The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-16 00:00:00

DENMARK AND GERMANY.

(Flex ocri Owl consiarommer.)
COPENHAGEN, Jar. 12.
Yesterday the Danish Rigsdag was opened. The
ministers Monrad, Bilgelstoft, Cave, and Nutaborw
were present. The late minister Fenger took his
seat in the hall as member of the Folkesthing. Ex-
minister Hall has also been elected member of the
same, but was not present on this occasion. The
military members—Major Beck and General Heger-
mann-Lindencrone—were also absent. On a scrutiny

for the election of a member of the Permanent
Committee, Mr. J. A. Hansen, the leader of the
party in the agricultural interest, was elected by
67 votes. This evening, or to-morrow, the Minister
for Finances will bring in the budget and make his
financial statement.

From various indications there is good reason to
believe that negotiations have been commenced,
based on the continuation of the slants quo for
three months, and that consequently the immediate
prospect of war is not so imminent. Up to the
middle of last week no escape from hostilities
seemed possible, and a lady of exalted rank, nearly
connected with the royal family of Prussia, hitherto
residing here, was so convinced of the breaking out
of war with Germany, that she made preparations,
though with a heavy heart, to quit this capital with
her husband and children. But on Weduceday intel-
ligence was received postponing for a certainty the
immediate prospect of hostilities, so that the illus-
trious lady gave counter orders, and is induced to
remain here for the present. It is now understood
that after all, and in spite of many intrigues, the
chances are greatly in favour of the proposed con-
ference being really held, and also that au arrange-
ment has been made with Austria and Prussia,
having the effect, though not the name, of a
truce. It is confidently asserted that those two
States will relieve the Saxon and Hanoverian
troops in the occupation of Holstein, and that
their armies of reserve will return to their usual
garrisons, whilst the Danish forces now concentrated
in the Duchy of Sleswig will be reduced to not
more than twelve thousand men. In this case a
very few months would suffice not only to clear
op the situation, but leave room to hope for a de-
finite arrangement of an amicable nature. No
doubt is entertained here that the two great
German Powers will very shortly not only confirm
their adherence to the Treaty of London, but that
a guarantee will be obtained for the further inte-
grity of the Danish monarchy, though, in the pre-
sent excited state of public feeling in the duchies,
it is considered advisable that Holstein continue to
be occupied by the troops of Prussia and Austria,
even for some time after the government is again
restored to King Christian.
The conservative journal Kronen does not hesi-
tate to express its conviction that within she last
few days a remarkable change has taken place in
the situation of affairs, greatly in favour of the pre-
servation of peace and the integrity of the Danish
monarchy, and hopes that Bishop Mourad will
know how to turn this advantage to account.
A court-martial held on thirty Sleswig soldiers
of the 13th battalion, charged with mutiny, in
having fired on three of their officers and endea-
voured to take their lives, has just been brought to
a conclusion. The sentence of the court condemns
to death the three ringleaders, who actually fired
the shots, but recommends them to mercy on the
ground that the above-mentioned officers were not
killed : in consequence of which their sentence of
death has been commuted into sixteen years' im-
prisonment with hard labour.
The Chamberlain and Amtmann HerrJohauusen,
of Husum, arrived to-day from Sleswig, having been
summoned over to confer with the cabinet on the sub-
ject of his undertaking the ministerial department
for Sleswig, which appointment has been offered
him. Ile has refused to accept the office ones
already, and still feels no inclination to accept the
responsibility of the unthankful post. However, it
is generally expected that he will eventually be in-
duced to become minister, though, perhaps, stipu-
latiug for sonic conditions.