The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-11 00:00:00

Naval and Mil tart'

On Thursday a great review took place at Alder-
shott in presence of the Prince and Princess of
Wales. Half-past 10 o'clock was the time fixed
for the troops to be in position, but it was 11 o'clock
before the lines were formed. The ground chosen
was that part of the common known as Eelmoor-hill,
to the eastward of the Long Valley. Exactly at 12
o'clock the Royal visitors, who had travelled from
London, appeared on the ground. They consisted
of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Crown
Prince of Denmark, Prince Teck, his Royal High-
ness the Duke of Cambridge, the Countess of Mac-
clesfield (Lady in Waiting to the Princess of Wales),
Col. Keppel and Lieut. Haig (in attendance on the
Prince of Wales), the Duke of Manchester, General
Knollys, Controller of the Household ; General Sir
Hope Grant, General Sir William Codrington, Col.
Gambier, R.A., Adjutant-General; Col. Keene,
R.E. ; Col. Egerton, Deputy Adjutant-General ;
General Alexander Gordon, Sir Henry Havelock,
and many others. The Royal party were escorted
by a troop of the 15th Hussars. His Royal High-
ness was received with the usual military honours.
After a brief inspection of the lines, position was
taken up at the saluting point, and the division
marched past, the cavalry and artillery in open
column of squadrons at a walk, and the infantry in
open column of grand divisions in quick time :
Lieut.-Col. Riley, C. 8., and B battery, B brigade,
R.H.A. ; Lieut.-Col. J. Mitchell, and D battery B
brigade, R.H.A. ; Col. Howard Vyse, and 3d
(King's Own) Hussars ; Major Drury Lowe, and
17th Lancers; Major Heneage,V.C., and Bth King's
Own (Royal Irish) Hussars; Colonel FitzWygram,
and 13th Hussars ; Colonel Elgee, and E and F
batteries, 9th brigade, R.A. ; Col. Besy, and E and
G batteries, Bth brigade, R.A. ; Col. Halliwell, and
Sandhurst cadets (6 companies of 16 file) ; Bri-
gadier-General Renney and staff of Ist Infantry
brigade; Major Stewart, and 3d Company Royal
Engineers; Col. Gordon, and lstbattalion 17th Regt.,
Col. tildes, and 81st Regt. (Loyal Lincoln Volun-
teers) ; Col. Garritt and 66th Regiment ; Brigadier-
General Sir Alfred Horsford and Staff of the 3d In-
fantry Brigade ; Colonel Mackirdy, and 69th Regi-
ment ; Colonel Boyle and 89th (Princess Victoria's)
Regiment ; Col. Hope and 71st Highland Light
Infantry ; Brigadier-Gen. Campbell and Staff of the
2d Brigade ; Lieut.-Col. Daniel and 28th Regiment ;
Col. Carter, and 63d Regiment ; Col. Lennox Peel,
and 62d Light Infantry; Capt. Dawson and A and
B Troops Royal Engineer Train ; Major Wyatt and
six troops of the Military Train. The cavalry and
Royal Horse Artillery afterwards passed the salut-
ing-point at a trot, and again at a gallop. A sham
fight followed, which terminated about 3 o'clock.
Their royal highnesses and suite, after lunching with
Lieut.-Gen. Sir James and Lady Scarlett, at Forest-
lodge, Farnborough, returned to town by special
train at a quarter-past 4 o'clock.
The following appointments have been made at
the Admiralty : —Capt. E. W. Turnour, to the Vic-
tory, additional, for service in the Royal Alfred ;
Commander R. G. Tufnell, to be Inspecting Com-
mander in the Coastguard, vice Harrington ; Lieut.
Arthur B. Mansell, to the Petrel ; Lieut. Charles
E. Foot, Lieut. Charles S. Shuckburgh, Lieut.
Edmund M. Dayrell, and Lieut. Arthur Ottll. Paget
to the Black Prince, for service in gunboats.

North London Collegiate School.

