The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-17 00:00:00

GERMANY.

PRUSSIA.—We have received our files of German
papers, together with our correspondence. The fol-
lowing letter, from our correspondent at Berlin,
describes the state of affairs there, and the anarchy
reigning in the Duchy of Posen :
BEIM'S, Anti L 12.—Gue of the chief objects of the work-
ing classes is to obtain the appointment of a minister for pro- '
moting their interests conjointly with those of persons whose
capital affords employment ; and it is very probable that !
such * minister will be shortly nominated. There is no lack
of communist leaders and preachers in this capital ; but it
is no exaggeration to state that the overpowering majority of
the operatives are totally opposed to their plans. The first
decisive step towuds getting too interests of the working
classes properly represented and upheld was taken
yesterday at a great popular meetimr, at which
a provisional committee of twenty-eight was elected,
" In order (as stated by one of the speakers) to conduct the
general affairs of the working ChWiell. This committee has
already i.ominateel a special one of eight members, who
have been instructed to draw up the statutes for the trades
unions. The employers in general are acting in a very in-
dulgent manner towards their workmen, and several manu-
facturer, agreed yesterday to dimiluisli the hours of labour
to 10, and, at the same time, to raise wages. It is proposed
that the committee be authorised to enter into negociations
with the government respecting the general interests of the
working claws, and in a particular manner to give the
benefit of their advice to the future minister of industry and
labor—for such, it is thought, will be his title.
The Polish question —so far as " Pruss4n " Poland is
concorned—is becianin. m •re complicated, end it may be
added more alarming. The Prussian gor rnmeat itselt ap-
pears wavering and irresolute.
All the accounts from the Duchy of Posen show that
both the Polish and the German rates are unceasingly put-
ting forward their respective and conflicting claims to nation-
ality. N ither race is satisfied with the proclamation of the
royal oommissioner, Oen. Von Willisen ; the former on the
ground that he has not prowls sd enough, and the latter that
he is not sufficiently anxious to keep them nada German
and Prussian sway.
It apps ars that a collision has already taken place between
some armed Poles and thou Prussian troops near Opporow.
It is stated that a body of thirty Polish cavalry, whilst on
their way to the general tendezvona at Rogow°, were pur-
sued by n detachment of Blucher HIMITA, who, at,er the
tome: ha'. first nem, on a gendarme oho tummoue,i them
to surrender, fell upon the Pules, killed three, wounded
seven, and took the rest prsoners. Some of the hussars
were wounded, but only slightly. It is stated, moreover,
that the Polish army, as it is calls 1, having been prevented
by the Prussian troops from assembling at Rogowo, had been
ordered to meet at Prirseno, to winch place the Prussians
have also proceeded.
A fug days ago acme popular orators were arrested by
Prussian soldiers is Blastiorf (Silesia). An immense crowd
soon assembled, and the authorities were obliged to release

the prisoners.
Major-G e . Von Wir. Nen, the royal commissioner, is makin g
a tour of The duchy of Posen, in order to become thorouglity
acquainted with the wants and wishes ../ the Poles. He is
accompinied by the 1,111-known Mieroslawski.
I w is informed by a gontleman who left Stettin this day,
that s re-actionary movement has commenced in Pomerania,
the La Vendee of l'rus,ia, and that the ultra-conservatives
talk of marching on lkrlin.
By decrees this capital will posersas many troops u—if
not more than—it had within its walls bcf re the recent re-
volution. The town c. until has revolved t) take stt ps for
recall.ng two more battalions, including the reserve guard.
Bit Stratford Canning has left this capital for Vienna, en
reielt tor Constaditiople
Aran. 13.-1, is r asserted in poliical quartets
that England has &Coed to act as a no•el'ator Ivetwe,n
Tkumark and Germany, and that the Hanoverian arid
Brunswick troops will not march into Holstein before they
are nude ac.mainted withthe intentions of the British cabinet.
Them facts—for such I hove reason to believe they may be
called—and the disastrous result of the entrance of the Prus-
sians into that duchy, hart placed the government of this
kingtkin in a painful predicament.
Ere... corps arc still being formed in this city, and subscrip-
tions 9, ill raised, for the support of the Schleswig-liolsteiners
and their partisans.
It appears by a proclamation of General Von Willisen
(under date April 12), that the armed Poles in Schroda,
Wre.chen, Xions, and Piesehen have obeyed the orders of
the above royal commissioner, and have dispersed ; and that
four ether armed corps li.eve been voluntarily incorporated
with the 10th division of the Prussian army. In the pro-
dilution alluded to, thy. general sets forth that this arming
*lithe Poles could lead to no good, and that a victory at Posen
—be does not state on what side—would be considered a de-
feat elsewhere, when the recently established cyder of thingi
is eensklered. It is added that every ,hot fired at Posen
would resound throughout the " wide an ' broad" Father-
land, and throughout all Europe.
The Posen Gazate, which has just come to hand, appears
to think that the proposed and promised national remnant-
ution of the Duchy of Posen will include a territorial din-
'ion which will unite th, German parts to the Germanic
confesleratinn, and leave the rest to the Poles. On the other
hand, the Polish Gazette (Gazeta Polska) publishes an
article, in which this division is strongly objected to, and
in which it is urged that, if the German settlers or their
descendants are not willing to be placed under Polish domi-
nation, they should return to their original country, and not
sow the seeds of discord in the Palish territory.
The breaking up of the Polish array was, it is stated,
vii.ct,d in the following way : it was divided into three see-
-6°,3 ; the het, comr,Sed of persons not subject by the law
tot the land to military service, were sent back to their re-

