The Sun. — 1868-07-09 (London, England)

REMARKS.  Since yesterday barometrical pressure has increased very suddenly four-tenths of an inch in the north, whilst at our southern statiow a diminution of about one-tenth has occurred. Readings are now highest in the north, but pressure is still rather evenly distributed. Temperature has decreased in Scotland; elsewhere it has scarcely altered. The winds still continue light, especially on our south coasts. They have again veered to the north-eastward on our eastern and southern coasts. The weather is now fine, with a cloudy sky ; and some rain has fallen at our south-west stations.  A letter from Prague to the Liberte announces that a number of Russian agents has arrived in the lilhemian capital. The object of this mission is to negotiate the emigration of several thousand Czechs to Southern Russia. The emigrants " will be the object of special favours from the Russian Government."  A convention, guaranteeing the interest and sinking fund of a loan of £135,000, to aid in rendering the River Danube navigable from Isaktchi to the sea, has just been signed by the six Powers bound to the Treaty of Paris. It will be remembered that by the treaty of 1836 the navigation of the Danube was opened to all nations without toll, except certain payments to the Porte. A commission of consular agents was appointed to improve the river, and this commission has been at work for eleven years, with the prospect of concluding its labours in fouryears more. The cost of the works was to be defrayed by the Ottoman Government, which was to reimburse itself by the only clues allowed to be levied on ships. The Porte has not, however, met its obligations, and the commission has been obliged to contract loans, guaranteed by the Powers, and paid out of the tolls which have been handed over by the Porte. The benefit accruing to the commerce of the world from this work will be very great. Not only was the river formerly unnavigable in many places, but all the States through which it flows levied dueS merely by right of sovereignty.  Rather a, zerious charge has been brought against Sir Robert Napier as to his conduct towards Theodore. It is stated that Theodore's fortress was stormed and he himself driven to commit suicide at a time when there was a general impression in his camp that peace had been made. The story, as stated by those who are anxious to impair the "glory of Magdala," is something as follows. On the 12th, after the defeat of his army, Theodore sent down a present of cattle, with a letter praying for friendship, and offering to surrender all the captives. Sir Robert Napier's answer, it is said, was verbal, and the European prisoners were under the impression that the present had been accepted. In Abyssinia, if a present is accepted it is tantamount to saying that peace is made. Under that impression, therefore, Theodore sent down all the prisoners. It is also stated that Sir Robert Napier sent no letter or message to the King on the subject, and that without any further parley Magdala was stormed, and the King driven to shoot hithself. This, however, is hardly the case, for Sir Robert Napier did write a letter to Theodore, refusing the present; so that—although that letter, as it now appears, did not reach the Negus—the commander-in-chief cannot be to blame. But, apart from this, the actions of Theodore prove most conclusively that he did not think that the present was accepted, as he at first tried to escape, and then shut himself up in his fortress, awaiting whatever might come. More than this, he ordered the release of the prisoners some time before he sent the cattle. It is therefore clear that Theodore, thinking the end of the Abyssinian expedition would be accomplished by the release of the captives, sent a present of cattle to con. ciliate the English. Finding, however, his own ;10.1 was sculml, fa his libsttyag f;11.