The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-16 00:00:00

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observe the strictest neutrality. Nothing can be '
more unfair than this course of proceeding,
and it is difficult to understand what can be the
motives that induce Herr BISMARCK to provoke and
irritate the different States, and complicate
mat-
ters so much in case of an
adjustment
of
affairs
being attempted.
Rumours are afloat in some
quarters respecting the pbroebtwabeeiliiitythoef
tawnoungdreerat-
standing being come
Powers, but nothing of an authentic kind is in
circulation. As for the report that Prussia
is willing to enter upon negotiations in order
that Holstein may be ceded to Austria, in
accordance with the Gastein Convention that
does not seem to contain a particle of probability.
The projects of Prussia have been too long
in formation, and far too much pains have been
taken to annex the Duchies to render it at all likely
that the Berlin authorities will now abandon their
long-cherished hope. As for the expectations which
have been formed in some quarters as to the benefits
that would accrue from Russian mediation, they do
not seem at all likely to be realised. It is now said
that the correspondence which has been going on
between the Courts of St. Petersburg and Berlin
has been relative to the creation of a Duchy of
Warsaw, and has had nothing to do with the pre-
sent chances of war. It was not likely that the
Government of the CZAR would care to interfere
to a great extent in the affairs of the German
States ; partly because they had no immediate
concern with them, and also because their influence
would not be very great. No doubt Prussia and
Austria would think Russia had some secret motive
in pressing forward her wish for peace, and thus in
the end the interference might do more harm than
good.
Austria is meanwhile pursuing her preparations
with unabated energy, and is resolved not to be
taken by surprise in case of Prussia commencing
hostilities, as she is more than likely to do. Com-
plete bodies of Austrian troops have been sent from
Vienna to the north during the last few days, and
thus the beginning has been made of the
"strategic concentration" of troops on the Prussian
frontier. Of course the Imperial Government
have all along opined that force was better than
anything, as they had to deal with the cunning of
Herr BISMARCK and his coadjutors ; and the re-
sult has proved their surmise to be correct, for the
enemy has been held in check during some time.
Had the Vienna Government carried on of late the
same facile policy which they did in the time of
the Danish affair long before this period they would
have seen the complete monopoly of the Duchies
by Prussia, and very likely also the occupa-
tion of some of the lesser States of Ger-
many. It has been solely by the determined
attitude of Austria that time and opportunity
have been given to the small principalities of
Germany to arm themselves, and thus be in some
measure prepared to maintain their nationality. In
Venetia preparations are making on an extensive
scale for the approach of war. The garrison of
Venice is to be raised to 24,000 men, and a consi-
derable force is to be stationed in the Tyrol, while
at Gratz depots for the Austrian military service
have been established.

The Nazione of yesterday in Florence states that
a Note of the French Government has arrived, pro-
posing the assembly of a Congress, and that in
answer to this proposition the Italian Government
have declared that the basis of all " preliminary
negotiation " must be the cession of Venetia.
This is very likely to be true, and it would indeed
be wise on the part of Austria if she would attend
in time and yield the possessien of that disputed
territory. Prussia would then be compelled to
she would never recognise that difficulties had been
removed from the path of her rival. Italy has en-
tered en the preparations for war with great alac-
rity, and has exhibited a spirit and energy worthy
of old times, and deserving of a better cause than
that at present before her. The -Minister of War
has ordered fresh lists to be prepared for the
promotion of officers in the army, and in all
directions the greatest care has been displayed
that all may be in readiness for the approach-
ing conflict, whenever that may be. From Paris
we learn that a meeting was reported to have
taken place between Earl COWLEY, M. DROUYN
DE L'HUYS, and Baron BUDBERG, for the purpose
of bringing about a solution of the difficulties of
the German question, but there seems no founda-
tion for it. The fact is, that the efforts of third
parties to maintain the peace unbroken was of little
or no avail if they meet with no reciprocity from
the principals, and in the instance before us this is
naturally the case.

The arrival of the Allemania, from New York on
the sth, brings us a piece of intelligence which will
produce a considerable amount of excitement among
the Fenians—that is to say, if any member of that
confraternity still linger in the sister kingdom. The
Fenians have actually contrived to capture an Eng-
lish schooner near Eastport, after which they
scuttled their own ship and transferred themselves
to their prize, which was named the Wentworth.
Consequently, when the Federal steamer Winooski
set off in pursuit of them, which she very shortly did,
she found nothing but an innocent English vessel,
which she allowed to proceed and returned to Eastport.
The Fenians have, therefore, two feathers in their
cap—they have surprised an English schooner and
outwitted the Yankees. Were it not for the
somewhat melancholy situation of their affairs
the brotherhood might take courage from these
grand exploits, but the difficulties arising from a
division of interests increase rather than diminish.
O'Almfoxr is denounced in several quarters, and
some irate Fenians even go so far as to threaten the
great Head Centre himself with trial for complicity
in 0 butpartisansT pI;
Esof
, s
'MAHoNv's malfeasance, the
the latter defer taking any steps until s
arrival. It is a significant fact, however, that the
accessions to the ROBERTS' faction are much less
numerous than the departures from
men"O'AwlhAoHoaNrYe, so
o
that redoubtable " million of me
dictate terms to all the nations of the
dimworld
inishing.flayy
reasonably be supposed to be rapidly diminishing.
The news from the States themselves is chiefly
a
occupied with an outbreak at Memphis,
serious riot has occurred, originating in the attempted
rescue of e. prisoner by a party of negro soldiers.
The fighting which ensued lasted two days and re-
sulted in several deaths, and a large number of
wounded, besides the destruction Of some schools
and negro houses. At Fort Pickering the negroes
have also been troublesome, and have threatened to
burn the city. Numbers have been arrestedandifs notound
heavily armed. The cause of discontent
stated, but tranquillity was
pretty well restored
when the mail left. In the Congress several
amendments had been offered to the bill reported
from the Reconstruction Committee, one of them
proposing to admit the Southern States to
full representation on March 4, 1867. Another pro-
poses':
their it them
representativeswheneve r thteayk
ea stshuemt e
ea y
t t
attitude a
cl tan
These are all indications of the
altered tonesoolfoathhael
public mind regarding the Southern States, and a
further sign is
given in the refusal to :De
ived State
ttaht
ee
suffrage to the negroes in thee
of Colorado, Ins amendment proposed, negro