The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-01 00:00:00

and almost equally anatomical knowledge of all the express-
sions, feelings, and passions of the human mind—a correct-
ness of outline—boldness of touch—a vividness of colour-
ing—a judicious distribution of light and shade ; and, the
great quality of all others, in grouping the subjects toge-
ther, so to arrange your groups that each individual figure
should possess its own characteristic merit and position,
and yet all unite to concentrate the eye and attention on
the great central and principal figure of the group. (Cheers.)
Now, if these are really the characteristics of painting, I
claim for Homer that in no age and no country has any
painter surpassed the infinite variety of his achievements.
It is not in one branch alone, but it is in historical paint-
ing, in landscape, I may say even in portrait painting, he
stands almost unrivalled in each and every one of them.
(Cheers.) If he desires to bring before you an extended
group of gods, or warriors, or chieftains in debate, he pre-
sents a variety and individuality among them that would
create the envy of a Maclise, a Herbert, or a Frith. If he
desires to represent the ocean in its milder or stormier cha-
racters by a few rapid touches, he produces a sketch a
Stanfield might look on with envy. If he paints a vine-
yard or harvest home, he bathes the landscape in a flood of
light which a Linnell would hardly venture to emulate.
And, passing to the wilder features of rural life, the repre-
sentation of the passions and contests of the brute crea-
tion, if he attempts to describe a lion springing at and
striking down a bull in the midst of a herd, or a wounded
boar turning on his pursuers, or a pack of wolves
with blood-stained jaws lapping with their loan tongues
the cool surface of some dark-watered fountain, or a
wounded panther writhing itself up the spear that has
transfixed her in order to reach her assailant, the few
touches which Homer gives bring before the mental eye the
whole scene with a life and vigour which could hardly be
equalled by an Ansdell or surpassed bya Landseer. (Cheers.)
He must be cold indeed—he must be insensible to all the
beauties of poetic language, who could sit down and study
and endeavour to imbue himself with the spirit of such an
original, without catching some faint emanation of its spirit.
I only wish it could have been in my power by language to
represent to the mass of my fellow countrymen the grace,
simplicity, and power of the original, with as much power,
as much classical talent, and as much ability, as have im-
mortalised the illustrations of Homer by Flaxman. (Cheers.)
But I feel how unequal I have been to the task I had un-
dertaken. (Cheers.) I doubt not there may be among those
whom I have .the honour to address many who in earlier
days sat down before some great masterpiece of art and de-
termined, not servilely to copy each line which they saw
before them, but to fill themselves with the full perception
of its beauties, and when, after devoting days and weeks
and months to a faithful copy of the great work they had
set before them, it had been completed amid the applause
of the public and the congratulations of friends, their own
feeling of internal consciousness told them how far short
they had come to the original, what an immense distance
there was between their best efforts and the work they had
before them. (Cheers.) Most unaffectedly such aro the
views with which I look back on those efforts of mine,
which you have been pleased to honour with approval this
night. (Cheers.) But while feeling how unworthy I am to
receive the compliment you have paid me in this presence
and on this occasion, I need hardly say how deeply and
gratefully I feel the honour which has been conferred on
mo by this distinguished assembly. (Loud and continued
cheering.)
The PRESIDENT—Great exertions have been made by the
various committees connected with the Dublin International
Exhibition to render that display worthy of the occasion,
and those exertions have, I am happy to learn, hitherto
been most successful. As on the occasion of the last Great
Exhibition in London, pictures, as well as other works of
art, will form part of the attractions ; the materials of the
kind which have been brought together have been carefully
selected, and they will, I am confident, greatly contribute
to the interest of the Exhibition. I take this opportunity
of inviting the cordial co-operation of all present in the
promotion of a groat and useful undertaking, and in con-
nection with the toast—" Success to the Dublin Interna-
tional Exibition," I bog to propose " The Health of Lord
Naas." (Cheers.)
Lord NAAs—It is quite true that great difficulties were
experienced in the first attempt to establish the Dublin Ex-
hibition, but I am happy to say that owing to generous sup-
port they received, not only from this country but from
various parts of Europe, the SUCCEGS of the undertaking
