The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-15 00:00:00

should do his share ; if he cannot give what is best
of all personal assistance, he can give money ; if
he cannot give money he may give stores
of old clothes, which, humble as they may
seem, are very serviceable, especially at the hos-
pitals and refugees." The sums already subscribed
are munificent, but it is a juncture which demands
munificence, and we have all a heavy debt to pay
to those districts of Eastern London on which the
burden has fallen so heavily. Their sanitary con-
dition has long been a disgrace to the metropolis.
The wretchedness of their population in some places
was a byeword, yet the evils have never been dealt
with in an enlightened and comprehensive spirit.
The severity of this visitation will recall us to a
sense of our neglected duties, and a thorough refor-
mation of two or three points is imperatively neces-
sary. The water supply must be looked to. It is
quite inexcusable that with our scientific and sani-
tary knowledge, we should suffer half London to be
poisoned by impure water, which has again and
again been proved to be one of the primary causes
of disease. Dirt and squalor are not to be re-
moved by Act of Parliament, but if we can
secure that people have decent habitations,
and can guard against the monster evil of over-
crowding, we shall do much towards removing the
temptations to dirt. Again, we cannot prevent
poverty or remove extreme destitution, but we can
take care that the burden of the rates is not so oppres-
sive on the struggling householder as to help to
pauperise him, and that the parish funds are not so
miserably restricted in the most necessitous dis-
tricts that a wise temporary assistance cannot
be given in cases which would keep a whole family
off the parish for life. The more favoured portions
of the metropolis have come nobly to the rescue of
the eastern districts in this time of trial, but much
will remain to be done when the crisis has passed.
We have remained indifferent only too long. Now
that we have been aroused from our lethargy by so
stern and terrible a monitor, it will be strange in-
deed if the warning pass unheeded.

All is for the present tranquil respecting the sub-
ject of the French demand, but it is by no means
settled in any shape, and the various confused and
contradictory statements only tend to bewilder the
public insterd of enlightening them. There is one
decisive thing to take hold of, and that is, that the
Emperor NAPOLEON has appeared on the scene
claiming some territory for France, and we know
that he will not be so easily put off in his schemes
when once he has made up his mind to effect any-
thing. It does not follow that war will be the
immediate result of the affair; on the contrary, some
time may elapse before any hostilities commence,
but however emphatic may be the assertions of the
French journals, there is no doubt that the French
Government must have been fully aware of the risk
they run in broaching this subject at all, and also
they must have comprehended the dissatisfaction it
would cause if the matter dropped without any
notice being taken of the claims of France. All
kinds of politicians of whatever shade of opinion
seem to concur in the idea that Prussia will refuse
to yield to the demand just made, and if so, sooner
or later there must we war. What object could the
French have in putting themselves forward just to
get insulted, and make themselves ridiculous in the
sight of the nations of Europe. It is quite absurd
to entertain such a notion for a moment ; and,
indeed, there can be only one way of accounting
for the new turn which events have taken, and that
is to come to the conclusion that France is resolved
not to allow Prussia to have it all her own way. It
has long been observed that Prussia has become
very inimical to the French, and of course a war
with that Power would be popular in France.
Ever since the Dano-German war the feel-
ing has been augmenting, and the irrita-
tion and indignation then naturally excited by the
cruel and arbitrary conduct of the Germans has not
been allayed by subsequent events. There are no
sharper politicians than the French, and they per-
ceive that their so-called allies, but in reality most
insidious enemies, have been steadily pursuing their
way for some time, and are now about to reap the
fruits of their endeavours. No wonder, then, that
they should feel indignant and mortified at such
wanton acts, and that they should be quite willing
to make some sacrifices in order to insure
themselves immunity from the designs of so
crafty an opponent. As for the notion
that prevails in some parts that the French
EMPEROR will take a part or the whole of Belgium
for himself that is hardly likely, for several reasons,
and when he had perpetrated the act of injustice, he
would not be in reality much the gainer, because
the inordinate gains of Prussia would not be cir-
cumscribed. The French EMPEROR entertains be-
sides a great idea of the opinion of England, and it
would cause a feeling of great indignation over here
were the little kingdom of Belgium to be despoiled
in order to suit the views and pretensions of
the German despots. As for the great anxiety
which is said to prevail in Paris for the
complete unity of Germany, we do not see how
that can be true, for the French care very little for
such things at any time, and just now they are not
so enthusiastic about the Germans.

