and here and there the sullen roar of an exploding mine. The conflict becaine terrible; and as night fell was continued by the light from the burning town, which being set on fire was left a prey to the flames, that continually spread wider and wider. Whole square blocks of houses of the regularly built streets we could see catch fire and consume, and the place wess soon an ocean of flame. The darde continued to rage wildly for paste five hours, from 6 till 17ck, and almost wholly in ' ''' ' ''' '''' In the first adour troops get pretty far Gawsch, but were driven back; ghị egna 12 mivance was sounded var 2 mes, and the soldiers དངར་དམུ Soon afterwards an Austrian officer arrived at Kiel with dispatches, announcing that unless an immediate cessation of hostilities took place, the Federal States of Germany would put a stop to them by an advance of troops acting under the orders of the Frankfort Diet. Early in December, General Willisen resigned the command of the Schleswig-Holstein army, and was succeeded by Baron Von der Horst. The reason of this no doubt was disappointment on the part of the Stadtholders at the want of success on his part, and also because Prussia began to feel the scandal which was occasioned by the continuance in command of the army of the Duchies of a Prussian general, after she had formally and deliberately signed a treaty of peace with the Sovereign with whom those Duchies were at war. In his own account, however, to the army, of his resignation. General Willisen said The Stadtholders have relieved if my command. There were udicting views, and nothing was est for me but to resign. I part rom you wish the conviction of ving tone my duty, even in asing mis last step. A general mami ught to act only sc 47 CHAPTER XII. GERMANY.-Entanglements of German Politics-Meeting of the Prussian Chambers-Royal Message on the subject of the New Constitution— Modifications introduced by the Chambers-Discussion on the subjectFinal Revision of the Constitution-Speech of the King on taking the Oath to observe the Constitution-Dissolution of the Chambers, and Speech by Count Brandenburgh-Convocation of Erfurt Parliament by Prussia-Opening Address of General Von Radowitz-Difficulties in settling the Constitution of the new Confederation or Bund-The Parliament is adjourned-Able Speech on German Affairs by the KING OF WURTEMBERG at opening of his Diet-Offence taken by PrussiaCongress of Princes at Berlin-Result of their Deliberations-Austria convokes the Frankfort Diet-Ineffectual remonstrance by PrussiaAttempt to assassinate the King of Prussia. AFFAIRS OF HESSE CASSEL.-M. Hassenpflug appointed Prime Minister by the Elector— His unpopularity-Dissolution of the Diet-Arbitrary conduct of the Government-Martial Law declared-The Elector quits Hesse Cassel-Removes seat of Government to Wilhelmsbad-Remonstrances addressed to him by the Standing Committee of the States-The Frankfort Diet resolves to support the Elector-Military Movement of Prussia-Conference at Warsaw-Treaty of Bregenz between the Emperor of Austria and Kings of Bavaria and Wurtemberg. PRUSSIA.— Ministerial Crisis at Berlin-Resignation of Von Radowitz-Letter to him from the King-Death of Count Brandenburgh—Warlike demonstration by Prussia-Entry of Austrian and Bavarian troops into Hesse Cassel on the south, and of Prussian troops on the northWar averted by the Convention of Olmütz-Statement by the Prussian Government of its views-Opening of the Prussian Chambers-Royal Speech-Speech of Baron Von Manteuffel on the German QuestionAdjournment of the Prussian Chambers-Circulars of Austria and Prussia announcing Ministerial Conference to be held at Dresden --Opening of Dresden Conference-Speeches of Prince Schwarzenberg and Baron Von Manteuffel. ERMANY.—It is difficult to great confusion, owing to the Gr give a dear is dit of the numerous questions connected with political affairs of the different Germanic kingdoms during this year, as they were in a state of their federal relations to each other, to which the revolutions of 1848 gave birth, and which remain still unsettled. The leading feature in the history of the year, is the attempt on the part of Prussia to form a new Bund or Confederation of which she was to be the head, and her obstinate refusal to recognise the legality of the acts, or even continued existence, of the old Frankfort Diet, to which Austria adhered. The ill-concealed ambition of the King of Prussia led to a series of complicated political manoeuvres which were abortive in their results, and which are as uninteresting to the reader as they are embarrassing to the historian. The events which took place in the different German States were so iutimately connected together, that it is impossible to disentangle them and present a separate narrative for each king dom. We think, therefore, that the most convenient course will be to embrace them all under the head of Germany, and give a brief account of the series of Parhaments, Conferences, Conventions, and political events, as nearly as possible in chronological order. The Prussian Chambers met on the 4th of January after their adjournment, and were for some me occupied in discussing the articles of the new Constitution, on several of which the two Houses oposed various amendments. Ou the 9th of January a Royal Mesage on the subject was com cked to the Chambers by se Proedent of the Ministry, Dienerbergh He stated A Cheam had in general aemendments of the kek bug hot theeght it ne ak vzame Miiatives De verzeralmed de Case Patien „sorech, rehag short period, in order that the Sovereign might take the oath to it. The Government hoped also that the people would recognise in the present step a proof of the conscientious adherence of the Sovereign to his promises. The following are the most important modifications of the Constitution as agreed to by the Chambers: The 26th article was cancelled. It contained the power of prosecuting the publisher, printer, and distributor of a work when the author of the same was not known. In article 33 the definition of the army was by the Chambers stated thus :-"The army includes every part of the standing military force and the Landwehr. In case of war the King can, under the provisions of the regular law, summon the whole Landsturm.” Article 35 was cancelled, and, instead of it, an addition to article 104 made to this effect:-" For the preservation of order, a Burgherwehr can be organised, by