The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-28 00:00:00

GERMANY.

PROGRESS OF REFORM.
PRUSSIA.—The intelligence from Berlin is to the
25th. On the 24th (says our correspondent), the King
promised a popular law for elections,—in other words,
a popular extension of the franchise. A public meet-
ing was held on the same day in Berlin in layout
of universal suffrage for all males of 21 years of age. '
It is said that lierrVon Anerswald has been summoned
to make a part of the new cabinet, and that he has da
dared he will not enter it until the chief demands sit
the people have been complied with.
We have already stated that all pledges in pawn
under the value of four dollars have been returned io
the owners. This has cost 300,000 dollars.
A deputation from Breslau and Liegnitz came to
the King about a law of election. His Majesty re-
plied
that a general law would ,re promulgated, and
that the principal points to be assured were, personal
liberty, the right of assoziation, a burgher guard, with
the right of choosing their officers, responsibility of
ministers, juries fur political crimes and those of the
press, immovability of judges, abolition of ecignorial
courts of justice.
A Berlin letter in the Cologne Get:elle says :
The revolution which has been effected in Berlin—ao
affected ignorance, no slander can deprive the contest whisk
moistened the streets of Berlin with blood, of this character—
has practically restored to the citizens the right to assemble
and speak freely of which they have so lonb been deprived.
Aseociatinns are formed—they may be celled clubs
hero what
people will—but associations are formed in which mesn
of securing what has bee, conquered, in which the future
Prussian and Germanic constitutions, are freely discussed.
One year clubs, composed of citizens and men of letters,
met rday evening in the Betel de Russie. Among
other subjects a general Germanic elective franchise came
upon the lapis. Hereupon one of the gentlemen present,
who hail been listening in silence, rose with the number of
the Preussische Allgenseine Zeitung, in which the King's
expression respectiug the elevation of Prussia in and with
Germany (dm Aufgehen Preussen's in Deutschland)
occurs, and begged leave to speak. It was M. Von
()Kern, the Prime Minister of Hesse Darmstadt,
who had come from Dresden, and who enlarged upon
the position of the projected German parliament, as it has
been suddenly modified by recent events. He intimated
that Darmstadt, Baden, Nassau, Wurtemberg, Bavaria, anal
Saxony, were already deliberating on this subject; that a
disposition to resign certain privileges of sovereignty in
order to promote the interests of a united Germany ex-
isted ni those states; Unit before all the rest, the King of
Wurtemberg had expressed himself with a vice to the
realisation of this idea in terms equivalent to a proposal
of absolute resignation. He enumerated as the chief points
that would be insisted upon, in connexion with the waiv-
ing of the rights of sovereignty :-1. A Orman elective
franchise on the broadest basis, liberty of the press, trial by
jury, &e. 2 Concession of the title to receive special
embassies, which was rather a gratification to princely vanity
than of sty real use to prince,. 3. One system of Germanic
law extending to all affairs of trade and manufactures. 4. A
new military constitution, with the arming of the people.
M. Von Osgern, who returned this day (22nd March), to
Dresden, expressed a hope that the determination of our
King would be received by the other states with joy and
confidence. May this hope be realised! Prussia must make
up for lost time, and in the moment whoa danger threatens
both from east and west, make up for what has been ne-
glected during a peace of three and thirty years.
Some further particulars relating to the encounter
of the people and military at Berlin appear in the
German papers. It seems that the Lower Silesian
raiiway was the only one damaged by the people, a
quantity of the rails having been torn up. The mili-
tary attacked five times a barricade at the town hall,
in the cologne quarter; grape and shot were fired
against it, but these did more harm to the neighbour-
ing houses than to the barricade itself, which was
only carried after three hours' combat. Its capture
cost the life of four officers and thirty aoldiers,l
At the barricade of the Taubertstraese several riflemen,
concealed babied barrels of oil, did much harm to a
baValion which was advancing against it. Before
the beginning of the struggle a citizen had proposed
the relinquishment of fire-arms on both sides; this the
officer in command refused, and at the second dis-
charge he fell mortally wounded from his horse. A
second and a third officer, who took his place, were
also killed. The barricade was taken, after a
severe cannonade. The attack upon the arsenal of
the Lnudwehr, in the Lindenstrasse, lasted from nine
in the evening till seven in the morning. Twenty
officers had barricaded themselves behind the win-
dows, from which they kept up a galling fire against
the citizens, who attempted to approach. Each shot
cost the life of one citizen. A young workman, armed
with a crow-bar, who had already fought fur 6 hours,
behind a barricade, led the attack. At last some
riflemen were brought from the barricade in the
Taubenstrasse, who demolished several of the win-
dows of the arsenal, which then fell into the heads of
the people. The whole of the stand of arms were
then taken. At the Conciergerie, the riflemen kept
up a sharp firing, each shot taking effect. The
whole' of the lower story of this building, where the
royal troops had retired, was demolished. The
strongest barricade was one formed in the new
Kiinigstrasse on the Alexanderplatz, behind which
were stationed several riflemen with cannon. It was
never taken, all the attacks of the soldiers failing.
