The Prussian Government is the Whig party of Germany. Like
the Whigs, it affects to hold the balance between Aristocracy and Democracy, or Conservatism and Progress ; like the Whigs, it is notorious for the facility with which it abandons its most favourite projects on the least show of opposition. The last ingenious de- vice of the Prussian Government was the permanent resuscitation of the Provincial Diets. The functions of these bodies had been superseded by the Legislative Chambers : the Cabinet at Berlin flattered itself that by reviving them it might be enabled to carry on the business of administration without the aid of the Chambers, and allow them to fall into disuse. But the parties in opposition to the Government--both Conservative and Movement-took alarm in time, and Frederick William and his counsellors have relinquished their project, as they have in turn relinquished every project that they have entertained since March 1848. The embarrassments arising out of the Schleswig-Holstein ques- tion present no symptoms of abatement. The Assembly of Nota- bles convened at Flensburg by the King of Denmark, though carefully packed, has proved intractable, and a change of Mi- nistry is confidently anticipated. The measure proposed to be forced upon them was the selection of the Duke of Gliieks- berg, a child of seven years, as heir to all the territories now appertaining to the Danish crown. Even the most stanch Royalists shrank from the risk of a regency in the actual chaotic state of Danish internal politics ; and, what was of more weight at court, the cautious Cabinet of Russia hesitated to adopt this Austrian plan. The ultimate fate of the Duchies there- fore remains still uncertain ; and also the more important ques- tions of the definitive settlement of the German and Danish fron- tier, and the ascendancy of the Prussian or Austrian policy in this matter in the councils of Germany.
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