The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-20 00:00:00

the notion of unity and progress of Prussia is all
humbug. It is strange that it should be necessary
for this one Power to interfere so specially and so
arbitrarily in the settlement of all matters, for if
the parties most immediately affected by the changes
are to enjoy anything like independence hereafter
it is only reasonable that they should be studied
now as to their own disposal.

The storm that has agitated Germany has
affected France in an indirect manner, and the
uncertain state of the Emperor's health has caused
great disquietude in many circles. His absence from
the fetes given in his honour only tended to increase
the apprehensions that were entertained. The
EMPEROR on Friday drove about in public, but
notwithstanding this things do not seem settled
or satisfactory. No notice is taken by
the official journals of the frontier rectifica.
tion business, which is by some considered rather
strange ; but affairs are now so peculiar and compli-
cated that it is exceedingly difficult to understand
the exact meaning of things. The most mysterious
part of the whole is that the French Government
should have preferred their request at all if they
did not deem it expedient to follow it up. We
doubt if we have yet seen the end of this business,
notwithstanding the satisfaction expressed in various
quarters at the peaceful indication of affairs. One
part of the undertaking seems entirely overlooked
by those who criticise German affairs, and
that is, how Count BismAncii means to
Manage the new numerous places he has
contrived to annex to Prussia? His real diffi-
culty will begin when all the negotiations are over,
and when the inhabitants begin to comprehend more
fully the nature of the transactions that have taken
place. There is more likelihood of the Berlin
Government meeting with opposition of a dangerous
character from these States in the course of time
than there is of any decisive movement being made
by Austria to recover any part of what she has lost
in the late momentous struggle.

The close of the session of the Victorian Legis-
lature has been safely accomplished, notwithstand-
ing the vicissitudes and excitements of the year.
Party feeling, so strong in this colony, showed
itself plainly enough on the very eve of the pro-
rogation, the Opposition contriving a " count
out" of the Council the night before, thus
leaving the Council adjourned over the
day of prorogation in utter contempt of the Gover-
nor's intimation of his proposed visit. This un-
warrantable conduct created, as may be supposed,
a good deal of excitement throughout Melbourne,
and the morning papers were virtuously indignant
with the heads of the opposition on the
ground of rudeness to the QUEEN through her re-
presentative, and general want of manners. The
guilty parties pleaded that it was a mistake,
although they could hardly have been unaware
that a " count out" on the eve of a prorogation
when there was unfinished business before the
House was scarcely consistent with Parliamentary
etiquette. However, " all's well that ends well,',
and the Governor made his appearance the follow-
ing day as previously arranged and dismissed
the Parliament, in an address which very adroitly
summarised the principal events of the Session. The
first paragraph refers to the passage of the
Appropriation Bill through both Houses, by
which means the final sanction of the Legislature
has been given to the exceptional but necessary ,
public expenditure of the past year. This Bill,
about which there has been so inuch difference
of opinion did, in fact, only become law on the
day of the prorogation, itself seeing that it did not
pass the Council until the evening before, and
up to that time many doubted whether the
1 Upper House would not reject it as a

"at, 41.0JV111 •A
on several disputed points. This would of course
have brought about another political deadlock, which
was not exactly to be wished, as in two days
more there would have been no available funds for
carrying on the public service. The Council had
too much good sense to throw the whole colony into
such needless confusion, and accordingly the Ap-
propriation Bill got through the Upper House on
the 31st of May, the prorogation taking place on
the Ist of June.

The Governor, after referring to the passage
of this much-vexed Bill through the House,
congratulated all parties on the satisfactory work-
ing of the new Land Act. Throughout the various
agricultural areas thrown open to selection, large
quantities of land have passed into the hands of
the farming class, and throughout every district
there is evidence of increasing occupation and a
more settled population. The new tariff is
also, says the Governor, in full opera-
tion, without any of the mischievous conse-
quences so confidently predicted by its opponents.
The Post-office savings banks still work most bene-
ficially, and the deposits increase from week to
week. Certainly if any population can afford
to lay up for a rainy day, it ought to be the
working classes of a thriving colony ; and as
hitherto the money so quickly if laboriously earned
has as quickly gone, the establishment of savings
banks is in every way a great public ad-
vantage. The proposed general system of water
supply is another prominent topic in the
Governor's address. He remarks with truth
that it is a necessary and interesting characteristic
of the legislation of a young country that it
shall aim at the future development of the
colony, as well as for the provision for
temporary wants. The question of water supply
is a very important one, and it is one in regard to
which Australia may learn much from the mistakes
and experiences of the mother-country. While her
population is small in comparison to her soil, and
her towns are not yet thronged to suffocation like
some of our great cities, let her legislators be
wise in time, and make those provisions for the
public health which are so difficult to make in
old and overgrown cities vested interests
in old abuses, indifference springing from
long-continued neglect, evilswhichto remove.
affect everybody,
but which it is nobody's business
are the obstacles which spring
reformer
up, hydra-headed, in
the path of the sanitaryin England.
But in a colony like Victoria, fresh, young
itsung
energies, legislating for itself and with
conscious of
own wants and needs. All such difficulties may be
avoided. It is easy to root up the slender
sapling, but if we wait till
the full-grown
tree has twisted its roots firmly into the
ground we shall not move it very readily, and so the
objc ctions and obstacles which may be disposed of
with • comparative ease in a young community re-
quire in the older days of national history a regular
crusr%de to get rid of.

I It concluding his address the Governor informed
the members of the Legislature that he had de-
spatch ed a member of the Government to England,
in am ordance with their recommendation for the
purpm ,e of carrying out the negotiations relative
to tb e defences of the country and other mat-
ters., Australia, we may suppose, has reached
that; point considered by some to be the
test t. of a colony's capacity for self -govern-
me 113 .t— th e willingness and ability to provide for its
ow! a defences. Judging from the readiness with

viz ich thQ Australian volunteers came to the assist-