The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-17 00:00:00

.4 4; '4l 5•"•;• flo
trit :1-14**143"'2h'14 Utt
fr. 011e4
*46,-

LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1866.

"WHO's YOUR DocToß ?"—MORRISON'S PILLS.

The Australian mail does not bring us very reassur-
ing tidings of the political situation in Melbourne.
The two Houses are still at open war, and the crisis
is increasing in awkwardness and perplexity. The
Ministry of Mr. MT unocH has been forced to
resign office, while Mr. FELLOWS, his rival, to
whom the task of forming a Cabinet was deputed,
has proved unable to accomplish it. At the time
the mail left Victoria was without a Government,
and Sir CHARLES DARLING, between his orders
from home and his unruly subordinate, was left in
a position of considerable embarrassment. Our
Colonial office, however, is free from any share of
the blame, since the instructions given to
Sir CHARLES DARLING mainly consist in desir-
ing him to sanction any innovation of the law.
The disputants are consequently likely to bring
themselves and the colony into a very awkward
position, seeing that there will be absolutely no
funds to carry on the public business with. The

public servants, including even the police, have
not been paid their salaries, the troops are unpaid,
the Government railways are getting into diffi-
culties, and how the inmates of the prisons are to
be fed remains a matter of perplexity to the officials.
There is an absolute deadlock, and which side
will give way it is impossible to tell. At present
neither shows any sign of making concession. The
M'CuLLocH Ministry, notwithstanding a majority
which nnmbered 58 members in an assembly
consisting of 78 has been forced to resign, and,
as we have said, Mr. FELLOWS' efforts to form
another Cabinet have proved unsuccessful. The

position of the Governor under these circumstances

is certainly an embarrassing one, and the whole
situation is full of the gravest perplexity. One of the
Ministers has submitted to the Governor a minute
explaining the reasons of the Cabinet for resigning
their posts in this crisis, in which he criticises very
severely the conduct of the Council, attributing to
them interested motives for their resolute rejection
of the proposed tariff, and declaring that they have
acted throughout with a lack of consistency and
an absence of good faith. To this the Council
were not long in giving an answer, entering in de-
tail into the various points, and both charge and
counter-charge ena by leaving the matter precisely
where it stood, The fact appears to be that there
is at the root of all this trouble an excessive amount
of mutual jealousy, and a desire to maintain
individual privileges to the extreme. Each House
is more eager to secure its own rights and dignity
than to provide for the public welfare, and there is
an utter absence of that spirit of mutual forbear-
ance and graceful concession without which no com-
plex constitution can work harmoniously. The
relative rights and duties of our Houses of Lords
and Commons are clearly defined and easily
recognisable ; but even here we should fre-
quently come to a political stand-still if noble
lords and honourable gentlemen exhibited the same
uncompromising temper and stubborn spirit which
are being manifested by the Legislative Council
and the House of Assembly in Victoria. The pre-
sent crisis will perhaps give the politicians of that
country a lesson in the necessity of moderating their
views, if they wish to secure anything like public
order and stability of Government. We cannot but
hope that the good sense of the community will
have brought about some compromise by this time,
although the temper of the Assembly, when the mail
left, was by no means encouraging. A debate, which
occurred on a motion brought forward by a private
member, declaring that the House would withhold its
confidence from any Administration which did not
support the obnoxious tariff, was continued through-
out a whole night, and even until four o'clock in
the next afternoon ! 'What would our M.P.'s think
of such a proceeding? The climax was that the
motion was carried by an overwhelming majority,
so that the Assembly stands pledged to maintain
the very measure which is the cause of the division,
while the Council, on the other hand, makes no sign
of concession. So the matter stands for the present,
and the Victorian population must serve their appren-
ticeship to the penalties as well as the privileges of
independent government.
The domestic news is tinged with a mournful
shade, for the terrible news of the loss of the
London had just reached Australia, and had thrown
a gloom over all the colonies. To render the shock
more startling, the grief more bitter, when the news
was received, the people of Melbourne were daily
expecting the unfortunate ship. Friends and rela-
tives were looking out eagerly for the arrival of
those dear to them, and kindly preparations were
being made on all sides to welcome home
the travelle rs. The consternation excited
throughout the city when the first tele-
graphic summary was published is described as
something terrible. Many of the shops were closed,
and universal sympathy was expressed with those
specially bereaved. Some of the losses were public
ones, such as those of Dr. WOOLLEY, the respected
Principal of Sydney College ; the Rev. Mr. DRAPER,
the Wesleyan minister, who, it will be remembered,
laboured so earnestly to comfort and assist his
fellow-sufferers on the wreck. Some families have
been great sufferers by the calamity. A judge in
Nov Zealand is mourning his wife, his two
sons and only daughter, and several other persons
have been similarly bereaved. Such a catastrophe,
it must be hoped, will not soon recur; but it should
be taken as a warning byall sthhiepoplavrnaemrsoutontmakethe safety of their passengers
con-
sideration if they would preserve public confidence
and avoid disaster.

