The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-06 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, SEPT. 6, 1866.

All is proceeding favourably in the direction of
peace, and a signal proof is given in the demobilisa-
tion of the Prussian army, which has commenced,
and the Italian Government are determined to dis-
miss to their homes 120,000 men without waiting
for the signature of the treaty of peace with Aus-
tria. This is a very wise resolve, and will be sure
to afford vast relief to many who are directly or in-
directly connected with the war. The negotiations
for the transfer of Venetia have commenced be-
tween the Austrian authorities and General LE-
The Austrians have also commenced to
evacuate the Quadrilateral, so that no drawback
seems to exist in the management of the affairs re-
lating to peace. It is the more satisfactory to Lind
these large armies disbanding, because the preva-
lence of cholera must render it desirable on every
account ; and had the war been prolonged, no doubt
very sad and serious consequences might have en-
sued.

BCEUF.

We learn from Florence that in consequence of
the cholera the Government have removed, or are
removing, the army from the position which it now
occupies, which is a wise precaution to adopt.
Communications have passed between the Prus-
sians and Italians, which prove that a very friendly
relationship exists between them, for the present at
any rate. Some doubts were entertained as to the
result of the long delays which have taken place in
the negotiations between Prussia and Saxony ; and,
indeed, it was feared that the former would be
tempted to renew hostilities if the period expired for
which the armistice was fixed. Happily, however,
this will not be the case, for the formal arrange-
ments have at last commenced in time to avoid the

catastrophe.
Affairs are not going on so satisfactorily in the
Prussian Chambers as the Government might de-
sire. Their bill has been rejected in favour of the
draught of the committee on the subject of the
usury laws. It is said that the report was false
which declared that Count llismAßcK had refused
to see the deputation ; that is to say, it was true in
fact, though not in the meaning. The Count was
too much occupied to attend to them at the time,
but the address will be laid before the KING and a.
written reply sent. This seems, in truth, a very
ingenious way of settling the business, but the
chief thing will be, if compliance is given, to their
demand, and we trust that it will, for Denmark
to receive compensation and restitution for the
injuries inflicted on her two years ago, and it will
be in some degree a relief to think that one act of
justice has been done in the course of this unjust
war. Among the many scraps of intelligence from
abroad it is gratifying to notice that the Emperor
FRANCIS JOSEPH has permitted M. PULSKY to visit
llAngary in consequence of his daughter's illness.
The adoption of a more lenient policy towards the
Hungarians generally could not fail to strengthen
the Government of Vienna, and indeed they have
reaped very awkward consequences from the unwise
course they have pursued already respecting the

country.
It is said that the French EMPEROR is about to
give a manifesto, which will proclaim his policy
generally, and more especially the inconsistency
which some think has existed regarding the policy
towards Germany, and the permission which has
been given to Prussia to aggrandise her territory.
Meanwhile speculations abound concerning the re-
tirement of DROUTN DE film, and the same cause
is given alike for his secession from office, and the
rumoured change of M. BENEDETTI from his
ambassadorship from Berlin to Constantinople.
Both these statesmen made the demands to
Prussia concerning the rectification of fron-
tiers, and hence it is argued that they
find it desirable to retire. This argument is plausible
enough, as is also the addenda, that the EMPEROR
does not disapprove of the policy they have advo-
cated, but has merely deemed it to be advisable to
postpone it for a while. No blame is attached to
these functionaries; and, on the contrary, high
honours are to be bestowed on them. The com-
ment made by the Temps respecting the policy of
France and Prussia are very much to the point, and
they also indicate the state of public feeling in
Paris, which is indeed that of mystification. No one
knows what to think or expect, and only peace can
enable people to collect their ideas, and determine
the best course to pursue in the general confusion
which prevails. " Prussia will avail herself of it to
organise her conquests, and France to open her
Universal Exhibition ; but what will follow ? We
must needs confess that the war which is just over
has raised far more questions than it has solved."
This is a very just definition of the state of the
case. Indecision and uncertainty are, in truth, the
characteristic elements of the affair. Whatever
be the motive which has induced the French
EMPEROR to let Prussia alone for the pre-
sent, it seems clearly understood in Paris that
it is only a temporary relinquishment of his pur-
pose. The doubt remains as to whether it be wise
to give Prussia more time to increase her strength
and consolidate her conquests, and no wonder such
opinions are given. But the Emperor NAPOLEON has,
doubtless, acted for the best, and it is difficult for
those who are not behind the scenes to comprehend
the inns-and-outs of the affair. For many reasons
it is to be regretted that the intolerable assumption
of Prussia should not have been checked, but no one
has a right to affirm that it was the duty of the
French Government to run risks for which they
were not fully prepared. The notion of war being
the consequence of the dispute in Germany was not
ed,
for many reasons, until a short time
before
etatinhe a
ctual outbreak of hostilities. A Con-
gress was supposed to be the most likely means re-
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Although the virulence of the epidemic has greatly
subsided, thanks, under PROVIDENCE, to thepromp-
titude and efficiency of the remedial measures
adopted, it still lingers amongst us, and it is evi-
dent that we must not relax our efforts for some
time to come. Over-confidence, like excessive ter-
ror, is likely to be mischievous in its effects,_and
both extremes will be guarded against by wise men.
The two great central committees, to whose inde-
fatigable exertions so much praise is due, have, from
the very first, dealt with the question in a broad and
liberal spirit, recognising the danger which arose
from the misery and destitution of families whose
bread-winners had been either stricken down by
illness or removed by death. The liberality and
promptitude with which food and clothing have
been dispensed by the local committees have been
most efficacious, and the scenes of wretchedness
which many of the gentlemen have personally wit-
, nesised give painful evidence of the necessity which