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

near Sermione.

FLORENCE; July 7.

Count von Usedom, the Prussian Minister at this
Court, was received to-day in private audience by
Prince Carignan. The Prince sent to Count von
Usedom yesterday to congratulate him on the
Prussian victories.

Several municipalities of Italy have forwarded a
congratulatory address to the Prussian Minister in
this city.

It is affirmed that up to yesterday evening no
official intelligence relative to the proposed armistice
had been received here from Berlin.

ASOLA, July 6.

The Italian losses in the attack upon Borgoforte
were 2 killed and 30 wounded. The Austrian loss
is unknown. General Mignano was in command
of the Italian corps of operation.
300 Austrian Chasseurs crossed the Mincio yes-
terday, letying contributions upon the population.
They withdrew across the Mincio, blowing up the
bridge at Goito.

The Austrians, who had fortified the heights at
Solferino and San Martino, have also recrossed the

Mincio.

HORZITZ, July 6.

The headquarters of the Prussian army have been
transferred to Pardubitz. All the fords cn the
Elbe between Pardubitz and Elbe Teinitzare are in
the hands of the Prussians.

Field Marshal Benedek appears to be withdraw
ing towards Brunn, followed by the army corps.

It is not yet decided whether the Prussians will
make a diversion to attack Konigsgratz.
The Austrians are said to have abandoned

Prague.

RATIBOR, July 6.
The Prussian troops stationed here have occu•

pied Trappan.
The Prussian General Knobelsdorfs has addressed
a proclamation to the Austrian-Silesians stating
that strict discipline will be maintained in the
Prussian army, that the inhabitants will be treated
with the greatest humanity, and that the. troops
have orders to spare private property. He threatens
to punish resistance and treachery.

THE PRUSSIANS AND BAVARIANS.
EISENACII, July 6 (Evening).

In the engagement which took place at Berm-
bach between the Prussian Goeben division and
the Bavarians, the former captured eight positions.
The Prussians are advancing victoriously.

SPAIN.
MADRID, July 6 (Evening).

The Senate has approved the bill brought forward
by Marshal O'Donnell, for suspending the consti-
tutional guarantees, by 130 against 3 votes. The
Progressist members alone took part in the debate.

ROYAL DRAMATIC COLLEGE.—This Day.

The annual fete held, under the patronage of her
most gracious Majesty and the Prince and Prin-
cess of Wales in aid of the funds of the Royal Dra-
matic College, took place to-day at the Crystal
Palace, and judging from the success attending the
first day's fete, a very large addition will be
made to the financial resources of this ad-
mirable institution. The executive committee have
spared no exertion to endeavour to rival all former
fetes, and, aided by the brilliant weather, a
success commensurate with their labours will be the
gratifying result. The leading members of the
dramatic profession contributed their aid in the
most spontaneous manner, and perhaps one of the
greatest attractions of the day was the presence of
so many public favourites congregated together in
their everyday costume, a sight only to be met with
on the recurrence of these very attractive and
popular fetes. The fete, or fancy fair, was opened
in the most humorous manner by our old
friend Romer, who, as Herald, appeared on the
grounds, attended by his pursuivants and men at arms.
Immediately after the reading of the proclamation,
which gave leave and licence to the fair traders to
make reprisals for the benefit of the college, the
amusements of the day commenced, the directors of
" Richardson's Show" announcing the performance
of a new and original drama, entitled " The Mys-
terious Monk," &c., and secured a good audience.
Here we bad Mr. R. Atkins, Mr. Soutar, Mr.
F. Robson ; doing terrific bass, but Addison
and Robins's sensation wax works vied with
them in success. Professor Toole's Chinese Exhi-
bition in the Golden Pay-goda of the thousand and
one devices, introducing Alessrs. Paul Bedford, J.
Billington, J. Ashley, R. Romer, C. J. Smith, and
the Chinese Dwarf, " Che Mali." Every ten
minutes throughout the day, Mr. J. L. Toole, Pro-
fessor of Chinese, was well patronised, and delivered
an instructive and highly imaginative descriptive
lecture on " China as it is, and as it isn't," with a
reference to the past, a look into the future, and a
certainty of a present, which the audience were
allowed to take home with them. The lecture,
written by that learned pun dit, E. L. Blanchard,
illustrated by the illustrious Paul Bedford Chang,
Mandarin of the Third Button and Fifth Pigtail,
the great El Bobbo Romero, Japanese Ambassador
to Spain, a real Damio, introduced by Mrs. Lewis,
Lady Chang. There was a grand display of Chinese
fireworks, and simultaneous sending-off of one
hundred cups of tea, manufactured from the best
gunpowder by the lecturer and his son ; and at the
conclusion Mr. Toole presented every lady and
gentleman with a piece of plate.

