The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 29, 1860.

tion?—that to it among their own supporters there
would be alarm and consternation at the bare men-
tion of such a thing, and that even the Whig leaders
of the Cabinet would hesitate to relinquish their
old prerogatives of influence and authority ?
The Leader of the House has openly declared
himself a Reformer—why should he not adopt a
measure so consonant with his principles? We
hope Mr. GLADSTONE will consider the question in a
new light; and, if he does, he will gain far mere than
he has lost by the temporary defeat of last night.
We are glad to find that he still maintains his
determination to carry the bill through this session,
though it will no doubt have to undergo a good deal
of alteration and amendment before it is suffered to
pass finally through committee.

The arrangements for the Conference seem to be
proceeding slowly but surely, and no particular
obstacle now lies in the way, to judge by the tenure
of the recent accounts. identical Notes have been
despatched by England, France, and Russia to
Vienna, Berlin, Frankfort, and Florence. It is
believed that the invitations were favourably re-
ceived, and that the Representatives of the diffe-
rent Powers will shortly assemble in Paris. This
is satisfactory intelligence, and the sooner they do
so the better, for this state of suspense is very bad
for all parties. No very important incident is
mentioned among the foreign intelligence,
and, indeed, all parties seem to be on the
look out rather than originating schemes of
their own just now. The Duke of COBCRG has left
Berlin after a short stay, during which he has had
several interviews with Count BISMARCK. It is
well known that his highness's policy is not a very
liberal one, and therefore we do not expect any very
great things from his advice or co-operation. From
Vienna we hear that Count GOTTZ, the Prussian
Ambassador at Paris, received instructions that
Prussia would accept the Conference on condition
that its decisions were not binding, and that its
duration should be as short as possible
on account of the armaments which were
being maintained. This is a thoroughly
Prussian style of argument, and no wonder that
experienced persons should entertain so little hope
of a favourable result when such is the meaning
attached to its decisions. Where is the use of a
Conference at all if no attention is to be paid to its
decisions and no weight attached to its opinions.
It is amusing to notice the different assertions
that are put forth in various directions respecting
this Conference. The Oesterreichische Zeitzurg de-
clares that " Austria will join the Conference, but
without prejudice to her rights and honour ; she
will not put forward any claims with her troops
under arms; but, on the other hand, she will not dis-
arm in the face of the pretensions of other Powers."
The truth is that the Austrian Government has not
been treated very fairly of late years, when any
treaty has been made, and therefore they are now
naturally rather anxious as to the result of the pre-
sent disturbance. in this, as in everything else, the
Berlin authorities are reaping the consequence of
their unprincipled actions of yore, and no one can
pity them iu their distress and dilemma who re-
members their selfish and vindictive course. Count
MENSDORFF has been understood to intimate to
the Austrian Ambassador at Paris that the only
conditions upon which the Government of Vienna
would take part in the Conference were that
" legitimate rights and existing treaties " should
form the basis of all its deliberations. How far the
realisation of this desire will accord with the recent
notable expression of the French EMPEROR, that he
detests the Treaties of 1815, remains to be seen, and
the of the problem will rest with the other
marvels and mysteries of the affair. It is not an
enviable task which lies before those who are to
officiate at the Conference. What with the claims,
the pretensions, and the prejudices of the various
parties, it will be almost a work of superorogation
to reconcile all the contending parties and
settle the differences that so extensively pre-
vail. The Elbe Duchies are the chief subjects of
disunion according to Austria, and we think that
this is a correct view of the subject, for until that
" vexed question" is settled somehow, there is no
use of expecting any definite object to be gained.
In Venetia great discontent has been caused by
the official notification of a second conscription, and
no wonder, for the threatened war will not be very
popular in that quarter. Prussia and Italy appear
to have given a sort of sulky consent to the pro-
posed Conference ; and the utmost stretch of
their amiability appears to have been that they
agreed to postpone any hostile movement until the
Congress shall have proved a failure. Perhaps they
wish it to turn out so ; at any rate there is little
doubt that Italy would prefer war to a patched-up
peace, and we have no doubt that Prussia would
also welcome hostilities were she more certain of
success, and more convinced of the support of her
people. If this fails her she would still infinitely
prefer to make all arrangements on her own ac-
count with Austria, France, and Italy, and not
have to face the assembled Powers of Europe,
neutral as well as offensive ones.

