16 NOVEMBER 1850, Page 5

; finnan au GERMANY. —The death of Count Brandenburg took place

at seven o'clock on the morning of the 6th instant. Within four hours of that event, the Prussian Cabinet had assembled and reconsidered the question of issuing the order for calling out the whole military, whose rejection caused the retirement of M. Radowits. About this juncture, there was delivered at Berlin an Austrian ultimatum, demanding that Prussia should totally evacuate Hesse in eight days, evacuate Hamburg and the Grand Duchy of Baden within six weeks, dissolve the Erfurt League, and recognize the Diet. If these terms were not granted, Baron Prokesch von Oesten was to demand his passports for Vienna. On the afternoon of the 6th instant, the Cabinet resolved on reversing the resolution adopted under Count Brandenburg's influence ; and the ifoniteur published the momentous decree "calling out the whole of the military force of the monarchy." The Cabinet were unanimous and the King signed the order with the words " God command his bluingthereto.' The Cabinet resolution aroused a marvellous national

enthusiasm ; the people leaped up to avenge Prussia's insulted ho- nour, with universal joyfulness. The only moderating voices were those of the Ministerial organs, and the military journal ; all others burst forth with raptures about "the honour, right, and grandeur of Germany "; and the people generally shouted for war at all coat. The concentration of the new military masses, and the process of arming and clothing them, were instantly commenced ; the whole Prussian army is now declared to be on a war footing ; in less than a week it had been swelled from the peace establishment of 126,000 to 325,000 men, with upwards of a thou- sand field-pieces. The whole of the Prussian officers, a very large num- ber, and 4000 privates, now serving the Stadtholderate in the Danish Duchies, were ordered home, under pain of the severest penalties ; and the Prussian troops in the Grand Duchy of Baden were ordered to co- operate with the army in Electoral Hesse.

The Austrian and Prussian armies came in presence of each other, near Neuhoff, on the 3d instant. General von de Grdben proposed ajoint occupation of the Electorate by agreement ; but Prince Thurn and Taxis replied, that the Federal orders under which he acted left him no liberty to compromise—" in his duty to the Diet, he must effect his advance by all means in his power." The Prussian commander protested, opposed, again offered to parley, and was again rebuffed ; • and then again protested, and halted his withdrawing divisions. The Austrians pressed him so closely, that, in the village of Bronzell, a collision took place : the Prussians fired, some Bavarians were wounded, and it is said that one was killed ; but the Prussians withdrew without bringing on any serious engagement. In Fulda the Prussians again made a stand, and the Austrians stayed their advance for a day or two : but on the 9th, the Prussian troops had so far drawn back towards Cassel, that Fulda, which they took with galloping cavalry in the previous week, was quietly occupied by the Austrian. The last accounts from Frankfort and Cassel state that the Prussians were acting in a strictly military sense, and were concentrating them- selves on the military roads, which they have a treaty-right to occupy. Cassel is on one of these roads ; so the Prussians may continue there. But the Austrians would of course not willingly allow the Prussian right of transit to hinder themselves in their right to occupy Cassel for the Diet.

The small state of Hesse-Darmstadt was, at the beginning of the week, positively said to have declared for Austria • but the official papers have since announced that the army has been mobilized, like that of Prussia, and instructed to join the Prussian forces at Ereuznach ; an event of some con- stitutional importance, when it is recollected that the Elector of Hesse- Cassel lately contemplated abdication in favour or Iris Ducal relation. Hanover has for some time wavered between Prussia and Austria the

late Ministry was strongly Prussian; present Ministry has been sup- posed to be less constitutional ; but he most recent accounts ascribe to it a decided bias against the Austrian intervention, and make it protest against Austrian intervention in Holstein.

