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

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LONDON, SATURDAY, JULY 7, 1866.

Yesterday was a busy day for the statesmen of
both parties. The long-deferred exchange of the
tokens of Parliamentary sovereignty took place, and
the eagerly-expected passage across the floor of the
House of Commons was made in the afternoon,
much to the perplexity of some late arrivals, who
were considerably surprised at the altered appear-
ance of the llouse. How many plans an 3 projects,
how many conjectures and anticipations, —hopes,.
fears, and disappointments,—have had for their aim
and end, during the last six years, that same
exchange of places ! The Liberals have had
a long tenure of office—not on sufferance,
but with a clear majority, not only in times of dis-
turbance and anxiety like the present, but through
seasons of peace abroad and prosperity at home, and
cannot therefore complain if they are doomed awhile
to retire into the shades of Opposition, leaving their
adversaries the chance of trying whether they can
introduce a few much-needed administrative re-
forms. The two foremost champions of the rival
hosts were, however, called upon to lay aside for a
time their political cares and perplexities to share
the genial hospitality of our Chief Magistrate, and
to exchange the warfare of St. Stephen's for the
pleasanter excitement of the banquet. The occa-
sion was an interesting one, the chief guests being
the King and Queen of the BELGIANS, who, during
their visit to this country, were anxious to make an
especial visit to the city of which the late KING was
proud of being a citizen. Fifty years have elapsed
since that privilege was conferred upon KING
LEOPOLD, and in those fifty years what marvellous
progress has been made by Belgium under consti-
tutional government. Referring to the present
condition of the little kingdom, the LORD MAYOR
said, " Most of us have had opportunities of visit-
ing your MAJESTY'S dominions and whether we
view its commercial, its manufacturing, or its agri-
cultural industry—the textile fabrics of Mechlin or
the ironworks of Liege—we find on all sides traces
of its material welfare, its prosperous condition,
and the evidences of a free and happy people
governed by a King whom they honour and
love." The KING, in a short speech, which
gave little evidence of
.his being unfamiliar with
the language, spoke cordially of the relations sub-
sisting between the two countries, and of the good
effects of the wise and liberal commercial policy of
the late KING, his father, thus giving ground for
the expectation that he will maintain that en-
lightened system of trade to which Belgium owes
so much.

After the customary honours had been paid to
the other royal guests came the political toasts,
and these were more than usually interesting from
the circumstances of the day. With the toast of the
Government was coupled the name of Mr. DISRAELI,
and with that of the Rouse of Commons the name of
Mr. GLADSTONE. Very cordial were the greetings
which the two brilliant " rivals in renown " re-
ceived, and very appropriate were their responses.
The new Chancellor of the. Exchequer, humorously
referring to the brief tenure of his office, declined
to enter upon any exposition of the general
policy of the Government, and leaving politics
on one side he paid a graceful tribute to his prede-
cessor, and promised that the preservation of the
public prosperity and peace should be the first object
of himself and his colleagues. Mr. GLADSTONE, in
responding for the House of Commons, ingeni-
ously blended with his reply a reference to the con-
stitutional government of Belgium, and claimed for
this country the distinction of being the model of
representative institutions. The readiness with
which such assemblies take root in every free and
enlightened country were, he said, proof that they
were founded on principles broad and deep as hu-
man nature itself, and destined to contribute largely
to the happiness of mankind, not only in our own
day, but in all future times.:A.nd so the great civic
banquet passed off brilliantly, giving abundant
evidence to the foreign visitors that the hospitality
of the City of London is not affected by storms
without or within, by the convulsions of warfare
abroad, or by political agitation at home.

As the story of the German war proceeds we find
that we were mistaken in thinking that we had es-
timated sufficiently the conduct of Prussia. Unfair
and aggressive as she has been for years past, she
has not outdone herself. The last news is that she
has refused the armistice solicited by Austria. This
is a very extraordinary proceeding, and one that
bespeaks a determination to follow up the late vic-
tories by future oppression and appropriation. The
Minister of Police has officially announced in
Berlin that the armistice of which General von
GABLENZ presented the proposals after the last
defeat of the Austrian army has been declined.
To judge from the tone adopted by the semi-official
Nord-Deutsche Aligemeine Zeitung, we may fairly
suppose that the victorious army are to go on froth
conquest to conquest until they dictate terms in the
enemy's capital. It would be almost impossible to
exaggerate the nature of such terms, or the ruin
they would entail upon the unfortunate victims.
According to this journal it is to be supposed that
no quarter will be given and no consideration
shown. The royal leader, the Ministers, and others,
were sufficient guarantees
didthatnot
no
satisfy
yitiotnhse
would be accepted which
claims of Prussia, and the sacrifices she has
made to sustain them." We might be puzzled to
determine wbat are the clai gas of Prussia on Austrian
territory, if we did not remember how completely
that audacious Power can ignore right and rea-
son when it suits her purpose to do so.
The claims of Prussia go on in creasing
ad infinitum, their ramifications will soon comprise
the best part of Europe, and the dexterity with
which they are explained would do credit to a better
cause; but, as it is, it only deepens the disgrace
that such nefarious schemes should be so premedi-
tated.

As yet there has been no decided answer given to
the telegraphic communication sent by the Emperor
NAPOLEON to the Prussian authorities , but we may
conjecture that no very favourable reply wile be
given to iLie for the answer of the ling of ITALY,