The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-11 00:00:00

working of this assembly." But what inspires this
confidence, and upon what solid foundation does it
rest ? As we glance over the various plans and
arrangements which are put forward so prominently
in this speech, and they do not amount to very
much, we observe that a law is to be introduced upon
" freedom of settlement," which has for object to pre-
pare the further development of the "common right of
nationality" founded by the Constitution. It seems
strange to us who live in a country with a Consti-
tution fully established to hear of this p?rpetual
talk about the first principles of a system being
settled. If anything satisfactory resulted from
these comprehensive changes, it would not matter
that the whole country should be disturbed and
perplexed; but the mischief is, that whatever is
done is not perpetual, nor is there any one hoye
afforded us of the changes now in contemplation
being so ordered that they may form the basis of a
solid and lasting, as well as beneficial, work.

A bill upon liability to military service is to be
laid before the Parliament, but it seems vain to
expect that the stringent nature of the regulations
will be modified, and adapted more in accordance
with the rights and privileges of free States, and the
subjects of a great Power that professes to take pro-
gress for its guide and nationality for its sentiment.
One of the chief plans in the new regime of Govern-
ment is the exclusive command which Prussia possesses
over the military arrangements. That alone prevents
the success of the scheme as a work of national
progress and social development, and connects the
thing with a despotic and arbitrary arrangement.
The secret is let out in the passage where the
KING allows that the conviction entertained by
those who settled the Constitution was that the
great task of tha Confederation "could only be
accomplished by accommodating special interests
to those of a more general and national character."
This means, plainly enough, that the scheme must be
worked out whether it be popular or not, and no mat-
ter how many sacrifices attend its accomplishment.
This conviction, it is added, has already found
expression in the dicussions of the Federal Council,
and it is hoped will form the " basis" of their deli-
berations. It would be all very well for this to be
done if the sacrifice made was for the common
good, but it will never answer any bat selfish ends
if Prussia is to have the exclusive gain of the affair.
We have seen how she has encroached from begin-
ning to end of these changes, and how determinedly
she has carried on her game ; but the future, which
now remains to be solved, is, how long will it last ?
and will not the Germans themselves soon get tired
of being placed in so secondary and subservient a
position? A united Germany, with Prussia for its
head, was the plan at first laid down ; but then
Prussia is not content to be the director and guide ;
the object of her rulers is that she may become the
despotic agent and the absolute controller over the
destinies of all lesser States. We shall doubtless
hear a great deal about the wisdom and patriotism
that have dictated this speech, but if we
look for its real meaning the result may not
be quite so satisfactory. What is the sum and
substance of this discourse but a reiteration of
those principles of absolutism, of sway and appro-
priation of power, which have for time out of mind
characterised the course of Prussian politics, and
which no checks interposed can put a stop to, and
no success serve to moderate, but which always
pursues its course unflinchingly, and with deter-
mined zeal and energy.