At Vienna the warlike furor was as violent against Prussia as at Berlin it was against Austria. Troops daily passed through the capital towards Bohemia ; among them, several battalions of Croatian borderers. The Governments of Saxony and Wurtemberg had broken with their refrac- tory Assemblies and dissolved them, and had placed the whole military power of their states at the disposal of the Diet. The dissolution of the Wurtemberg Assembly was resisted by the Deputies. They refused the Crown the grant demanded for placing the troops on a war footing, at the disposal of the Diet. The Minister of the Interior instantly took from his pocket the order of dissolution, and read it amidst signs of astonish- ment and cries of " Treason !" The President of the Chamber denied that the dissolution was valid ; and, despite the protests of the Minister, presided at the election of a committee to watch over the violated consti- tution. He dismissed the Deputies with an invocation to Almighty

to protect the right and strike injustice to the ground. There were reports in Vienna that Prince Gortschakoif had been accredited Russian Ambassador to the Diet ; and that largo masses of Russian troops were pouring towards the passes into the Eastern pro- vinces of Austria, ready to supply instantly any military void caused by the movement of the Austrian armies towards Hesse-Cassel and the Danish Duchies. In reference to the military aims of the Diet towards the Danish Duchies, it is said that 20,000 men and 60 field-pieces are already on the Coburg frontier, with a message demanding passage through. Prussia to the North.

Faszez.—The reunion of the National Assembly on Monday "went off very quietly." There were very few groups outside, and inside the building no event of any sort raised any unusual interest. Five hundred and eighty-three members answered to their names.

The Assembly chose its officers on Tuesday. M. Dupin was elected President, by 383 votes out of 594 present ; the other votes being divided between M. Mathieu de In Drome and two or three more. M. Dupla took the chair, and;immediately declared M. Baroche, the Minister of the Interior, to be in possession of the tribune. M. Baroche proceeded at once to read the "message of the President of the Republic; presenting, in virtue of the 52d article of the Constitution, the exposé of the general state affairs of the French Republic, addressed to the Legislative Assembly in the session of the 12th November 1850." The message, as a printed document, treats its subjects under the headings of Interior, Finances, Public Works, Agriculture and Commerce, Justice, Public Instruction and Religious Worship, War, Marine, and a concluding Resume. Interior. The force of the Assembly and the Government when in perfect accord has been proved by the effect of laws adopted under the gravity of events, in reestablishing confidence. The Municipal authority drew on itself grave reproaches ; 421 Mayors and 183 Adjoints have been dismissed. The National Guard too often acted in a sense opposed to the object of its insti- tution ; it has been dissolved in 163 towns and communes—in short, wherever it presented the character of an armed corps deliberating. On all sides the Army has shown the admirable devotedness peculiar to it; every-

where the Gendarmerie bas acted with a zeal beyond all praise. Confidence thus restored, the property-tax has been reduced by 27,000,000 francs.

Finances. The ascending progress of the revenues is sustained ; the first nine months of IMO give an increase of 213,000,000 francs in the indireet revenues over the same time in 1849; and the increase of the direct revenues has been 16,000,000 francs. " It was for a moment thought that the budget of 1849, by reason of certain circumstances, unforeseen at the moment it was voted, would impose on the Treasury a charge of about 300,000,000 franca. Thanks to the progress of the revenue and to the economy introduced in the different services, this deficit, it may be now affirmed, will be reduced to nearly 100,000,000 francs. Everythmg leads us to hope that the presumed deficit of the budget of 1850 will be sensibly diminished, and that the equi- librium announeed for 1851 will be realized." The deposits in the Savings- banks, frdm the 1st January 1849, exceed the withdrawals by 69,000,000 francs ; the unforced circulation of the bank has risen from the lowest amount of 100,000,000 francs to a present amount of 135,000,000 francs. A more perfect arrangement of the system of public accounts has been made ; and a reorganization of the arrondissements of collection made, Which will enable the extinction of 1500 offices. Public Works. The second half-year of 1849 witnessed the opening of railway communication of a length equal to 574 kilometres ; 1850 witnessed a further extension equal to 152 kilometres; 18:51 will see 513 kilometres more of extension. The iron trade recovers slowly. Measures will continue at the disposal of the agricultural interest the means so precious for it of irrigation and draining. The concession of the Lyons Railway is advised, as promising relief to the charges of the State, amounting to 260,000,000 francs. Agriculture and Commerce. The crisis which weighs on agriculture has induced efforts by the Government to localize the application of the re- sources at its command. The Government purchases of grain for military and naval service have relieved local distress by imparting firmness to the local markets. The breed of horses is much improving, under the administration of the Government studs.

