The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATIJIIDAY EVENING, JUNE 16, 1866.

tecided movements of yesterday. The Hanoverian
I.,roops are retiring into Gottingen for concentration
with the Kalik Brigade and the Bavarian army.
It would have been, of course, much more fortunate
for the interests of Prussia if she had succeeded in
gaining over the various States to her side, because
now, for instance, she would have the support and
co-operation of Hanover, instead of marching at a
disadvantage.
The notice of the semi-official Norddeutsche
Zeitung is simply ridiculous. It states that hence-
forth it will publish news from the Elbe Duchies
under the heading of Prussia, and intelligence from
those States belonging to the Confederation un-
der the title of " Middle European Group of States."
This is just a specimen of the arbitrary manner in
which the Prussians conduct matters, and treat those
States which arc unfortunate enough to offend
them. Surely it will be quite time enough for
Prussia to change the names of places, and alter
existing arrangements when she has concluded a
successful war, instead of jumping at conclusions
and assuming the right to dictate terms to the sur-
rounding places. The time of the departure of the
King of PRussia and Count BISMARCK for the
camp is not yet fixed upon, but will shortly take
place. Nothing is likely to be left undone by the
authorities that can tend to excite animation or en-
thusiasm in the Prussian troops, but they will find

it no easy matter to succeed in their venture
This war, for which Prussia is alone responsible, is
inimical to the feelings of the Prussian people,
and nothing can make it palatable to them.
They have long complained of the course which
their Government has thought fit to pursue, and
now things have reached a climax through their
perversity and infatuation. The official Staats
Anzeiger of Berlin publishes an article on the trans-
actions of the Diet, and declares that the Prussian
Government has been compelled to take a step
which materially changes the existing state of Eu-
rope as it is now established by treaty. The mobi-
lisation of the Federal army against a member of
the Confederation is said to be directly opposed to
existing rules and regulations, and the Austrian
motion has therefore violated Federal and European
laws. This is a very good excuse, but, like the wolf
in the fable, Herr von BISMARCK had quite deter-
mined to pick a cause of quarrel, and it only re-
mained to him to take whatever the doctrine of
chances might send.
The news of yesterday will, by this time, have
spread dismay and consternation in many directions,
and indeed the present generation has seen nothing

to equal it. Now that war has certainly com-
menced, it will be very difficult to foretell
what may ensue, but, at any rate, it is
not difficult to declare that the war will not
soon be over. Too many interests are at stake, and
too many conflicting passions will be aroused, for it
to be possible to make terms readily. The alliance
between Italy and Prussia, of course, complicates
matters still more than was at first expected, and
will materially retard the settlement of affairs. The
Italians have done themselves no honour by this
movement. It was a mean and paltry endeavour to
take advantage of an enemy when in difficul-
ties, and all kind of consistency was taken
from their conduct by the fact that
they leagued with a greater despot than '
the one they opposed. We have also yet to see
what part France will play in this drama. Although
it is announced that warlike interpretations must
not be put upon the EMPEROR'S letter, we must all
feel that circumstances can alone decide the course
of the EMPEROR ; and who can at the outset of a
war like the present predicate what he shall or shall
not do ? No doubt, had the Conference taken
place, the French Government would have done its
utmost to preserve peace; but as it has turned
out otherwise their action during the struggle will
rest with the suggestions of the future, and that
time can alone unravel. Prussia will have no right
to object to the interference of France, when she
has already mixed herself up so completely with the
affairs of other States, and put herself so obtru-
sively forward in urging her claims and represent-

ing her views.
Austria will now need all her wisdom to act dis-
creetly and at the same time with firmness—a false
it mhpeerd es
utecre
sis)r. o grrrehs se here-tim eiafnof °trey rve iagnnoodrwo umms ial
iyat and decisive iadogue acsii slnyisv e action has come, and
half measures will not avail at this momentous
juncture we have now arrived at. All must regret
this unseemly disturbance of the peace of Europe
for no earthly reason but to favour the designs of a
crafty and unscrupulous Power. Nothing is more
conspicuous in the affair than the change which has
come over this country with respect to Prussia and
her people. A short time ago the interest taken in
the contest by the English would have been
very great, and doubtless a strong desire
would have been expressed to render assistance,
but now the good wishes of our people do not go
with them to the encounter that lies before them.
They see, on the contrary, in this new conjuncture
a development of that mischievous policy which has
so long interfered with the interests of nations and
militated against the balance of power in Europe.
In peace the Prussian Government respect TIA rights,
and in war they recognise no claims that other
nations may put forward or possess, and from such
a Power what can we expect ?

The experiment which was made yesterday off the
Isle of Wight, with regard to the efficiency of the
turrets of the Royal Sovereign, left Captain
COLES in possession of a signal victory. In spite
of all the coldness, the prejudice, the official
injustice, against which his invention has had
to struggle, its infringe merits are so great that
whenever it gets a fair trial it achieves immediate
and undoubted success. In some respects, indeed,
the trial submitted the vessel to a severer test
than she would undergo in an action, seeing
the motion, the distance, and many other things
might tell in her favour. Four steel shots of 2501 b.
each were fired from the 12k-ton guns mounted in
the central battery of the Bellerophon, which was
moored 150 yards from the Royal Sovereign. The
shot employed against the Royal Sovereign were not
therefore of the character to be expected in ordinary
warfare, and were, it is said, made for the purpose.
The result, however, was all that could be de-
sired, and although some slight damage was done
to the minor portions, the turret itself
worked as freely at the close of the experiments as
repeeettrhrthfeaeaiefidntr, stbathenadetdna
ifytsh.hteohtlertelayvlvhoaol
vylei may,n the
egt
xh enobr
aseacesbde for,
inewp e
would
eli
od cnso t noi
sirt it did
iradteiudnr
on
unin-
jured.f
After this who shall complain of trifling im-
perfections, which may easily be removed, of defi-
ciencies which can be readily supplied ? Captain
Cous's system has been submitted to a test of ex-
traordinary severity, with indisputable success, in
presence of competent authorities. What further
excuse can the Admiralty bring forward for their
persistent neglect of his claims?

A singular accident happened some weeks ago to
a child in Manchester. He was flying a kite in a " croft'
near his own home, and in walking or running backwards
fell into a hot lime• pit, whereby he was so severely burned
that on Monday last he died from the effects of his in-
juries. At the inquest a verdict of accidoatal death was
returned.