The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JUNE 9, 1866.

A further vindication of the change in the '
public temper may be found in the course
adopted by JEFFERSON DAVIS'S counsel. A report
having been spread that his trial would be post-
poned until November, his counsel have declared
that in case of such postponement they
will insist upon his release on bail, which
they have forthcoming to the extent of
ten million dollars. A few months ago no one
would have dared to make such a proposal, nor
would there have been the least hope of obtaining
even temporary freedom for the illustrious prisoner.
Now, however, all is changed, and the general opinion
is in favour of an unconditional release. One of
the New York papers expressed the common feeling
the other day, when it advised the Government to
act on the principle of Uncle TOBY with the fly, and
concluded by asking, between jest and earnest, whe-
ther the world was not wide enough for the United
States and JEFFERSON DAVIS? The Americans
may be very sure that they may safely believe
themselves strong enough to act with a magnanimity
and forbearance worthy of their position. That
State must be internally disorganised or despotically
governed which has reason to fear the life and
liberty of any one man; and JEFFERSON DAVIS is no
wild fanatic, no political enthusiast, who will oc-
cupy his life in fomenting discord and stirring up
insurrections. He will accept his fate with the
same dignity and manliness as General LEE, Gene-
ral BE ItiREGARD, and other prominent Confederates
have done, and having failed in achieving his poli-
tical object he will occupy himself as his former col-
leagues have done, in the pursuits of private life.
If the Senate shows signs of a change of temper,
the House of Representatives keeps rigidly to its
old routine, and has passed the bill to amend and
continue in force the Freedmen's Bureau, by 96
votes to 32. The general aspect of affairs is tran
lull, though the rumour of a Fenian attack upon
Canada is revived, and it is reported that
STEPHENS'S authority has been recognised by
numerous circles, and that he is in the daily
receipt of large sums of money. We should suspect,
however, that he will find it difficult to extort much.
more in the way of substantial contributions, seeing
that the dupes have been already so heavily taxed.

One of the Guardians of the Strand Union has
thought it necessary to attempt a vindication of that 1
establishment from the charges recently brought
against it. The principal part of his answer, how-
ever, consists in denouncing the scheme for esta-
blishing six large public infirmaries, properly built
and ventilated, supplied with a fair amount of
medical attendance and nursing, instead of our
present workhouse system,- which is conducted i
in a manner which is too often an outrage ;
on humanity and a national disgrace. It is a
noticeable fact, however, that the only voices raised
on behalf of existing arrangements are those of
parties directly connected with them, and who
from interest, prejudice, or association, can
hardly be supposed to be altogether impartial. ,
Indignant disclaimers and
general professions of
care and attention do not weigh in the balance
against specific facts, and unfortunately the facts
in all parts of London, and the disclaimers in all
parts of London, bear so very strong an affinity to
one another that it it is impossible to remove the
impression that the charges are substantially true,
the defence a mere matter of form. There is
is no need to fix the stigma on any one
board or any particular parish. The whole system
is radically defective. Whatever workhouses may
have been originally, they are now little
else than large State hospitals, in which
there are frequently not enough able-bodied
persons to do the rough work of the establishment.
The charge of 600 or 800 sick, infirm, insane, and
incapable persons is no joke, and the mere physical
labour is onerous and exhausting. Should we in
visiting a person suffering from cancer, paralysis,
or consumption (three of the most fatal diseases
common) be satisfied if he found the attendant
was perfectly ignorant of sickness, could not read,
was given to drink, and not remarkable for honesty?
Yet to these conditions our workhouse guardians do
not scruple to reduce hundreds of helpless sufferers.
The picture of the man unable to turn in bed, lying
on his back until a terrible bedsore formed on it, is a
frightful one, but not a solitary instance. The Lancet
commissioners mention two cases, both paralysed,
in which the sufferers did not obtain even the
commonest pity for their sufferings. Both
i passed away untended, as too many have done,
from the sick and infirm wards of our London
workhouses. It is a state of things which calls
loudly and imperatively for attention, and, in spite
of all defences and expostulations, the fact remains
that every person who enters upon the inquiry
perfectly free from prejudice, concludes it with the
unanimous expression of grief, disgust and indig-
nation.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE WAR CRISIS.

VIENNA, June 9.

The Politico-Economical Society has addressed a
memoir to the Emperor on the distress at present
prevailing in Austria.
It is expected that the taxes will not be collected
in some parts of the empire, and that other conces-
sions will be made.

COLOGNE, June 9.

The analysis of the Austrian despatch, published
by the Morning Herald and Morning Post on Tues-
day last, and reproduced by the Independence Beige,
is declared by the Cologne Gazette to be apocryphal.

