The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-12 00:00:00

niE SUN, LOM ON, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 12 1867

SouthL rx , and it is known that he inclines to a
more lit 'era! and magnanimous policy being pur-
sued ;towards the ex-secessionists. For this
reason, no doubt, the Radicals, who are now
ruling the hour at 'Washington, are inclined to
regard .him with suspicion, and are very likely glad
of the opportunity of censuring him. General
GRANT is keeping himself at present somewhat
aloof from politics. During the PRESIDENT'S tour
he accompanied him, and identified himself with
his policy, but whether he thinks it wiser
to avoid entangling himself with any par-
ticular party in face of his probable selection to
the Presidency, or whether he is really absorbed in
Mexican affairs, he has not lately taken a prominent
part in the crisi. But he is popular not only with
a large section of the Northerns, but with the army,
an.id this would give him an immense strength in any
die turbance of existing authorities. The future of
America is, unfortunately, very uncertain, but it is
by no means impossible that Gen. GRANT may be
caned upon to play a conspicuous part on the stage
of affairs before long.
The Supreme Court has so far justified the PRE-
SEDENT'S belief that it would uphold the Constitu-
tion by publishing a decision declaring trials by mili-
tary commission where martial-law is not in force
to be illegal. A Congressional excursion party,
composed mostly of Republicans, has been visiting
the South, and has met with a friendly reception.
Possibly these gentlemen have come to ascertain
with their own eyes the condition of the South, and
the temper of the people. They probably number
among them some of the more moderate Republi-
cans, for we can hardly suppose that the advanced
Radicals would meet with a cordial reception south-
wards. Anything which tends to increase the
knowledge of the North of the real state of things
among the Southerners must be an advantage, as
tending to remove prejudice.
Regarding Mexico all is uncertain. The New
York papers state that Minister CAMPBELL has been
directed to renew his efforts to reach the seat of the
JUAREZ Government. We learn also that the
steamer Don, with assistant Secretary SEWARD, and
other officials, is about to start on a secret expedi-
dition, said to be in Mexico. General GRANT
according to rumour, to accompany it, though
Mexican affairs, just now, must be secondary in
nterest to American politics.

The Australian mail, which brings us news from
the antipodes to the close of November, is princi-
pally occupied with the account of the great Inter-
colonial Exhibition of Industry, which has been
attended with great success. The wonderful variety
and richness of the natural productions of those
highly favoured colonies furnished a most gratify-
ing spectacle. The ores and minerals of older
countries were side by side with the prolific fruits
and cereals of genial climates. Victoria was of
course pre-eminent in the quality, variety, and ex-
tent of her ores and minerals, while New South
Wales was far in advance of all others in coal and
iron. The contributions from the different colonies
under the head of agricultural, horticultural, and
indigenous vegetable products are of almost endless
extent, and in only two particulars does Australia
come short of other colonies. Her woods are, as we
might have supposed, outstripped by the American
mahogany, and her furs cannot compete with those
of the Hudson's Bay territory. Nevertheless
Australia has the best of it, for pre-eminence in
furs means, in plain English, a wild and desolate

country.
From New Zealand we do not hear such very
satisfactory intelligence. There is some reason to
apprehend fresh disturbances with the natives,
though the poverty of the Government will, it is
hoped, induce caution. The Governor is said to
have stopped the departure of any more troops
until things are more settled than they are at
present. It is said that there is a coolness between
the Governor and Gen. SHUTE, which is very un-
fortunate. It will be not a little singular if we
have a repetition of the transactions of a year or
two back, with the same addition of a quarrel be-
tween the authorities. The campaign on the West
Coast has collapsed, as expeditions in New Zealand so
often do, from the departure, no one knows whither,
of the natives. It is by these maaceuvres that they
harass and weary a European army accustomed to
the regular mode of warfare. • The Waikato
threatens to be a troublesome possession. The
English settlements there are thinning rapidly from
various causes, and the natives are reoccupying their
old ground. Thus the seed is being sown for fresh
disturbances at a future time relative to the right of
occupation. New Zealand presents just now an
unfavourable contrast to her flourishing Australian
neighbours ; but we hope before long she will be
making equally rapid progress.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Friday Evening.

According to the Gazette (le l'Allemagne du Nord
the functionaries of the countries newly annexed to
Prussia will shortly be called upon to take the oath
of fidelity to the King. The Government did not
require them to take this oath upon coming into
possession of the country, but reserved to itself the
right of doing so at a future period, and its motive
no doubt was to leave tiwe for the appreciation of
the position of affairs, and to give opportunity to
calm the excitement which prevailed.

The Moniteur has received a private telegram
from Berlin, which states that the convocation of
the Reichstag (the Parliament of Northern Ger-
many) may take place 12 days after the elections,
which, as already stated, are fixed for February 15,
and consequently it will meet about February 27.
The Roumain Ministry having considered it its
duty, in consequence of a Parliamentary incident,
and in conformity with constitutional custom, to
offer its resignation, has thought proper to retire,
at the wish expressed by Prince Charles and by
the Chamber of Deputies.
The Vice-Admiral, Commander of the Marine in
Algeria, has sent an account to the Minister of the
Marine in Paris, of the discovery on the coast of a
quantity of wood or timber, the probable result of

some disaster at sea. There are upwards of 5,000
pieces, some of them a yard long. Several of these
pieces are marked at their extremities in large letters
with the word Cher.

