The Sun.
London, England, 1857-10-03 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, OCT. 3, 1857.

The Conferences which have just t tken place at
Stuttgardt and Weimar, may Exercise important
influences on the destinies of Europe. It cat
scarcely be supposed that ALEXANDER and NAPo
LEON were eccupiecl in mere ceremonies, and that
no questions of State policy were discussed durini
the private and confidential discussions of the Im-
perial visitors—discussions in which their Royal
host, the King of WURTEMBERG, was not allowed
to participate. The shows and banquets that
took place, the brilliant displays, were all mask,
covering the real objects. The Emperors had
something to decide that c Juld not be entrusted
to ordinary diplomacy. It was determined that
the secrets should not be permitted ti
ocse out that the hunters after informa-
tion should, for once, be effectually
No person knew, or could know, anything that
occurred within the private cabinet to which
NAPOLEON and ALEXANDER alone received admis-
sion. The Sovereigns would not betray their
own deliberations. Matters of vital consequence,
whether for good or for evil, were probably ven-
t lated, but the pul-lic will be unabhs t) form any
judgment on the point until the consequences in-
dicate the nature of the decisions then arrived at.
The public recognition of the parvenu sove-
reign, as he was rather contemptuously styled by
the late Autocrat, was something in the ars of
NAPOLEON. He could not forget that he was re-
fused the hand of a paltry princess through Rus-
sian influence—that all his acts and overtures met
with the most chilling reception. He was not
treated with even common civility, and severely
he avenged the mistake. But still he eagerly
desired to bring about a different state of affairs;
so far as he was personally concerned, and wa,'
even more anxious for the Empress EUGENIE'S
sake. To accomplish these points he would make
many sacrifices. When refused a royal bride
with veritable "blue" blood, he avenged himself
by raising the woman of his heart to the imperial
throne, and setting at nought the petty and ridi-
culous traditions of Germanism. He was elected
by the popular choice, and he was resolved that
she should share that elevation by the po-ver of
his will. It was one of his blest and most laudable
asts, and he has been amply rewarded for his manly
and straightforward feeling and conduct.
But this very marriage was one of the most
Powerful obstacles to the rapprochement which he
so eagerly sought after. He was EMPEROR by the
choice of the people of France, and although that
principle found no great favour in Muscovite eyes,
still, when he was fully recognised as ono of the
Great Powers, and treaties entered into in which
lie was one of the "high contracting parties," ke
might be met on equal terms, without any degra-
dation even to the AUTOCRAT himself. But ladies,
articularly German ladies, are great sticklers for

etiquette, and there would be a double shock in
receiving a lady Sovereign who was not of the
" genuine stock." This was the difficulty, and
in one respect it proved an insuperable one. The
CZARINA got a most convenient malady, which
prevented her attendance at Stuttgardt, and, con-
sequently, that of the Empress EUGENIE.
The moment, however, that a decision was
communicated that NAPOLEON would not be
accompanied by his fair Consort, a mira-
culous cure was effected. Health was instan-
taneously restored to the Imperial patient, who
forthwith started to enjoy the festivities at Stutt-
gardt. This was naturally regarded as a deli-
berate insult, and may possibly have ren.
dered NAPOLEON less complaisant than
might otherwise have been the case. The
Czar's objects may have been foiled, or neutralised
by the act of his spouse. Her woman's nature
could not, however, resist the opportunity of
inflicting a public slight on one of her own rank.

FREDERICK WILLIAM held aloof from the Con-
ference, although earnestly invited. He still
maintains the isolation into which he was plunged
by his conduct during the Russian war. He keeps
"on his own hook," haying always a steady eye
to the main chance. He also knows that he can
ascertain how matters are arranged from his
nephew, and contrive to get share of the good
things going.