On Friday afternoon St. Martin's Hall was
densely crowded by a most fashionable auditory to
witness the annual distribution of prizes to the
pupils of the North London School.
The Rev. Canon Champneys, vicar of St. Pancras,
presided, and was supported on the platform by the
Bishop of Peterborough, the Marquis Camden, the
Earl of Dartmouth, Mr. llarvey Lewis, M.P., Mr.
Thomas Chambers, Q.C., M.P., the Rev. Thomas
Jackson, the Rey. William C. Williams, principal
of the school ; Mr. S. Taylor, member of the Me-
tropolitan Board ; the churchwardens of St. Pan-
cras, and other clergymen and gentlemen of influ-
ence.

The meeting having been opened by prayer, the
Rev. the PRINCIPAL made his report as to the satis-
factory progress of the school, which consisted of
over 400 pupils, being an increase upon the num-
bers of the previous years. The senior pupils who
had undergone the Oxford and Cambridge middle-
class examinations had been successful in carrying
off a more than fair share of academical honour;
and others who had commenced to graduate had
obtained University scholarships.
The Rev. CHAIRMAN expressed his high gratifi-
cation at witnessing the continued progress of the
school and the advantages which resulted in
affording a sound moral and religious, as well
as scientific and commercial education to the
middle classes. It was desirable they should be
multiplied in every district. The vicar concluded
by distributing his prizes for good conduct.
prize,
The Marquis CAMDEN presented his nAwn.v.. H.
the Camden medal for mathematics,h•
Miller, and congratulated not only tson
many able
the school on having turned
outuis also presented
mathematicians. The noble marquis
J. rtoecipient but
Tyson.
his prize for the Camden Essay
The Earl of D.AnntoutTlGl
presentedreek scholar ; and Mr.
A. Newland as the his prize to
Latin prize, whilst the
Chambers,
ton, presented his lordship's
the presentation of Lord
in tbl2lbsence of Earl Sou tham p_
Chairman tor
Llanover's prize for 1-11.11
Presented the borough
Mr. HARVEY LEWIS, . p
undertoo
members'a
and expressed the deep interest he
d thefeedaliChool ever since he had represented
the borough of Alarylebone, and his delight to see
had felt
ti n m s
its continued prosperity.

The churchwardens' prizes, prizes for theology,
&c., were also presented, and at intervals the com-
pany were amused by the elder pupils giving scenes
from German and French plays, the trial scene from
Pickwick," and a scene from "Box and Cox,"
capitally rendered.

