The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-27 00:00:00

GERMANY.

AUSTRIA.—The Wiener Zeitung of the 21st states
that the ministers (who retained their places, the Em-
peror, in his hurried departure, having forgotten
either to reinstate them or appoint others in their
place) were still wi.hout authentic information of his
Majesty's movements. In a stop-press of that jour-
nal, a letter to Count 'lontecuculifrom an envoy of the
magistrates of Vienna sent to learn the where-
about of the imperial fugitives, states that
alter seeking them in vain at Linz, he had
fallen upon their track at Ems. All accounts
agree that the imperial family left Vienna in such
haste us not even to take a change of clothes with
them. Their intention was at first to go to Isehl : the
Salzburg route was first thought of in Lambach.
There had been a run upon the bank at Vienna for
gold, but no want of specie was apparent.
PRUSSIA.—From our Berlin correspondent we
' have the following communication:
BERLIN, MAY 23.—The recall of the Prince of Prussia
is still the prominent topic of conversation and discussion.
And now a few words respecting the draft of the new
constitution, briefly and hastily referred to in yesterday's
poatacriptum. The let chapter declares that all the portions
of the present Prussian monarchy, with the exception of
those parts of the grand duchy of Posen which are reserved
far a special national re-orgaaisation and constitution,
form the Prussian territory in connexion with the
Germanic confederation. The 2nd chapter defines
the rights of Prussian citizens, declares the inviolability of
domicile and of property, the abolition of confiscation of
property and of the censorship, the freedom of religious be-
lief, of instruction, of petition,of the press, and of association
With respeet to open air meetings, however, it is set forth
that they must be announced to the police 24 hours before
they are held, and that permission to hold them must be ob.
tamed. The inviolability of the poet office is also declared,
except in time of war, and in eases determined by law. All
Ptomains are bound tu mditary_aervice (wehrpfliatig). The
3rd chapter relates to the Kim—declares his Piro= in-
riold• and his annistan responsible ; confess on Aim alone

the executive power, the command of the army, the appoint-
ment to all pats in it, u well sa in the civil service ; the
tight to declare war, to contract peace and treaties (commer-
cial ones to receive the assent of the chambers), and to con-
voke and dissolve the chambers, he being obliged, how-
ever, to convoke the electors thirty days, and the
chambers 60 days after the dissolution. The King may also
.d ours the chambers, but, except with their consent, not for
a logger period than 30 days. The crown is declared Lem-
ditary in the mail line of primogeniture. The 4th chapter
treats of the ministers. They may be put on trial throegh a
resolution of the second chamber. The first chamber being
the tribunal, they will have the right of admission ti both
chambers, but that of voting only in the one of which they
are elected members. Ministers not members will Lave no
vote. The fith chapter refers to the two chambers; the
went of the chambers and of the King is necessary for every
law • the first chamber will consist of the princes of the
blood royal, and GO members (at the highest) chosen
by the King out of those citiems of the state who
peewee a clear income of at least 8,000 thalen, the
tight of sitting in the chamber being hereditary in
the eldest male descendants of these sixty ea long as
the former coatinue to poress the above clear income,
Besides the GO, it is proposed to admit 180 more es members
of the first chamber, the latter number to be eh cted by the
general electors in the second degree—in other words, by in-
direct universal suffrage. The qualifications of members of
the first chamber are, that they be 40 years of uge, and pes-
simist of a clear income of 2,000 thalers' or that they pay
yearly in direct taxes 300 theme. Member, of the High
Court of Judicature, of the Academy of Sciences, and the
head burgomasters of towns of more than 25,000 inhabitants
(provided the last be at least six years in office), are eligible,
even if they have smaller incomes or pay lets taxes. Mem-
bees of the first chamber to be chasten for eight years, the
half of the number to be renewed every four years. The
members of the second chamber will be chosen for four years,
the half to be renewed every two years. Both chambers to
be convoked every year in January ; the sittings to be pub-
lic. Votes to be decided by a clear majority. Full
kberty of speech in the chambers, and right of
forwarding addresses to the King. Exemption of members
from arrest during the sitting of the chambers, except with
the consent of the latter, or when taken flagrance delieto.
Payment of members of the aecood but nut of the first
chamber. The 6th chapter declares the indepeadence of
judges, their appointment for life, the publicity of the courts
of law, and trial by jury for certain categories of offences,
including political and press ones. The 7th chapter deter
mines that the budgets be prepared every year in advance,
and that no state loans be contracted except by virtue of s
law. Such is an analysis of the draft of the new constitution,
which, for a certainty, will undergo some modifications in
those parts, relating to the, nomination and election of the
members of the first chamber. . .

The oft-adjourned review of the civic guard took place
this day ; some 20,000 assembled, and their appearance was
tolerably good. The King wan, on the whole, well received,
and many cries were heard in favour of the Prince of Prussia.
As his Majesty was passing by the university, some students
in the balcony (who had previously displayed two black
flags, whick they were obliged to remove) took off their
black cravats and began waving them in an excited manner.
This affdr has been brought before the general body of the
students who will come to a decision to-morrow. The society
of mechanics did not attend the review, and only a few
students were present. The town of Oels has forwarded a
petition against the recall of the Prince of Prussia, de-
claring that that step is the beginning of a reaction on
the part of ministers.

