The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-05 00:00:00

PRUSSIA AND AUSTRIA.

The Dresden Journal states that after the coro-
nation of the Kin , of Prussia direct negotiations
will commence with the object of establishing more
intimate relations with Austria, and with this pur-
pose a member of the Royal family, perhaps the
King himself, will visit Vienna towards the end of
the autumn. The Cologne Gazette says that the
Prussian people will view every step of this kind
with the greatest aversion :—" We know only too
well (says that journal) that Austria, after having
exhausted her own energies in vain attempts to
maintain her fatal domination beyond the Alps, la-
bours unceasingly to throw her ruinous burden on
the shoulders of Prussia. What we learn of Count
Bernstorff, our Minister of Foreign Affairs, seems
to indicate that that diplomatist, whose views are
not very broad, is disposed to associate Prussia with
Austrian bankruptcy. The Prussian Diet however
has protested solemnly in its address to the King
against any sacrifice on the part of Prussia for the
sake of Venetia. This protest of our Chambers is a
weight which, in a constitutional country, presses
enormously in the balance."
The Bonn Gazette, on the same subject, says :
" Austria, in return for the Prussian guarantee,
offers a share in the command of the Federal army,
the right of garrison at Mayence, and other things
of similar insignificance which must come to Prussia
without the obligation of a guarantee. All that we
know proves that Venetia should be considered a
lost post, which Austria will do well to renounce as
soon as possible. Austrians who reflect are agreed
on this point."

We find the following in the Journal de Franc-
fort :—" We cannot attach any importance to the
speculations of the Debats as to the alliances
which the Cabinet of Berlin may think right to
contract for its own interests and those of Ger-
many. The arguments deduced from the Macdonald
affair to prove the imperative and exacting charac-
ter of England in an alliance are as weak as the
reasons given to demonstrate the advantages of a
more intimate understanding with France. The
policy of a great nation like Prussia is not guided
by such futile considerations. Neither do we accept
the allegations of the correspondent of that journal
relative to the recognition'ot the kingdom of Italy
by Prussia, for we think that that act is nearer at
hand than is generally believed. Even, however, if
it should be delayed, public opinion has too clearly
pronounced in favour of such a measure for the Go-
vernment to refuse it so long as that journal has
stated."

A communication from Vienna says :—" The
complaints daily addressed to the Imperial Govern-
ment by the German populations in Hungary, Gal-
licia, Croatia, and Bohemia, and the ill-treatment to
which they are exposed from so many different na-
tionalities forming the immense majority of those
countries, show the absolute necessity of taking
effective measures without delay; otherwise the
German element, which constitutes the principal
force of the monarchy, must be degraded and ab-
sorbed. In this state of things it is not astonishing
the eyes of the Government should be again turned
towards the Germanic Confederation, and particu-
larly towards Prussia. It is currently reported that
the Cabinet of Vienna has recently declared itself
ready to make important concessions with regard to
the presidentship hitherto universally exercised by
Austria at the Frankfort Diet, also on the general
command of the Federal army and the occupation
of the principal fortress of Mentz by a garrison
wholly composed of Prussian and Baden troops.
Prussia appears well disposed to accept propositions
so eminently favourable to its German policy, and
which would have the effect of securing her pre-
ponderance in the Confederation ; but at Vienna
people very naturally ask what compensation the

Austrian Cabinet would receive in return for these

concessions, as the Prussian Government is com-

pletely silent on the point, and does not seem at all

disposed to make any engagement on the point
with Austria. Fresh instructions have been ad-

dressed to Berlin on the subject, and Prussia seems
anxious to gain time to give a more or less explicit
and categorical answer. The last reply received at

Vienna was to the effect teat no decision could be

taken till Count de Bernstorff had well entered on

his functions as Minister of Foreign Affairs."

TirE QUEEN'S WESTMINSTERS.—The contest for
the silver cup, presented to the 13th and 14th companies of
this corps by Mr. Richard Heyter Jarvis, took place yester-
day, at Rainham, in Essex. Ninteen competitors con-
tested for the prize, and £2 was given for the second best
shot. The silver cup was won by Sergeant Mason, of the
13th company, scoring 13 points; and Corporal Starkie of
the 13th company, who made 11 points, won the second
prize.