may become, indeed, almost certain, and it will not only be
productive of great benefit to the country generally in
which it stands, but redound to the credit of those who
have contributed to its success. If any of this distinguished
company will honour us with their presence, we shall give
them a most hearty welcome. (Cheers.)
The PRESIDENT—We are on this occasion honoured and
gratified with the presence of a celebrated traveller, Dr.
Livingstone, whose enterprises in Africa in the cause of
civilisation and humanity have often engaged the public
attention, and have always excited the deepest interest. I
am happy to have an opportunity of proposing his health,
and of wishing him all success at a time when, as I hear,
ho is about to proceed on his third African expedition.
(Cheers.)
Dr. LIVINGSTONE briefly acknowledged the toast.
The PnEsinErr—T he toast which I have now the honour
to propose is, "Prosperity to the City of Loudon, and the
Health of the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor." (Cheers.) A
connection is always assumed to exist between success in
commerce, with its consequent wealth, and the progress of
the fine arts. If we look for indications of the latter in the
City of London we shall doubtless find abundant evidence
of a disposition to encourage all the arts ; but the progress
referred to will perhaps be chiefly recognised in architecture,
which is, in every sense, the best foundation for such appli-
cations of wealth. Whatever may be the success of the pro-
posed improvements of the metropolis it should always be
remembered that the city of London, properly so called, was
at an early period zealously active in the samo sense,and it
must be admitted with very satisfactory results. (Cheers.)
The LORD MAYOR—I thank you, Sir Charles Eastlake,
for the compliment you have paid to the city of London by
inviting me as its chief magistrate to be present at this mag-
nificent banquet, and the honour you have conferred onme
by drinking my health. Having from early life been occu-
pied in commercial pursuits, I have had but little opportu-
nity to devote the time I should have wished to the more re-
fined and elevating studies of literature and the arts. But
I should be insensible indeed to all the pleasures of taste and
the manifestations of genius if I could look around these
walls without feeling the highest gratification in seeing such
noble works of art. The citizens of London aro to a great
extent immersed in mercantile engagements, yet some there
are who happily find time to cultivate and means to encou-
rage the arts and sciences. I may be allowed to say that I
have not myself been altogether unsuccessfully occupied in
the promotion of education, and my name may be remem-
bered by my fellow citizens and those that come after me.
(Cheers.) Reference has been made to the city in connexion
with architecture. The public cannot but be pleased to
witness the erection of buildings for commercial purposes
that may vie with palaces. I heartily wish that art and
science may continuo to flourish together ; and I sit down,
again thanking you for the honour you have done me by
drinking my health. (Cheers.)
The PRESIDENT—I have now to give The Interests of
Science and the Health of the distinguished President of
the Royal Society, General Sabine." Notwithstanding the
apparent diversity between the truths of science and the
arts that are addressed to the imagination, the experienced
artist well knows that his representation; if conveying the
impression at which he aims, always suppose a thorough
acquaintance with the characteristics of form. He well
knows that in imitation generally the stamp of truth, which
science can so well assist, enables him more powerfully to
address the general spectator and more effectually to attain
the higher objects of art. Fully impressed with the value
of this aid he desires on all fitting occasions to repeat his
obligations to scientific professors, and to renew his alle-
giance to science itself. (Cheers.)
General SABINE briefly acknowledged the compliment.
The PRESIDENT—I have now to give " The Society of
Antiquaries, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Health
of Earl Stanhope, the distinguished chairman of both those
institutions."(Cheers.) The professors of the arts of design
owe much to archaoology and the researohes of the Society
of Antiquaries; they also gratefully recognise the advan-
tage of ready access to the portraits of celebrated indivi-
duals not unfrequontly introduced in painting and sculp-
ture ; and their best acknowledgments are duo to his
lordship for his enlightened attention to the objects of
those institutions and for rendering the studios they pro-
mote subservient to historical accuracy in works of art.
(Cheers.)
Earl STANHOPE returned thanks. He believed that, as
Sir Charles Eastlake had said, the pursuits of the Society of
Antiquaries might on some occasions do good service to
the interests of art. Whenever, indeed, it was required to

