The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-24 00:00:00

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LONDON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1866.

The debate on the address, in reply to the Speech
from the Throne has occupied the chief attention of
the Chamber of Deputies, and the whole has been
adopted after much discussion had taken place,
only twenty-five members voting against it. Some
very plain speaking was heard during part of the
debate, especially from Dr. JACALY. He said that
the recut war had not been in the interest of the
people or of freedom. This is an announcement
more in conformity with truth than any that we
generally hear from an assembly of Prussians. He
admitted that a glorious success had attended the
vesture of the Royal army, but he declared with
perfect justice that the "strengthening of the Prus-
sian monarchy could not be approved from a German
point of view." This i% an exact description of the
state of affairs, and aptly represents the condition
of things. Of course all ended in talk, however,
and BIS3I.‘IICK has had his ownway, as usual. Here-
after these numerous protests may be expected to have
some effect in bringing people to a right under-
standing of what has taken place. It appears to be

on matters as speedly as possible in the formation
of a German Parliament, and in the consol;dation
of their recent acquisitions. All is put aside that
does not immediately bear upon this point, and the
troops are being withdrawn with great despatch ; so
much so, indeed, that only 6,000 men remain in
Prague. This is certainly a satisfactory announce-
ment, inasmuch as it shows that there is no inten-
tion of continuing the war at present. It is said,
indeed, that peace has been signed between Prussia
and Bavaria, but of the authenticity of the state-
ment doubts are entertained. No doubt, however,
if incorrect, the news is only premature, and that in
a day or two we may find such to be the case.
Peace seems now all the rage, just as a few months
ago noth;ng but war would satisfy the German
States, great and small. The fact is, that BISMARCK
is so elated at the success he has met with, that he
is anxious to make the most of them, and, there-
fore, seeks to secure them before any doubt is
entertained as to the validity of the possessions he
has recently acquired. Notwithstanding all the
strenuous effoits made, however, it will take some
time before the work of annexation can be com-
pleted, and meanwhile various knotty .points will
have to be settled.

The other day, in the Chamber of Deputies, there
was an animated discussion at the sitting of the
committee on the Annexation Bill, Count Ms-
MARK being present. Some of the difficulties to
which we have alluded presented themselves in the
course of the debate. It was proposed by some
member that an amendment should be passed for
the purpose of converting the 44 personal union',
intended by the bill into an immediate and " abso-
lute union." Count BISNIARCK did not appear to
entertain any very decided objection to this scheme ;
perhaps, indeed, it is what he has been all aloro,
driving at, only he has considered it more expedient
to make a show of moderation to begin with, until
he has felt his way, and weighed all circumstances.
lle replied to the suggestion made to the effect that
he would consult with the rest of the Ministry on
the subject, and this looks significant, because if he
really disapproved of it he would not have been slow
to say so. In support of this idea we find the Pro-
vincial Correspondence declaring that it is far from
being the intention of the Prussian Government to
connect the annexed States with Prussia by a mere
personal union similar to that of Lauenberg. Pur-
suing the theme, the following emphatic declara-
tion is made that the KING assumes the Go-
vernment of these States, not as King of
llanover, or Elector of Hesse Castle, &c., but
as King of PRUSSIA, and in the name of the Prussian
Monarchy. We have all along suspected that this
was the object in view, notwithstanding the elabo-
rate professions made.
If we are to credit the ex-
planation given by the journal referred to, it would
seem as if this notion of a personal union was Merely
a feint, and done in order to gain time. It is said
that the arrangement
was made because it was im-
portant not to have any delay, and it was essential
that a• change should be effected that would
establish the permanent sovereignty of Prus-
sia over them, and had other modes been
adopted some time must necessarily have elapsed.
One of the most unfair things in the settlement of
affairs appears to be the condition, imperatively
imposed, of all the States paying a sum to Prussia
for the purpose of defraying the war expenses.
Such a stipulation is harsh in the extreme and
entirely uncalled for. Nothing compelled Prussia
to go to war except her own greediness, and it
is quite out of character that the unoffending
States which were forced into the war should he

compelled to contribute to the expenses of Prussia,
while they have a heavy burden of their own to
bear as well. Such a piece of tyranny is,
however, only in conformity with all that we
have witnessed of Prussian policy for many years
past. The denial in the Moniteur of any commu-
nication having been made by the EMPEROR to the
King of the BELGIANS is regarded as a good sign,
since it shows that there has been no idea enter-
tained of the frontiers of France being rectified
at the cost of Belgium. This is truly considered
to be a very satisfactory announcement, for
it would profit the French but little to acquire
the said territory, while the interference
would do them great harm in their reputa-
tion for political honesty and fair play.
Belgium has deserved well of the nations of Europe,
and it would give great offence in many directions
were its integrity to be assailed for no imaginable
cause but the law of conquest. One of the most
noticeable signs of peace is to be seen in the circum-
stance of the Italian prisoners having been set at
liberty, who fell into the power of the Austrians at
the battle of Custozza. These indications of the
certain cessation of war will do much to restore
things to a more satisfactory state than they have
been in for some time past ; but it is, indeed, vexa-
tious to think of the many disastrous effects the
war has produced with no counterbalancing gain,
for the only Power that has profited will abuse
every advantage she has acquired.

