The Express.
London, England, 1858-11-17 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, N0v.14.
Although the official returns of the elections for
the metropolitan districts have not yet been made
up, yet it is well known that the ministerial candi-
dates have everywhere triumphed. The elections
went off without any breach of the pesos or other
accident, and without any great expression of party
feeling.
These, however, are only the preliminary elec-
tions ; for, by the cumbrous machinery in force at
present, every Prussian citizen of age, and in the
enjoyment of his civil rights, is entitled to vote for
the WaAlmanner, or immediate electors, and these
have to elect the representatives for their district in
the Lower House. It is difficult to understand what
advaotage is gained by this double system of mediate
and immediate voting, whilst its disadvantages are
various and manifest.

As a specimen of the working of the present law
I may mention that Berlin contains no less than
80,000 electors, who are divided into three classes :
the first class, containing the highest rated tax-
payers, whore taxes amount to one-third of the whole
sum paid by Berlin, number less than 6,000; the
second class, consisting of those who pay lees taxes,
but on the aggregate make up also one-third of the
whole, amount to 20,000. This class includes the
respectable householders, shopkeepers, and small
manufacturers. The third class numbers no lem
than 65,000 voters, including the artisans and work-
ing men of this metropolis. They pay collectively
one•third of the aggregate amount of taxes, and
are the lowest rated ; whilst the greater
part of them are proletarians, and pay no
taxes at all. For these preliminary eke-
lions the city is divided into 175 sub-districts,
and the number of immediate 'electors they have
returned amounts to 1,629. These latter will, on the
23rd inst., have to elect the members for the metro-
polio for the Lower House. It is true that this very
defective doable system was framed in the turbulent
period of 1848, and principally in order to keep out
of the legislature the Red Republicans and extreme
democrats. But surely now that this bugbear
happily no longer exists, it is time to think of
abolishing this cumbrous elective machinery, and
Ireplacing it by another more in accordance with the
spirit of the age in general, and the progress Prussia
has since made in experience of oonstitutioaal self-
government in particular.
The Princess of Prussia, who is still residing at
Coblentz, will to-morrow perform the ceremony of
opening the railroad just completed between Cologne
and Coblentz. She will erne* in this city to be
present at the court reception to be held on the 21st
inst., in celebration of the birthday of her daughter-
in-law, the Princess Frederick William.

It is stated in well-informed circles that his
Highnem the Prime Minister will continue to held
the important military COMIIIIII4 of the Seventh
Army Corps, from which it is presumed he will re-
move his residence to Dtisseldorf, and having so
successfully inaugurated the new cabinet, himself
only remain its nominal hied.

NOTICE TO MARINEIIa.—The Board of Trade
have rt.:aired an official natldrotfo• from the departmeat
Trade sod Custom. at Melbourne setting forth the sow re-
/abdicate se to Netts and In dg•tls which are to be ea-
forord or board all steam wed sailing vemela within the
colony of Victoria on and after the lot of hammy ant.
With the exception of • dew @karmic'sa to meet the load
requirements of the colony the sew regalatione are identical
with Oboes fumed by the Artmk4ty in Frbru■ry last.
EIIIOEATION TO TRI CAPE OF 0000 HOPE.—
The embarkation front Liverpool of mimes' for Alpe
Bay by the Bee ship Vocalist, belonging to Mews. Fends
Brothers, was completed on Mendq, Tbla ship bee on
board 414 scale. equal to 848 statute adults, comprising va-
rious Stades and callings. The ealaction was made by the
licsourabi• Mr. Field, the Cemr•Wmar.,