Riderhood. Suspicion—in regard to what ? Ob-
viously in regard to something not yet accomplished !
Something--for the accomplishment of which Brad-
ley is quite evidently, and very stealthily, and
with the darkest malignity of purpose, watching
his opportunity. The power with which all this
is described is as fine as anything that Mr. Dickens
has ever yet written. It is like the preparation for
the storm and shipwreck in " David Copper-
field," or the flight of Sykes in " Oliver
Twist," or the woodland journey of Jonas
Chuzzlewit, or the sounding of the alarm-
bell in the startled ears of Rudge among the
smouldering ruins of Mr. Haredale's mansion. There
is a thunderstorm described in this new number of
" Our Mutual Friend"—a thunderstorm (evidently
occurring upon the eve of the crisis of the owhole
story) that is of itself a marvel, if looked at in
regard to the mere composition of it, but that has
about it, besides that, an indescribably tragic force
—by reason of the two men who are, there, brought
momentarily to view out of the blackness of the
night, by reason of their situation relatively
to each other, and by reason also of their
tranquil, picturesque surroundings. Bradley,
haggard, worn-out, stretched in deep but uneasy
slumber on the truckle-bed in the corner of the
lockhouse--Riderhood seated watchfully, not to say
suspiciously, awake in a chair by the window
—alternate silence and uproar, blackness and light,
both within the little tenement and without, upon
the midnight river and the circumjacent land-
scape :

The thunder rolled heavily, and the forked lightning
seemed to make jagged rents in every part of the vast cur-
tain without, as Riderhood sat by tho window, glancing
at the bod. Sometimes he saw the man upon the bed, by
a red light ; sometimes by a blue ; sometimes he scarcely
saw him in the darkness of the storm ; sometimes he saw
nothing of him in the blinding glare of palpitating white
fire. Anon the rain would come again with a tremendous
rush, and the river would seem to rise to meet it, and a
blast of wind bursting upon the door, would flutter the
hair and dress of the man, as if invisible messengers were
come around the bed to carry him away. From all these
phases of the storm, Riderhood would turn, as if they were
interruptions—rather striking interruptions but interrup-
tions still—of his scrutiny of the sleeper.
For the deadly sequel to all this formidable prepa-
ration wo shall manifestly not have long to wait.
As it is the reader's curiosity, nay, more than that his
anxiety, is worked up to an almost unendurable
pitch of breathless solicitude. And it is a solicitude
that hovers in the track, that concentrates about the foot-
steps of the delightfullest character of all in the book
—Eugene Wrayburn ! Turning for a while from whom, lot
us here add, before we close our remarks upon this present
number of " Our Mutual Friend," that Mr. Boffin still con-
tinues to keep up our bewilderment by his singular and all
but inexplicable change of character. " The Golden Dust-
man Rises a Little," it is true, out of the depths of
the regretful contempt in the which ho has been
threatening of late to submerge himself altogether
—rises just a little out of them when he gets
rid of the two Lammles, those two Arcadians
of Mayfair, Alfred and Sophronia. Insomuch, that we
actually begin to have some faint hopes of Boffin—hopes
that, somehow, like Richard in the play, Noddy may be
"himself again !" Yet ho "Sinks" once more, almost to
his former depths, does the Golden Dustman, in the very
next chapter! Where at his while= "Bower" he is, in the
presence of Mr. Venus, hauled over the coals (metaphori-
cally)by the implacable Wegg, the latter being, among other
thing's, in his own estimation, we presume, the Avenger of
those great creatures, Miss Elizabeth, Master George.
Aunt Jane, and Uncle Parker. The last chapter in the
number, bringing it exquisitely enough to its conclusion, is
the prettiest little lova-scene imaginable, descriptive of
"A Runaway Match," in which Pa is the accomplice in
the knitting together in the bonds of wedlock of the lives,
fortunes, and affections of Bella and John Rokesmith--
quite on the sly, observe, or otherwise to speak it, wholly

unbeknown to Ma, to the irrepressible Lavvy, and to that
tried friend of,tho family, Mr. George Sampson. Cherubic
Pa being aided and abetted in the nefarious assistance ac-
corded thus to John and Bella in these proceedings,
by two other accomplices ! Before the act (the mar-
riage act) by Gruff and Glum, an old Pensioner—who
is a cut above Wegg, by the way, having two wooden
legs instead of merely one, so that when he is walking fast
wo are told he "pegged away as if ho were scoring furi-
ously at cribbage !" And, after the act, by yet another par-
ticeps criminis, his Grace the Archbishop of Greenwich—
meaning thereby the white-chokered butler-like head-
waiter at the river-side hotel, where the bride and bride-
groom entertain Pa at a festive dinner in celebration of their
nuptials, "under the auspices of a solemn gentleman in black.
clothes and a white cravat, who," we are told, " looked
much more like a clergyman than the clergyman, and
seemed to have mounted a great. deal higher in the church:
not to say scaled the steeple !"—in other words, his afore-
said grace, the Archbishop of Greenwich. " And 0 there
aro days in this life worth life, worth death," the author
cries aloud, in a burst of pathetic tenderness, at. the close
of this charming description of Bella's wedding-day at
Greenwich. "And 0 what a bright old song it is that 0
'tis love, 'tis love, 'tie love that makes the world go round."
We wonder if Mr. Dickens bears in remembrance while
writing those dainty words, that—in the original—they
are the refrain of an old French chanson.

(4111111114
"! -

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, August 2.
The Queen drove out yesterday, accompanied by
her Royal Highness Princess Helena.

Lord Russell left Osborne for Richmond Park.
The Prinee and Princess of 'Wales dined with her
Majesty in the evening.
_ _

Lord A. Paget and Lieut.-Colonel Du Plat have
succeeded Major-General the Hon. A. Hood and
Colonel the Hon. A. Hardinge as Equerries in
Waiting.