The Express.
London, England, 1851-03-11 00:00:00

SPAIN.

A royal decree in the Madrid finette of the 4th,
dated the 27th ult., relieves lion Carlos Martinez de
Irujo, Duke de Sotomuyor, front the post of ambassa-
dor of the French republic, "on account," it says,
" of reasons touching the rc-orgauisation of the di-
plomatic career, submitted to the Queen by the Se-
cretary of State of Foreign Affairs, in conformity with
the advice of the council of ministers." The decree,
however, declares in the usual form, that the Queen
"is perfectly satisfied with the zeal and intelligence
with which the Duke de Sotomayor had fulfilled his
mission ; and that she proposes subnuently to utilise
his services." Another decree appoints Don Juan
Donoso Cortes, Marquis de Valdegamas, member of
the Chamber of Deputies, envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary to the French Republic.
Two other royal decrees appoint M. A. Caballero, ex-
minister in Portugal, a member of the royal council,
and M. A. A. Galion, a senator, his successor in the
Lisbon legation.

GERMANY.
Our correspondent writes us follows :
BERLIN, MARCH 8.
The evening papers publish a circular note of
Prince Schwarzeuberg to the diplomatic agents of
Austria at the minor courts of Germany. It is of a
threatening nature, but is understood to have failed
as yet in producing the desired results. It is dated
March 2, and is as follows :
The ministerial conferences at Dresden, according to the
agreement come to at the lnst plenary sitting, will on the
Bth inst. proceed to the final deliberation and decision WI
the proposals made by Austria and Prussia fur the imme-
diate appointment of the central federal authority recom-
mended by the first commission.
The objections which were directed against these pro-
posals by several of the plenipotentiaries, hardly permit the
hope of a unanimous decision of the governments of Ger-
many. But as these plenipotentiaries at the same time de-
clared that they were able at that moment only to express
their personal convictions, because then only generally ac-
quainted with the views of their governments, their expres-
sions cannot prevent us from again delivering, direct to the
givers of their credentials, our opinions on the importance of
the approaching decision.
If the condition of Germany really affords to individual
members of the confederation motives fur making sacrifices
fur the general good—as has been often announced by all,
and which is our inmost conviction—it is hardly possible
that any one of our allies can refuse to acknowledge that
the present condition contains more strongly than ever the
warning actually to make such sacrifices.
After troublesome negotiations we have succeeded in
overcoming the differences of opinion up to the point that
not only the votes of the two federal powers, which as Eu-
ropean powers also will have to represent the work of re-
vision abroad, but also the votes of those members of the
confederation which take rank next to them in the north as
well as the south of Germany, have united fur one and
the tonne proposal in the most pressing of the question
respecting the new formation of the executive power of the
confederation. It would in the eyes of the world most un-
doubtedly be an occurrence of very serious importance if,
under circumstances such as at present exist in Germany
and Europe, such proposal could he negalved by the oppo-
sition of other votes, which, collectively, hardly represent
inure than the tenth part of the population of the con-
federation.

The aspect of the times really speaks so loudly to the
intelligence and patrioti,m of all, telling them not to
lose by longer disunion that which may be gained at a de-
cisive moment by union. This must appear so clearly to
all whose sight is not dimmed, that we should fear to tres-
pass on the respect we owe to our confederates where we to
fancy ourselves called upon to make any representations on
the point.

! But what we can and must demand in a free and hides
, pendent examination and dccioion ur.fAtered by all fiirmar
complications. Nut being desirous of resuming fruita se
quarrels, we shall gladly refrain (ruin inquirind how it is
possible, or how it can be explained that min y governs
. ments who not long ago rijeeted our ins Ration to restos,
the legal basis for the reformation of the C. dent state by
the recall of the Diet, from apprehension and fear of the
recurrence of past swats, and with exaggerated reproaches
against the constitution of the confederation, how those Kano
governments can now be so very desirous of the simple cc turn
to the constitution, and even at all hazards prefer this step to
assenting to a proposition which will place at the disposal
of the central authorities the whole power of all the statist
united in the confederation againstall internal and external
dangers threatening the country.
It cannot be denied that the prosperity, and even the ex-
istence of the confederation may in the immediate future
depend upon such a union of the mutual powers, but it cannot
be guaranteed that the favourable moment for establisi.ing
it will not have been lost.
. . . _ . .

