The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-08 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 1866.

It is not 3urprising that the affairs of the Conti-
nent should engross the attention of members of
both Houses, and that notices of questions on the
subject should have been given last night. In the
House of Lords the Earl of CADOGAN stated that he
would to-morrow ask the noble earl the Secretary
for Foreign Affairs if her MAJESTY'S Government
have made offers of mediation, either with or with-
out, the Emperor of the FRENCH or the Emperor of
RUSSIA, to the Courts of Austria, Prussia, and

Italy, with the purpose of arriving at a pacific

settlement. In the Commons last night, Mr.
Alderman SALOMONS asked the Under Sec"
retary of State for Foreign Affairs if he
would give the house any information as to
the untoward state of affairs on the Continent
at present, and the steps taken by her MAJESTY'S
Government. Mr. LAYARD did not give any satis-
factory information on the point, but declared that
this country would be ready to mediate if requested
to do so. Her MAJESTY'S Government were willing
to act in concert with the French Government to
. promote the interests of peace, but alone it could do
nothing. No proposal has been made for a Con-
gress, but it has been under discussion. It is quite
a mistaken policy on the part of the Ministers not
to allow any discussion on the subject of foreign
affairs if they can possibly help it, because
it is idle for them to preserve silence
in the House when all the particulars of
the case are constantly put before the public, and
criticised in the journals of the Continental cities as
well as by the journals of this country.
The last intelligence from abroad speaks badly
for the preservation of peace, and, indeed, some
very decisive steps have been taken in a contrary
direction. The attempt to assassinate Herr BIS-
MARCK, which was made yesterday afternoon, will
naturally excite a great deal of attention, and give
rise to speculations abroad as to the chance of the
attempt being repeated by others. The Count ap-
pen.rs to have behaved with great presence of mind,
and to have seized the assassin himself. He had a
narrow escape, his clothes being burnt by the last
discharge. It is said that the man who fired at him
came from Wurtemberg with the express intention
of shooting BISMARCK. It is curious to notice that
the Nord Deutsche Zeitung and the Kam: Zeitung
have announced that, from patriotic reasons, they
will not publish any more particulars respecting the
locality and extension of the Prussian armaments,
or impart information respecting the military move-
ments. Sufficient has been said on this subject,
however, in all directions to furnish us with a very
good idea of the state of things. Whatever may
have been the object of BISMARCK hitherto,
it is now quite evident that war, and
nothing else, is the subject uppermost in the
thoughts of the rulers in Prussia. It is said that
the Second Division of Guards have received orders
to prepare for a forced march, and that the desti-
nation is to be Gorlitz on the Saxon frontier. To
watch this we find that in the Saxon army they are
calling in the reserve and the soldiers on furlough,
and billeting quarters have been chosen.
The news from Vienna has the same tendency in
a warlike direction. The whole army of Austria
is to be placed on the war footing, and the army of
the North is to be concentrated. As for the commu-
nications between Austria and Prussia, it is said that I
the reply of the Vienna Government to the last Note
from Berlin was to the effect that Austria" positively
rejects the demand of Prussia that she should dis-
arm notwithstanding the Italian armaments." This
is decisive at any rate, and will doubtless settle the
long-debated question of disarmament, for the time
at least. Meanwhile France has added her share to
the general excitement that prevails just now. The
French EMPEROR'S speech on Sunday at Auxerre
caused great dismay in some quarters. In alluding
to the debt of gratitude which he had to discharge
to Germany his MAJESTY observed that "This de-
partment was the first to give me its suffrage in
1848, because it knew, with the majority of the
French people, that its interests were our in-
terests, and that I detested equally with them
those treaties of 1815, which it is now sought to
make the sole basis of our foreign policy." This
naturally created excitement, and the panic on the
Bourse was very great, prices declining consider-
ably. In Paris at present little reliance seems to
have been placed upon the re-assuring statement of
M. ROEMER, and all indicates the possibility of ap-
proaching hostilities. It is extremely difficult to
decide upon the course which the French Emperor
will take, but it is not likely that he will forward
the interests of Prussia whatever turn events may
take.