Yesterday the Saxon Chambers were opened by the
KING, and his MAJESTY'S speech was, of course,
very interesting, for it referred to the exciting
events of the present time, and, as was truly
observed in the discourse, " a period when the com-
plications in the relations of the two great German
Powers threaten Europe with a sanguinary conflict."
Very forcibly did the KING declare that it was not
the duty of the German States not concerned in
these questions at issoe to take up either side of the
dispute. In pursuance of these views Saxony has
gallantly maintained her own in the face of a very
determined opposition from Herr BISMARCK. The
steps that were taken in order to carry out
this course were briefly alluded to by
his MAJESTY, and he concluded his earnest and
impressive harangue by declaring that he should
await the " vicissitudes of fate" with calmness,
strong in the conviction that no provocation had
been given, but that he had " stedfastly stood for-
ward for the rights of the German nation and of
his Royal House, and would trust to the MOST
HIGH for protection in the just cause."
One of the most notable incidents in this war has

been the independent manner in which several of
the States and small kingdoms have come forward
to assert their rights. Their amalgamation with
the two great Powers will not be so easy a task as
some have imagined ; and, indeed, we doubt
if it can be done at all, in consequence
of the
just indignation that has been felt at the
aggressive conduct of Prussia. It has raised up a
spirit of resistance that will not easily be checked ;
and neither is it desirable that it should be, because
in this opposition we find the best security for Ger-
man rights and privileges, the best assurance that
freedom shall not be entirely banished from the
fatherland. It is difficult to see how peace can be
secured, unless the Duchies are entirely given up by
the two great German Powers. This would,
of course, be a bitter disappointment to Prussia
and a vexation to Austria ; but we can see
no other solution of the present difficulty.
The other rbilers Of 'Europe and the States of
Ger—any
tese =au
might ave a year ego, ai4 01071 . _
will not no N. look tamely on, as they

pulous allies to parcel out the coveted territories
between them. It may yet be that Denmark will
be virtually the victor in the end, and that her Ger-
man aggressors may have to retire from thestrnggle
possessing no more of these disputed Duchies than
King CHRISTIAN himself. If, however, they resolve
on war, we are convinced that neither Austria nor
Prussia will have cause to rejoice at the decision,
for too many other parties are on the look-out to
make their own opportunity out of the general con-
fusion and dismay.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR Ow N CORRESPONDENT.)
YiP,IS, Monday Evening.

The 3/oniteur has not any news of its own to-
day respecting the war or the Congress, with the
exception of an account from Florence, which com-
pletely confirms the fact of the enthusiastic war
feeling in Italy. The volunteers offered themselves
so eagerly that a sufficient number has been ob-
tained for the present, and further emolument is
temporarily suspended.
It is estimated that the total value of the pro-
perty destroyed by the bombardment of Valparaiso
amounts to 75 millions of francs.
The coming Congress has inspired confidence of
peace in some quarters, but I have looked in vain at
the Paris papers to-day to discover any general
anticipation of the kind. The Journal des Debats
such of
as official
to ntts)pnier that the circum-
great hope.
Yesterday was decidedly the most attractive
ss
at
Ins eisn area kin
e kni no
td
racing day of the season. The Emperor and
Empress and all Paris were in the Bois de Bou-
logne. The Grand Prix de Paris for the last four
years has been won by two French horses and two
English horses, so matters are now equal in this
respect between the countries. This year the Duke
of Beaufort's Ceylon has carried away the prize. I
subjoin au account of the races in their order, ac-
cording to the authentic list :
Prix d'Armenouville, 2,000 f.

Novatcur
Lalla Rookh

Prix des Pavilions, 6,000 f.
Gontran (C. Pratt) 1
Vertugadin 2
La Favorite (G. Pratt) 3
Amount of the prize, 6,750 f., 950 f. for the
second.