The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-29 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 1866.

It is a severe test of the practical value and
utility of anything to be compelled to dispense with
it for a time, and it occasionally happens that our
estimate of it is considerably increased or diminished

by such an interval. We have now an interregnum
of unusual length with respect to nothing less than
our central Executive, and England is making the

experiment how she can do without a Ministry.
Mr. OSBORNE, at all events, thinks this a great
grievance, and the leisure it has afforded him has
been devoted to a careful analysis of the position of
the Government. The forbearance of Parliament he
thinks highly commendable, but the survey which
he takes of the general aspect of public affairs alarms
him considerably. At hame, we have a commercial
and financial panic ; abroad, we have revolution in
Spain, war in Italy, and war in Germany, besides a
threatened attack on one of our colonies. Was the
House of Commons, he ask; elected to sit quietly
through such a state of things ? Yet we have been a
week without a Government, and are to have
another eight days' interval. The result of his
cogitations is that he declares that Lord RUSSELL'S
Cabinet is much to blame for the resignation
which has produced the hiatus. The great
Liberal party, he avers, have been left in the
lurch by their leaders ; and though, with his
acuustornea =Mire of frarnmess anal humour, Mr.
OSBORNE plainly confessed that he thought a tem-
porary occupation of the Opposition benches would
be a very good thing for them—he declares his
conviction that the transit is perfectly unnecessary.
The 44 gentlemen who went over to the enemy on
the question of rating versus rental were, he main-
tains, good supporters of the Government, and
would have stood by them on any question of con-
fidence. " Here we have," exclaimed Mr. OSBORNE,
" a very strong Liberal party—an overrated party
as to its majority, I have no doubt, but still
with such a majority that the Government might
have had at any time, if they had liked, a vote of
confidence." But_the fact is that, however strong
numerically and by reputation, the Liberal party is
not very strong, and has not been for a good many
sessions past, because a great part of its members
are insincere in their professions and disunited in
their actions. There is not much of that hearty
advocacy of a measure, those strong political
convictions which supersede all questions . of
party interest or personal aggrandisement.
A kind of political cant has prevailed
to a great extent, of which Reform and
the working man are the two main features ; but if
we submit their encomiasts to the test of practice,
we find that any alteration likely to imperil their
seats is very unwelcome, and that the interests of
the working man are of more consequence on the
hustings than anywhere else. It is very easy to
blame the Government for resigning, but they had
driven an unwilling House as far as it would go,
and, like a restive horse, the time had come when it
was necessary to abandon the attempt or accept a
dismissal. It is very w ell to talk about a question
of detail, but it was the last feather on the camel's
back ; and certainly the House cannot complain of
being taken by surprise, since Mr. GLADSTONE inti-
mated plainly enough that he would not accept
the substitution of the rating qualification for the
rental. No more confidence would have been placed
in his public declarations if he had failed to abide
by the alternative which he had himself proposed,
and if Mr. OSBORNE complains of a fortnight's de-
lay in the formation of a Ministry, what would he
have said of the six weeks' interregnum of a dissolu-
tion ? Mr. OSBORNE laments the wasted session,
but, judging from the progress hitherto made with
the Reform Bill, it would not have been much else
if the Ministry had retained office. At all events,
he is
partly from omsideration of the
of
affairs abroad and at home, and
troubledpr e
state
a
partly from wrath with his natural leaders, to give
any Government that comes in a fair trial
fair hearing. The House generally, he thinks,ud
i a
s
bound to withhold all factious opposition during
the remainder of the session ; and he observed, with
his accustomed shrewdness, that there was little
reason to fear for the progress of Liberal opinions, for
whatever Government might sit at the right hand
of the Speaker, it mast produce Liberal measures.
Such is the real state of the case, and, if we may
judge from the rumours already current as to Lord
DERBY'S intentions, the Premier elect himself is
fully sensible of it. Mr. GLADSTONE, in a brief
speech, thanked the House for their indulgence,
and defended himself and his colleagues from the
of
reproaches of his independent supporter. A mat-
terform. prevents the regular adjournment
of the House till Thursday next, as was originally
intended, but all public business virtually stands
over until hon. members can be officially informed
under which King they are to fight, and the Whigs
and Radicals have passed into the once familiar
but always unwelcome shade of the Opposition

benches, wilich, it may be hoped, will recruit their
energies, "refresh their memories, and resuscitate
their publ tic spirit.

