The Press.
London, England, 1857-06-20 00:00:00

BELGIUM.

The Moniteur Beige of Sunday publishes three
important documents. The first, a report, dated
January, horn the Ministers to the King. proposing
the closing of the Legislative Session from 1856 to
1437. Such a measure, says the report, will suspend
the discussion of the bill for charitable institutions,
and adjourn it to next session. The report is signed
by all the Ministers. The King replies:—

13th June, Itc)7.
My dear Minister,—l received the report of the Cabinet
yest..rday, anal I hasten to give it my approbation. In pro-
posing the adjournment of the discussion, you have taken
an initiative sugvested by circumstances, and which the
country will readily comprehend.
I avail myself of this opportunity to address, through
your instrumentality, some words to the country which
has given me so many proofs of its attachment.
A discussion long and animated, followed by incidents
which I depluze, has taken place in the Chamber of Repre-
sentatives, upon a project of law presented by you.
For the first time for the twenty six years I have dedi-
cated myself to Belgium. the parliamentary debates have
tended to increase the difficulties, the solution of which
will not be soon revealed.

You have acted witltili; greatest loyalty, and with the
most perfect good faith. You are firmly persuaded that
the project of law if put into execution would not produce
the painful consequences which have been attributed to it.
I will not now pronounce a judgment upon that law ; but
T may say I would never consent to give a place in our
legislation to a law which was at all likely to produce those
mous effeett which were by some anticipated from the
one in question. But without meaning to enter upon an
examination of the law itself, I must notice like you the
impression which was produced on that occasion by a con-

THE PRESS.

siderable portion of the population. There are in the
country those who take a warm interest in public matters.
They are susceptible of lively emotion—rapid, contagious—
whose opinions, too, are propagated with an intensity it is
more easily to describe than to explain, and with which it
is morn wise to treat than to reason.

The free institutions of Belgium have worked during
twenty-six years with an admirable regularity. What is
needed to enable them to continue to act for the future
with the same order and the same success?

I do not hesitate to say that it is necessary to observe
moderation and reserve in respect to parties. I believe
that we should abstain from agitating any question which
may light up the flames of hostilities in the public mind.
I am convinced that Belgium can live happy and re-
spected in following the path of moderation ; but I am
equally convinced, and I say it to all the world, that any
measure which may be interpreted as one tending to fix
the supremacy of one opinion over the other, that one such
measure is a danger. Liberty never betrays us, and our
Constitution, wiser• and moderately maintained, presents
a happy equilibrium.
Aly attachment, sincere and profound, to the fortunes
of the country has greatly increased in me those grave re•
flections. I communicate them to the country, to ycurself,
to the majority of the national representation.
In the circumstances in which we are, the majority of
the Chamber, whose voices as a majority are, and ought
to be, my guide, has a noble position to take—a position
worthy of a great party.
I give it the advice to renounce, as you will propose to it,
the right of continuing the discussion of the law. It is
to the majority that belongs the power of tilling this
generous role. In accepting it completely it will give to
the world a high idea of its wisdom and its patriotism. It
will preserve within its ranks that cordial union which for
all parties is the first fruit, and the first recompense of a
noble and good action practised in common.

. -
In the last year the country thanked me for my devotion
—I thank it to-day for its confidence.
This letter will prove to you how happy I am to find
myself in accordance with you, and how much I approve
of your conduct.
My desire is to continue to watch with you, end with
your colleagues, over the interests of this tine and much.
loved country.
Believe, my dear Ministers, that I entertain affectionate
sentiments towards you.

LEOPOLD.
A royal decree then follows, closing the Legislative
Chambers.

PRUSSIA.

The Ministerial Zeit of Berlin publishes an article
to exhibit the Neufchatel settlement in the most
favourable light to the Prussian public. The writer
of the article expresses regret at the separation of
Neufchatel from Prussia, but the sovereigns of
Prussia, it is added, will continue to bear the title
"Prince of Neufchatel and Valengin," in virtue of a
resolution of the King, which does not need the con-
sent of any European power.