Year: 1866

Special Correspondence Of the Cresceutl


PARIS June G, 1866.
In hoping that the dire calamity Of war might be
prevented by the congress, we were reckoning
without the shiftings of diplomacy. To the matter
now at issue fear there can be no end but one,
and that is war, grim visaged war The answer of
the cabinet of Vienna to the proposition of the
congress is enyelOped in so many reservations that
it may almost be looked upon refusal aud in
order to make matters worse, Austria has declared
her intention Of leaving the settlement Of the Elbe
Duchies question to the Bnnd at Frankfort Now,
this Schleswig Holstein question may be said to be
at the bottom of the German quarrel. 1t would
seem as if Austria wanted to say, " have signed
the treaties of Vienna and Gasten with you, but
do not intend to abide by them. have numerous
friends at the Diet of Frankfort, and am certain
they will decide in my favor so you do as you
like" x


Prussia, as can well be imagined, has been very
much shocked at the conduct of its ally, and will
very likely beg Austria to withdraw its appeal to
the Diet. Austria will refuse. The Prussians will
no doubt enter the Duchy of Holstein now occu-
pied by the Austrians, according to the treaty Of
Gastcn, and perhaps before you get this letter
hostilities will have commenced.


The Italians, who have now lost all patience,
will fail upon Yeneta-the French army will cross
the Alps to help its ally in case of attack from
Austria and in few days we shall hear Of moth
ing else in Europe, but slaughter everywhere.


THE LAST RAY OF HOPE.


Some optimists, however, still remain, who hope
against hope. 1t has been reported that the En-
peror, who up to the present time has done every
thing in his power for the maintenance of peace,
has Gas there seems to be no chance of a meeting
Of the ministers of the different would-be belge-
rent powers) made direct appeal to the sove-
reigns of Prussia, Austria and Italy, inviting them
to meet and try TO settle the different questions al
issue, which have been envenomed by diplomacy
| 1t is more than ridiculous to fancy for moment
that any such meeting would have the slightest
chance of success The jealousy entertained
towards France by these different powers wouIt
be sufficient to render the thing impractcable
How can one fancy it possible that the differen
sovereigns Of Europe would consent to come ant
sit in council with the man they call 1" the par
yenu" The only hope that will soon remain tt
the different powers now engaged in the confic
will be the hope of which Virgil speaks


Una falux Nullam sperare sataum.


DEPLoRABLE STATE OF AFFAIRS.
OF course it may well be imagined what is thu
state of affairs at the present moment. Thing
were never worse. Failure succeeds failure ant
though we have not been so tried as our neighbor
across the channel, we have now to go througl
, heavy times.


ANOTHER FINANCIAL sCAEDAL-FOUR MILLION
WORTH OF FALSE BILLS OF EXCHANGE.


To all the political causes of suffering and rui
we must add private disasters oCcasioned by cr
minal conduct. All Paris has for the lastfew day
been taken up with the arrest of well know
banker of the name of Rietard, accused of haYin
endorsed for more than four millions worth O
false bills of exchange. The guilty banker seein
that he was found out tried to escape the punish
ment which awaits him and which will be compare
lively too mild for his offense, seeing that the pc
lice were after him and that it would be mpossibl
for him to gain the frontier, he fed to an fa5lisSt
nlent de 6ains where he tried to put an end to hi
days by hanging himself with handkerchief, bu


without success, as it broke in the attempt. Fl
then tried to commit suicide after the manner
Seneca, by opening his veins with penknife whe
in the bath, but again without success as whils
he was in the act, the doors of the bath room wer
e burst open by the police who arrested and col
s Quoted him to Mazas.


= 1t is said that many other persons of note al
e implicated in this affair.


|, Credit may be said to be a dead letter, and a
r afraid that all confidence in every kind of fina
), cial speculation is lost for the present.
d THE LAST DAYS OF MAMMALIAN.
], As we are about settling our accounts we fe
v we shall have to put the Mexican expedition
d the side of dead loss, for should war break c
in Europe we shall have to recall the troops whit
?, are employed in keeping the Emperor MaXimiii
e on the Mexican throne. Perhaps handful
- soldiers might be allowed to remain, should Il
e young Emperor consent to allow him to recei
G the custom dues, as a security for those Fren
II capitalists who have embarked their money
a Mexico, but we fear that MaXimilian will not he
II of this, The consequence will Ibe thatthe Hapsbu
e will be left in his glory to manage as well as
. can.


3 TERRIBLE EXPLOSION IN PARIS.
u You will no doubt accuse me Of writing abo