The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-26
AFFAIRS IN EUROPE.


EnglanI, Prussia and ,Auss,i0-W1A they unite
against Franoe?- The Coming Change IN the
Psussian Government Movements Of the Prince
An Ingenious Imposition Personatfng Post
Office Offciai-7ne Harcest-Prospects not Pro-
missing foundations in Sarony, &c.
The meeting at Cherbourg is looked upon here
less rs proof of universal friendship between
France and England than of a desire ON both sides
to mask the real GOODNESS and dstrust existing be-
tween them by an aiectaton of cordiality which is
beed by all their other actions. Louis Napoleon
had set his heart on seeing Queen Victoria at the
Inauguration of his great naval arsenal it sort
of triumph which was necessary to him for keeping
up and heightening his prestige at home, and which
Victoria could not refuse him without preciptating
rupture that England is hardly yet prepared for
The entente codiale has long ceased to be reality;
q French Sebastopol has been erected as standing
menace" to perfdious Albion; there Is scarcely
single political question on which the two Powers
are agreed; and the interview between the Em-
peror and Queen imposed it is upon the latter by
motives Of State necessity, is more likely to widen
the breach than to lead to better understanding
Under these circumstances, close alliance with
Prussia has become an object OF considerable i'm
portance to England; and although Queen Vietora's
visit to POtsdam has been chiefly dictated by feel
ngs of maternal affection, it cannot be said to
be wholly unconnected with political views and
tendencies. The Queen will be accompanied by Lord
Malmesbury, and during the fortnight or three
weeks that her Majesty intends to pass with her
Pr.ssian relatives the British Minister will have
plenty Of time to confer with Baron Manteuile on
the present state and the future prospects OF Europe
II is well known that the cabinets of Vienna and
London are Just on the very best terms, and II
Prussia could be induced to abandon her neutral
position. and join heart and hand With England aud
Austria league between these three Powers would
electually paralyze any aggressive designs on the
part of France, especially Russia is so much
engaged with her internal reforms that for the next
two or three years she is not likely to take any
active share in the affairs of her Western neigh
bors. The change of government about to take
place in this country cannot fail to promote the
views of the British ministry the personal feelings
of the Prince of Prussia coincdng with his pOliti-
cal predictions in rendering him favorable to an
alliance with England. As long as he only acted in
TIE capacity Of iocum eens for his brother he had
no opportunity OF giving expression TO those ieel-
ings: but when he assumes the rens of government
as Regent of the Kingdom he will be at liberty to
follow his own inclinatons. and II is almost certain
that he will DO SO next October. an the reports
| propagated by the Kreuzzeitung party of the inn
proved state OF the Kings health Tor mnd) IN con-
! sequence of the beneficial effect produced by his
residence at Tegunsee contradicted by the simple
| fact that he does not come to Berlin to receive
Queen Victoria and will remain in his Bavarian
solitude till the illustrous visiter has left He is
evidently not presentable; and II has been Thought
advisable to spare the Queen so meiancholy spec
tacle as that of man once distinguished Tor ms
mental powers and accomplishments but now re-
duced to condition OF PROSTATE inbecility After
the Queens departure he will return TO Berlin ana
there spend few weeks at the baths OF Patbus,
subsequently TO which, presume, he will finally re-
sign the helm Of State into the hands OF his brother
The Prince of Prussia has lately been at Baden
Baden where he had interview with Count
Cayour, the Sandman Prime Minister, whom he is
said 10 have received in the most tGterng manner,
10 the inexpressibIe rage and modification OF our
reactonists, who hate constitutional and an,,,papa,
Piedmont worse than the devil or Mazzlni. He (not
the devil, but the Prince Of Pussa) is now at
! Ostend. from whence he is expected home IN lew
days. There was some talk OF Prince AoaiDert, Ihe
Lord High Admiral of Prussia, being present at the
| Cherbourg festivities with detachment OF the
Prussian fleet but if there ever was such an idea
appears TO have been given up. M de Manteuilei,
who unites the functions OF First Lord OF the Admit
ralty with those of President Of the Council and Mi
| mister of Foreign Affairs, is n sensible man. and
he could not fail TO perceive that even If the whole
Prussian navy had been sent there 1t would cut but
poor figure in presence OF the French and English
| squadrons. The Prince Admiral, therefore, will
have 70 contne his aspirations TO an experimental
cruise in the Baltic. IL doubtful too, whether
the old Empress OF Russia will come 70 Potsdam to
meet Queen Victoria as was currently reported; at
least il is stated in letters from st. Petersburg that
the Dowager Czarina does not intend to travel this
summer.
ascending affair perpetrated with great boldness and
! ingenuity, and OF which the Post ohloe authorities
| were the victims. On the arrival OF the express
train from Bresnu (Sesia) to Berlin at the station
| of Kohlfurth person made his appearance in the
| full uniform OF Post Office iunctionary OF high
| rank lin Prussia even the Post Office clerks wear
military uniform, with sword and helnet) Informing
| 81 IL of the mail bavg that he had
orders from the Postmaster General TO inspect their
contents and to whether they were in proper order
The confident behavior OF this individual, the air OF
authority he assumed, his splendid reCimentals, and
the intimate acquaintance he displayed with all the
minnte Of the Post Office completely disarmed sus
| picon and the officers allowed him TO accompany
them TO Berlin and TO subject the mall bags anu
their contents 20 close scrutiny On arriving here
| he selected twenty three bags, containing number
OF letters and about IS 900 halers in notes stating
that they were not properly packed and sealed and
that he should have 70 apply TO the General Post
Onice for further instructions concerning them He
then called droshki, ordered the mail bags 10 be
put into IL, jumped in after them and drove on.
Even then the clerks do not seem 20 nave
anything so powerful is the sght OF uniform m this
country; but when they got 20 the tener4l
Post Office they found, OF course, that no such
person bad ever been sent, and that they
had been the dupes OF clever impo-ltI. How
ever the police were Immediately put upon
his track and a reward OF three hundred thalers
being offered for his apprehension, they soon DIS
covered that person In uniform answering the dc
scrption given them had stopped az an inn near the
Linden, taken a private room, aud come out again
in plain cloths telling the landlord To order car
rage for journey be wished TO make across the
country. The vehicle furnished him was easily traced
90 one of the gates OF the city out OF which u had
driven at about ten o'clock in the forenoon; the tele
graph was set az work in that direction, and before
night the culprt was seized In the neighborhood OF
Barnth and brought back TO Berlin under the care
OF two police officers. He turned out 70 he former
Post Office clerk of the name OF Wassubin, who was
dismissed some time since. The whole OF the money
was found in his possession, and the unluoky swind
Ter who showed more skill and audacity IN concoct
| ing his scheme than dexterity and crcumspection in
his Interior movements, has been lodged in durancc
| vile 20 await the sentence OF the law.
i hnnf