It is here also that most of the military fell. A
citizen having advanced too far was wounded, where-
upon a cessation of the firing was demanded, which
took place whilst his body was being recovered.
The following details respecting the funeral of the
victims of the 19th appear in the Prussian journals of
the 24th :
All the houses were hung with black cloth and with the
national banners and colours, which were likewise hoisted
upon the castle. A notice was issued that the obsequies of
the military' would not be distinct from those of the burghers,
but that no officers or soldiers who followed should carry
arms. The procession set out at seven o'clock in the morn-
ing. It was opened by a division of the schutzengilde
and the students, followed by a choir and deputa-
tions from the various districts of the burgher guard
with muffled drums, beating the dead march; then
followed the funeral cars, decked with flowers and
garland.. The number of coffins was 187. They were
separated into divisions of ten by banners covered with crape,
or the national flog. A train of p-otestant and Roman combo-
lie clergy followed immeeli Arty after the immense line of
coffins, the mourners came next, and then all the military
officers present in Berlin, and the aides-de-camp of his Ma-
jesty, &c. The Berlin vocal choir, and large bodies of week-
awn and companies, each under the respective banners of
their guild, followed by an almost interminable train, which
was closed by the armed burgher guard. The num-
ber of persons, all dressed in deep mourning, must have
amounted to at least 10,000 men. When the solemn cortige
arrived at the pals e, each division of coffins halted be-
neath toe balcony. His Majesty and the Queen immediately
came out, accompanied by several aides-de-camp and the
ministers, a solemn funeral chaunt was now sung. The
mournful precession then continued its imposing course.
All the coffins defiled slowly before the high persons, who
stood uncovered for three hours on the balcony. Tears fell
front every eye, and the countenance of the King especially
evidenced the met intense emotion. An immense grave
had been dug in the churchyard of the Invalids in the form
of a cross, in the centre of which was raised a platform for
those who officiated. Into these four subterranean streets
the coffins were lowered side b_y aide.. There was no dis-
tinction, except that of creed. The protestants, the Roman
cathelies, the Israelites, were interred distinctly en masse.
The chaplains of the garrison and of the body guard
deiverel an impressive address. Other clergymen addresses)
the assembly, in words .f peace and conciliation, and the
clergyman who pronounced the blessing called upon all pre-
sent to repeat the loud " Amen" which resounded from
every side. The schutzengiide and the burghers then fired
a sales over the grave, and all the banners were simulta-
neously lowered ever the hallowed dead. The effect of this
was indescribably solemn. M. Von Natzmer general of the
infantry, now stood up, and, in an agitated voice, returned
thanks, in his own name and that of the other military, .
for the honour which had been shown to their
fallen comrades, upon which the vast assembly rent the
air with a solemn rime for the military. Unhap-
pily, a most untimely laconic voice exclaimed, " Military
back " (Militnir Zuruck). This caused an excitement, for
it was understood that the military who were present at the
funeral should retire. Lieut.-Gen. Von Neumann immedi-
ately explained the misunderstanding, and said that the per-
son who bad spoken intended to express the wish that the
military might soon come bask to Berlin ; and now a hurrah
and cheers for peace and amity rent the very heavens. The
Immense train of mourners then left the peaceful cemetery,
where a simple mound rises, and where the noble palm of
peace wili soon spring up and spread her sacred shadow over
the hallowed dead. Although so vast a concourse of persona
had assembled from all parts, not the slightest disturbance
took place. The conduct of the inhabitants was admirable.
It is a day that will never be forgotten is
Our correspondent writes as follows from Cologne
on the 2,sth:—" The Postmaster-General of Prussia
has issued orders to all the provincial post-offices to
forward to the central committee, free of postage, the
subscriptions for the relief of the families of the per-
sons who fell during the recent insurrection in Berlin,
and also for the relief of the wounded. The number
of killed is variously given. It appears, however,
that it does not exceed 800. The wounded are very
numerous, and it is probable that that circumstance
gave rise to the reiterated statement that 2,000 per-
Kra (soldiers and civilians) were killed."
The King has hewed the following order to the
Minister of War :—" As I thoroughly devote myself
to the German cause, and consider the co-operation of
Prussia as a decided furtherance of that cause, I order
the army to wear the German corarde, together with
the Prussian one."