The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-14 00:00:00

the fine speeches that are made are nothing in the
world but dodges to gain time, so that it may
appear as if the Berlin Cabinet came in at the last
to the rescue of distracted and bewildered States,
instead of being arch plotters who have manoeuvred
for their own devices-from the outset. When Herr
vox BISIIARK states that the Duchies had a perfect
right to claim protection from foreign enemies and
respect for their internal rights, it may occur to the
minds of those who peruse the sentence that
they have gained neither the one nor the
other, and that instead of realising their desires
they have only become overwhelmed with failure.
It is almost ludicrous to hear that the KING'S efforts
are directed towards the welfare of the Duchies,
and securing them a position suitable to their rights.
It is to be presumed that he will bestow the same
care upon them as upon the rest of his dominions,
for it can no longer be a matter of surmise as to
what fate he intends for them ; and it is only a
mockery to go on after this fashion in really insult-
ing the common sense and good judgment of the
surrounding nations, who must be wearied and worn
out with the never-ending jargon concerning

" rights and liberties," and such like make-believes.
It would be more consistent with the character of
a country like Prussia, and the position which she
is supposed to hold among nations, for the KING
and his Ministers to have been more explicit in their
avowal from the outset, and more decided in their
manner. It is absurd for them to be beating about
the bush, and persisting in subterfuge to the last.
Such a course of procedure cannot but draw down
the condemnation of all honest politicians, while
it most unmistakably reveals an artfulness in the
Prussian policy which lowers it for ever in the esti-
mation of—upright judges. His MAJESTY expects
the success of his efforts with so much the more
confidence, we are told, since he meets with " cordial
and hearty co-operation on the part of the Duchies."
It will be a relief when the last act of this long-
drawn-out drama is completed, and we see the
end of all these Herculean efforts at diplomacy,
which have certainly redounded neither to the credit
or good character of those concerned.

Mr. LAYARD is certainly a good authority on all
questions of art, and it must have been a great treat
for his hearers the other evening, at the meeting
the Lambeth Society of Arts, when he delivered his
interesting address on this subject. It is not often
that at an affair of this kind the opportunity is given
of hearing the opinions of one so well versed in
his subject, and so peculiarly fitted to impart infor-
mation on these difficult and yet delightful themes.
Doubtless many gleaned knowledge of which till
then they were partially, if not entirely, ignorant,
and this will actuate them with the desire to go
further, and look deeper into the subject, and the
result cannot fail to reward their efforts and to
crown their labours with advantage. The more
the question of " Art" is studied among a commu-
nity, the more refined and cultivated they will
assuredly become, and it is an encouragement to
those who do not generally familiarise themselves
with such themes, that so good an authority
as Mr. LAYARD denies that " Fine Arts " is the
property of any particular class of the people,
"in the case of nations of any refinement of civili-
sation." In support of this he gave the example of
the Greeks, who were so imbued with the percep-
tions of art that all they constructed was of the most
beautiful description, even when the implements
were in themselves simple. It will assist many
who desire to be thoroughly acquainted with the
nature of the beautiful to follow the hon. member
in his dissertations, and some of the most glaring
mistakes which are made in these matters requir-
ing care and judgment may be avoided, if atten-
tion is paid to some of the fundamental principles
which guide and govern this subject. " True art
consists in a perfect appreciation of form and
colour ;" and this will explain some of the
many failures which are matTe by those who,
only possessing a smattering of the subject,
persist in putting themselves forward in in-
stances where superior knowledge is required.
Mr. LAYARD well defined that the arts of a people
represented its character ; thus the Egyptians were
distinguished for their solid productions, and the
Assyrians, on the contrary, evidenced the tastes of
a nation assimilating itself to the different peoples
with whom they came in contact. It may be a
useful study to those who have ability and oppor-
tunity to dwell on such themes, to mark at what
a comparatively early period of the world
the principles of; art had developed them-
selves. Surely it is a satire upon the
judgment of those who think nothing valuable that
is not modern—to consider, as Mr. LAYARD tells us
—that from those two peoples, the Egyptians and
the Assyrians, the Greeks collected their subjects
and developed those " beautiful forms, still the
admiration of the world." Persia also followed the
example of those countries which it conquered, and
the Jews seem to have based their ideas of art on
the Assyrian models. Those pioneers of the beau-
tiful were thus destined for all time to spread the
results of their genius and skill to the ends of the
earth ; and while their history is disregarded, their
arts flourish. Mr. LAYARD made an effective allu-
sion to the fact that freedom is essential to the well-
doing of art, and instanced many striking examples
of the manner in which the loss of the one was fol-
lowed by the decadence of the other.

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS FOR THE
ENSUING WEEK.—Monday—Asiatic, at 8. Tuesday
—Statistical, at 8: "Critical Remarks on Census of 1861,"

Mr. Sargant. Royal Institution, at 3 : "Electricity," Pro-
fessor Tyndall. Engineers, at 8 : " River Tees ;" " Port
and Docks of Marseilles," Mr. Hawthorn. Anthropological,
at 8: "Certain Anthropological Matters; South Sea
Islanders," Mr. Pritchard ; " Syphilis in a Monkey," Mr.
Lund; " Linga Puja, or Phallic Worship of India," Mr.
Bellon. Wednesday—Society of Literature, at 4 30., Me-
teorological, at 7. Society of Arts, at 8. Thursday—Zoo-
logical, at 4: General. Numismatic, at 7. Royal Aca-
demy, at 8: "Architecture," Professor Smicke. Linnean,
at 8 : " Anatomy of Doridopsis," Mr. Hancock ; " New
Banana from Tropical Africa," Dr. Kirk ; " Forests of
Sequoia (Wellingtonia) Gigantea in California," Mr. Brewer.
Chemical, at 8. Royal, at 8 30. Antiquaries, at 8.30. Royal
Institution, at 3 : " Electricity," Professor Tyndal. Friday
—Philological, at 8 : " Use of Who in the Nominative as a
Relative before 1637," Mr. Furnival ; " Provincialisms of
N. and S. Lonsdale (Lancashire)," late Mr Peacock. Royal
Institution, at 8 " Combustion by Invisible Rays," Pro-
fessor Tyndall. Saturday—Royal Institution, at 3: "Ner-
vous System in Man and Animals," Professor Marshall.—
.4thenxm.

CONSERVATIVE MEETING IN DEVON.—The Tor-
quay and Newton Conservative Association annual
meeting and dinner came off at the Bath-saloon, Torquay,
on Thursday. This association is the most prominent one
of the Conservatives in the county, and is invariably at-
attended by a large number of the county Conservative
leaders and men of note amongst that body in the various
boroughs and hundreds of the county. On the present occa-
sion there was a large attendance. Lord Churston pre-
sided, and among the speakers were the Earl of Devon,
Lord Courtenay, M.P., Sir L. Palk, Bart., M.P., Mr. S. T.
Kekewich, M.P., Admiral Saumarez, and Major Adair.
The Earl of Devon said he trusted that ere long the Con-
servative members of the Houses of Parliament would be
called upon to fulfil the agreeable duties which attached to
the supporters of her Majesty's Government, instead of
being the opposition. Sir L. Palk, in a long speech, criti-
cised the policy of the present Government and the probable
tendency of its future measures. Lord Courtenay expressed
a want of faith in the present Government, and said when
the time came the Conservative party would be able to
submit to the country a programme that would be con-
ducive to the interests of the nation. Lord Churston hoped
the;Conservatives would go on increasing in numbers and
popularity, as they had done, until they became the domi-
nant party in the country.