The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-20 00:00:00

" The German Confederation is an association accord-

ing to international law, the essential object of which, in
the eyes of the Prince Regent's Government, is to protect
the security and the independence of Germany, and of
each of its members in presence of foreign nations. Some
of our cofederates, however, appear to turn their attention
principally to the uniform development of internal political
organisation, and especially to the constitutional institu-
tions of each cofederate State, according to a system which,
if carried to its extreme consequencs, would lead to the
establishment of a supreme federal authority interfering
with the internal organisation of each State.
" We abstain from examining more profoundly the ex-
tent of the jurisdiction which the fundamental laws of the
Confederation assign in this respect to the Federal Diet.
We also abstain from inquiring if, on certain previous cc-
casions, those laws have not received too wide an interpre-
tation. But we do not hesitate to declare that from firm
conviction we adopt the principle that the action of the
Federal Diet, as regards the internal organisation of States,
and especially their constitutional institutions, ought to
be reduced to the most restricted measure of its gene-
rally recognised jurisdiction. In fact, the confedera-
tion of a certain number of. States differing in extent,
in character, and in power, and yet enjoying equal
rights in that Confederation, cannot overcome the
difficulties arising from such a situation, unless the tie
which binds its members together touches as little as pos-
sible their internal indenendenco.
Diu aatuo rognit is indicated by a consideration of a dif-
ferent kind. The Federal Diet is composed of repre-
sentatives of the German Governments. Does there not
result from that fact alone, the necessity of avoiding even
the appearance that the whole of the Governments could
wish to subject to their jurisdiction, in order to decide in
their peculiar point of view, differences concerning the re-
lations between the Governments and the Legislative
Chambers ?
" If, then, the Prince Regent's Government is animated
with the desire to see the action of the Federal Diet, as re-
gards the internal organisation of States, and especially
their constitutions reduced to the strictest limits, it is at
the same time persuaded that to do so is not only the best
way of preserving to the Confederation its real character,
but that by resolutely entering on such a path, an end
would be put to apprehensions which the Diet has particu-
lar interest in seeing removed. Penetrated with that con-
viction, and firmly resolved not to abandon its attitude, the
royal Government hopes that such of its confederates as
have hitherto entertained different views, will not refuse,
after an impartial examination of the arguments which it
presents, to adopt its opinion.
" The Prince Regent's Government is certain in advance
to obtain that adhesion when it proclaims its conviction
that the first and the highest mission of the Confederation,
and that which principally led to its establishment, was no-
thing more than to protect from all danger and all violence
from abroad, the independence of each German State sopa.
rately, and the absolute integrity of the national territory.
" At no epoch has this mission been more imperative for
the Germanic Confederation than in presence of the exist-
ing political situation. But the spirit which animates the
nation facilitates the accomplishment of it. Since the foun-
dation of the Confederation, the idea of nationality has been
stronger and stronger among the Germanic people, and the
Governments will only anticipate their wishes by zealously
joining in giving to the military forces of Germany the de•
velopment and the organisation calculated to inspire in the
nation, on the appearance of a foreign danger, a well-
founded hope of the success of the efforts which in that
eventualty it would be called on to make.
" Prussia has quite recently, in order to increase her
power and her military forces, added new sacrifices to those
which she had previously demanded from her populations.
Relying on this eircum,tance, en the fact that, as demon-
strated by experience, the security of Germany depends
chiefly on the efforts of Prussia, and on its loyal intentions
and the purity of its object, the Government of the Prince
Regent can confidently hope that its German confederates
will not only respond, in the measure of their resources to
the exigencies of the general political situation, but that in
the Diet they will zealously support all the measures which
the gravity of circumstances and the real character of the
situation imperatively demand for the defence of the com-
mon country. You are authorised to speak, in accordance
with the views I have indicated, whenever an opportunity
may present itself.—Accept, etc.,

SCHLEINITS."

TIIE HARDWARE TRADE AND THE NEW FRENCH
TREATY.—Messrs. Wagner and Fletcher, the deputation
appointed by the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, to
confer with the French and English Commissioners in Fails,
on the subject of the new tariff on British manufactures,
have returned, the commission, so far as relates to the tariff
on metal and hardware goods, having concluded its inquiries.
The final adjustment of the duties is all that has now to be
done, and, so far as we can learn, Messrs. Wagner and
deputation
Fletcher are perfectly satisfied with the result. it is ex-
pected that in the course of a few•da y s the report ofwill the
commission, after receiving the sanction of the Emperor
and the Queen, will be publisher,and the
afterwards formally notiiy to the Chamber of Commerce
the reasons which have induced certain classifications of
articles. Whilst referring to the subject we may mention
that we have good authority for stating
that the paragraph
aappearing
Sheffieldin .1 :Monday's al
cutlery,
ys , T
iismetso, rae l
gra extenttievaetiiNpi A ._errrroainvngeeeomumean:tes
1 This is ono of the great
Birmingham Post.
THE " MUTTON CLUB" IN
that is, of all Northern
India except Calcutta. The Mutton Club consists of those
residents at a station who unite for the laudable purpose of
social institutions ojo ili
t he
their tilible.ds
.twice a week with joints of grain-fed
hired ; issheep are bought; gram (a
mutton.
supplyingA
is .
supplied
lel
to the -
oMuttoni.
the
.INI
°CI
Iluusbs
i. ,
sort of pen)and the animals in a long trough two
or three times a day , . 1_
e club's butcher every week
from the stock for slaughter as many sheep as may
selects
be required. The members receive in regular rotation a
grter, a hind quarter, a saddle, & and always ar-
fore qu, ,
parties, if
c.,
range their dinner if possible, for hind quarter or
saddle day. At the end of each month the secretary (usu-
shop
ally an active-minded lady) adds up the expenses, divides
the sum by the number of members, and receives from each
his share of the cost. When a new Mutton Club is started
each member deposits a sum, commonly £5, and when he
leaves the station his successor in office, or some other
person, buys up the share at the price originally paid for
it, provided the club be in a flourishing condition.—From
London to Incknotv, by a Chaplain in the Indian Service.
,BRIGHTER THAN VENUS.—The Star, according
to the Sun, is to be incorporated with the Dial. Accord-
ingly the Dial, instead of being a Sun-Dial, will become a
Star-Dial. If it will enable anybody to tell the time of day,
Bright's particular Star will be wonderfully lurainous.--
rifi?ch,