The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 18, 1867.

60ft. below the river. Anything more extraordinary
than the scene which it presents it would be difficult
to conceive. First the subway is being built; below
that are being constructed the chambers for the
overflow of storm water from the low-level sewer ;
below these again is the low-level sewer itself, and
deepest and beneath them all the tunnel for the
pneumatic railway is being laid. It seems something
marvellous to look down into this great excavation
where the steam pumps are always going, to keep it
free from water, and watch the men working in tiers
beneath each other, in a sort of twilight, building
four different structures. Powerful caissons are sunk
here to keep the water out, but still, at such a depth
beneath the tide, great leakage is unavoidable, and
but for the incessant action of the pumps we have
mentioned the vast hole would be filled to its brim
in a single day. Probably the engineering labours
in connection with the pneumatic railway are more
curious still tha❑ even those of the Embankment.
These, however, will be described fully on another
occasion, when we hope we shall not have to say, as
we must now do, that their progress has materially
retarded that of the Embankment itself. Opposite
York stairs a pier is being erected, both for steam
and small boats, and a design has been made by Mr.
Bazalgette for the landing near Temple-gardens. At
various places along the granite wall massive rings
are let into it, to which barges can be moored. This,
however, we venture to think, is a mistake, for al-
ready serious injury has in one or two cases been
done by lighters bumping against and chipping the
close fitting granite mouldings. It would be diffi-
cult to praise too highly the exquisite finish with
which all this granite work has been executed.
The blocks are carved and fitted literally like so
much cabinet work. The large pedestals and what
are called the rustic carved blocks near York stairs
might be pointed to as perfect specimens of this
kind of workmanship. As far as the works have yet
gone they have consumed no less than 8,000,000
of bricks, with 40,000 cubic yards of concrete,
50,000 cubic yards of earth have been dug out,
500,000 cubic yards have been " tipped" in,
125,000 cubic feet of granite have been bedded,
and about 60,000 cubic yards of earth remain to be
added before the whole is complete. What the
subterranean railway company will have to dig out
and fill in again is at present a matter of conjecture,
for nobody seems to know when they mean to begin.
It is gratifying to be able to add that since the very
commencement of the work there has not been the
slightest settlement of any kind in the foundation
of the granite walls. They remain true to plumb
and rule, exactly as when they were designed. If
anything can add to their solidity, it will be the plan
according to which it is not intended to draw the
wooden piles behind which they have been built. These
piles are all being sawn off by a patent machine at
2 feet below low-water mark, and the rest of their
bulk, which is driven down into the clay, will re-
main to form permanent supports ngairist even the
slightest movements of the foundations themselves.

TILE RECONSTRUCTION OF EUROPE.

The following is the concluding portion of the
article on the above subject, contributed by John
S. C. Abbott, to the- Anglo-American Times :---
The kingdom of Prussia had been so weakened
by the wars of the French Revolution that it had
but little influence in the Congress of exultant
Kings who met at Vienna in 1815, to partition out
Europe among them. Prussia was exceedingly dis-
satisfied with the lot assigned to it by these treaties.
If the Allies had deliberately resolved to render
Prussia as weak, both for offence and defence, and
to shut up the little kingdom from the probability
of its ever becoming the equal of the other great
Powers of Europe, they could hardly have devised
measures better calculated to promote their object
than those which they actually adopted.
To a population cut down to less than eighteen
millions there was assigned a territory scarcely equal
to that of any two of the average States of America,
badly constructed, isolated from the sea, and with-
out any natural boundaries. The Pruszians, an ex-
ceedingly energetic and ambitious people, looked
ever with increasing dissatisfaction upon the proud
empire of Austria at their side, with a territory
twice as large as Prussia held, and a population of
thirty-six millions. .On the north Austria swept
away over regions of almost fabulous extent.
The state of Europe had become so agitated, and
there was such restlessness, among all the nations,
that a very remarkable man in Prussia, Count Bts-
MARK, thought the time had come when Prussia
could with hope of success, make a move in the
direction of escaping from the unfavourable position
in which the treaties of 1815 had placed her ; and
of so reorganising and expanding her territory as to
become one of the leading Powers of Europe.
Count BISMARK easily got the ear of the KING, and
induced him to embark in this ambitious enterprise.
The measures, successfully adopted for the accom-
plishment of this end, are amongst the most curious
in the annals of diplomacy and war.