STOKES BAY RAILWAY.—It appears that this
undertaking, in eluding a railway and pier, is now progress-
ing satisfactorily, and it is stated by the engineers that the
works will certainly be finished by May next. Tho pier at
Auglesea and opposite Ryde Pier is expected to prove a
most convenient place for the Isle of Wight steamers, at all
times of the tide, to land and embark their passengers, and
will, in connexion with the Isle of Wight Railway, accele-
rate the transit between London and the Undercliff, Isle of
Wight, by a saving of three hours.
THE EVILS OF CRAMMING.—The examination
system has been pushed to such a length that every man of
sense is beginning to discern its pernicious absurdity.
If it is expected that the young men who offer themselves
as candidates for appointments in some branches of the
public service shall really have a competent knowledge of
the subjects prescribed for examination, difficult it is to
comprehend how they can find time for needful sleep and
refreshment. As for teaching them to think, which is the
highest aim of education, the possibility of thought is pre-
cluded by such an exorbitant amount of cramming, that
the amount of knowledge they do receive remains practi-
cally useless. Instead of reag men of intelligence and
aptitude, we are doing our best to create a race of prigs
and pedants, feeble in mind as in body, and certain to
show themselves incapable when any extraordinary emer-
gency shall arise.—Blackwood's Magazine,

SLATE AND CLAY.—Slate of all kinds is, how-
ever, nothing more than clay that has undergone enormous
squeezing. The slate is hardly more pure or free from
mixture with foreign substances than the clay ; but in some
way cr other it has become so completely altered as to as•
sume a curious kind of half-crystalline appearance and
condition which no other known substance presents. To

satisfy ourselves that slate is nothing more than clay, we
have only to observe the surface of the ground in slate dis-
tricts. In those parts of the country where slates abound,
the roads, and even paths, are generally thick clay ; for the

constant treading of feet and grinding of wheels on the slate
reduce it first to a fine powder, and this mixed with rain
produces common clay. But, on the other hand, it is
equally certain that slate is a very peculiar condition of
clay ; for without being actually ground up with water no
amount of mere exposure to weather on the flat surface
seems to have much effect upon it. In its most remarkable
characteristic, also, it is singularly unlike clay, for it splits
with extreme readiness into thin films when struck in one
direction, although it always breaks with jagged edges in
every other direction. It is not necessary to direct atten-
tion here to the nature of this peculiarity, as it is so uni-
versally known ; bat although probably only the result of
enormous squeezing, the change certainly involves a con-
siderable alteration in the arrangement of the particles.
By very simple and familiar means we can reduce slate to
clay ; we cannot, on the other hand, make slate out of clay
by any forces that have yet been brought to bear upon it.
—St. James's Magazine:l
Between this and a dinner at the Ship what
room for the imaginative palate to wander I —what variety
of meals I Some incapable of classification under any title
in use between breakfast and supper, others scientifically
distinctive. Some men dine flying—" snatch a mouthful,"
we suppose, as the travelling post-office does a bag at a
small station, full speed ; others, having no occupation,
dawdle on slowly, spreading the sensation over as much
time and palate as they can. Dinners ! Think of the
omnibus man's, who drives fourteen hours a-day—Sundays
included—and, when all goes right, gets twenty minutes
for that meal ; but when all goes wrong, barely ten. Ten
minutes for dinner in a period of fourteen hours !—the
hinge is too weak—the pivot is too small for such machi-
nery to revolve in. He gets down, though, no inconsider-
able bulk of meat and potatoes. Give a cabman ten
minutes, elbow room, and a leg of mutton, and you will
have a fresh illustration of the value of time.—Once a Week.

More knowledge is now necessary to cause a man
to be considered a painter than our fathers dreamed of be-
fore the Art-treasures of the Continent ware open to our
study. In America, a man rises to fame and fortune pre •
sently if he can give on canvas a lively representation of
the woods or prairies which surround him, or the daily life
which passes before his eyes ; and not only does he think
and say that Europe can teach him nothing, but his patrons
are too apt to be of the same opinion. So were many people
in England when Dr. Walcot (Peter Pinder) brought Opie
up from a Cornish cottage, and exhibited him in London as
a heaven-born genius. Opie had the sense to perceive, in
course of time, the importance of study; but the vrant.ofitut
kept him below his capacity as a painter, and spoilecihrimilett
a way which could scarcely happen again.—slugs gag
Xartinea% in Once a Treek.

TILE CONTEST FOR THE MA .1' ORALI",Y.

