The Express.
London, England, 1850-04-27 00:00:00

Eihe erpreoo.

OUTGOING MAILS.
The West India Mails, including Bermuda, Ilavannah,
wait, llni:duraa, New Orleans, and Ileato,, and xcludibp
these for Madeira, St. Juan-de-Nioaragua, New Granada,
Chili, and Peru, will be made up on May 2.
The mails for British North Asitiica and the United
States will be made up on the evening of May 3.
1 he mails for Maderie, the Braids, and Buenos Ayres, will
be made up on the 4th of May.
The mails for Lisbon, Svain, and Gibraltar will be made
up on the morning of May 7.
The snails vii Marseilles, to As Mediterranean, Egypt,
' ylbn, India, Hong-Kong, &c., will be made up on
the weenie:, of May 7.
The mails for Gibraltar, Malta, Cr, tee, the lonics Islands.
Egypt, Ceylon, India, and China, yin Soutluumptin, will
he made up on the morning of May 20.

MOH WATIIk AT LUND4.II%
Two Daa—lforeMa, Ahem...* 2a. 32m.
1 a-moues —llarsug. 3.. 11a

LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 27.

Or all the blunders and absurdities of the
statesmen of 1813, tlse most gross was, per-
haps, the Germanic Confederation. It was put to-
gether with two aims—eke to form a strong corps of
resistance to any military aggression on the pert of
France ; the other to keep out the democratic and re-
volutionary ideas known to spring from that s,il.
How did the Germanic Confederation perform the
task assigned to it, or attain the object for which
it was fri nitcl? In 1830 France broke through the
territorial arrangements of 1815, declared the to it
hostile kingdom of the Low CJuntries dissolved, and
menaced war if a single member or soldier of the
Germanic Confederation came to the assistance of the
King of HOLLAND. Toe Germanic Confederation
then ssw the treaties of 1813 torn before its eyes,
and wanted alike the courage or the power to defend
them.

Did the Germanic Confederation perform its other
task, that of keeping out democratic ideas ? 1848
is there to 1188 A er. The effect ot the Con-
federation and its laws was simply to sub-
ject the enlightened and constitutional portion of
Germany to the dictation and despotism of the most
brute and de-potic portion of it, and that without
offering in return the least recompense, for Austria
never intended to defend central Germany against
France. She fortified her own hereditary dominions
and treated Germany as an avant poste, to be cccupicd
and foraged at the commencement of a war, acd
then abandoned to the enemy as not of vital im-
portance.
The more enlightened and more developed parts of
Germany, however, gradually flung off the yoke that
the diplomacy of 1813 had laid upon it. North and
central Germany liberated itself, first inteliectuaily,
then commercially. The Zollverein created a fiscal
Germany, with which Austria was prevented from
amalgamating by the embarrassment of her finances,
the independent and non. German nature of its best
provinces. 1848 arrived, and with it the demand for
a solid union of Germany, and its reconstruc-
tion on a popular basis, for the great purposes
of the epoch. These were no longer, as in 1813, the
defence of the country against France, and for keeping
down constitutionalism, but for placing it in equable
independence, and equipoise of Russia and of France,
and for developing the constitutional system, 83 as to
unite all classes of the country in national defence.
The Frankfort parliament, composed certainly not
of very practical men or experienced politicians,
sill performed its duty with an honesty of
purpose and a thoroughly German straight-
forwardness, which, however it may have fallen
short of its aim for the present, yet laid a foun-
dation for that great national structure which time
will complete. Such writers as Mr. LAING may com-
pliment Norwegian farmers with having framed a
constitution in a week, and twit Germany with having
failed to satisfy, combine, and reconcie their multi-
farious interests of region and of class. Tire ono was
child's play, the other an Herculean task. And no
nobler monument was ever bequeathed to
posterity by a representative assembly than
the constitution as voted by the parliament
of Frankfort. Whatever is objectionable, and imprac-
ticable, and ultra-democratic in that constitution, is
well known to have been foisted into it by the Austrian
and the destructive party in order to render it un-
auceessful and defeat it altogether.
This Machiavelism, however, has not succeeded.
The constitution, so altered as to suit the collapse ot
popular power, and to be a fit standard for even
royalty to uplift and bear up amidst the throng of mi-
litary monarchies, has been voted at Erfurt. The
right of German powers to form a league,
on constitutional and representative principles, inde-
pendent of the dictation of Austria, or the inter-
fere nee of Russia, has been asserted and maintained.
The right of the League to be an efficient and in-
dependent state, making war and peace for itself,
at least with all powers not included in the old Ger-
manic Confederation, has been assented to. It has
moreover been notified to Austria and to the Kings,
that the League will have nothing to do with the pro-
longation of the interim government at Frankfort, ?r
the formation of any new system to replace
until the League be permanently recognised in its
existence and its claims by these powers.
A constitutional Germany has thus been formed aicl
p
ported decreesro m ulg
ab
yt. do
f adeputiesnote
powerfulon iann and
odn'iprofessors,a6rcush'built
ons but
disce
i-
-
--
plined and formidable army, and by a population
given to the ways of freedom and of peace, as well
as trained to the habits and the knowledge of war.
In common with many of our friends and coffee!) in-
denter, we had fears of never seeing this realised, arid
our congratulations on seeing it accomplished are
in proportion to the doubts previously entertained.
Whilst the great cause of German unity and con-
stitutionalism has thus advanced at Erfurt, in &spite
of Russian menace and Austrian intrigue, we regret to
find that the long-pending negotiations for the settle-
meat of Schleswig, and the restoration 3f peace and
order in that peninsula, have utterly failed of result ;
and that instead of progressing, things have re-
lapsed into the position they were a year or two ago.
Denmark has, in fact, ruddy rejected all the
terms and conditions that Prussia offered. The court
of Copenhagen speaks of the duchies just as the
court of Vienna speaks of Hungary. Resistance 11
rebellion, demand of constitutional rights or indeliea- I

