The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-13 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1866.

Affairs are rapidly approaching a crisis between
Austria and Prussia, diplomatic relations having
ceased entirely, and the Austrian Ambassador at
Berlin has been recalled, and will leave to-day. Of
course, this is only what we might have expected
under the circumstances ; but not the less is it
startling intelligence, on account of, the results sure
to follow from it. The conduct of the Prussians in
forcing an entry into Holstein, and preventing the
assembly of the Estates, was raost obnoxious, and
could not possibly have produiced other effects than
those we have recorded. At 'all events, it has this ad-
Vantage, that we all know P.OW who was the aggressor
and it will be quite impossible for Prussia to
attempt the dodge of declaring that Austria began
the war. Unless f.,103 Vienna Government intended
to stultify thems.el•vres, they could not possibly have
submitted tanuell., to the outrage put upon them by
the course purrued in Holstein ; the administrative
power in bald Duchies was usurped by the Govern-
ment of Prussia, and a state of things now prevails
"it(' 41., variance with all the arrangements formerly
agree:a upon by the two Powers at the time of the
liastein Convention. In Paris, of course, the greatest
excitement prevfllls, in consequence of the failure of
the Conference, and in the Corps Legislatif yesterday
a letter from ay.: Emperor NAPOLEON on the efforts
his Goveruraent has made, in common with Eng-
land and -France, to prevent an armed conflict, was
read by, DROCYN DE viruys. This communica-
tion enters into detail on the
various points, and
de ,;lares that France would have " repudiated all
idea of territorial aggrandisement so lung as the
European equilibrium remlined undisturbed." Fol-
lowing this is an indication of the circumstances
under which France could think of extending her
frontiers. This could only be done if the map of
Europe were altered to the profit of a great Power,
and the bordering Provinces expressing their desire
fcrr annexation by a formal and free vote.
The programme here sketched out as a desirable
one, supposing a Conference to have taken place,
is one that would not very readily have been carried
out under any circumstances. " We should have
desired for the Germanic Confederation a position
more 'worthy of its importance ; for Prussia, better
geographical boundaries ; for Austria, the mainten-
(wee of her great position in Europe after the ces- j

sion of Venetia to Italy in exchange for territorial
compensation." Certainly if Austria gave up
Venetia, she might consistently ask for some equi-
valent, but we cannot see how in any case Prussia
requires better " geographical boundaries;" she can-
not manage those she has with propriety, so far as
we can judge from one thing and another. In the
concluding part of the EMPEROR'S letter it is said that
the Conference has failed, but that France will not
necessarily draw the sword in consequence of this
event. " France will continue to observe an at-
tentive neutrality, confident in her right and calm
in her strength." M. ROUIIER deprecated the notion
of a debate on the affairs of Germany and Italy,
and a division on the matter supported this expres-
sion of opinion. Had this not been the case no
doubt we should have heard some strong expressions
of opinion relative to the course pursued by the
nations of the
,Continent. It is quite impossible
from this letter to discern what aspect French
policy may assume when war has actually
commenced, but we should say that even
already we have grounds for inferring that
the Rhine Provinces are in danger. The map of
Europe stands every chance of being altered to suit
the profit of a great Power ; and as for the bor-
dering Provinces expressing a desire for annexation
we know what took place respecting Nice and
Savoy. Prussia, at any rate, will only have herself
to blame for any disaster that may befall her ; and
if she secedes from the conflict now impending with
the loss of the Rhine Provinces, and without the
possession of the coveted Elbe Duchies, there will
be little or nothing to regret, whatever view of the
case we may take.
All the Austrian troops have evacuated Holstein,
which seems to be rather amistakenpolicy, since the
Austrian Government was deservedly popular there,
and could have reckoned on the support of the in-
habitants, both direct and indirect. It is said
that General von GABLENZ received orders in
the first instance to maintain his position
in Altona, and, under all circumstances, to
avoid firing the first shot. He replied to this,
that the order was " impracticable," and that the
brigade must be withdrawn or sacrificed. General
von GABLENZ has issued an address to the Hol-
steiners, in which he says that forcible measures
have been adopted, and the Prussian troops have
caused great disaster and confusion. The Austrian
policy is right in seeking to avoid firing the first
shot, because it is quite evident that this has been
the object of Prussia from the outset, and she ex-
pects to gain great things if she only succeed in
forcing Austria to take the initiative in the affair.
The Federal Diet, it is said, intend to recognise
the Duke of AUGUSTENBURG, and to admit his re-
presentative provisionally. Of course this will give
great umbrage to the Prussian Cabinet,who are sure
to resent the step as a direct insult to themselves.
Now that Denmark has hopelessly lost the Duchies,
it will be just as well for the Duke to obtain pos-
session of them, and his doing so would remove an
ever vital cause of dispute between the two great
German Powers, and very likely be most conducive
to the interests of the Duchies themselves.