The proceedings closed with a cordial vote of
thanks to the rev. chairman,

WELWYN, Sunday Eviging.a.
The Great Northern has hitherto been regarded
as one of the bet-managed railway systems in the
kingdom, but at the present moment that system is
almost entirely blocked by a disaster the magnitude
as well as the character of which is entirely with-
out precedent in the histery of accidents in this coun-
try can only find its parallel in calamities
whi anch dmayea sometimes have been heard of on the
other side of the Atlantic.
That three heavily laden trains of merchandise
should dash into each other in the middle of a tunnel
almost simultaneously little more than 20 miles front
London ; that such trains should have become
ignited by the fire from the furnaces of their over-
thrown and shattered engines, and that the tunnel,
which is more than half a mile in length, should be
converted into one huge furnace and its air shafts
into a species of burning crater is a calamity so
astounding as to be almost incredible were it not
that it is undeniably true.
The scene of this extraordinary occurrence is the
Welwyn Tunnel, 5 miles beyond Hatfield, between
Welwyn Junction and Stevenage, and the narrative
of the circumstances collected on the spot is this :
Shortly before 11 o'clock a train of goods'
" empties" started on Saturday night from the
King's-cross geods'station for Ifitchin. On reach-
ing the centre-of the Welwyn Tunnel, either from
the bursting *of a tube, or some other cause, the
engine broke down, and the train was brought to a
stand. In this emergency it would have been the
duty of Ray, the guard, who was in the brake in
the rear of the train, to have gone back out of the
tunnel, and given the stopping signal. This pre-
caution, from a cause not explained, and which, in,
all probability, never will be explained, as Ra,y,
with his companion was subsequently found in the
brake van dead, it is quite clear they did not
take. This occurred about 12 30 a.m. on this
(Sunday) morning, and had scarcely taken place
Mielifynd .goods • train,- the
driver of the engine of - which had re-
ceived no signal of danger on the London side,
ran into the tunnel and dashed into the rear of the
already broken down train of empties. The violence
of the shock was such as to throw the Midland en-
gine and the heavy train of goods which it was
withon upon casks
drawing, and which, among other merchandise, was
known to contain several waggons laden
of oil and other materials of a combustible charac-
ter, over on to the up line, piling them
the other in heaps reaching to the crown of the arch,
and completely blocking the tunnel. Whether front
consternation or from neglect, no signal of the mis-
hap
was given to the signalman at the northern end
icnacnireedinbpl,ybsrhinogrtinsgpancpe
nitnoraraitnnh for the supply of the
towardstoe timedeadead
Stevenage,hraee,meat
ctoftreohn
Imat nehadet
tunnel, and dashed into the ruins of the already
This, which
wg
NweasaaGter-market, w
atNroerthernitthraiont,heeLergedoods.
the
capsized Midland goods. In a few moments it was
discovered that the engine of the Great Northern
train had turned over, and that the goods and wag-
gons of the Midland train had become ignited from
the burning coal and cinders of the engine furnaces
scattered about. Singular to relate, both drivers
and firemen of all the engines had escaped either un-
hurt or with but slight injuries, and having signalled
to the nearest stations, both up and down, what had
happened, the first step taken was to look after the
guard of the Northern train of empties, Ray, who
was found in the midst of the ruins of his brake,
annf dthwei
3Nthiethrimo-
uas crushed
firemanand
in
thequite emdepaldoy,
politan Railway, whom it appears he was conveying
surreptitiously down the line to his home, who, al-
though not quite dead, was in a dying condition
and was not expected to survive many hours. The
guard of the Northern up-train, Lacey, was also
found lying on the line near his brake, most severely
injured about the head. He was in the first instance
removed to Welwyn, but subsequently was taken to
town and placed under the care of Mr. J. T. Kirk-
wood, of the Euston-road, surgeon to the Great
Northern and Midland Companies. Lacey, although
suffering from a severe scalp wound and other head
injuries, it is hoped, may recover. Information of
the occurrence was at once telegraphed to Mr. S.
Clarke, the general manager of the line, who resides
at Hatfield, and also to the authorities on the
northern side ; at Knebworth large bodies of men
were employed to get out what waggons they could,
but the suffocating character of the smoke and the
heat of the fire from the ignited ruins of the car-
riages and merchandise prevented their efforts being
very effective, with the exception of the Scotch
train. Further telegrams having been forwarded
to London, about two o'clock this morning Mr.
Superintendent Williams, with a gang of some 200
men, reached the scene of the disaster. By this
time, however, it was known that there were 36
carriages or trucks, 13 of which belonged to the
down Midland, all in a blaze. The repeated explo-
sions rendered any attempt, even if the heat and
smoke had not prevented it, to enter the tunnel
abortive. From the air shaft smoke. and at inter-
vals flame, although some 50 or 60 feet in height
from the roadway to the summit of the shaft, to-
gether with sounds resembling the roaring of a
mighty cataract or river, indicated the character
of the conflagration that was raging underneath.
The authorities having taken counsel, in the absence
of water and inability to approach the seat of con-
flagration, it was deemed advisable to let it expend
itself, and be prepared with aid to enter the tunnel
and, clear the line of the ruins so soon as it should
have done so. The fire continued to rage through-
out the whole of the day, and it was not until 6 p.m.
that it had become sufficiently reduced to enable any
one to enter the tunnel. A t this time a body of men
arrived, under command of Mr. Superintendent Wil-
Hams, with the Hatfield engine, lent to the company
by the Marquis of Salisbury ; and a supply of water
having been obtained the engine was set to work, but
the ruins were still burning. Hundreds of navvies
have arrived, and it is hoped during the night to get
the line clear. In the meantime the whole of the
traffic has been carried on along the Hertfordbranch,
via Royston and Hitchin, and the Cambridge branch
of the Great Eastern Railway. It is a fortunate
circumstance that the Great Northern Railway
traffic on Sundays is trivial as compared with that
on week days, otherwise it is doubtful if the Great
which is also stopped. -
Eastern could have taken it as well as the Midland,

TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE SUN.
Sir,--A serious obstruction occurred on the Great
Northern Railway on Saturday night, in the Welwyn
tunnel, about 20 miles from London, under the
following circumstances :
A train of empty coal waggons was going north-
the preceding train had
wards through the tunnel, when the engine burst a
into collision
tube and was unable to proceed. A goods train was
following, and, by some mistake on the part of the
signalman, had received the
wtealegg:oanpshojef
from the other end of it that
einond train
passed out. The second train came
message
the first
trainlvith thea:dbtrhaekeei-lvgainneooff tthheet
sr
ea
of empty waggons,
off the
throwing the van and several
The guard of the first train line.
was killed. At this
moment an up goods train reached the north end
of the tunnel, and, as
cate an obstruction of the
" up" line, it was allowed
to proceed.

The engine of this train came into contact with

the engine of the
waggons, was also dtohlrlo,nwntraoinff, athned,liowei.th sßeevfeorrael
any means could be taken to remove the broken
waggons, the fire from one of the engines had
caught the debris, and the wind blowing through
the tunnel caused the fire to spread so rapidly that
it was impossible to clear the line. Arrangements
were therefore made to work the traffic over the
Great Eastern Railway via Hertford, Cambridge,
and Peterborough, and it will continue to be so
worked until the line through the tunnel is again
fit for traffic.
will be the case in the course of
This, it is hoped,
Monday. It is hardly necessary for me to mention
that the most rigid inquiry will be made as to error
of the signalman, which has had such serious re-
amS, sir, your faithful servant,
EY3101511 CLAIIKE, General Manager.
sulGtsr.e--I
at NorthernStation,Railway June 10.
, King's-cross

------- -
EDUCHIL
ATION
REN OF PO
LONODON.
R CATHOLIC
CD IN
A PUBLIC MEETING will be held at ST. JAMES'S
HALL on THURSDAY, the 14th inst., at One o'clock,
for the EXTENSION of EDUCATION among the
CATHOLIC POOR.
The Most Rev. Archbishop MANNING will preside.

P'uDuO USES.—Messrs. TOPLIS and ROBERTS
have numerous furnished and unfurnished TOWN,
rban, and Country RESIDENCES to LET or SELL.
Particulars upon application forwarded tor two stamps,
upon stating requirements and rental. Offices, 2, Conduit-
street, Regent-street, and South Kensington, lacing the
Museum.
----

0 UTH KENSINGTON, HYDE-PARK,
1.:7; Queen's, and Rutland Gates, Queen's-gate and Peters-
ham Terraces, Queen's-gate, Cornwall, Princes and Beaufort
gardens, Elvaston-place, Cromwell-ro id, Onslow and S
T hurloe
squares. Colt'ns. itc. Me, srs TO LIS aud Ito BE itT ',aye
I DEN CES to SELL and LET in these an surroundiandng
localities. Offices, 2, Conduit-street, Itogend t-street,
south Kt.nsington, lacing' the Museum.

fl AZIC;T A L PA LAC E .—GREAT 1) NY and
‘-) EVENING WEDDING. FETE TO-MORROW
(Tuesday), in commemoration of the Weotheg of her
Royal Highness the Princess Mary of Cambridge.
This truly popular day with all classes will be duly cele-
brated in unison with the general feeling at the Crystal
Palace.
Open from Ten till Ten—twelve ours. A
of all kinds will fill up the day and ev hening. musements
Palace open at lO. 0
Royal Salute of Aerial Maroons ou Terrace
and Military Band . l. 0
Orchestral Band 2. 0
Great Fountains 4. 0
Balloon Ascent by Mr. Coxwell 4.15
Combined Bands—Wedding Music 4.30
Ethardo
Chang, Chinese Giant
Popularßevels on Stage, Pantomimic Ballet
until
Special and most brilliant Illumination of
Palace, decorated—Flags, Banners, and
Wreaths, up to
And everybody and Everything. ONE SHILLING
only. Children half-price.
NoI-B.—Arrangements will be made for a few good re-
served seats. Amusements To-morrow.