portray a scene of former days, there could be no approach to
fidelity of representation without some study of the attire,
the buildings, and the customs of the period. On one occa-
sion he remembered that one of the most gifted artists whom
this country had ever produced—his friend the late Sir
David Wilkie—had shown him and some other persons the

first sketch of a picture which he was designing—namely,

the passage of Mont St. Bernard by the first Napoleon.
But in this sketch, excellent as it was in all other

respects, Wilkie had represented the First Consul,
as he stood with some monks before the hospice fire,
with the star of the Legion of Honour, while, in fact, that
order of merit was not founded till more than three years
from that time. No blame could attach to Wilkie for that

little oversight, since, instead of studying dates or poring
over chronologies, he had been better employed in achieving
works of immortal genius (cheers), but still it was as well
that the oversight had been observed and pointed out to
him in sufficient time, and not left to cast, as it were, a
shade on his finished performance. (Cheers.) In tho case

of more remote periods and more shadowy heroeS, the aid
which the artist might derive from the antiquary would
be of course much greater. Bo they great or small, such
services would be always most cheerfully rendered, and
the gratification of gazing on such works of art as those
now around them would be no mean return. (Cheers.)
The PRESIDENT, in proposing the (oast, " The Royal In-
stitute of British Architects, and the Health of its zealous
President, Professor Donaldson," remarked that the Presi-
dent of the Architects' Institute was generally elected for

one year only. Professor Donaldson had now entered on

his second year of office, a distinct proof of the great

satisfaction which his superintendence had afforded.
(Cheers.)

Mr. Tar., M.P.—I feel called on to acknowledge this
toast from my long connexion with the Institute, and having
had the honour of being President for two years before the
election of my excellent friend Professor Donaldson. The
Professor's absence is caused by incidents which have some
bearing on the position of architecture in England. I allude
to the examination of some proposed improvements in one
of the great cities of Southern Italy. Whether the Italians
think it desirable to consult English architects or not, it is
clear they are much enamoured of English capital. (A
laugh.) In the very moderate space allotted this year to
architecture in these rooms there appeared a beautiful de-
sign by Banks and Barry, now erecting in Turin by the
International Financial Society (Limited)—(a laugh)—but
this speculation seems extensive enough to constitute a
now town. At Milan, also, great improvements are being
carried out by English money, and if not under the direc-
tion, certainly under the advice of English architects. I
think my right hon. friend the Lord Mayor will join me in
the wish that some of the spare capital of these companies
should be applied to long required improvemnnts in Lon-
don itself. With reference to the position of architecture
in England, I consider it far from satisfactory. Tho In-
stitute has done much for architectural learning and
teaching, but architecture is, unfortunately, more exposed
to the caprices of fashion than any other art, and the
fashion seems recently to have set in in favour of the pret-
tinesses of mediaeval architecture, rather than the more
dignified teachings of the great models of antiquity, and
the sublime conceptions of Greece, Rome, and Italy. In
my own somewhat long experience in the profession I have
now quitted 1 have seen three distinct changes in the public
taste in er chi to cturo ; but in the drawings exhibited this
year I think I see some evidence of a further change.
Whether that be so or not, I cannot but consider some of
the works exhibited as showing a revival of excellent
Italian architecture, and none more so than in tho "Piazze
Statuto" at Turin.—(Cheers.)
The company then separated.

