One of the most remarkable and characteristic documents bear- ing
on the German quarrel was published here this day week— we mean Count Bismarck's despatch of the 4th June to the Prus- sian Ambassador in Austria. It is perhaps the haughtiest docu- ment of the kind on record. The Prussian Minister asserts that Austria's renunciation of Holstein in favour of the German Diet and her convocation of the Holstein Estates, is dictated solely by the desire to force on a war. He has heard, he says, from an authentic source what leaves no doubt upon his mind that the Austrian Ministers "desire war at any price,—partly in the hope of successes on the field, partly to tide over domestic difficulties, —nay, even with the expressed intention of assisting the Austrian finances by Prussian contributions, or by an honourable bank- ruptcy," meaning that Austria goes to war with Prussia on the principle on which a footpad stops a rich traveller,—in the hope either of getting his money or getting an unanswerable excuse for not paying what he owes to his companions in crime. " Honour- able " is here of course, as Artemus Ward would say, "rote sar- kastical." Austria's reply was, as usual, moderate.
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