The 'russians have made a great effort to appear
as if the y were not so badly off in the battle of the
other day, but their attempts are not very success-
ful. No doubt at first the Austrians suffered great
losses and were driven back some distance, but
nothing appears to shake our belief in the assertion
that they were finally masters of the field. One
thing is stated, which is an incontrovertible proof
of their success, namely, that the Prussians sent an
officer with a flag of truce to request an armistice.
Marshal BENEDEK refused the solicitation, for
what rc:asons do not appear, but the signifi-
cance of the circumstance needs no comment.
It is a very idle attempt on the part of the Prussian
authorities to lay such stress upon their trivial
triumph when its effects were swallowed up by the
great victory of their opponents shortly after. The
position of Marshal BENEDEK at present seems to
be a very strong one, and it is quite impossible to
decide what was the object of the Prussians in thus
pushing on their army so far into the territories of
the enemy. It was a proceeding of much temerity,
that has already entailed serious consequences
upon them, and doubtless will shortly be
yet more disastrous. Marshal BENEDEK
is a dangerous opponent, and not likely
to be outwitted by those who are strangers
in a place where he is at home, and can command
all the resources of the Empire. An engagement
took place between the Austrians and Prussians at
Oswiencin, near Galicia, and after ten hours'
struggle the result was another success for the
former, the Prussians sustaining severe losses. One
satisfactory thing to notice amid the sad state
of affairs is that the greatest consideration is
evinced by both the armies towards the
people among whom they are quartered. This
is most fortunate, and all must rejoice to
hear of it. This reticence reflects great credit upon
the contending forces, and contrasts most favour-
ably with their conduct two years ago in the
Duchies. The horrors of civil war are always
extreme, but we hope that now we should be spared
the recital of those harrowing details, such as those
which too often appear in the pages of history.
Marshal BENEDEK has given strict orders that no
disturbance shall take place, and declares " the
strictest discipline" must be kept up in a foreign
country, whenever it is entered, and that there is
to be absolutely no plunder.
The Hanoverians are not yet out of their awkward
predicament, notwithstanding that they have made
a desperate attempt to extricate themselves. The
forces of the Hanoverians, although greatly supe-
rior to those of the Prussians, are not able to master
their antagonists, and have marched northwards
towards Sonderhausen. This is a most unfortunate
result, and also a surprising one. The Prussians,
however, are evidently much better soldiers than
the Hanoverians, although they do not seem equal
in skill and prowess to the Austrians. As for deter-
mination to fight and endurance they seem pretty
nearly equal, to judge from the length of time their
encounters have lasted. An Austrian General is
in command of the Hanoverian forces, which is, so
far, a fortunate circumstance, as he may be of
service in directing their manoeuvres. The
more we consider the case the more strange
does it seem that so much time was lost by the army
of the King of HANOVER in getting off to join the
Federal troops. It is to be hoped that it will not
yet be impossible for them to elude their wily ad-
versaries ; and it is certain, at any rate, that if a
very decided advantage had been gained by the
Prussians we should have heard plenty of it from
Berlin.

From Italy we learn that a change has been made
in the original plan of operations, and that the army
under King VICTOR EMMANUEL is concentrating
at Cremona and Piacenza. The forces under
General CIALDINI have also abandoned their posi-
tions, and are falling back with the view of effecting
a junction with the KING'S army, near the upper
part of the river Po. Here, again, the effects of
the Austrian victory are plainly visible ; and it
must be no small satisfaction to the Imperial forces
to find that they have at this early period of the
struggle contrived to alter the whole tactics
of the enemy and so far to circumvent their
efforts. We regret to find that the
humane conduct which has hitherto pervaded the
armies of the two great German Powers has not
been emulated by the Italians. It is officially
stated that three Austrian prisoners have been hung
on trees by the Italians, and in consequence of this
outrage the Archduke ALBRECHT has written to the
Italian Commander-in-Chief to state that, in the
event of a repetition of such conduct, " a system of
reprisals will be made." It is indeed most scanda-
lous that such things should take place, and
we are surprised and disappointed that
the Italian army should thus forget what
is due to their own character, and also to the posi-
tion of their opponents. The rules of war should
be scrupulously adhered to, and any deviation from
them is also a sinister sign, disastrous to one side
and discreditable to the other. Notwithstanding
heavy losses, which they themselves admit; the Aus-
trians are decidedly in the ascendant as yet ; and
we hope that they will keep the vantage ground
which they have gained alike by their skill and their
bravery, for they have yet a great deal of arduous
work before them in many directions.

