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

PRUSSIA AND AUSTRIA.

The Dresden Journal states that after the coro-
nation of the King of Prussia direct negotiations
will commence with the object of establishing more
intimate relations with Austria, and with this pm.-
pone 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 threw 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 G azette, 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 hebats 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 of 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 refus e 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 go 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 mike 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 fortKess 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 that no decision could be
taken till Count de Bernstorff had well entered on
txia functivaa as minister or Foreign Affairs."

THE 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, including 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. The pier at
Anglesea and opposite Ryde Bier 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 rearing 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 ; but 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. ,
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 I 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 I—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 freek.
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 Pindar) 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 want of it
kept him below his capacity as a painter, and spoiled him in
a way which could scarcely happen again.—. Miss Harriett
itariineath in Ono a Week.

THE CONTEST FOR THE MAY ORAL T.F.

A meeting was ' held yesterday of persons who
had been employed in furthering the election of Sir
Henry Muggeridge to the office of Lord Mayer,
which was pretty numerously attended. The object
of the meeting was to consider what steps should
be taken to enforce the payment of their claims for
the services they had rendered in the election, as it
atet
; ande office
was said that Sir Henry had repudiated their ser-
v. ices, and refused to allow their claims. The meet-
tlechoafirMwra.
sJotahknenStbayff,A2l4r.,
Bmagsiwngahs d
tre th
John Augustus O'Neill.
Mr. ACLAND, who had acted as agent of the
alderman, and who had called the meeting, ad-
dressed them, and stated the circumstances under
which he had brought them together. He had
acted as the agent of Sir Henry Muggeridgethrough the election, and Sir Henry was not the
first alderman whose agent he had been. But this
was the first occasion in which he had found a
client ready to avail himself of the services of
others, and then, when the election was lost, repo.
diating his obligations. He (Mr. Acland) had rot
forced himself upon Sir Henry Muggeridg,'s co
mittee ; they had sought him and solicited his
agency. The chairman had recognised him day by
day, had supplied him with poll sheets, and in
every possible way had availed himself of his ser-
vices. It was not till Sir Henry was 800 votes in
arrear, and after a large personal expenditure by
him as his agent, that he (Sir Henry) questioned
the position he occupied. That he was the agent
of Sir Henry Muggeridge he was prepared to prove
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 be
issued to Mr. Pook, solicitor, 27, Basirghall-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.