The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-14 00:00:00

PRANCE AND PRUSSIA.

The Dail ;/ News remarks : Germany is bent on securing
herself in future from any attack on the part of France ;
and the war, so far as it is waged with this object, has a
defensive motive. But before we can give judgment in
her favour, several questions must be asked
and answered. What sort of security does she
desire? If she wishes for absolute safety, if she
insists on making it physically impossible that France
sbould assail her again, the annihilation of her rival's
power and independence will be necessary. Supposing
the thing could be done, would she be morally justified
in attempting it upon a defensive plea ? If not, at what
point ought she to stop 2 It is clear that she ought not to
exact more than that reasonable and practical security
which is all that can be obtained in international affairs
without recurring to wars of extermination and
bondage. If a shadow of power and a hope of
recovery are to be left to the worsted nation, policy re-
quires that the least degree of injury and humiliation
shall be inflicted which is compatible with the future
security of the conqueror. It is not true that terms which
are favourable to France tend to withdraw from Germany
the just rewards of success. On the contrary, the more
lenient Germany is to France, the more provident will
she be for herself.

" THE CITY DIARY AND ALMANACK," published
by W. H. & L. Collingridge, of the " City Press," has
again made its appearance. In addition to the matter
ordinarily given in a diary for the desk, it contains a large
mass of official information with regard to the City not
to be found iu any other publication, the whole being
carefully compiled and well arranged for reference. It is
a complete guide to the various business offices of the
Corporation and City generally. There is ample space
for daily entries, upon good paper ; and the blotting-paper
with which the diary is interleaved, is a very useful
feature. It is strongly half-bound, and the price only one
shilling.

The surviving partners of the Norwich Crown
Bank, Messrs. 8,. Kerrison and B. A. Kerrison, applied
on Monday to the County Court judge for their order of
discharge. His honour said everything appeared to have
been done according to the statute, and granted the appli-
cation of the bankrupts, allowing them their costs.

The Warwick Assizes commenced yesterday, but
the trial of Alfred Evans, the pointsman at Tamworth,
when the fatal accident happened there to the Irish mail
last September, for the manslaughter -of the Rev. Father
Healey, and Samuel Taylor and William Davis' the driver
and stoker of the mail, will not take place until the,March
Assizes.

The Chanter of Agriculture Journal announces
for the spring the sale of a portion of the Kingscote short-
horns. Colonel Kingscote 's home farm has long been
overstocked, and he has determined to sell some entire
families. Accordingly forty to fifty animals will be dis-
posed of, among which the Cerito family will form an
attractive group.

The Truck Commission will open its inquiry at
Prescot on the last Saturday in this month. The Prescot
Reporter is informed that the evidence is likely to esta-
blish the fact that very many in the watch trade are
required to take provisions of various kinds in lieu of
money for their work, and that the " trucking " also ex-
tends to watches and clocks.

The Hon. Arthur Kinuaird, M.P., in a speech on
Monday evening, at Surrey Chapel, expressed his regret
that the Prime Minister in a recent letter had seemed to
recognise the spiritual position of the Pope. There must
be no bolstering up of the spiritual authority of the Pope
by a Government which had done well in disestablishing
the Protestant Church in Ireland.
At Monday's sitting of the Central Criminal Court,
Mr. Irvine Scott, late editor of the Reporter, pleaded
to the publication of a-libel upon the directors of
the lobe Marine Insurance Company. The defendant
having apologised, the prosecution was not pressed, and
Mr. Scott was ordered to enter into his own recognisauces
to appear for judgment if called upon to do so.

The Cambridge local examinations commenced all
over the country on Monday. At nineteen of the places
the examination is for girls as well as boys, and at one
(Birmingham) for girls only. The whole number, boys
and girls together, under examination, is 2,600. Foity-
two gentlemen are engaged in directiug the examinatims
at the several centres, and thirty-two will be employe.l in
looking over the answers.

Mr. J. Brabazon Pilkington, who was lately c m-
nected with the civil service at Ceylon, attended before
Mr. Lushington,'at Marlborough-street Police-court, ~ud
said he wished to swear an affidavit for the purpo:43 of
having warrants granted against the Governor of Ce:, lon
and a number of officials in that island, for false impri,on-
ment and conspiracy to create lunacy, and having him
treated as a lunatic in Ceylon. Mr. Lushiugton, after re-
marking that he did not see that he could interfere,
advised the applicant to consult a solicitor, or, if he
thought proper tv do so, see Sir Thowae l Teary.