MADRID, idsy 20.

The British arms were taken down from over the
door of the embassy yesterday morning. This circumstance
is not noticed in the papers, from the fear of increasing the
:monism consternation that prevails throughout tbe popula-
tion of the capital, and is gaining in all parts of the
Peninsula, in consequence of the rupture of relations with
England. The press, which continues, under the present
dictatorship, to be purely ministerial, no organ of progress
caring to challenge the thunderbolts of the little Jupiter of
the "situation," does all it can to calm the extreme appre-
hensions which pervade every class of society. The Herald°
opens its columns with a leader in this view, giving its
sapient reasons why England cannot, and dares not, war on
Sp tin. It is cier from this that Gen. Harems looks upon the
moment as favourable for pulling the nose of John Bull be-
cause his hands are tied. The Philistines teazed Samson in
that way ; but had to rue their sport. The green withes
mentioned by the lieroldo as binding the wrists of Britain,
may be burst at some unexpected moment, lad the puny
mockery be punished by a coup de pette. But Hermes inu-
mates also that he rests his case on the right of every govern-
ment to self-defence. The fact is, that the whole business
hinges on this. The nature of the documents which have
been consigned to the special envoy, Count Mirasol, to be ex-
hibited to the English ministry in proof of Sir Henry Bulwer
hiving levied war against the Spanish government, will decide
the match between our representative and the Spanish dictator.
But there is a wide difference between holding friendly rela-
tions with the leaders of a party persecuted by the govern-
ment, and levying war against the government. An am-
bassador who should confine his friendships to the pirtyin
power, and cut to-morrow the men with whom he holds
official intercourse to-day bemuse they have to resign the
benches of office to their adversaries, would not be actin),
exactly with the dignity and independence suitable to his
mission. if an insurrection' like that of the 26th of March,
break out, and members of the opposition take refuge from
the persecution of the government under the roof of a fo-
. reign minister, as some of the progresistas did after the 26th
' of March, under the roof of Sir Henry Bulwer, before the
government can compiler itself aggrieved, the guilt of the
refuged ought to be established by some presumptive evi-
dence. Then the government can formally demand the de-
livery-up of the conspirators; and if this be refused, it may
proceed, as in the familiar instance of the Duke of Riperrta,
to violate the asylum, and seize the persons protected,. rely-
ing upon their right to clear them with the government of
the offended ambassador. Now, not an atom of all this has
been done in the present instance by the Spanish
government. Instead of a frank remonstrance with
Sir Henry Bulwer, who was disposed to act by them
with fairness no less than courtesy, the Duke of Sotomayor
sent &letter crammed with all the foolish stories that he
could pick up from his informers about a revolutionary com-
mittee sitting in Mr. Bulwer's house, and plotting damnable
treason for the destructicn of the monarchy, &c., to Senor
isturix, who was instructed to complain of these doings to
Lord Palmerston, and to solicit the recall of Mr. Bulwer.
The English envoy getting a full list of the absurd calumnies
alleged against him from Lord Palmerston, called on the
Duke of Sotomayor, and expostulated with him in an ami-
cable tone for making those indirect representations without
taking the trouble to ascertain their accuracy, which he
might so easily have done with a person of Mr. Bulwer's
urbane and friendly manners by just stepping across the
way. Mr. Bulwer then said that if this proceeding had been
adopted towards him he should have made not the least dif-
ficulty in confessing the real state of the case, as he was about I
to do now. Certainly some persons, ten in all, who feared
to be arrested by the government, had come to his
house after the night of the 26th ; but that so far
from becoming the chairman of a revolutionary tom-
mittce, composed of these, he was persuaded that
not one of them was connected with the outbreak ;
but they, seeing that the government arrested indiscrimi-
nately leading men of liberal opinions, without the least
ground for presuming their guilt, had been frightened, and
come to him. One of the ten be believed was a spy of the
government. They were now all gone, and without any
passport from him. The Duke of Sotomayor expressed him.
self quite satisfied. Meanwhile Isturiz. who bad failed in
procunng the recall of Mr. Bulwer, shocked no doubt at the
want of dignity in the precetdings of his government
towards the Enelish envoy, and disapproving equally the
puerility of their accusations as well aa the rancour of their
hostility against Lim, flatly refused to remain any longer the
instrument of such unreasonable attacks, and wrote, as I
have heard from a sure source, to his government, on the Ist
of May, to say that if he was required to renew hostilities
against Mr. Bulwer, he should beg to retire. Narvaez,
resolved upon getting rid of so firm an obstacle to his arbi•
teary violence, determined to do himself what Isturiz and
Lord Palmerston refused to do for him, and proceeded to a
direct assault.