The Otago Witness. DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, AUGUST 20.

Otago Witness, Issue 664, 20 August 1864, Page 13

The Otago Witness. DUNEDIN, SATURDAY, AUGUST 20.

Seldom has any English Mail been looked forward to with deeper interest than that just to hand. The previous advices left affairs in Europe in such a critical state, that the following mail was regarded as being almost certain to bring intelligence that the Dano- German quarrel had culminated in ageneralwar, in which Great Britain must of necessity take a conspicuous part. These anticipations have not been fulfilled. The London Conference has terminated without having accomplished any peaceful solution of the question on which it deliberated, but England has not gone to war with Germany. But when we say England has not gone to war, it is by no means certaiutbat she will not do so, and the probabilities point this mail, even

stronger than ever to war. Whatever may be the merits of the dispute between Germany and Denmark, the popular feeling in England is so decidedly and warmly Danish, that no Ministry could entirely 'free itself from its influence. English people cannot tolerate the idea that the Father of their future Queen should be bombarded in his own capital, and it may be regarded as certain that if the Germans persevere in their aggressive course, England will step in and by force of arms, defend the integrity of the Danish Kingdom. The Conference, as we have said, ended in smoke. We can hardly be said to have come out of it with eclat. The first to propose the Conference, and the most urgent in its demands on the German powers, England has suffered the negotiations to fall through and her advice to be disregarded. The policy of peace has been quite exhausted, and the belligerents equally rejected the basis upon which it was proposed to build a settlement of the dispute.. Germany was too exacting and Denmark too proud— neither would yield and thus the matter is left to the arbitrament of the sword.

But the war between Germany and Denmark cannot be prolonged with impunity. The excesses committed by the German army prove that in the hour of victory, treaties and engagements are not scrupulously regarded. The integrity of the Danish Islands is said to have been recognised by the Conference as not under any circumstances, to be disturbed, but there is no guarantee that the AustroPrussian Army would not march on and capiure Copenhagen. It is this contingency of German excesses that endangers the peace of Europe. With regard to the partition or disposal of the Duchies, the people of England care little and know less, but the sympathies of the nation are called forth strongly when it 'is remembered that the . Kingdom which gave Britain its future Queen, is in danger of extinction. The Conference has done little if anything towards settling the difficulty, whilst it has resulted in damaging the prestige of England. It is hardly to be wondered at that the Danish representative should complain bitterly of the part the British Government has taken. Relying on the active assistance of England, Denmark took up an uncompromising position, when had she been willing to make concessions, the dispute could have been settled without much loss of territory or dignity. But now the kingdom is virtually at the mercy of its enemies ; and unless an English fleet be ordered to prevent it, the capital itself will fall into the hands of the German invaders.

But the popular feeling in England is too strongly in favor of Denmark to be disregarded, and the Government may, and probably will, be compelled to adopt the course, which, if taken at the first, might have settled the matter. The interference of England six months ago would have at once prevented the invasion ol Denmark, and that too without exciting undue irritation on the Continent. But now, popular feeling in Germany, Denmark, and England has become so much excited that the question of interference is rendered a much more serious affair. In the meantime, Austria and Prussia will doubtless continue to plunder Denmark and oppress its inhabitants. But not the Danish question alone endangers the peace of Europe. Austria, Prussia, and Russia have, it is stated, entered into an alliance —each party to which is to protect the others if attacked. France remains almost a passive spectator, but ready to assume a decisive position when the time comes. The Cabinets of Paris and London are, however, in perfect accord; and should England take up the sword against Germany, ehe will not be alone. On the whole, the prospect is gloomy and threatening, and we must again remain in a state of anxious suspeuse for a month.

The intelligence from America is of a terrible nature. The Federals have unsuccessfully attempted to capture Richmond, and have lost a fearful number of men in the various engagements. Truly the Federals are paying dearly for the knowledge that the South cannot be coerced into submission. The tide of success is clearly on the side of the Confederates; and {he North, with all it s

resources, is showing strong signs of exhaustion. The end is not yet, but it cannot be far distant. What it will be . is not easy to say, but it will not be the conquest of the South.

In another column will be found the trial before the Resident Magistrate of Charles Williamson, Warden in charge of the Upper Shotover District, for having committed a criminal assault on Eliza Emma Pocock, at the Upper Shotover, on the 31st of May last. At the conclusion of the trial the Magistrate reserved his decision, and on Thursday morning the defendant was called upon and he surrendered to his recognisances. Mr Wilson, on behalf of the defendant, said that since the trial he had discovered that the -witness Powell had been discharged by Mr Jones, of the Provincial Hotel, for theft, and witness had therefore sworn falsely: in cross-examina-tion he had denied this. He (Mr Wilson) asked that the evidence of Mr Jones should be heard on this point. The Magistrate thought this did not affect the question one tittle. He had carefnlly considered the whole of the evidence, and as there appeared to be a prima facie case against the defendant, he had no course left open to him than to commit the defendant to take his trial before the Supreme Court, but he would admit him to bail himself in £100 and two sureties in £50 each.