The conference at Weimar is the natural com-
pliment and corollary to that at Stuttgardt. He
also will learn the decisions arrived at, and what
part he is expected to enact in the imperial drama.
We cannot say that we regard these combinations
and confederacies with favour. Monarchs seldom
trouble themselves to promote the welfare, happi-
ness, or prosperity of the peoples.
It may be that some new designs are enter•
tamed against the cause of liberty. England's
(Indian) difficulty may be regarded as the oppor-
tunity for obtaining advantages, and practising
coups d'etat which she might not regard very favour-
ably. The slight to the Empress EUGE.NIE will, how-
ever, open NAPOLEON'S eyes to the danger of trusting
too far to his brother Emperors. At all events this
is ceitain, that, despite every complication, Great
Britain will assert her dignity, and maintain the
high position she has so long and 53 justly occu-
pied amongst the great Powers of Europe.

[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]

There is little doubt but that we are essentially
a warlike nation. But, notwithstanding this in-
herent bellicose disposition, there are few amongst
us who, for the purpose of giving vent to martial
ardour, would relinquish the comforts of a home,
the ties of consanguinity and friendship, and the
emoluments arising out of a profitable way of life.
For, it should be remembered that we are consti-
tutionally and accidentally a commercial as well as
a warlike people. It may be very well to talk
about soldiers in the poetical and rhetorical sense,
sons of bright-eyed Bellona, and gallant disciples
of fiery Mars. The " pride, pomp, and
cireumstauce of glorious war " are terms, no
doubt, that represent the profession of arms
in a most favourable light, and are
calculated to arouse even phlegmatic temperainnts
to something like a thirst for military renown,
national grandeur, and the love of glowing
patriotism. But this is only warfare and its
results in one aspect. There are such incideut4 to
a military career as long and fatiguing marches
and counter-marches, wasting and ravaging
diseases, famine and cold, and oven death without
a moment's warning. Subject to the ili effect of
opposite climes, the soldier may be one month
totting in the trenches More Sebastopol, and in
another stationed beneath the burning sun of
India, and momentarily dreading death, in SOU;
cruel way, at the hands of inhuman foes. And,
for such a dangerous service as this, there is the
brilliant remuneration of oue shilling par diem.

But in the face of these facts, our con-
temporary the Times is expressing its a t
nishment, and mourning, to a certain ext nit,
that a great portion of the youth of the laud
should be employed in cur commercial marts, and
not devoted to the service of their country. Nit;
we do not intend entering into the argument re'-
pectiog the fitness of young men to the calling
of shopkeeping and the vending of goods, an em-
ployment, in our eyes, that seems to require fully
so much intelligence, if nob more, than tire ma-
nufacturing of the goods sold thereby—the htter
is undoubtedly a masculine calling, and both, we
believe to be necessarily and honourably so. Bat
we cannot help noticing the fallacy of thinking
that man would resign positions that yiell them
remuneration, on an average, three times as much
as a soldier's pay, for tho sake of accepting the
latter. There is a great ignorance of the prin-
ciples of political economy, or rather co ninon
sense, evidenced in upbraiding any el ti 3 of indi-
vidual; for not doing an act that would compro-
mise their interests and lower them in the social
scale. As it is, young men in shop; enj)y many
of the comfort; of life, mix in c)naparatively re-
peatable society, and have the prospect of rising
in the course of time to independence, and,
may be, eminence. Now, if the lower ranks of
the army hell out such inducements as those,
and no response be made, then there
would be some reason in thinking that de-
generacy of some kind bad t Ikea hold on us.

