The Germans, however—or rather the : Prussians, for it is in Prussia that such feelings dbie&y prevail—are intensely jealous of the French resurrection, and make no secret of their regret that they did not impose more severe terms of peace when they had it in their power to do so. With the envious arrogance that renders the average Prussian the most in sufferable creature in human form, they are ever casting malevolent glances towards France, ■and lamenting that they did not gauge her wealth more accurately, and thatthey were weak enough not to insist upon retaining Belfort us well as Strasburg and Metz. Carefully con :irideriiif,' the signs of t the times, lam leu to the. conclusion' that Germany, not' France, will break the peace first, and the sooner she cau do so the better will be her chance of success. The War party in Berlin is becoming increasingly clamorous and defiant, evidently seeking to work the nation up to the required pitch of "feeling. The Ultramontane intrigues iilso have brought Germany to much the same pass as •Napoleonic.policy bronght France—viz., to the condition in which a foreign war is necessary to divert attention from home troubles. It has been self-evident for some time past that Bismarck is longing to pick a quarrel with France, if ,he could only obtain even a "Colourable pretext for so doing, and at the same time ensure at least the neutrality of ■ Russia and Austria. The Czar's opposition to his schemes has for the moment checked them, but Bimnarck is not the man to be diverted from his purpose by any temporary check He knows, too, that he must l>e prompt, as the German Emperor ia old, and his son hates the Chancellor with a Johnsonian fervour. In view of the present heated and inflammable state of Europe, I should be less surprised now than two months ago to see a wiir break out in 1875, but I still adhere to my previously ex pressed belief that we shall have peace till 1870. Judging from present appearances and indica tions, it will be impossible to maintain the ten sion longer. And the war, whether ostensibly no or not, will really have been brought about by Prince Bismarck and Count Moltke. FAItLTAMENTAKY. The doings of Parliament during the month have l>een very dull, presenting hardly any points likely to interest Otago readers. 