VICTORIA.
MELBOURNE, APRIL 25.

The M'Culloch Government has returned to
office. The Tariff Bill has again been introduced,
and after a conference it was amended and passed
through both houses.

The Appropriation Bill has also been passed.
Governor Darling proceeds to England next
month. Considerable excitement followed the news
of his recall. It is reported that Parliament will
vote him £25,000.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

ADELAIDE, April 27.

The Ministry has been reconstructed.
NEW SOUTH WALES.

SYDNEY, April 22.
Parliament was prorogued on the 25th March.
The Public Debt Commissioners Bill has been

withdrawn.

Trade in the colonies is generally active.

CALCUTTA AND AUSTRALIAN MAILS

MARSEILLES, JUNE 9.

The China, with the above mails, arrived here at
six a.m. this day. The Mails leave for London
at 11.30 a.m.

CHINA AND JAPAN.

IIONG KONG, APRIL 20.

The Foochow tea season is about commencing.

Intelligence from Japan announces that arrange-
ments are being made moat favourable to commerce.
The disaffection in the north is assuming a serious

aspect.

NEW ZEALAND.

PLYMOUTH, JUNE 9.

The troop-ship Ballarat, from New Zealand on
the 21st March, arrived here this morning with the
head-quarters of the 68th Light Infantry.

The negotiations, supported by the most conciliatory
desires on the part of the mediators, have, as his
Majesty informs me, only demonstrated that a cor-
responding feeling no longer exists at Vienna. They
have shown, notwithstanding the Emperor's theore-
tical love of peace, the craving for war which domi-
nates every other consideration throughout his
entire Council, even among those who to our know-
ledge formerly voted against the war, and even
against the preparations and armaments, and that
this craving has now also gained decisive influence
over the Emperor himself. Not only was there
manifested an entire absence of all and every readi-
ness to enter even into confidential negotiations,
and to discuss the possibilities of an agreement, but
expressions of influential Austrian statesmen and
councillors of the Emperor have been reported to
the King from an authentic source which leaves no
doubt that the Imperial Ministers desire war at any
price, partly in the hope of successes in the field,
partly to tide over domestic difficulties—nay, even
with the expressed intention of assisting the Aus-
trian finances by Prussian contributions, or by an
honourable' bankruptcy.
" The acts of the Austrian Government coincide
only too accurately with this intention.

I have mentioned above that we are compelled

to recognize a direct provocation in the declaration
delivered at the Diet. It has only one meaning if
the Vienna Cabinet intends to follow it up imme-
diately with the expressed breach, for, it cannot
have expected that we should tamely submit to this
attack upon our rights. In another question, the

forced loan ordered in Venetia, which impresses a
sting of additional bitterness upon circumstances,
shows that Austria will only make use of the ex-
tremest means towards Italy also. Corresponding
with this are the reserves with which, according to
the information received here, she accompanied her
answer to the invitation to the Conference, and
which, as we hear, are understood by all the three
Powers as equivalent to a refusal.
" After the form of the invitation had, by nego-

tiation between the inviting Powers, been expressly
so drawn up that Austria should be able to accept
it without committing herself in advance, and with-
out being compelled to make reserves, it is precisely
the Vienna Cabinet that renders all these labours
futile.

' Behind this we can only see the decided inten

ion upon the part of Austria of forcing on war

with Prussia, and of, at most, making use of ne-
gotiations as to the Congress to gain time by pro-
crastination for her own not entirely completed
arrangements, but especially for those of her allies.

The fact of waris a settled determination at Vienna ;
the only further point is to choose the favourable
moment to begin.
" This conviction is forced upon us with impera-
tive necessity by the most recent facts, and we con-
sider that only an intentionally prejudiced view can
come to an opposite conclusion. Facts now speak
too loudly for gossip, based solely‘upon conjectures,

combinations, falsely interpreted statements, and

empty rumours as to the warlike longings of Prussia,
not to dwindle into nothingness in comparison.
Perhaps we shall at last be believed when we solemnly
protest against any notion of wishing to make good
our claims to the Duchies by force and with disre-
gard to the rights of the co-possessor. Now, too,
probably it will not be difficult to understand the
real motives of the armaments by which Austria has
given rise to the present crisis, and whose removal
by means of the Congress she hasiurther taken care
to render impossible by the attitude she has assumed.
" We may appeal with a calm conscience to the
judgment of all impartial statesmen as to which
party has displayed conciliation and love of peace
up to the latest moment.

" I respectfully request your Excellency to express
yourself iu the sense of this despatch to the Minister
of Foreign Affairs at the Court to which you are
accredited.
" Berlin, June 4." " BISMARCK.