TEETH.—AIr. DAY (for many years principal
assistant to Mr. Eskell, surgeon-dentist, ot 8, Gros-
venor-street, W.) may be.consulted on all cases ot Dental de-
tect or deficiency. Ile has made arrangements for the use of
Mr. Eskell's Patents, by which means exquisitely enamelled
ARTIFICIAL TEETH

of the utmost durability are constructed (in a few hours when
necessary), and are worn upon tender gums or roots of teeth
or by nervous persons for any length of time, without pain,
unpleasantness, or discomfort. The iavention applied to
teeth of ordinary or interior construction.
PAINFUL TEETH OR DISEASED STUMPS
EXTRACTED WII'IIOUT PAIN.
No chloroform ! and perfectly safe.
OSTEO-PLASTIC ENAJIEL,

the exact colour of the natural teeth, used in all cases 01
stopping. Discoloured teeth restored, loose teeth fastened
and all operations on the most approved principles.
Terms strictly moderate. Consultations free.
291, REGENT-STREET (3 doors from the Polytechnic).

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.—
Sole Lessee and 3lansvr, Mr. Buckstone.
THIS EVENING, THE BALANCE OF COMFORT :
Messrs. Howe, Rogers, Braid, Weathersby, &z.; Mesdames
Cavend!sh, Wright, Lovell, drc.
After which, T E FAVOU KITE OF FonrIINE : Messrs,
Bothern, Buckstone, Chippendale, Rogers, Asc.; Mesdndleyamei
Chippendale, Saville, 3Mr
loore, Fitzwilliam, Hill, Li, ezc.
Concluding with SHOCKING EVENTS: . Chip; en
dale, Mr. Compton ; Miss Lovell, &c.
Commence at Seven.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manager. Mr. Geo. Vining'.
THIS EVESING, A LUCKY HIT. Messrs. J. G. Shore,
IL Mellon. and Hiss K. Rodgers.
Alter which, at Eight. LOUIS XI. Louis, Mr. Charles
Kean ; Martha, Mrs. Charles Kean.
Concluding with QUIET LODGINGS.

ROYAL LYCEUM T EIEATRE.
Under the sole Management of Mr. Fechter.
T R IS EVENING, a new petite Comedy, entitled DOCTO R
DA.VEY. Garrick (the Actor), Mr. 11. Vezia ; Messrs. Evans,
Stanley, (tc. ; Mrs. Ho• sman and Miss Henrade.
Atter which. THE CORSICAN BROTHERS. Mr.
Fechter; Messrs. Jordan, imary, Vezin, W iddicomb, Fitz-
patrick, tlorsman, Evans, Moreland, &c. ; Miss Lay. nu, Mrs.
Ternan, Mrs. llorsman, miss Hatch, Miss Duyeracy, and
Miss Henrade.
To conc'tyle with a farcical sketch. UP IN' THE WORLD.
Mr. 11. Widdicombe; Messrs. Evans, Pitzp thick, &c. ; Miss
Borsman, Mrs. C. Horsman.
Box Office open daily from Eleven till Five.

NEW THEATRE-ROYAL ADELPIII
Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster.
THIS EVENING, at 7 precisely (.t2d time), a new Drame-
Comedy. in Four Acts, entitled T A.ST FAMILY:
Messrs. Billington, J. L. Toole, Paul Bedford, R Phillips,
Ashley, liburne ; Mrs. Allred Mellon (Miss Woolgar), Miss
11. Simms, IliiB3 Furtado, Miss Smith (her 321 appearance),
Miss Seaman, Miss Godsall, and Mrs 11. Lewis.
Aft r which (first time), an Andulusian Ballet Diver IEBO-
- called LA FLOR l)IC S oNILLA, by the miebrated
Spanish Dancers, El Senora Campubi, El Senor Allem any,
and La Senorita Elvira, from the Teatro Real, Madrid.
To corclude with CIIYING JENNY AN D LAUGHING
JOHNN Y. Mcsars. J. L. Toole, W. 11. Eburne ; Mrs. A.
Mellon and Idi,s Furtado.