"The Council of State is about to examine the regulations, proposed by the Government, for marking the exceptions to be made in the execution of the law which limits to twelve hours the day's work. The proposed plan con- ciliates the well-established necessities of the manufacturing classes with the respect due to the law ; and being the fruit of the experience of the most eminent manufacturers, it will remove all the difficulties, not very numerous besides, which it has given birth to." "Amongst the provident institutions which the Government intends de- veloping, mutual aid societies, and pension funds, instituted by the State, occupy the first rank." With reference to the sugar-duties, " the Government, without shutting

its eyes to the difficulties of a definitive solution, is of opinion, that by redu- cing in a large proportion the duty which weighs on the consumer, and by '"ibstituting for the prohibitive duty now in force against foreign sugar an post of a sufficiently protective character, it would reconcile in an equitable ner the interest of the people, which calls for sugar at a cheap rate, with interests of the producers of the home-made or colonial article.; also those the shipping interest with the claims of the Treasury." Justice—Public Instruction and Religious Worship. Six thousand eon-

* ts in the bevies of Toulon load the budget with an enormous weight. A will be presented which will render the penalty of hard labour more cacious and reforming, and at the same time more humane, by utilizing progress of French colonization. The provisions of the important law of e 15th March 1850, on Education, have induced a considerable change in the personnel of the primary teachers, The schoolmasters are no longer the instruments of disorder. The law realizes the hopes of the Government and the Assembly. The Sovereign Pontiff has conceded a measure long demand- ed—the appointment of three colonial bishoprics,—for Martinique, Guade- loupe, and the Island of La Reunion (Bourbon) ; and at the same consistory he granted new cardinals to the French Church, as an eminent proof of grati- tude to the nation and esteem for its episcopacy.

War. " The effective of the land forces, which in the month of June 1849 amounted to 451,000 men and 93,754 horses, is no more at present than 396,000 men and 87,400 horses; and will shortly be reduced to the limits prescribed in the budget, to which it will be confined if political circum- stances permit us.

"Algeria had suffered much from the political events of 1848. The no- table diminution which the effective of our troops experienced has not pre- vented our brave army from meeting every danger. Zaatcha captured after prodigies of valour—Boucada subdued, consolidate our dominion, and permit us to pursue the work of pacification. The forty-two agricultural colonies distributed in our three provinces, may in time form splendid establishments. Au European population of 115,000 inhabitants, divided in one hundred and thirty-three towns or villages-11,000 concessionary colonists having erected constructions of which the actual value is fourteen millions, attest a progress which I trust will not slacken."

Marine. "The marine has been maintained upon a respectable footing, notwithstanding the reductions commanded by the budget. Forei,gners have paid homage to the fine organization of our fleet assembled at Cherbourg. However, our maritime force is only composed of 125 ships, instead of 235 which we had in activity in 1848. It employs 22,561 men, instead of 29,331 borne on the lists of the same year. The actual effective only suffices imper- fectly for the protection of present interests engaged in all parts of the globe." Foreign Affairs. In Italy, French arms have obtained a great success; they have overthrown "that turbulent demagogy which throughout the Ita- lian peninsula compromised the cause of true liberty," and have "had the signal honour of replacing Pope Pius the Ninth on the throne of St. Peter." Wlaen Russia and Austria threatened the Sultan, France in concert with Eng- land sent forces into the Levant, to show a loyal sympathy with the independ- ence of the Porte. At Athens, her good offices secured the softening of the terms imposed by Great Britain on the Government of Greece. Spain she assisted by troops sent to the Antilles, under injunctions to unite their efforts to those of the Spanish authorities in repelling adventurers. Denmark still excites lively solicitude. " If the steps taken by the Allied Powers have not yet succeeded in putting an end to the struggle engaged in in the North of Ger- many, they have at least obtained the happy result of curtailing the propor- tions of the war, which only exists now between the King of Denmark and the unsnbdued provinces. We will still insist upon the King of Denmark assuring by institutions the rights of the Duchies. On the other hand, we will give him all the support which he has a right to require from us, by virtue of treaties and of our ancient friendship."

