The Express.
London, England, 1851-01-25 00:00:00

GERMANY.

The two Mecklenburg., we learn, hive pe-
titioned the conference for the re-establishment
of the old Diet, with this modffization only,
that the executive power should be conferred
on Prussia and Austria exclusively. Other
states are likely to join in the first part of this urayer.
The protest of Denmark against the projected c&netita-
tion of the " central power " hu been rejected, on
the ground that the committee is not competent to
entertain it—but only • plenum, or the full confer-
ences. The Austrian troops are closenpon Hamburg
—within a mile and a halG The senate and council of
aldermen had held a sitting to deliberate on a demand
made on theme by the Austrian envoy formally to
sanction the entrance into their city of the confede-
rate force. Their answer expressed their very unwil-
ling consent. On the 23rd the Austrians were
expected to be in full occupation of Hamburg. M.
Schraerling's retreat from the Vienna cabinet is
attributed to his having maintained, in opposition to
the rest of the ministry, that offences of the press
should be tried by a jury. The Neuf! Preussische
twig says that • "cleansing" of all the departments
of the administration from all revolutionary officials
is at hand. It says that these offic,als eat " the
king's bread," and have therefore no right to tipped
the king's government.
Our Dresden correspondent writes ae follows:
‘.

DRESDEN, JAN. 22.

The conferences have met twice eine.; my last in a
general meeting; but on neither occasion was any
business transacted in reference to the organisation
and installation of the chief central authority. I
believe that the sittings took place L,r the purpose
of hearing the general opinion of the ple-
nipotentiaries on a subject which at present
appertains to the functions of the CLntral Federal
commission which is still sitting at Frankfort. This
commission was installed in May last by Austria and
Prussia, for the supervision of the property and for-
tresses of the confederation, and it was with regard to
the latter that the plenary assembly of the confe-
reeve was summoned, at which the Austrian Coun-
cillor Hill, who ie a member of the central
commission, was present. Indeed the general
body of the plenipotentiaries does not stem
likely to have much to do within the next four
days, for the two commissions on the organisation of
the supreme federal authority and its competency
have not been able as yet to come to any decision.
In the first the small states oppose, as I announced
they would, the reduction of the number of votes in
the Engere-rath, and though eventually their opposi-
tion must prove useless, at this moment it is obsti-
nate enough to prolong the discussion, increase the
size of the protocols, and to delay the submission of
any plan to the final decision of the general body.
The Prussian government, I see, persists in sum-
moning the adjourned congress of the Zallverein to
Wiesbaden, and the Saxon and Bavarian govern-
ments persist in their refusal to dispatch plenipoten-
tiaries to attend it. The Berlin papers also confirm
what I have stated to you before, that Man-
teuffel has decided on adopting a more li-
beral commercial policy. It is remarkable that
under these circumstances Von der Heydt is not got

rid of. He is opposed by the majority of the mi-
nistry-, and is in a minority even in the council by
which the Ministir of War is assisted in his office.
This circumstance is one of those Prussian anomalies
which perplex all who interest themselves for that
country.
P.S. Wednesday Afternoon.—l have just learnt
that Austria and Prussia have agreed to the installa-
tion of a provisional central federal power of a dual-
istic nature, in order to protect Germany from the
consequences of any outbreak in France during the
sittings of the confi fences.

Beaus, JAN. 23.—Voluntary Loan, tor, ; New Loan,
Four-and-a-Half per Cants., 100; National Debt, 841;
Comenerei-1 Marine Society's Premtum,l3o, Bank Shares, 06.
Virfora, JAN. 22. Five per Cent. Meltllinues, 041.
Four.und.a-Half per Ceuta., 821. 13.,0k Shares, 1,130.
Exchange on London. 12.40.