The prevent position of Europe places it in the him:a of
the governments of Genuan)•, more romplt t, le than was
ever before the ease, to resolve amongA themselves alone
the renewal of the treaty which they concluded on the lath
of June, 1815, with those alterations necessiry to the
increase of the common strength and propt rite. Bat
no one is capable of preventing the origin of a con-
dition of affairs, which, in consequenee of the con-
tinued dissensions in Germany, may, and will, in addition
to other inevitable rc,ulta of such a fault, require the inter-
vention of foreigners to terminate.
Your, &c., will regard this communication 113 confidential,
and will bring it only ms such without delay to the know-
ledge of the government to which you are accredited.
Accept, &e. (Signet!) "!oY SCIIIIV A lU. EN 111:1(6.

Vienna, March 2,518.11.
Vincke's motion on the Mate of the country was
brought before the Second Chamber to-day. 'l'ho
debate did not commence mita too late an hour to
admit of my sending you the speeches. 'the report
of the committee to mrhont the motion was referred,
recommended the Chamber to proceed to the order
of the day. and the Chamber did so by the enormous
majority of :1:28 to 41.
The Schleswig-llolstein army is to undento a
third reduction. (July ten men per company are to
be retained.

FRANKFORT, MArer it

Accident has placed in my hands an iniportant do-
cument drawn up by the president of the Prussian
cabinet, and intended only for the eyes of the King
of that country, and a few of the chosen friends of
Majesty and his minister. This document is a me-
morial elucidating the policy of M. de Manteuffel on
the Gernian question. It is of eery great importance,
since its contents, especially one portion of them,
show that the Prussian minister is not inclined to act
subserviently to Austria un all points, but that to do-
cure the particular interests of Prussia he means to
bide his time. The memorial is long, and as the
English public cannot be expected to pay much at-
tention to the confused and unintelligible polities of
Germane, I shall give you but a summary of it.
Both Prussia and Austria are considered by M. de
Manteuffel to have had imposed upon them the tusk
of combating revolution in every shape, and of re.
storing to Germany the peace and tranquillity. which
he believes are alone possible under a despotic form
of government. At lin/aka he declared, and the de-
claration is repeated in this memorial. that to
do so effectually the two great powers must
aid each other to the utmost of their lamer in the
construction of a strong central power in Germany,.
The relations of Germany with foreign powers alas
require thin from theta Since the days of Marsh,
18.18, Prussia had attempted, without the assistance
of Austria, to establish the reorganisation of Ger-
many ; she had failed. The Erfurt Union had been
alzaidoned. Austria had also made the attempt. but
she too had found that tlic Germanic Diet which she
had rehabilitated here was without effective influence
or power, so long as Prussia took no part in it. Both
powers had thus learnt that alone neither was able
to effect anything; neither possessed either the
right or the power. M. dc Manteuffel acknow-
ledges that Prussia might have changed the political
aspect of Germany, had the King elected the sup-
port of revolution. The indispensability of co-opera-
tion having become clear to the governments of
Austria and Prussia, the convention of Ohnutz was
concluded for the purpose of restoring to Germany a
durable political organisation, and olquelling
any the spirit of revolution. The memorial then pro-
ceeds to describe what M. de Munteuft.el considers the
origin of revolution. Revolution has its seat nut in the
lower orders, or in the results of isolated instances of
had legislation, but in the spirit of irreligion abroad,
especially in the upper classes; the worshipping of
human wisdom, the belief that the wisdom of man
is capable of removing social evils, the rejection of
all authority, and the absurd belief that general
happiness may be established by having recourse to
new forms of political government.
Thus fur the memorial is drawn up entirely in the
spirit of the Holy Alliance, and no one dare venture
to doubt the sincerity of the writer. The succeed-
ing paragraphs refer to the particular interests of
Prussia, and here it is that the policy of M. do
Manteuffel assumes a very doubtful aspect. He
gives to the Prussian policy the appearance of diplo-
matic cunning and foresight, which no one who has
pursued its course since the said tonventiou of
