The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-13 00:00:00

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LONDON, FRIDAY, JULY 13, 1866.

It will be with great regret that the public will
perceive that the armistice has not yet been con-
cluded, and, indeed, so far from so desirable an
object being attained that it is now thought pro-
bable in Paris that there will be no arrangement
come to, and that the war will proceed. This will
be most unfortunate in every respect, and if Prussia
and Italy show themselves so contumacious, all we
can hope is that the French will interfere, and take
the matter into their own Lands. We hear, from
intelligence dated Toulon, the 11th of July, that
the French ironclad frigate Provence, and the
corvette Eclaireur have left suddenly for Venice,
and that the remainder of the squadron are still
taking in provisions. This looks like business, and
we are not surprised that some decided steps should
be taken. We do not see how under any circum-
stances, if the proposals for an armistice came to no-
thing, the French EMPEROR can draw back and
allow the belligerents to settle the dispute for
themselves. It would be a very undignified posi-
tion that he would fill in such a case, and a most
impolitic proceeding on his part. A more direct
insult was never offered to a man in an eminent and
influential position, and there is no shadow of
excuse for the treatment which he has received.
Bad as the conduct of Prussia and Italy was at the
outset in making their treaty, their subsequent ac-
tions have greatly increased their guilt, and have
exhibited them to the world in the light of aggres-
sors who know neither caution nor consideration.
As for the refusal of Italy to accept Venetia from
the French, it is a most inconsistent and extraordi-
nary decision on their part, and we know also that
they were incited there to by their allies. It is
110',f stated that the Court of Berlin declared to

the Italian Cabinet that an armistice, on the basis
of the cession of Venetia, is inadmissible, and that
the Italians have replied to the intimation that
they are resolved to continue offensive operations
against Austria without relaxation, in conformity
with the engagements mutually entered into bx
Prussia and Italy, until both these Powers sh,all
have obtained from Austria satisfactory terms for
the conclusion of peace.
This shows that the object which these Powers
had in view when they entered on the war was to
crush Austria as much as possible, and that they did
not intend to rest satisfied with the objects that
were immediately before them. No one can doubt
now that Prussia would be left in possession of the
Duchies; and as for Italy, surely the possession of
Venice ought to satisfy her greatest expectations.
The wildest enthusiasm could not have suggested
more, nor could the most sanguine anticipations
have looked beyond it. As for the assertion of
Italy that she cannot receive Venice from the French
that is quite untenable, because she did not scruple
to take Lombardy, and was glad enough of French in-
tervention at one time. The cunning and duplicity
which the Prussians have displayed are beyond
everything, and could not certainly have been ex-
ceeded by any nation. There is nothing to admire
in such conduct, but, on the contrary, everything
to condemn and censure. It is, indeed, most la-
mentable that we should witness such a spectacle as
the Prussian kingdom now presents, at a time when
progress is the order of the day and nations are sup-
posed to be under the influence of higher incentives
than those of spoliation, and actuated by better
motives than the mere desire of territorial ag-
grandisement. We see in the whole of this
affair but the fulfilment of a deep design
on the part of Prussia, and the carrying out of a
policy that is at once unscrupulous and dangerous.
It cannot be that in the present state of things, and
the advancement which has been made in freedom,
that the success of Prussia can be of long duration.
As for the notion that any benefit can accrue to
Germany from Prussia being at the head of affairs
is quite idle, and it is really extraordinary that any
one should think so ; but those who do will soon
find out their mistake. The future must be judged
by the past, and why should we believe that Prussia,
flushed by victory, would be more considerate than
when she was threatened by various evils, and in
anything but an independent position respecting
her dealings with the minor States?
Herr BISMARCK'S policy has violated the funda-
mental principles of the Prussian Constitution, and
undone the chief part of what was effected by the
exertions of long years. If this arbitrary rule is to be
dealt out to the whole of Northern Germany, all
we can say is that it bodes ill for the prosperity of
the States. The Emperor NAPOLEON, we feel
convinced, will not sanction so complete a ruin
being made of Austria as that which is proposed
by her ruthless enemies ; and it is, indeed, well for
the prospects of that Power that she should have
appealed to France, for in that lies her only
chance of coming out of this ordeal in anything
like her former state.

In Paris last evening it was stated by the
journals that the mission of Prince NAPOLEON
appears to have been definitively abandoned,
as the attack of the Italians upon Venetia had
rendered it futile, and a telegram also announces
that two divisions under King VICTOR EMMANUEL
have entered the Tyrol on the side of the Trent, and
that an engagement is expected to take place
shortly, as the Italians are marching on Padua.
There never was a more notable instance of fighting
for the sake of fighting than we meet with here, and
all must consider it to be so who have watched the
course of events with anything like at-
tention. All is still undecided, and it is
impossible to form any definite conjecture
as to the turn events may take until the policy of
the French EMPEROR be more clearly defined. At
any rate, we trust that he will so express himself
that Prussia and Italy may see the expediency of
withdrawing some of their claims, which are indeed
most unwarrantable.

The re-elections have for the most part gone off
propitiously for the new Ministry, and the contested
one, with the notable exception of Bridgewater,
have ended in the triumph of the Government can-
didates. The principal event of yesterday was the
Stamford election, in which curiously enough both
Lord CRANBORNE and Sir JOHN HAY were con-
cerned. We are very glad to find that the Admi-
ralty appointments have included so able and
energetic a naval reformer as Sir JOHN HAY, whose
name was a terror to the inert red-tapists
of the former Administration. He did good
service when he sat in the House as an
independent member, and his sharp criticisms often
puzzled even the readiness of Lord C. PAGET, not-
withstanding his knack of making the worse appear
the better cause. In many questions connected
with our ironclads and their armaments Sir JOHN
HAr showed an extensive acquaintance with the
wants of the service, and in the fight about the
dock at Malta and other naval matters he has
always manifested a desire to maintain the real
efficiency of the service, independent of either
favouritism or prejudice as regarded individuals.
Sir JOHN HAY'S address to his constituents yester-
day, though brief, was much to the purpose. Leav-
ing questions of general policy to be discussed by his
fellow member and colleague, Lord CRANBORNE,
the hon. baronet confined himself chiefly to his own
department. In that department, as he justly Ob-
served, no great change of policy can take place.
The maintenance of the efficiency of the service
and the practice of economy are the two principles
to which every successive Administration pledges
itself. It is satisfactory, however, to find Sir J.
HAY declaring his belief that it is quite time we
came to a decision respecting the construction of
our ships and the character of our arms. Speak-
ing of the various designs in shipbuilding,
Sir J. HAY referred to the melancholy loss
of the Amazon in the British Channel.
That vessel, he said, was constructed with the view
mofepanrosvoidfinsginkusing any witiiships which should have the
antagonist by a submarine
prow or beak. This the Amazon proved herself
capable of doing, for she suthnek
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she also sacrificed herself,
satisfactory as a
theoretical settlement of the pro-
blem. As for the much-vexed
or turret system, Sir JOHN
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it is at least possible for ships of this description
to navigate the Atlantic, and Sir JOHN has been
told that no wooden ship in our navy could for a
moment oppose this formidable enemy. A wooden
vessel might, indeed,
find safety in flight front her
greater speed and lesser weight ; but, as our new
Lord of the Admiralty observed, that is not ex-
actly the course which Englishmen would wish
their navy to adopt. It is high time he
thinks that we constructed ships which are capable
of opposing any vessels afloat, and he expresses
himself confident that Sir JOHN PAEINGTON will
lose no time in pressing forward these important
measures, As for men, on whom o..ar naval rsupre