The Sun.
London, England, 1870-08-20 00:00:00

CAUSES OF THE WAR.

Perhaps we shall never know all the causes of the pre-
sent war, but they are coming out one by one, and from
most unexpected quarters. The latest suggestion of one
of the possible causes is furnished by the Havana Diario
de la Marina. Just as we were receiving the despatches
announcing a declaration of war on account of an alleged
insult to Count Benedetti, a Havana merchant received
a telegram from Europe to the following purport : -
" Prussia refuses to give explanations about the Saint
Gotthard Railroad. War imminent." Nothing was said
about this in the despatches received in this country, and
the matter referred to is by no means a sufficient ground
for war, of itself. It is certain, nevertheless' that the
question of a new railroad to connect North Germany
with Italy through Switzerland by means of a tunnel
beneath St. Gotthard has been the cause of serious appre-
hension on the part of the French, whether well or ill-
grounded may be judged. The Alps have four principal
passages—that at Mont Cenis, where a tunnel has been
nearly finished, the Simpson, the St. Gotthard, and the
Splugen. The first lies between Savoy and Italy, the
other three between Switzerland and Italy. Austria, as is
well known, covets a railroad by the Spulgen pass as much
as North Germany desires a connection by way of St.
Gotthard. A treaty between Italy, Switzerland, and
North Germany for the construction of a tunnel under
the latter mountain was signed on the 20th of June last,
North Germany agreeing to pay its subvention before the
Ist of January next, the time for completing the tunnel
being fixed at twelve years. The plan of Prussia was
comprehensive, and involved the building of a railroad
that should connect its ports on the North Sea, by way
of Bavaria, Wurtembur„,ff Baden, and Switzerland, with
the ports of Trieste and Brindisi. The time necessary to
construct the tunnel and railroad precludes the idea of
any military design in such a line, even if such designs
would not be impossible of execution, owing to the
neutrality of Belgium, to which every European power is
pledged. Prussia has in addition given the most positive
assurances that its intention was only to secure a com-
mercial line, which would be a part of the shortest route
from England to the East. The French press has chosen
to regard it otherwise, however, and has spoken of the
proposed work as a measure hostile to the French Govern-
ment. The Emperor and the Ministry have not laid so
'much stress on this view, although they may have shared
in the opinion. It is very improbable that the question
of the St. Gotthard railway has had any influence in
bringing about the war, but it would not be surprising if
the contending powers should mention the work in the
treaty which will be concluded at the close of the war.
Boston Advertiser.

THE CURIOUS WILL CASE.—TIMHS V. HUTLEY.—In the
chambers of Vice-Chancellor Bacon, before the Chief
Clerk (Mr. Allen), the case of Timms v. Hutley was be-
fore the court on an application with regard to time. It
will be recollected that this is a most curious suit. The
facts are these : the question involved is the validity
of the claim of the wife of the plaintiff to the
wealth of a Mr. Hutley, ,an extensive cheesemonger,
in Bloomsbury, who died worth upwards of £200,000, and
who was the first husband of the lady. The latter was
quite a young woman, and the testator was a very old
gentleman. He died shortly after his marriage, leaving
the bulk of his property to his wife. During his last
illness he was attended by Dr. Timms, and a few months
subsequent to his death the doctor married the widow.
The case was tried in the Probate Court, and the will set
aside. The questions now at issue are two—lst,,whether
the first will of the testator is vitiated by his marriage ?
and 2nd, whether that marriage is legal or not? On the
matter being called on only one of the parties appeared,
and the matter was adjourned.