The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-16 00:00:00

ALDERNEY BREAKIVATER.

•
Captain Saumarez, of Jersey, describes a visit
which he has lately paid to Alderney breakwater.
He states that this work has cost 11 millions, and is
utterly useless. At present repairs are going on,
but the effects of the last gales will not be removed
before fresh gales set in. The captain asks that an
inquiry should be made into the whole matter before
any more money is squandered upon a work that is
absolutely worthless. This, we may remind the
gallant writer, is not the only work of the kind.
There is one in his own island. A little beyond
Mont Orgueil are a harbour and a magnificent pier,
llle narbour is so shallow that no ships can enter it;
the pier is grass-grown, and the only useful portion
)f the whole works is the lighthouse, which has to be
kept burning in order to warn vessels off this har-
bour of refuge. These were some of the little
freaks with which that most popular of Ministers,
Lord Palmerston, used to amuse himself at the
expense of the taxpayers.

FOREIGN NOTES-

INDUSTRAL EXHIBITION AT AMSTERDAM.

Yesterday the Netherlands International Exhibition
of Domestic Economy was opened at Amsterdam.
The world hay lately supped so lull of these shows that
nothing save the most exceptional grandeur can command
attention for the future. But the wthibition M Amster•

am miry are to pass unnoticed. It has a 41stftetrve
feature. Its object is to bring to the knowledge of the
working classes and others such articles of household use,
furniture, clothing, food, tools and implements, and ob-
jects of information and instruction, as combine useful-
ness and durability, so that the working classes may be
enabled by judicious economy to improve their condition.
Articles of luxury, of fine art, of elegance, and ornament,
are excluded, and the exhibitors will be expected to put
prices on their goods. The subjects for exhibition include
houses, household necessaries, clothing, food, tools and
implements, means of moral, intellectual, and bodily de-
velopement, and reports, statues, and regulations of associ-
ations for promoting the well-being of the working classes.
Every arrangement has been made to ensure success to
this most worthy undertaking. The Dutch railway
companies have undertaken to convey goods duty free.
British goods will be forwarded through the Netherlands
Consul at Hull free of charge. A London committee is
acti !sly oruploy4,l iu bringing this exhibition before the
notice Ent,ish noblemen, of whose attention it is well
deserving.

re.T POLICY IN CERMANY.

Wha aver the cause of Count Bismarck's retire.
ment to Varzin—ill-health or otherwise -it is certain that
the members of the Prussian Government are not working
as harmoniously as could be wished. A correspondent of
the Temps, who is well informed on German affairs, says
that the majority of the leading Prussian statesmen
have prevailed against Count Bismarck, and the move-
ment in the direction of German unity is to be stopped.
All parties, including the National Liberals themselves,
are agreed upon the necessity for maintaining peace, and
they perceive clearly that peace would be broken if Baden
or any other southern State be annexed to Prussia.
They have, therefore, determined to pursue the unity
scheme only in the most cautious and indirect manner.
Count Bismarck is opposed to this policy. He thinks
that to stand still is to go backward. Prussia must either
speedily include the Southern States in the Northern
Confederation or run the risk of losing them altogether.
The Chancellor, however, is outnumbered, and the
victory of his adversaries will be of advantage to that
party in the South which seeks to establish a separate
confederation of the Southern States.