Olmutz was signed can find in it,hut which appears to
me to be imparted to it solely by M. de Manteuffel
for the purpose of concealing its weakness and sub-
serviency to that of Aust nu. If treachery to Austria be
not intended, the minister con be only tricking himself
and his government at the expense of his small re-
maining character for honesty. To return to the
memorial itself': M. dc Manteuffel suddenly dime:event
the existence of certain particular interests of Prus-
sia, which are not mentioned, but which he declares
must not be sacrificed. For the present, however,
nothing is to be said about them to Austria, as
Prussia cannot do anything towards securing them
until Germany is recognised. Meanwhile Austria
must be watched. The government of that empire
has not always been as friendly to Pruasia t 44 to sup-
port the interests of the latter against her own.
Prusia therefore has hanged herself on to the skirts
of Austria in the affairs of Hesse Cassel and Schles-
wig Holstein, in order to see what she is about, and
by active watchfulness to prevent the accomplish-
ment of any particular purposes hostile to Prussia.
This course has proved successful in other countries
in rendering an opponent harmless, and fur this pur-
pose alone has Prussia assisted Austria. The former
has made no concessions to the latter. With regard
to the German constitution, the purposes of the two
powers are the same, and if Germany be reor-
ganised by their mutual will and plans, that
fact itself proves the existence of the questioned
parity fur which the form alone requires to be found.
M. de Manteutfel kw no objection whatever to the
admission of the whole of the Austrian provinces
into the confederation, which he considers to lie a
question concerning Austria alone. The protests of
foreign powers, such as that of France, will nut be
replied to by Prussia. Austria must act for herself
in the matter. The foundation of Manteuffel's supine-
ness in this mutter is partly the motive that actuates
Austria in demanding the admission, viz., by render-
ing the Austrian empire one compact body, to exer-
cise the power of the government tbr quelling revo-
lution, and partly, also, the idea of M. de it:Woes-it;
that the Band loses its German character from the
admission of Italians, Hungarians, Selavonians, &e.,
and that Prussia will be placed more firmly than ever
at the head of the pure German states. Even the
possibility of Prussia being obliged to send troops
into Italy and Hungary is not a :sufficient reason to
M. de Munteuffel for opposing it, since he says in his
memorial that assistance would be given to Austria
only in times of peace, and would naturally he refused
on the slightest appearance of hostilities in the north
of Europe.
The memorial refers again to the main and all im-
portant question of the necessity for the construction
of a strong central power. The condition of affairs
in France, and the possibility of an outbreak in that
country, convinces M. de Manteuffel that sooner or
later the powers of Germany will be compelled to
assume a decisive attitude in reference to it, and that
when that necessity does arise, it will be infinitely
more advantageous that the steps required should bo
taken by the central power of Germany than by
Prussia and Austria alone. This is the great tusk of
the two governments, and in endeavouring to fulfil it
l'russia must not permit herself to be held back by
the minor states, whose confidence and faithful sup-
port deserves the highest esteem and gratitude of
Prussia. A loyal policy and the respect for legiti-
mate principles must always procure due considera-
tion for the situations of the minor states, but it
would be unwise at this moment to eater into any
new coalition with them. Aast , posi-
tion, return to a counter coaltia .71;-771. .
states. Prussia will always ,
the interests of the minor states.' • • " rl
M. de Manteuffel does not Appear to.
trl
3,4,
°

the coalition which he fears to TCTI,C between
Austtia and the minor monarchies really exists at
this mtnnent. at least for all questions of Prussian
inter' sts. Bavaria, Saxony. and Wirtemberg also,
though its monarch has written a long letter dcpre-
catii.g the onlis-don of popular representation in the
Bumf. wind uluJys eupport Austria against Prussia.
ttit m riul concludes with an allusion to the
material iotereste of Germany. These, it says, must
be lift to be discu.sed, and all questions of corn-
= rend treaties and tariffs to be de:idr d voluntary
agrts meat. At Dresden the formal question alone
xauet be touched upon.

