The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-09 00:00:00

The insurgents seem to have been repulsed at all
points, and at the latest date Madrid was perfectly
tranquil. Marshal O'Donnell, Minister of War and
President of the Council, has taken the most ener-
getic steps to crush the mutineers. It was reported
that the Duke de Victory, better known as Marshal
Espartero, was concerned in the movement. This
is untrue. The duke is now residing at Logrono,
and for a long time past has not taken any share
whatever in political affairs. Aranjuez, where the
insurrection begun, is within 30 miles of Madrid.
It is there the Court resides in the summer. The
palace is one of the most magnificent in the world,
but the environs are desert and miserable. I know
the locality well, and join in the idea of all well-
informed Spaniards, who imagine that Gen. Prim by
marching in the direction of Cuenca intended to oc-
cupy the mountains of theprovince of Toledo, because
he could not only easily defend himself there, but be-
cause it would be a good position to wait for rein-
forcements. This position, too, would give him
power over all the communications of the capital
with the southern part of Spain. It would appear,
however, from the latest accounts, that if General
Prim seriously believed that many regiments would
join him he has been signally disappointed. The
Constitutionnel gives apparently the best explanation
of the motives which induced General Prim to join
in this absurd though perhaps dangerous move-
ment. It says—" Astonishment may be felt that
General Prim should give his aid to such a demon-
stration. It is, however, to be supposed that the
military plot had ramifications upon which he
reckoned. The active measures of the Government
defeated in the outset an insurrection which other-
wise might have proved very formidable."
According to a German paper, the question of the
Duchies has entered a new phase. Austria, to
which the administration of Holstein is confided by
the Treaty concluded at Gastein on the 14th of
August last, has expressed the intention to convoke
the Provincial States of the Duchy in order that
they express their own opinion in regard to their
future Government. If Prussia should oppose any
obstacle to the desire of Austria, the Cabinet of
Vienna will appeal to the Powers parties to the
Treaty of London, to settle the question. A letter
from Berlin states that the Cabinet of Prussia has
abandoned theproject for the construction of a canal
to form a junction between the North Sea and the
Baltic, across the Duchies of the Elbe, for which
permission is given by the Treaty of Gastein.
The Moniteur of this evening states that a private
telegraphic despatch, dated Vienna, January 8,
announces that an autograph letter of the Emperor
of Austria, dated Jan. 1, relieves all the natives of
Lombardo, Venetia, condemned for unlawful emi-
gration, from the legal consequences of that con-
demnation, orders the return of their sequestrated
property, and that the proceedings against them
shall be discontinued. The Governor of Venetia
is authorised to grant to persons irregularly absent,
or emigrants, the free resumption of their civil
rights.

A Plea for Chaucer.