The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-18 00:00:00

jury to be inflicted on British merchants, and have
allowed serious damage to be done to a gallant and
independent little State. Englishmen of all ranks
will learn with great satisfaction that Spain has re-
tired from the struggle, but they will feel less grati-
fication at the part which their own country has
played in it, and will ask how long it is neces-
sary to keep up the farce of a costly fleet
at a foreign station, which for all practical
purposes is about as useful as
" A painted ship upon a painted ocean."

It is to be hoped that Spain, always too much
given to aggression and tyranny, may learn a little
wisdom and moderation from this chapter of her
experience. She has not only gained nothing,
but lost much. She has wasted her money in an
expedition which has brought her neither credit nor
profit. She has lowered herself not only in Europe,
but in America, where the interest felt in the
Southern Republics is naturally greater. She has
plaeed herself out of the pale of civilised nations by
the manner in which she has conducted the war,
and her Minister has finally been forced to declare
the expedition at an end without achieving its ob-
ject. There is a useful lesson for the future here
if Spanish dignity will profit by it.

It is to be regretted that the Austrian Govern-
ment is not using greater despatch, so as to coun-
teract the effect of the Prussian celerity. It is
always a pity for an opposing Power to allow
another to get the advantage at the outset by taking
up positions of importance ; and it is difficult to
understand why the Austrians, who have been so long
preparing, are now so dilatory. It is to be expected,
at any rate, that they will now bestir themselves
and make up for lost time. It is quite evident that
the Prussians made their plans long ago, and
while they were debating this point in diplomatic
controversy, and laying down that rule in the
Federal Diet, they were merely gaining time to ma-
ture their schemes and complete their programme.
The KING and Count BISMARCK have started to join
the Army, and by this means, no doubt, hope
to stir up the flagging interest, and increase
the confidence of the country. The entry of
the Prussians into Saxony was preceded by a
declaration of war. It is officially stated that Baron
von BEUST justified the mobilization of the Saxon
troops in rejecting the ultimatum of Prussia;
and it is further said that the entry of the
Austrians into ' Saxony is hourly expected,
the Saxon army is to effect a junction with
the Austrian forces, and indeed it is rumoured
that it has already done so. If so, it will be for-
tunate, for it is high time to check the advance of
the Prussians. The troops entered- the capital of
Hanover yesterday morning.
In its bulletin yesterday the Moniteur confirms
the news of the Prussian entry into Hanover and
Saxony, and it is believed that they enter Dresden
this evening. The Austrians ought most certainly
to have prevented this, for it will be a great advan-
tage gained on one side, and a point of importance
lost on the other.
An official statement of recent events has been
sent by the Prussian Government to foreign Courts,
which is, of course, a very one-sided statement.
It certainly goes so far as to declare that the law
of " self-preservation compelled Prussia to secure
herself against the action of neighbouring States."
Saxony, Hanover, and Eleztoral Hesse were re-
quested to make a conditional alliance, and upon
their refusal the Prussian forces have marched
across the frontiers of the three countries, in order
to prevent themselves being cut off in the rear. The
official Staats .Anzeiger lays great stress upon the
adhesion of the Duke of SAXE-COBURG GOTIIA to
the Prussian cause, and certainly it has not so many
allies that it eau afford to take little or no heed
fife Duize,"We do not linomf-Ot 'any influential per:
son who has sided with the Government of Berlin,
which no doubt will soon begin to feel its isolated
position when the war has advanced a little more.
This journal also alludes to the destruction by
Hanover and Hesse-Cassel of their railway and
telegraph line's, and declares that this proceeding
testifies to the importance of Prussia adopting
decided measures, because she could not have such
dangerous neutrals in her rear. It would really seem
as if the Prussians were already ashamed of what they
had done, so many are the explanations offered in
various directions for the deeds of violence committed,
and the hostile spirit so rapidly developed in the midst
of negotiations and the professions of desire for
peace. A Royal proclamation has been prepared
for the Prussians to distribute in the places through
which they pass ; it is, of course, the old story over
again of the wrongs of Prussia, and the necessity
for immediate cognition with her in order to pre-
serve the sole remnant of the Confederation, " the
vital unity of the German nation." The Prussian
troops do not come as the foes of these popula-
tions, but merely because in the present state
of things Prussia cannot tolerate either
enemies or doubtful friends on her frontiers. It is
said that Prince GORTSCHAKOFF has sent a Circular
to the Prussian representatives abroad, to the effect
that Russia will abandon her present neutral at-
titude if France departs from her peaceful attitude
in the least degree. No doubt we shall soon hear
of very stirring events in all directions when once
the several armies have developed their resources,
and meanwhile there will be great anxiety for fur-
ther details from the Continent.

The result of the experiment made at Spithead on
1 Friday seems to be in one important respect de-
-1 cisive. In spite of the tremendous force of the
shot directed against the turret of the Royal Sove-
reign, its working machinery was uninjured, and
after sustaining three shots the turret itself revolved
with ease and readiness. It must be remembered
that these shots were not ordinary shots fired from
any ordinary. gun. The Bellerophon was anchored
at 200 yards from the Royal Sovereign. The
gun which was directed against the turret
weighed 121 tons ; the shot which it fired
I was steel, and weighed 2501 b. ; the charge of
powder was 431 b. The first shot passed through
I iron and timber alike, and destroyed the wooden
gun left inside, and then fell upon the flooring of
the turret. The second shot also went through all
defences, and started several of the iron plates of the
turret armour. The third glanced along the
face
the
e woifn
ethlel es
wt.
eurrer emt,
an
nbeudt
deck
after
every
edr y stcloi
ar cl,d
when
theien
the turret revolved with perfect readiness.
aainstebdeinong
the turret and the deck on spots s
These shots, too, were fired at marks
selected
most likely to be vital ; but the result, as w
seen, proved that the turntable and
ictedp
tsgeae hav
e
seen, were
e
absolutely independent. Long ago, when the failure
of some of the American monitors was urged against
the turret system, Captain COLES declared that his
turret would not be similarly ineffective. The trial
at Spithead confirms his estimate of iris
design, and the experiment was not made
before a packed jury or a few prejudiced judges,
but in face of a large and experienced assembly of
competent critics. Their verdict was unanimous,
:although the ordeal to which the Royal Sovereign
'vas subjected was a very severe one. She was not
jorig,inally built by Capt. CoLts, but Converted into