We are very sorry to find that a majority of the
house of Commons should have sanctioned the
erection of the obnoxious gas-works in the close
vicinity of Victoria-park. There is still hope that
the bill may be thrown out on the third reading, or,
what is perhaps more likely, that the House of
Lords may show themselves more considerate of the
wants and wishes of the people than the popular
representatives. In our busy and crowded metro-
polis we are obliged, no doubt, to subordi-
nate public health, convenience, and. recrea-
tion to the pressing requirements of trade
and manufacture, and certainly gas is a
matter of such .aniversal utility that every one
would feel inclined to bear a good deal rather than
lose its service. But unless it can be shown that
there is absolutely no other sight available for the
purpose, it appears not only cruel, but ridiculous,
to permit the construction of these gigantic works
close to a public park, on which we have laid out
about £lOO,OOO, and which is constantly frequented
by the working classes of the neighbourhood. We
have a great deal of enthusiasm manifesting
itself just now about the working-man and his
rights, but we should like to see a little
more practical care taken of his interests. Fresh
air and free space for healthy recreation are
no slight blessings to men and women pent in the
heat and crowd of the busy districts of the east-end,
and the feeling of the population has been very
strongly shown on the subject already. As usual,
however, in practical cases of this kind, where the
interests of comniercial association clash with the
wants of the people, hon. gentlemen on the Liberal
side leave the work to be done principally by the
Conservatives. Mr. HENLEY put the question very
pithily when he asked whether aly one would have
the face to propose to bring a group of gas-works
within 600; yards of Hyde-park ? " The present
bill," he added, " was for the purpose of bringing
a group of gas-works close to a park for which they
had paid £lOO,OOO, and he should vote against it on
the ground, that if it was improper to place gas-
works in close proximity to Hyde-park, it must be
equally so in the case of Victoria-park."
The arguments brought forward in support of
the bill were very contradictory. It was said that
the works would do no harm, and yet that it was
most desirable to remove them from the densely-
populated districts in which they were at present
situated. It was alternately urged that the works
would not be a nuisance, and that there were so
many other nuisances already on the spot that one
more would make no difference ; that the ground
was a perfect marsh, unsuitable for habitation, and
that it offered particular advantages for the con-.
struction of these large establishments. The mem-
bers of the committee, who considered the evidence
and went to view the spot, abruetce:,teaienalnynuontasneiemtohuast
in favour of the measure,
their decision should influence the House in opposi-
tion to their own common sense and the strong
feeling of the neighbourhood. Lord JOHN MAN-
NERS declared that he never remembered a more
eydthe
ao
unanimous feeling on any subject of the kind, andi l
added that the objection so strongly raised b
poorer classes was shared by the clergy, o
men, and other professions of the neighbour-
hood. Mr. CoWPER very justly said that the
vegetation of the park had already been seriously
injured by the manufactures carried on in
the vicinity, and declared that the House ought
to prevent the erection of such noxious
establishments iu the immediate vicinity of places of
public resort. As for the difficulty of finding a
suitable spot, he reminded the company that there
was land to be had on the banks of the river seven
ad
a miles from London, where they would have the
advantageso of
river communication and greater
very
facilities for getting rid of the impurities which
o ariserwfromr their
of practical manufacture.anDer.
forcible rR ToN
objection brought
to
the bill in the danger
extent of permitting such an enor-
mousgas works in any one place. The
accident at Erith, one would think, might warn the
public of the danger of permitting the accumulation of
explosive substances in such immense quantities in
the midst of a populous place. Sir JOHN pAKING..
TOR also admitted that he knew nothing of the