The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-06 00:00:00

ARRIVAL OF THE DUCHE96 OF

ORLEANS AT EMS.

The unfortunate duchess and her two children
arrived on the 2nd inst. at Ems, in Prussia. The
party, accompanied by a French nobleman, escaped
from Paris in a one-horse vehicle, with which they
reached Aix-la-Chapelle. There they took the rail-
way to Cologne. After passing the night at Deutz,
opposite the latter city, they took the steamer next
day to Coblentz, and thence proceeded to Ems, where
they are at present remaining. Shortly atter their
arrival they were visited by Madame Thile, the wife
of the commanding general of the district.

BRUSSELS, Miami 4.
It on tbeirside, the people of thiscountry have proved,
by their conduct during the last stirring week or ten
days, that they are imbued with a true spirit of patriot-
ism, and that I hey are desirous ofremaining " Belgians,"
the King of their choice, on his part, appears to be al-
together—to quote a French phrase—a to hauteur de
sa mission. I have grounds for believing that his
:Majesty has given full powers to his cabinet to make
any proposition to him which they may think advan-
tageous for Belgium. The King is prepared for any
event which may occur.
Perhaps people on your side of the channel do not
discern clearly enough the growth of nationality in
this country, or understand exactly the relative posi-
tion of this kingdom with respect to France. It was
well observed the other day in the Chamber of Re-
presentatives, that if French ideas set out upon a tour
of the world, there was no necessity for them to pass
through Belgium, as nearly all the great measures
uow introduced or announced in the neighbour-
ing nation, either positively. or virtually exist
in this land. Royalty itself is but a fiction, and,
moreover, not a " splendid" one here as it is in England.
Liberty of the press and liberty of association exist
in their fullest extent; al religions are not only
tolerated but protected ;
.personal freedom is gua-
ranteed ; constitutional rights are secured by the
charter, and the monarchy itself is a national super-
structure, the work of a national congress. More-
over the free play of constitutional institutions allow
of improvement and modification of institutions, when
necessary, and recent measures show that neither the
King nor the cabinet uphold a system of " finality."
By becoming a republic, Belgium—a neutral country
—would gain no new liberties, certainly none that it
cannot constitutionally obtain.
The Chamber of Representatives has just voted
unanimously the bill for bestowing the franchise
upon all Belgians paying direct taxes to the amount
of 42f. 32c. Yesterday a bill was brought forward
for making English goldpieces and the new Dutch
silver florins " a legal tender" in this country. The
bill was referred to the sections. As soon as any new
popular measure is announced in France the leading
Journals of this country assert, in fact generally prove,
that Belgium has anticipated its powerful neighbour.
Some of the Jesuits, fearful of an outbreak here, have
taken steps to secure their property : the precaution,
however, appears to be unnecessary.
6 p. m. It has transpired that the Belgian cabinet
has resolved to lay before the Chambers, as soon as
poseible, a bill for parliamentary reform on the broad-
est basis. The French residents in Brussels will as-
semble to-morrow in order to give in their adhesion
to the republican government. One of the great li-
beral associations of Belgium will alas meet to mor-
row. No boons as yet.

_