The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-19 00:00:00

TEE BAMBERG BUBBLE.

To the Austrian Note, which left Vienna on the
4th inst., no answer has as yet been received, and
as that note must have reached St. Petersburg on
the 10th, we might have learnt by telegraph, at
latest, on the 15th or 16th, the news of its rejec-
tion, had Russia peremptorily refused to comply
with the intimation to evacuate the Principalities
forwarded from the Austrian Cabinet.
It was not probable, however, as we stated, that
the Czar would act hastily in this matter. On the
contrary, ho would naturally avail himself of every
delay which might improve either his military or
diplomatic position, by giving further time for the
operations of his arms against the Turks, or of his
intrigues in Central Europe.

Of the activity of these intrigues the conferences
of Bamberg have furnished a notable example.
There Russian influence has reigned paramount,
and the lesser States of Germany have been in-
duced to adopt a line of policy perilous, if not sui-
cidal. These small potentates, who in 1848 barely
escaped annihilation have so far forgotten the ex-
cessive terror with which they regarded the events
of that period as to dare to act in direct opposition
to the will of their people.
If there be among the p-opulation of Germany one
feeling more predominant than another, it is hatred
of, Russian patronage, and of Russian encroach-
ment. Notwithstanding this, M. Von der Fiord-
ten, the Minister for Foreign Affaira of Bavaria, a
statesman of more ambition than discretion, ori-
ginated the proposal for these conferences of Bam-
berg, which was warmly supported by M. do Beust,
the Minister for the Foreign Affairs of Saxony. As
our readers are aware, those conferences met to de-
termine on the course to be pursued at the Diet
when the two great Powers should submit the
Austro-Prussian convention to the approval of the
Germanic Confederation, of which these small
states, collectively, form an important part. The
result was that a memorandum, drawn up osten-
sibly by M. Von der Pfordten, but, as we believe,
really by the Cabinet of St. Petersburg, was
adopted by the Conference of Bamberg, which took
upon itself to judge of the whole Eastern question,
and to decide upon it in detail.
Of the dogmatical, absurd, and Russian deci-
sions of the Conference the three most mischievous
are—First that is the duty of the States of Chris-
tendom collectively to force the Sultan to give gua-
rantees for the due government of his Christian
subjects, and for the maintenance of their pri-
vileges • that is, that all Europe should join Rus- '
sia in ;he mischief she attempts, and, instead of
resisting her, should aid in the overthrow of the
Ottoman Empire. Secondly, that in the event of
the evacuation of the Danubian Principalities by
the Russian armies, the combined fleets should at
once quit the Euxine—thus virtually acknowledg-
ing that that important and open sea is a Russian
lake, which the rest of Europe has no right to pe-
netrate. And, thirdly, that when peace sball
happily be brought about, the old treaties between
Russia and the Porte shall be renewed. This is
beyond everything out of the question. The
Western Powers would be as little disposed to
listen for an instant to such a proposal as the
Turkish Government itself.
This memorandum, though it appears an act of
mere foolishness, would, if acted upon in the Ger-
man Diet, be productive of the greatest mischief.
That this, however, will not be brought about, we
believe we may safely assure our readers, for, un-
less we are much mistaken, Austria and Prussia
will submit their convention individually and in
succession to the States of Germany, soliciting their
adhesion one by one, and they will refuse to sub-
mit the matter to the Diet, as they do not choose
to consider it a matter for federal action.
The ill-advised enterprise on behalf of Russia has
thus already failed, and several States, we have
reason to know, have, since the Conference, with-
drawn from its connection and its consequences ;
whilst such energetic remonstrances have been
addressed to the courts of Saxony and Bavaria,
that the acts of the authors of the memorandum of
Bamberg will be effectually disavowed ' - and we
shall not be surprised to see Id. Von der Pfordten
shortly quit the responsibilities and temptations of
office.
Of the absurd points of the memorandum of the
Conference of Bamberg, the most ridiculous, without
exception, was that which—inserted, no doubt, to
hide the Russian origin of the other proposals—pro-
vided for the maintenance not merely of the Greek
kingdom, but of the Bavarian dynasty, under the
guarantee of Germany. The wise men of Bamberg,
without a fleet or even a bowl to go to sea in, dreamt
of guaranteeing the Crown of a maritime State,
even, we suppose, from the attacks of the combined
navies of England and France, to which powers un-
grateful Bavaria should have remembered that, but
eighteen months ago, her royal family was indebted
for the confirmation of their succession in Greece.
So short a time ago, Russia, at the Conference of
London, used every effort to procure the settlement
of the Greek Crown on the house of Oldenburg,
and Bavaria owed the defeat of this project solely
to the united resolution of the Western Powers
whom_ she has ventured to outrage.
Such tricks as these are not to be played with
impunity. These small States cannot afford to lose
the protection of the great Powers. Whilst they
try the forbearance of their subjects to the utmost,hlnd:
these they are provoking revolution on
theone
suppression on the other ; and between dan-
gers the little Crowns and Coronets of
Germany
will certainly arrive at speedy destruction if they
do not completely change their plans, and act in
unison with their greater neighbours, pursuing the
course pointed out by reason and justice, and
indicated by the loud and resolved voice of Public
Opinion.—Morning Post.

MEDICAL BENEVOLENT COLLEGE.—The President, the
Earl Manvers, and the council of this institution paid
their first visit of inspection of the college building at
Epsom, on Frilay last, and were highly gratified with
the character of the work done, also with the great pro-
gress made by the contractor towards the completion of
the entire building. The next official visit of the council
is to be on the Ist of Au,,;•ust next, by which time the
building will be roofed and the dining-hall in a state of
forwardness, to enable the council to partake of refresh.
,cents in it. It is confidently expected that this valuaY
institution will be opened under royal patronage, on the
25th June, 1855, for the reception of those who may be
considered by the governors deserving of the benefits it
is intended to confer.

CROSBY HALL, BISHOPSGATB.— Mr. Henry Abbott,
one of the class teachers of the evening classes, has
been delivering the last two Wednesday evenings lec-
tures on the English humourists of the nineteenth cen-
tury. He has attracted a very respectable audience on
each occasion, the chair being filled successively bbry
therthe
Rev. C. Mackenzie, and the Rev. H. Bullock, o
\
to the Common Sergeant of London. He has delighted
the company by his illustrations of popular writers.
The last lecture included Hook, Hood, Sidney Smith,
and Douglass Jerrold. The last lecture of this series
will be delivered on Wednesday next, and his
Charles Dickens. dr. Abbott is likely to lank
among tho firot•class lecturero of the day,