The Express.
London, England, 1851-01-27 00:00:00

GERMANY.

The German papers are almost exclusively occu•
pied with the Zollverein question and the Aus-
trian proposition for a Zoll Union. The l'rus-
sian government seems to be fully alive to
the importance of bringing the North Sea states
into the Verein, and of rejecting the Austrian
project. But a treaty of commerce for six years with
Austria, assuring a free transit, and the free exchange
of raw materials, she seems disposed to enter into.
Further, all parties are convinced she will not go.
It is regarded as a good token of her temper on
this subject, that Mr. Henning, a free trader, is to
attend the Zia congress at Weisbaden, instead of
M. Dulbruck. Austria, on the other hand, is making
great efforts to gain proselytes.
Oar Dresden correspondent writes:

DRESDEN, Luc. 23.

The governments of Austria and Prussia have
agreed to re-establish a provisional central power, fur
the purpose of evading or crushing all revolutionary
attempts in Germany which might ensue on an out-
break in France, or a civil war in Switzerland. The
fears of the Austrian government that either of these
occurrences might again shake the stability of the
edifice which they have reconstructed with so much
labour and bloodshed, induced them to make a pro-
visional concession to Prussia of the expediency of a
dualistic organ in the confederation. The new pro-
visional central organ is to be composed of Austrian
and Prussian commissioners, in the same manner as
the provisional government, which expired in May,
1850. These commissioners are, however, to possess
greater powers than their predecessors, and are to have
the immediate disposal over an army of 130,000 men.
This plan was discussed between the two ministers on
their last meeting here, has since then been matured, and
has been laid before the pleniootentiaries, whose ap-
proval it has received, and it is now going the round
of the governments, whose sanction is naturally ex-
pected. The organisation and installation of this
authority will enab:e the plenipotentiaries assembled
here to discuss, sift, and elaborate at tilt it leisure, and
eaves them from the predicament into which the
Vienna conferences of 1813 were forced by the sudden
flight of Napoleon from Elba. The prospect of a
speedy settlement of the German question thus seems
to be again postponed, for to many of the
plenipotentiaries the temptations of a spring
and summer residence in Dresden, with double
pay and " Dieten " (expenses) will prove too
great to be easily overcome. Both Manteuffel and
Schwarzenberg are, it is said, to return here by the
end of next week, and they will very probably stir
up the minor satellites at present here to a little
greater activity.
The second commission meets to-day again. The
question now before it is a proposition made by the
plenipotentiary of Bavaria that among the list of ques-
tions to be decided by a majority of votes in the Plenum
and Engere Itath, there shall be included " consump-
tion taxes." These are the taxes levied in each state
on meat, bread, and all articles of household consump-
tion. Bavaria proposes that they should be levied
wording to the same fixed rate throughout the whole
of Germany.
lu the first commission the opposition of the small
states to the proposed diminution of the number of
vo Cain the Engere Rath has not yet been overcome,
and its meetings therefore present no new feature.
The congress of the Zollverein, adjourned from
Grssel, will really meet at Wiesbaden. Prussia in-
sists on it, and the day has already been fixed.
Several of the plenipotentiaries have already arrived
at Wiesbaden. The government of Saxony has
suddenly changed its mind, and has determined,
at the last moment, to despatch a representative to
the congress. The Bavarian government will very I
probably follow this example, seeing that hitherto
those two governments have acted tooth( r with an
accord that is really surprising. It is not improbable
that Prussia will at this congress propose that the
commercial treaties contained in the Austrian plan,
and recommended in the Bavarian and Saxon memo-
rials presented to the conference the other day, shall
be agreed to, but, at the same time, that the duties
levied under the tariff of the Zollverein shall undergo
a reduction of a very material nature. Some step of
this kind is anticipated as a counter move to the
Austrian.

JAN. 24.

The Third ermati,rion met yesterday, but owing
to the abaenee of the majority of the Sachverstandige,
the sitting was adjourned till the end of the month.
A sub-commission, however, was appointed for the
purpose of receiving proposals in reference to federal
legislation on trade, commerce, navigation, &c. This
sub-commission will sit daily.