The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-17 00:00:00

PROGRESS OF REFORM.

We continae to report the communications which
arrive from various parts of Germany recording the
progress of the great political movement imparted to
E urop
Thenews from Vienna goes no farther than the
10th. But the accounts up to that date, both from
the capital and provinces, indicate the continuance
and even increase of the previous depression and un-
certainty. In all the towns business is suspended,
and the banks and savings banks are all besieged by
crowds demanding payment. This is not the worst,
however. In order to remedy this state of things, a
command has been issued by which it is enjoined on
all tradespeople to take in payment for the
purchase of food bank-notes, a refusal on their part to
do so being severely punishable, the bank-notes in
question being changeable for their full value at the
)iational Bank. Thus, a forced circulation is given
to the bank paper, the necessity of which is hailed as
a very bad symptom.
The imperial proclamation (published by us yester-
day) has had uo effect on the public mind, says the
Vienna correspondent of the Crdmme Gazette. The
Emperor declares that Austria has no intention of
intervening in France. Of course, this was plain to
every one. Austria has something else to do than to
busy itself with questions of intervention. The Em-
peror further expre-scs a wish to ensure the welfare
of the people entreated to his care: but how he will do
so is now the question. He further declares that he
will protect the institutions and the laws of the king-
dom, and it is highly desirable that this should take
place in a full proportion, including the political
rights of the people.
A letter from Vienna in the Leipzic Gazette says:
" Our system of government seems about to undergo
great changes. The censorship is to be made less
severe. A grand family council is also spoken of, at
which the Archdukes John and Stephen will assist
The object of this council is said to relate to the
Project of a constitution similar to that of Prussia."
All are looking forward with anxiety to the open-
ing of the Diet, which was fixed for the 15th, but
which, from the force of circumstances, will take
Place on the 13th. The Russian alliance, how-
ever,caases disquiet, and makes all look forward to the
uture with appreheasion. Accounts say that the
Emperor of Russia intends coining to Vienna. It is
certain that in his note of the Feb. 17, the Czar inquires
why Austria does not interfere in Italy, and then
ai!sares Austria of his friendship, not only in poet'.
miry matters, but likewise in military affairs.
The Prussian official Gazette, of the 14th, is again
°dent on the affairs of Prussia.
In taking leave of the officers in garrison in Berlin,
Previously to his departure for Cologne, where he will
viiice se governor of the Rhenish provinces and
estphalie, the Prince of Prussia expo esisd the hope
that if circumstances required it, he should meet them
Vila on the field of honour.

An important difference of opinion has arisen be-
tween the Prussian cabinet on one side, and the civic
authorities of Elbing on the other. It appears that
the latter appointed a committee from their body. to
draw up a report on the project of law for the revision
of the penal code, as lately submitted to the com-
mittee of the Diet. The government thought proper
to remind the authorities of Elbing that, in taking
that step, they were transgressing the limits of their
functions, and threatenned that if such conduct were
repeated, the power of holding that- meetings in
public would be withdrawn from the town council.
This menace has been denounced by the parties con-
cerned as a violation of the laws of the land, and it is
araned that civic rights have but a poor foundation
when they can be destroyed or revoked by the stroke
of a ministerial pen.
Letters from Posen of the 10th instant announce,

that up to that date extraordinary military precau-
tions, tor the maintenance of tranquillity, continued to
be made. Pickets, of forty men each, were on duty
all night, and strong patrols were constantly seen in
town and its suburbs.

The di-actor s of the Aix-la-Chapelle and Dussel-
dorf Railway, have Nuked not to make any farther
calls for the present on the shareholders (iu cons:-
quence of the pecuniary crisis of the times), and to
reduce the number of the workmen. This is bad
news for the Rhenish provinces.
The Cologne Gazette gives the following list o
states where liberty of the press has been granted,
and where the spiritual union of Germany (gristly
Zalverein) prevails: Hesse-Darmstadt, Frankfurt,
Bavaria (Nassau), Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Hesse-
Homburg and Hesse-Cassel, Bremen, Saxony, Saxe-
eimar, Saxe-Gotha, Oldenburg, Lippe-Detmold,
Waldeck, Hamburg and Lubeck.
There is one state (adds this journal) before all
others, of which we hoped that it would not yield its
place as the foremost in Germany, and that is
Prussia. And Prussia has been silent in the midst of
the public voice. " There must be," adds thisjournal,
commenting on the decree of the King respecting the
censorship," truth between the King and his people,"
This is a pretty broad hint that the ambiguous lan-
' guage used by the King is not considered satisfactory.
On the 12th inst. the King of Wurtemberg (who
has granted all the popular demands) appeared ou the
balcony of his palace at Stuttgard, accompanied by
all the royal family, and experienced an enthusiastic
reception on the part of the dense crowd in front of
the building. All the officers of the army of the
Grand Duchy of Baden have taken the oath of
obedience to the new constitution.