The Prussian Chambers have been occupied in
considering the bill of indemnity introduced by the
Minister of Finance, and he also asked the house to
authorise an expenditure for the current year of 154
millions. It seems altogether as if the Prussian Go-
vernment were in need of a large sum. When the
costs of this war come to be estimated no doubt
the Prussians will bitterly regret the lengths to
which their Government have gone in prosecuting
this costly and unnecessary war. The armistice
between Austria and Italy has at last been signed,
land for the present, at least, there is a cessation of
hostilities. Great efforts are being made in Schles-
wig to prevent the manifestation of any feeling
favourable to Denmark and adverse to Prussia, but
it is not likely that any one will be credulous
enouglt to believe that the inhabitants prefer the
tyrannous rule of Berlin. It is quite idle to put
any faith in these manifestoes and appeals : they
are made up for the purpose, and obtain
the concurrence of those whose interest or fear
induce them to acquiesce. The only difficulty that
has lately arisen in the peace negotiations has been
on the subject of Bavaria, and it is even said that
war may be renewed against that State unless
affairs assume a more favourable aspect. Really
the arrogance of the Prussians knows no, bounds,
and lamentable as war would be in many respects
it will be some consolation if France should come
forward and check the presumption of the Berlin
Government, which has become almost intolerable,
-and threatens to interfere greatly with the interests
of Europe.

Admiraltyf
On eo
to
oc a
ts
he ona fv
at
lh ee
srteacbel
sth vmi seint
tosf
at
th ec
hßoardaa
Chatham,
their Lordships had an interview with a deputation
representing shipwrights, joiners, sawyers, messen-
gers, labourers, and other workmen employed in the
dockyard, the members composing which laid before
the Board the inadequate pay given to the workmen
employed in that and the other public dockyards as
compared with the wages paid in private establish-
ments, and urging upon the Admiralty the justice
of their making a proportionate increase in the pay
of the workmen. Their lodships addressed several
questions to the deputation, and promised to give the
application their careful eonhicitlratio

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Tuesday Evening.

The iloniteur, in its bulletin, says—" The com-
mandants of the fortresses of Venetia, occupied by
the Austrian troops, have received orders to expedite
towards Vienna before the 25th inst. the moveable
war materials of the fortresses. The Venetian
political prisoners, who had been confined in the
fortresses, have already returned home to their
families. All the Italian portion of the Austrian
police has been dismissed with an indemnity of three
months pay. The surrender of • Venetia to Italy,
through the mediation of France, it is foreseen will
take place shortly."
The Paris papers continue to discuss very ener-
getically the proposed change in the frontiers of the
Rhine. It seems to be understood that France
claims nothing more than the restitution of the
fortresses which belonged to her before 1789, and
which complete the iron barrier of the celebrated
engineer Vauban, viz., Philippville, Marienbourg,
Sarrelouis, Landau, and perhaps Luxembourg.

It seems from the various details collected rela-
tive to the objects of the visit of the Empress Char-
lotte of Mexico to Paris that it comprises two essen-
tial points—politics and finance. The position is
simply this. Juarez, who is said to be always de-
feated, is still so powerful that the Emperor Maxi-
milian is not able to cope with him, or at all events
he does not consider his kingdom safe unless he be
completely overthrown. This cannot be done with-
out the assistance of France, and the Emperor
Maximilian not only begs the Emperor Napoleon not
to withdraw the French troops, but wants him to
send more. As there is likely to be a little bill to
provide for the current expenses in maintaining
Maximilian upon the throne, he also wants some
money, and earnestly desires the guarantee of
France for payment of a loan. It will be difficult
to achieve either of these objects, for France can
hardly gainsay her declarations about the with-
drawal of her troops. As to money financial matters
on her own account require careful consideration.
So it is generally feared or believed that the Em-
press Charlotte will take nothing by her long
voyage to Franca, but will have to report a decided
failure to her husband. French intervention in
Mexico was never popular in France. To prolong
the duration of it would be to add another disagree-
able ingredient to the many already existing.
Politics, nay, everything, is forgotten in the an-
ticipation of the Emperor's fete to-morrow, which
will be the most splendid on record if (much virtue
in an if) the weather should be reasonably favour-
able, of which at the present writing there is little
hope. Like yesterday it has been dull, raining at
intervals, and not at all like one of the dog-days,
unless, indeed, it be described according to the old
English expression, by saying you would not turn
a dog out in such weather. In the provinces and
towards Switzerland the clerk of the weather has
made himself equally unpopular. There has been
snow on the Jura mountains, a circumstance almost
unprecedented at this season of the year. These
signs of unsettled weather are noticed at the Obser-
vatory. However, thousands upon thousands are
upon pleasure bent. Paris was hardly ever so full
of foreigners and provincialists. English visitors
form more than their accustomed proportion.
In the leading streets you hear almost as much
English spoken as French. The police records in
regard to pocket picking contain enough English
nomenclature to prove that the profession is abun-
dantly represented in Paris at the present time.
The fete will begin to-morrow. Cannon will an-
nounce at six o'clock in the morning that the joyous
occasion has commenced.