spective homes; the second. formed of men belonging to
the landwehr, were despatched to the head-quarters of
that force; and the third, which included thou, who were
fit for military service, and who did not belong to the .0-
wad category, were placed provisionally under Puli.h
officers, and, without being disarmed, were provided with
proper quarters until further orders were receivedtrom head-
quarters. It must be stated that no one who joined the Po-
lish army has been or will be called to account. Even Po-
lish deserters from the regular Prussian force will be for-
given.
Since writing the foregoing paragraphs I have received in
telligence from Posen, under date March 10 (night). to the
effect that in T1TV1110,2,10, in the Bromberg circle, a regu-
lar coeffiet took place between the Polish inhabitants and
the Prussian military under the orders of Colonel Lestock.
Barricades were erected in the town, but they were caret d
by the soldiery, after 138 Poles were shot. The ..olonel was
proceeding to inflict exemplary punishment on the inhabit.
tants when he received orders from Gen. Colomb to refrain
from it, as measures had been taken to induce the Poles to
lay down thi it arms.
I have stated more than once that considerable apprehen-
sion respecting a Russian invasion exists on the part of the
inhabitants of the Pruseo-liuesian frontiers. In order to
remove those fears the chief president of the province of
Silesia has issued a proclamation, setting forth that up to the
11th inst. Russian troops had not assembled in any unusual
numbers on the frontiers.
The leading merchants and tradesmen of Breslaw have
appointed a committee to auoerintend the outlay of the
250,000 thalers &demised by government for the restoration
of public credit in Silesia. It is proposed to give loans out
of that sum on deposits of goods, or on bills of exchange
when the latter are signed by two firms of acknowledged
stability. As Silesia possesses numerous manufactories this
sum will not go very far.
According to the Breslaiter Zeitung of yesterday the
fortress of Thorn has been put into a complete state of
defence, even against a niece ; 1,000 troops are already posted
in it, and more are expected.
FRANKFORT.—At the sitting of the 12th of April
of the seventeen delegates united to the Germanic
Diet, occupied with the affairs of the Duchy of
Schleswig-Holstein, the deputy for Saxony informed
them that lie would proceed that day to the publica-
tion which had been demanded of the decree of the
Diet of the 2nd of the month, relative to the sup-
pression of the exceptional laws ; and also of the
decree of the 4th of the month concerning the Duchy
of Schleswig-Holstein. The discussion relative to
the latter decree resulted in a resolution to the follow-
, ing effect :
Schleswig, united indissolubly with Holstein, both politi-
cally and nationally, will be immediately admitted into the
Germanic Confederation, and represented in the constituent
assembly on en equality with all the other federal German
state and represented by its deputies.
The reading of the decree of the 4th inst. followed;
and in the course of the discussion which ensued the,
assembly adopted unanimously the following reso-
lution :
The Germanic Dirt is entreated to invite the members of
the Germanic confederation to recognise the Provisional
Government of the Duchy of Schleswig-Huletein, in cell-
felinity with the requi st which it has made ; the Diet is also
invited to hthe immediately the necessary measures for the
incorporation of the Duchy of Schleswig it, the Germanic
confedera, ion.
To deter mine the mode of incorporation, the as-
sembly referred to the motion of the Provisional Go-
vernment of the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein, and to
the publications which it has put forth.
In the sitting of the Germanic Diet of the 12th
April Professor Jordan took his seat as deputy for
Hesse.
Upon the report on the subject of Schleswig-Holstein
being brought up, the Diet decided, in addition to its
decree of the 4th inst. :
1. That, in the event of the Daniels troops net miming
from hostilities nor evacuating the Duchy of Schleswig, force
must be resorted to, and the right of Holstein to remain
united to Schleswig—a right maintained by the con-
federation—must he preserved. 2. That seeing the German
Dit t was convinced that the truest guarantee for this union
would he obtained by the ineoeporatiiin of Schleswig in the
German confederation, the Prussian government should hi
invited, in the mediet iry mission confined to it, to take such
measures as should bring al out this incorporation. 3. That
the Diet recognised the Provisional Government of Schles-
wig-Holstein, forcibly established, subject to the pleasure of
the Grand Duke, and that consequently the Diet ex:icete the
Prussian government will protect the weathers of the said
Provision Government and is p irtieans.
AUSTRlA.—Accounts from Vienna reach to the
10th. Tile Archduke John is to go to Frankfort, and
ther.ce by the Tyrol, to take the command of the vo-
lunteers, who, to the number of 20,000, are starting
for Italy.
Chanvaris still continue to be given to obu' sinus
individuals. Archbishop Mild has been obliged by
them to retire from the capital to his summer resi-
dence.
The government has arranged a loan of 30 millions
of gulden from the National Bank.
The Emperor and Empress left on the 9th for
Pressburg, to close the Diet there. The Archdukes
Franz Karl and Franz Joseph accompanied them.
