The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-08 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 1866.

The Italians have certainly been most unfortu-
nate in all their attempts since the commencement
of the war ; and, as if enough misfortunes had not
already overtaken them, they have just been visited
by a severe storm, which has done them great
damage. Several vessels of the Italian fleet were
injured, and the Affondatore sunk in the port of
Ancona. The affair seems to have excited some
suspicion, because a committee of inquiry has been
instituted to investigate the causes of the disaster.
What with one thing and another, we cannot see
that the Italians have much cause to congratulate
themselves upon the part they have played in the
war. The advantages that they will reap will not
have been gained by their own prowess, or be due
to their perseverance, and doubtless the knowledge
of this makes them so irascible and so unwilling to
conform to circumstances and cordially agree in the
proposed arrangements. When every one thought
the chief difficulties of the war -were over, or at
least in a fair way of being settled, it turned out al
at once that nothing could content the Italians, and
that they desired a great deal more than any one
supposed they had a right to. Time has not, ap-
parently, moderated their expectations, for they
arc no nearer a completion of their arrangements
than before. The Emperor NAPOLEON was ex-
pected at St. Cloud last night, and it is said in Paris
that the reason alleged for his return is a question
that has arisen relative to Italian affairs. The in-
consistency displayed by the Italians is most extra-
ordinary, and must be a source of great annoyance
and disappointment to their friends and well-
-wishers. The French naturally feel the full extent
of their ingratitude for the great services rendered
in 1859, and the refusal to accept Venetia from the
EMPEROR
was a direct insult that is not likely to
be speedily forgotten.
Russia appears to be anything but satisfied with
the results of the German war, and no doubt that
is fully appreciated at Berlin by this time. Gene-
ral Von MANTEUFFEL has left Berlin after being
present at a military council ; and it is said that
he is intrusted with a special mission to St. Peters-
burg. It is not, likely, however, that the Govern-
ment of St. I'etersburg will be taken in by any of
the dexterous contrivances or the specious promises
of Berlin, especially when the acts of the Prussians
are so plainly at variance with their possessions. The
South German States have been very sedulous in
their endeavours to gain the intervention of Prussia
at the court of Berlin, but as yet to very little pur-
pose ; but very likely their demands have made
some impression upon the authorities, although they
have not made any decided advance in the affair as
yet.

If this storm do blow over for the time we have
no doubt that Prussia will soon find out her mistake
in adopting such an arrogant tone as she has done,
and taking advantage of the temporary successes
to slight the other great Powers, Great offence hay

been given in Paris by the omission in the King of
PRUSSIA'S speech of all mention of the mediation of
the French EMPEROR between Austria and Prussia,
and with one thing and another the Prussians are
becoming anything but popular in Paris. Of
course the EMPEROR and his Government will not be
any better pleased than others, although they will
not give vent to their feelings of indignation, in
consequence of the restraint imposed by prudential
motives. We cannot see what prevented King
WILLIAM from making any allusion to France in
his opening address to the Chambers, unless
that he wished it to be clearly understood that he
and his advisers did not intend to be bound by any
of the plans and proposals of the French Govern-
ment. The omission was, however, a very notable
one, for it was impossible that any of those present
should have forgotten the very important part
which the Emperor NAPOLEON took in the arrange-
ment of matters preliminary to an armistice. It is
a great error for people to suppose that they can
ignore what it suits them to avoid—discussion, and
that others will not be very sensible of such
an affront. The French are about the last
people in the world to take such a
thing lightly, and now that it is the fashion to pride
themselves as much upon the merits of their medi-
ative powers as it was formerly to boast of their
skill in arms the magnitude of the offence is greatly
augmented. This sentiment, which now so fre-
quently prevails, was exhibited in a speech made the
other day by NI. DROUYN DE L'HUYS, when he took
occasion, in distributing the prizes at the public
schools of Paris, to declare that the EMPEROR was
the presiding.genius who, in the midst of war, re-
stored peace and serenity. We question if the recent
course pursued by the Prussians will conduce
very much to the furtherance of those grand schemes
of tranquillity and universal calm.

Some nations cannot see when it is their interest
to be civil, and when it is a wise policy to moderate
their demands a little to suit the exigencies of any
particular occasion ; and we have signal instances of
these failings in the present demeanour of Prussia
and Italy at this juncture. Here is the Berlin Go-
vernment coming out of their way to insult the
French EMPEROR by an open slight, which is far
worse, under the circumstances, than a decided
contradiction to his proposals. We find,
also, on the part of the Italians, so
great an unwillingness to accede to the terms of the
proposed peace as to justify the suggestions of
some that there will be a renewal of the war. It is
just possible that the Prussians may have enough
of their troublesome allies by this time, and that if
the Italians are so infatuated as to allow matters to
proceed to extremities again that they will have to
arrange the affair for themselves, and perhaps lose
all that might be accorded to them in the way of
solid advantages. It is sometimes difficult to com-
prehend the reasons which actuate people in being
so perverse, but it is easy in this instance to see the
unfavourable results that will follow from the
adoption of such a course. If Italy provoke Austria
to renew the contest, she will have to contend
against her single-handed, for France is offended
and Prussia will be alienated ; and thus we shall
witness another proof of the folly of those who seek
to be too wise, and the dangers they encounter who
make rash ventures with no possible excuse which
they can allege for so doing.

