The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-01 00:00:00

shade by the downright assertions of the
American Consul-General at Montreal. This
gentleman, Mr. POTTER, said that a Recipro-
city Treaty had its advantages and its disad-
vantages, and that he was against the re-
newal, because he believed that its suspension for
two years would compel Canada to join the Union.
This kind project of starving the Canadians into
submission did not meet with their assent, and the
Delegates of the Provinces frankly assured the
speaker that no such step would succeed in coercing
them. The Consul indeed appears to have forgotten
that there is such a place as England, and that if
the direct communication with Canada is blocked
up during part of the year, there are still months
enough to send supplies which would last out any
winter. Besides, the British provinces are naturally
so rich in agricultural products that independently
of any supply from this country it would not be
an easy task to starve them out. If the Americans
ever try such a plan they will find themselves very
grievously mistaken, for the stubborn spirit of the
genuine Anglo-Saxon would be more bent in op-
position than ever. The sentiments of the Pro-
vinces were unmistakably expressed by Mr. HowE,
a gentleman whose name is not unknown in this
country, and who has made some very able speeches
on the relationship of this country with her
American dependencies. Mr. llowE addressed the
meeting at some length, and boldly declared
that the colonies wanted nothing from the States,
and that any man who proposed annexation would
be driven from public life in three months. lie
declared that he loved the English flag before all
I others, and his frank, straightforward statement
carried the assembly with him, so that, although
his speech was not very complimentary to the
former speakers, lie was unanimously cheered. His
arguments in favour of the renewal of the Recipro-
city Treaty
.were so convincing and so clearly put
before the assembly that a resolution in its favour
was passed without a dissentient vote.
The difficulties of the discussion were considerably
augmented by the introduction of a very broad
question, namely, the route of communication be-
tween Europe and the Western States. Hitherto
the Empire State has been the great channel, and,
despite natural disadvantages, the New Yorkers, by
the aid of canals and railways, have drawn the
whole commerce of the West through their port.
But there appears to be a growing jealousy Dn the
part of the Western States towards New York,
and several plans for devising new means
of communication were brought forward at
Detroit. It was suggested, on the one
hand, that the Erie Canal should be enlarged,
but the scheme which was most warmly supported
was that of a ship canal round the Falls of Niagara
large enough for vessels drawing fourteen feet of
water. This plan was very favourably received by
the majority of the meeting. The great point to
decide, for which the meeting was convened, was, as
we have seen, decided in favour of a renewal of the
Treaty, and we are not surprised to learn that
this result is mainly attributable to tie good
sense and judgment of the British repre-
sentatives. These gentlemen brought into the
convention the calm and temporate atmosphere
of an English constitutional assembly, utterly
opposed to the rash and violent assertions, the
acrimony and vehemence too common among
American professional politicians. The good taste
and courtesy of the Delegates from the Provinces
sufficed to temper the vehemence of the New York
politicians, while they frankly but firmly intimated
their intention to hold their own position. The
result of the assembly cannot be otherwise than
gratifying to well-wishers of both countries, since
Lit, and Eric titl/y commercial rolaav no a.a iudia-
pensable to their individual success, and must tend
to their material advantage.

The drama which is being played out between
Austria and Prussia has now assumed an interest
and importance which excites the curiosity and
awakens the speculation of the beholders. Accord-
ing to all appearances, as Prussia recedes Austria
advances in the march of progress and constitutional
government. There seems nothing at all un-
reasonable in the nature of the conditions proposed
by Austria, although it is not likely that they will
be accepted willingly or graciously by the captious
and overbearing power to whom they are now
offered. A great many concessions are made in this
arrangement, which at first sight seems to yield up
most of the important points of debate, but still
there remains the one thing needful omitted, which
3vill spoil the affair in the eyes of Prussia. The
scheme of annexation is not to be, and Austria
stipulates that before she consents to the choice of
the Grand Duke of OLDENBURG, " Prussia shall de-
clare her definitive resolution to continue to support
this proposal and shall not on any future time resort
to the scheme of annexation." This will be the
death-blow to the plan which otherwise promises
very well for the Berlin schemes of aggrandisement.
It is proposed to give up " Kiel " to Prussia, and
that she should also occupy Rendsburg under
certain conditions. Furthermore, it concedes
further territory to Prussia if a correspond-
ing registrar be granted to Austria by " a
rectification of the Silesian frontier." As to
the other demands of Prussia, in respect to
the marine and postal arrangements in the Duchies,
Austria is willing to allow the same to be settled
between the future Duke of Schleswig-Holstein and
IPrussia.

It is a very prudent precaution on the part of
Austria to stipulate that if the choice fall upon the
Duke of OLDENBURG there should be an under-
standing come to that the arrangement is definitive,
and no further schemes of annexation are to be
contemplated, because nothing is more likely than
that the wily BISMARK will try to steal a march
when all is settled. After a time other interests
will engross attention, and other schemes excite in-
terest, and it will not be likely that the Duchies of
Schleswig-Holstein will for ever be the prominent
objects of attention, and, therefore, any alteration
afterwards would not be so serious. Count BELO-
REDI, Minister of State, has addressed a circular to
the Governors of all the non-Hungarian provinces,
urging on them the strict fulfilment of their duty
and, a judicious attitude towards self-governing
corporations. The circular also recommends " re-
spect for the free expression of public opinion by
the press, as being a precious and valuable.benefit."
It has been rather the fashion in certain quarters
to slight Austria ; but surely the magnates of
1 ' Prussia and France will do well to take a hint from
this wise and generous course. No country can
ever be called really free without the liberty of the
press, and therefore this concession on
Austria may be regarded as a step ofthe part of
some im-

portan ce.
Bavaria, Savoy, and Hesse have made an im-
portant declaration, which cannot fail to have its
due effect upon the arrangement of affairs. It was
not likely, indeed, that the smaller States would go
on for ever quiescent when such great questions
were at stake. It is not so much the magnitude of
the territory in question as the fact that they are
put on one side in such an unceremonious fashion in
all the discussions and disputes on the subject.
Those who watched the course of events felt toler-
ably certain That before the regular settlement took