29 OCTOBER 1842, Page 1

Prussia presents the novel spectacle of an almost popular assem-

blage convened to deliberate in conjunction with the Bing on subjects of legislation. It does not, fulfil the promise of the late King to accord a representative constitution to his subjects, nor does the manner of its convocation pledge the present King to repeat the act—it may be only a special summoning of provincial notables to consult on special laws. But it looks like a precedent ; and one might guess that the Monarch means to go so. far as to accord a" virtual" representation of his subjects in a chamber for deliberative purposes, while he means to retain the enacting power in his own hands. If so, he proposes an impossibility : once esta- blish the custom of representation to deliberate, and the leading German kingdom would eventually have a representation to legis- late, and having that, a better and more substantial representation.

The Germans are illustrious among the nations for their honesty ; they are understood to take the lead in intellectual cultivation ; they have shown themselves, in spite of occasional fits of impa- tience, an orderly people, patient of control: they seem therefore a peculiarly safe people to be intrusted with representative govern-

ment, which we boast as a Saxon birthright. The sight would be extraordinarily interesting. We might expect our transcen-

dental neighbours to bring a world of first principles and theory to bear upon legislation : we should be curious to ascertain how far such a process, in which we certainly are deficient, would advance practical ends—more, perhaps, than some of our "practical men" would suppose.