The borough of Hertford, which has been several
times threatened with the loss of one of its mem-
bers, is about again to rejoice in the excitement of
a Parliamentary election. Owing to the death of
Sir MINTO FARQUHAR, a new writ has been issued,
and Mr. ROBERT DIMSDALE, the Conservative can-
didate, has put forward an address, whose good sense
and moderation gives striking evidence of the altera-
tion in the political sentiments of our day. Thirty
years ago a Conservative who advocated Reform, the
relief of Dissenters from Church payments, popular
education, and the abolition of the law of settlement,
would have been indeed a rara avis. Happily,
nowadays, the conjunction is not: uncommon, and
Mr. DIMSDALE'S address may be accepted as a
fair specimen of the views of able and mode-
rate Conservatives. Of foreign affairs he
speaks very justly and sensibly. He strongly
supports the doctrine of non-intervention, and
earnestly hopes that England may be kept out of the
Continental embroglio. " We cannot," he says with
truth, " thoroughly sympathise with either of the
belligerents. On the one hand, war has been pro-
voked by the reckless intolerance of the Prussian
Minister, who has sacrificed the peace of Europe
to the aggrandisement of his country ; on the other
hand, while admitting that Austria's claim to
Venetia rests on the faith of treaties, and may be
defended by the letter of international law, I can-
not but think it impossible for her eventually to
bind together by the strong arm of force the
bitter conflicting nationalities which exist
within her dominions." In internal matters
Mr. DIMSDALE, as we have said, is a friend
of " education without stint for all classes," and
is anxious to improve the dwellings of the poor
as well as to amend the system of rating. Social
questions are, in his opinion, matters of paramount
importance at present, and his views upon most

of them appear to be just and enlightened. So
far as he has at present explained himself he asks
the suffrages of the electors on fair and reasonable
bounds.
to

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

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

The latest news of an authentic character respect-
ing the army of Cialdini is that he maintains his
position on the Lower Po with 80,000 soldiers. It
was supposed that the result of the fight on Sunday
had induced the Italian Generals to change their
plan of operation, and concentrate their forces.
I see nothing more about Garibaldi and his volun-
teers, nor is there yet any confirmation of the
alleged great battle in which the Austrians defeated
the Prussians. The first report of it is from an
Austrian source, and came from Vienna. The
Siecle says :—" The news we receive from Italy is
excellent. The whole nation has redoubled its
energy on becoming acquainted with the intrepidity
.of its soldiers. Italy has sworn to seek in the
Quadrilateral its peace and the peace of Europe.
Italy, we are convinced, will keep her oath." The
Moniteur, after stating that the breaking out of
hostilities in Germany and Italy has rendered it
necessary to make arrangements connected with
the rights of nations and those of belligerents and
neutrals, mentions the steps taken in anticipation
of war to uphold the regulations defined by exist-
ing treaties. The Cabinet of Berlin made a com-
munication to France relative to the protection of
Prussian subjects in Austria, Bavaria, Wurtemberg,
and the Grand Duchy of Baden. It made a simi-
lar claim upon England in reference to the free
town of Frankfort. The two Powers have mutu-
ally conceded the claim. The French Cabinet ex-
pressed its entire impartiality upon this important
point. The llioniteur proceeds to express its
opinion that the first movement of troops made
in Germany have had favourable results for
Prussia. Several Sovereigns of the right bank
of the Maine have expressed a disposition to unite
with Prussia, who seems now to wish to form the
federation of the States of the North, and it is re-
ported that, in conjunction with them, she proposes
the assembly of a Parliament at Berlin. While
Prussia argues that the Diet is dissolved, the Go-
vernment of the South contend that it is indissoluble,
and that no German State can emerge from the
Confederation. The present war not only affects
political principles of the first importance, but it has
deeply disturbed Germanic commerce. The Go-
vernment of the Emperor, wishing to protect the
interests which French industry has created in the
German markets, desires to preserve the treaty of
1862, and most of the Germanic Cabinets have
exhibited the same solicitude. A question which
had not been foreseen remains to be solved. What
will be done with French merchandise passing
through the territory of one of the enemy's States to
its destination. There is reason to believe that the
arrangements made in this respect will be satisfac-
tory to commerce. _

Among the many curiosities of the Exhibition
will be a piano-violin. Attached to a piano of the
ordinary kind will be a box containing a violin, and
from some admirable mechanical arrangement, when
the keys are touched the violin will discourse excel-
lent music. It is an American invention.