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

THE "SATURDAY REVIEW" ON PRESIDENT LIN-
COLN.—The atrocious crimes which have been com-
mitted at Washington supersede for the moment in
interest the military collapse of the Confederacy.
No assassinations recorded in history have been per-
petrated with more melodramatic success. The
bigots who murdered Henry III. and Henry IV. of
France were instantly arrested, and in recent times
Bellingham, after killing Mr. Percivel, had not a
single chance of escape. The criminal who mur-
dered Mr. Lincoln was allowed to pass out of a
crowded theatre, and he had even the opportunity
of addressing a prepared epigram to the audience.
The assassin of Mr. Seward encountered with im-
punity even more extraordinary risks, for he ven-
tured alone into a house where at least four able-
bodied men attempted in vain to protect the princi-
pal victim, or to prevent the escape of the assassin.
It is to be hoped that both ruffians will be brought
to justice without delay, and it especially concerns
the honour of the South that they find no asylum in
in any region which still owns the authority of the
Confederate Government. The standard of civi-
lised morality would be lowered if any nation or
political body were capable of tolerating or protect-
ing the perpetrators of a shameful series of murders.
From the time of the legendary punishment inflicted
by Camillus on the traitor of Veii to the warning
addressed by Mr. Fox to Napoleon, it has always
been the duty of an honourable enemy to denounce
and punish the private treachery and violence of
volunteer allies. Some reckless partisans of the
Federal cause in England, echoing the unjustifiable
insinuation of Mr. Stanton, are already eager to
propagate the opinion that Booth and his accomplice
were the instruments of a Southern conspiracy—an
imputation which Mr. Mason has taken the earliest
opportunity to deny with indignation, not unsup-
ported by probable argument. In this instance, as
in many others, philanthropic prepossessions remove
all obstacles of conscience which might impede the
full indulgence of passionate malignity. Sudden
and violent death, although it shocks the survivors,
is happily not in itself an evil. Mr. Lincoln may
almost be deemed fortunate in the brilliant hopeful-
ness of the moments which proved to be his last.
The greatest general of the Confederacy had sur-
rendered a few days before with the remnant of one
of the bravest armies which have ever resisted supe-
rior force. There was every reason to believe that
the reconquest of Virginia was but a step to the
complete re-establishment of the Union. Mr. Lin-
coln in his latest speech proposed a plan for re-
storigticeiavbillegoavnedrnni
unjust,en
government which
h was
g
apparentlyoodrebasootnh
impracticable
to believe that the overthrow of the Southern armies
was a death-blow to Secession. Although he had at
e had
the same time issued a proclamation which gave
just cause of offence to neutral Governments, there
is no reason to suppose that he meditated aggression
or n futuigu coitittly. Aceunlitig to Mr. stan-
ton's statement, Mr. Lincoln had been unusually
cheerful at a meeting of the Cabinet on the morn-
ing of the murder, and it may readily be believed
that he expressed kindly feelings to General Lee,
and to some other Southern leaders. General
Grant, who is said to have been included in the
plans of the assassin, had fortunately left Washing-
ton the same day, after sharing in the deliberations
of the Cabinet. The President well be satisfied
with the conduct and fortune of the Commander-
in-Chief, and he probably approved of the courteous
firmness which had been displayed in the recent
military negotiations. It was after consultation with
General Grant that the Government had determined
to suspend recruiting, and to effect vast and rapid
reductions in the naval and military establishments.
It is certain that, in the opinion of those who
are best qualified to judge, the war was nearly.
over ; nor is it likely that if ordinary pru-
dence is exercised, the death of Mr. Lincoln
will seriously interfere with the restoration