The British Association is now actively at work,
and its several branches have plunged into the dis-
cussion of numerous abstract questions. They
range over a very wide field ; aud, if not exactly
roaming " from grave to gay, from lively to severe,"
they wander from mathematics to anthropology,
from BAKER in the nineteenth century at the source
of the Noe to Caesar's account of the early Britons.
Among these multifarious subjects there were many
interesting matters brought up, and although the
principal paper read in Section A—the report of the
Lunar Committee on the mapping of the moon—
was chiefly directed to scientific hearers, the paper
which followed it "On Electro-negative fog, and
more particularly the dry mists wb:ch occurred over
London and its neighbourhood in June, 1861, and
August, 1866," attracted a good deal of attention,
especially as it elicited from Mr. GLAISIIER some
remarks respecting his famous "blue mist." Mr.
GLAISUER observed that he did not assign to it any
connection with the actual development of cholera;
indeed, where the blue mist was most intense
ap-
peared to be the most healthy; but there was a very
remarkable coincidence in its appearance at the
time of the late outbreak of disease, and the phe-
nomenon was, he considered, well worthy of inves-
tigation. As a proof that there is really some con-
nection between the presence of cholera and the
appearance of the blue mist, we may remark that
Mr. GLAISHER has been watching for it during
the last two years, but has never seen it until lately.
This subject will, no doubt, be pursued by our
scientific men until they are able to arrive at some
practical conclusion. In Section C, Geography and
Ethnology, under the presidency of Sir CHARLES
NICHOLSON, there were several valuable acquisitions
to scientific stores to be considered, The Presi-
dent in his opening address remarked upon the
gains of the past year, foremost among which he
naturally placed the researches of Sir SAMUEL
BAKER ; but as the meeting was fortunate enough
to have the opportunity of hearing that gentleman's
own recital, Sir C. NIC lIOLSON did not go into details.
The efforts made by other African travellers, induct-
ing M. DU CHAILLU, of gorilla celebrity, and the
unfortunate Baron VON DU DECK EN, were re-
ferred to, and the exertions of the numerous

parts of the world have carried on their
researches were also included in the summary of
the year's achievements. Prominent among these
were the labours of Captain MONTGOMERY in North
Western India, the exploration of the Parus river in
South America by 'Mr. CHANDLErts,:and explorations
in Australia made through Dr. MULLER'S exertions.
Sir Ch A.RLES remarked that although the geographer
may regret that he has no new worlds to conquer,
but must confine himself to filling up the outlines
which others have sketched, yet there is much re-
maining to be done. Africa is full of uncertainty
and mystery. Australia is as vet but imperfectly
known, and our scanty acquaintance with the geo-
graphy of New Guinea is, in Sir CHARLES NICHOL-
SON'S opinion, a reproach to our discoveries.
Sir SAMUEL BAKER, who was warmly welcomed,
delivered an address on the Abyssinian tributaries of
the Nile. After having dwelt upon the efforts made
centuries upon centuries ago to discover the source
of this marvellous river, Sir SAMUEL observed that
the inundations were now most satisfactorily ac-
counted for by the sources of the White Nile being
concentrated in the two large lakes which for many
months in the year received the rainfall from
lofty mountains. Sir SAMUEL • BAKER'S address
was listened to with the deepest interest, since
every word he said was confirmed by personal
experience, and his audience knew that his asser-
tions were not merely speculative and theoretical,
but had borne the searching test of practical expe-
rience. Sir SAMUEL BAKER'S superiority to all
those petty feelings of jealousy and detraction
which so often darken the character of
the most distinguished men was strongly
shown by his cordial testimony to the achievements
of SPEKE and GRANT, and to the great service
which their observations had been to him. After
expressing his gratification at the public recognition
of his services by the QUEEN and by the country,
Sir
SAMUEL said he felt some regret that SPEKE, who
had led the way through Africa, had died without
receiving any testimonial; " but he felt sure that
SPEKE'S name would be proudly remembered by
Englishmen when every title was forgotten." The
titles won by such heroic labours as those of Sir
SAMUEL BAKER and his high-spirited wife are not,
however, to be lightly laid aside ; and the name of
BAKER will henceforward be inseparably associated
with the exploration of the sources of the Nile.

The members of the Mansion-house Committee
continue their labours in the most indefatigable
manner, and they have the gratification of wit-
nessing the abatement of the disease, a result, no
doubt, due in a great measure to the promptitude
and liberality of the remedial and preventive mea-
sures. At the same time, as the LORD MAYOR yes-
terday observed, there is a terrible amount of dis-
tress and suffering consequent upon the epidemic,
and those recovering from its attack are often
left enfeebled for a time, at least incapacitated
from supporting themselves and their families.
There are hundreds of cases in which the bread-
winner of a family has thus been laid aside in addi-
tion to those numerous instances in which the loss
of one or both parents had thrown a family of
orphans on the world: We are glad to see the
LORD MAYOR taking the question of the future of
these poor children under consideration. Their
case is certainly one which forcibly appeals to the
sympathy of the public. Many of them, if their
parents had lived, would have been broug
to trades, and lived if ht up
poor, respectably and inde-
pendently. ,
If they are sent to the parish, what is
their future likely to be ? However excellent the