Adjoining Prussia, on the north-west, were two
duchies, Schleswig and Holstein. Neither of them
was larger than the State of Delaware, in America,
and their united population was about one million.
Pushing up into the Peninsula formed by the Ger-
man Ocean and the Baltic Sea, with the Elbe at
their base, they presented admirable harbours,
opening fine opportunities for commerce.
These duchies belonged to the Kingdom of Den-
mark, yet they both were wader the governorship of
one duke, whose possession was received and trans-
mitted through hereditary descent. Upon the death
of FREDERIC VII., King of Denmark, his succes-
sor, CHRISTIAN IX., claimed the duchies. On the
other hand FREDERIC, the then recognised Duke of
Schleswig-Holstein, claimed them. The succession
was thus disputed. The surrounding powers took
different sides.• Thus it became an European
question.

One of these duchies, Holstein, was a member of
the Germanic Confederation. Prussia and Austria,
as members of the same body, espoused the cause
of FREDERIC, the reigning Duke. England, by what
was called the treaty of London, was bound to pro-
tect the integrity of Denmark. But VICTORIA'S
daughter had married the Crown Prince of
PRUSSIA. England, therefore, disregarding the
treaty, declined interposing her fleet and army for
the protection of Denmark. The feeble little king-
dem, thus abandoned, after a short struggle against
overpowering odds, was compelled to surrender the
duchies, and they were declared to be independent
under the hereditary duke.

This was the first act of the programme. Now
several persons arose claiming the duchies by the
right of inheritance. One claimant was the Grand
Duke of Oldenburg, brother-in-law of the Emperor
ALEXANDER of Russia. Another was the Prince
of Hesse, also a brother-in-law of the Czar. And,

to the surprise of all Europe, the King of PRUSSIA
himself came forward as a claimant on the ground
of hereditary right.
Under these circumstances the Emperor of
FRANCE, foreseeing the danger that the question
might involve Europe in war, urged the assembling
of a Congress, that the difficulty might be settled
by deliberation, and not by the sword. This pro-
position was peremptorily declined, England taking
the lead in opposition to it.

NAPOLEON, who was truly anxious for peace, by
which alone France could be rendered rich, pros-
perous, and happy, replied to this refusal to accept
his proposition for a Congress :—" I have proposed
a Congress and urged it to save Europe from the

horrors of war. The proposal has been rejected ; I
shall not renew it ; but I hold myself in readiness
to join in any congress when it shall be desired by
other powers."

The question as to whom of the five claimants
the duchies legitimately belonged was submitted to
the syndics of the Crown of Prussia at Berlin.
After a long conference they rendered their deci-
sion in July, 1865. It declared that the King of
DENMARK was the legitimate heir ! but that the
duchies now belonged to Prussia and Austria by
the right of conquest !
This curious specimen of diplomacy is said to have
been entirely the handiwork of Count BIS3IARK.
Such was the second act of the programme for ob-
taining the Duchies for Prussia.

Until this time Austria had never laid any claim
whatever to the duohieo, They were at a great

tance from Austria, and of but little value to that
kingdom. WILLIAM of Prussia, or rather Count
BISMARK, his Minister, thought that FRANCIS
JOSEPH would readily sell for a due consideration
property which could be of not much value to him,
and to which he had never supposed that he had
any claims. Prussia accordingly offered Austria

three hundred million of francs for the relinquish-
ment of her title. Austria refused. The posses-
sion of the duchies would make Prussia too for-
midable a rival. Austria would only consent'to a
temporary arrangement by which Prussia should

hold Schleswig and Austria should hold Holstein.
This arrangement was entered into at a meeting
held on the 14th of August, 1865, called the Con-

vention of Gastein.