of peace. The worst consequence which could fol-
low from an isolated crime would be the possible
embitterment of Northern feeling, and the conse-
quent infliction of outrage and indignity on a popu-
lation which may perhaps be wavering between
pride and submission. It is for the interest of all
parties that the assassins should be regarded as
individual malefactors, and the theatrical ejacu-
lation of the murderer of Mr. Lincoln suggests a
suspicion that the act was in some degree suggested
by morbid vanity. In America, as well as in
England, reckless agitators will endeavour to im-
pute the crime to the hated slaveholders, and per-
haps to Mr. Jefferson Davis himself. To some
minds it is agreeable to heap contumely on the head
of a defeated adversary, and to render quarrels irre-
concileable when they seem likely to die out prema-
turely. If, however, the Federal Government acts
with prudence and firmness, the catastrophe which
has occurred will neither suspend the movement of
the armies nor materially affect public policy. Mr.
Andrew Johnson, who has unexpectedly succeeded
to the Presidency, will now have an opportunity of
effacing some doubtful associations of his previous
career. There can be no doubt that he possesses
extraordinary vigour of character, and some of his
defects are those of a self-educated and self-made
man. Without the possession of remarkable quali-
ties he could not have raised himself from the lowest
condition to the rank of Democratic Senator for the
Slave State of Tennessee. One of his claims to the
confidence of his fellow-citizens consisted in his
violent partisanship, and in his consistent support
of all plans for extending slavery. He advocated
the spoliation of Texas, the unprovoked war against
Mexico, and the audacious project of annexing Cuba
as a security against the possible abolition of
slavery by the Spanish Government. On one vital
point, however, he differed from his political asso-
ciates, as lie steadily preferred the maintenance
of the Union even to the interests of slavery. At
the commencement of secession he declared his un-
compromising hostilty to the project of separation,
and lie not unfairly earned the office of Military Go-
vernor of that portion of the State which was from
time to time controlled by the Federal arms. Mr.
Johnson is believed to have displayed considerable
ability in providing supplies for the army, and as
Governor he was remarkable for unhesitating and
unscrupulous devotion to the interests of the Union.
Even Americans, who habitually tolerate lawlessness
as long as it promotes the will of the majority, were
scandalized by Mr. Johnson's daring attempt to
carry the vote of Tennessee for Mr. Lincoln and
himself by imposing an elaborate test of his own
construction on those who sought to take part in
the election. As the suffrage of the state was not
required to secure the necessary majority, Congress
thought it better to omit Tennessee in counting up
the Presidential votes. In the meantime, Mr. John-
son had been rewarded for his preference of the
Union to his party and his State by the high sine-
cure office of Vice-President, involving a contingent
succession to the head of the Republic. The blief
that primary allegiance was due to the State, rather
than to the Federation, had been almost universal
in the South. Many of the most eminent leaders
of the Confederacy openly disapproved of secession,
and it is known that General Lee himself considered
the measure unnecessary; but private opinions were
overruled by the State loyalty which was deemed
by the great majority of Americans a primary duty.
Native and foreign theorists have of late affected to
regard a State as only an exaggerated county, but
their glib :generalisations have been confuted by the
self-sacrificing unanimity oftsenators,representatives,
governors, and officers in the army and navy,
in following the fortunes of their Sovereign
States in defiance of the rival sovereignty of
Washington. Mr. Johnson's opposite course may
probably have been conscientious, and it was suffi-
ciently exceptional to deserve official and popular

