The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LoiNLON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 6, 1866.

knave been done far more quietly, and with much
lass assurn7ition than it has been. Whether we look
at ,Saxor iy, with its resources cut off and its mili-
tary power suppressed, and at llanover crushed
under -this overwhelming device, (or turn to any
other a f the new Prussian dominions, we see the
same ti Ling; the one idea unmistakeably impressed
upon. a 11 edicts and enunciations, that of the supre-
macy- /of Prussia ; and this ruling passion of the
Berlin Government animates all their words and
actions to the total exclusion of a more elevated

tone, or a more generous course. In the pre-
sent state of things it is especially interesting to
notice what are the opinions entertained in France
as to German policy, and M. JULES FAYRE is a
good authority to take. He is against an alliance
between Prussia and France, and gives some very
excellent reasons for his disapproval thereof. He
looks back to the time when he was in favour of
raising diplomatic interference for Denmark, and
exclaims, " Whover thinks of that sad triumph of
force over weakness and right. The complaints
of betrayed States are stifled under the ruins of
the Germanic Confederation, and of Monarchies
overthrown or partitioned !" Then talking of the
position of France in relation to these stupendous
charges, he says—" 'We are disdained until the
time comes for us to be openly defied." We sus-
suspect that these sentiments will find an echo in
many French minds just now ; and indeed the
longer they dwell upon the condition of Germany,
and the more they study the conduct of Prussia,
the greater will be the indignation that will gather
in France—not the anger that is speedily subdued,
but the deep-seated conviction of wrong and in-
jury which makes men most dangerous as enemies,
and renders nations formidable when the day of
reckoning arrives, and the long list of offences are
recalled to the minds of the avengers.

The movement infavour of middle-class educa-
tion is one of the most noticeable signs of the pre-
sent day. It is a favourable indication of the in.
praiseworthy ambition of our com-
mercialtelligcnec and praiseworthy
who are anxious that their children
should be fully equal to the requirements of the
age in which they live. These high-pressure days
leave little time for the full-grown man to extend
his theoretical knowledge ; he must put up, as best
he can, with the deficiencies of his early education,
since not only the opportunity and the time
are wanting, but, in most cases, the un-
trained mind loses its inclination and its
aptitude for fresh branches of study. Yet it is not
desirable that our shopkeepers, our clerks, and those
in similar positions, should be altogether shut out
from the paths of literature and science. They are
expected to take an interest in the politics of the
day, and to influence in some degree at least the
coarse of national policy. How can they do this
wisely and well if they know nothing of the history
of the past, if they are ignorant of the mistakes
and the achievements of other rulers and peoples
Au acquaintance with foreign tongues is often of
the greatest practical service to men in their
several occupations, while a knowledge of the
higher branches of arithmetic is almost indispensable
to their success in life. As for the pleasure and the
ptofit to be derived from a familiarity with the
great authors of our own and other nations, there
are few we should hope who would raise a dissen-
tient voice. We should like to see every English-
man of the middle ranks receive an education of this
kind. He would be better fitted to play his part on
the stage of life, better fitted for practical success,
and more qualified to keep his right position in ad-
vance of those labouring classes who are pressing
so closely on their steps.

The success of the local examination system has
been very great. It has given a stimulus to our
private schools, which is likely to exercise a very
beneficial effect on the character of the instruction
given, and it has certainly afforded great encourage-
ment to the youths themselves, who thus obtain a
recognition of their abilities and their acquirements.
The distribution of certificates and prizes to the
successful candidates at the examination held in
London last June took place yesterday at
Willis's Rooms. Lord TAUNTON, who pre-
sided, made a short but sensible speech,
advising the young men before him not to look
on their success as the end of their efforts, but
rather as the beginning of future exertions. The
number of the successful candidates gave gratify-
ing evidence of the increasing estimation in which
these examinations are held; and though much re-
mains to be done, yet we may believe that we have
entered upon a wise and beneficial course.

were placed in a strong box and taken to Paris,
and from thence to the Forest of Bondy. The
number of individuals concerned in the robbery was
nine, and Mme. Bohn's father was one of them. The
robbery having been. discovered most of the thieves
were arrested. Mme. Bohn's father, who was a Bel-
gian, was condemned by default, but he managed
to reach the frontier and escaped. Some years
afterwards he returned to Paris, and, taking his
daughter with him to the Forest of Bondy, he
pointed out a spot at the foot of an oak, where, he
said, the box containing the treasure was buried.
This box, he said, contained diamonds, jewels, and
other valuables to the enormous amount of 20 mil-
lions of francs. Four men have been employed for
several days in digging at this spot in search of
the treasure, but up to the present time they have
not discovered any indication of it.

M. Le Saint, a French officer of great attainments
and energy, is about to penetrate into countries
hitherto unknown in equatorial Africa, either by
ascending the Nile beyond Khartoum and advancing
resolutely towards the south-east, and traversing
the completely unknown region of the gulf of Benin,
or by starting from the French establishment of the
Gabon, mounting to the north-west towards the
upper basin of the Nile. The project is a bold oue
and full of dangers, but the most important disco-
veries are likely to result from it. ,The adventurous
traveller thinks of making the journey quite alone.
There have never been so many destructive fires
at Paris as have occurred within the last month. On
Monday night the little theatre in the Faubourg St.
Martin, called the Theatre des Nouveautes, was
nearly destroyed. It was only opened a year
ago. The fire broke out at about 7 o'clock, just
before the performances were about to commence,
but the dcors, happily, had not been opened. The
firemen arrived at the spot in a very short time,
but in spite of their exertions the whole of the in-
terior of the theatre was destroyed. The scenery
and decorations were all burnt. Nothing has been
saved but the dresses of the a ctors. One of the fire-
men was slightly burnt, but that is the extent of
the personal injury. The fire was extinguished
about nine o'clock. The play announced was
" L'lle des Sirenes," which had been got up with
great splendour.