There was also in all its glory the Dramatic College
betting riag, in which the lady jockeys gave the
tips for the Goodwood Cup for any sum ranging
from five shillings to a guinea ; the larger the fee
the more certain being the information. Mr.
Hurleston opened his dog show; and Mr. R. Phillips
set up an opposition in the form of an extremely
rare cat show, which produced much merriment.
Mrs. Howard Paul always gives us something
novel: this year she appeared in a pavilion
of pincushions. The greatest fun was produced
of the original Aunt Sally, presided over by Mr.
J. B. Buckstone, and his aristocratic friend, my
Lord Dundreary (Mr. E. A. Sothern). Mr. Widdi-
combe, Mr. F. Matthews, and Mr. Worboys all
competed for honours in this department. The
stalls, presided over by Mrs. Stirling of course were
a great point of attraction, and Mrs. Alfred Mellon
also had her great crowd of customers. Roses for
some, cigars for others, were offered in such an irresis-
tible manner at a shilling a piece that a refusal to
pay the advanced price of the article was out of the
question. The comic singers attended in great
force, and the Hall of Merry Momus was crowded
during the day. The gipsy cave of Miss Agues
Burdett was very attractive. Mr. Emery's Cheap
Jack Establishment attracted numbers of persons
in search of bargains. The glittering Signor
Ethardo is announced to ascend the spiral mountain
both to-day and on Monday, so that the great shil-
ling day will embrace all the attractions of the
opening fete. The attendance was very great, and
the result of the two days' fete is expected to rival
all former festivities.

The National Rifle Association—(This Day.

Once again the time has come round when the
great shooting interest of the United Kingdom
flock to Wimbledon, as the legitimate field on which
to win distinction and exhibit their prowess. The
prizes this year are more than usually valuable, and
with a continuance of fine weather the greatest suc-
cess seems secured for the festival of the Rifle Vo-
lunteers. A great number of improvements have
been effected in the shooting ground, and
doubtless for the next ten days the camp
at Wimbledon will be a great attraction.
The general appearance and disposition of the
ground is so well known that no further allusion to
it is necessary, further than to say that every pre-
caution possible has been taken to prevent accidents
to both riflemen and markers. The attendance for
a first day was exceedingly good. One of the first
matters that stood for determination was the best
shot for the county, which brought a great many
competitors from the Middlesex Corps. The
struggle for the great prizes will not commence
until Monday or Tuesday.

We are enabled to state with authority that, as a
step towards its reorganisation on a basis which will
give it a claim to be the national seminary of music,
the principalship of the Royal Academy of Music
has been conferred on Professor W. Sterndale Ben-
nett, and the vice-principalship on Mr. Otto Gold-
schmidt ; further, that the institution has had the
offer of temporary accommodation at the South
Kensington School of Arts, respecting which, as
also the conditions of its reconstruction, the direc-
tors are in communication with the principal and
vice-principal elect.—Musical Standard.

THE FLEA HUNT. A capital travestie of
Carlyle, in a now book called " Mill and Carlyle,"
by Mr. P. P. Alexander. " His unparalleled chapter,
for instance, entitled Flea Hunt Divine Significance
of Fact,' could it prove other than most interest-
ing? How a high Grimwold once at dead mid-
night, hero-snoring beside his beloved Bertha, dimly
became conscious of sensations most bitchy-uneasy on the
haunch of him; flea orother vivacious insect of democratic
tendencies having invaded that region, and proceeded to
extract his life-fluids: How is high Grimwold woke up;
sworn a little per os Deo—his favourite, if not solo piece of
piety— scratched the afflicted part, and sulkily re-
addressed himself to his slumbers. How it would not in the
least do ; flea still more vivacious-annoying, diligently ex-
tracting the life-fluids; haunch still more hitchy-uneasy ; till
at length an infuriated Grimwold willfairly dash out of bed
imprecating heaven-high, and with much sounding of
gongs, rushing of terrified lackeys with torches (mostly in a
state of entire nudity), and other tho like tumult, proceed
to hunt his flea; beloved Bertha, in her singular night gear
shivering observant the while. How, for a space of two
hours, he hunts—fierce-assiduous, desperate to catch bis
flea ; hunts, hunts, hugest, tumultuous, inextinguish-
able Flea Hunt,' says Sauerteig, that over perhaps
transacted itself on this God's earth ; hunts and evermore
hunts, and finds, to his much rage and grief, that flea,
like vulpes on a previous occasion, once for all, will not
be caught—uncertain to this hour whether after all it were
Flea or Bug. All this, told in the vivid Sauerteig manner,
with graphic touch and duo vigour of presentment, readers
might have found interesting. Nay, if Sauerteig is to be
believed in the matter, there is in it didactic meaning
of the deeper sort. Hugest, &c., Flea Hunt, says
Sauerteig, that ever perhaps transacted itself on this
God's earth ; which, on the deep ground that it veritably
did so transact itself there, is precious and fcr ever a
possession to me. Infinite is the allegiance of fact, of
reality. Consider it, 0 reader ; this thing actually
was ; and very literally is now, and cannot for ever
cease to be, a portion of the God's fact which liveth and
endureth for ever. A Grimwold scratching his haunch

there, tumultuously hunting his flea there, is great ; is
memorable to me ; on the deep 'ground that the high man
actually did it.'" _ _

EXPORTS OF IRON.—During the month of May
the total value of the iron exported amounted to £1,465,992
against £1,195,892 in the corresponding month of last year,
being an increase of £270,100. `here was a falling off in
the export of pig to Prussia, Franco, and the United States;
but an increase to Holland. As to bar, bolt, and railway
iron, the exports to America were greatly in excess of May,
1865, the total value of railway iron alone being £568,172,
as compared with £382,881 in the corresponding month.
The value of the hoops, sheets, and plates exported was in
excess of last year by 35 per cent. Of brass and coppor
the total exports for the month reached £339,702, against
X 232,537 in May 1.80.