recognition.' The more objectionable passages Of his
career will be readily condoned if he learns in his

great office to respect the rights of his own country-
men and of foreign Governments. Americans have
a characteristic facility in adapting themselves to
new situations, and Mr. Johnson's interests are so
absolutely coincident with his duty that he may
perhaps still earn for himself an honourable place
in history. His immediate course is sufficiently
marked out by circumstances, and he is surrounded
by able commanders who may be trusted with the
remaining conduct of the war. Although the out-
rage inflicted on Mr. Seward provokes universal
indignation and regret, it will not be difficult to find
a more judicious Secretary of the State Department.
If the rumour that Mr. Adams has been selected
for the place is confirmed, one pledge will have been
given for the adoption of a prudent and dignified
policy. Mr. Lincoln, though he committed many
mistakes, so far exceeded the anticipation of friends
and enemies that his character may perhaps here-
after serve as an argument in favour of the American
practice of selecting high functionaries at random.
He was made President because he had attained local
notoriety by the exercise of moderate ability, and his
honesty was taken for granted. During the arduous
experience of four years he rose in general estima-
tion by calmness of temper, by an intuitively logical
appreciation of the character of the conflict, and by
undisputed sincerity. Above all, he showed that
he was capable of learning from his own errors and
from the course of events. Having contributed
largely to the failure of the campaign of 1862 by his
distrust of 11.14Clellan, he had the wisdom, during
the final advance upon Richmond, to repose un-
limited confidence in Grant. Of the bearing of
slavery on the war he had from the first formed the
opinion which became a constitutional ruler. As he
said at an early period of the contest, ho would have
preserved slavery, or destroyed it, or let it alone, if
by any of these methods he could have restored the
Union. At the beginning of 1863 he issued the
Emancipation decree which looked like a crime, and
proved to be only a manifesto. If it had become
operative in those unconquered portions of the
South to which it was exclusively applicable, Mr.
Lincoln would have been justly condemned as the
author of an intolerable servile revolution. As the
slaves remained tranquil, the proclamation served
the useful and harmless purpose of advertising an
inevitable change in the policy and object of the
war. The enlistment of negroes was a more prac-
tical step in the same direction, and ultimately the
President found himself strong enough to make
emancipation an indispensable condition of peace.
Among Mr. Lincoln's merits may be reckoned his
want of the national fluency in speech and writing.
He was seldom tempted to commit himself to the
vapouring professions of his Ministers and political
supporters. He allowed Mr. Seward to bluster to
foreignGovernments, but he never blustered himself.
Friendly observers assert, perhaps correctly, that, as
Mr. Lincoln was the only apparently honest man
in Washington, he was also exceptionally deter-
mined to preserve peace, notwithstanding the
menaces of his subordinates. On the whole, he
satisfied the requirements of a difficult position
better than any rival who could be suggested.
When he was re-elected by a large majority, the
choice of the Republican
_party was generally ap-
proved at home and abroad; and if the people of
England had shared in the election, the result would
probably have been the same. Mr. Lincoln's good
qualities cannot add to the horror which is felt at the
murder, but they justify the general regret. •
THE " EXAMINER" ON TILE SALMON FISIIERIES.—
A bill has been read for the first time this week, and
is likely to pass with little or no opposition, which
mends the holes in the net of the Salmon Fisheries
Act of 1861. That act did not secure fulfilment of
all its good intentions, which have been, therefore,
but imperfectly carried out ; yet already, though
there has been little more than time for one genera-
tion of fry to become adult salmon of weight and
reputation, the fish in some of our salmon rivers has
increased fourfold, streams from which the salmon
had been barred out have, by the use of fish ladders
and other acts of care, been partially restocked, and
our supply of salmon has been increasing instead of
dying out. The increased supply of fish has caused
a proportionate increase in the number of fishers.
The improvement is due to the provisions made
according to the act almost invariably at the ex-
pense of gentlemen upon the upper streams, who
have subscribed to voluntary associations for care of
rivers in which they have no trade interest, and fish
only as anglers with the rod and line. But when
they see the waters below them dragged remorse-
lessly by men who contribute nothing towards the
right maintenance of the fishing grounds they use
or plunder, these voluntary associations flag in zeal.
The Salmon Fisheries Act of 1861 encouraged their
formation, but the practical shortcomings of the act
have since given occasion to so manydiscourage-
ments that some of the voluntary associations are
already extinguished, and others are declining rapidly
towards extinction. So bold is the advantage taken
of fin-n-3 in the law, that some Illegal exporters to
France of unseasonable salmon ci uring the appointed
close time have brought an action for damages
against the Folkestone Custom-house authorities for
seizure of the fish. Under the act as amended the care
of the salmon streams will not be lef t to voluntary
effort. A carefully proportioned payment to-
wards river conservancy will be taken in the form
of license duty from all fishermen who use the
stream. The angler, for his part, will not grudge
license duty of a pound a year upon his salmon rod,
small as his catch may be in comparison with that
of the lightly-taxed men of putts and putchers in
the estuary, who live by their labour. As one of the
fishery inspectors justly says, already England owes
in no slight degree to the anglers the salvation of a
fishery that is capable of being raised into an im-
eestImrVoohynee
erdye,
ttplhowerrt
efia nsbhte
eimnr
yge
,ahnoasfs obf
course,elei vne
fewmo oo ds
tfif osoirri
et
rl
einoni tet-tinsra,e nll
ydi std.l
is to be got by fishing license, and more than usual
may be needed for recovering the value of the
waters. In that case the act, we believe, provides
—or if not, it should provide—a power to three-
fourths of their own number to levy on owners of
property upon the river banks a rate in aid, calcu-
lated to a fair general estimate of situation and
frontage. Many new claims of fishing rights were
set up when the act of 1861 exempted from interfer-
ence all existing rights founded on charter, grant,
or immemorial usage. There was nobody to contest
in the law courts these false claims. But under the
amended act a commission of inquiry will proceed
as in Ireland, to investigate all claims, with power
to allow or disallow them. Fair fishing rights will
then be established and respected, and our salmon
fishery, rising every year in value, will become more
important than it was even in the days when mon-
asteries were victualled for the winter and troops
were provisioned with salmon taken from the Eng-
lish rivers to be dried and stored. On some rivers
it will be necessary for great towns to learn that
there is a better use for sewage than the poisoninc,
of fish. As for the factories, generally in a well:
organised factory there should be no waste, every
product being turned to some commercial use. But
where some waste is inevitable, it is usually suffi-
cient that the water containing it should be made to
pass slowly through a greater or less number of
catch-pools, in which the noxious ingredient may be
deposited. From these it can periodically be cleared
away, either as waste or as material which, although
in its diluted form not worth working into a saleable
product, can, when gathered into a mass, be made
to yield a profit to its owner.