The labours of the British Association, though
less generally interesting than the proceedings of the
Social Science Congress, are of very great value,
and those who are sufficiently acquainted with the
rudiments of science as to be able in any degree to
appreciate their importance find great pleasure and
profit in studying their course. It is indeed a very
gratifying proof of the change which has taken
place with regard to scientific knowledge that so
large an audience should assemble wherever the
Association holds its meetings, and that so much
eagerness should be displayed in welcoming the
learned body to the various localities which it patro-
nises. Fifty years ago abstruse science was studied
only by a few, and those who watched their progress
and listened to their teaching were also few. Now
the several sections are crowded, while questions
of geology, ethnology, and meteorology are dis-
cussed in all their aspects, and ladies as well as
gentlemen are pleased and attentive listeners. We
cannot suppose that the number of HEnsonELs or
MURCIIISONS will ever be very large, but it is a great
thing to find an intelligent interest in their re-
searches taken by large and successive audiences in
the provinces year after year. On Monday after-
noon a meeting of the General Council was held for
the purpose of determining the place of meeting of
the Association next year, when evidence was
given of the wide-spread desire to welcome the
savans. Influential deputations presented them-
selves from Norwich, Exeter, Plymouth, Edin-
burgh, and Liverpool to urge their respective
claims, and those of Norwich were finally
successful. The proceedings of Monday were
full of animation, and the subjects dis-
cussed in the several sections were mostly of
great interest. The question of storm signals was
again brought up in section A, and Colonel SYKES
read an urgent appeal in favour of their resumption.
A scientific committee of the Royal Society had
given their opinion against them on the ground that
Admiral FITZROY had promulgated them upon em-
pirical data. Fifteen years hence, according to
these over-cautious philosophers, we may resume
them with some confidence. Colonel SYKES very
justly argues against this that it is not a ques-
tion of science, but of facts. Storm signals have
been proved to be practicable, and the statistics
speak for themselves. In three years Admiral I
FITZROY gave 405 warnings, 305 of which were
right. The predictions as to the direction of the
wind in the same period were correct to the extent
of 38 per cent. The direction of the wind is na-
turally more likely to perplex the weather seer, but
if three-fourths of his weather predictions are
right, it is surely a great gain to the shipowner,
the sailor, and the traveller. As Colonel SYKES
observes, it is quite safe to infer during
those three years a saving of 305 ships,
and no one knows how many lives. The
Duke of BUCCLELICII, who warmly supported
the resumption of the signals against some gentle-
men who opposed Colonel SYKES, said very
sensibly that he did not want any particular body
of men to undertake the duty of weather prophets,
but he wanted to have that information given to
mariners which would enable them to judge what
was likely to be the condition of the weather at any
stated period. Extended opportunities of obser-
vation must afford better grounds for judg-
ing of the future as well as the past,
and the great facilities which any public office
would have for collecting meteorological data from
all parts of Europe must give any man of ordi-
nary intelligence and experience a better oppor•
tunity of judging correctly of the chances of the
weather. The result of the discussion was that a
resolution was unanimously agreed to, urging upon
the Government the desirability of making arrange-
ments for the resumption of the signals.
In Section F, Economic S.ience, the relations
between masters and workmen came under

discussion. Mr. RENALS, of Nottingham, read
a paper on " Arbitration and Conciliation
iii hhe Hosiery Manufacture of the Midland
Coun ties." A board of arbitration was, it
seem! 1, formed in 1860, and has been the
mean is of settling many disputes. It is composed
of ant equal number of manufacturers and of work-
men, a practical agreement to abide its decision
being come to. The advantages from the board are
r ammed up as follows to the men :-1. On cessa-
tion of ill-treatment and intimidation by their
fel'eow-workmen, and a saving by the abolition of
th.e truck system. 3. A saving of the contributions
to the unions. 4. There are no stoppages of labour
where trade is active. 5. There is a constant pro-
cess of enlightenment by means of discussion
on all commercial questions. The advantages to
the masters are—l. They can undertake contracts
with greater confidence ; 2. Machinery and capital
are fully employed in periods of prosperity; 3.
There is a uniformity in the rates of labour, so that
an unscrupulous competitor is prevented from under-
selling his neighbours by bringing down wages ; 4.
There is a discontinuance of abusive attacks on
employers. If such an association has been found
to work well in the hosiery department for a period
of seven years, there can be no reason why a similar
system should not be equally successful in other
trades. Sir JOHN BOWRING, in speaking on the
subject, referred to the Council of Conciliation at
Lyons, which has been in existence for some years,
with very beneficial results. We hope it will not
be long before such boards of arbitration, instead
of being the exceptions, become the rule of the
country, whereby both masters and men will be
largely benefited.

CORRESPONDENCE fRUM PAI LS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Tuesday Evening.

The Moniteur states that the Consul of France at
Bangkok remitted to the King of Siam, on the 22d
of July last, the presents sent to his Majesty by the
Emperor Napoleon. The King was particularly
moved by this proof of the Imperial kindness, and
expressed to M. Aubaret, in the most gracious terms,
his strong sympathy for France and her Sovereign.
The news from Japan, which is to the 13th of
July, continues to be satisfactory. It is announced
that the Taicoon had just published a proclamation,
according to which the port of Kiogo will in future
be open to foreign commerce. The same document
also grants to foreigners the facility of establishing
their residence in the towns of Yeddo and Osaka.

. -
The Journal des Debats has the following signi-
ficant announcement relative to the conduct of
Russia :—" Correspondence, addressed from War-
saw to the Journal de Posen, shows how the Russian
Government, exasperated at the result of the trial
of Berezowski, and still more, perhaps, by the inter-
view of the two Emperors at Salzburg, now treats
the French who reside in Russia. In the new pro-
gramme of the colleges instruction in the French
language has been suppressed, and on the day of
the opening of the classes all the French professors,
at least those at Warsaw, were dismissed. Two of
the names of our countrymen are mentioned who
were so suddenly thanked. It is stated that all the
Frenchmen who were employed at the railways or in
other civil administrations will be dismissed in their
turn. Can we believe circulators of news who affirm,
like the Presse of Vienna, that the Eastern
question was hardly touched upon at Salzburg ?
The information given to us by the Journal de Posen
would induce us to put as much faith in that asser-
tion as in the report of the announced journey of
M. Beust to London."

