The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JUNE 25, 1859.

however, said nothing at all, in its sneering analysis
of the policy of the late Cabinet—the Times said
absolutely nothing whatever in that analysis--:-of
the President of the Council—any more than it
breathed a whisper of the Indian Secretary, or
uttered a syllable on the Colonial Secretary. Better
adhere to a system of strict and direct reticence
upon those Ministers and their respective depart-
ments than run the hazard, while directing any
attention to them whatsoever, of inconveniently
reviving to public remembrance achievements like
the re-organisation of the whole complex machinery
of the Indian Government, or like the creation, ab
initio, of the gigantic colony of British Columbia.
Comparisons might be unpleasant under the cir-
cumstances. Mr. VERNON SMITH'S—we beg his
pardon, Lord SMITH, or whatever his high mighti-
ness is now to be called upon his elevation to the
peerage—the late member for Northamptonshire's
conduct in office, while presiding over the old
Board of Control, might look rather poorly if
brought into distinct and vivid contrast to thE
career of the head of the same department under
another name, of the noble lord the member for
King's Lynn. And so also—in regard to the
Colonial-office, under its recent chief, the right hon.
baronet the member for Hertfordshire. The least
said about that also would probably be the most
agreeable—both to the Duke of NEWCASTLE and
Mr. LABOITCHERE. Therefore we are to go on tip-
toe past both the Colonial-office in Downing-street
and the great Asiatic central pint of government
in Leadenhall-street. If possible, those two de-
partments are to be drowsed back into the old
syncope of circumlocution. If they cannot be
brought to a full stop—they may, at any rate, by
a little judicious Whig tact or Peelite contrivance,
be allowed to lapse back into their old state of
coma. Hist ! Let us speak under our breath !
A little more caution and the country itself may
again fall a prey to the old drowsy influences ; and
then—and then—well among other things, in that
case A New Charter may yet, even at this eleventh
hour, be shuffled over to the Hudson's Bay Com-
pany by their accomplices the Whigs, and be thus
smuggled unperceived through Parliament.

LATEST NEWS.

millions was prevented by the entrance of the
Franco-Sardinian troops."
A letter from Berlin of the 21st says :—" A ru-

mour has been generally current to-day that a
sudden check has taken place in the prepara-
tions for mobilisation and that the execution of
that important measure has been suspended. The
rumour is founded on two real facts. First, the
arrangements made on the different railways for
the conveyance of a number of troops have been
countermanded; and, secondly, a part of the men
summoned to Berlin for the landw ehr have not
received their uniforms as they were to have done,
but have been paid and sent home with orders to
hold themselves in readiness for a future day. It
was stated, it is true, that the uniforms were not
yet ready, but that is not correct, as the military
storehouses contain everything necessary. The
change in the arrangements on the railways is a
more important fact than the interruption in the
clothing, which can only be momentary. A great
part of the Prussian troops must pass over the
Bavarian territory, and the Prussian officers who
had been sent to make the necessary arrangements
speak in the most glowing terms of the enthu-
siasm with which they were everywhere received.
The Bavarian Government has, however, suddenly
changed its ideas, and now declares that it will
not allow the passage of the Prussian troops until
Prussia has clearly and categorically explained the
object of the military measures which she has
adopted. It is not yet known what answer will
be given to that demand."
A letter from Naples, in the Presse, says :
" For the amnesty, three decrees have been pub-
lished. The third relates to ordinary offences only ;
it diminishes by three years the punishment of
persons condemned to the galleys, imprisonment,
or transportation, and remits all fines and sen-
tences for minor offences, with certain exceptions.
The two other decrees relate to political offences.
The second mitigates the measures against those
. who were placed on the list of suspected persons

in 1848 and 1849. These unfortunate men, who
were under the strictest surveillance of the police,
were imprisoned on the least disturbance, confined
to their province, and deprived of civil rights ; they
are now relieved from the strict surveillance.
The first decree, relating to political prisoners,
deserves to be literally translated ; it is as follows :
—' The rest of their sentences is entirely remitted
to all condemned to ir•ns, solitary confinement,
banishment. and imprisonment, for political offences
committed in the years 1848 and 1849, not included
in the decrees of the 27th of December, 1858, and
18th of March, 1859, according to the lists existing
at the Ministry of Grace and Justice.' All persons
condemned for offences committed since 1849 are,
therefore, excluded from the benefit of this decree,
several hundreds of whom are now at the galleys,
in prison, transported, or in exile. In short, these
decrees, which have been regarded as a favourable
omen for the reign of the young King, were
already prepared by the late King as a complement
to his pretended amnesty, and cannot be considered
as amounting to much."