The Sun.
London, England, 1859-06-28 00:00:00

FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAINE, JUNE 27,

The Bank discount has been reduced from 31 per
cent., at which rate it was fixed on the 31st of May
last, to 3 per cent.

The Journal de Rouen publishes the following
extract of a letter from the camp at Montechiari,
dated the 23d, the day before the late battle :
"To reach this place, we had to cross a wide
plain which might have served as a battle-field for
the Austrians ; in front, when coming from Brescia,
stands the village of Castenedolo, on an eminence,
which, like a long embankment, bounds the plain
on one side. This plain is about ten kilometres
long and extends to Montechiari, which is built on
rather uneven ground against a mountain-spur, on
which the ruins of an old castle may still be seen.
From that height the eye commands a view almost
to Cremona, certainly far beyond Peschiera. With
a telescope the Austrians can be seen throwing up
their defences. The Grenadiers of the Guard are
encamped on this hill. The plain seems a very
advantageous battle-field for an army coming from
Brescia. If I had been able to write to you the
other day I should have sent a letter, which would
have been a true picture of a day with Napoleon
111. at the army of Italy. It was the 17th at Tra-
vagliato, the day before we entered Brescia. The
Emperor had taken up his quarters at a large farm-
house, inhabited by the mayor. Just imagine a spa-
cious yard ; on the left the dwelling-house, on the
right a large garden separated from the yard by a
railing. The yard is crowded with travelling car-
riages and waggons.' The Emperor's attendants and
the people of the farm are passing and repassing. It
is six in the evening; the Emperor comesdown from
his room, attended by Marshal Vaillant. The whole
military household comes down and stands apart.
The Emperor sits down, and a map is brought to
him. Marshal Vaillant presents several papers to
his Majesty. The Emperor remains alone for a mo-
ment, and rests his elbow on another chair beside
him. A spy arrives, and is introduced. His Ma-
jesty listens to him, but apart. A colonel is called ;
he gives ten napoleons to the spy, who seems well
satisfied with his pay. Marshal Regnaud de St.
Jean d'Angely arrives; the Emperor converses with
him. Other generals come in. The map is called
for several times. The King arrives in a carriage,
and the two monarchs shake hands. Soften down
a little the hectoring air which some portraits give
to King Victor Emmanuel, give him a very plain
cavalry uniform, and you will have the portrait of
Victor Emmanuel. You must also darken his com-
plexion a little, give greater distinctness to his fea-
tures, so as to have the true physiognomy of a
frank soldier used to the life of camps. The Em-
peror and he go a little apart and converse, both
making cigarettes in rapid succession. The Em-
peror, tired of standing, leans against the shafts of
a waggon close by ; the conversation is lively and
long. Other generals come in. The light, though
now declining, is still sufficient to allow of seeing
the map, which is again brought forward. At last,
the King left at ter o'clock, and the Emperor.dis-
missed his household ; a quarter of an hour after-
wards he retired to his apartment. The Emperor
eats little. Ile sleeps more by day than by night.
He works till one in the morning, and is called up
at three or four."

The Prussian Gazette gives the following ex-
planations respecting the mobilisation of the
Prussian troops :
"When the Government applied to the Chambers
for large sums of money it did not conceal the po-
litical object for which they were to be employed.
The Chambers unanimously approved of that object.