The Emperor of Austria is slowly making head against his
constitutional difficulties. He has rid himself for the moment of trouble in Hungary, having, according to the Times' corre- spondent, informed the Premier, Dr. Wekerle, that he assents to the proposed Bill making Civil Marriage compulsory and sufficient. The parties can of course, if they please, go through any religious ceremony in addition. This concession gives the Government a majority in the Hungarian Chamber, the Magyars being determined that they will not be ruled by clerical opinion. In Austria, however, the E—peror is still in trouble. He has selected Prince Windischgriitz, a moderate man, for Premier, but the Coalition Ministry is hard to form. The two essential parties, the Conservatives and the German Liberals, have hardly a point of agreement, while the Bohe- mians declare that if the former are allowed so much influ- ence in the Cabinet, they will turn them out. The Emperor, in fact, masters the leaders with whom he comes into personal contact ; but not the parties which do not see him, and which are not thinking of his perplexities, but of their own pre- dominance. The Emperor struggles on, but it is not impos- sible that, seeing no end to the confused opposition based on ideas and nationalities, he may recall Count Taaffe, and dis- solve, relying on the Reform Bill for I majority.
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