The Sun. — 1866-12-10 (London, England)

MONDA Y EVENING, DECEMBER 10, 1866.  phantasmagorian views we should only be lured further into the dreary desert of despotism." In commenting upon those mistaken politicians he shadows forth a great deal of the causes which have accorded to Prussia such success in the present year. IVaverers have been caught, and doubtful men have been seduced from their allegiance by the spacious sophistries of Berlin ; that majority of the world which always goes over to the winning side has declared loudly for the supremacy of Prussia, and here many doubts and misrepresentations have arisen.  We cannot see the good that can arise from this misrepresentation of evil, and those who persist in putting white for black, and sweet for bitter, in the case of Prussia, are doing great injury to the sacred cause of truth, and insulting the supreme majesty of justice. It seems almost impossible to understand why such perversity should have seized upon so many minds, and nothing that any one can do or say appears likely to disabuse them. There is great force in this passage about truckling to triumphs which deserve no need of encouragement or applause. " What demoralisation would corrupt national and party life if this inclination of having before men success became general." We commend the arguments of this writer to the notice of all who have been mystified by the plausible arguments of BISMARCK about German unity and such like clap-trap. As he very properly remarks, the " loftiest political phraseology of the needle-gun enthusiasts shall not make us forget that we are still  in the midst of the struggle." This is an exact definition of the state of things in Germany. It is  a struggle, neither more nor less, and it will soon be seen whether the German nation is to advance or to retrograde. If the policy of BISMARCK is carried out in its entirety, there will be a great wrong done to progress ; but if, as may be the case, that wilful statesman be checked in his career, the States of Germany will have an opportunity of retrieving themselves. At any rate, while in this transition state, let not men's minds be deceived, but let them realise thei r true position, and comprehend in its full force the nature and tendency of Prussian policy. It is one of aggression from first to last, and it is redeemed in no one particular by any generous conduct, or any trait of a higher tendency than that of rapacity, and a determination to gain its ends no matter how such ambition may militate against the rights and destroy the interests of others.  the Court of Assize for the Deux Sevres at Niort for the murder of his first and second wife, and of his son by the latter, naturally excites great attention. I sent you some particulars about the case, but it may be well to recapitulate the facts. They are brief, although no less than 1.60 witnesses were summoned on the part of the prosecution. The two women were evidently poisoned, the first wife in 1856, and the second in 1865, trace 3 of poison having been found in the intestines. Abel Reau, the son, no doubt died fron the same poison, corrosive sublimate. The prisoner, in addition to his other occupation, dealt in horses, and was a veterinary surgeon. He was in the habit of using poisons in small doses for the cure of horses and mules. It was proved that he obtained a fortune of no less than about £6,000 sterling from insurances on the lives of his wives and property which would have reverted to his son if he had lived, but which came into the possession of the prisoner at the death of his son. Many medical books were found at his house, and marks and notes were made upon those portions which treated of the most deadly poisons. On one occasion he asked a witness if he could tell him the best and quickest mode of poisoning, for his cousin had threatened to shoot him, and he wanted to get rid of him. His idea of marriage, as expressed to another witness, was, " the more wives a man has the richer he grows." Another heinous incident in his case is, that the poisoner offered I,ooof. to an Italian refugee named Bertadatto to assist him in endeavouring to prove that his second wife and son were poisoned by two relatives named Bontemps and Bichon.  LA