The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-10 00:00:00

EXPLANATION.

Barometer corrected and reduced to 32 deg. a sea level. Theletters
r., rising; f., falling ; a., steady—indicate direction of motion of the
mercury within last 14 hours. Thermometer exposed in shade.
Extreme Force with its Direction during last 24 hours. Z.—calm
Weather : b.—blue sky ; c.—clouds. detached ; f.—fog ; h.—hail ;
I.—lightning ; 214—misty, hazy ; o.—overcast, dull; r.—rain; 5. snow;

L.—thunder. 'Lela-fall, snow or hall (melted) during last 24 hours.
Sea disturbance.

REMARKS.

The distriLution cf the atmos)l. ale 1 pressr re ! as continued ner er
unchanged since yesterday, and is very uniform : there has been a alight
increase in the N. and E. since last evening, whilst in other districts
readings are almost the same. No important difference in tempera-
ture is noted. Moderate winds from the westward have been preva-
lent : in the Channel very light north-westerly winds are reported.
On the coast of Ireland the wind is now south-westerly, and in the
south of France a strong wind from the N.W. is blowing. The sky
Is
generally cloudy.

It is intended to reconstruct the fortifications of Cologne.
The Independance Beige says that this is not a menace on
the part of Prussia, but that the measure is adopted
merely because the capital of the Rhine is " stifled "
within its present narrow limits, and wants more breath-
ing space.

- -
Recent advices confirm the news of the great battle in
Bokhara in almost every particular. The statement that
the Ameer was killed does not seem to have been true,
but it is proved that the Russians did advance upon
Samarkand, and did rout a Bokbarian army 80,000 strong.
Once more, then, the old question is sure to be revived, Ought
we not to advance our Indian frontier, by way of counteract-
ing Russian influence in Central Asia ? The Times un-
hesitatingly says No. It would not be beyond our power
to effect the conquest of Afghanistan, though the
work could be achieved only at an enormous charge ;
but the sole end of this conquest would be that
the British frontier would be brought nearer to the
Russian positions by the whole breadth of that province.

If, indeed, we had occupied Afghanistan, as Wa I recom-
mended some years ago, and if the Russians are actually
in Bokhara, the garrisons of the two nations would be
now actually confronting ea ;11 other, and the long-
dreaded collision would have been precipitated by
our own efforts to prevent it. This, of course, would
he no disadvantage if Afghanistan wcu'd give us a better
frontier province than the Punjab, but that cannot be
maintained. We are stronger upon the Indus than we
could ever be upon the Oxus, nor could we advance a step
without detriment to our power. The occupation of
Afghanistan, whether partial or complete, would be a•i in-
calculable drain upon our resources ; indeed, such is the
nature of that country and its population, that it can never
be made so useful to us as by being left alone. Whoever
meddles with the Afghans will be attacked by the whole
force of the population, and, though they may be subdu2d,
the conquest of such a people would cost any Power dear.
Here, then, says the Times, is the simple question, "Shall
Asoeßrieeilisalsiadspivai:aslyalnt
enswdt:he:Nfalot,alsriiophttNrahvfiloecltrehd,wieeticoeemirns shall we leave it to be paid by the
deroeenoba
flloeucidnraobaowunuindr,
:Pevm:efeysibieeatntoit.tsluei
onnuoadireelsreetgalhovteeotsfhclltsmnetoneirfe,
frontier of the Puniab?" —• '