As a man sows so he reaps, and this which is true of individuals is commonly true of nations. The German States insisted on the expulsion of Denmark from the Duchies, and supposed that when this was accomplished, it would rest with the Diet to decide on a successor. From this delusion they have been rudely awakened since. The Danes have been expelled, and the Federal troops have in their turn experienced a like fate; the Diet has moreover been told that it has nothing to do with the appointment of a ruler over the Duchies, that this is a matter which rests with the Powers who liberated them; all that remains, therefore, in the power of the Diet, is to accept or refuse the admission of the sovereign, whoever he may be, into the Confederation, and no doubt Prussia hopes they may refuse, because in that case it would expect him to enter into a closer alliance with itself. This is looking at the matter from the most unfavourable point of view, for it would really appear as if Prussia had serious intentions of trying to hold them otherwise than by the strong arm. When the announcement was first made by the Prussian journals that a discovery had been made of certain documents establishing the superior claims of Prussia to SchleswigHolstein over those of any other candidate, it was received with incredulous disdain, as a mere pretext; in fact, a repetition of the fable of the Wolf and the Lamb. By degrees, however, these rumours assumed the form of a positive statement that not only did these documents establish the just claim of Prussia, but that it was the intention of that Power to contest the possession of the Duchies with the other claimants on the foundation of the rights specified in these documents, which were said to be newly discovered, but which it seems were well known to exist, had been published

indeed some years ago. There is now a new claimant in the field, Saxony. Communications on the subject have passed between Prussia and Austria, and no doubt some understanding has been come to, because, even if these old parchments should prove that the claim of Prussia, however bad, is better than those of the rival claimants (which are not particularly good), it would not justify her in retaining possession of them without the consent of Austria, in the face of the declaration made to the Diet, that the disposal of the Duchies rests with the Powers who had wrested them from Denmark. The most recent imformation that has reached here on the subject, states that these deeds, together with the grounds on which the Dukes of Augustenburg and Oldenburg base their respective claims, are to be referred to the Prussian Crown lawyers, who are to give an opinion of their respective merits.

The Liberals are said to be deep in consultation with respect to the line they shall adopt regarding the Ministry when the Chambers next meet. That Bismark, who treated them with such contumely before the war, will, now that his policy has been so successful, treat them with but slight consideration, seems to be the general opinion. In this supposition I do not concur, and I see a greater probability

of the relations between all parties being characterised by an increased amount of cordiality. The Liberals are still Prussians, and all Prussians are proud of the way in which the army behaved in the war with Denmark, which they have not yet learned to look at in its just proportions. The Minister does not lack shrewdness, and he may see now the opportunity of making concessions without apprehension of his motive being attributed to fear, and in the event of his adopting this policy, he will probably be met in the same spirit.

The satisfaction of the Prussians with the exploits of the army was shown very strongly in the reception given to the troops on their entry into Berlin. The soldiers themselves, too, entertain a not less elevated idea of the feats they have accomplished. To us, who are not without experience of serious fighting, and who would be disposed to rank the war with Denmark on the same level with the war now being waged with the natives of New Zealand, it appears ridiculous that they should stick laurels in their rifles, and otherwise decorate them, as though they were making a triumphal return from a battle-field in which they had achieved, or assured the maintenance of the independance of their country. The inflated language, too, in which the addresses are couched, jars on our ears, and contrasting it with the sobriety, and even depreciatory character of our own language under similar circumstances, we do not, perhaps, make all the allowance we ought to make for the difference of tongue.

The Emperor of Russia continues steadily to advance in the path on which he entered shortly after his accession. With a caution which does him credit, he connives at increased freedom of discussion of all public matters, without abolishing the laws which enable him to check it if he saw any reason for doing so. He is ameliorating the condition of the peasantry where an opportunity offers of doing so, as for instance in the making and improvement of roads, and in a variety of other ways. One of the most striking proofs of the advance of his subjects in prosperity, and a certain kind of patriotism, combined with greater knowledge than they have usually received credit for possessing, is the eagerness with which they subscribed for the loan recently issued, the amount subscribed far exceeding that asked for.

The Emperor appears to be determined that the whole of Poland under his rule shall eventually be annexed to the empire. The decree suppressing some of the religious establishments has not excited anything like the sensation that was anticipated; indeed, it is only doing what has been done in most other countries. It would be difficult to persuade anybody that any good can arise out of the maintenance in the kingdom of Poland of one hundred and fifty-five monasteries, containing one thousand six hundred and thirty-five monks, and forty-two convents containing five hundred and forty-nine women, including twenty-one houses of Sisters of

Mercy. Beside these, there are sundry Brotherhoods unauthorised by the law.

The information that has reached us from different sources, enables us to form what is probably a correct idea of the policy Russia is pursuing in the direction of India. The account of the Russian military operations given in this Magazine a month or two since, was derived from the Invalide Russe and the official journal, and in that account one of the reasons assigned for the retreat of the army of Kokan, was that the country was threatened by the King of Bokhara. If, as is not unlikely, this was done at the instigation of Russia, he has received one portion of his reward in the shape of a valuable diamond necklace.

EDITOR'S PORTFOLIO;

OR,

NAVAL AND MILITARY REGISTER.