COLOGNE, JAN. 22.
The proposed new press law of Prussia is dictated
by fear. It comprises all the enactments which the
most despotic and trembling governments ever de-
vised tor the purpose of gagging the press. It is the
essence of the Roman Inquisition, the reign of terror,
the doctrinaire ideas of (inizot, and the fears of the
friends of Louis Napoleon. There is no chance of the
press or even literature continuing to e xist,
if this law is rigor. usly enforced. For every book,
pamphlet, or article published, not only the author
but the printer, the editor, the publisher, and the
hawker, are all and severally responsible. livery
publisher will be forced to read the books he rem ives
or employ men specially to read them for him, for he
is liable to a penalty for every word in which the
government prosecutor finds one of the thousand and
one crimes which the proposed bill applies to. A
publisher is subject to be deprived of his license after
being once convicted. Government censorship is not
indeed revived, but unless printer and editor run the
risk of ruin from too liberal a word, they must
themselves become censors of the books they pub.
lish. The work once printed mast again be read
lest some fault may Lave crept in during the operation
of impression, toe if such fault is found to be an in-
fraction of the law, the previous reading in manuscript
cannot be taken as excuse sufficient, and the least
equivocal word will certainly be laid hold of and pro-
duce a conviction, if the government only wishes and
takes the trouble to get one; for in most press offences,
according to the proposed statute, trial by jury is
suppressed. Thus, if this bill ever becomes law in
l'russia, a complete despotism will be established, to
the exclusion of every thing intellectual.

People imagine that the current of public opinion
will be turned aside by such a law as this. Can a
river flow up a mountain ? The complete gagging
and silencing of the press cannot change the course of
events. In Prussia public opinion has formed a
judgment, and needs no further teaching. And if the
peaceful and natural mode of manifesting its senti-
ments be withdrawn, violence will attain the end
when an opportunity occurs. There can be no other
result. Do people think that the Prussian public want
the liberal press to show them the light at this mo-
ment? All Germany has been called to arms, a million
of bayonets brought together, not for the purpose of
defending Germany against the foreigner, but to
enable Messrs. Manteuffel and Scherarzenberg to
crush Deese Cassel and Schleswig Holm eio, to re-
establish the old Frankfort Diet in a Dresden con-
ference, and to abolish all the liberal constitutions
of the secondary states of Germany. These are the
results by which the people have judged their go-
vernments and affairs. These results Prussia will
never forget, however much for the time she may be
fettered. When once a nation has caught a clear idea,
that idea is never forgotten. The revolution of July,
1830, was the consquence in Frazee of the idea that the
Bourbons' was a government imposed on the country
by the foreigner ; and this sentiment caused the revo-
lution, of which the ordinances of Charles X. were
only the pretext, and which would have come later,
ae it threatened to do earlier. Germany feels
herself subdued. She bides her time, and will
not miss the opportunity when it comes. The direc-
tion which the government has taken will force the
Germans to bear in mind that the policy by which
they were subdued was foreign to Germany and hoe-
tile to the interests of tha people. The old feudal
aristocracy now rules paramount in Austria, Prussia,
and the rest of Germany ; it does so in places where
another semblance is kept by traitors from the middle
class. The internal and foreign policy of Germany
will be that of an aristocracy, without roots in the
pect,, and necessitated for that cause to support
Itself on the foreigner. In the small states of North
Germany this aristocracy will derive its support from
that of Prussia, Russia from that of Austria, and
Austria from that of Russia. Ire foreign affairs
it will obey the Czar, and at home it will
obey tho dictates of an egotistical policy. There
is every fear that the Zollverein will be the first in-
stitution to suffer from these aristocratic and selfish
interests. The protective system is by nature aristo-
cratic, and we already read in Prussia' journals that
the mining proprietors imagine they have naught but
gain to expect from an Austrian tariff. A number of
Prussian manufacturers desire protection. It is much
to be apprehended, therefore, that the government
calculating on the support of the mine proprietors and
forest landowners in the old provinces, that is
the noble and aristocratic proprietary of the coun-
try, will inaugurate the protective or Austrian
system in Prussia. You may not be aware that

M. von der lleydt re-organised semi-feudal corpora-
tions of trades whilst he was in power, and thereby
destroyed the rwerbfreiheit (liberty in art and ma-
sofacture) wloch existed till now in Preemie. By
throe means he rrotects the master as epithet the
worker. M. Ilansentann had already privion.lYX-H
tented the banker against the private trader io 're ,
of credit. There was en old-estabiished loan fund in
Prows (darlduracasse), and out of this any trader,
workman, or artisan, if he were eatablished, could
borrow a sufficient sum on • simple declaration
countersigned by two other trader', workmen, or
seisms. M. Reutemann put an end to rim,
and to loan can be given, except on bills of ex-
change—the interference of the banker being thus,
legalised to the detriment of the private trader. AU
this is • blow to the middle clams, utd the memory of
it will stick ; the more so, if • grard protective sys-
tem is Fussed. What is done for the banker in
small, will, to the detriment of the trader, be done in
large to the detriment of the people, who will in the
eed base double to pay f r their spades or their coat.
M'hat better propaganda than this can be wanted ?
Lit not more powerful than the most liberal perm ?