COLOGNE, MARCH 7.
We have seen daring the last few days to what
extreme lengths men may be induced to go, when
once they have c aumitted ihemselvts to a particular
path. Logic dominates over men's minds far more
than thou suspect or are willing to believe. A prin-
ciple ow; adoplid. its consequences claim acceptance
with II rigour that is inexorable.
When the Prussian government steeped the fail
artwork it prebubly had not the intention of destroy-
ing every basis of legality and right. When this
same gemernment gave full power to M. Hinkeldey to
exercise. be his police, all kinds of brutality on the
patriots and republicans of Prussia, in the public as-
nembhiet, of lkrlin, it probably had no intention of
creating an all-grasping system which should know
tan limits to the power of a director of police. How-
sem this is what has actually taken place, a curious
sad instructive example of which. taken from the
few lust days of Our carnival, I proceed to describe.
Most Englishmen have heard of the Carnival of
Cologne ; it used to take rank with the carnivals of
Venice and Hume. and in some respells may still 1w
*eta heroic Omni. Formerly, grand corteges, proces-
sions, public bulbs theatrical representations,
and musical performanciw, t ntured into a
kind of colossal comedy, which was pro-
longed throughout eight days. Recently the
carnival has hat its importance, fur since Ibis
political events have infused too much bitterness into
pubic life to permit gaiety to revel in its former
,sslian. However, notwithstanding the drawbacks
of political strife and civil war, the carnival of
tkohierne remains, and this Year men are prepared to
do their bed to laugh as if 'here were no Congress nt
Dresden. But this year the f'oliegne police have
thought proper to interfere, and have imitated the
Berlin sj stein with an miich effect. that the mirth-
makers love been struck with loitititishment, and
daunted to pews in moment, nt the days granted to
catholies to prepare fur the fasting and prayers of
Lent.
Tao public represental had been appointed
at the eat nisei' of Cologne this year to be sustained
by a few pleasure-seeking amateurs. One of these
Ewes was to have been prevented at the Vaudeville
Theatre. and the other at the Casino. Tlw first had
been eomposed by NI. Raveaux. one of the five mem-
bers or the regency at Stuttgart. Last year a
piece written by that gentleman was played, and
brought Lots, •dollars, one-half of which was re-
mitted to the toolbar, anti the other to the German
Wagers at Zurich. The second piece, which was to
have Men played at the Casino, wen produced by a
tacitly, vsbieh fur several years past has played a
similar comedy. and which has in its time distrihultd
a consiihrahle sum to the piny of Cologne.
The pities. has commenced this year its attack upon
suntesments by tooting a gement order interdicting
the public performanee of comedies by amateurs.
The palate asks why this sudden prohibition of what
was alwaj s permitted without hesitation in the old
days of enlighten's! despotism. The answer is, the
law of pox, which forbids any person to exercise a
pnifession or trade for which' he has not a license;
and that. in exceptional eases. the permiasion of
the polite authorities must h, obtained, a permitssion,
in the mega instance, they were not dispused to
grant. Such is the explanation.
friends of M. Rareaux, who well knew that
the govennuunt regarded with no satisfaction the
nsuittemee of money from the Carnival of Cologne to
the political refiartim, took a prudent course, and
ahandoned their intention of playing in public. But
the 'alter amateurs, alto persuaded themselves that
the internment and whet• had lien actuated merely
by the desire to get rid of M. IttlVelltltelt piece, used
every exertion to induce M. Geiger, chief of the
Cologne pulite, to withdraw his order. They ob-
tained permission to give a musical entertainment ;
an they played and sang, and in their songs avenged
themselves by ridiculing the polite, narrowly escup-
big the Yellgetillee of the authorities for taking that
liberty.
I ntil the present year a grand carnival ball has
beet, given at Cologne in the hall of Gurrenich, per-
hapm the largest in Germany, and celebrated for the
councils of princen and envenom which have been
held thew year by year. The old hall has been
decorated w oh political devices and satirical inscrip-
tins. This 'ear theolice thought fit to make their
appearance in the hall a day loctOre the ball, and,
with a whitewash, brush, wash out a number of
the inscriptions and symbols. Next day these
inscriptions and device's were reprinted and explained
in the (t.laaise Oirzettr, and thus millions have been
entertained with that which the police were afraid
to export. to the noisy and half inebriated crowd,
who, next morning, would have been none the wiser
for whatever they might have read in the hall of
Uurzcnich.
A very severe ordinanee was issued fur the street&
The pollee forbade any one to appear masked except
by spteial and personal permission first obtained.
This rigorous order was executed with extmva-
gant severity. On the day appointed for win..-
.trained mirth. Cologne presented the aspect of
a city in a state of siel,e. At every angle of the
street was stationed a pieepat of soldiers, more or
km numerous aecording to the extent to which it
was frequented. Every now and then was wen in
custody Milne poor 'alight %VIM bad turned his jacket
inside out, or put on a blouse and night cap without
having first obtained permission for that purpose. It
was a tine prize. 'the constables and gendarmes
threw themselves on hint. arrested him, places' him
in the midst of hulta-deren bayonets, and took him

