The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-10 00:00:00

Gazette, referring to this topic, says that the poisone
letter sent to Belgium to a burgomaster in Berlin, which
has given rise to so much discussion, is certainly in exis-
tence. It bears the stamp of Virton, and the superscrip-
tion, "To the cannibals and lynxes of Prussia ;" it was
also full of emblems of death. The envelope alone was
dipped in, chemical poison. The whole has been sent tc
the Belgian authorities, to be brought forward at the in-
quiry which is taking place on the subject.
The correspondent of the Telegraph says that several
fresh regiments arrived at Tours on Friday. Some of
them were composed of fairly-disciplined men, and the
whole body appeared in excellent spirits.
The Prussian official journal seems to admit the possi-
bility of Bazaine holding out a long time in Metz. There
were at least 24,000 horses shut up in the fortress which,
moreover, was provisioned for several months for its own
garrison. Surely with these resources the Marshal ought
not to be soon starved out. Of course the eating up of
the horses weakens his cavalry and field artillery, and so
diminishes the chances of a successful sortie.
The Pope's answer to Victor Emmanuel is a charac-
teristic epistle. It says :—" I bless God, who has suffered
your Majesty to fill with bitterness the last period of my
life. For the rest, I cannot admit the demands expressed
in your letter, nor agree to the principles which it con-
tains. I once more appeal to God, and I place in His
hands my cause, which is entirely His own. I pray Him
to grant your Majesty abundant graces, to deliver you
from all peril, and to make you a sharer of the mercies of
which you have need."
Surgeon-Major Wyatt has returned after an expedition
to Paris. He gives an excellent account of the good order
prevailing in the capital. The physique of the Garde
Mobile from the country is admirable. " I should be
very glad to see such recruits for the Guards—stout,
sturdy lads of Mt. 10in., with good broad shoulders and
expansive chests, and legs to match. I watch them by
thousands, bnt have not yet seen anything like an air of
despondency. They are as cheerful as larks, and com-
mence singing about as early in the morning." Dr.
Wyatt does not believe that an hostile army will be able
to force its way into Paris except at a sacrifice of life
beyond calculation.
The London correspondent of the Birmingham Post
telegraphs :—General Burnside has, it is said, found un-
expected obstacles on the part c f the French Government
to the conclusion of an armistice. If they
were unable to communicate with the provinces
an armistice would be absolutely necessary, but
whether by means of a secret underground telegraph wire,
as some allege, or by frequent balloons from Paris, the
Ministry are enabled calmly to take measures for the
election of the Constituent Assembly, and to issue their
orders to the Government delegation at Tours. Genera
Burnside demanded much from the. Prussian headquarters
and had little to offer the French in return.
The prospect of an alliance between Austria and Ger-
many is being much discussed in those two countries. In
a letter to the Cologne Gazette, an excellent authority in
Vienna, points out that Austria is the only ally upon
whom Germany could rely, that the interests of the two
states are no longer opposed, and that the feeling between
the two during the war has been excellent. Ccunt Beust
and the Emperor are represented as both favourable to the
design. The Cologne Gazette adds some approving words
to this letter, and calls Count Beust the friend. f Germany
though a short time ago no epithets could be too harsh for
this statesman. It is further noticeable that the press of
both countries, once so hostile, has been very friendly.
Toulouse, the capital of the central districts of the
south, is the head quarters of all military movements in
that direction. However the residents in neighbouring
districts are inclined to resent the assumption of supreme
authority by the Toulouse prefect, and the extreme
Republicans even propose the formation of an armed
league of the patriots of the south. However, it is
satirically observed that in the South the
tongue is easier loosened than the purse-
strings. M. Odillon Barrat has visited Cler-
mont Ferrand, and addressed the municipality and
the Defence Committee. The centre of Auvergne should,
he thinks, become for France in case of need what the
Asturias were for Spain in the days of the first Empire.
Puy-de-Dome, Arache, Lozbre, Haute Vienne., and other
places in the heart of France would become a huge fortress
which the enemy would not know how to deal with. They
would form a great intrenched camp, which should enclose
the army who should reconquer France, when the Prus-
sians should have been exhausted by the winter. M.
Barrat's views, which, notwithstanding his 80 years, ho
put forward with great vigour, made a great impression,
and communications have been opened with the War
Minister on the subject.
HERR JACOBY TO COUNT BISMARCK.—On the
morning of his arrest Herr Jacoby sent the following
communication to Count Bismarck :—" Under the orders
of General Vogel von Falkenstein, the merchant Herbig
and myself have been arrested and taken to the fortress of
Loetzer. Herbig is charged with presiding at a public
meeting, and I am charged with having spoken in this
same assembly against the annexation of Alsace and
Lorraine. The article of the Constitution which
guarantees the right of meeting has not been sus-
pended, on account of our province being put in a
state of siege. The meeting referred to had been
mentioned to the authorities, and it was watched to its
close by the police-agents. My speech did not contain
anything of an offensive character, and I do not believe I
have committed any offence. Although I have always
been a determined opponent of your Excellency's policy,
I have sufficient confidence in you as a man to believe
that you will not sanction, if you have the power to pre-
vent it, a course by which innocent men are subjected to
arbitrary penalties with the aid of martial law."

NICE RE-CLAIMED BY ITALY.—The Francais says,
" We have already alluded to the singular reclamation of
a part of Savoy by Switzerland, who has been secretly
encouraged by Prussia to put forward these pretensions.
At the same time, the Italians are thinking of taking
back Nice. They are making intrigues with this object,
and already have forces on the frontier ready to enter
should a favourable opportunity present itself. Nice has
declared itself a free and independent town in some meet-
ing which took place at the clubs. Tne French were not
admitted to these affairs, and the only language
that was spoken on the occasion was the Nicene. A
Nicene deputation has been to Florence and declared to the
Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs that the inhabitants of
Nice cannot longer endure the yoke of France; that the
annexation of Nice to Italy had become necessary, and
that if the Italian Government did not favour the scheme,
the work would be carried on by revolutionary means,
through the agency of the Secret Societies. The Cabinet
of Florence has made no reply to these demands
as yet."

•
THE POLICY OF THE ENGLISH GOVERNMENT.-
The Cabinet Council which met on Friday week is under-
stood to have come to the decision that the time had not
yet arrived to abandon the attitude of observant neu-
trality—a decision semi-officially announced by the Times
in its leader of this day week. As far as we are able to
interpret the signs of English opinion, we hold that the
Government is thus far behind the opinion of the
country, that a very strong desire is felt to see a formal
protest put in by as many neutral powers as can be got
to sign it against the intention now formally
announced by Germany, of annexing a very consider-
able strip of French territory in opposition to the most
ardent wishes of the population. It may be quite true
that such a protest would not prevent the contemplated
annexation ; but it is quite certain that such a protest
powerfully supported,—and probably every European
power except Russia would be heartily willing to support
it—at least, of Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark,
Holland, and Belgium, there can be little or no doubt, and
in all probability Austria would now give in her adhesion,
—would make Germany uneasy, prevent that probable
raising of her demands of which she has given us official
warning, clear our own position, and make a great and
most wholesome precedent for the future. Mr. Gladstone's
Cabinet is far too timorous in relation to foreign affairs.
Spectator.

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