The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-31 00:00:00

the immediate release of the Neuchatel prisoners without
conditions. We could not, however, give the ministers
of those two powers any other reply than that we had
already made to the French Legation.
On the other hand, the Legation of her Britannic
Majesty thought it was its duty to interfere, and offer
the Confederation its good offices. The English minister
asked, in the name of his Government, whether the
differences which had. arisen between Switzerland and
Prussia, with reference to the Neuchatel question, might
not be smoothed over by France and England, if those
powers were to propose simultaneou-dy to both parties
the conditions by means of which the question could be
ettled in an honourable manner.

In case this question was answered in the affirmative,
the English minister begged the Federal Council to state
precisely the conditions which it would be disposed to
accept.
An answer was returned on the 31 of October, that
the Federal Council was ready to receive the overtures
which might be made to it upon the Neuchatel question,
provided that they took for their basis the absolute
independence of the canton of Neuchatel from any
foreign claim ; that as soon as that basis should be gua-
ranteed, the Federal Council would have no difficulty in
proposing to the Legislative Councils the amnesty of the
Neuchatel insurgents, and that it would be under the
greatest obligation to the Government of her Dritannic
Majesty if the latter would please to employ its good
offices for that object.
As the overtures made to us by the French Legation
led us to presume that the Neuchatel quesion might be
discussed together with the treaty of Paris of March
30, we expressed, as well to France as to England, our
opinion that if the affair of Neuchatel were to ue treated
of by the Congress, it would be just that S.ei zerland
should be represented there upon this question; and that
this was the more reasonable, because, while tie adver:e
party wo►:ld take part in the conferences., it could not be
expected that the Confederation should acknowledge as
obligatory resolutions adopted with;ut her concurrence.
We did not receive ary precise a;;Swer upon that point;
the French Minister however gave 116 t o understand that
he thought the demand of the Federal Council was a very
natural one, to have Switzerland represented in the con-
erences, and that France would have no objection to
make to it.

In the course of October tlie:A.ff-iir seenaedabcut to enter
a phasis favourable to Switzerland, thanks to the hene•
volent efforts of the English Government. On the 25th
of the said month the British Legation asked whether
the Federal Council would consent to the immediate
liberation .of the Neuchatel prisoners in case the Sing of
Prussia would give to France and England the confiden-
tial assurance that he would renounce his claims to the
sovereignty of Neuchatel on the following conditions :-
1. That be should continue 0 bear the title of Prir.ce
of Neuchatel. _ .

2. That he should remain in possession of all his pri-
vate property is the canton of Neuchatel.
3, That certain religious and charitable establishments
in which the King took a lively interest should be
placed beyond all harm.
The reply which we made to that verbal note is dated
29th October.

We commenced by expressing our thanks to the Bri-
tish Government for the kind interest it had manifested
in the Neuchatel question, a 3 well as for the friendly
disposition it had displayed. We declared ourselves
disposed, so much as it depended upon us, after having
received the adhesion of the Government of Neuchatel
to the overtures which had been made, to accept the
points indicated by the English Government as the basis
of a negotiation and settlement with the King of Prussia.
With a view to provide the British Government with
more ample information we thought fit to add the fol-
lowing observations :

1. According to the positive declaration of the Govern-
ment of Neuchatel the latter is not aware that the King
of Prussia has any private property in the canton of
Neuchatel. Supposing, however, that such were the
ease, that property should be respected the same as any
ether private property.
As regards the domains, dues, and revenues which the
King possessed in his quality of sovereign of the coun-
try, they could not come unite, the head of private pro-
perty. In case of an agreement, to prevent all misun-
derstanding, it will be necessary to specify what private
property belonged to the King.
2. The Government of Neuchatel recognises the reli-
gions and charitable foundations,Pavticularly those of
Ponrtales, Meuron, Puy, and others, established by
private gifts. These establishments, *M others analo-
gous to them, shall be religiously respected. Upon this
point the Government of Neuchatel agret, with the
Federal Council, and both are disposed to give the King
of Prussia the most satisfactory assurances abontit. In
order, however, to place the emancipation of Neuchatel
beyond all foreign influence a guarantee upon this Point
must originate exclusively with the Confederation.
It was added, lastly, that in order to prevent any milt-
take the religious and charitable foundations to be corn.
prised within this guarantee should be distinctly speci-
fied.
These propositions of mediation, dictated by a• senti-
ment of friendship towards Switzerland, did not, how-
ever, lead to any result ; the English Government itself
having subsequently considered that it would be better
not to open them to the court of Berlin, seeing that re-
fusal to enter into any negotiations—which was to be
expected—could not but be injurious to Switzerland.
In the hope that France and England might be more
easily induced to propound a collective propoeiticn, we
on our side did not think it any longer incumbent upon
us to insist on the communication of the above proposi-
tone to Prussia through the medium of Eng,/'and, and our
opinion was strengthened by the fact that the affair had
entered into a new phase.
His Majesty the Emperor of the French bad, under
date of October 24, addressed himself directly to General
Dufour with the friendly intention of calling his atten-
tion to the n
.seons situation in which Switzerland was
pieced. 1:1:3-) Emperor at tile same time invited the
General to iv,slst him in smoothing the difficulties and
removing the dangers with which' Switzerland was
,hreatened, adding that the King of Prussia did not
recognise Switzerlanda alleged right to change, without
his consent, the constitution of Neuchatel, and believed
that his honour was concerned in sustaining those who
had desired to re-establish the old order of things. The
idea of seeing his partians snbjected to trial was revolt-
ing to him to such a degree that he was frilly resolved
on upholding his right by arms, and on applying to
the Germanic Diet in order to (attain a passage for
is troops.
The Emperor declared himself disposed to prevent
Prussia from sending troops, and engaged to arrange the
Neuchatel affair in a manner satisfactory to Switzer-