"Great cry and little wool" is still the sum and substance of the news from America, though, as usual, "great operations are impending." In Virginia, Lee and Grant seem to be amusing themselves with distant cannonades that do no particular harm to either party, and though Hood and Thomas are at work more vigorously, all that we can at present learn is that, according to appearances, the Confederates are getting the best of it in Tennessee. But that appearances may be deceptive, we learn from the proceedings of Sherman. His occupation of Atlanta some time ago was to be the "death blow of the rebellion," but lo and behold! he all of a sudden burnt and abandoned the place, on the 12th of last November and has ever since been engaged in an attempt to make his way eastward to the coast, where the navy, the only efficient Federal force may afford him a chance of escaping a disgraceful surrender. This appears to us to be the real state of the case, although of course, the Federals ascribe "high strategic purposes" to his march, and intimate that Augusta, Macon, and Savannah are all aimed at, and within his grasp. Now we know that his host, which seems to be devastating the country in its line of march like so many Huns, has passed by the two first named towns at a respectful distance, although the capture of either would be a heavy blow to the Confederates, whence we assume that it was never intended to attack them; and the danger to Savannah we can discuss when we learn

with what number of followers, and in what condition Sherman has arrived there, should he be fated to reach it at all.

We remarked last month that the Washington Government owed it to its own character to disavow the insole letter of Mr. Webb about the Florida; but we have now no hope that any such consideration will weigh with them. Indeed Mr. Seward improves upon his model, in his reply to the request that a charitable contribution for the benefit of the Southern prisoners may be allowed to reach them. We doubt if any European Statesman ever acted thus, but if he did, we are certain that at least he employed the language of a gentleman.

The Florida herself, if not the question of her seizure, has been settled by Yankee "cuteness." Being moored conveniently near Fort Monroe, she has been "accidentally" run into and sunk by a transport. Credat Judæus.

"Help yourself, and your friends will love you," says the proverb, and we all acknowledge its truth. But there are some classes who hardly can comply with the injunction, and for them the help of friends is absolutely necessary. Nobody can question that the wives and families of the private soldier are in such a case, and we print below the statement of what is being done for them at Aldershot, in the earnest hope that increased support may be given to the establishments mentioned, and that the example of such true charity may in time find imitators at all our great camps and stations at home and abroad.

LODGINGS FOR SOLDIERS' WIVES AND FAMILIES AT ALDERSHOT.-The first annual report of this most meritorious Institution, to which we sometime since called attention, has recently been issued. As is pretty generally known, the object of the association is to provide lodgings at a cheaper rate than they could be obtained by the ordinary means, and, owing to the high rents at Aldershot, it may be considered most valuable for the benefit of the married soldier. When the former reports were issued, and on which we made some remarks, only forty lodgings were available to that part of Aldershot called North-lane, or New-town; but in January the committee took two houses in Albert-street, West-end, at a rent of £65 per annum, including rates, repairs, &c., by which seventeen lodgers were added to the others, with the rents at the low figure of 1s. 10d. to 2s. 2d. per week for each room, partly furnished. Ninetynine soldiers' wives and seventy-two children have been benefited by the lodgings since these were opened, and all tenants continue to express their satisfaction with the quarters provided for them. There is a rule most rigidly adhered to by the committee, which excludes from the benefits of the association the wives of soldiers married without leave, but if a sufficient number of women married with leave do not apply for the lodgings, then those married without leave, who can obtain recommendations from their commanding officer, are admitted. The

accounts show a total balance of £74 7s. 64d. to the credit of the association. Besides a long list of donors, the report gives the names of fortyeight guarantors of sums from £4 to £30 each, who hold themselves responsible for the rent of any premises taken by the association up to June next. The total sum guaranteed this year amounts to £425. The names of the guarantors have increased by seven since the half-yearly report was issued in January, and include these of the Earl of Shaftesbury, Lieutenant-General Knollys, Colonel the Hon. Lord George Lennox, Viscount Eversley, Lord Calthorpe, Sir Harry Verney. Miss Nightingale, Major-Generals Brook Taylor, Russell, Hodge, and Bates, &c. The association contemplates the extension of its operations when the funds shall be adequate.

HOSPITAL FOR THE WIVES AND CHILDREN OF SOLDIERS.-The fourth annual report of the Aldershot Hospital for the wives and children of soldiers, signed and approved by Lieutenant-General Sir J. Pennefather, K.C.B., has been issued, from which it appears that the subscriptions and donations to that institution during the last twelvemonth, with the balance of £115 8s. 5d. from last year, amount to £306 5s. 7d., and the total expenditurs to £189 19s. 3d., leaving a balance in hand of £116 3s 4d. The committee express a hope that the benefits of this hospital have been widely felt, and record their thanks to Mr. D. P. Barry, the secretary and medical officer, to Major Smith, the treasurer, and to the Ladies' Committee for the general supervision which they have exercised.

In the early part of the American Civil war, great importance was ascribed to the. unquestionable superiority of the North, not only in men, money, and warlike material, but in mechanical genius. Even those who wished well to the South, were obliged to confess that nothing like manufacturing establishments on a large scale existed anywhere beyond the Federal frontier, and it seemed almost impossible that the Confederates could ever procure, much less fabricate, the warlike weapons and stores that they required. But necessity is proverbially the mother of invention, and the following notice from a recent number of the "Richmond Examiner" is a striking proof of the fact. It is interesting as showing what energy and resolution can accomplish under very disadvantageous circumstances, and it shows that, even if the war should, contrary to all probability, end in the success of the Washington Government, the one great distinction which regarded the Northerners as the active enterprising manufacturers and the Southerners as the sluggish agriculturists is gone for ever a fact that renders any return to the "Union as it was," altogether impossible.

"The mechanical arts have advanced rapidly within the limits of the Confederate States since the beginning of the war. A glance at what has been done in one department of the Confederate Government will serve to give an idea of the general progress. We select that known as the Ordnance Bureau of the war department, which is charged with supplying arms, artillery, and other munitions of war to the army.

"At the date of the organisation of the Government at Montgomery,