If it is expedient and necessary to increase the
army and fill its ranks with a more respectable (dais
ban it is at present composed, there are two or
three courses to be taken. Firstly, increase the pay
of the common suldier, and make it an object
worthy the desire of a properly behaved man to
receive, and sufficient to meet the exigencies of
life, and to satisfy the wants of those who have a
natural claim on his support. It is, indeed, de-
plorable to see a wife and children dependant on
a poor soldier, as it sometimes happens ; it may be
that he was married before he enlisted, and able
to earn sufficient by his calling or trade to sup-
port his family in a way suitable to his position
in life ; but in a moment of drunken insanity he
took "the shilling" and loft his children on the
parish, and his wife to seek similar support; and if
vice sh3tild be ever looked upon with an eyeof com-
miseratiou, and crime be made venial by the cir-
cumstances, it is such a case as this. If the pay
were larger such instances as we have men-
tioned might not occur. Secondly, it would be a
wise regulation to admit only men into the army
whose characters would bear investigati .m,
and whose companionship would not de,
grade and cast a slur upon the
man
of
unimpeachable conduct, who might have adopted
the profession of a soldier from the love of arms.
And, thirdly, some little diffaance of rank and
remuneration should be awarded according to the
information and education of the individu3l at
the time of enlistment. If these regulations were
in force, there would be inducements sufficient
to entice a class that would not now avail them-
selves of a common soldier's rank and pay in their
worst, extremity, and who would not be obliged
to think their avocation cast odium upon thorn,
and, by a necessary consequence, a separation
from the rest of the world. If ever-such changes
as these we suggest should occur, there will be
very little necessity for our contemporary of
Printing-house-squ ire to rail at any class of indi-

viduals, anddenounce their employment as undigni-
fied and unbecoming men ; for the youth of Eng-
land would not hesitate in entering into their
country's service, and performing acts of valour,
whose lustre would bear comparison with any of
the achievements of our ancestors.

THE IMPERIAL MEETING AT
STUTTGART.

We extract the following from a letter dated
Stuttgart, Sept. 29 :
"In the matter of popularity both with the
Oourt and the people the Emperor Napoleon
has made infinitely greater progress than the
Emperor Alexander. The latter, who is here
perfectly en pays de connaissance, and among re-
lations, has not given himself the trouble to
please, which a stranger generally will ; and
by those who entertain French sympathies,
and would gladly have seen the Empress Eugenie
here, it is taken very much amiss of him
that he should have given way, as it is said, to female
weakness, and have allowed the Empress to decline
to come hither until it was a settled thing that the
Empress Eugenie would not come, on which she
pops in at the last moment on the pretence of giving
her husband a surprise. It is assumed the Empress
of Russia and her sisters-in-law were averse to the
Empress Eugenie's appearing hese, from apprehen-
sion that her greater youth, beauty, and mental
attainments would throw them into the shade, and
compel them to acknowledge the personal supe-
riority of one on whom they looked down as inferior
to them. Something of the same sort of feeling the
Emperor Alexander evidently entertains towards
the Emperor Napoleon, who exhibits more attrac
tive manner and greater powers of conversation
than himself, seeks more to ingratiate himself with
others, rides better, &c. The latter had, more-
over, brought his own horses with him, so that
while Louis Napoleon yesterday was mounted on a
splendid high-mettled horse, that carvetted and
sprang about to the delight of the multitude, the
Emperor Alexander bad to put up with an animal
whose qualities were simply strength and docility.
The Emperor Napoleon has lost no opportunity of
showing himself in a light acceptable to the people ;
he has walked out in the streets arm-in-arm wit h
a single gentleman, a Wurtemberg officer ; he has
taken or feigned an interest in all that the King is
most fond of promoting, and for which he is so
deservedly popular, and gave himself the trouble
to sit out the whole of Weber's Der Preischutz last
night, which was played at his especial desire to
hear a genuine German opera, and continued
applauding even after the curtain had fallen."

His Excellency the Turkish Ambassador left town
yesterday, to join his family at St. Leonarde.on-Sea.
His Excellency the Count Zalarowitch has left the
Brunswick Hotel, Jermyn-street, for the Continent.
The Duke of Newcastle and Lady Susan Pelham
Clinton have left Dunrobin Castle, and are now on a
visit with the Duke and Duchess of Athole at Blair
Athole.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Winchester are
expeoted in town, in a few dap, from a tour of visits.
The Countess of Kinnoul leaves town this day for the,
Continent.