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

THIS DAY.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.
arrow in Barna% no Law Can, Jvarfca, Ma.
horny Matta. Ma. Mots Cairawaan, Ana Ma. Jusvica
Waasama
Bantnatoor a Hattinatoon.'
Ms reeding el tho Jeco.'s notes of the evidence at the
trial in till env, which U.S stomeatneed at 11 o'clock yis-
oecugied the coact until hall past 12 o'clock, woes
Wit lordships ore to attecd the C '5B al Cimisal Appeal
me We will be reseampl Is tilicelay.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

This DAY.

HOW STRUT.
Rofinality" or PLair AT 110T1141.001011 StiSig, I
aged l'J, an attain, ,'s t'lHb, most serelithly teaceeted, woo I
charged with steeling a quantity of plats Iron wins hotels ,
In the metropft.s. I
W. D. Coulee, waiter et the Kiat llotel,Brownlosetteret,
Holborn, aid that on Wednesday last, the prisoner entered
the cAfer room and ordered a steak. Wan-es supplied his„
aid gave his a knife, a saver Jerk, and a silver I i
table spoon. Tic prisicer paid for his steel ; whams
lett the aim-roam sad soon afters/ads the prooaer
quitted the betel. Witness went into the loom sad found
the newipaps which the prisoner had Seen reading throws
Isreleesiy ever the plates. Oa reviewing it Ire mused the
fork sea spoon. 1.411 knife soil remotest. Witness traced j
the plate to the shop of Mr. Hedges, a pawnbrAier, in
Drury lams.
W. Ca4sworth, as meistsat to Mr. Hedges, peoluced the
veers end took, which ler said were pledged by the premier
es Weitzman laot. tar ft Tee proton had been in the
habit at pewaieg articles at his shop, and gave the OSIII4 of
&spate.
Mr. Henry said the psernbrok, r mu t have known that
was sot hie same if be ezetainsd the fork sad spoon, epos
which wire the taivids of the owns,.
The mitoses said the prisoner satisfactorily explained that
matter. fie afterwards said that his lather war a solicitor,
and that hie name wee Dem. lie did cut wish his father to
know that Ito tad pledged the plate. he prisoner's tele was
so pleusible that he wee induced to take the pieta. Witness
proosed two alter Goss, which had been pledged by the
proms • few days previously.
Mr. Hoary remarked that the facilities wilt which this
sort of property weld be disposed of inereesed crime.
The witness raid he strays tarried oaths business in a
straightforward meaner. The prisoner called at his shop
yesterday for die prams of pledging his coat and waistcoat.
Wiliam then detained his, and Its was afterwards given into
curaedy.
Servant Thompson said there Wen several other cases
serums the pris-Lusr el • Moils description. There were
swarm of hotels in the court, who identified the prisoner as
hatter stolen ari.eles of plat. from their c Afes.looo24. The
property bad not born found, and he thought he could get
so owner for the two spoors produced by the pawnbroker.
The prauner did not deny the charge, and said be had
stets plata from various hotels
Hr. Henry reesah&d his for a week, to give time for the

-
compkton of the other cans.
Wail:MIT AT TIM OFFICEM OF Till CUMNIFAIONIIILS or
WOultn AND Yourars. —Michael DutusgA, sited 11$, was
charged with stealing a IW. Beek of Eopland note sad •
sovi rein trim the above t Mots in Whitehall-place.
Mr. W. C. Iliggias, a clerk in the &neva dace, said the
prisoner was Oat we of • porter attached to the others, and
occasionally assisted him to takieg coals to We various rooms.
Un the bib tweet he placed two IW. bask of Englaid notes
sad two severriaas is • small peste-beard boa, which he
imbed uplahis pneste drawer- Os the 16th Wel. he missed
one of We macs, one c.weigo, sad 44. Ile was in the habit
of keeping the key in his coat, which be always placed ie •
closet when he lett the odic*. The priroser assist have taken
the key from his coot when he +mahout from the office.
Inspector Id, it the detective fosse, apprehended the
prisucer last bight, and he then centered to laving stolen
the •101.1 y. lir had bought with it a silver watch sad
gu.rd, sti.do, sad other articles.
Mr liter, tally committed We prisoner for trial.