POSEN POSED.
THE King of Prussia has thrown a sop to the Duchy of Posen, whom he has recently offended by refusing to perform certain promises which the Duchy supposed to have been made to it by the King's papa, so perpetually quoted by the Monarch. We find the following paragraph in the newspapers, under the head of Posen, April 9th- " A most important royal proposition was received here the day before yes- terday; which has caused great and general joy, as it proves that our august Sovereign does not, as some here apprehended, cherish any feelings of displea- sure towards our province on account of the late address. His Majesty has offered to the Grand Duchy the sum of 600,000 dollars as a present for the purpose of making good roads, (causeways,) on condition that the province will raise an equal sum in fifteen years. The Diet, is its sitting yesterday, most gratefully accepted the gracious offer of his Majesty. It is hoped, that in this way our province will, for the sum of 1,200,000 dollars, obtain between 400 and 500 miles of good roads."
So, FREDERICK WILIAM& will not vouchsafe political privileges, but he will give money. He assumes the people of Posen to be in the same state of advancement as the Romans, when the Emperors, as they grew more depraved and more tyrannicaLpaid the people for being kicked, by gifts of victuals, shows, and donatives to the troops. Or, rather he assumes them to have attained that stage of intelligence which some of the youngest communities of the Ger- man race have recently abandoned—the British Colonies in North America. The main business of legislation in those colonies was to vote away the public money in local improvements, especially roads and bridges, each senator bartering his political views in consideration of a grant of money for a road or bridge in his district. The Colonies have just relinquished that condition, and have bent all their am- bition on realizing true representative government. The paternal King imagines that Posen will be content to take the place left by New Brunswick or Nova Scotia! Perhaps he relies too much on the potency of paving, because he is so rich in resources of that kind—for "good intentions" are proverbially the very best pavement: but it is at a discount just now, all the world over, being so un• safe,
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