The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-16 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNEST).I y„Wit y 16,
1866.

The latest news from the Continent is
not so
..Ineouraging in its nature, and the probability of
war is again in the ascendant. The insane policy
pursued by Prussia is, indeed, of such a character
as almost to preclude all hope of a satisfactory
settlement. Not content with molesting Saxony
in every possible manner, the Berlin Government
have now turned their attention to Hanover, and
in the- Note which summons Hanover to explain
the meaning of her warlike preparations Prussia
threatens that kingdom with "inilitary occupation,"
and insists that the Hanoyerian Governmejit Shall

observe the strictest neutrality. Nothing can be
more unfair than this course of proceeding,
and it is difficult to understand what can be the
motives that induce Herr BISMARCK to provoke and
irritate the different States, and complicate mat-
ters so much in case of an adjustment of affairs
being attempted. Rumours are afloat in some
quarters respecting the probability of an under-
standing being come to between the two great
Powers, but nothing of an authentic kind is in
circulation. As for the report that Prassia
is willing to enter upon negotiations in order
that Holstein may be ceded to Austria, in

accordance with the Gastein Convention that

does not seem to contain a particle of probability.
The projects of Prussia have been too long
in formation, and far too much pains have been
taken to annex the Duchies to render it at all likely
that the Berlin authorities will now abandon their
long-cherished hope. As for the expectations which
have been formed in some quarters as to the benefits
that would accrue from Russian mediation, they do
not seem at all likely to be realised. It is now said
that the correspondence which has been going on
between the Courts of St. Petersburg and Berlin
has been relative to the creation of a Duchy of
Warsaw, and has had nothing to do with the pre-
sent chances of war. It was not likely that the
Government of the CZAR would care to interfere
to a great extent in the affairs of the German
States ; partly because they had no immediate
concern with them, and also because their influence
would not be very great. No doubt Prussia and
Austria would think Russia had some secret motive
in pressing forward her wish for peace, and thus in
the end the interference might do more harm than
good.

Austria is meanwhile pursuing her preparations
with unabated energy, and is resolved not to be
taken by surprise in case of Prussia commencing
hostilities, as she is more than likely to do. Com-
plete bodies of Austrian troops have been sent from
Vienna to the north during the last few days, and
thus the beginning has been made of the
"strategic concentration" of troops on the Prussian
frontier. Of course the Imperial Government
have all along opined that force was better than
anything, as they had to deal with the cunning of
Herr BISMARCK and his coadjutors; and the re-
sult
has proved their surmise to be correct, for the
enemy has been held in check during some time.
Had the Vienna Government carried on of late the
same facile policy which they did in the time of
the Danish affair long before this period they would
have seen the complete monopoly of the Duchies
by Prussia, and very likely also the occupa-
tion of some of the lesser States of Ger-
many. It has been solely by the determined
attitude of Austria that time and opportunity
have been given to the small principalities of
Germany to arm themselves, and thus be in some
measure prepared to maintain their nationality. In
Venetia preparations are making on an extensive
scale for the approach of war. The garrison of
Venice is to be raised to 24,000 men, and a consi-
derable force is to be stationed in the Tyrol, while
at Gratz depots for the Austrian military service
have been established.

The Xa:ione of yesterday in Florence states that
a Note of the French Government has arrived, pro-
posing the assembly of a Congress, and that in
answer to this proposition the Italian Government
have declared that the basis of all " preliminary
negotiation " must be the cession of Venetia.
This is very likely to be true, and it would indeed
be wise on the part of Austria if she would attend
in time and yield the possessicn of that disputed
territory. Prussia would then be compelled to
moderate her tone and lessen her pretensions, for
she would never recognise that difficulties had been
removed from the path of her rival. Italy has en-
tered en the preparations for war with great alac-
rity, and has exhibited a spirit and energy worthy
of old times, and deserving of a better cause than
that at present before her. The Minister of War
has ordered fresh lists to be prepared for the
promotion of officers in the army, and in all
directions the greatest care has been displayed
that all may be in readiness for the approach-
ing conflict, whenever that may be. From Paris
we learn that a meeting was reported to have
taken place between Earl COWLEY, M. DROUYN
DE L'HUYS, and Baron BUDBERG, for the purpose
of bringing about a solution of the difficulties of
the German question, but there seems no founda-
tion for it. The fact is, that the efforts of third
parties to maintain the peace unbroken was of little
or no avail if they meet with no reciprocity from
the principals, and in the instance before us this is
naturally the case.