A match manufactory at Le Villette has been
nearly destroyed by fire.
A few days ago (says the Journal du Havre) there
was a very unjustifiable marriage disappointment.
An individual had obtained the permission of her
family to marry a young servant girl. All was
ready for the wedding, the friends were invited and
the dinner ordered. Nothing was wanting but the
intended husband. The poor girl, in her bridal
dress, waited in great anxiety and suspense. At
length came a letter from the bridegroom, with these
words, "My good young lady, do not be surprised
at not seeing me again. lam going into exile."
This morning early the weather was mild and
genial, like spring. About one o'clock in the after-
noon the sun broke forth with great splendour, and
it was really warm. Afterwards, however, there
was rain. There are often much colder days in
Englane at midsummer. Although The Sun says
that the weather was unfavourable for the Reform
demonstration on Monday in London, in Paris it
was a beautiful day.
The report in circulation at the Bourse is that the
Legislative Session will commence on the 14th of
January.
Some alarm exists in Paris in consequence of the
sudden and mysterious disappearance of several
persons within a week or so. A few days ago a
clerk employed at the chief telegraph office disap-
peared, and now the wife of an honest workman
is in great grief at the absence of her husband, of
whom nothing is known since he left his work,
although the police have made strict inquiries about
him. There have been several violent nocturnal
attacks.

The trial of Lamirande at Poitiers proceeds. The
Court overruled the objections taken by his counsel
as to the illegality of his capture. The Court also,
at the request of the First Advocate-General, gave
a decision to the effect that the various charges
should be proceeded' with separately.
M. Sardon's piece, "La Maison Neuve," about
which a little storm raged some time ago, was pro-
duced at the Vaudeville on Monday. It will be re-
collected that the author withdrew his production in
a rage, because some anticipatory criticisms and
extracts were published from it. 1 have not seen it,
but judging from several critiques, it would seem
that it is hardly worth the fuss made about it. One
writer says, "The piece excited by turns the ap-
plause and the murmurs of a public evidently
friendly to the author." They who " murmured "
must have an odd idea of the best way of " backing
your friends."

IiCARSETS.—.This day.

METRQPOLITAN CATTLE.

Although the supply of beasts on offer here to-day was
only moderato, the demand for all breeds ruled heavy, and
prices had a drooping tendency. The extreme quotation
for Scots was ss. 4d. per 81bs. The show of rump was
rather limited, yet the trade was in a most inactive state,
and infirm breeds were rather cheaper. The top price
was 6s. per 81bs. Calves were very dull, and quite 2s. per
81bs. lower. In pigs, both English and foreign, very little
was doing, at barely stationary prices.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AUSTRIA. AND RUSSIA.
YIENNA, Deo. 6.

The semi-official Vienna Journal of to-day pub-
lishes an article upon what it designates as certain
" wilfully disseminated rumours" respecting alleged
tension in the political relations between Austria
and Russia. The article concludes as follows :

" We learn upon most reliable authority that the
relations between Russia and Austria are most
satisfactory, and that nothing whatever has taken
place calculated eto disturb them in any way. No
concentration of troops has been made by Austria
and Galicia, nor is such a measure contemplated.
Russia, on the other hand, has not effected any mi-
litary movement out of the ordinary course, or of a
nature to give rise to any apprehension."

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, Dee. 6th.

The Crown Prince of Denmark has arrived here.
His Royal Highness was received at the railway
terminus by the Military Commander of the town,
the President of the Police, and the officers ap-
pointed to attend upon the Prince during his stay
at Berlin. The Prince will reside in that portion of
the Royal Castle formerly inhabited by Prince
William.

THE CANDIAN INSURRECTION.
PARIS, Dec. 5.
The bulletin of this morning's Moniteur contains
the following :
" The hopes to which the favourable turn of
events in Crete had given rise have not been com-
pletely realised. The native insurrection being ter-
minated, a period of appeasement and pacification
was already opening for this unfortunate country,
when adventurers of all nations, partly recruited
in the kingdom of Greece, partly front among the
former bands of Garibaldi first transported to Syra,
and subsequently from that island into Candia
by small rapid Greek merchant steamers that
have been made the purveyors of the insurrection,
have come to import fresh elements of agitation.
These foreign bands have established themselves in
the mountainous and Uncultivated parts of the
country, where they have dispersed. so as to be able
to carry on for some time a partisan warfare, ren-
dered possible by the supplies they receive from
Syra, by evading the vigilance of the Ottoman
cruisers. As to the population of the island, as we
said some days ago, it has almost everywhere made
its submission and profited by the amnesty skilfully
promulgated by Mustapha Pacha. The peasants
have returned to their homes, and are peacefully
engaged in cultivating their crops. Only a few
aids specially compromised still seek to hold the
country.

" Be this as it may, everything leads to the belief
that this last effort of the rebellion, in which the
right thinking part of the Candian population
takes no part, will not succeed in again inflicting
a new era of misfortune and ruin upon the island
of Crete at the very moment when peace and calm
begin to revive, and that the foreign bands, isolated
and devoid of support in the country, will promptly
abandon a struggle the issue of which cannot be
doubtful. It may be hoped that the Ottoman
authorities, acting wisely, will persevere in the
system of moderation to which they have hitherto
had the sagacity to remain faithful."