The outrage committed by the Count Bernard de Reehberg on
the Duke of Saxe-Coburg Gotha proves, as the witty statesman said, to be " worse than a crime—it is a blunder." It has drawn forth something far more injurious to the position of Austria in Germany,—and the position of Austria in Europe depends upon her German relation,—than the calm and dignified reply of the Duke himself. It seems that a copy of the circular had been sent to the Prussian Government ; and the Prince Re- gent answers it by declaring that he utterly disbelieves in any -necessity to defend either Germany or her Princes against the Duke of Saxe-Coburg Gotha ; with an intimation that Austria is not doing her best to discourage the " tendencies" which she fears by these attacks upon an independent German Sovereign. In short, the Duke of Saxe-Coburg Gotha has been insulted, and the Prussian Government takes cognizance of the insult.
The assumption of the Duke, that the Emperor was unaware of the Count de Rechberg's note, appeared to call either for an avowal from the Emperor Francis Joseph, or for a disclaimer ; and in the latter case, for the dismissal of a Minister who had so flagrantly usurped his master's name. The Prussian notice of the outrage seems to render some such step on the part of the Emperor additionally necessary ; for if the dismissal and dis- avowal do not come, unquestionably the young Emperor will stand convicted in the eyes of Europe of participating in the offence.
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