The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-19 00:00:00

PILINCEWA.

THIS Emma. DONNA DIANA.—And HARLEQVIN
LITTLE TOM TUCKER. Messrs. Seytes, Cathcart, A. and C.
Leelereci,, Rohm and Soo. Milano, Naylor, and Chapin.,
Mesdames Barnett. Adams. and Howard.

LYCZIIIL
Tins Ev=Ea, THE Lost' MULE. Mr. Wlddleossb and
Mtn P. Leeisreq.—BY.L DIMONIO. a Love Btery. Hams.
pease! Brougham, Imam Charles. and .iordaa ; /Ora
M. limeade. Lamas, mad Ekswortbs, sad Mrs. Lne.

B3ITANNiA.

THIS Emma. the New HICKORY. DICKORY,
DOCK. Urn S. Lone and brat-rate Panteenimtsta.—The Marvels
of Peru.- THE GREAT aliosr EYFROT.—nriburand Bertrand.
—Dm 'Wry Fountaln.-.And THE GORILLA HUN!.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON MUDGE.
Tau DAT Wrath*. 10b. .Alierween. lIA. tin.
To.moutow— Homing, jib aim ... Iltaroorio. Oh. Oza.

LONDON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 19.

THE diplomatic dispute between Denmark and I
Germany appears to have entered upon a crisis
which can only issue in war. For a fortnight after
the advance of the Federal troops into Holstein
we heard of little but the scandalous use which
was being made of their presence to proclaim the
Pretender as Sovereign of that Duchy. More re-
cently, the incidents of the quarrel between the
minor States that command a majority in the
Frankfort Diet, and Austria and Prussia, which
claim to bind and loose in Germany, have filled
the foreground of the scene. Now, however, a for-
ward movement is to be made. The two Powers
conceive themselves to be under the necessity of
demonstrating their political ascendency in the
direction of the foreign affairs of Germany at the
cost of Denmark. For this purpose they have
taken the decisive step of presenting an
Ultimatum to the Danish Government, by
their Ministers at Copenhagen. The joint de-
mand of the two Powers was delivered on Satur-
day, and was most peremptory in tone. The
KING was required to retract the Constitution
granted last November, and restore as a temporary
measure the state of things existing just before its
promulgation, and to do this within a fortnight's
time. Failing to obtain compliance with this
demand, the Austrian and Prussian Ministers were
to leave Denmark.

The requirement of the German Powers is one
which, however preferred, any Danish Government
would fiud.it most difficult to concede. But the
two Courts have chosen to advance it in a form
which renders compliance simply impossible. The
November Constitution was devised by the ablest
statesmen in Denmark under the late King, and has
the hearty support of the Parliament and the
nation. It must be obvious that King CHRISTIAN,
newly come to the throne, can be in no position to
undo by a stroke of the pen a work which is dear
to the people of all ranks and degrees as the bul-
wark of their independence. If we could believe
that either at Vienna or Berlin the demand was
made with a desire that it should be complied
with, and not rather as a mere means of transi-
tion to a new position,we should be driven to form
a very poor opinion of the estimation in which the
duties of constitutional sovereigns are held in that
country. The Austrian and Prussian message is
either a summons to King CHRISTIAN to attempt
a coup WHO, or it is nothing. According to the
latestnews, however,we are likely to receive reports
of revolutionary violence from Berlin sooner than
from Copenhagen.
It being certain that the demands of Austria
and Prussia will not be complied with at Copen-
hagen, those Powers will have to resolve upon the
means of giving effect to their policy. It has
hitherto been assumed without question that they
will act in the spirit of the resolution which was
recently submitted to the Diet at Frankfort in
their name, and rejected by the minor States—that
they will occupy Sleswig. And this will probably
be their course. The smaller German Powers
which wish to procure the recognition of Prince
FREDERICK of Augustenburg as Duke of Sleswig-
Holstein before going any further may bluster, but
their opposition will cease to appear serious when
the Austrian and Prussian troops are in motion.
And it is better for Denmark also to have
to do with the great than with the small
Powers of Germany. The ministers of the former
are accustomed to deal with great interests, and
know something of the spirit in which interna-
tional affairs should be conducted. It is difficult,
for instance, to imagine a minister of Austria or
Prussia writing despatches such aa those which the
Saxon Premier has just addressed to Mr. MCRRAY,
and which are more in the style of an Honorary
Literary Secretary of the National Shakespeare
Committee than of • statesman. The Powers

which may be disposed to exert themselves to pre-
serve peace will find it easier to come to an under.
*tending n ith Powers of the first rank
than w;th a number of petty principa-
lities. As matters stand, however, the
situation is full of danger. Austria and
Prussia have placed themselves in a position from
of feeling in Germany,
:h, apparently, leaves
ind enforce their harsh
)rdingly we hear this
and Vienna of great
destined to march
Danes most and
leswig. It has been
have been supposed

which, in the present state of
they cannot retire; and whicl
them no course but to try an
and unjust demands. Accort
morning both from Berlin an
movements of troops ci
to the Eider. Bit the
will resist an invasion of Sl<
assumed by some who might
- _