The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-22 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

The Prussian Illoniteur published a decree of
amnesty on the occasion of the coronation.
Amongst other provisions of this decree we remark
the following :—" In execution of the ulterior par-
dons, promised in cur decree of the 12th of January
last, we will :—Article 1. To remit the unfulfilled
terms of imprisonment and fine, also any unpaid
expenses of persons condemned for offences against
the law of the press, and the decree upon the right
of reunion and association. Article 7. Our desire
also is that individuals guilty of grave crimes, who
conduct, or by other circumstances in their favour,
have merited indulgence, or may be restored to
liberty without danger, share in the present act of
amnesty. We have, consequently, given special
orders, upon the report of our Minister of Justice,
for setting at liberty the condemned of this class.
" Konigsberg, Oct. 18, 1861.

" WILLIAM."

Countersigned by the Ministers.

SPAIN.

The Correspondancia of Madrid, of the 17th,
states that, by the intervention of the Emperor of
the French, England has adopted the views of
France and Spain with regard to Mexico, and that •
the three Powers are to act in common. It says
that :their intention is to occupy for a time Vera
Cruz and Tampico ; also that Spain is to supply
two-thirds of the land forces which are to be em-
ployed, and England and France the other third.
It adds that England proposes to the three Powers
not to allow any Prince of the reigning families to
accept the crown of Mexico, in the event of
monarchy being re-established in that country.
The Archbishops of Burgos and Santiago were to
visit Madrid to receive from the Queen the car-
dinals' hats which the Pope has just conferred on
them.

THE REB_EZ COMMANDERS ON THE

POTOMAC.

The three principal rebel commanders on the
Potomac, says a letter from the States, are General
Joseph E. Johnston, commander-in-chief ; General
Beauregard, who commands the second division ;
and Gustavus W. Smith, who commands the first
division, having recently been made a major
general by Jefferson Davis. General M'Clellan,
Federal commander, graduated from West Point
in the class of 1846. General Smith, rebel,
graduated in the class of 1842. He commands now
the division formerly commanded by General J.
Johnston before he was promoted to be commander-
in-chief. Smith, of course, outranks Beauregard.
General Smith, as he is called here by the politi-
cians, was recently our " street commissioner." The
way that he reached the latter local dignity is
amusing. Smith was out in Mexico, and behaved
bravely through the war. In 1854 he resigned the
army, and shortly after your readers may remember
to have heard of Peter Cooper. His Royal High.
ness the Prince of Wales will never forget him, for
he is the same old joker that led the Prince about
on the night of the grand-ball, given in honour of
the English Prince at the Academy of Music, and
as master of ceremonies Peter would not permit the
Prince to dance with any of the really lovely girls
that the Prince wished to dance with, but made
him dance with a lot of unexceptionable married
women, none of them I believe under 45 years of
age. Peter made his money in the patent glue
business, and then bought iron-mines in New
Jersey, and started a company called the Trenton
Iron Company, and was chief engineer. About two
Years after the brother-in-law of Peter became
mayor, under the name of Tieman, and he appointed
Edward Cooper, Peter's son, " street commissioner."
Not being competent for the duties Cooper junior
gave way in favoe t of Gus Smith, who really is
great in anything he undertakes, whether it be
soldier, engineer, or street commissioner. Now
comes in a rich lo3al joke. Fernando Wood is
and has been mayor_ or some years. He found that
he could not control Smith, and determined to
have him removed. This was easily achieved by a
money arrangement with the " - --bim,r)"----a major
part of the board o f aldermen, who vote for any
measure whereby money can be made, and
they share and share alike. About the time
mayor Wood was) ready "to cut off the
audnirxepaeacetdedhliymw:_alk„eAdi.irn. tmo tahyeomr,a—yolra'
head" of the new Major General Smith, the latter
andd thus
t
snodffie reset an
you are about to recommend the hoard of aldermen
to remove me from the office of street commissioner.
Now I wish you to understand that I am in bad
health. Ido
notexpect to live a long life. Now,
sir, I have a large number of friends all over the
Southern States, and when I am removed they will
all hear of it, and will all naturally suppose that I
am removed because of incompetency or malfeasance
in office. Now, sir, I shall not live long enough to
explain to all my friends why I have been re-
moved, and therefore I have but one way left to
vindicate my cause. The man that causes my re-
moval has got to die. Good morning, Mr. Mayor."
He was not removed, and held the office two years
after. I mention this to give an idea of the cha-
racter of Major-General Smith, who you know is
now with his old friends Beauregard, Davis, and
company.

SUDDEN DEATH ON THE RlVER.—Yesterday
morning Mr. Sergeant Payne, the coroner, received infor-
mation of tho following melancholy case of sudden death
It appears that a pilot who had charge of a sloop had
navigated the vessel from Gravesend, and had put into
Queenhithe-wharf. Whilst walking aft of the sloop he was
noticed to stagger twice, and then fell to the ground. Seve-
ral pascals rail to his as6istanct:7 who pawl up the unfor-
tunate man, who was then found to be insensible. A medical
man was sent for, and life was pronounced to be extinct.
The precise cause of death is at present unknown. An in-
quest will be forthwith held on the body,