The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-06 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Thursday Evening.
The " great battle" between the Prussians and
Austrians, which the Moniteur said a week ago was
" imminent," as I informed you, has taken place,
and is of course the theme of conversation and the
point of interest at the Bourse, and everywhere else.
The journals devoted to Prussia affect to believe
that it is the decisive triumph of their cause, but
grave doubts exist among reflecting men as to its
overwhelming importance. The Austrian telegraph
has not yet sent its version of this battle. All that
is known is that a feeling of discouragement prevailed
at Vienna "in consequence of the partial success of
the two Prussian armies, who had effected their
junction in spite of the efforts of General Benedek."

The Journal des Debats says :—" It is difficult, in
the absence of more complete information, to appre-
ciate accurately the importance of the, victory which
the Prussians have just obtained. It is, however, to
be believed that the plan conceived by General
Benedek to make Berlin a point of attack has been
seriously compromised, if it should have ever existed
in his mind." As well as can be understood from
the conflicting statements, Marshal Benedek has
retreated towards Hohenbruck, following the course
of the Adler, a river which flows into the Elbe at
Koniggratz. Some of the journals suppose that
the possession of that fortress, as well as Joseph-
stadt, by the Prussians, will enable them without
difficulty to take possession of and occupy Prague.
Some accounts say that it would have been impos-
sible for Prussia to have been victors in such a
battle had it not been for the needle-gun. All these
speculations and even facts, however, lose there im-
portance in contrast with the great announcement
in to-day's Moniteur, in its non--official part, how-

ever.

You may or may not be in possession of it, but
at all events I give you the following exact trans-
lation
"An important fact has just transpired. After
having protected the honour of his arms in Italy,
the Emperor of Austria, acceding to the ideas of
the Emperor Napoleon, promulgated in his letter
addressed on the 11th of June to his Minister of
Foreign Affairs, cedes Venetia to the Emperor of
the French, and accepts his mediation to bring
about peace between the belligerents. The Em-
peror Napoleon hastened to reply to this appeal,
and made an immediate communication to the
Kings of Prussia and Italy, with the view of ob-
taining an armistice."
here is the comment of the Mouiteur upon the
" great battle" :
" After a combat of five hours the Austrians,
finding 'themselves turned upon Chlumec, began
their retreat, which was soon changed to a rout.
They crossed the Elbe, and could not even defend
the position of Pardubitz. Their losses are very
considerable. 42 guns remained in the power of
the Prussians. The Archduke William was slightly
wounded."
The Austrians cannonaded Desenzano on the 3d,
but without doing any damage. On the same day
Garibaldi attacked the position of Monte Suello.
The Austrians had advanced to Monte Chearo.
They have established their head-quarters at Volta.
The exact spot where the battle took place was
between Sadowa and Koniggratz, nearer the latter
place, between the Elbe and a small river flowing
into it, called the Bistruitz. The whole of the
north of Bohemia is now open to the Prussians.
One of the papers states that the Prussians took
10,000 prisoners from the Austrians.
A letter from Brescia states that an engagement
has taken place in the mountains between the
Garibaldian Volunteers and the Austrians, and that
Garibaldi was slightly wounded. The Volunteers
seem to have had rather the worst of it, as they are
described as having retreated in good order towards
Anso, on the lake of Idro.
The Siecle glances but slightly at the accounts of
the great battle, and seems to think that the report
about the Senatus Consulte, affecting as it does
" political liberties in the interior," is of more im-
portance. It refers to the various reports upon the
subject, and says—" It is reported that Count
Walewski, and some members of the Ministry, had
an interview with the Emperor to deliberate upon
the project of the Senatus Consults, and that the
Privy Council will assemble to consider the subject.
We hope that, after examination, the project will be
abandoned without being submitted to the
Senate."

Some days ago I mentioned that the cholera was
raging at Amiens. The terrible disorder is on the
increase. In one' dap the deaths were no less than
rB*.7 Perhaps the roost bedutiful #eit la be ueticesi.