to prison.
On the night of Shrove Tuesday of each year it has
been customary to have a bait in the Grand Theatre
of Cologne. this year the whole gallery was filled
with soldiers' and constables. I have heard the
question asked, times without number," What do
tllllole soldiers in the galleries?" And the answer
has been returned. “Oh. that is to show us that our
18,000 dollars (the cost of mobilising the army) have
not been thrown away." But. swriouslv, why all
this rigour? I can assure you that the whulo popu-
lation of Cologne, according to the degree of its at-
tachment to the government. is uneasy, indignant,
and disgusted with these brutalities. These three
days haw made more rualeontents in Cologne than
thi• whole three years from March, ISIS, to March,
. . _ _

If asked to account fur this conduct on the part of
the police and the government. 1 should be at a loss
for an answer. It is, perhaps. the method" of that
madness which has sciaed upon our statesmen. At
any rate it is the consc9nenn• of a principle, the
logic of facts. Ido not think we see the end of this
system at present, but I am convinced it will go
much farther yet, and that we shall before long
arrive there, for the Cologne carnival has proved
how well all the employ.. of this province under-
stand the system of [Berlin. Ile who lives will see.

TROOPS Ton TUE ('Are.—(ides mere received
raterday at South.unpton to on t ready the Peninsular and
Oriental Company's steamer Sinc.opere by Saturday newt
to convey a regiment of troops to the ('ape of Good Hops
The Singapore is one of the fastest steamers afloat.

COLONIAL FREE-TRADE LEtGIT.—TI In stated by
the Mahe that a soviet,- under this title is is mob:rap:l'6.in,
the object of which will be to plan. our commercial inter-
course with the colonies. in so far as the requiremeute of
the imperial revenue will admit, upon the footing of a home
cut coasting trade,

-
THE Trutt ComattssloN.—Yesterdity the report
of the tithe cOMMilAitirielY up to the close of last year was
rioted, h) order of the House of Commons. The commis-
sioners at the end of the year had confirm"! 12,414 district
mergers of tithes. The roma:Own-niers have completed
12.,iti tithe districts, and have under consideration MI
atom districts. The COMlllii.ioDlr. 'Lite that the final eon-
ayurnation of the commutation of tithes must be an act

dottrel tithes to have Celll.7atO diet, rnd forbidding
OW% jaatiet to entertain claims for them. The commis-
sions recommend that such a proceeding should not be
Untid7 doe.

Eisertax OP AN ALDERMAN POI COENIIILL
WARD.—YastVtdAy, at a wardmote for the ward of Corn-
the Lord Mayor is the chair. Mr. Carter was rt 'fled
slikmaa of the ward, in the pLice of the late Sir John
Tiria