The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-09 00:00:00

The Conference.

The Conference met on Tuesday at the Treasury
n Downing-street, in the room which was the scene
of the Sleswig-Holstein Conference in 1864. The
old round table was furbished up, but the historic
hole in which Mr. William Stuart sat as protocolist
was filled up, and Mr. Julian Fane, who officiates
on the present occasion, was banished to a small
side table. He remarked that at any rate the pro-
tocols would be more on the square than they were
on the last occasion.

The members of the Conference proceeded to seat
themselves in the French alphabetical order of their
respective countries—Autriche, Belgique, France,
Grande Bretagne, Luxemburg, Pays Bas, Prusse,
ltussie. They had hardly arranged themselves i❑
eight chairs round the big table when it was per-
ceived that there was a ninth vacant on the right.
of Lord Stanley. Count Apponyi asked if that
were Banquo's chair. Lord Stanley replied " No.
at'all ; it was for Italy, as they would see pre-

sently."
A general overhaul of pockets then took place,
and the Plenipotentiaries after a great deal of
shuffling of papers exchanged their " pleius pou-
voirs." A rather awkward incident here occurred,
as Baron de Tornaco, representing Luxemburg, got
hold of Count Bernstorff's secret instructions from
Bismarck, which the count had accidentally mixed
up with his full powers. They were, however, im-
mediately restored.
in CouiltAPPYi as representing the Power senior
alphabetical order, proposed, and in flattering
terms, that Lord Stanley should preside over the

speech, and placed
Conference.
which contained
nl
theey orn
lavd,
be u am porfe tlt y 864,
tohneLtrollerecdotraSdbtloaef the Conference of that year. It would
serve as a warning and a guide. He then proposed
that Italy should be admitted to the ninth chair.
This was objected to by several members, as Italy
bad not signed the Treaties of 1839.
The Prince de la Tour d'Auvergue said that was
a question of the Past. I hey were met to arrange
the
u Future
reApponyi and Bernstorff
would
prospectively, Italy
l
that,
would sign many treaties as a great Power.
augre ;
eand Countsi NVithl
The proposition being agreed to, the Marquis
d'Azeglio was summoned from a neighbouring room,
where he had been anxiously awaiting the issue of
the discussion, and he was seated between Lord
gu
Stanley and M. de Tornaco. This occasioned a sight
shifting of chairs, and a sharp cry from Baron de
Bentinck was explained by M. de Bernstorff having
trod on his foot. lie had lately suffered from gout.
The Prince de la Tour d'Auvergne was disposed to
resent this very warmly, but Lord Stanley -judi-
ciously interfered, and the incident, which threat-
ened at one moment to give rise to a scene, resulted
only in an overwhelming competitive exhibition of
sympathy for the Dutch Minister on the part of the
French and Prussian Plenipotentiaries.
In the meantime it was remarked that the Presi-
dent and the Prince had edged their chairs rather
closely together, but Baron de Brunnow, who bad
also drawn up very near to the ' 1 russian, whispered
that it might be wiser not to noti •
ce these little rap-

p ruchenzents. •
M. Van de Weyer, however, said in an under-
tone to his neighbour, that Bruunow, in the move-
ment, " avait presque tombe sur son Prussien."
The prince did not reply, but only hummed " C'est
dans le nez clue ca me chatouille."
The business of the day was then commenced. A
general good feeling prevailed. The French and
Prussian Plenipotentiaries did most of the talking.
M. de Tornaeo was rather bewildered, and Baron
de Bentinek shuddered occasionally. Count Berns-
torff said his instructions were to be very yielding
at first, but that Bismarck always began that way.
Lord Stanley remarked that it would be the duty of
the Conference to
hold him to the ground he had
taken.
This view was generally supported ; and
after a very unanimous aareement upon prelimina-
ries, and an accord as to the outline of the guarantee
question, the Conference broke up,
leaving matters
of detail to the I/teeth) cr which is to take place on
Thursday.
It was hoped that on that day
any small difficul-
ties might be surmounted, and that on Saturday the
Conference might meet to sign a
final protocol
which should settle the peace of Europe, and allow
of the P
lenipotentiaries dining on Monday at Rich-
tuoud with the Owls.-7 he Owl.

THE WAR DEPARTMENT.—It is the intention of
the Government 0 resist the motion for referring the orga-
nization of the War Department to a Select Committee,
but we believe the Minister of War will propose that a
Royal Commission will be issued to inquire into the gene-
ral organization of the administrative branches of the
army, and that the report of Lord Strathnairn's Committee,
which had gone most 'fully into the question, and pre
sented a report which will be found most complete and
exhaustive of the various questions submitted to it, and
which has been generally approved by the Government
will be referred to the Commission. We may hope, there
fore, that we shall at length arrive at a system of admiliis
tration for the army which shall place it on a permanent
basis, so as to-remove it for the future from the chances
of the unceitairify which result from the political changes
the 9of Wax.— Tho 04a.

LATEST ENUE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

ITALY.

FLORENCE, May 9.
The King will go to-morrow to Venice accom-
panied by the Minister of Justice..
The Chamber of Deputies have passed the Bill
modifying the tax on personal property.