The Emperor has been graciously pleased to address
a cabinet letter to Baron von Pillersdorff stating that,
as a proof of his warm interest in the kingdom of
Bohemia, he makes known to his faithful subjects of
Prague, in reply to the petition presented to him,
that-
1. The Bohemian language shall in future be equally valid
with the German in all official branches of the legislature,
and in public instruction. 2. To the Bohemian diet imme-
diately to be convoked all the states of the kingdom shall lie
assembled, the following changes to be effected in the
number of delegates : The city of Prague to send 12 dele-
rates of the burgher close ; every other city of the kingdom,
I ; every city containing 8,000 inhabitants toisend two depu-
ties to the Diet ; the University of Prague to be repre-
sented by the rector, and every faculty of the univer-
sity by a deli gate ; every vicarial district to send
two delegates from the other classes of the p.a.*. Every
burgher may vote who pays taxes to the city and is above 25
years of age. The delegates must be natives and above the
age of 30 years. No nevem can either be an elector or a de-
legate who is in debt, under guardariship, or amenable to
the laws for some crime.-3. epeneible central authorities
for Bohemia are accord. d in the city of Prague —I. The pe-
tition of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia shall be deliherated
at the approaching Diet.-5. The abolition of privileged
ind patrimonial tribunal., &c., shall be ref. rred to
the Minister of the Interior. His Majesty nevertheless now
concedes—the abolition of the robot; the free exercise of the
protestant and Jewish religion, as well as the Boman catho-
lic. The admission of the Israelites to burgher privileges to
be taken into consideration at the Diet.-0. Self-dependent
religious communities with liberty of choosing their supe-
riors is also accorded.-7. A new law on the press will be
fixed by the Diet.-8. Pereira' immunity against arbitrary
imprisonment is accorded —9. Government office • in Bohemia
shall in future be filled only by persons who are vetoed in
both languages —ll. The abolition of the tax on provisions
has been already in part conceded, and will he further Wien
into consideration.-12. A new military law for the levying
of r; emit s boa la en alre•rly prornu'gated.-13. Liber y of
petition has been already accorded; the right of association
will be regulated by the fundamental law.-14. Public semi-
naries, &c., for instruction, through the medium of the
Bohemian I.nsruege, will be established under the ep'cial
charge of the Minister of the Interior. The request that all
the military and the civil officers shall take the oath to their
constitution, can nes established only by the fundamental law.
A letter from Pesth, dated April 6, says : " The
political world continues quiet, but confidence is gone
in the fullest sense as to money. The bank notes are
PO much waste paper. No one will take them, and
the branch banks which still prof. as to give silver in
exchange are besieged from break of day until dark
with crowds clamouring for silver, and, apparently
front design, the bankers tell the money as slowly as
1-ossible. The shares of the Central Hungarian Rail-
way are down to 30 for 100 paid, and all securities of
whatever description have deteriorated."
lIESSE CASSEL.—Aocounts fiom Cassel of the
evening of the 10th state that quiet still continues.
The first attack made by the body guards is attributed
to a mistake! The two unpopular ex-ministers have ,
left the town, and the elector has published a procla-
mation, in which' he deplores tbe mistalte which led
to such unfortunate results. The cause of the demon-
stration intended by the people before they were at-
tacked was that the elector wished to dismiss the,
commander of Cassel, General de Lepel, but the
Minister of War, Lieut. Col, Weiss, having opposed
his dismissal, was requested to resign. Upon this the
whole ministry gave in their resignations, which were
not accepted; but the Minister of War was reinstalled
in his functions. It was to testify their joy at this
that the demonstration was got up.
SAXONY.—A letter from Leipzig, of the 11th,
says that Count Von Holzendorfhas , thenot Minister of
Aar has resigned. His successor yet been
named.

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EQUITABLE TAXATION LEAGUE.—A meeting was
held ut the White Hart, Middleton street, on Friday evening,
kr the purro'e of forming u district of this league for tor
parish of Clerkenwell ; Mr. Hunter in the chair—Mr
Matson recited the extraordinary success that had attended
the movement.—Dr. Brown proposed the find resolution
" That a society be sow formed for the purpose of obtaining
equal taxation, to be called, ' The Chrkenwell Equitable
Taxation League,' to cooperate with other societies. ' The re-
solution was seconded, and carried unanimously. Mr. Higham
stated, that as the meeting were so unanimous with respect
to the present unequal system of taxation, it was unnecessary
to go into details, but he found that in refeoorence to mortgage
e
stamps a man borrowinu 501. paid 16,01. per cent. mor
than a nobleman who borrowed 200p001. Mr. usenet was
appointed chairman for this district; Mr. M' on
cese secreap-
-
tary (pro tem.); and Dr. Brown,arnsauren. The offi
pointed returned thanks for the manner in which the meeting
had been pleased to elect them, and promised to trie every ex.
ertion to promote the objects for which they were assembled