As for the King of PRUSSIA we see no chance of
his adopting a wiser policy. Yesterday he signed
the order which has so long been talked of, and this
notwithstanding he had great objections to it. It is
said that the Ministers threatened to resign when
he signified his refusal to comply with their wishes,
and that decided him to make the venture. Five
corps d'armee are to be placed on a war footing, and
when all the secondary arrangements are made, the
Prussian army will reach the number of 575,000
men. It is said that the Prussian Government
have declared to Austria that a separate Sove-
reignty in the Duchies is quite out of the
question, and no doubt they intend to make
good this assertion with all the means in their
power. We learn from various accounts that by
to-morrow more certain intelligence will be gained
respecting the operations going on in the different
nations of the Continent; and, at any rate, in a
week at furthest it is to be supposed that something
definite will take place, one way or the other. The
state of affairs can hardly last as they are at pre-
sent—and, indeed, they are in that condition which
must be injurious alike to foreign and domestic
interests. It is much to be regretted that the ambi-
tion of one Government in a wrong direction should
have led to all these evils and occasioned such
disturbances.

The various changeaslo vnhiocfhlhaate yevebaeresnhianvterofdourethede
into our Indian legislti
b ice n
ofe fi c
ai adl
mi
inn i
st ht
reai rt i
lc,
eh ar re af
oc
rt emr
most part been very
and tendency. The tas
is never a very easy one, but there
difficult
ecruel tmiannyrea-
sons which rendered it especially India.
The old Ilindoo prejudices of creed, of
pa
caste, of
custom, interfered considerably with
working of many excellent designs, while the mixed
nature of
social, religious, the population—part European, part
llindoo and Mussubnan—gave rise continually to
on the ongeouhs:
were by no means easy
hand,
political problems which
desire to rule India ainatutroalsoalnvde.
praiseworthy
,
accordance with the prin-
ciples on which we base our own legislation ; while,
on the other, there is the apprehension of irritating
the native mind, and exciting disaffection and re-
sentment, There PIMA little doubt, however, that

in our dealings with our Indian fellow-subjects, we
have hitherto erred on the side of caution rather
than of unnecessary interference. The difference
of the national religion has been undoubtedly a
great difficulty ; but the want of moral courage
which our countrymen displayed in the earlier years
of our government has increased instead of dimi-
nishing it. Their attempts to shuffle over their own
faith and their discouragement of native Chris-
tianity were in reality like all such measures, en-
tirely unsuccessful. The Hindoos did not believe
in their professions of impartiality, and were
in consequence suspicious of every movement.
Feelings of distrust and secret animosity
were engendered which were easily stirred up by
interested parties, and helped to fan the flame of
1857. Since that terrible year, which, like many
similar epochs of alarm and suffering has borne
good fruit, the whole face of Indian legislation has
changed. England has assumed, as becomes her,
the direct responsibility which attaches to her
Government as answerable for the destinies of her
vast Eastern Empire. The toleration which is now
preached and practised is real, and protects the
native Christian as well as the Buddhist and
the Parsee. The last act of the Legislative Council
of Calcutta before closingtheir session has been the
passing of a measure which has been long greatly
needed. Its object is to legalise the dissolution
of the marriage of Hindoo converts to Chris-
tianity, in such cases as where the unconverted
partner refuses to acknowledge the convert. These
cases are very common, especially when the
husband has been converted and the wife is
influenced by her friends. The bill provides all
reasonable time for persuading the refractory party
to modify his or her feelings, but if the opposition
is unalterable it provides for a legal dissolution of
the marriage. The Mahomedan law provides
for itself a dissolution of marriage on conversion,
and the Hindoo law also makes such a provision in
particular cases. The Catholics have a law of
their own, so that the anomalies and confusion
complained of have in reality only reference
to Protestant converts. The whole question,
which is a very difficult one to deal with, is fully
and fairly dealt with by the bill, which has given
very general satisfaction. Mr. BAINES'S speech on
the subject has excited a good deal of attention as a
vindication of the principles of civil and religious
liberty. Referring to the timorous manner in which
these questions had been hitherto dealt with, he de-
clared that the very molehills of Hindoo prejudice
were exaggerated with mountains, and that diffi-
culties which, in every day of Indian life, crumble
away at a touch were assumed to be of stupendous
dimensions. " I know," he exclaimed, " that
we do this, because the converts are
of our own faith, and because we are
tender of our own character for impartiality. But
Ido not know that we are entitled to be unjust,
even for the sake of seeming to be impartial." He
ended by declaring that no man should be forced
to be a Christian, or tempted to become a Chris-
tian ; but, if he chose to become one, it would be
shameful if he did not obtain equal protection with
those of other faiths, and if we did not apply to him
and his those principles of equal dealing between
man and man of which we are in India the sole
depositories. 'This noble and spirited language
made a deep impression on the hearers, and
has been accepted throughout the country
as a triumphant vindication of the prin-
ciples of right and justice. It is in this spirit
that all our dealings with these difficult social
and religious questions should be conducted. The
people will soon learn to trust us if we trust them,
and will put the same faith in our professions of
religious toleration as they do in our legislative
and commercial promises. Only let us be honest
and straightforward, and bold enough to deal with
such points as from time to time come up for
settlement. The appearance of reserve and mystery
has hitherto done nothing ; but, however, let us
hereafter try what simplicity and straightforward-
ness will do.