dance is to be put down by cannon, and liberalism
Kid is to be punished, as it is at Naples or Peath,
the hangman. This appears to us most fatal poll
for even if the violence contemplated should su "
even if the Schleswigers should be subdued, •
tyranny consequent upon it will but hasten
produce the affect which it is sought to evade_
viz., the driving Schleswigers as well as Holateiners
into the UM of Germany.
Prussia and Eogland had obtained a very important
emceed= from the people of the duchies. The
had consented to the separation of Schleswig free
Holstein, and their constitution with separate cum,
hers. If Schleswig was ever to be weaned from Ger-
many and attached to Denmark, it was by this. F
the court of Denmark has cow rejected the wt._
series of proposals of which this made one. Presairi
withdraws in consequence from negotiating any more,
and of course the duchies insist on the old politica
connexion of Schleswig and Holstein, which must un
Danify them, whether they be ruled constitutionalli
or tyrannically.
It is, however, a subject of congratulation
Prussia should have altogether withdrawn from
negotiation as well as from the war. Denmark tie iderl
would not grant terms of peace, whilst Itushia
making the presence of Prus.ian troops in Sir lest
tne pretext for meditating and menacing the tin]
of Russiate troops in the reduction of Schleswig.
avoid this, and prevent it, Prussia has withdrawn
troops, aid even the officers commanding the troo;
of the duchies. She has proffered a separate peace
Denmark, in herown name and in that of the 1.-ant
so there will no longer be an excuse for hls,kadi
Hamburg, that great annoyance by which t•
ot Denmark put the screw upon Lord PAL Celt,
At.d Dates aid Schleswigers will thus be 1,-1-c to f
out their quarrel, unless they can come to terms.
It is now for the British minister
intervene and offer good counsel. For
will depend on the conditions which Engle
recommends Denmark to grant, in order t r seci
peace in Schleswig. Prussia having v.ithdra‘
England atone remains to sup;iort or recommer
co: stitutional and liberal idea. Russian councils
of course, scout any such thing, because Russian
rests require tole sere of Schleswig to be kept ups;
that ample room may remain for interference
intrigue.

We is gret t.t say that we have no hope of k
councils tnm British diplomatists. It is imposer
for men oil ling themsi-lves politicians to be nr.re utti
ignorant i,f the subject tux' of the interests of wi
they treat, more bigoted, or more illiberal, than
agents we empl..y at Copenhagen, Berlin, atd ern
Hamburg. Every one of them speaks the languagi
HAYNAU and SettwAnzi:NnuaG. They are ultra-
ac,tocary. They are the mere SlBTfloftri of d.•
macy, without the sturdy independence of the
member for Lincoln.

As long as the Foreign-office works by such agt
it is merely plying into Russian hands. But
Foieign•ottice has power to send a dispatch,
to give the.. fair and liberal counsel which it, di
matists may not be altogether able to cuuntir
And we do trust that 1..1rd PALMERSTON will
forth his intelligence and liberalism, to demouit
to the court of Denmark that the violent conii let
the duchies would he no other than their eventui.
whilst to c,nciliate them by fair and large excess
might win them back to the CUUNI of Scandicr
unity and strength.

