The Express.
London, England, 1849-04-30 00:00:00

DENMARK AND THE DUCHIES.

SECOND BATTLE OF KOLDING.
SCHLESWIG, Arun 25.
It would not be easy to give you an adequate idea
of the joy and exultation which has pervaded this
town since yesterday's news of the battle of bolding.
All now regard the muse of Schleswig-Holstein as
placed in safety; and, in truth, they may not be far
wrong. This second victory at Kolding has a two-
fold bearing. In the first place the inroad into Schles-
wig contemplated by the Danish leaders has been
prevented. This is a secondary advantage. But the
second is of much greater consequence. The
victory has been achieved by the Schleswig-
Holstein troops alone; not one of the Ger-
man auxiliaries took part in the battle. The
raw, and, in point of numbers, inoonsiderab!e
Schleswig-Holstein army has shown itself superior to
the outnumbering Danish force. There can now be
no commodes : the struggle must be continued until
theme tutional
e. rights of both duchies are recognised
by ing-Duk
You are aware that the King of Denmark, by the ad-
vice of the foreign powers,was preparing a constitution
octroyle for Schleswig alone. This constitution, al-
though it contained some valuable concessions, was
impossible even before the affair at Eckernforde. With
what scorn will this Schleswig coostitution be re-
ceived now that the Schleswirliolateiners, unsup-
ported by their German allies, have beaten the Danes
both by land and water. Lord Palmerston, Dronin
de L'Huys and Count Neeselrode will 'Andy ima-
gine that a country where raw troops have stood this
fiery ordeal against a superior force of old experienced
warriors are to be frightened by diplomatic notes.

THE ULTIMATUM OF THE LING OF
DENMARK,
His Majesty the Ring of Denmark and the Provi-
sional Central Power of y having accepted the
offer made by the crown of Great Britain to mediate
in the differences which have unfortunately arisen
between the crown of Denmark and Germany, and
both parties having agreed to negotiate as to the basis
of a peace on the principle proposed by her Britannic
Majesty's government, in regard to the future posi-
tion of the duchy of Schleswig, the plenipotentiaries
of the respective parties met this day for the purpose
of discussing the proposal, and settling the principle
for such an arrangement. But, taking into conside-
ration that the armistice signed at Malmiie, on the
26th et August last, will expire on the 26th instant,
and that, in order that the negotiations may be suc-
c.ssfully carried en, it is essential that a farther sus-
pension of hostilites should take place ; and consi-
dering, moreover, that, in consequence of the expira-
tion of the armistice of Mamie, and by reason et the
dissolution of the common government, which, by
virtue of the convention of Malmo', was appointed to
carry on provisionally the administration of the
duchies of Holstein and of Schleswig, it has become
necessary to make some fresh provision for the admi-
nistration of these duchies during the time that hosti-
lities shall be suspended, and until the conclusion of a
definitive treaty of peace, the aforesaid plenipoten-
tiaries have agreed upon the following preliminary
articles:
AZT. I.—The Dusky of Schleswig shall have a separate
constitution with respect to its special legislation and inter-
ne administration, without being united with the Duchy of
Holstein, end leatmg intact the political union which con-
nects the Duchy of Schleswig with the crown of Denmark.
Any. 2.—The armistice signed at Mabee on the 28th of
August last year is entirely out of force on the 28th instant,
with the exceptions that the final settlement of the claims es
stipulated in the 6th article is reserved, and that the admi-
nistration instituted in the Duchy of Lanenburgh, in conse-
quence of Article 9 of the said convention, shall continue
provisionally in activity. There shall, neverthelms, continue
to be a suspension of hostilities both by land and by sea from
the 26th inst. till the 26th of April next inclusive, at which
time the suspension of hostilities shall be regarded as havieg
expired, unless expressly renewed. During the armistice,
the continental territories of the Duchies of Holstein and of
Schleswig shall nee be occupied either by German o: by
Danish trespe. brat's' with the restristkos mid reserve -
time eieueiesmil is she following ewe.. t end 4.
Aar. 3.—For the purpose of preserving order and for car-
rying on the detailed administration of the two Duchies dur-
ing the interval which my elapse before a definitive treaty
of peens shall be concluded, it Is agreed that the Duchy of
Holstein shall be administered by a temporary administra-
tion proposed by the meshed central power of Germany,
confirmed by his Majesty the King of Denmark in his
quality u Duke of Holstein, and instituted by both, while
the King of Denmark alone shell appoint and ioritute the
proviloaal administration for Sthleswig. These administra,
tions to be composed of natives of the two Duchies, shall be-
gin their functions on the 27th of this month, and continue
to exercise them till the conclusion of a definitive treaty of
But the functions so to be exercised by them shall
trplinrely executive and administrative, and shall not
have any legislative character. These two administra-
tions shall be bound to act with complete impartiality
las regards persons both of Danish and of German
race. With regard to Schleswig, all laws end ordi-
nances promulgated after the 18th of March, 1848,
are to be considered as null and void. His Majesty'!; admi-
nistration shall nevertheless have the right to put in force
such of these laws and ordinances as may be considered
necessary. A limited number of troops shall be employed
for the 'maintenance of order in the duchies, in Holstein not
exceeding her contingent to the army of the German eon-
federation, in Schleswig la Danish military force of 3,000 or
4,000 men, as far as possible composed of natives of Schleswig,
with the exception only of such as have served in the new
dissolved, so called, Schleswig-Holstein army.
Art. 4. In case the szemiticm of them dispositions should
meet with residence or dieoreers in the duchies and
should render necessary the employment of a greater mili-
tary force, the King of Denmark has a right to employ such
a force t• maintain in the full exercise of its authority the
edminirtration instituted by him in the duchy of Schleswig;
in regard to the duchy of Hulsteie the other contracting
party binds itself, under the abovelnentioned circumstances
to march troops Lute this duchy and to occupy it.