relates to the
the Continent, and especially as
Great doubts prevail as to the state of things on
rumours of a Congress being held. It is now said
that what gave rise to the report was the circum-
stance of the Danubian Conference having held a
sitting. It is still believed, however, in certain
quarters that something will be done in this line
before long, as the efforts of the French Govern-
ment are unceasingly directed towards peace, in
concert with England. A diplorna,tii Conference
would be the form which it would take, and the
assembly would have to deliberate upon the knotty
questions which at present endangez the peace of

Europe. This may be true, but we should say
that it was extremely improbable, because matters
hrwe gone too far in many respects, and too much
has been done in a warlike direction to allow of
much chance of a peaceful solution at this juncture.
No doubt had the same steps been taken a month
ago by the respective Governments some pro-

reckoned upon with so much certainly that the
aristocratic ladies of Vienna have formed a com-
mittee "to attend upon and assist the wounded
soldiers." Apartments with gardens are about to be
hired in the environs of Vienna, and there is to be a
lottery to provide for the expenses of assisting the
sick and wounded. Many rich proprietors of Vienna
have declared to the authorities that they are ready
to receive two or three wounded men. I might
multiply such statements indicative of the belief in
and enthusiasism for the war, but these may be suffi-
cient to show that at Vienna, at least, the advent
of war is now treated almost as an " accomplished
fact."

The feeling in Italy is equally or more enthusi-
astic. The enrolments augment rapidly as ever for
the Volunteer Regiments to be commanded by
Garibaldi as for the regular army. The soldiers of
the reserve reply to the appeal enthusiastically, and
the municipal authorities zealously assist the action
of the Government. At Milan there has been pur-
chased by subscription an annual Rente of 365 f.,
which is to be bestowed upon the first soldier who
shall enter Venice.

An influential Italian journal argues that prepa-
rations shall be made for war by every effort and
every mode possible. " Everything is subordinate
to the character which the State will know how to
play in this grand drama, the result of which may
be destruction of the treaties of 1815, which the
Emperor Napoleon 111., in concert with all the
friends of national right, has always detested !"

A private letter from Turin, dated May 12,
speaks of the great excitement and note of military
preparation exhibited there. The King of Italy
had sent to Garibaldi, by one of his aides-de-camp,
CountTecchi, at Cabrara, the ordonnance by which
he confers upon him the command of the volunteers,
and also his commission as a general of the army,
a rank corresponding with that of field-marshal
in F ranee.

The value of house property in France may be
judged by the amount just awarded to proprietors
of 151 houses in the Quartier St. Victor, which are
to be pulled down for the purpose of embellishment
and improvement. The amount offered by the city
of Paris was 9,359,920 f., the amount of the claims
made was 25,451,639 f. The jury awarded
17,905,700 f. In these houses there lived no less than
15,000 persons.

There has been, or there is about to be, a meet-
ing of the foreign ambassadors in Paris, at the in.
stance of M. Drouyn de l'Huys, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, to confer upon the present crisis.
Having cited the facts, I add an opinion, for what
it may be worth. The Gazette de France says.
"It is useless to form illusions. War is inevitable.'