A few days since the carriage of Admiral Jurien
de la Graviere, containing himself and his wife and
daughter, was overturned near his chateau of Juvisy.
The ladies suffered nothing but alarm. The Ad-
miral, however, had his thigh fractured, and ac-
cording to the last accounts is in much pain,
although not in any danger at present.
Pronostic, Count d'Evry's steeple-chaser, which
has lately won manyraces, has been killed at a diffi-
cult steeple-chase at Avvanches.
Prince Paul Esterhazy de Galantha, who has just
died at Vienna, was one of the first sportsmen of
Austria. He imported some of the best horses he
could procure from England, and his stables are
renowned throughout Europe.
The trial of Philippe increased in interest as it
proceeded. The evidence is so diffusive and so
voluminous that careful examination is requisite to
master the facts. The President told the jury that
although the murders with which the prisoner is
charged amount to five, the magistrates knew that
within the last few years six other women had been
murdered, and that although Philippe was not now
indicted for these murders he was known to be in
relation with these " creatures." The President
added—on the 10th of October, 1861, an attempt
was made to assassinate a girl named Levis.
Another had her throat cut. On the 6th of Feb.,
1865, a girl named Benoit was murdered, and in
August, 1864, a girl named Marie Helie was also
murdered. The prisoner occasionally interrupted
the President as he proceeded. He said he ad-
mitted that he had murdered the girl Bodeux, but
he had not robbed her. He was not a thief. Pre-
sident—Why did you kill her ? Prisoner—l can't
explain my motive to myself. He added that he
had nothing to do with the murder of Madame
Mage and her boy, two years old, in the Rue Sainte
Marguerite St. Antoine. When asked by the Pre-
sident how it was that handkerchiefs belonging to
the murdered woman were found at his lodging, he
replied that the washerwomen had sent them home
instead of his own. The prisoners arm is tatooed
with the words " born under a bad star." They en-
circle a star. A gown stiff with blood was pro-
duced stiff as if it was starched. It was that of the
woman Bodeux. An expert said it had imbibed
61bs. of blood.

When the evidence for the prosecution was con-
cluded, six witnesses were called for the defence.
None of the witnesses attempted to prove the alibi,
which it was said would be the chief reliance of the
prisoner in some of the cases. Four of these
witnesses spoke of the immoderate use of absinthe
by the prisoner, -which deprived him of his reason,
and the counsel for the prisoner tried to induce the
jury to believe that the crimes, if committed, were
effected under the influence of this liquor. The
two other witnesses were called with the endea-
vour to show that the linen and other articles,
supposed to have belonged to the deceased woman,
differed in many respects from their property. The
absinthe spoken of is a mixture of spirit with pepper.
mint, and other compounds. It is rather bitter, and
many Frenchmen take it with the idea that it im-
proves the appetite. If taken in large quantities
the effect is more powerful than that of opium.
Many of the French medical men denounce the use
of it even to a small extent. I have frequently read
articles from medical men denouncing it as poison.
Frenchmen, however, will drink it, quand mem.
The President, in reference to the favourable effect
which it was supposed evidence of the use of ab-
sinthe would have upon the case of the prisoner,
said—" If the defence be to establish that the pri-
soner frequently intoxicated himself, that is a point
which the prosecution concedes, and which it will
use against the prisoner."

Some of the Paris journalists do their best to add
to the sensational effects of the trial. The Nouvel
111ustrie gives a large engraving of the room in
which the woman Bodeux was murdered in the Rue
de la Ville l'Eveque. The details of this engraving
are intended to give dramatic effect to the scene.
The furniture is disordered—the bed supposed to be
saturated with blood—the weapons,
&c., in short,
everything to serve for the appreciator of what this
paper calls the " terrible drama." There was a
notable incident in the course of this trial, which
exhibits in a strong light the difference between
French and English jurisprudence. At one stage
of the trial, long before the verdict was given, a
juror gave a manifestation of his opinion that the
prisoner was guilty. Upon this, the prisoner's
counsel appealed to the Court to postpone the
trial to the next session, no doubt with the
viewof
was havg in another jury, but when the
terminated the counsel for the
evidence
prosecutor, M. Ducroux, addressed the Court in
support of the indictments. M. Dupont was then
heard for the prisoner. The jury deliberated for
three-quarters of an hour, and then gave a verdict
in the negative upon two points, but in the affirma-
tive upon all the others. The Court sentenced the
prisoner to death.

La Libede alludes to what it calls a strange result