THE STATE OF EUROPE.

Press, Volume XXIII, Issue 3058, 10 June 1875, Page 3

THE STATE OF EUROPE.

With respect to the relations with Frauce the North German Gazette, of April 10th, says :—" The leading article published in the Berlin Post, of the 9th inst, certainly in one respect contains much that is true. It combines therewith, however, such anxious views with regard to the present and the future that we must contradict it, the more so since our present international relations are by no means so unfavorable as the article would fain represent. The steps taken by the French Government with regard to the reorganisation of the army are certainly of a disquieting character. It is clear that these measures do not aim at a solid establishment of the French forces, but on the contrary, are being undertaken for the purpose of carrying out systematical armament ad hoc, the object of which is obvious. The Post, on the other hand, in its observations upon Austria and Italy, does not depict the real state of affairs. Every one iB aware that in both countries a Papal party exists, and that the Jesuits are no friends to Germany. Happily, however, then* influence is not sufficiently strong in either of these countries to prejudice the good understanding existing between the Sovereigns of Austria and Italy and the German Empire, or to disturb their amicable relations." The National Gazette of April 11th, refers to an article in the semiofficial North Get man Gazette, and adds :-— '• From the beginning, in weighing the course of recent events in France, publio opinion iv Germany has never wavered, and has, in fact, unanimously anticipated in its judgment the statement now made by the semiofficial newspaper. It is proved beyonddoubt that French statesmen have not sufficiently considered the significance of the measures they have adopted, bat the fact itself with which we have to deal remains. The continuous anxiety which the French - armaments were calculated to produce cannot be removed by representing them to be mere police measures." The semi-official Puris Moniteur of the 11th says :— " The situation in which France is placed condemns her to remain a Btranger.to the diplomatic misreckonings of Germany. We must continue attentive to our internal affairs, anxious for the maintenance of peace, because peace corresponds . with the veiy first of our wants. We are not conspiring against any one. This is the view of ourBelves which we wish to give Europe, -and we do not despair of succeeding in doing so." In the contest between Germany and thePope, we have to record the intention of the Government to prosecute the Prince Bishop of Breslau for publishing the Encyolical. The fact that he is personally on friendly terms with the Imperial family is an additional indication of the Emperor's resolve firmly to enforce the laws of the State. Mgr Cybichowaki, suffragan bishop of Posen, is to be prosecuted for usurpation of the Episcopal functions, having been found consecrating the holy oil. This has given rise to the suspicion that he is the secret delegate of the Pope for the administration of the Adiocese. The bill withdrawing State grants from the bishops has passed the third reading in the Prussian Diet. A measure for the administration of vacant bishoprics is contemplated; also one for the dissolution of monasteries, religious orders, aud congregations, which the Ministry are expected to introduce shortly in the Prussian Diet. All religious associations are to be dissolved within six months. This period may be extended to two years in the case of educational orders. The associations whose members devote themselves to nursing the sick may obtain permission to continue their work, subject, however, to withdrawal whenever the authorities may think fit. The revenues of sequestrated monasteries and convents are in the first instance to be employed in granting pensions to the members of the orders dissolved.

j The Academy says :—" Dr Theodore yon | Heldreich, Professor of Botany at Athens, i bas lately made the interesting discovery that an extensive tract of land, measuring more tban 50,000 square metres, at the silver mines of Laurium, is covered by a luxuriant crop of glaucium, belonging to a hitherto unknown species, which he proposes to designate as G. Serpieri. These papaveraceous plants have havo shot up through soil which has been covered to the depth of three metres with the masses of scoria?, thrown out by the workmen in ancient times when the mines were worked by the Greeks, and which has recently been disturbed in- order that the imperfectly fused materials might be subjected to a further process of fusion for the purpose of extracting the silver contents. Tbe persistent vitality of the seeds through the interval of 1600 or 2000 yeass which has elapsed since the mines were last worked, is a curious fact in physiological botany, and is all the more interesting? because this Bpecies of glaucium is not __own to exist in any other habitat." to the London Times, writes— « As tbe public have not been informed of the.whole facte, !_£.?V£P^^? mcernin S tt « disastrous defeat of the British mission from Burmah ™J\ «° Wn »», W t beg you to be kind enough to publish the following— The first telegram received said,«The attacking party was the advanced guard of an army of 3000 sent by order of the Governor of Momein to annihilate the British party ; of this there is no doubt.' With deep grief Colonel Browne reports that Margary and his servants, five Chinese, have been killed at Manwine, and their heads exposed over the wall of tbe town. Chinese commanded by the nephew of Lee See Hie.' The last telegram from Col. Btrover, via Rangoon, dated March 3rd states—'From private information I learn that Margary went ahead of expedition to reconnoitre, when twelve miles from Monwine, in consequence of hostile interruptions; he entered to reconnoitre, and was treacherously murdered." General Margary is of opinion that if this outrage is allowed to pass unavenged, our hold on India wohld be imperilled. As it is, no doubt exaggerated rumours of a large force of English 'foreign devils* being easily defeated will spread through China and elsewhere like wildfire, and what may be the effects of it if we do not act promptly? Manwine should be razed to the ground, and Momein occupied by us, two feats easy to be accomplished ; and then there would be sufficient protection both moral and physical, for a commercial