Napoleon and Count von Bismark met at Biarritz this week.
According to one account the interview was not very satisfactory, and the Prussian Minister was rather neglected during his stay, but the semi-official Provinzial Correspondenz alleges that His Majesty's observations were "guarantees for the unaltered con- tinuance of the friendly relations between France and Prussia," and that "mainly owing to this a settlement of the Duchies would be brought about without European complications." The presump- tion is therefore that the annexation of the Duchies has received the consent of France, and it certainly will not be opposed by the Prussian Parliament. On the 28th inst., Herr Twesten, Liberal of Liberals, refused- to-join in a protest preparing at Frank- fort, on the distinct ground that while admitting every argument against annexation, he would not aid a movement "which had for its end the preparation of a defeat for Prussia." Herr von Bismark's _path therefore seems a smooth one.
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