THE course which Sir CHARLES Wool) has adoi
upon the camp duties ir, no doub-, the wrest
must plitic which, under the extremils- difficult
cuinstacc.s of the case, he could have adopted.
right hon. gentleman having, by his last tip
brought himeelf into a position of check-mi•e,
übandoned the game. In assuming that his psi
rendered this disagreeable course inevitab.e, Si
WOOD 'eked for another week to consider in wtat
he should endeavour to make his 'oast experii
availab:e for a future opportunity. The hou,e,
matter of cmnplied with the etitticEtp.ii,
quest, and he has cow until nex: Friday nigt
arrange the plan he may adopt for giving the ra
the auvantage of the 300,000 i. of which he is Mal
GO tit cure them the full benefit.

At the a:et...dinner tables of hospitable pin.
it has not unfrequently been our lot to tear
Cit.eaus Wow) declaimed against as an olsti
and impracticable tinaticier, whom it was equ
impossible to convince or govern. Certainly
experiet.ce we have had of the right hon. gentlemi
conduct on this question goes to disprove every
allegaton. We of the Erprest have no ref
to complain that the CHANCELLOR 01 the Ex.
(VAR has beta wilfully pertinacious. Afar t
exposure in these columns of the atter eb,urdi
and entire impracticability of his artier
schedule, the right hon. gentleman took
very earliest possible opportunity of tom
ing his psalm). &Ed withdrawirg plar f
the consideration of the house. indeed, tnrou
out the whole discuision we are bound to suy
the CHANCELLOR has surrendered one poi:: a
another to our remonstrances with a riad:t
which we cannot too high:y appreciate—es
daily as ouch sacrifices must cut untrequa
have ben made under circumetaacts that can hi
afforded Sir CHARLES WOOD anything hat sat:s:
tion. Whoever may hear it r, prat, d
society that the Cu.tsenciin of the

cliEui7Ett's course on popular questions—su:h
instafice, u the window tax or the advertisrmi
dory—has savoured of obstinacy and disre,,rard
puha° feeling, may, henceforward, safely ci:: the
markable promptitude of his concessions
stamp duties as satisfactory evidence, that it
always through his pertinacity acd doggedoes• !!
the government of which he is a member, is inro:l
in i‘s emberrusments.

Sir CHARLES WooD propos( s to consider, ou,
. the ensuing week, whether it would be at ail t
Bible to reconcile the scale adopted by the House
Commons with the exigencies of the public rerecti
We are bound to say that, without the entire abs
donment of all the data presented by the 11..iaril
Inland It.venue in I)..cember, ISO, and cart ful.v
gaited, as S.r CHARLES Wool) informed us, din
the interrening period to the :Nth of April—withi
we say, the complete and entire abandonment of
these data as fallacious and ridiculous, we fear
CHANCELLOR will rind any such n recocci
tion" utterly impracticable. IVbether official etiquei
will allow the right hon. gentleman to throw "t
board "overboard we cannot pretend to sty. Did
' deem it possible that ourcounsel might be taken m
that as upon other matters, we should advise that
all means suet a course should be pursued.
would say to Sir CHARLES WOOD—get rid of sue
advi.ers altogether. Seek for the advice, not
red tapists, but of some one or two setae
men thorooghly conversant with all the details
the Stamp Acts. Prepare for Friday next w
their 'sails:once a comprehensive plan of stmt
duties reform, based upon the principle assented
by parliament : the principle, namely, of an
raforent dwy, commencing at the bwest prac:ic.
scale. Le: s our measure be, nut a pietist wail
applicable only to a certain class of stamps. b.
measure beating upon all description —a mean
relieving the poor of the burdensome inequa:i
under which 'hey labour, removing the objection
e which impede the operation of industry .
commerce, al d, at the same time, levying prop.
app-rtione4 duties where they may be equitably :
to rte full extent, and only to
.the full extent,
which the revenue requires that such a tax should
imp, sea.
1). spite l' e failure of the present bill—despite
the unscha cc. which have befallen the Clllaert L.
lebouring, u.i doubt, under the infliction of bid cot
eel, it is n too late for such a measure
this, if the Minister of Ficance will 1111 t
mon up his courage to the tusk. In the promo
Lion of such a great and vei.uable work we make
tends: of ur assi,tance, if, upon review of the .:
eumstane 4 of the past fortnight, be should incline
arrive at the conclusion that the discussion of thi
' questio is by the press is, after all, conducive to the
right treatm .it by the senate. .ltd t
course w'iieh Sir Citanes WOOD took on Nut
day does lent us to hope that upon this gin sti,
at 1, :est he will be ready to acknowledge that su,
serwinis ng vistigation OA that to which, from tiro
to tone, arc hire subjected his Stamp Bail, is not o°'
de sirubl.. iv it-elf bat is also conducive to good consures. I i this else, at any rate. it has enabled tic
to avoid t..e misfortune of submitting tor adoption I
preheat a plan of which he himself preiwone•
mat i.• 'he opinion of those who ate venal to ti
'abject. it would leave open the door ti si mash
rev as to ren ler it inexredieut ithd
• ."