Lord and Lady Rokeby are still sojourning in Ger-
many, and are not expected home fur some weeks.

Lord and Lady Francee-Conynghain have arrived ins
town, en route for the Continent.

Sir John and L%dy Harriet Stuart-Forbes and Mizsi
Stuart-Forbes, who lately arrived from Vichy, have'
since left town for Bdckling Hall, the seat of the Mar-
qui4 of Lothian, in Norfolk.
Mr. Campbell Wyndham has arrived at Edwardex
Private Hotel, from Newmarket.

The National Bank of Munich has raised iti rate of
di:4o°mA from 5 to 5i per cent.

REPRESENTATION OF EAST a TNT. —Sir E. C. Dering!
bas aunouncA hia intention to resign his seat fur the.
eastern, tlivi6iun of Kent, in cmisequence of continued ill

REPRESENTATION OP GREENWICH.—The result of the
efforts made by the friends and supporters of Mr..
Townsenri, M.P., will, it is understood, enable him to'
retain his seat in the House of Commons. With four
exceptiSns, the whole of Mr. Townsend's creditors hitv(r
signed a petition for superseding the bankruptcy, and:
the sum required to meet pressing oiairns—viz., 700/.
has been raised by the subscrip..iona of the constituency..
Handbills announcing these facts have been circulated,.
and it isirtated that the subscription is still to be kept;
open for the purpose of paying off the election expeos.)s..
LATE FAILUELE.—The Eastern Geunties Herald statesi
that the liabilities of the bank of Messrs. Harrison,
Watson, and Co., which suspended on the 24th ult.,.
amount to about 400,0001., and that the assets are'
estimated at 225,0001. The joint sum owing from:
Messrs. Taylor and Bright, and Mr. Hassell, chairman.
of the Cotton Mills Company, verges on a quarter of a,
u Wien. Among the sufferers by the failure are the,
various benefit societies at Hull which had opened
deposit-accounts at the bank. I: is believed t',at
uthcient to pay a dividend of 103. in the pound will Le
reali ed.