It has been already. stated in this journal that a
short time ago a meeting of distinguished delegates
from different countries assembled at Heidelberg, in
order to discuss the basis of a national German par-
liament. It is now announced that the second and
deciding meeting will be held at Frankfort on the
30th instant, or the following day. Apropos of the
former meeting, it appears, by a letter from Con-
stance, in the Cologne Garette of the nth instant,
that the greatest excitement was produced on the 9th
instant at Stoekach by the unfounded report, that the
delegates assembled at Heidelberg had declared in
favour of the establishment of a German republic.
Immense crowds assembled and vehemently declared
their readiness to fight and die for the republic. The
peasantry in the neighbourhood were getting all their
sickles duly ground. It is stated that in Itudolphs-
sell the authorities were driven out of the town by
the " demagogues." A " peasant war" is expected.
Some people in Constance, it appears, express the
wish that the King of Prussia be declared Emperor
of Germany.
Letters from Henan, of the 12th, state all the town
was brilliantly illuminated on the arrival of the in-
telligence that the Elector of Hesse Cassel had granted
all the demands of his people. One of the burgo-
masters, who was a member of the deputation that
conveyed to the Elector the wishes of the inhabitants
of Henan, has been nominated Minister of the In-
terior. The Grand Duke of Oldenburg has resolved
to convoke a diet, in order to lay before it tke built
of a constitution.

The joy caused in Saxony, by the concessions
granted by the King, is universal. On the 12th a
grand review of the civic gaard took place at Dresden,
the troops, both horse and foot, defiling before the
King amidst loud cheers.
The Frankfort Gazette des Poste:, March 12, gives
the following.
It is positively stated that the Germanic Diet, convinced
of the necessity of revising the oonstitution, is now occupied
with the projects which are to be presented on this subject to
the governments of the confederacy. The Diet has also
judged it expectieet, in order to afford these projects the
chance of being approved of, to call to this discus-
sion men who do not belong to the Diet, who enjoy public
confidence, and able to form a sane judgment upon present
circumstances. In consequence of which, the Diet, it is said,
, has requalted every government a the confederacy to send
hither, without a moment's delay, men enjoying the confi-
dence of the public, for the above-mentioned design.
The senate of Hamburg published on the 10th the
following notice:
The senate, considering that the general desire is, that
the abolition of the censorship be not adjourned till the
moment a special law upon the press shell be published and
adopted, decrees as follows : " C,nsorship is aboi6hed."
Than follow certain dispositions relative to the
manner in which the liberty of the press is to be exer-
cised.
Advices from Carlsrahe of the 12th say that all the
general officers, whether in activity or no, have
taken their oaths of allegiance to the Grand Duke,
and of obedience to the laws and to the constitution.
The same formality is to take place in all the regi
ments and garrisons. Government has found means
to procure a great supply of muskets, which are to be
placed at the disposal of the parishes for the civic guard.
We have received very bad news from Kraichgan and
Neckargrunt. It is said that the peasantry have at-
tacked the castles and buildings belonging to the ad-
ministration. Two battalions of infantry have left
Carlsruhe for the theatre of these disturbances. It is
also rumoured that the Oderwald and Heidelberg
have been in a disturbed state. The peasants
attack the houses of the tax collectors, some-
times to the cry of " Long live the Grand
Duke." It appears to be greatest in the countries
famous in history for the wars of the peasants of
Franconia. The houses of the Jews have been at-
tacked in several localities. At Neckar Elz, 300 indi-
viduals were seen to attack, on a sudden, the house
of the tax collector.

The Suahian Mercury, under the date of Mau-
helm, March 11, gives the following :
The request of forming a body of voluu•eers in this town
has met with general approbation. Eigt,t bundr•:d persons
have given in their names, among whom are several func-
tionaries They are to be organised immediately, so that the
voluhteers will be, ere long, able to commence their service.
News has arrived that our troopa, which left hue on the
10th, have met with serious resistance mar Obriglieim, on
the Necker. It is said the rebels broke down the bridge,
and then commenced the attack with tire-arms. it is stated
that the officer woo commanded the troops ha• been killed.