But a few months, however, had passed away
before Prussia, having marshalled her armies in
good fighting order, menacingly demanded both of
the duchies. The alleged reason for the demand
was, that Austria was allowing the Duchy of Holstein
too free a Government, thus rendering Schleswig
restless and endangering the peace of Germany.
This curious declaration, issued in February, 1866,
was as follows :

" King WILLIAM I. is greviously affected to see
developed, under the aegis of the Austrian eagles,
tenden-cies revolutionary and hostile to all the
thrones. He therefore declares that friendly rela-
with firmness the annexation of the Duchies, is
desirable in all points of view."
As we have mentioned, Austria had an army of
nine hundred thousand men in the field. Prussia,
having mobilsed her whole force, had six hundred
thousand. Italy, it was estimated, by rousing all
her energies, could bring into the field four hundred
and fifty thousand. This would give Prussia and
Italy, in their alliance, a little over a million of men
to meet the shock of battle.

The Austrian force was thus necessarily divided—
one part being assembled on the extreme north, and
the other part on the extreme south of the king-
dom. Hungary was watching her opportunity to
rise. Strong Austrian garrisons were requisite to
hold that restless kingdom quiet. An outbreak in
Hungary would probably be followed by one in
Poland. This would bring the armies of Prussia
into the arena. Thus there was danger that all
Europe would be dragged into the fray.
All the nations began now to be greatly alarmed.
England regretted her refusal to consent to a con-
gress. Had NAPOLEON'S proposition for a congress
been accepted, war could doubtless have been
avoided. England and France had only to say, in
such a Congress, that Venetia must be surrendered
to Italy, and there must be some rectification of the
Prussian frontiers, and all the disastrous results, if
despatch from Lord CLARENDON offering at that
too late hour to unite with France in calling a
Congress. The following was NAPOLEON'S reply,
as reported by Lord COWLEY :

"In 1859, England refused to assist me in
achieving the liberation of Italy, and by her
coalition with Germany compelled me to stop short,
leaving the work undone.

" When, in 1864, I proposed a Congress, for the
purpose of removing the endless complications,
which I foresaw would result from the Danish war,
it was still England which opposed my project, and
did her utmost to make it abortive. '

" Now she wants peace, even at the price of the
Congress which she then rejected. I will, however,
assure her Majesty that lam ready-to do all I can
to prevent war. But as the most favourable oppor-
tunity for doing this is past, I can no longer take
upon myself the responsibility for any event which
may occur."

It was now indeed too late to avert the downfall
of the already uplifted sword. The hostile armies
were oa the move. Two millions of men, along
lines hundreds of leagues in extent, armed with the
most formidable weapons of modern warfare, were
rushing against each other. All Europe looked on
appalled.

It has been said that NAPOLEON should have sent
the soldiers of France to aid Austria to rivet the
chains upon Venetia. It is an insane assertion.
NAPOLEON was morally incapable of such a deed.
Even had he wished it, the armies of France would
not have moved upon such a mission. Indeed the
proposition to adopt such a measure would have
aroused a cry of indignation and scorn from nearly
the whole civilised world.

NAPOLEON did urge upon Austria the only course
which Austria, under the circumstances, could
safely pursue. That was for Austria to surrender
Venetia to Italy, and then she might hope to pro-
tect her norther frontiers. Proudly she rejected
this wise council and invited the combat. At
a concerted signal Prussia plunged her co-
lumns into the Austrian provinces on the
north. At the same time an Italian army,
four hundred thousand strong, made their im-
petuous onset into Venetia. For forty days the
storm of war raged almost without intermission.
The scene cannot be described. One more awful
earth has perhaps never witnessed. Never before
were military operations of such magnitude con-
ducted in so short a period. War was declared on
the lEth of June, the troops then being in motion.
In Venetia, on the 24th, the Italians were driven
back with great slaughter from the field of Custozza.
But in the meantime the Prussian armies were
sweeping onward like fire upon the prairies. Fight-
ing at every step, and wading, as it were, ankle-
deep in blood, with perfect organisation and the ter-
rible needle-gun, they overran kingdoms, duke-
doms, and principalities almost faster than the tele-
graph could announce their conquests. Their ad-
vance columns were soon within sight of the spires of
Vienna. _ . .

