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

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JULY 6, 1866.

and to push
.= to extremities, and then to find them-
selves engaged in a war with France. For some
time past the French have been getting very
tired of the Prussian policy, they have
been greatly indignant at the treachery dis-

played in many recent acts, and espe-
cially have they been scandalised with the
Danish affair. It is true that the idea of war, at
present, is one very inimical to the people of France,
because they are beginning to profit by those im-
provements and undertakings which can only
flourish in peace ; but still, if the Government of
Prussia, flushed with the pride of victory were to
be obtuse and perverse, the excitement and enthu-
siasm of the French would soon be around. As
might be expected great excitement has been caused
in Paris by the announcement in the Moniteur,
and many signs of rejoicing have appeared in
honour of the peace. It was stated that up to three
yesterday afternoon no answer had been received
to the EMPEROR'S proposal for an armistice, either
from Florence or Berlin ; but though it is not yet
decided upon, it is not considered likely that a re-
fusal will be met with. " France will," say the
French journals, " call upon England and Russia to
participate in her efforts for the definitive conclu-
sion of peace." After all the fracas, and all the
stratagems are over, it is curious to notice that this
great question will be settled through the mediation
of France, and very much after the manner that
the French EMPEROR proposed at the commence-
ment of the affair. Of course Austria will appear
to great disadvantage compared to the position she
held a few months back, but still the presiding
power will be the same, and after what has occurred
the French EMPEROR can interfere with more show
of reason than before. It is one thing to endeavour
to bring two great Powers to terms who are sup-
posed to be equal, and another to leave a crushed
and defeated ally to the mercy of a cruel and
unscrupulous adversary. For France to allow
Prussia to have her own way now, will be
to hand over the chief authority and sway
in Germany to her, and this will never be
permitted by so bold and determined a ruler as the
French EMPEROR. Events have proved the correct-
ness in judgment of those who blamed the Austrian
Government for their haste to begin the war, and
their extreme tardiness when it had really begun.
It is quite impossible to divine their motives ; but
it certainly seems to us that they allowed oppor-
tunity after opportunity to pass by, and thus the
enemy gained a position, and secured advantages
they were ready enough to make the most
of. In fact, the conduct of the three Powers
engaged in this war has been open to cen-
sure. The Austrians persisted in provoking the war,
and would not agree to the Conference ; the
Italians have compromised themselves by their
joining with the Prussians ; and as for the Prus-
sians themselves they have forfeited all claim to re-
spect and confidence ; and whatever befalls them
at the hands of the French, now or hereafter, will
be richly deserved by them. It is long since Eu-
rope was so scandalised by the exhibition of ty-
ranny and oppression as it has been of late by this
unruly and unscrupulous Power.

A letter from Ostend says, that the King and
Queen
.of the Belgians are expected there on Fri-
day (to-morrow) on their return from England.
There is an unusual number of foreigners and other
visitors at Ostend, who fly from the terrors of war
to seek health and comfort there.
Madame Tamburini, the widow of the celebrated
tenor, so long the delight of the frequenters of her
Majesty's theatre died a day or two ago at St.
Cloud.

Prince Napoleon Jerome is still at Meudon.
There were reports of some estrangement between
him and the Emperor, but his Majesty recently paid
him a long visit.
Letters from Naples state that the crater of
Mount Vesuvius has exhibited symptoms of violent
eruption. The upper cone of the mountain has
put forth vivid flames of variegated colours resem-
bling fireworks.
The Vienna papers exhort the people not to be
discouraged by the great defeat of the Austrians.
The Official Gazette says that it may be compen-
sated for by a speedy and decisive victory. The
Nouvelle Presse has an article in the same spirit, but

it goes further, and blames the plan of operations
adopted by Marshal Benedek at most of the en-
gagements, particularly that at Skalitz, Nachod, and
Munchengratz. " The Prussians," it says, " would
have encountered much greater difficulties in
Bohemia if a popular war had been proclaimed, and
a levy en masse ordered against the invaders."
There was rather a violent shock of earthquake
at Monthicon on Thursday last. The oscillation
was horizontal, and the furniture of some of the
houses was seen to move. _ _

The official bulletin of the weather states that it
is unsettled in all parts of France,with violent wind.
At Paris we had fine weather to-day until 3 p.m.,
when the rain began again and continued at in-
tervals up to post hour The temperature was much
the same as yesterday.

BRITANNIA'S SERVANTS.