Prince Jerome Napoleon has returned to Paris
from his tour in Italy, but it is said that he intends
to leave again in a few days.
A lady, who had much political influence under
the Restoration and at the time of the Revolution
of July, the Countess de Borgne, has just died at
Paris at the age of 86. Her family name was

Osmond.
The death is announced of M. Remandeau d'Arc,
an advocate of the Imperial Court of Rouen, who
is a lineal descendant of one of the brothers of the
heroine of Orleans, Joan of Arc.

The weather has beeu fine and dry to-day, but
very cold. The Adds in the country were covered
with white frost early this morning.

The last week's railway receipts, ascertained up
to this date, are in round figures as under:-
1866. 1865.
Great Western ... ... £72,419 £69,333
North Western ... 114,014 114,825
South Western, 24,743 24,466
Brighton ... 20,110 18,975
Midland ... 41,659 44,660
South Eastern ••• 22,633 21,214
Great Northern ... ••• 37,750 32,859
Lancashire and Yorkshire ••• 45,453 39,336
Bristol and Exeter ••• 6,991 6,868
North Eastern ... ••• 72,618 68,083
Great Eaatern 34,311 32,985
London, Chatham, and Dover ... ••• 9,701 8,727
North Stafford 8,686 8,142
These returns, when compared with those of the
corresponding period of last year, show in most In-
stances some very favourable features. On the Great
Western there is an increase of £3,086 ; on the
North Western of £1,189 ; on the South Western
of £277; on the Brighton of £1,135; on the
Midland of £3,999; on the South Eastern of £1,919;
on the Great Northern of £4,891; on the Lanca-
shire and Yorkshire of £6,117 ; on the Bristol and
Exeter of £123; on the North Eastern of £4,53x;
on the Great Eastern of £1,326 ; on the London,
Chatham, and Dover of £947 ; and on the North
Stafford of £544.

The following very satisfactory circular has been
issued by Messrs. Hallett, Ommanney, and Co.:—
" 14, Great George-street, Westminster, May 16.

" We are most happy to inform you that arrangements
are in progress with the London Joint-Stock Bank by
which it is intended that the business heretofore carried on
by us will forthwith be conducted as a branch of that
establishment at our present offices. With a view to the
convenience of the creditors and to obviate the consequences
of delay in realizing the assets, a sum equal to 10s. in the
. _

pound will, with the assent of the creditors, be advanced by
the bank and placed to their credit in account, the bank
receiving the dividends payable on: the respective claims so
far as may be requisite for the liquidation of such advance,
and the surplus arising from our estate to be paid to the
creditors when realised.

" Upon this arrangement being carried out, our Mr.
James A. Hallett will be charged with the management of
the new branch, and we trust that you will favour the Lon-
don Joint-Stock Bank with your confidence and support.
—Wo are, &c., " HALLETT, OMMANEY, AND CO."
" P.S. It is hoped the new business will be opened on
Monday, the 21st inst., when the creditors are requested to
call at our o ffices, and make the requisite arrangements."

At the bullion department of the Bank of Eng-
land yesterday, the operations comprised a receipt
of 20,000 sovereigns from Alexandria, and a with-
drawal of £86,000 in gold for transmission to the
Continent.

The biddings for bills on India took place yester-
day afternoon at the Bank of England. The pro-
portions allotted were to Madras £5,020, and to
Bombay £103,000. The minimum price was as
before, ls. Hid. on Calcutta and Madras, and
ls. 110. on Bombay, and all tenders at and above
the minimum will receive in full.

The dollars which lately arrived from Mexico
have been sold at ss. Old. per oz. for refining, and
are to be sent to Hamburg. Bar silver has been
sold for the same place at 62d. per oz., which is a
rise of ed., and demand is good.
It is announced that the estate of Messrs. Fernie
Brothers and Co., in the shipping trade, whose
affairs have been the subject of rumour for some
days past, is to be liquidated under inspection. It
is said that the estate shows a large surplus. The
liquidation has been determined upon in order to
prevent the sacrifices which would be involved
through an immediate realisation of the property,
which consists to a large extent of ships in the actual
possession of the firm.