The spring and summer months, as usual, bring
a vast increase to the number of emigrants, and to
judge from the recent returns, the United King-
dom will not have much longer to complain of a
surplus population. The grand total for the month
of April, from Liverpool alone, was 19,385, which
shows an increase over the return for the same
month of 7,535. The great majority were pas-
sengers to the United States, and the principal
nationality, as a matter of course, was Irish. Nova
Scotia, Victoria, South America, Africa, West
Indies, all came in for a share, though this is by
no means the favourite season for Australian
emigration. We confess we should be glad to
see a great number avail themselves of the advan-
tages offered by our own colonies. The British
North American provinces especially possess untold
natural wealth, only waiting for strong and willing
hands to gather. The capacities of the rich lands
of the North-West are as yet but dimly estimated,
and the immigration of some of these adventurous
thousands would be the greatest boon to the colonies
and a vast advantage to themselves.
We hope that the approach of this season will in-
duce the Board of Trade to exercise a closer super-
vision over our emigrant ships. Surely when
so many thousands of lives are to be trusted in these
ships it is only right that some competent autho-
rity should ascertain that they are well found in
every particular before leaving port. The terrible
fate of the London impresses another warning on
shipowners and inspectors. We allude to
the danger of over loading. If the recom-
mendation of a water-line were adopted, a
very cursory inspection would show every one
when the limit of safety was passed. It is usually
thought, with emigrant ships especially, that a
little overloading at first does not signify, as the
weight will so rapidly decrease with the consumption
of stores and fuel. But it should be remembered
that the chief danger is in those first few days.
How many wrecks have we annually round our
coasts ? How many are there in the Bay of Biscay,
where the London and the Amalia alike went down
within a veryfew days of their departure ? Once on
the broad ocean, be it Atlantic or Pacific, the
danger is not half so great as in the narrow
seas. Let the water streak be universally adopted
and rigidly adhered to. It is easy enough to
add weight to the ship, if necessary, by barrels of
water, but it is not so easy to avoid the dangers
into which reckless overloading too often brings
ship and passengers. The bitter lessons of the past
winter may be the means of saving hundreds of
lives if they are rightly applied in the proper
quartor.

THE Fox CLUB.—The third meeting of this club
took place at Brooks's on Saturday last. Present---
Duke of St. Albans, Earl Fitzwilliam, Earl of Zetland,
Earl of Fife, Lord Carew, Marquis of Normanby, Viscount
I Falkland, Viscount Castlerosse, M.P., Lord Mostyn, Lord
Llanover, Sir W. Scott, Bart., M.P., Hon. F. W. Cadogan,
Hon. Fitzpatrick H. Vernon, Right Hon. Stephen
Lushington, John Cotes, Esq., Sir James Matheson, Bart.,
M.P., Henry Hussey Vivian, Esq., M.P., E. K. Tenison,
Esq., Frederick Dundas, Esq., M.P., F. J. S. Foljambe
Esq., M.P., Hon. E. S. Russell, Colonel Challonor, Sir
Thomas Birch, Bart., General Sir H. F. Davie, Bart.,
M.P., Right Hon. J. W. Fitzpatrick, M.P., Capt. H. A.
H. Cholmeley, Hon. Clinks S. Clements, A. K. Stephen-
son, Esq.