The arrival of the Allemania, from New York on
the sth, brings us a piece of intelligence which will
produce a considerable amount of excitement among
the Fenians—that is to say, if any member of that
confraternity still linger in the sister kingdom. The
,Fenians have actually contrived to capture an Eng-

lish schooner near Eastport, after which they
scuttled their own ship and transferred themselves
to their prize, which was named the Wentworth.
Consequently, when the Federal steamer Winooski
set off in pursuit of them, which she very shortly did,
she found nothing but an innocent English vessel,
which she allowed to proceed and returned to Eastport.
The Fenians have, therefore, two feathers in their
cap—they have surprised an English schooner and
outwitted the Yankees. Were it not for the

somewhat melancholy situation of their affairs
the brotherhood might take courage from these
grand exploits, but the difficulties arising from a
division of interests increase rather than diminish.
O'MAHONY is denounced in several quarters, and
some irate Fenians even go so far as to threaten the
great Head Centre himself with trial for complicity
in O'MATioNv's malfeasance, but the partisans of
the latter defer taking any steps until STEPHENS'S
arrival. It is a significant fact, however, that the
accessions to the ROBERTS' faction are much less
numerous than the departures from O'MAHONY, so
that redoubtable " million of men" who are to
dictate terms to all the nations of the world may
reasonably be supposed to be rapidly diminishing.
The news from the States themselves is chiefly
with an outbreak at Memphis, where a
seriousoccupied
riot has occurred, originating iu the attempted
rescue of r prisoner by a party of negro soldiers.
The fighting which en sued lasted two days and re-
sulted in several deaths, and a large number of
nsecghroooel
ss
and negro houses.
gsothmee
wounded, besides thAet dFeosrttrupcitiekonerionf
burn the city. Numbers have been a
rrestedand found
have also been troublesome, and have threatened to
heavily armed. The cause of discontent is not
stated, but tranquillity was pretty well restored
when the mail left. In the Congress several
amendments had been offered to the bill reported
from the Reconstruction Committee, one of them
proposing to admit the Southern States to
full representation on March 4, 1867. Another pro-
poses to admit them whenever they assume a loyal
attitude and their representatives take the test oath.
These are all indications of the altered tone of the
public mind regarding the Southern States, and a
farther sign is given in the refusa to grant the
suffrage to the negroes in the newly-received State
of Colorado. The amendment prc posed, negro

suffrage, was rejected by -95 to 36 votes. The
House of Representatives has asked the PRESIDENT
for the instructions given to the Federal naval com-
mander in Chilian waters, so that the Americans
do not appear to be better satisfied with the con-
duct of their naval officers than the English are.
The general aspect of affairs in the States is tran-
quil, and both parties in the political struggle are
probably engaged in gathering strength for a fresh
encounter.

We hope that the House of Commons will not
rest satisfied with the explanation given last evening
by Mr. LAYARD respecting the bombardment of
Valparaiso. As is usually the case the official
statements endeavoured to smooth everything down,
and, as Mr. WHITEsIDE justly remarked, vindicated
everybody but the British subject. The energetic
and indignant protest addressed by the British
merchants of that city to the Government is an
awkward fact, and although Mr. LAYARD went so
far as to say that its statements were entirely
without foundation, and quite contray to the
facts of the case, the impression made upon
the House was evidently strong. The memberswould
not, of course, from a sense of justice, pass any cen-
sure upon the conduct of Admiral DENMAN without
knowing the facts of the case, and the gallant Admiral
was not without *arm defenders, but the whole
affair was felt to be very discreditable to this
country. There is no doubt that the Admiral
was restrained by his instructions, and our
Government, with the amiable simplicity which
seems to characterise them, could not bring them-
selves to believe that the Spaniards would proceed
to such extremities, forgetting that the whole war
has been, from first to last, a piece of unwarrantable
aggression. Mr. LAYARD confessed, indeed, that
they had been, in a manner, duped by the Spanish
Government, who were sending out peremptory
orders to their Admiral all the while that they were
pretending to listen to our pacific overtures.
This is a specimen of Spanish good faith, and
of the respect which we succeed in obtaining from
foreign courts. No explanations can alter the
facts that a defenceless town, in which a very large
quantity of British property was stored, was bom-
barded in presence of an English fleet, which
quietly moved out of the way to allow the work of
destruction to be carried on. No minor details
alter these glaring facts, and they remain a lasting
disgrace not only to the Spanish Government, but
to every nation who permitted so wanton and cruel
an attack. We hope the house will insist on a
full and searching inquiry, or else, as Sir LAWRENCE
PALK suggests, we had better curtail our estimates
and send our Admirals in yachts armed with broom-
sticks.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

