The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-21 00:00:00

THE BALTIC.

HAMBURG, Auo. 18.
As it is still the wish of Queen Victoria that her
visit to Germany should preserve as much as pos-

sible the character of privacy, and as it is never to
be desired that the Morning Post should be made
the vehicle for the dissemination of gossiping stories

about the Court that can have no reference to

political events or matters of public interest, it is

better to abstain from taking further notice of what
occurs within what ought to be considered the do-
mestic circle of Babelsberg, and to leave alt that
should be known of what passes there to be told

by those who may be authorised to afford the
requisite information. It is therefore at present
quite sufficient to say that wherever the Queen
appearF, the reception given to her Majesty is most

enthusiastic, and that there is every reason to indulge
the hope that the effects of the royal visit to Pots-

dam, besides the gratification which it has evidently
afforded to those personally most nearly interested,
will be to draw so closely the bonds of union between
Great Britain and Prussia as most effectually to
ensure the prosperity of both nations, and contri-
bute, at the same time, most essentially to preserve
the peace and tranquillity of Europe.

Every day produces new reports as to the:state of
health, as well as to the intentions, of the King of
Prussia. It is now said that his Majesty, having got
rid of the fit of gout under which he had latterly
suffered, has again become most anxious to pay
his personal respects to the Queen of England
before her Majesty takes leave of Babelsberg,
and that for this purpose he will leave Tegern-
see so as to reach Potsdam previous to the
Queen's departure. Doubts, however, are enter-
tained as to whether this arrangement will be sanc-
tioned by the physicians in attendance on his Majesty,
for: it is apprehended that the state of the royal
patient is still such that any unusual excitement
might prove injurious in its consequences; and for
many reasons it would be far better that at such a
time the running of all risks of that kind should be
altogether avoided. It has even been said that there is
some intention to resume, on that occasion, the royal
authority, merely for the purpose of immediately
abdicating in favour of the Prince of Prussia, but
this would be so contrary to all the previously
avowed sentiments of the King, that such averments
ought to be received with more than ordinary cau-
tion. The position of the Prince, indeed, seems to
be steadily improving, and his royal highness re-
ceives from all courts with whom Prussia holds in-
timate intercourse the most ample demonstrations

and assurances of their desire to maintain their poli-
tical connection on the same footing as heretofore.
Russia wishes the Prince to be present at the grand
reviews which are intended to take place next month
at Warsaw, and even Hanover, who has latterly as-
sumed a degree of antagonism on the Danish ques-
tion, prefers a similar request as to the inspection of
the federal troops ; and though it is understood other
pressing affairs will render it impossible for his royal
highness to accept either invitation, representatives
will be sent ix both cases, who will fully and satis-
factorily account for the causes of the refusal, which,
there is reason to believe, the presence of the Prince
in Silesia at the same time would otherwise have
sufficiently explained.
The grand festival to be given by M. Borsig, on
the occasion of the completion of the thousandth
railway engine, which has already been referred to,
is fixed to take place on the 21st instant, when all
connected with railways, besides public officials of
all classes, are invited to attend. This demonstra-
ti©n is a strong proof of the progress made in Prussia
in making use of this mode of conveyance, which is
further corroborated by a Government return recently
issued as to the railway traffic of the kingdom dur-
ing the past year. In that document it is stated that
there are five Government lines of railway in Prussia,
besides seven under Government management, and
fourteen belonging to private companies. The length
of the whole is 2941 German miles (about 1,376

English), and their cost has been 255,204,526 thalers
(.£36,460,000). During last year the number of
passengers carried was 18,414,094, whose fares
amounted to 11,132,958 thalers , and the traffic in
goods consisted of 245,841,215 centners, for the con-
veyance of which there was received the sum of
21,715,272 thalers. The whole receipts, including
sundries, have amounted to 34,669,703 thalers, and
the total expenses to 15,670,166, leaving a balance of
18,990,537, or nearly 71 per cent. on the cost, which
will at this time make the shareholders of many
railway companies in England wish that their lines
were under similar management. The traffic on
some of the Prussian lines has not yet been fully
developed ; but it may be expected, when the com-
munication throughout with Russia is complete, that
the receipts will be considerably increased, though
it is probable that the expenditure will then be
enlarged in a still greater proportion. The partial
opening of one line from St. Petersburg towards the
frontier has just been inaugurated, being that which
connects that capital with Pskov, and while even the
whole of that portion will not be opened to general
traffic until next month, it is feared that the suspen-
sion of the work at Kowno, recently noticed, will
retard the formation of a continuous line to Konigs-
berg, considerably beyond the time that had origi-
nally been fixed upon.
Acting upon the well known principle of Russia,
that her princes should occasionally make their appear-
ance in all parts of the empire, and especially where
warlike operations are contemplated, it has been re-
solved, as was also the case during the Crimean war,
that the Grand Dukes Nicholas and Michael should
very shortly proceed to the Caucasus to encourage
by their presence the Russian troops in that
quarter who are engaged in the conflict with
the Circassians, where every rock is made a fortress
and every defile an ambuscade. Whether the presence
of these princes will turn the tide of war is very
doubtful, but it is worth trying the experiment ; for
as long as matters are allowed to remain as they are
there, none of the plans of Russia for the extension
of her eastern frontier in that direction can ever
prove successful. The check to which she has been
so long exposed on the Caucasian side only increases
her desire to prosecute her successes to the north of
China; and the incidental notice that Gen. Mouravieff,
who commands the army in Siberia, has been raised
to the dignity of a Count of the Empire, may be re-
garded at once as an evidence of some advantage ob-
tained of which nothi'sg is permitted to be known, and
as a stimulus to further exertions of the same kind,
of which little will be said until their object is gained.
While all that is done by Russia in the East is care-
fully shrouded in mystery, all thatis proposed in the
West is openly proclaimed. A much more liberal
toleration in religious matters is about to he
extended to Catholics in Poland, and a greater
control in financial affairs will simultaneously
be conferred on the Poles. Better plans for
bringing that country into subjection and alle-
giance than those which, after having been so
long deferred, are at last about to be made the sub-
ject of experiment could not well be imagined. ;
while the approaching visit of the Emperor
ll
afford an excellent occasion for making the announce-
ment of his purpose, of which his Majesty will not
fail readily and opportunely to avail himself.

The Marquis of Lansdowne has left town for
Scarborough.
The Marquis of Ailsa has removed to Craiglure
for grouse shooting, from Culzean Castle, Ayrshire.
The Countess (Dow.) of Harewood and Ladies
Lascelles have left town for the Duke and Duchess of
Buccleuch's villa at Richmond.
The Earl of Listowel has left Convamorep his
seat in Ireland, on a visit to Lord Macdonald at his seat IP
the Isle of Skye.

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