- • -

A SORT OF MRS. BROWN-SOLILOQUY lii " THE OWL."
What a bore servants are ! The whole of my
household have given me warning. It really is too
bad. Talk about old servants being faithful and
affectionate. It is all nonsense. Here these people
have been with me for many years, and we have
always got on very well ; no rows about the beer—
lots of clothes given away—a comfortable steward's
room for the upper servants, and the butler allowed
to supply the wine, which, sour as it was, I never
blamed him for, but drank in meekness ; and now,
just because some foolish fellow told them they had
too much beef, or too little mutton, or that their
beer was swipes, though they liked it, they have all
left me. However, when I come to think of it, the
old house steward has not lately been up to his work.
Russell used to be a good servant, but latterly he
has got into a terrible habit of meddling with the
neighbours, and looking down their areas to
see what they have got to eat, and going
out of his way to tell them how to cook it ;

CORRESPONDENCE PROM PARIS.

(FROJI OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Thursday Evening.

as if he knew. I know once he got leave to
make what he called a " Vienna sausage," but it was
absolutely uneatable, and had to be taken away. So
perhaps, on the whole, I shall get a better servant
by and by. And then the butler ! As I said, I al-
lowed Gladstone to buy all my wine. I wish he had
drunk it. I never would have discharged him for
that. But now his audacity towards me is too
great. I have for some time been accustomed to eat
my dinner off a nice set of fine china, and he wanted
me to get rid of that, and feed off some coarser
crockery, because, as he says, the plates were larger ;
and he told me that if I didn't take care the china
would all be broken, because the dishes would be
too hot to hold. Bother him 1 why couldn't he leave
me alone? My system has lasted a long time and
would have gone on some time longer. Then, there
is Somerset, who was so kind in taking my little
boys down to sail ships on the Serpentine. I liked
him, and can't think why he goes. There wil
be no one able to amuse the children now.
He only goes because the others do. Look at
that dear old nurse, Clarendon, of whom we are all
so fond. She has kept the boys nice and tidy, their
hands clean, and never let them quarrel with their
neighbours. Now I don't know what I shall do. I
shall have to look after them myself, for no new
nurse will be able to control them. I know that we
shall have half a dozen rows in the house before
long. I don't so much mind that nursery maid,
Ann Layard, leaving. She may go, and welcome,
cross thing. Mrs. Gibson, the cook, looked after
the marketing very well, and kept her kitchen very
tolerably tidy, and I am really sorry she goes.
She was not very industrious, or very original in
her dishes, but she looked honest and good-tem-
pered. But then she mixed herself up in the
crockery row, and, as she is very sweet on the butler,
she follows him. I daresay they will some day set
up a public together somewhere. Georgiana Grey,
the upper housemaid, ought to have gone some
time ago. I have had great complaints about her.
She is so slovenly, and leaves her things about half
clean, and when that poor cow with the rinderpest got in
at the door she only gave a great scream and flourished
her broom about, but never thought of beating it
out with the handle. On the whole, perhaps, she is no
loss. Ose servant I am sorry to lose. It is that nice Irish-
man who lived at the lodge in the Park, and used to come
in and wait at table sometimes. He was always handy
and civil, and really has improved that little garden of his
very much. The little boy in buttons goes too. I took

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 Ilohenbruck, 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
in im-
portanceto-day contrast3.ron
teur with t hn
i t thes no eoaffit
cil part,
ever.

You may or may not be in possession of it, bu
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 Moniteur upon the
" great battle" :

him from a German band a short time ago, hoping in time
to make a good servant of him. But he has disappointed
me, and I think he had better go back to the band.
Ile waits badly, and seems unable to open his mouth
except at dinner-time. I do wish the groom of the
chambers would stick to me. Sydney has been some
time in the family, and his way of announcing
the people as they come in is perfect. He looks
after the rooms also very well, and as he did not originally
belong to the old set of servants 1 think he might do well
with the new ones. I don't know much of the head groom,
Cork. He seems to ride well, and is a civil, respectable
young man, but unfortunately he is obliged to go with the
rest. I hope some day he will come back to me. As for
the footmen, it must be a bore for Otho to go. I always
make my men buy their State liveries themselves, and he
has only just got his, so that it will be a loss to him. Per-
haps, however, he will sell it to the next one who comes
into-the house. It is certainly a great bore all the esta-
blishment breaking up in this way, but it can't be helped,
and I only hope that I shall be able to get a new lot as
good on the whole as the old one.
They have done me a
great deal of service, and I can give them all good charac-
ters, and I shall be happy to answer any inquiries about
them.