the resolution of the Communes, with the assent of the Government." In article 38 was insertedThe creation of fiefs is prohibited. Those now in existence are, sccording to a future law, to be changed into freeholds. Another law will also render more easy a similar change in the case of family entails, and establish the conditions under which new entails can be established." (By the Constitution, as it stood, entails were unconditionally abolished.) Art. 42. The Ministers are responsible to the King and the natin. Art. 49. In case of a dissolution the election for the new a Chambers is to take place within 60 days; the Chambers themselves are to be summoned within 90 days. Art. 60. To this article was added, "Laws relating to the finances (or money bills) are to be first introduced in the Second Chamber." Art. 63 related to the Upper Chamber; by this article, as amended by the Cabinet, the Upper Chamber was to consist of— 1. The Princes of the Royal House who may be summoned to it by the King. 2. The heads of the princely families of the empire existing in Prussia, and the heads of those families who, according to the law of primogeniture and lineal descent, may be called to a seat and voice in the Chamber by the King. The summons itself will contain the conditions on which the right is exercised. No representatives (or proxies) are allowed, and the right is suspended if the possessor of it is in the service of another German State. 3. Of such members as the King may nominate for life only. Their number cannot exceed the tenth of those created by the preceding articles. 4. Of 60 members elected by 200 of the highest taxpayers in each province by direct election. 5. Of six members elected by the six Universities of Prussia; the right of election is given to the public professors of those bodies. The whole number of the Upper Chamber, consisting of all the above members, is not to exceed 200. Articles from 66 to 70 defined the constitution of the Second Chamber. It was to consist of 350 members; the elective districts to be fixed by law; they may consist of one or more circles that contain more than 10,000 inhabitants. After article 93, the following new article was introduced : "The Legislature may create a Court of Special Jurisdiction that is to take cognizance of all charges of high treason and offences against the internal and outward security of the State. The law will also define how far the ordinary courts can exercise their jurisdiction over these offences." Art. 95. The conditions under which the civil and military officers of the State can be prosecuted for exceeding their powers are to be defined by a special law. Art. 107. The members of both Chambers and the civil officers in the employ of the Government are to take the oath of allegiance and obedience to the King and of a conscientious observance of the Constitution The army will not be sworn to the Constitution. A Committee of the Second Chamber was immediately appointed to take into consideration and report upon this Royal Message, and it concluded its labours by accepting some and rejecting others of the Ministerial amendments. The discussion in the Chamber on the report of the Committee was opened, on the 26th January, by the Minister of the Interior, Baron Von Manteuffel, and, at his suggestion, the amendments relating to the constitution of the Upper House, the abolition of entails, and the taxing powers of the Second Chamber, were postponed to the last. The Chamber accepted the Royal amendments respecting the press, the responsibility of the Vickers the time of summoning til presedings against functionthe Cuanters and the mans, and preamble to the law on valid of Goverment (cžmares the mites were accepted. demie ui ryjemed (e materally amended. n aŭ gred the respering electoral detroits with an alteration conceded by the Crown. The amend ment creating a special high court for the trial of treason, was rejected as presented by the Crown: and subsequently a modification was agreed on, which postponed the question to future legislation by the two Chambers. The amendment concerning projects of financial laws and the budget was also rejected in the shape offered; but carried in an amended shape agreed to by the Crown. The amendment 4, relating to entails and fiefs, was rejected, by 169 to 146 votes. That relating to the constitution of the Upper Chamber was rejected, by 216 to 96 votes. After debate, a modification of it, proposed by Count Arnim Boizenburg, was adopted by a narrow majority of 12. This amendment admitted a hereditary Peerage, consisting of the Imperial noble houses in Prussia, and of the heads of families on whom a hereditary Reat in the House of Peers shall be conferred by Royal ordinance." The period at which the new Upper Chamber was to come into existence, was postponed until the 4th of April, 1832. The Chamber then accepted Art 1, on the press; and Arts. 2 and $ on the Tardsturm and the Cive cyngde, and wegstived Art. in the spone, big of Mi After various modifications had been agreed upon, the Constituthe was ready for the acceptance of the Sovereign and the Chambers; and on the 31st of January, a message from the King to both Chambers was read by Count Brandenburgh, the President of the Ministry, which stated that as the King considered the revision of the draught of the Constitution, signed on the 5th of December, 1848, as now completed, he was ready immediately to take the oath prescribed by it in the presence of both Chambers, and at the same time receive the oaths of the Ministry and the deputies. Accordingly, on the 6th of February this ceremony took place in the Rittersaal of the Palace, where the King, accompanied by the Princes of the Royal Family, the Officers of his suite, and the Ministers, having taken his seat, addressed the Assembly in the following words : "Gentlemen, "I request your attention: what I have to say to you is in my own words, for I appear before you to-day as I never appeared before, as I shall never appear again. I am not here to exercise the innate, inherited, and sacred duties of the kingly office (which stands high above the will and opinions of party), nor protected by the responsibility of my advisers, but as myself alone, as a man of honour, to give what is dearest to him, his word-fully and deliberately to pronounce an assent. I make therefore some previous remarks. The work to which I to-day express my con |