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

been given in Paris by the omission in the King of
Pilussix's speech of all mention of the mediation of
the French EMPEROR between Austria and Prussia,
and with one thing and another the Prussians are
becoming anything but popular in Paris. Of
course the EMPEROR and his Government will not be
any better pleased than others, although they will
not give vent to their feelings of indignation, in
consequence of the restraint imposed by prudential
motives. We cannot see what prevented King
WILLIAM from making any allusion to France in
his opening address to the Chambers, unless
that he wished it to be clearly understood that he
and his advisers did not intend to be bound by any
of the plans and proposals of the French Govern-
ment. The omission was, however, a very notable
one, for it was impossible that any of those present
should have forgotten the very important part
which the Emperor NAPOLEON took in the arrange-
ment of matters preliminary to an armistice. It is
a great error for people to suppose that they can
ignore what it suits them to avoid—discussion, and
that others will not be very sensible of such
an affront. The French are about the last
people in the world to take such a
thing lightly, and now that it is the fashion to pride
themselves as much upon the merits of their medi-
ative powers as it was formerly to boast of their
skill in arms the magnitude of the offence is greatly
augmented. This sentiment, which now so fre-
quently prevails, was exhibited in a speech made the
other day by \I. DROUYN DE L'HuTs, when he took
occasion, in distributing the prizes at the public
schools of Paris, to declare that the EMPEROR was
the presiding genius who, in the midst of war, re-
stored peace and serenity. We question if the recent
course pursued by the Prussians will conduce
very much to the furtherance of those grand schemes
of tranquillity and universal calm.
Some nations cannot see when it is their interest
to be civil, and when it is a wise policy to moderate
their demands a little to suit the exigencies of any
particular occasion ; and we have signal instances of
these failings in the present demeanour of Prussia
and Italy at this juncture. Here is the Berlin Go-
vernment coming out of their way to insult the
French EMPEROR by an open slight, which is far
worse, under the circumstances, than a decided
contradiction to his proposals. We find,
also, on the part of the Italians, so
great an unwillingness to accede to the terms of the
proposed peace as to justify the suggestions of
some that there will be a renewal of the war. It is
just possible that the Prussians may have enough
of their troublesome allies by this time, and that if
the Italians are so infatuated as to allow matters to
proceed to extremities again that they will have to
arrange the affair for themselves, and perhaps lose
all that might be accorded to them in the way of
solid advantages. It is sometimes difficult to com-
prehend the reasons which actuate people in being
so perverse, but it is easy in this instance to see the
unfavourable results that will follow from the
adoption of such a course. If Italy provoke Austria
to renew the contest, she will have to contend
against her single-handed, for France is offended
and Prussia will be alienated ; and thus we shall
witness another proof of the folly of those who seek
to be too wise, and the dangers they encounter who
make rash ventures with no possible excuse which
they can allege for so doing.

The return of the Registrar-General for last
week does not give us much reason to hope that we
have seen the worst of the epidemic now desolating
the east of London. The deaths from cholera and
diarrhoea in the week ending last Saturday were
respectively 1,053 and 354, 916 persons dying of
cholera in the east districts alone. The disease, it
is true, has shown itself in a slight degree all over
the metropolis, so that no locality can be taken by
surprise should it display itself more virulently, and
the local authorities have good reason to be thank-
ful that they have so much time allowed them to
put their houses in order, and to take those precau-
tions which are so valuable in diminishing the dan-
ger of any epidemic, especially so in dealing► with
cholera. We are happy to say that the authorities
of the various districts are now making vigorous
efforts, and arranging for a constant supply of
medicines, the reception of patients in temporary
hospitals, &e. It is to be feared that one very im-
portant point has not been as yet fully attended to

—the removal of nuisances and cleansing of
water-butts and tanks. Unfortunately so much

is in the hands of the landlords and
owners of property, who are proverbially indifferent