NAPLES, Ariu.l7.
All the accounts I receive from Catania agree in
speaking of the rain of that once beautiful city, and
not of that city only, but of the villages and homes en
the ,'hole line of march—even where resistance was
not offered. That immense barbarities have been
practised (and perhaps on both sides), cannot be de-
nted. In palliation, if not in defenoe, of the Sicilians,
it may, however, be urged that they are stung by the
recollection of injuries and insults heaped upon them,
for a long series of years—by the subterfuges of I
which they have recently become the victims—by the
barbarities of Messina, and by the presence of the
I barbarians, whip burnt and destrnyed at every step
they took. But what can be said in defence of our
government? In Sept. last, forsooth, their sensibilities I,
were so delicate that they could not permit the inhuma- I
nide* which were practised at Marina ; yet now, having
first stooped to ~slam the dirty work of Ferdinand,
after having dishonourably taken down conditions to
Palermo which they could not and did not approve,
they abandon a brave people to what they meet have
known would be similar or worse ishutnanities—for
none knew better, that as the Ethiopiancannotohange
his colour, so the Neapolitan army must remain what
facts have proved it to be. Having tho;:tgehMei
studied the Sicilian snestion, and having
narrowly the negotiations which have been carried en
with regard to this subject during the last sixteen
months—having conversed frequently with men at
all parties, Sicilians and Neapolitans, I cannot but
record my opinion, that never were a people mere
greedy outraged, oppressed, and insulted, than have
been the Sicilians by the Neapolitan government, nor
more infamously and treacherously betrayed than the
same 'sepia have been by the British government.
In this latter sentiment I do not stand alone, there is
not the 'lightest difference of opinion upon the subject,
and for myself inch is my amor petite that I dislike
watering into the society of foreigners, so sure am I
Ito Mar British faithlessness and treachery descanted
I have to inform Ton that the Grand Duke of
Tuscany is now again at Gaeta, and that the
French admiral left yesterday to offer a steamer
is his royal highness to convey him to Leghorn.
The French fleet still lingers on. It Is quite
le* that a considerable quantity of artillery left
poutority for the frontier. As regards Sicily, nothing
wow lam transpired as yet. The report increases in
and &edibility that Filangzeri after the se-
=let 240 prisoners.
Aeau.l7.—At the last moment,l write to mention,
as a report in circulation, that the Sicilians, through
French mediation, have accepted the concessions just
offered by his Majesty. I know nothing more at
present.