The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-07 00:00:00

ItEIVA RNB.

A diminution of atmospherical pressure, amounting to nearly two-
tenths of an inch, has taken place since yesterday in the northern
portion of the British Islands ; but the change in the south and west
has been very little. Pressures are now generally low, diminishing in
a direction from south to north. The difference in readings between
Nairn and L'Orient is nearly half an inch. Since last evening, how-
ever, pressure in the south-west of these islands has slightly in-
creased. Since yesterday temperature has fallen in the N. and W.
High south-westerly winds prevailed yesterday on the west coast of
France, and at Cape Gris Nez it b'ew a gale, which is reported as con-
tinuing. In the south of Ireland the wind is fresh from the west-
ward, whilst at the entrance of the Channel it is south-westerly.
IZ:in has fallen generally. Thunder is reported from our east coast.
The w:,ther is cloudy.

According to all .q.ccounts, the cattle disease which has
broken out in Russia 1; identical with the rinderpest
which has caused such deva;!Ation in Britain. What-
ever may be its nature, it is spreadi,:is with alarming rapi-
dity. It has now broken out in some dis:7icts of Prussia on
the Polish frontier. Some persons who bat.? eaten meat
of animals infected became seriously ill, and halre been
sent to a lazaretto for treatment. " All possible precautions
have been adopted to prevent the spread of the contagion."
The manifestations which have accompanied the great
rifle meeting at Vienna have given rise to much dissatis-
tion in Prussia. Some of the journals openly express their
resentment. The Provincial Correspondence of Berlin says
that Germany disapproves of these manifestationsbecause
she sincerely desires peace and friendly relations between
Prussia and Austria. The same paper is happy to notice
the care with which the Austrian Government has ab-
, stained from all participation in these demonstrations.

Saving some telegrams which come through the Havas
Agency, the value of which we need not estimate, there
is little news from Spain. The movements of the Duke
and Duchess of Montpensier are as complex and.unintel-
ligible as ever, but it appears that they have taken up
their residence in Portugal, though it is not clear whether
it has been fixed at Cintra or Lisbon. The generals who
have been sent to the Canaries are strictly confined there.
The Spanish Ministers are still at La Granla, where, it is
said, the Queen lies ill.
There will be in all probability an epilogue to the insur-
rection which has collapsed in Bulgaria. The confessions
of several insurgents who have been captured in the Balkan
Mountains has afforded clear proof that the counsellors of
Prince Charles of Roumania are directly responsible for
the conspiracy. The Turkish Government is about to
appeal to the Great Powers.
A correspondent of the Daily News, who periodically
succeeds in running the ineffective blockade around Crete,
says the contest is still maintained, and that two years of
war, though they have spread devastation far and wide,
have not served to extinguish the courage and determina-
tion of the patriots. He says there are almost daily
combats amongst the burnt villages and neglected
fields, whilst the blockade is run as of yore at
regular intervals. The running is not, however,
altogether unattended with danger, as the Turkish
cruisers still keep a good look-out, and fire
whenever they think it desirable. Bread, ammunition,
and medicines are the great necessities of the insurgents.
From the best accounts that can be obtained of the state of
affairs in Crete, there seems no doubt that if the Turks
were to make a determined effort the insurrection would
be quelled. The war is carried on badly, and-the blockade
is altogether ineffective.
The great difficulty at present in the way of providing
the blind with a coinprehensive literature is on account of the
various systems of characters used in the embossed books.
There are no less than eight different systems in use in
England. If every embossed book published were avail-
able to every blind reader, it would hardly pay the pub-
lisher ; but when the blind are so divided in the systems
they have been taught, the result is especially unsatisfactory.
It is gratifying that a committee of blind gentlemen has
been formed in London, each member of which is able to
read at least three of the systems, or is willing to learn
them. They must not be wedded to any particular
system, and their duties will consist mainly in taking the
opinion of the intelligent blind who are conversant with
more than one. The committee desires to increase its
1 numbers, and appeals to blind gentlemen of education
and leisure for assistance. It would be bad policy to with-
hold the treasures of literature from that afflicted class
which produced Homer and Milton,