The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-02 00:00:00

GERMANY.

The Austria states that after the Ist of January
next the Austrian government will require payment
of customs duties to be made in coin, or if paper
money is received this will be according to the rate
of exchange of Vienna or Augsburg then current.
The Cologne Gazette states that the Cuetoms con-
ference has decided upon the institution of bonding
warehouses at the German ports.
Herr Ludolph Camphause was elected deputy to
the Second Chamber for the city of Cologne on the
29th ult., by a very large majority. The honourable
gentleman at once declined the honour paid by his
fellow citizens.

OPENING OF THE PRUSSIAN CHAMBERS.
The Prussian Staats An:eiyer of the 28th ult.
contains the following : —After the celebration of
divine worship in the minster and in the church of
St. Hedwig the Chambers assembled is the White
Hall of the Royal Schloss. The Minister President,
I Baron Manteuffel, opened the session with the fol-
lowing address:
Gentlemen of the First and Second Chambers,—His Ma-
jesty the King, our most gracious Master, has, by his royal
commission of the 26th inst., empowered me to open this
session of the Chambers in hie name.
Since the close of your last deliberations several impor-
tant bills, which lon had passed, have received the royal
sanction.

Among these the law of May 30, 1353, regulating the
municipal government of towns in the eastern provinces
has introduced in the place of a here defective and there
provisional state of things a normal enactment, susceptible
of further development.
His Majesty's government hopes, through your co-opera•
tion, to see the remaining laws fur the regulation of the
communes, the circles, end the provinces, soon settled, and
these important matters established on a still firmer basis.
The conscientious consideration which his Majesty the
King continues to devote to the final formation of the First
Chamber, in conformity with the law of May 7, 18,53, has
led him to regard it as desirable for the ensuing session to
re-convoke the previous members of the First Chamber, in
tuU confidence in their proved patriotism.
It has been a great gratification to the King, our most
gracious master, by the opening of new railroads, to give
both the eastern and the western portions of the kingdom
still further proofs of his paternal solicitude. The execution
of the line from Posen to Breslau and (Mogan has been secured
without entailing any further obligations on the funds of the
state. The papers connected herewith will be laid before
the Chambers.
The construction of telegraphs has, by the efforts of his
Majesty's government, united with those of friendly and
neighbouring powers, attained an extent which, while it
provides for intercourse in very widely extended ramifica-
tions and on Lniform principles, already gives good promise
of adt gnats returns.

Manufactures, commerce, and navigation are, in spite of
the disturbing influences, the existence of which cannot be
denied, active and thriving.
The products of our coal and iron mines are already so
extensive as to justify the hope that in a very few years our
whole demand for raw iron will be supplied at home.
Considerable amounts of capital are being applied, more
particularly by means of associations, to the various branches
of industrial activity ; so that the constantly progressive de-
velopment of the resources of the country cannot be mis-
taken.
It is matter of extreme concern to his Majesty's govern-
ment, that the present high price of the necessaries of life
exposes the more indigent portion of the population to pri-
vations. It may, however, be expected, that the duty-
free importation of the first necessaries of food, as cons•
mended by his Majesty, and more particularly the main-
tenance of unrestricted traffic in them, as well as the eco-
nomical prudence of the people, in conjunction with active
providence and benevolence amongst the various classes of
society, will prevent actual scarcity from being felt till the
next harvest comes round.
The Budget for the year 1854, which will be as soon as
possible laid before you for consideration, will, as in former
years, give you a clear picture of the financial position of
the State, which it will be your strenuous endeavour, Gen-
tlemen, as well as that of the government, to improve and
strengthen.

In addition to the above, various draughts of bills will
be laid before you, having for their object partly to supply
existing deficiencies in our legislation, partly to remedy
faults that have been felt in various branches of adminis-
tration, and also to afford legal bases and protection to cer-
tain useful enterprises.
His Majesty's government indulges in the confident
hope, so well justified by your former activity, that you
will devote to these labours not only your attention, but
also your impartial and enlightened seal, and that your
deliberations and debates will again confer blessed frui►s on
the country.

Gentlemen, your deliberations commence at a moment
in which apprehensions are felt that the peace, which has
so happily and so long been preserved in Europe, might be
disturbed in consequence of complications that have sprung
up in the East.
His Majestj's government will not and can not conceal
from you that these apprehensions have actual grounds,
The government, however, looks forward with confidence.
Prussia, relying on, and fully conscious of, her own
strength, will continue to prosecute the sincere and active
endeavours she has hitherto made in every direction to
plead the cause of peace and moderation in this eventful
question with independent and impartial language. What-
ever turn events may take, Providence has placed the
King, our most gracious muter, at the head of a martial,
patriotic, and united people, and his Majesty's government
—be assured of this, gentlemen—will, in every step that it
may be called upon to take in this matter, adopt the true
interest of the country, which is inseparable from that of
the Crown, as the sole criterion of their efforts and their
actions.

And herewith, in virtue of the authority committed to
me by his Majesty, I declare the Session of the Chambers
to be opened.
At the conclusion of this address the members
gave three hearty cheers for the King. The Minister
then informed the two houses that their respective
chambers were ready for their reception, and the
assembly dissolved.