A meeting was held yesterday of persons wl ho
had been employed in furthering the election of S it
Henry Muggeridge to the office of Lord Mayo r,
which was pretty numerously attended. The obja
of the meeting was to consider what steps shoul d
be
v it
wthiaceestakenssearaiservices
dcttehroseaeftt
uhn
ssef
eo3i
d_rr enforce
aoi tdeahuirerl
eoypnwadhyeatmrhde eednirrite
npoufthd their
claims.eet
eil
erderrettlihhao
eeinmi n
I,r saessfeeci
ing was he'd at thendotffihceechoafirMwra.sJotahknenStbayff,A2l
Basinghall-street; a
John O'Neill.
oillirad acted as agent of he
Air. AugustusAeANp , Ow'
alderman, and who had called the meeting, a
dressed them, and stated the circumstanucgegseurniddg:
which he had brought them together. He hP
(I
acted as the agent of Sir Henry m
through the election, and Sir Henry was not al
first alderman whose agent he had been. But flair
was the first occasion in which he had found z
client ready to avail himself of the services ci
others, and then, when the election was lost, repu,..
diating his obligations. He (Mr. Acland) had no
forced himself upon Sir Henry MuggeridgfAi com-
mittee; they had sought him and solicited hia
agency. The chairman had recognised him day by
day, had supplied him with poll sheets, and irt
every possibleit was wayt
till
had availed
ll
en
rhyl mwsaesl f 8 o 0
votes not i f 0
ser-
vices.hisi
arrear, and after a large personal expenditure b;
him as his agent, that he (Sir Henry) questione d
the position he occupied. That he was the agen t
of Sir Henry Muggeridge he was prepared to pros e
in any court of law. He admitted that he was re-
sponsible to each person who had been employed,
for payment, and they could sue him if they liked ;-
but he would plead "agency without funds ;" or if
they chose to sue the legally responsible debtor, Sir
H. Muggeridge, they might call him (Mr. Acland) as
a witness, and by him prove, first the agency, and.
next the justice of the individual claim. For his
own part, he had instructed his solicitor to write to
the alderman that if his personal claim for retainer
and payment were not paid by Saturday next a
writ would be issued and a notice in bankruptcy-
served.

It was then agreed that instructions should b©
issued to Mr. Pook, solicitor, 27, Basingball-street,
to sue Sir Henry Muggeridge on behalf of the par-
ties present, after which the meeting closed.
It was said that no fewer than 76 summonses
would be forthwith issued in the Sheriffs' Court.

P ÜBLICHO USE LICENSING SYSTEM.

The following is a copy of the memorial to the
Government from the National Association of the
Beer and Wine Retailers, which has been adopted
at a conference of the trade, held at Birmingham,
on the Ist, 2d, and 3d October, 1861 :

" Your memorialists feel deeply interested in the
present laws affecting the sale of ale, beer, wines,
and spirits ; and believing that gross irregularities
and injustice prevail to a serious extent, not only
in the financial arrangement but in the administra-
tration of the laws by which your memorialists are
governed, your memorialists deem it expedient that
there should be a speedy and effectual reform of
all abuses now existing in this department of
Government. By reports presented to Parliament
by the Lords' Committee in 1817 and 1833, by sub-
sequent reports in 1849 and 1850, and also by other
reports presented to the House of Commons in 1853
and 1854, it is shown that evidence has been
taken from every description of persons, with a
view to arrive at the real nature of public-
houses, and their effects on the morals of society
in general. By those reports it is clearly manifest
that there exists a most anxious desire for a change
in the licensing system, with an equality and uni-
formity amongst all parties engaged in the sale of
ale, beer, wines, and spirits. Your memorialists
consider all houses for the sale of ale, beer, wines,
and spirits, should be exposed to free competition
in trade, imposing only those restrictions which may
be deemed expedient for the purpose of police regu-
lation. Impressed with this view they conceive it
desirable to limit the question of granting licenses
to two questions only, viz., that of character, and
eligibility of premises. Your memorialists believe
that an equalisation of the licensing system will
greatly tend to augment the revenue, and by the
admission of other persons to the right of selling
wines and spirits, the morals of the people would
he greatly improved and their social condition
ultimately advanced. Your memorialists do not
presume to make any further suggestions of their
own fur the improvement of the licensing system ;
but in conclusion beg most urgently to request that
you will be pleased to cause to be introduced into
Parliament a bill based on the proposed alterations,
which your memorialists pledge themselves to sup-
port."