The return of the Registrar-General for last
week does not give us much reason to hope that we
have seen the worst of the epidemic now desolating
the east of London. The deaths from cholera and
diarrhcea in the week ending last Saturday were
respectively 1,053 and 354, 916 persons dying of
cholera in the east districts alone. The disease, it
is true, has shown itself in a slight degree all over

the metropolis, so that no locality can be taken by
surprise should it display itself more virulently, and
the local authorities have good reason to be thank-

ful that they have so much time allowed them to
put their houses in order, and to take those precau-
tions which are so valuable in diminishing the dan-
ger of any epidemic, especially so in dealing with
cholera. We are happy to say that the authorities
of the various districts are now making vigorous
efforts, and arranging for a constant supply of
medicines, the reception of patients in temporary
hospitals, &c. It is to be feared that one very im-
portant point has not been as yet fully attended to
—the removal of nuisances and cleansing of
water-butts and tanks. Unfortunately so much

is in the hands of the landlords and
owners of property, who are proverbially indifferent

to the requirements of their tenants.
remind all owners of houses at the present crisis,
more especially those who hold property in poor
and populous districts, that they have an imperative
public duty to fulfil. Every one is bound to do his
or her share towards mitigating a great national
calamity like the visitation of an epidemic, and all
classes have hitherto responded promptly to the
claims upon their kindness, self-denial, and sym-
pathy. The landlords have their duty plainly be-
fore them, and are bound to see that there is nothing
in the condition of the houses which they own to
facilitate the spread of the disease and weaken the
health of the inhabitants. The Government appear
to be fully sensible of their responsibilities, and have
hurried on the Public Health through every stage,
until yesterday it received the royal assent,
and has now become law. Its provisions will give
greatly enlarged powers to the authorities, and a
wide discretionary power to the Privy Council, so
that they may act with that decision and prompti-
tude which are at a time like the present all im-
portant. We may thus feel satisfied that matters
are being put in good train to resist the enemy, and
much can be done by every head of a household in
seeing that proper precautions are taken in his
establishment, and in checking that feeling of un-
reasonable panic which is of itself a powerful pre-
disposing cause. When man has done all that he
can do to avert the danger and to mitigate the suf-
ferings, he may with a safe conscience leave the
rest in the hands of GOD ; but too often men pride
themselves on indifference to danger when in reality
it is unwillingness to perform their duties.

We would

Unhappily the long neglect of sanitary measures
has allowed a very serious evil to exist in the eastern
parts of London, which has no doubte present
contributed utedalittle to increase the severity of th
out-
break of disease. The water supply of the partaseodf
London most affected is known to be very bad,
it is not a little remarkable that, according to the
Registrar-General, " nearly all of the infected dis-
tricts are supplied by one water company;" and
although all the companies are making great efforts
to filter their waters, the fact shows how important
it is to stop the pernicious system of poisoning our
rivers with sewage. At Lea-bridge the East Lon-
donro.npany have thirteen filter beds, covering an
area of twelve acres, and the water in their
rterrsiieectertsioir "looks perfectly pure ;" yet it is signifi-
cant that it supplies nearly the whole of the dis-
nowsouth
u suffering
of the
fTrohmamceaho,lehraav,
have escaped.
poetdh.er
This
s-
eastern part is unfortunately just the locality
where the main drainage works are not complete.
Mr. BAZALGETTE, with whom theßegistrar has been
in communication, proposes to erect a temporary
pumping station at Abbey Mills, which will be in
operation in about three weeks time.

The two queotionl of drainage and water

are just now all important in regard
to public health, and we have no doubt
that all that can be done to mitigate the evils
which cannot be hastily removed will be done,
and tie lesson borne in mind for the future, so
that the suicidal plan of poisoning our rivers
may be altogether done away with. Meantime
we are glad to find that the pressing wants of the
poor are likely to meet every attention, and that
the inauguration of the Mansion House Relief
Committee was yesterday successfully accomplished.
The meeting, which was under the presidency of
the Lord Mayor, was large and influential, and it
was incidentally mentioned that from £1,200 to
£1,300 had already been subscribed among its pro-
moters. A great number of gentlemen, well-
known in the City, were present, and letters were
read from the Governors of the Bank expressing
their willingness to co-operate in the movement.
After considerable discussion as to the most effec-
tual means of attaining the objects which all had in
view it was decided that the fund collected
should be used for the prevention of cholera,
for the relief of cholera patients and of sufferers
from the effects of the disease, and that it should
be distributed as far as possible through local
boards and committees. The gentlemen who have
undertaken the management are to meet daily at
the Mansion House to receive applications for
assistance and to make grants, so that there will
be no needless delay ; and we have no doubt that
all classes will respond promptly and liberally to
their appeal.