THE "SPECTATOR " ON THE LATEST PHASE IN
GERMANY.—One of two things is occurring in Ger-
many. Either there is a secret league between
Prussia and Austria, and the two Powers are ad-

vancing with extraordinary tortuousness towards
some object not yet revealed, or Austria has ceased
to be for the moment an effective German Power.
Each theory has many defenders, and in each there
are difficulties which seem at first sight to make be-
lief unreasonable. Continental politicians, trained
in a school which considered dynastic aggrandize-
ment as the end of politics, are very fond of intrigue,
but it seems incredible that two Courts, if really
united, should play so elaborate a comedy of an-
tagonism. If Prussia and Austria are really united
each Court is writing despatches, and making sug-
gestions, and inventing compromises, none of which
are officially published, and all of which are intended
to deceive Ministers who all the while know, and
know that their interlocutors know that they know,
that the whole business is a farce. The Austrian
fleet is ordered to Kiel as a mere incident in a
comedy, and Herr von Bismark asks the support of
Parliament in order that he may play his previously-
settled part with an assured claque. It is too absurd,
and yet the difficulties in the way of the second ex-
planation are scarcely less insuperable. If Prussia
and Austria are really fighting, if the Kaiser at
heart resents his rival's proceedings, the House of
Hapsburg is submitting to insults almost without a
precedent. The two Governments. are, it will be

,
remembered, equal partners in the ownership of
Schleswig, and joint partners with a third power,
the Diet, in that of Holstein and Lauenburg. Never-
theless, one of them, and that one supposed for
ages to be the junior, not only informs the in-

habitants of Lauenburg that they will shortly be
subject to him alone, which being a prophecy is
rather a discourtesy than an injury, but
actually seizes the best bit of Holstein as his
personal share. Kiel is half Austrian by deeds not
yet two years old, yet Herr von Bismark not only
says he will not give it up—which is all right, as he
may intend to pay for it—but actually in the face
'f urgent remonstrances from his co-partner pro-
poses to his household to settle there, and erect
buildings to which ownership is essential. On this
very Thursday he told the house that Government
intended to transfer the Prussian fleet from Dantzic
to Kiel, and declined to inform it whether if Aus-
tria resisted he should effect his purpose by force.