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

The following is a summary of the position of
affairs in regard to Germany :—All the forces of
the Germanic Confederation are placed upon the
full war footing. Austria has 370,000 men in
Germany, 150,000 in Venetia, 80,000 in Dalmatia,
and 100,000 dispersed about Hungary, Istria, and
the circle of Trieste. The principal army of Prussia
will comprise about 250,000 men, under the com-
mand of the King, with General Moltke chief of the
Staff. It will be disposed so as to prevent the Aus-
trians from marching upon Berlin by Saxony.
Another army of 120,000 men will be cantoned
near Nisse, an important strongly fortified position
to the south-west of Silesia. The tone of most of
the German papers received to-day is warlike—in-
deed more warlike than for some days past. Never-
theless, as far as I can gather the opinion of the
best-informed circles in Paris, there is still a belief,
or hope, that some plan will yet be devised to solve
the difficulty amicably. There has been a report
that Austria, under the powerful advice of England,
France, and even Russia, was disposed to cede
Venetia to Italy. In reference to this report, the
France, which boasts of having authority to do so,
says :—" We have information which enables us to
affirm that Austria has repudiated in the most abso-
lute terms all idea of giving up Venetia to Italy."
A writer in the Siecle, describing the Austrian
army, says the staff includes 215 field-marshals,
generals, lieutenant field-marshals, and major-
generals in activity. The infantry of the line num-
bers 80 regiments of four battalions, with 14 com-
panies each. The peace footing is 145,804 men,
and the war footing 385,224 men. The Austrian
cavalry numbers 39,185 men in time of peace, and
41,900 in time of war. The total force, includ-

ing artillery and troops of public safety, is 280,99 G
men in time of peace, and 619,210 in time of war.
In addition to this regular force it has a large ir-
regular one, consisting of volianteers, militia, and
other troops.

The following is the result of the last Chantilly
Races :—Prix de Danger, 5,000f.--Gontran, 1 ;
Tourmalet, 2 ; La Fortune (Count de Lagrange),
3 ; Prix de l'Oise, 2,ooof.—Scmvola, 1; Duke de
Bourgogne, 2. Sexvola was claimed by M. D'Evry
for 2,250 f. Prix de l'Empereur (handicap), 2,000 f.
—l5 ran. Bruneau, 1 ; Salambo the Second, 2 ;
Mercedes, 3. Jockey Club Prize, 25,000 f., 2,000 f.
to the second horse. 17 horses ran. 39 paid for-
forfeit (5001.)—Florentin, 1 ; Baionette, 2 ; Le
Scoulet, 3. The betting was very changeable.
The favourites were Count Lagrange's Baionette
and Auguste. As to the winner, Florentin, it was
very little thought of, and the result astonished
everyone. This is called the French Derby. Amount
of the prize, 57,300 f., deducting 2,000 f., given to
the second horse. Prix des Etangs, 2,000 f.—
Anglo-Saxon, 1; Tourist, 2. There will be races
in the Bois de Boulogne on Sunday next.
On Thursday next a trial for two murders will
take place at the Court of Assize of Puy de Rome,
at Ridm. On the evening of the Ist of March in-
subordination manifested itself in the shoemaker's
shop attached to the prison at Riom. Seventy-five
convicts were employed there. The men refused to
work, and broke the lamps and furniture. One of
the warders was stabbed to the heart by a convict
named Collier, who also assassinated one of his
fellow prisoners. It was necessary to call in soldiers
to quell the riot. It is for these two murders that
Cellier is to be tried.

Among the projected improvements of Paris is a
new square in the Rue du Petit Lion, near the Rue
St. Denis. Here is situated a remarkable building,
which, however, is little known to the Parisians. It
is the dungeon which formed part of the hotel of the
Dukes de Bourgogne, which was the scene of many
sanguinary struggles in the reign of Charles the
Sixth, during the war of the Armagnacs and Bour-
gignons. Not far from the spot was the Porte des
Peintres, by which the Sovereigns entered Paris.
Charles the Bold once lived in the tower of this
dungeon, and Jean sans Peur slept in it. Hence
it was called the dungeon of Jean sans Peur. The
Tower has neither the height nor the beauty of that
of St. Jacques, one of the most remarkable con-
structions of Paris, but it is a curious specimen of
the feudal architecture of the Middle Ages. This
dungeon will occupy the centre of the new square.
Now it is lost among the miserable buildings of the
locality in question, all of which are about to be
pulled down.
M. D., residing in the Rue St. Andre des Arts,
was sent for two days ago by a notary, who read to
him a will by which a rich lady had named him
residuary legatee, which would make him possessor
of about £4,000. While the will was being read to
M. D. he suddenly turned very pale. The notary
asked him what was the matter with him. He
made no answer. A surgeon was called in, but
the man was dead. The sudden joy had killed him.
The second Conference of the Ministers of the
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