" In the midst of the political complications which divide Germany, we have observed the most strict neutrality. So long as French interests and the equilibrium of Europe shall not be compromised, we will continue a po- hey marked by our respect for the independence of our neighbours."

The benefit to the French flag of the liberalized Navigation-law of Eng- land is acknowledged ; and hopes are expressed that pending negotiations will end in arrangements still more in conformity with the interests of the two countries.

"The abuse, too long tolerated, of literary and artistical piracy, is the sub- rot of numerous negotiations. The greater part of the cabinets to whom international arrangements have been proposed for the purpose of putting an end to that abuse lave received them at least in principle."

Resunti. "Notwithstanding the difficulty of the circumstances, the law and authority have recovered their empire to such a point that no one be- lieves henceforth in the success of violence." Nevertheless, France still desires repose above all things. "I have often declared, when the oppor- tunity is offered of expressing publicly my feelings, that I considered as great criminals those who by personal ambition would compromise the small amount of stability guaranteed to us by the Constitution. This is my pro- found conviction, and it has never been shaken. It is only the enemies of public tranquillity who have been able to misrepresent the most simple steps which arise from my position.

" At the present clay it is permitted to every one, to the whole world, ex- cepting to me to endeavour to accelerate the revision of our fundamental law. If the Constitution contain vices and dangers, you are all at liberty to point them out to the country. I alone, bound by my oath, confine myself within the strict limits which that Constitution has laid down for me. The Councils-General have in a great number of instances expressed a wish in favour of the revision of the Constitution. That wish is only addressed to the legislative power. As far as regards me, the elect of the people, and deriving my powers from the people alone, I shall always conform to their wishes when expressed in a legal manner: The incertitude as to the future creates, I am aware, marry apprehensions, by reviving many hopes. Let us all learn to make the sacrifice to the country of these hopes, and only to oc- cupy ourselves with its interests. If in the present session you vote the revision of the Constitution, a Constitutional Assembly will assemble for the purpose of reconstructing our fundamental laws, and regulating the fate of the executive power. If you do not vote it, the people will, in 1852, so- lemnly manifest the expression of its new pleasure. But whatever may be the solution of the future, let us understand each other, in order that it may never be passion, surprise, or violence, that will decide the fate of this great nation. Let us inspire the people with that repose, by being calm in our deliberations. Let us inspire them with a profound feeling of justice, by laying aside on our own parts all appearance of selfishness ; and then, be- lieve me, the progress of our political manners will compensate for the danger derived from institutions which were created in days of distrust and uncer- tainty. "'That which preoccupies me above all thiNea, you may be persuaded, is, not to know who will govern France in 1852, but to employ the time of which I diepose,. in such a manner that the transition, whatever it may be, may be made without trouble. The most noble and the most dignified ob- ject of an elevated mind is not to seek, when one is in possession of power, by what expedients it may be perpetuated, but to watch without ceasing over the means of consolidating, for the advantage of all, the principles of author- ity and of morality which defy the passions of men and the instability of the laws. I have honestly opened my heart to you. You will respond to my frankness by your confidence—to my good intentions by your coopera- tion; and God will do the rest."

The reading of the message was listened to with fixed attention and gratification. The closing passages called forth loud applauae. The sit- ting was immediately suspended ; and the members broke into groups for animated conversation on a document which had evidently produced a good impression.

The favourable impression made by the message had even increased on Wednesday. Twelve hundred copies of the document were posted up in the different quarters of Paris, by orders of the Prefect of Police ; and 37,000 copies were sent to the Provincial communes; every. Mayor would have a copy.

The Permanent Committee is said to intend.not to make any report of its labours during the recess, to the Assembly. Should there be any in- terpellations, it is said that the President will declare that the Committee is completely satisfied by the dissolution of the Society of the Dix-De- cembre, by the change in the Ministry of War, and the order of the day-of General Changarnier ; and will recommend the Assembly to take no no- tice of the circumstances which have occurred during the recess.