A despatch from Geneva announces that Gari-
baldi has arrived in that city to attend the Peace
Congress there, and that an immense manifestation
bok place in his favour. Upon this the Constitutionnel
remarks :—" A Peace Congress of a singular cha-
racter is now assembled at Geneva. This is not the
sort of meeting at which we would expect to see a
man of action, adventures, and the sworn, like
Garibaldi. Nevertheless, all the interest of the
Peace Congress of Geneva seems to be concentrated
upon the personality, not very pacific, of the former
chief of the red shirts. The manifestation is a strange
preface."

A letter from Constantinople, dated August 25,
says that during his journey in France the Sultan
was so struck with the progress of industry, and
particularly with the advantages arising from facili-
ties of transport, that immediately upon his return
to Constantinople he determined upon carrying
various reforms into execution, and particularly to
establish railways. This idea he developed at
several Cabinet Councils. The Sultan mentioned
as of peculiar importance the establishment of mari-
time outlets for commerce, and pointed out the
towns of Kouiah, Sivas, and Kharpont as destined
for chief lines leading to the sea. The Sultan con-
siders it urgently necessary to repair the route of
Erzerourn, and to come to an understanding with
rich companies, native and foreign, to procure the
necessary funds."

At a banquet given by the Chamber of Commerce
of Bordeaux to M. Forcade de la Roquette, Minister
of Commerce, that Minister expressed a strong
approval of the principle of free trade. He said
thatcommerce and
h
but weree now
throughindattsdtirffiy
position,had
that the difficulty would be t
temporary, and he
thought with them that it was an error to ascribe
the evil to economical reform and t •
reaties of com-
merce. No doubt industry and commerce were
placed in a new position, but the very remarkable
success which French products had bt • o amed at the
Universal Exhibition had proved foreign that
com-
petition had ceased to be a serious danger, but had
o
rather become a salutary stimulant to industry. Far
from proving a permanent cause of difficulty
cu ty to
affairs, treaties of commerce guaranteed the security
of international relations. They we re the real trea-
ties of peace between nations. It was not fortunate
strength which dictated the conditions of such trea-
ties : it was reason, and the reciprocal • tin crest of
the peoples. They did not leave after them bitter
recollections and long resentments. On the con-
trary, they prepared the way for kindly relations
and useful and solid benefits. They unceasingly
recalled to mind that Providence, in creating diver-
sity of climates, products, and aptitudes, has esta-
blished as one universal law exchange and union
between all the nations of the globe. Treaties of
commerce were due to the initiative of the Empe-
ror, and to his prescient solicitude for agriculture,
trade, commerce, and internal improvements. The
Minister concluded by saying that he had confidence
in the future prosperity of commerce.
In some departments the making of wine has
commenced. This year's produce will be called
Exhibition wine. On the average the fruit is not
abundant, but it is expected that the quality will be
superior. Frost, storms, and drought caused much
injury to the vines in the Ardeche, the Chaventa,
Dordogne, Jur, Meuse, Moselle, Rhone, and other
departments. The oidium has also caused consi-
derable damage to the vines in several departments.
There is great activity in the wine market at pre-
sent, and the wine of la,3t year has declined in
price. The wine of 18G1 and 18G3 is, however,
quoted at a higher rate. New white wine, the pro-
duce of this year, will shortly be retailed in the wine
shops of Paris.

The Emperor and Empress receive daily marks of
affection and loyalty at Biarritz. On the night of
their arrival there was a spontaneous illumination,
and various marks of rejoicing. Triumphal arches
were erected.

It is stated by the German papers that M. de
Bismarck has spoken out in his turn upon the sub-
ject of the Salzbourg meeting, and has transmitted
to the representatives of Prussia in foreign countries
the substance of the French note of the 24th of
August, and the explanations given by the Cabinet
of Vienna relative to the meeting. According to
the latter it appears that Austria is by no means
indisposed to adopt a policy having for object a
special Southern State. These 'pacific assurances,
however, do not reassure the ultra-Prussians.
Several Prussian papers argue with great warmth