The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-21 00:00:00

ENSON, J. W., by Special Appointment to
B
11.R.H. the Prince of Wales.

BENSON'S WATCHES. Prize Medal, 1865.

BENSON'S WATCHES, sent safe by pose

BENSON'S CLOCKS, manufactured by Steam
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BENSON'S SILVER & ELECTRO-PLATE,
Prize Aled:A 1862.

"HENSON'S GOLD JEWELLERY. Novel
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111ENSON'S ILLUSTRATED PAMPHLET.
2d.

BENSON, Old Bond-street and Westbourue
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BENSON'S STEAM FACTORY, Ludgate-hill

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
inns DAY.—Morning, 81i. 30ai.—Afternoon, 9h. sm.
To-Molutow.-Morning, 9h. 33m.—Afternoon, 10h. 10m,

•
I/
4,44+4
• 4.100,1- ,

LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY 21, 1866

The aspect of affairs on the Continent cannot fail
to engage the anxious attention of Englishmen, and
it is not surprising that the foreign policy of the
Government should have become a prominent topic
of debate in both Houses last evening. In both
the members of the new Administration professed
their determination to abide by their original decla-
rations, and to keep as far as possible absolutely
aloof from the Germanic struggle and all its com-
plications consequent upon it, and this announce-
ment was evidently received with satisfaction by
Lords and Commons alike. However vividly the
interests of England may be excited by the struggle,
it is no longer one in which she can take sides.
Had she intervened in the earlier days of the Schles-
wig-Holstein difficulty her course would have been
clear to uphold Denmark and resist the aggression
of Prussia. Had she done this the storm now burst-
ing over Europe might have been dispersed, but
affairs are no longer in the same position. It is a
German quarrel, and the Germans must fight it out
among themselves, and the English Minister who
should propose to take up arms on behalf of either
Austria or Prussia would assuredly forfeit, as he
would deserve to do, the confidence of Parliament
and of the country. As Lord DERBY said last night,
it is not possible for a country like England to pro-
fess the principle of non-intervention and non-inter-
ference in the affairs of the world, but the Prime
Minister added that he believed he expressed the
opinions of all men on both sides of the House when
he said that nothing could be more inconsistent
with the public duty of the Government than to
take an active part at the present time in the affairs
of Europe. This language is certainly clear enough,
and if it wanted any further confirmation it would
be found in Lord STANLEY'S speech last evening,
which left room for no misunderstanding on the
point. Mr. LAING, in the speech which inaugurated
the discussion in the Lower House, asked for some
guarantee that no intervention on the part of this
country was in contemplation. Lord STANLEY, in
answer, said, "If the .speech which Lord DERBY
about a week ago delivered in another place—if the
opinions which I myself have invariably expressed
on that subject, not only now when holding office,
but for many years past ; if, what is infinitely more
important, the unanimity of Parliament and the
people out of doors that we ought not to
be dragged into these Continental wars--if all

vant policy, then I want to know in what language
a stronger guarantee can be given." For his own
part he declared his conviction that whatever migh t
be our individual sympathies in the matter, there
never was a great European war in which the na-

tional interests of this country were less concerned.
Lord STANLEY evidently expressed the prevailing
sentiment in the house, as he did no doubt the
feeling of the country ; and we hope that the Go-
vernment will resolutely adhere to this policy, since,
however much we may condemn the tyranny of
Austria in Venetia and Hungary, it is certain that
Prussia has succeeded in totally alienating the
sympathies of this country.

It seems we are still destined to wait for decisive
ntelligence from the seat of war. It was circulated
in Paris last night that an armistice for five days
had been agreed to by the belligerents, and if so, of
course, the trial of strength will be deferred. The
only sign of importance in this intelligence consists
in its exemplification-of Prussia's wavering. If the
leaders felt as confident of success as they did a
short time back, it is evident that the best thing
they could do would be to push on and secure the
prize of victory. Perhaps by this time, however,
a change may have come over the spirit
of their dreams, and they may be beginning
to think of the 'hances and changes of war, and
to count the cost of defeat. It is certain that if the
Prussians were to lose this battle, now so imminent,
they would be in a far worse position than if they
had been defeated at an earlier period of the war.
If the consideration of this has taught them mode-
ration it will be all the better ; but we have yet to
find the news confirmed. The Moniteur of yester-
day states that, in reply to a communication from
the Emperor NAPOLEON, the Court of Berlin
has declared that it would only consent to an
armistice upon condition of the preliminaries
of peace being first concluded. Now we
are told, over and over again, that Austria
will not consent to the propositions which have
been made by Prussia, at all events without a
struggle, and, therefore, if an armistice has been
agreed upon for the short time here specified, it can
only be that the Prussians have in some degree
modified their demands, or wish to gain time for
some purpose or other of their own. It is certaadien,
that, through the decided stand they have
made,
and the over presumption of the Prussians, the
prospects of the Austrians have improved of late,
and now it does not seem quite certain that the forces
of the EMPEROR will be defeatedfoarsniotthdiiedgacoliuttllde
hwileelmoraeg
o.
of Europe in
t r iTmheisn tias encouraging,to the interests
general than for Prussia to get the wmhoulech asga she
desires. herself, and to be in the ascendant as
desires. Great credit is due to the Austrians for
the bold stand which they have made in the threat
the crisis
that has come upon them ; h and, as for t
of the official journal of Berlin that Prussia would
impose worse terms in the event of the hostilities
being prolonged, that is a very idle one,
because we do not see how they can be
much more arbitrary than they are now. Austria
is justified in making a struggle for her
existence as a European Power, and she may rest
assured that it is one thing to give up a position,
and another thing to recover it when lost.
Of one thing there is no doubt, that the Emperor
NAPOLEON has done his utmost to bring this disas-
trous war to a close, and has not slackened his
efforts to get the belligerents to come to terms,
notwithstanding the great difficulties in the way of
hie so doing. Italy seems the great drawback in the