THE MAILS, &3.—SOUTILIMPTON, O. 2.—The Royal
Mail Company's steamship Atrato, Captain Wooflay,
left to-Jay with the Wet India, Mexican, arid Paeifie
mails, 219 passengers, 4,900/. in specis, jewelry value.
19,0001., and a full cargo. Among the passengers era
Ceennissary-General Bland and sister, Captain Allan,
Captain Selby, Rev. J. S. Wood, for Jamaica ; Cap.aia
Ireland, for Demerara, &c. The screw steamer Ham-
burg°, Captain Lagier, arrived this afternoon from the
Spanish ports, with about 20 passengers, and a larga
ergo of fruit ; she leaves again to-morrow for Ilarnburg,_
The ship Escort, of 765 tons has been chartered by the.
Emigration Commissioners to leave Southampton fur
Sydney on the 23rd of November. The Peninsular and
Oriental Company's steamship Grenada, Captain Tre-
gear, is to leave with the Peninsular mails on Weds
nesday next, the 7th inst.
THE UNITED STATES FRIGATE PLYIIOUTFI —Mr. Wm.
Tho nsen, the United States Consul at Southampton,
paid an official visit to the above-yarned frigate, now
lying in the ricer off that town, yesterday afternoon,
previous to her departure for America. The hor. gentle-
, man was accompanied by a few friends, who were hos-
pitably entertaanel by Captain Dahlgren and his official
staff of officers. Mr. Thomson was welcomed with a con-
sular salute on embarking and leaving the ship. Daring
their brief stay on board the arrangement of the vessel.
and particularly the monster Dahlgren gua, invented by
the c iptain of the frigate, occupied the attention of tuts
visitors, and excited much interest. It was the inten-
tion of the cl.ptain to sail tc-morrov morning, but he
has deferred that event for a few Lon *C, to enalle Lim to
accept tau p offered invitation of Mr. Alderman
Andrews (who accompanied the c-nsul on his visit) for
himself and officers to partake of a banquet to-morn.w
neon, at his Ns:de:lca at Winch(ates. The ship will
consequently leave Southampton, ou her return, early
•1 Monday.
rP.OoPS FOR INDIA Dr Tit OVERLAND ROUTE.—
SOUTHAMPTON, Friday, Oct.2.—Tae first body of troops
that have embarked from this port for the scene of the
Indian mutinies left here to-day in the Sultan steamship,
one of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's fleet, Cap-
tain Neil Cook, in which vessel they will proceed as far
as Al xantiria, and thence go across the Desert to Suez.
They consisted of the 4th and 11th companies of the
Royal Engineers, which left Chatham this morning, ar-
rived here per South-Western Railway about half-past
11 o'clock, and marched immediately on board the Sul-
tan, which lay alongside the dock wharf. There were
in all 235 non-commissioned officers and men, and 13
officers. The names of the officers who embarked are
as fellow : —Captain T. Fen wick, in command of the
whole body ; Captain Cumberland ; Major L. Nichol-
son ; Lieutenants D. C. Walker, Beaumont, J. E. P.
Patterson, Maquay, Scratchley, E. E Wynne, W.
Keith, and Smeetenhara ; Dr. Brown and Dr. Haverty.
The men marched with only their sea-kits in their haver-
sacks, all arms, knapsacks, Ste., having previously b
packed in cases and stowed away on board. The 4,.h
company is destined for Calcutta, and the 11th for Bom-
bay. Colonel Harness, we understand is to join them
at Malta. The embarkation was superintended by
Colonel Gordon, Deputy-Adjutaut-General of the En•
gineers, who came from London for the purpose ; and
there wero alto present Colonel Wright and Colonel
Dalgetty, from Portsmouth, and other officers. The ar-
rangements had been so well made beforehand by Cap-
tale Engledue (Peninsular and Oriental Company's sc-
perinteadent) and the dock officials, that within half an
hour from the arrival of the troops they were all safely
housed on board, and the Snlitan moved away from her
berth, affording another illustration of the great facilities
provided at this port for such purposes. A large num-
ber of persons were assembled in the docks to witness
their departure. The directors of the Peninsular and
Oriental Company have seat out a gentleman from their
establishment here, named Moser, author of "The Cau-
casus," and who saw a great deal of similar service in
the Crimea during the late Russian war, to accompany
the soldiers to Egypt, and superintend their transit
ocross the Desert, for the purpose of attending to the
comfort of the men.

SUlClDE.—Yesterday an act of suicide was committed
,-)5. Mr. E imund Taylor, aged tiCI years, at Poole's Lon
don-br.dge Hotel. The deceased gentleman, who was
well known in the city, had for some years past been in
the employment of Messrs Lennox: and Co., merchants,
of Broad-street. About half-past 11 o'clock yesterday
morning he went to the above hotel, where he was well
known, and proceeded to the coffee room, there being
no person besides himself there at the time. He sat
clown and commenced writing, and was thus left
alone. At about a quarter to l' o'clock the waiter
went into the room fur the purpose of cleaning the
glass in the door, when he saw the deceased appa-
rently resting his head between two tables, and there
was an unusual smeil in the room. He went up to
him, and then saw a wound under his left ear, from
which the blood had flowed copiously. A penknife
marked with blood was lying near him, upon a table.
Thu waiter gave an alarm, and Mr. Croft, surgeon,
was sent for, and promply attended. On his arrival,
he said that deceased was dead, and had been so for
some time. A letter written by the deceased was
found upon the table, directed to Mr. Middleton,
surgeon, of Bow-lane, referring to the fact that he
intended to commit suicide, and wishing that his body
might be sent to a hospital for dissection, for the
purpose of ascertaining what was the matter with him,
as he had suffered from some internal complaint. Mr.
W. Payne has received notice of the event, and will
hold an inquest on the body.