The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JULY 28, 1866,

trous year after year. The cry has been raised, but
nothing has been done. It is many months since
Dr. JEFFERSON wrote letter after letter to the
Times, describing scenes he had himself witnessed,
and dwelling on the prevalence of fever in all its
forms among these overcrowded districts. Yet
nothing was done, and it is only at the very close
of the session that this Public Health Bill is dis-
cussed, which necessarily leaves many important
questions unsolved. No doubt it would be impos-
sible to keep cholera or any other pestilence alto-
gether at bay, but we may well ask ourselves how
much we might have done by enforcing drainage
and water supply in these miserable districts, and by
grappling with the overcrowding, which ha's been the
proximate cause of so many deaths. We need, it
would seem, some visitation of the kind to rouse us
from our culpable indifference ; for whatever excuse
of ignorance or poverty the destitute classes of
Bethnal Green and St. George's-in-the-East may
urge for their neglect of sanitary provisions, no
man of education, influence, or position can stand
morally acquitted of responsibility unless he has
exerted himself in some way to mitigate the evil
which every one has long known and admitted.
The intelligence that the Atlantic cable is com-
pleted between Europe and America is, indeed,
matter of rejoicing. It is expected that on Mon-
day, at the latest, the line will be open to the pub-
lic, and messages will be sent in the order of
priority in which they are received. A telegram
from Gooch to GLASS states that the shore end has
just been laid, and " a most perfect cable, under
GOD'S blessing, completes telegraphic communica-
tion between England and the continent of America."
In continuation it is said that no one can estimate the
conduct of those on board, from the highest to the
lowest. With untiring zeal, and in an earnest and
cheerful manner they have performed the
anxious and arduous duties they in their
several departments have had to perform. " Their
untiring energy and watchful care night and day
for the period of two weeks, required to complete
this work, can only be fully understood and appre-
ciated by one who like myself has seen its operation."
We know that nothing but the greatest assiduity
could have effected the end in view, but at the same
time it is a source of great gratification to know
that all concerned in the affair have so well com-
ported themselves. Had the undertaking failed
it would have afforded some relief to
know that all had been done which care and con-
sideration imparted to contribute to its success, but
as it is it enhances our gratification to find that no
contretemps has arisen in the affair. After the pre-
vious disappointment we naturally attach more im-
portance to the success of this undertaking, and we
trust that its lustre will remain undimmed, and that
for long years there may be no hindrances in the
rapid communication that takes place. In the house
last night Mr. CHILDERS confirmed the statement
that the first message had been received from the
completion of the Atlantic cable, and an hon. member
declared that he had in his hand a message that had
just been received through the cable. In a year of
so much disaster at home and abroad we are glad to
find a great undertaking like this has succeeded, and
while it presents substantial advantages in itself, it
holds out encouragement:to others to persevere in
any important undertaking in which they may be
engaged. The success of the Atlantic Cable is,
indeed, a subject for national rejoicing, and no
doubt in America it will be equally appreciated.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Friday Evening.
_ _

The Moniteur says :—" It is believed that the
truce which has existed between Austria and Prussia
since the 22d inst. will be prolonged. The limit
which the Prussian troops have engaged not to pass
follows the course of the Danube, substituting
opposite Vienna that of Russbach. A line between
these two sources of water will be traced so as to
remain at a reasonable distance from the Austrian
fortifications."

The negotiations for peace, it is said, proceed satis-
factorily, and no delay is interposed. According to
the Gazette Nationale, of Berlin, the preliminaries of
peace in writing between the Governments of France
and Prussia, and accepted by Austria, stipulated
that the latter Power shall be excluded from the
Confederation constituted by Prussia in the north
of Germany. The northern part of Schleswig is to
be restored to Denmark, if the inhabitants should
so desire, but the Duchies are still to belong to
Prussia. The northern States of Germany are to
have the right, if they wish, to form a special poli-
tical union, the commercial relations of which with
the Confederation of the North, placed under the
Prussian homogeneity, will be regulated hereafter.
The Grand Duchy of Hesse will receive an indemnity
in compensation for portions of territory which it
may lose, and will have the faculty of Coining itself
to the northern group, composed of Bavaria, Wur-
tembourg, Lichtenstein, and the Grand Duchy of
Baden. The acceptance of these preliminaries of
peace continues to excite earnest and strenuous
opposition at Vienna.

A correspondent of the Siecle in Austria says that
at one time there were reports of serious difficulties
between France and Prussia, and that there was a
possibility of war between those two Powers. The
report, which was not well founded, had its ori-
gin in the discontent of England and Russia.
Both these Powers (the correspondent says)
were disappointed, because they were not asked by
Prussia to take part in some negotiations, which, if
carried into effect, would have made an important
modification in the former state of things in Europe.
Prussia did not ask the concurrence of England, be-
cause England had manifested her hostility towards
Prussia during the progress of the political change
undertaken by the latter in Germany. Prussia did
not ask Russia, because that Power has no sympathy
with the new principles which prevail in Europe, and
because there is too much sympathy between
Russia and some of the small German dynasties.
Letters from Vienna state that the engagement
which took place near Presbourg on the 22d be-
tween the Austrian and Prussian troops, and which
was interrupted by the suspension of hostilities,
turned entirely in favour of the Austrians, who
were upon the point of pursuing the Prussians in
retreat when the order came to stop them. It is
right to mention this, as an account from a Prus-
sian source is to the exact contrary.

Michel Garibaldi, younger brother of the General,
whose death I mentioned, has been buried in the
Chateau at Nice. The funeral ceremony at the
church of St. Augustin was followed by large num-
bers of relatives and friends, who evinced every
mark of sympathy and respect.
The evening Moniteur says :—" The suspension
of hostilities between Prussia and Austria not hav-
ing been considered applicable to the States of
Southern Germany, there have been some warlike
acts on the line of the Maine. On the 25th a rather
serious engagement took place between two Bava-
rian divisions and the Prussian troops at Helm-
stadt, a place situated between the Maine and the
Tambor, to the west of Wurtzbourg and to the east
of Wertheim. Five batteries of rifled, guns well
directed by the Bavarians, insured to them the vic-
tory. The battle appears to have been a very san-
guinary one..

The papers are very destitute of miscellaneous
news.

The illoniteur publishes the text of the monetary
convention concluded on the 23d Dec., 1865, be-
tween France, Belgium, Italy, and Switzerland.

We notice a further act of munificence on the
part of the great Anglo-American philanthropist. Boston,
July 6.—Mr. George Peabody, on Thursday, made another
gift of $lOO,OOO to the Peabody Institute, established by
him at south Danvers, in this statt.