We would

to the requirements of their tenants.
remind all owners of houses at the present crisis,
more especially those who hold property in poor
and populous districts, that they have an imperative
public duty to fulfil. Every one is bound to do his
or her share towards mitigating a great national
calamity like the visitation of an epidemic, and all
classes have hitherto responded promptly to the
claims upon their kindness, self-denial, and sym-
pathy. The landlords have their duty plainly be-

fore them, and are bound to see that there is nothing
in the condition of the houses which they own to
facilitate the spread of the disease and weaken the
health of the inhabitants. The Government appear
to be fully sensible of their responsibilities, and have
hurried on the Public Health through every stage,
until yesterday it received the royal assent,
and has now become law. Its provisions will give
greatly enlarged powers to the authorities, and a
wide discretionary power to the Privy Council, so
that they may act with that decision and prompti-
tude which are at a time like the present all im-
portant. We may thus feel satisfied that matters
are being put in good train to resist the enemy, and
much can be done by every head of a household in
seeing that proper precautions are taken in his
establishment, and in checking that feeling of un-
reasonable panic which is of itself a powerful pre-
disposing cause. When man has done all that he
can do to avert the danger and to mitigate the suf-
ferings, he may with a safe conscience leave the
rest in the hands of GOD ; but too often men pride
themselves on indifference to danger when in reality
it is unwillingness to perform their duties.
Unhappily the long neglect of sanitary measures
has allowed a very serious evil to exist in the eastern
parts of London, which has no doubt contributed a
little to increase the severity of the present out-
break of disease. The water supply of the parts of
London most affected is known to be very bad, and
it is not a little remarkable that, according to the
Registrar-General, " nearly all of the infected dis-
tricts are supplied by one water company;" and
although all the companies are making great efforts
to filter their waters, the fact shows how important
it is to stop the pernicious system of poisoning our
rivers with sewage. At Lea-bridge the East Lon-
doniCoaipany have thirteen filter beds, covering an
area of twelve acres, and the water in their
reservoir " looks perfectly pure ;" yet it is signifi-
cant that it supplies nearly the whole of the dis-
tricts now suffering from cholera, while other dis-
tricts, south of the Thames, have escaped. This
eastern part is unfortunately just the locality
where the main drainage works are not complete.
Mr. BAZALGETTE, with whom theßegistrar has been
in communication, proposes to erect a temporary
pumping station at Abbey Mills, which will be in
operation in about three w,leks time.

The two questions of draivag , and water

are just now all important in regard
to public health, and we have no doubt
that all that can be done to mitigate the evils
which cannot be hastily removed will be done,
and tie lesson borne in mind for the future, so
that the suicidal plan of poisoning our rivers
may be altogether done away with. Meantime
we are glad to find that the pressing wants of the
poor are likely to meet every attention, and that
the inauguration of the Mansion House Relief
Committee was yesterday successfully accomplished.
The meeting, which was under the presidency of
the Lord Mayor, was large and influential, and it
was incidentally mentioned that from £1,200 to
£1,300 had already been subscribed among its pro-
moters. A great number of gentlemen, well-
known in the City, were present, and letters were
read from the Governors of the Bank expressing
their willingness to co-operate in the movement.
After considerable discussion as to the most effec-
tual means of attaining the objects which all had in
view it was decided that the fund collected
should be used for the prevention of cholera,
for the relief of cholera patients and of sufferers
from the effects of the disease, and that it should
be distributed as far as possible through local
boards and committees. The gentlemen who have
undertaken the management are to meet daily at
the Mansion House to receive applications for
assistance and to make grants, so that there will
be no needless delay ; and we have no doubt that
all classes will respond promptly and liberally to
their appeal.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FRO3I OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Tuesday Evening.