" 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 Consulte, 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 day the deaths were no less thp.,n
84• rabal-4 the 410 A beautiful trait to be noticed

in the history of modein towns iS that the Empress LATEST INTELLIGENCE.
has left Paris, in spite of the disease, for Amiens,
with the view of visiting and succouring the (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)
patients in the hospital afflicted with the malady.
There have been too many examples of rich and
ricbless people, who, from an idea of self-preserva-
tion, have precipitately fled from places where the
cholera has manifested itself; but here is the
instance of an Empress of a great nation, who
rushes into danger, thinking solely that she
may succour and save perhaps even some of the
lowest of her subjects. The Emperor would have
accompanied her Majesty had it not been that " to
his regret" (says the Moniteur du Soir) affairs of
State compelled him to remain in Paris.

THE WAR IN GERMANY.

GENERAL BENEDEK'S REPORT TO THE

EMPEROR.

VIENNA, July 4.
General Benedek has addressed the following
despatch to the Emperor :

" HOHENMAUTH, July 4, 3 a.m.

" After a brilliant struggle, lasting over five
hours, in which the whole army, as well as the
Saxon forces, were engaged in a partly entrenched
position before Koniggratz, with the centre at
Lippa, the enemy succeeded in establishing them-
selves unobserved in Chlum. The rain prevented
the smoke of the powder from dispersing, and a
distinct view of the position was therefore impos-
sible. The enemy was thereby enabled to advance
into our position near Chlum, whence they suddenly
and unexpectedly poured a heavy fire into our flank
and rear. The latter wavered, and fell back upon
the troops adjoining them, and, notwithstanding
every exertion, I could not succeed in arresting the
retreat, which at first commenced slowly, but in-
creased in haste as the enemy pressed forward,
until at length the whole army had withdrawn
across the Elbe to Pardubitz.

" The losses have not yet been estimated, but are
doubtless very considerable."

FLORENCE, July 5.

The official Gazette announces that at the battle
of Custozza the number of Italians wounded was
about 1,000. It also publishes the names of 68
officers who were among that number.

EISENACIJ, July 5.

The army under General Falkenstein is operating
against the Bavarians. The division under General
Groeben has been victorious in a skirmish near
Niedtharthausen, and the division under General
Beyer has repulsed a body of Bavarian artillery and
cavalry near Hunfeld.

VIENNA, July 4 (Evening).

The Abendpost (evening edition of the official
Wiener Zeitung) publishes an article expressing grief
at the course which events have taken, and which it
declares no human foresight could have anticipated.

" This sorrow," Ladds the Abendpost, " weighs the more
heavily upon up from the fact that at the head of the army
was placed one who possessed the entire confidence of the
army and people, and to whom the Emperor, principally
on account of this unanimity of public opinion, had accorded
in every respect the most complete liberty of decision and
action. His Majesty has not exercised the least determin-
ing influence upon the Commander-in-Chief, the latter's
arrangements and choice of subordinates having all re-
ceived the Imperial sanction beforehand. This declaration
will silence those who have spoken of the general in com-
mand as having been influenced to privilege certain per-
sonages. All preliminary. arrangements have been made
in the proper place to punish, according to their position,
those who are especially to blame. We learn that energetic
steps have already been taken, which afford a certain hope
of soon and effectually obtaining what is still attainable in
a military and diplomatic direction."

SPAIN.

MADRID, July 5 (Evening).

It is stated that Senor Canovas del Castello will
definitively be appointed Minister of Finance. He
will only remain at the head of the Colonial
Ministry until a successor be nominated for thi
department.

CIVIL SERVICE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.—On Tues-
day last a competition took place at the ranges of the above
corps for a massive silver cup, presented to the regiment
by Mr. E. Plaskef, of the A. Company. At the close of
the shooting Colour-Sergeant J. B. Cripps, of the A Com-
pany, was declared the winner. Not a little praise is due
to Mr. E. Plasket for the just and excellent handicapping
of all competitors.

EXECUTION OF AN ELEPHANT.—An
American
circus which has been travelling about Switzerland was at
Morat last week, and after exhibiting amongst their other
performances two large elephants—one male and the other
female—departed the next day for Friburg. The male,
, ,
probably being over-fatigued by the constant marching,
and irritated by the rough treatment of his keeper, sud-
denly seized the man and tossing him to a great height,
on his fall crushed his chest with his enormous foot before
any assistance could be afforded. As it is generally under-
stood that after once killing a man those animals are dan-
gerous, the director of the circus decided upon having .
t
killed, and for that purpose applied to the authorities of
Friburg for a piece of cannon. This was granted, and the
animal having been enticed into a favourable position, the
gun was fired and the huge brute fell dead. It may be re-
membered that the famous elephant, Nadlle. Djeck, who
about 30 years ago appeared in a rand eastern piece at
the Adelphi, under Yates, was afterwards tried in Switzer-
land by a municipal body (we think at Geneva) for killing
a man, and gentenced to death. A piece of Cannon,
fired
ioQiilt bleat *Jai/A*llyr alatowemoUgli934"