ROYAL STRAND 'THEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. swanborough.
THIS EVENING, at Seven o'clock, A LF.XIN A ; cr, True
unto Death. Messrs. Parcelle, Thorne, Price ; Misses zwan-
borough and Simpson.
Alter which nil! be produced a grand Eas'er Burlesque,
FAKI ; or, \'ive Lc mpiere : Mee=ts. Stoyle, t horne,JameN,
Fenton Mesdames A. Swanburougb, Ilaynharn, bluipSon.
Johnstone, [Canoe, and Bolt.
To conclude with JACK'S DELIGII P.

QADLER'S WELLS THEATRE.-
Under the Management of Mr. W. 11. C. Nation.
Enthusiastic Success and Last Five Nights of THE POOR

STROLLERS.

THIS EVENING (Monday., 70, Bth 9th, 10th, 11th, and
12th NlAts of W. Brough's brilliant Burlesque of PAPIL-
LON ETTA. Mis les L. Willmore, Ada Harlani,F.Gwynne,
Hudspeth; Mr. Belmore.

Pree, ded each eveninrr, with Watts Phillips' powerful
Adtlphi Drama of THE POOR STROLLERS. Messrs.
T. Swinbourue, Delmore, Barrett, Mlntyre, C. Warner, and
Miss Ada Dyas.
On SA I'URD &Y NEXT, June 16 (first tithe), a dramatic
adaptation of Charles Dickens, E3q.'s latest work Our
Mutual Friend," entitled THE GOLDEN DUSTMAN.
New scenery and powerful situations.
Commence at Seven.

Acting Manager, Mr. NYE CHART.

THE "SUN" NEWSPAPER.—
G. R. GLENIE, Sporting Library, 4, Connaught-
terrace, 14:cl_tware-road, is specially appointed AGEN e to
deliVer the LAIR If.DITIoN tit .riik: SUN " at the
earliest possible moment atter leaving the press. lie is able
to deliver copies in Town, the Suburbs, and in many parts of
the Country at a comparatively early hour the same Lyening,
say 40 miles by 9 o'clock.

lIE "SUN" NEWSPAPER.-
G. R. GLENIE delivers the LATE EDITION al
Chelsea, 7.40 ; Kllbu.n, 8; Starch-green, 8; Woolwich, 7.30
Uxbridge, 9.20; Walford, 8.45.

THE LATEST EDITION of " TIIE SUN."
J. 1101,S begs to inform his friends, and the pubiic
epliAll/jAh,?t
ash egosounp s
as upplies
published
LATESThe
o. EDITIONI6am s
I,e a
(7-1
road, N.W.

THE LAST EDITION of " TIIE SUN"
supplied as soon as Published, containing all the
LATEST NEWS and SI'ORTING INTELLIGEN'CE, by
11. W. HARRIS, Newspaper Agent, 4, Blacktriars-road,
London, S.

PORTING.—JOHN ROBERTS supplies the
LATEST EDITION of " TLIN: SUN" as soon as pub-
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TILE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN "
sup_plied, as soon as published every Evening, by
ALEXANDELt. (late IlltOOKS), Newspaper Agent, 21,
Old Cavendish- a treet, Oxford-street.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
TlllB DA Y.—Mon3iug, h. m.—Afternoon, 12h. 30m.
'l'J-MORROW.-Leming, 12h. 58m.—Afternoon, lh. 25m.

(t.# • *,-*\
jg• •

LONDON, MONDAY, JUNE 11, 1866.

Although war has not yet been declared, it may
now be momentarily expected; and, in point of fact,
we hardly see how it can be avoided after what has
taken place in Holstein respecting the advance of
Prussi
an troops.
to Count ICAROLTI, protesting Count MENSDORFF has sent a Note
the troops against the entry of
into Holstein, and declaring the step to
be a violation of the Gastein Convention, which
treaty should hay, beenconsidered valid until a
definitive settlementof the
sigc Duchy question had been
made. The most
is that Austria throws the ant part
of the Note
responsibility of
the consequences of this affair upon
Prussia,
and reserves to herself liberty of
action for
the future. It is the next thing to a declaration
of war on both sides that the two consenting
parties to the Gastein Convention should have each
declared that the other has violated its conditions,
for this oft-quoted Convention was the tie that
bound them together most completely, and of course
the charge of being the first to reverse the decision
is the greatest reproach that can be made under the
circumstances. The Government of Vienna have
now received information to the effect that the
Prussian troops have occupied many places and are
about to occupy more. General von GABLENZ has
declined the invitation of General von MANTEUFFEL
to resume the common Government of the Duchies.
Of course the Vienna Government is too sharp-
witted not to perceive the insidious motive of this
proposal, for it is merely a strategy to gain time