It is sometimes difficult to form a judgment upon
news given by the Paris papers. There are very
often fabrications. They have published a circular
supposed to have been sent by M. Bismarck to the
diplomatic agents of the Cabinet of Berlin. A
German paper, supposed to speak officially, says
that no such document is in existence. llcwever,
the Siecle does not appear to put faith in the con-
tradiction, and makes the following remarks upon
the supposed document
"M. Bismarck has just sent to the diplomatic
agents of Prussia a very pacific circular, in which
he urges Prussia to discard foreign politics, and to
occupy herself exclusively with the important work
of the reorga,uiziation of Germany. This labour
presents difficulties arising from the sacrifices imposed
ou the future Confederation by the Prussian military
system. M.l3ismarck calls on every State to furnish
to the Federal treasury $225 per man as its respec-
tive contingent. The number of soldiers to be
raised by each of the members of the Confederation
will be less, than heretofore, but the proposed tax
seems to be exorbitant. Thus the Principality of
Waldeck, the population of which is 59,113 souls,
gave to the former Federal army 866 men. Iu
future, at the rate of one percent., it will only be

required to furnish 591, but it will have to con-
tribute to the War Budget alone an annual sum
of $132,975."
Some of the papers publish despatches from the
Green Book, containing a collection of diplomatic
documents distributed during the year to the Ita-
lian Chambers. The contents of these documents
are for the most part tolerably well known, and
therefore public opinion will not be fully satisfied
upon the part played by France on behalf of Italian
independence until the distribution of the Blue
Book, which always takes:place at the meeting of
the French Chambers. The Siftle has the follow-
ing remarks upon the policy of Italy as developed
by the documents in question :
" Italy, in entering upon the conflict, did not
stipulate for herself alone. She vindicated her mis-
fortunes and her struggles, and she stipulated for
Austria also. She entered into the lists upon the
condition that Austria should have her liberty.
"A great deal has been said about the skill of M.
de Bismarck. According to the Italian despatches,
the Government of Victor Emmanuel is entitled to
a considerable share in the reputation for this skill.
It urged Prussia to proceed onwards, and forced her,
so to speak, to untie her tongue.
" When the conflict began, when by an unex-
pected stroke of good fortune, Austria, who was ex-
pected to conquer all before her, was vanquished at
Sadowa, the Italian Government was not intoxi-
cated with the advantage Italy might derive from
battles. It understood that ye can only possess
what we deserve to possess. It refused Venetia
and the other provinces of the Quadrilateral unless
Austria should treat completely for peace.

" France then obtained honour for herself in the
eyes of history by thclaring that she would not in-
duce Italy to commit a guilty action. She under-
stood the scruples which would be raised against
an armistice which was not general. France
therefore engaged all the belligerents in the work
of peace. Prussia must be true to her promise.
The alliance which enabled her to go to Vienna so
rapidly will be broken shotild she prove un-
grateful.
The Italie, after enumerating the reductions in
the army, proposed by the Minister of War, says
that they would lead to an economy of ten mil-

lions. The Minister says that he can provide for
the exigencies of the service in 1867 with about 140
millions of francs, including the extra expenses
amounting to seven millions, and with the assist-
ance of the reductions already effected to the
amount of about 42 millions.
The Paris season will soon be at its height.
Grand parties rapidly succeed each other. The
days appointed for the four great balls of the season
at the Tuileries are January 16 and 30 and February
13 and 27.
The Japanese Ambassadors are now one source

of attraction here. They go to the theatres and
show themselves elsewhere. As their names may
not be so familiar to your readers as " household
words," it may be well to mention them. The name
of the chief ambassador is Ko-ide Ya-malo-no-
Kami. The second ambassador calls himself Isi-
Kawa-Sourouga-no-Kami. They were highly fas-
cinated with the ballet of Des Abeilles" at the
opera a few evenings ago. To-morrow the next
ball•at the opera will take place.
Tuesday next, the 15th of January, is the
day when the installation of the articles sent by the
exhibitors to the Universal Exhibition should be
finished. On the 16th the classifications of the
articles will be commenced.
Mademeiselle Reine de Saint Peru of St. Briene
(Cotes du Nord) a day ortwo ago attained her 100th
year, having been born in 1767. The old lady is
in perfect health. She has three servants ; one has
been with her for 60 years, another 40 years, and
the thin,' for 39 years. The united age of the ladies
is 339 years.
The weather is still unsettled. It has been dry
to-day, and the tendency this afternoon is to frost.
The Seine has in some places overflowed its banks
a little. There were clouds this morning of almost
every • colour.

L A TEST INTEL LIGENCF,

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT.

FLORENCE, Jan. 12.

In yesterday's evening sitting of the Chamber of
Deputies, the draft of the address, in reply
to the Speech from the Throne, was adopted
without debate. A discussion then ensued upon
the bill relative to Parliamentary disqualification,
in which several members took part.