The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-12 00:00:00

The conduct of Italy has been throughout most
inconsistent, and now, at this critical period, she
has been, if possible, a greater obstacle in the way
of peace than Prussia. The Italians set out by
affirming that they cannot accept Venetia at the
hands of the French, which declaration would be
absurd at any time ; but after the intercession of
France in 1859 is simply ridiculous. There is
surely enough for all to do in the settlement of the
complications of Germany, without the Italians put-
ting in their absurd claims, and parading their rights.
Half of the excitement that now prevails doubtless
arises from the disappointment they feel at not
meeting with any success in the war on which they
have so madly entered; but thatforms no justifiable
reason for embroiling Europe, and preventing the
settlement of matters. It looks very much as if
Prussia and Italy were playing into each
other's hands in this constant opposition
they tire making. The King of PRUSSIA
begins by declaring that he can do nothing
without the consent of his ally, the King of ITALY ;

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accept the cession of Venetia in the manner pro-
posed by the French. This is quite idle when great
interests are at stake, and must appear so to all
independent lookers-on. The Florence journals of
Tuesday state that the Prussian Government has
officially declared to the Italian Cabinet that Italy
cannot accept an armistice which, being based
upon the cession of Venetia, would be
equal to a separate peace, and would also
disengage the hundred and fifty thousand men
stationed in Venetia to the detriment of Prussia
and the advantage of Austria.
It is said that Prussia insists in excluding Austria
from the Germanic Confederation ; she also seeks
for the incorporation of Electoral Hesse, Saxony,
Hanover, and the Elbe Duchies with Prussia. This
is very likely, to judge by the demands hitherto
made by Prussia. The French proposition seems
the best—that neither Austria nor Prussia should
be members of the Confederation, for, so long as
they are, it seems idle to expect anything like unity.
According to La France of last night, the departure
of PrinceNAr o LEON has been retarded in consequence
of the nature of the demands of Prince REUSS, which
induced the French EMPEROR to send a repetition
of the communication to England and Russia, be-
cause he considered they " raised questions of
European interest which can only be settled by the
consent of the great Powers." If this be true, there
can be no doubt that the indignation of Europe will
be aroused against Prussia, and by persisting in this
course she will bring down upon her the wrath of
the French EMPEROR. It may not be convenient
for him just at once to declare his intentions, but
unless he has entirely changed his policy, which we

have no reason to suppose, he will never rest satin

fled with the arrangements set forth by Prince

B,EUSS. They will entirely destroy the prestige of
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Austria, and make Prussia a most dangerous rival
to France. The fruit of long years of skilful diplo-

macy will be thrown away at once if this proposi-
tion of Prussia is carried out, and much as he may
shrink from war, and inimical as it may be to his

people, he will rather resort to such an experiment
than put up with the insult thus offered to him, and

with the injuries it would inflict upon him.

It is, indeed, sad to contemplate the great suffer-
ings and heavy losses inflicted upon thousands in

order to gratify the pride of one encroaching king•

" What millions died that Cesar might be great,"
exclaims the poet, but these men are sacrificed for
nothing, who have left their homes never to return,

but to swell the list of victims in the cause of Prus-
sian aggression. The policy of the Emperor Louis
NAPOLEON will be anxiously watched, as he is at
present the leading man in Europe, for it depends
upon him to decide the destinies of nations in a great
measure. Ile may make mistakes in his arduous
undertaking, but he will have the thanks of all if he
contrives so to order affairs as to check in an effec-
tual manner the pretentious course upon which
Prussia has entered.

The extraordinary efficacy of the Turkish Bath in
the treatment of Pulmonary Consumption has very.
recently been further illustrated in two most re-
markable cases—those of John Wright, a young
shampoer (aged 25) and of John Johnson (aged 40),
the General Manager or Superintendent of the
Hammam, No. 76, Jermyn-street, St. James's. A
brief yet sufficient summary of these two really
notable cases, in each of which suffering was very
considerably allayed, and in each of which also life
itself was astonishingly prolonged, has just now
been issued from the press at Annecy, in the form ,

neglecting to test a system which affected the best
interests of the country. England, said the right
hon. baronet -with great truth, has entered upon a
costly race, but it is one in which she cannot afford
to be beaten, and no Ministry, be it Whig, Tory,
or Radical, -would dare to suffer the naval power
of the country to be diminished. One of the main
principles -which should now govern our Admi-'
ralty is perfect fairness, and unless merit
is allowed, at least a trial and a hearing, we shall
be oblirsed to copy from other nations instead of
profitir ig by the genius and the industry at our own
doors, Captain COLES'S method deserves different
trectment from that which it has hitherto received,
r.nd we hope the presence of the Miantonomah in
British waters will urge on our authorities to prompt
and impartial action. ~
So far as the pledges on the hustings are to be
taken as a test the members of the new Admini-
stration promise fairly. It remains for them to act
up to their promises, and to show that they deserve
that fair and candid trial which men of all parties
are at this crisis willing to accord to them.

The intelligence that the Emperor of the FRENCH
has announced that he will carry on an " armed
mediation" will cause universal satisfaction, and
we hope that the news conveyed by an official
Austrian paper will be confirmed to-day in Paris,
for in this rests the last hope of Austria, accord-
ing to the statement made by the Abendpost.
The Emperor of the FRENCH has taken fresh steps
of an energetic character to effect the conclusion
of an armistice. It is the " pronounced will of
the ZmPEROR," it is added, " that Austria should
not be weakened in her position as a great
Power." We expected all along that it would
come to this if the Prussians persisted
in their arbitrary demands, and violated all princi-
ples of national justice by their extortionate and
extravagant claims. It would be the height of
irnpolicy for the French EMPEROR to allow Austria
to be degraded in the eyes of nations, and still more
injurious to his interests to permit Prussia to assume
so vast an ascendancy over her. The proportions
of the territory ruled over by King WILLIAM will be
equal, if not superior, to the French Empire if he is to
be allowed to realise his extensive idea of aggrandise-
ment. The French fleet is on its way to Venice,
according to the Vienna account, but this is not
confirmed as yet. It is said that in consequence
of a " hitch" in the negotiations the departure of
Prince NAPOLEON has been indefinitely deferred,
but of this again we are not certain. One thing
seems plain beyond a doubt, and that is the diffi-
culties into which the French Government has been
plunged by the disputes that have arisen, and the
disagreements that prevail on the subject of an
armistice.