The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY. JULY 30, 1866.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 125, 30 July 1866, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. MONDAY. JULY 30, 1866.

The aspect of affairs on the continent of Europe has seldom been more alarming than it is afc fcbe present moment. • The unjust war "waged by the, German Powers against Denmark is now bearing its evil-fruits ; and the spoliators of thafc little kingdom unable to agree in the division of -the spoil, threaten each. other with a war which, if once begun, may wrap the whole of Europe in a conflagration. Ifc is not the least remarkable circumstance of this quarrel, that it is difficult; to understand how it originates. Austria and Prussia agreed to a provisional convention, and there has been, so far, no breach of that agreement on either side; we can only guess thafc Prussia wishes to annex the whole of the conquered territory to her own dominions, and thafc Austria, alarmed afc the growth of an already powerful neighbor,, combats the annexation under the name of respect for' the rights of the minor States. However this may be, the two nations, after a series of diplomatic. notes,, ever rising in irritation and anger, haye massed their forces on their borders and made extensive preparation for war. The smaller States have remonstrated, bufc except in so far as both nations endeavor to draw them to their side, the remonstrances are uuheeded. Italy is already drawn within the vortex of these contending Powers; und it is said that au understanding has been come to between her Government and that of Prussia, that, if war breaks oufc, Italy shall attack Austria from her side, and endeavor to wrest from her the, long-coveted province of Yenetia. France looks on in ostentatious neutrality, inthe sincerity of. which few politicians believe. The general expectation is that wheu the war is once fairly begun she will take that side which will best enable her fco seize upon and maintain thafc Rhine boundary which has been the object of her ambition ever since the -reign of Louis XIV. As yet, however, these. elements of war and blood are restrained, though the cloud appears to grow every day more lowering. Should it once be allowed to burst, ifc must deluge the continent with blood, and will probably shake down, many thrones aud many systems of government.