The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-17 00:00:00

Prussia is too adverse to listen to reason, and it
might be well with the whole of her advisers to ad-
vocate the necessity of prudence and moderation.
It is often found that those nations which gain much
by the sword lose their advantages when peace en-
sues, and make most undesirable treaties; and while
we know that Prussia is not likely to let any prize
escape for want of grasping at it, she may
yet fall into the equally fatal mistake of attempting
too much instead of too little. As for the notion
of her annexing so many States and small king-
doms it is quite preposterous, and cannot fail in
the end to raise up enemies against her. If she
really wishes to benefit by her late exertions, and to
reap the fruits of her victories, she must exhibit a
spirit of fairness, but that unfortunately she is not
likely to do. A careful management now might
avert much future evil, but if the victors, who are
to declare terms by the walls of Vienna, if not in
the city itself, are to appear only in the form of
conquerors, and to rule by the right of might, then
there will be an end of all hope of reconstruc
ing the affairs of Germany upon a better foo

ing After the first excitement of the change is
over jealousies will arise and difficulties appear, and
it will be one continued series of petty strifes and
bitter recriminations until the irritation of all par-
ties finds vent in a general war, from participation
in which who shall escape ? Russia is not likely to
be a perfectly indifferent spectator of the strange
scenes and striking changes now taking place in
Germany ; and no doubt she is only biding her time

to put in her word. At any rate, if France and
Russia keep aloof now from the struggle, they will
not be unmindful of the position of affairs,
and, before long, Prussia may find these
Powers allied against her if she use not her oppor-
tunities more manly than she has hitherto done.
Austria, who is really most concerned in this
lamentable business, seems generally found in the

background while the pros and cons. of the warlike
manoeuvres of other nations are considered. Per-
haps the truth is that she is considered devoured
by all. Partly from bad management, partly from
unfortunate circumstances, and partly from the great
skill of her opponents, that hapless Power is indeed
plunged into sore straits and difficulties. We must

reflect, now that Hungary and Venice are such
important subjects of discussion, how much better
off the Emperor FRANCIS-JOSEPH would be if he had

hearkened to wise counsel some time back, and done
justice to others while he also served himself. If
Venice hadbeen given up, the Italians would not bave

made the treaty with Prussia, which has turned ou'

so disastrous to the interests of the Imperial troops.
Had he likewise given a free constitution to Hun-

gary, he would now find himself surrounded by
devoted followers, instead of being in constant

doubts as to the state of things in that kingdom.
It is quite certain, however, that whatever be the

faults and shortcomings of Austria, those of Prussia

are far more numerous, and of a far more graver
character. It is a sad falling off from the proud
expectations of the Austrians to have to dread the

approach of the enemies within their gates ; and

_ .
Prussia, now so triumphant, may see the day

when Berlin shall undergo a similar ordeal, and find
that her long day of success is over, and her many
opportunities lost. It is not likely that such an

unscrupulous course as that which she is now pur

suing can long continue unchecked.

The arrival of the Moravian, from New York,
on the 7th, tells us that Justice BOWIE, of Mary-
land, has decided that the Civil Rights Bill has
abrogated the State law, which excludes negro tes-
timony from the Courts. Thus we may reason-
ably hope that this crying injustice will no longer
disgrace the administration of American civil law.
The negroes, however, are getting on badly, being
very apt to take part in riots. Two fights between
whites and blacks occurred on the same day, the
one in Tennessee between citizens and negroes,
the other in Georgia between freedmen and
soldiers. Neither of them seems to have led
to serious consequences, but they show the difficulty
there is in dealing with a mixed population. Cholera
is happily leaving New York, and we hope it will
be long before it revisits the city. Subscriptions
have been opened throughout the country for the
relief of the sufferers at Portland from the late ter-
rible conflagration. There is little news from Con-
gress, excepting a proposal of a tax of 3 cents per
lb. on cotton. There is a lull in the excitement of
the political world, which we may suppose will be
revived at the assembly of the National Con-
vention.

•
LIE GROUSE ON THE YORKSHIRE MOORS.—The
reports from the moors of Swaledale and Wensleydale
augur ill for the coming grouse season. The brooding
hens, the watchers report, have been dying for somo time
past in scores, and tho mortality is still continuing at a
frightful rate. Tho accounts from the Westmoreland and
Durham moors, we regret to say, are nearly as unfavour-
able. The disease which is so fatal in its results is locally
termed a distemper ; but the cause is supposed, and it is
believed accurately, to be duo to the sovere weather in
May last, which chocked the tender shoots of the heather,
upon which the birds so much depend for subsistence at
that period of the year, and alao for some time subse-
quently.

ing that tore is no foundation in the report of
Prussia seeking for the cession of Bohemia and
Mora via as conditions of peace. The reason given
for this extraordinary moderation on her part
,is that their possession would not conduce
to national interests. The declarations of
the Berlin papers as to the prevalence of revolu-
tionary symptoms in Hungary are denied inVienn a ;
and, on the contrary, it is said that many volun-
, teers have enrolled themselves in the Imperial army,
and that preparations are being made in Hungary
for a levy en niaae in the event of a Prussian inva-
sion. Respecting the first of these items of intelli-
gence, it is so far corroborated by the announce-
ment that the levy, which was ordered
throughout the whole maritime registry of
France, has been countermanded, and the arming
of the fleet has been suspended. For the present,
then, at all events, we must presume that Austria is
left to herself, and will have to continue the war,
making what terms she can at its close. We have
not come to the close of the chapter yet, however,
and Prussia has not yet attained the object of her
wishes, which may take place before the French
Government may deem it expedient to interpose.
Perhaps they think besides, that by holding back now
they may avert the necessity of a war altogether. So
far as we can judge from appearances, it seems
as if a timely intervention now might prevent loss
of life, ani put a stop to the intolerable arrogance
and unbounded pretensions of Prussia. Each
nation knows its own policy the best, and can the
most accurately define the state of its affairs, but it
needs not to be behind the scenes in Paris to know
that Prussia, at the head of Germany with half a
dozen States annexed to her, and Austria incapable
of offering a dangerous resistance to her, will be a
most formidable ally or a most dangerous enemy.
Surely then it would be wise to deal with this
treacherous power before it consolidates its strength
and confirms its successes. It appears that the
Emperor NAPOLEON has decided to wait and see
what terms of peace will follow on the sanguinary
war which is now desolating Germany, and so the
expectations of a contest between France and
Prussia which a few days ago were so rife are now
giving place to other affairs of an immediate interest
and importance.