The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-03 00:00:00

REMARKS,

During the last twenty-four hours a slight diminution in atmosphe-
rical pressure is shown at all stations, but readings are still high in
the south-western districts: The region of least pressures is in the
S.W. of Ireland. In the N. temperature has fallen since yesterday :
not much change has occurred elsewhere. Winds have been and con-
thine light and variable generally ; but at Weymouth an easterly
gale is reported this morning, which has blown at Plymouth, where
the wind is still fresh from the E. Mist prevails in the N. The
weather is generally fine.

The health of Count Bismarck is reported to be still
better ; but he suffers greatly from restlessness and want
of sleep.

The efforts made to keep the Germans now assembled
in Vienna from the domain of politics are not altogether
successful. The speakers at the various reunions will not
be put down. The progress made by Austria in the direc-
tion of civil and religious liberty, and the chance of the
Austrian Germans being cut off from the fatherland, are
the two great topics, and they are handled with much
more freedom than prudence. Baron Beust has found it
necessary to send a despatch to the Austrian Embassy at
Berlin declining all responsibility for the fête, and stating
that it is impossible to prevent manifestations which are
often caused by the imprudence of individuals.
On the first of July the last of the troops composing the
Abyssinian expedition arrived at Bombay. They left
Zoulla on the 25th of June, by which time the tracts of
invasion were fast disappearing. The romp and circum-
stance of war had gradually vanished, and Zoulla was
beginning to re-assume the miserable dreary aspectof yore.
Long may it be retained.

The Indian press is engaged in a raid upon that
peculiar form of Anglo-Indian insanity which has gained
the distinction of Russophobia. It is now beginning to be
thought that Russia may work her wry in Central Asia,
but she will not go further than it will pay her to go.
Says the Indian. Daily News: " Before she can reach our
frontier . with such a force as would be of any avail
to injure our possessions, she wcull have to incur
an expenditure she can ill afford; and Even with
that, might find the expedition as disastrous as that of the
first Napoleon to Moscow, or our own unwise and impolitic
attempt upon Affghanistan. We trust that lesson has
not been forgotten." Tho prevalence of such conside-
rations as these is a healthy symptom. We can gain
little by a war in Central Asia, but if we are to fight, let
us not first provoke the contest.

From Madras we hear that the Commander-in-Chief
has issued an order forbidding beards to be worn in the
army. The joy amongst the barbers at this announce-
ment may be great, but the soldiers do not appear to share
it. The order has been received with mingled indignation
and ridicule. The question appears to be, is a man's hair,
like the head upon his shoulders, his own, and should he be
consulted as to its removal ? The Bangalore Herald
decides in the affirmative, but the logic is clearly not all
tlpon one side.

We must confess ourselves utterly puzzled to decide
;)etween the conflicting news arriving from South America.
A day or two ago the Paraguayans were announced to have
;aiued a victory of some magnitude. Five thousand of
the allied army had been utterly defeated, the fortress of
Urtunaita was declared as strong as ever, and the hopes of
Paraguayans were represented as proportionately high.
Now we hear from Brazil that the Allies are daily gaining
'ground. "Positive information" had been received that

Lopez had finally determined to evacuate the fortress, having
chug found his strongest position untenable. The Bueno:
,Jyrea Standard says that the Paraguayan commander will
lispute with the remnant of his army the pass of a deep
nd rapid river called the Tebicuari. How shall we
lecide ? By much the greater part of our news has been
received through Brazil, and it has, of course, invariably
been favourable to the Allies. The only difficulty is that
the numerous victories that have been announced ought
to have completely finished off the war long ago. The
Allies are always beating the enemy, but never gain any-
thing by it. It is an extraordinary war,