There has been a private meeting of some of the
shareholders and depositors in the firm of Messrs.
Overend, Gurney, and Co. (Limited). A rough
statement was presented of the returns and profits
of this concern, the results proving that the profits
amounted to nearly £230,000 per annum, and that
the present disastrous position was the result of old
difficulties, and not arising from recent transactions.
A general wish was expressed that Messrs. Shep-
pards, Polly, and Allcard, the brokers, should con-
vene a meeting of those interested to make arrange-
ments to secure the goodwill of so valuable a busi-
ness. In accordance with this object, a public
meeting will be held at the London Tavern on Wed-
nesday, the 23d inst., at 12 o'clock, to adopt the
course best suited to the present emergency.

THE PRUSSIAN ARMY is divided into two corps
crarmee, of which the staff is always kept up. Six of them
have just been mobilised, that is to say, put upon a war
footing. They have their headquarters ; the Guard and
the third corps at Berlin ; the fourth corps at Magdeburg,
in the province of Saxony ; the fifth at Posen, in Prussian
Poland ; the sixth at Breslau, in Silesia ; and the eighth at
Coblentz, in Rhenish Prussia. Each corp. 4 d'armee now on
the war footing has about 30,000 men, which gives a total
of 180,000. The cavalry, comprising sixty regiments, is
entirely mobilised, and forms a total of 38,000 horses ;
finally, the artillery, also mobilised, gives an effective of
28,000 men and 760 guns. As the partial mobilisation
which has just taken place only carries the Prussian force
to 246,000 men, the Council of Ministers decided on the
sth to proceed with the throo other corps, tho first, second,
and oey9Ath.

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

THE EUROPEAN CONGRESS.
BRUSSELS, AfMr 17,

The Independance Belge of to-day publishes a tele-
gram from London, dated 16th inst., announcing
that the French Ambassador at the Court of St.
James's proposed to the English Government, on
the 9th May, that the programme of the projected
congress should be limited to three points, namely :
Venetia, Schleswig-Holstein, and also German
Federal Reform, in as far as the latter question
affects the European equilibrium.

PARIS, MAY 17,

The Constitutionnel of to-day publishes an article
pointing out the serious nature of the differences
between Austria, Prussia, and Italy, and says :

" The neutral powers could not induce either
of the different parties to concede the demands of
the other, nor usefully recommend to them the
maintenance of the status quo. They might, how-
ever, find some middle course which would admit of
a settlement of conflicting pretensions.
"It is by compromises that conflicts between
state and state are best settled, without leaving that
hostile feeling which would soon •lead to fresh
conflicts."

ALTCiNA, MAY 17.
The Austrian heavy war trains in Holstein have
been ordered to move in a Southern direction.

BERLIN, MAY 17.

It is believed in diplomatic quarters that France
has not yet made any official proposal for the
assembly of a Congress. Overtures to that effect
are, however, considered probable.

Prussia is not adverse to the assembly of a Con-
gress, with the reservation that preliminary nego-
ciations should take place upon the programme to
be adopted.
Hanover has, it is stated, undertaken to main-
tain an absolute neutrality for the present.

COBURG, MAY 12.

The official. Coburger Zeitung, in referring to the
conference of the delegates of the Middle States,
whichtook place at Bamberg on Monday last, says :
—" The most peaceful sentiments were expressed
at this conference, and a positive understanding
was arrived at to mediate between the two great
German Powers."

VIENNA, MAT 17.

The committee for the control of the public debt
has publiihed to-day a statement of the present
public debt of Austria, according to which its
whole amount is now about 2,598 million florins,
the interest paid on which amounts to 118,736,788
florins per annum. At the end of 1864, the public
debt was 2,535,197,335 florins, and at the end of
1865 2,532,083,148 florins.

FLORENCE, MAY 12.

A circular of the Minister of War relative to the
organisation of the Volunteers has been published

to-day.

The 20 battalions specified by the royal decree
will form. 10 regiments.

The depots of enrolment fixed by the Govern-
ment are Come, Vareze, Bari, and Barletta. Each
regiment will consist of 42 officers and 1,446 men.
Other battalions will be formed if necessary. The
Volunteers will wear the Garibaldian red shirt and
cap.