15 DECEMBER 1849, Page 1

The protest which the Austrian Government has put in against

the separate operations of Prussia to set up a Federal Government is remarkable for its composite fashion, and it distinctly indicates the distrait condition of public affairs in Germany. The protest conveys the warning threat, that if the attempt of Prussia should lead to a breach of peace, Austria must take means to restore "order." But the protest is accompanied by a note, which ex- plains that Austria does not expect any hostility, and does not intend to threaten aggression. Together, the protest and note seem to mean, that Austria wishes to record the warning lest oc-, casion should arise for resorting to arms, but that she has no pre-;- sent intention of doing so : it is a reserved right to claration of war on a future contingen- we

adverse to Prussia, but negatively ape ,sian transcends the positive just now e uisputed border is neighboured by a gre, are uueu „oops, and the Dutchies of Schleswig-Holstein no eagerness to conciliate the Prussian commander manifest ed all round, and Prussia herself Danish party. War is threate he obstruction to it consists in the seems prepared to brave it t. The sequel, therefore, is to be fact that no party is paramoin ssible than by the combination of determined less by what is p elude observation and calculation, impossibilities. But as thos .ifficult to foresee, but also more dif- the sequel is not only more Ippen, as it were, peradventure, ac- ficult to prepare : it must ese complicated impossibilities ; and cording to the balance of will probably take all by surprise. although watched by all ich all parties keep up, although they Hence the great armies w ely hostile policy. They wait to see do not assert any positi all fall ; and are making themselves which way Germany s Tell as mobs, for the scramble among her strong, governments as ruins.