Peace seems to be considered as an " accom-
plished fact'? The only question appears to be in
what locality the great and important treaty will
be signed. Some say that the signature will take
place at Carlsbad. Another supposition is that
the treaty will be signed at Prague. The spot
does not much matter. What is positive is that
the private negotiations respecting the future fate
of the Southern States Ld Germany will take place
at Berlin, at which city M. de Pfordten, Minister
of Foreign Affairs at Munich, and M. de Bray,
Minister Plenipotentiary from Bavaria to Austria,
have already arrived. In spite of the altered and
pacific appearance of affairs, the Austrian and
Prussian organs indulge in mutual recriminations,
and each allege violations of the armistice. As a
specimen of these bitter reclamations I may men-
tion that a Prussian journal of influence alludes to
Austrian proclamations calling upon the inhabitants
of countries in the rear of the Prussian troops to
exterminate them by all possible means. The paper
adds its belief that it was the Austrian Government
which excited these murderous guerilla operations
against the Prussian troops. In conclusion, the
Prussian journal says :—" Until we have positive
proof of the participation of the Austrian Govern-
ment in these enterprises we shall abstain from
giving a positive opinion. But what is certain is
that from the moment when the armistice was
agreed to the Austrian Government ought to have
used every endeavour to prevent its subjects from
impeding by a private war the march of the nego-
tiations in progress."
M. Baroche, the Keeper of the Seals and Minister
of Public Worship, has addressed a circular to the
archbishops and bishops, requesting them to order
a solemn Te Deum, followed by a prayer for the
Emperor, in the churches of their respective dio-
ceses on the 15th inst., the day of his Majesty's fete,
after the parochial mass. The circular states that
Europe, after being torn by sanguinary struggles,
has its eyes fixed upon France, waiting the result
of a generous mediation where pacific councils will
prevail. The populations will assemble upon the
feast of the Assumption to call the Divine protec-
tion upon his Majesty and also upon the Empress,
" who gathers in affectionate devotion the fruits of
heroic charity, and will join in prayers for the Im-
perial Prince, who learns daily from august example
the duties which high doctrines impose upon him."
M. Drouyn de l'lluys, the of Forcio:i
Affairs, yesterday distributed at the Sorbonne the
prizes to the pupils at the Lyceums and Colleges of
Paris and Versailles. The Minister made a simple
but impressive address to the pupils, on which be
insisted upon the importance and advantage of the
study of ancient languages, and the knowledge of
the works of ancient writers. "The Church," he
said, " supported the tradition as well as the Uni-
versities ; that was the best discipline to be observed
by the better portion of the rising generation.
Oxford agreed with our Sorbonne in this, and from
the north to the south of Germany upon this ques-
tion Ido not see any conflict. In antique letters
there was a secret virtue which acted upon modern
nations." M. Drouyn de l'Huys enforced his argu-
ment by referring to the Emperor in these eloquent
terms—" In the midst of events which threatened
to overthrow Europe, a tutelar genius appeared,
and, hovering above the storms, restored serenity.
" Celsa sedot 2Eolus arce,
Sceptra tenens, mollitque animos et temperat iras."
By what regime was this calm and vigorous spirit
formed ? Was it not initiated by the profound
study of the annals of antiquity which taught the
art of governing men and things. Did not the
pen, which has just traced the preliminaries of
peace, write the Life of Caesar?' happy the
young Prince, who, finding at the same time a model
in the acts and a lesson in the writings of his august
father, is preparing himself to show one day to a
generation of which you are the elder—

"`Quid mens rite, quid indoles,
Nutrita faustis sub penetralibus
Possit.' "
The speech was received with applause and great
enthusiasm. The proceedings commenced by a
speech in Latin from M. Aderer, Professor of Rhe-
toric. The subject was the abuse of literary
criticism.

A widow lady, named Durantel, residing at
Roanne, has just died in her 103 d year. She was
in the possession of nearly all her faculties, and
appeared to be much younger than she was in reality.
She was born on the Bth of May, 1763, under the
reign of Louis XV. A sailor named Joseph Cabu-
chet, who was recently decorated by the Emperor,
is nearly 100 years old. lie was born on the 27th
of May, 1767, and entered as a volunteer on board
the ship Seduisent on the 10th of May, 1784.

We are decidedly getting into the " sere and
yellow leaf." At six o'clock this morning the wind
was piercingly cold. About eleven the sun shone
brightly, and the heat was excesssive. Only an hour
afterwards the rain fell heavily, and it continued to
rain with but little intermission until the time when
my letter was posted.

The Journal des Debats, in commenting upon the
speech of the King of Prussia at the opening of the
Chambers, refers to the passage in which the King
says that the Government engaged in the war as an
absolute necessity in the interest of the country.
"We have no intention," says the Debats, "to
justify the conduct of the Prussian Government. It is
certain that M. de Bismarck and his master rushed,
without consulting the country, into a perilous enter-
prize. That enterprize succeeded, but it might have had
a most pernicious result, and what terrible responsi-
biliiy would have fallen in that case upon those who
collmied it. Success, however, leads to pardon and
forgetfulness for many things, and it is not probable
that the Chamber will be hard upon the Govern-
ment in the preseoce of facts accomplished with such
rare a;usdsi37l: The interest of Prussiaich have resulted in the
aggrandisement
good
fortune,of
Prussia;
will be to give satisfaction to' the liberal aspirations
of the peoples with whom sh,9 is about to annex
herself."
The ironclad French squadron has anchored in
the gulf of Juan. •
__---.

MUNIFICENT DONATION TO Tim LIVERPOOL
CHARITIES.—We understand that the sum of £30,000 is
bequeathed in the will of the, late Mr. J. Hamilton, of
Ventnor, Isle of Wight, to the Liverpool corporation, to be
applied to the benefit of the 1 ocal charities. The bequest
s subject to a life interest in , the property on the part of
Miss Hamilton, the sister of 'Alio deceased, who is GO years
of age.