.....
FRANCIS JOSEPII in his terror was compelled to
surrender Venetia, that he might call back his
troops from that quarter
for the protection of his
capital. Too proud to yield it to Italy, he gave it
to NAPOLEON, that he, in possession of the magnifi-
cent estate, might be able to secure that peace which
before blood began to flow he had attempted to
secure by a Congress.
NAPOLEON surrenderedVenetia to Italy. Russia had
bargainnever pretended
u hi e
h Bt
shmaAv
Re
c
a n
made with VICTOR EMAN-
y sympathy with Italy. The
NUL was purely mercenary. Prussia held with a
conqueror's grasp all the provinces she had overrun
—Schleswig, Holstein, the kingdom of Hanover, the
kingdom of Saxony, the magnificent dukedom of the
same name, large portions of Bohemia, Silesia,
Bavaria, and minor dukedoms and principalities too
numerous to mention.

With a little disposition to cover up these vast
conquests with the verbiage of diplomacy, it is
evident that they are all virtually annexed to the
Prussian kingdom.
Italy owes its life to France. Among all the
Sovereigns of Europe NAPOLEON was its only friend.
The twenty millions of Italy, now assimilated to
France in form of government, in political prin-
ciples, in commercial interests, in social habits, in
religion, almost in language, add vastly to the moral
and physical
power of the French Empire.
The great work of European reconstruction is
still going en.
This sad world of ours has been
during all the centuries but one great battle-field.
There is a short lull in the conflict now, but all the
nations are arming. When the conflict is renewed
it would seem that France and Italy, the forty mil-
lions of France, the twenty-six millions of Italy,
will inamh with intermingling banners. What will
be the result of the struggle no one can tell. Em-
pires will rise—empires will fall. But there are
certainly no indications that France will come
forth, either from the conflict of diplomacy or from
the shock of arms, with a dishonoured flag,

MISSING Siiirs.—The Achif, of St. \r aost, which
sailed from Liverpool on the 3d of January, for Nantes; the
Annie Duthie, from Shields for Calcutta, which passed the
Pentland Frith on the 26th August, and was seen in great
distress on the 7th September, in ist. 48 N., long. 10 W. ;
the Oporto, which sailed from Holyhead on the 3d Jan.,
for Poole ; and the Union, which sailed from Hartlepool
on the 28th December, for Southampton, have not since
been heard of.

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INSTITUTION OF.CIVII, ENGINEERS.

At the weekly meeting of the members of this
society, on Tuesday, the 16th inst., Mr. T. Hawks-
ley, Vice-President, in the chair, the paper read
was on " The Suez Canal," by Colonel Sir William
Denison, K.C.8., R.E., Assoc. Inst. C.E. It was
stated that the scheme of the Suez Canal might be
said to comprise two distinct undertakings. The
first, and principal, was the construction and main-
tenance of a broad and deep water channel on one
level, between Port Said on the Mediterranean and
Suez on the Red Sea. The second, preliminary in
point of time, and, indeed, essential to the con-
struction, as well as to the beneficial use of the canal;
was the maintenance of a supply of fresh water suf-
ficient for the population congregated along the line
of the canal, and specially at its two extremities.
The arrangements for the last-named undertaking
had been completed, and were described. An account
was then given of the character and state of progress
of the works of the salt water canal, the course of
which was traced. The opinion the author had arrived
at, based upon what he saw and heard during a visit
to the canal, and upon a consideratioa of the cor-
respondence between M. de Lesseps and the late Mr.
R. Stephenson, and of the report of Mr. Hawkshaw,
dated February, 1863, was—First, that (subject, of
course, to the conditions that the relative levels of
the Red Sea and the Mediterranean were as stated
by the French authorities) there should be no extra-
ordinary difficulty in carrying an open salt-water
channel from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea of
the depth proposed, namely, eight metres; secondly,
that no special difficulty in maintaining this channel
need be anticipated ; thirdly, that it would be neces-
sary to modify the section proposed by the French
engineers, making the side slopes much more gradual;
and, fourthly, that the cost of maintaining the above
mentioned depth of water would be found at first to
be largely in excess of the amount estimated. Event-
tually it was by no means impossible that means
might be found to fix or check the drift of sand, or
to shut it out from the canal. But for some years
it must be expected that the ordinary action of the
atmosphere, which had filled up former excavations
made in this dry desert, would have the same effect
on the new canal. Looking at the work as an en-
gineer, there did not appear to be any difficulty
which a skilful applie,ttion of capital might not over-
come. It was announced that the discussion upon
this subject would be resumed at the meeting of
Tuesday, the 30th inst.