, 1875-12-22

Government may soon acquire, or more pr0ba-
bly, has already acquired, a preponderant inter-
est in the undertaking, and of course no Bri-
fish Ministry would take such a step in antici-
patton of the consent of Parliament, except
for the gravest reasons of State. It is, there.
fore, believed, and we imagine with justice,
that the step indicates a policy finally adopted
by the Government, which policy can only
be to maintain the neutrality of Egypt and the
safety Of the Suez Canal at all hazards. If the
Khedive, who must have assented to the
British scheme, as otherwise he could have
put up his shares to an auction among the
Powers, can secure the needful Independence
we'll if not, we must secure it for him.
The effect Of this measure on Change was
to depreciate Consols, the idea being that the
government would not have been so decided
unless aware that very serious events were in
preparation. In spite of the urgent depials of
officials everywhere, the Continent is full of
rumours of war in spring. Orders have un-
doubtedIy been received in Gallicia to repair
bridges, &c, on the Russian frontier-orders
Interpreted to mean that Russian troops are
coming south, whereas they may mean that
Austrian troops are going nOrth-and the
Times is repeating, with a persistency very I'M
like itself, that Austria must occupy the insur-
SOAO lOFAhNOC "a 4 WlhOJ. II cuCu du OCCupd-
ton has been predetermined, a point on which
we have no information, the new struggle will
be between Austria and Russia and the par.
ties to it will be possibly Russia. anxious for
her road to COnstantinOple, and aided by France,
eager for a Russian alliance, against Austria,
determined to spread eastward, and aided by
Germany, determined that Russia shall not
gather strength with England standing aloof
but keeping a fast grip on Egypt. There is
still strong hope that the Powers may shrink
from actual war, and still immense confusion
as to their true drift, but it is impossible to
doubt that the situation is becoming dangerous,
or that an accident may break up the present
armed peace. All rumours should be received
for weeks to con with distrust, but confidence
in continued quiet will be unwise.
The severe Press Law recently submitted
by the Prussian Government to the German
Parliament has been, it is stated, rejected by
the Federal Council. If the proposal was
energetically pushed, this vote would be impor-
tant, as the Council rarely resfsts Prussia,
which, indeed, with her habitualI supporters,
Baden and the Saxon Duchies, can ensure a
majority but it is more probable that the sup
port was weak, Prince Bismarck having be-
come aware that the German Reichstag would
seriously modify the Bill. 1t is, indeed, diff
Culb ~ uuutIStdHQ Wudb lu6 OuduC0llOr can
want with more power, when be can practically
imprison anybody for saying anything or trans
lating anything he does not like. Only a
censorship could make him more absolute.
The insurgents in Perak would appear to
have suffered a defeat on the 18th, when Com
mander Sterling, and Captain Whittla," of
the 10th, with $50 men, 5 guns, and 2 rockets,
attacked four stockades, and of course, having
learned to use civilised weapons, instead of
pelting stockades with English lives, carried
them. It is thought that this success may end
the insurrection, but that is not certain, as it
seems that Sir w Jervois had, before the out
break, issued p~roclamations announcing the
virtual annexation of Perak. The Residents
are to administer the districts in the name of
Sultan Abdoollah, to appoint all judges and
magistrates. and to receive and expend all reve-
nues, that is, in fact, to govern the country.
We have remarked upon this situation else
where, but may notice here that the Colonial
Office denies the existence of any orders for
annexation, and intimates that it knew nothing
of these prOclamations. Ample force is now
at hand at Perak, even excluding the 3rd Bluffs,
who have not yet left Calcutta, to face any,
thing but a religious war, and this, as we have
before stated, it may be difficult to pro.
claim.
The Prince of Wales does not appear much
delighted with his first introduction to Indian
sport. He was, to judge from the kilograms,
bored with the hunting of deer by trained
~leOpards, a cruel sport, interesting only for the