The Journal des Debats, in allusion to the article of
the Constitutionnel, which I mentioned yesterday,
relative to what is delicately termed the " rectifica-
tion" of the frontiers, hints that it spoke without
any authority. It is to be hoped that it will lead to
another " disavowal," which will at length induce
M. Paulin de Limayrac to send his promised
100,000 f. for the poor. A better season could not
be selected than the Emperor's fete.
The cholera is rather on the increase at Arles, in
the south of France. The average number of
deaths, however, at present is but four a day.
The Semaphore of Marseilles states that on the
night of the Bth of August, M. Stephen, the direc-
tor of the Observatory, discovered a new planet in
the constellation Capricornus. It has been more
clearly seen at Paris with better instruments. On
that occasion its night ascensim was 20h. 52m. Ms.
23. Polar distance 106 deg. 43m. 575. 1. This
discovery makes the number of known planets
amount to 88.

The shooting season in the departments of the
Centre and North will commence on the Ist of
September' Paris is in the North.
It appears that at Berlin the partisans of annexa-
tion regret that Saxony is not incorporated with
Prussia. The Gazette du Peuple condemns the
" thirst for conquest which tends to parcel out Ger-
many. Some recommend annexation (it says) be-
cause the population ardently love Prussia ; whilst
others argue in favour of annexation because Prus-
sia is detested in the country."
Orders have been received at Cherbourg to enter
in the second category the transports Calvados,
Durane, Garonne, Nievre, and Gironde. The
Aveyron is completed, so that there will be six
powerful transports ready for sea.

The Journal de Bruxelles states that Prussia has
detailed a considerable force from the army of Bo-
hemia to march towards the Rhenish provinces.
This military movement is supposed to have refer-
ence to the proposals of France in regard to the
" rectification" of territory.
It is stated that a good business is now done in
toads, which are found very useful by farmers in
destroying vermin. In London toads are said to
fetch six shillings a dozen. In Paris the figure is
not so high, only about two shillings a dozen, and
what is curious is, that great numbers are now ex-
ported from France to England. I suppose people
believe in the truth of Shakspere's assertion that
the toad has a valuable jewel in his head.

THE NEEDLE-GUN.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir,—ln your journal of the 13th instant, I see a
statement that the needle-gun was claimed by Ire-
land. The truth of that statement I live to verify.
For five consecutive years I commanded and led a
company of her Majesty's 9th Regiment through all
the sieges and battles of the Peninsular War. No
wonder I was impressed with the necessity of breech-
loading fire-arms ; and after the conclusion of war
devoted much time to that desirable object, and
having accomplished both a musket and cannon as
now used, I submitted the invention to General
Smyth, then commanding the Artillery in Dublin,
who advised me to carry it to the committee at
Woolwich ; but learning that I was likely to be
treated coolly there, I withdrew from such an un-
promising field for inventors ; and having sacri-
ficed £lOO, the preliminary step for a patent,
claimants thought no more of it until the late victories of
Prussia proved my theory correct. Now as to all
ggiven
prioritynn by
yn
mthis
assuringinvention,
all
such believe
el ieve
a ciuwu s
for
inhere
that,
as my invention dates from 1823, the later claimants
were either not born, or, if alive, must have been
sucklings.
JAMES WHITLEY,
11. P. Capt. 9th Foot.

The War Department vessel Lord Vivian, Mr.
Dimond master, yesterday arrived at Woolwich,
laden with return stores from Leith ; and the Rag-
lan, Acting-Master Moors, sailed from Woolwich
with a cargo consisting of 60 tons of ammunition
and other war stores for Pembroke and Dublin.

TIIE PRICES OF TULIPS.—With the extraordinary
history of the tulip mania a great deal of fiction is, no
doubt, mixed up, but it is still amazing after a liberal de-
duction. In one case it is related that a landed proprietor
gave a furnished country house, a well-stocked house, a
well-stocked garden, and a couple of cows, for an espe-
cially rare root; in anotker, a carriage, a pair of fine grey
horses (and perhaps the coachman and footman into the
bargain), were exchanged for a similar treasure. One rich
merchant gave his pretty daughter to a penniless man
whom he detested—and whom, as a necessary consequence,
she dearly loved—to acquire a tulip which no other man
had. In another, a cook, having mistaken a precious tulip
root for an onion and cooked it accordingly, was seized
with such remorse on discovering the mistake that he in-
stantly committed picidei—Dichne's " ddd t 4 Year Round."