until the Prussians had secured a firm footing to
themselves in the Duchy of Holstein. The greatest
excitement now prevails as to the opening of the
Holstein Estates, which event will probably be the
turning point to decide the momentous question of
peace or war. The Prussians will not permit these
Estates to meet in any part of Holstein, and
General von MANTEUFFEL will take necessary steps
to further this order. Of course doubt prevails as
to whether Austria will oppose the measures
taken by Prussia, or remain still longer in
abeyance. It is not probable that the Austrians
will consent to look on while the Prussians lord it
over the Duchies after this fashion. No one can
believe that such a thing as the proclamation re-
cently issued by General von MANTEUFFEL can be
permitted to stand. In this he orders the dissolu-
tion of all political societies, and suspends the pub-
lication of all political newspapers until legal autho-
risation can be granted to them. The General also
announces the dissolution of the Holstein Govern-
ment, which the Austrian authorities had appointed.
The King of PRUSSIA, it is intimated in conclusion,
intends to convoke the Estates of Schleswig and
Holstein, in order to carry out the principle of
unity of both Duchies.

This is, certainly, taking the law into his own
hands with a vengeance, and it is in point of fact a
direct provocation to the Austrians to declare war.
Very likely they may be driven to this in self-
defence; but if they are really the ones to give the
signal, the Prussians will be the virtual aggressors,
and the nations of Europe will admit this to be the
fact. When Prussia goes so far as to appoint a
Chief President for a new Government of the two
Duchies it is high time to be prepared for any con-

tingencies that may arise.
It is curious to notice the dilemma in which the
King of PRUSSIA is placed in consequence of the
policy of his Government being adverse to the
popular opinian of the country. So many addresses
in favour of peace have been forwarded to His
MAJESTY, and are still being forwarded, that he
has deputed the Minister of the Interior to reply to
them in general terms. The Minister accordingly
gets out of his difficulty as best he can, and states
that the KING " reluctantly perceives in these ad-
dresses an absence of the devotion which charac-
terised the Breslau address," but he repeats the
assurances which he then gave as a fittinc, answer

to all their addresses—the KING it is declared ex-
pects in view of growing dangers, the " uncondi-
tional devotion of his people." This is cool assur-
ance, but perhaps not more than might be expected

from the self-crowned KING. What right has he
or any of his Ministers to expect the devotion of a
people to sustain them in difficulties that have been
occasioned by the most wanton acts of spoliation and
aggression. The " growing dangers" emphatically
alluded to arc nothing but the natural conse-
quences of the fatal policy pursued by Prussia
in spite of all warnings and in defiance of all advice.
No wonder that the people of Prussia should have
at last found a tongue, and made known their un-
willingness to engage in a war which will be costly,
and perhaps ruinous, for no earthly end that they
can see but the gratification of Count BISMARCK'S
whims. We are glad to see that they have sense
and spirit to discern the pitfalls before them, and
to protest against the unwarrantable course of their
rulers. The Breslau address was an unusual ex-
pression of loyalty, such as we are not likely
to meet with again in a hurry in the same
direction. Now that the chances of hostilities are
so imminent it is not at all likely that the people
will allow themselves any longer to act a part, and
condone offences which so greatly militate against
their interests. It is an unfortunate beginning to
an arduous struggle that the people should this
show themselves so unwilling for any war to take
place at all ; and it is the more ominous, because
the Emperor of AUSTRIA has been supported with
the greatest unanimity, and continues to receive
fresh proofs of zeal and devotion, so that the two
Powers will not engage in warfare upon equal