The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-30 00:00:00

TILE MEETING AT T{►PLITZ.

The meeting at Toplitz is a ve,.y well devised
sequel to the interview at Baden. Politicians who
have speculated on the fascinations of Louis Napo-
leon's personal address can hardly fail to have all
their doubts solved by the new rapprochement of
of the great German Sovereigns ' • and Europe may
congratulate itself that the earliest result of the
Laden tete-a-tete is a real advance towards German
unity: The trip to Germany was confessedly a fail-
ure, so far as the French Emperor was concerned
The prudence and firmness of the Regent enabled
him to convert an evident attempt to weaken his
position in Germany into the means of securing to
himself renewed confidence and respect; and to
render a meeting which Europe regarded with
suspicion, if not with alarm, an additional guaran-
tee for the preservation of European tranquillity.
If Napoleon 111. was disappointed at Baden, what
is going on at Toplitz is hardly likely to diminish
his dissatisfaction. If we read the interchange of
courtesies between the Prince Regent and Francis
Joseph aright, they mark the termination of that
policy of estrangement which six months ago pro-
mised so well for the views of the French Govern-
ment, and the renewal of the ties on which alone
the strength and safety of Germany depend on a
more durable basis than they have ever yet ob-
tained. For the union of Austria and Prussia can-
not, in these days, mean the fettering of the young
and vigorous monarchy of Northern Germany to
the effete autocratic system now dying out in Aus-
tria, but the rescue of the latter power from the
perils in which a mistaken policy has involved her,
and her maintenance, reinvigorated by the impulse
of constitutional freedom, in the rank from which
reverses in war and abuses in her internal adminis-
tration had well nigh cast her down. With another
Prince than the present ruler of Prussia, and
under other circumstances than those which have
pointed out the necessity of the meeting, we might
have been less sanguine. But the attitude of the
Prince Regent, since his accession to supreme
power, has constantly increased the respect enter-
tained by his subjects for himself and the confi-
dence of Europe in his liberal policy. The times, too,
are significant. Kings and their Ministers know
that they have one amongst them who is as un-
scrupulous in his designs as he is dexterous in
availing himself of the proper instruments for their
execution. The experience of the past has told them
that the best security against &reign intrigue is a
contented people, and the surest bulwark against
foreign aggression a loyal nation. In spite of bayo-
net and rifled cannon, the influence of public opi-
nion yearly gains strength. It would no longer be
possible for Prussia and Austria to revive the tra-
ditions and policy of the Holy Alliance with France
ready to espouse the popular cause. Still less
would it be possible so to stifle the aspirations of
the German people as to convert it into the mere
instrument of repression and coercion. At the pre-
sent moment there is no continental monarch more
regarded than the ruler of Prussia. He is accepted
by the intelligence of Germany as the best expo-
nent of its tendencies. But he owes his popularity
not more to his honest German feeling than to the
universal conviction that he has the liberties of the
German people really at heart. A doubt thrown
upon this belief would at once annihilate his in-
fluence.
More than that, it can hardly be but that
the necessity of alliance with England, and the
intimate connection with our Court, • should have ;
their effects in moulding Prussian policy. If there
were no motive but expediency to prompt a resolute
adherence to the programme which the Prince
Regent has laid down for his country, we cory,e,et
doubt the choice he would make. Foy never did
mere expediency and an enlightened patriotism
more distinctly point to a common object ? We
have no fear, then, of the results of the cenieveace
pt Tvplitz, and we dismiss. WI; rumour the re- I

port of a German intervention between the King of
Naples and the revolution in Italy. Such a step
would give France an opportunity of which she
would not be slow to avail herself. It would, be-
sides, be contrary to German feeling, and it would
irrevocably alienate the sympathies of the Eng.
lish people. Intervention in Italy, whatever
may be the desire of Austria, animated with
a deadly jealousy of the rising fortunes of
Sardinia, forms, we arc persuaded, no part of the
policy of the Prince Regent; and we can scarcely
believe that the Government of Austria is prepared
to quit the dignified attitude which she has pre-
served since the peace of Villafranca, and ally her-
self with the ruined hopes of the Neapolitan Bour-
bons. Other• questions than the fate of Francis 11.
of Naples must have occupied the attention of the
two German Sovereigns. First of these is the de-
fence of German territory. It wanted not Mr.
Kinglake's revelations to tell the German Courts of
the intrigues that were working their insidious way
amongst the populations of the Rhine and Belgium,
in the Italian Tyrol, and in Hungary. It is plain,
moreover, that Cavour has lost his hold on the
revolution which he has created ; and that every
fresh success of Garibaldi's forces only hastens the
moment when Italy and Austria must stand face to
face with Venice for the prize of the conqueror.
The last Italian province of Austria is not Federal
territory. But the German Confederation would
not willingly see it in the hands of a powerful and
ambitious Italian ruler ; and the great soldier who
now fights for Italian unity has solemnly promised
his sword to Hungary on the day when the freedom
of his own soil shall have been accomplished.
Somewhere, however, the line must be drawn, and
even Garibaldi may pause before provoking a quar-
rel with united Germany. Then, there is the
Schleswig Holstein affair, which every month as-
sumes a more menacing aspect ; and the Syrian
question, which seems to threaten the catastrophe
which Europe has striven so long to avert. All
these are subjects which must be anxiously con-
sidered by the German Sovereign ; none the less
anxiously because of the past interviews at Villa-
franca and Baden. On the whole, however, we be-
lieve the meeting at Toplitz must have a good and
'tranquillising effect, principally because the union
of Germany deprives Louis Napoleon of one great
lever. If this union be based on a solid and lasting
foundation the preponderating influence which
France has hitherto exercised in continental poli-
tics will receive a wholesome check, and Europe may
yet settle the great political problems now pressing
for solution without recurring to the grave arbitra-
ment of a general struggle.-,-Morning Herald.

THE RELIGIOUS SERVICES AT ST,
GEOR(iE'S-IN-THE-EAST.

The services at the parishchurch of St. George's-
in-the-East were yesterday conducted by the Rev.
I. Hansard, of St. Mary's, Bryanston-square,
Marylebone, who has been appointed to officiate in
the absence of the rector, the Rev. Bryan King,
who is on 12 months' leave of absence to the Con-
tinent. The arrangement is stated to have been
made with a view to restore peace and harmony in
this long-distracted parish by a return to the true
worship of the Church of England, and in an utter
repudiation of all the mummeries of Puseyism ;
and it is gratifying to find that the inauguration
services of the Rev. Mr. Hansard yesterday were
such, both as regards their character and the
manner in which they were appreciated and re-
ceived by the numbers who assembled to hear them,
as to inspire a well-grounded hope that in a few
weeks the old parishioners will have again betaken
themselves to their parish church, and that the pa-
rochial system will be re-established in full vigour
in the parish. At the morning service there was a
much larger attendance than on ordinary occasions.
The service was proceeded with and gone
through in the usual form observed in the Church
of England, none of it being choral except the
psalms for the day, which were sung by one party
and said by other, as in the days of the Rev. Bryan
King. The sermon was also preached by the Rev.
Mr. Hansard, who, previous to giving out his text,
instead of repeating the Puseyite formula, offered
up the custo,nary prayer. The rev, gentleman,
however, having, it is believed more from accident
than design, gene into the pulpit in his surplice
instead of, as was supposed he would do, in a
black gown, a considerable manifestation of feeling
was displayed at his doing so by large numbers
getting out of the pews and leaving the church in
a somewhat rude manner. The interruption was,
however, but momentary. In the evening there
was a still larger congregation, but everything
passed off quietly.