The Express.
London, England, 1850-04-10 00:00:00

DANISH AFFAIRS.

The following is a copy of a Danish memoir to
Prussia, dated the 17th of March:

lat. Denmark can never maintain her place as an European
power, or its union with Schleswig, if it renounced the unit
of armed force of both Lind and ma. This is for Denmark
a condition of existence, and it cannot therefore co- sent, in
the matter of the Schleswig forces, to conditions that might
weaken or annihilate that unity. For instance, it could not
.:low the Schisswiger to be exempt from serving in time of
war out of the duchy, or that Danish troops should be de-
barred from being emp..ovcd in Schleswig, or to establish a
separate funi, for the military service of the duchy.
2nd. Denmark, in requiring that the system and adminiso
tration of the customs should remain common to the king-
dom and the duchy, consents to ex:end that cemmunion to
the revenues of the Sound dues, on condition that a similar
communion should be allowed with regard to Szkleswig's
share in the return of the canal dues.
_ _

3rd. The Doily of Schleswig will participate with the
kingdom in the auvantages and revenues proceeding from
the Danish colonies.
4th. The vitality of political union can only be ensured by
the maintenance of Urafarile ties between the kingdom and
the duchy; and this object, under a contain:lona system,
can only be attained by a common representation. tiohles
wig will be allowed a representation larger by half than that
of the kingdom, population in both being taken as a heels.
Denmark cumeuts to take proposal* ad teferendam, for the
purpose of taxing on any other Danish town than C..pen-
hagen for the place of meeting of the common represents..
ti and also as to the period of convocation.
sth. The mainteuancs (Athol right of nativity, as it exiles
at present, in conformity with a fundamental law, is a eon-
sequence of the comenanion of objects which ie comprised in
the political union.
6th. It is not necessary that the treaty of peace should
expressly confirm the isdiesoluhilay of union, but it must
contain nothing Itkely to prejudge the question In a con-
trary sense.
To this memoir the following answer Las beets re-
turned by the Prussian government :
Dent's, hts.ami 23.—Jt is the intimate conviction of the
Prussian cabtnet that a peace based upon the Interpretation
given to the preliminaries by the Danish plenipotentiaries
would fail in its application, and produce results totally op-
posed to pacification, and that it could only be maintained
by force of arms. It would neither ensure peace in the
Duchies, in Denmark, sr in Germany ; since, by deeriving
the Duchies of the cherished privileges of 'union (ono with
another), it deprives them of the compensation winch might
re'ul: in independence. Indeed, it is a matter of question
whether the C 0003901111 made by Prude in thin present
communication do not risk the renewal of hostilities in the
Duchies.

Art. 1. There is no objection t, tke unity of the army In
90 far am regards the command and general dispesiticn being
laid down es a principle. At the same time, without dero-
gating from this principle, a separation is required as to some
points. It seems more easy to make concessions in favour
of • separation between the Danish and Schleswig troop., as
half the population does not entertain hostile feelings to
Denmark; and therefore the fidelity of the Sehleewigers
might be relied on (!) were they separately organised. Al-
though Prussia may consider a separation of the troops to be
nteeesary, she is ready nevertheless, to admit-
1. That during a year alter the conclusion of peace, within
which period the reorganisation of the Schleswig troops
would be completed, a corps of 1,600 Swedish or Danish
troops may do duty in the duchy.
2. That the promotion of officers shall be general in the
higher and separate in the subaltern ranks, so that all all
cen to the rank of commanders of battalions isolative, should
selected from the Schleswig ranks.
Art. 2,3, 4, and 5, of Prowlers mem. and Danish reply.
As regards the community of Customs, Public Debt, and
(diplomatic) representation, Prussia cannot renounce her
convictions that then objects must be regarded u separate.
Everything, except the colonies, evidently appertain to the
legislature ; its separate administration accorded by the
preliminaries.
. . _

But, as the main point at issue relates to the internal
interests of the country in regard to Denmark, theeo iuteres:.
may probably be better judged by the country itself than by
the Prussian government. Therefore these objects might
be abandoned to a free and mutual arrangement between the
Sovereign and the representatives of Schleswig, composed
in virtue of the electoral law now in vigour in the Duchies,
or sandbag to the law of May 18, 1834, callel the 9th
article of the Pruritus counter-project. The northern por-
tion of Schleswig appears to be in rayon of Denmark ;
according to the opioion of the plenipotentiaries, were the
southern portion to pronounce its electoral opinions at 're-
sent, it would ba found to be more in accord with the views
of Denmark. If that be the ease, the expedient is the Ins
objectionable.
Similar considerations are applicable to the question of
indigenacy and qualification of being Schleswigers required
for all functionaries. If the government of the Kies be,
in its favour half the country, it would seem that the public
functionaries might be selected in the country itself. This
conasesion will contribute mote than any other to the pacifi-
catica of the country.

METROPOLITAN FREE 1108PITAL.—Yesterday the
annivenary festival of this institution took place at the Lon•
don T , Bishopegatrstreet ; John Gurney Hoare, Esq.,
(In the absence of Lord Dudley eoutts Stuart,) in the chair.
In proposing the toast of the evening, " Prosperity to the
Metropolitan Free Hospital," the chairman observed that he
regretted that the noble lord who had bean expected w pre-
side on the occanon had been p tad from being present
by public duties of an urgent and important nature. He
then went on to state that although the institution had only
been in existence fourteen years, it had been the means of
relieving 120,000 persons ; and he hoped that
so valuable an establishment would continue to re-
ceive the support of all who were charitably disposed.
It appeared from the report read by the secretary that the
committee bad thought it necessary to erect a building in
Devonshire-agnate, tlishopigate-street, for the purposes of
the charity. The benefit which the poor derived Irons the
regulations of the hospital was made manifest by the num-
bers that docked to it for relief. Since its establishment in
the year 1835 upwards of 120,000 persons had been admitted
al patents, and the annual average of this number was
greatly on the increase. It was this fact, in conjunction
with other circumstances, which had induced the committee
to extend their operations, and they trusted that they had
acted wisely in selecting for this purpose • locality contiguous
to the poor and densely•populated districts of the metropalis.
These districts had hitherto been somewhat inadequately
supplied with the means of affording gratuitous medical
relief. The annual expenditure, it appeared, lluctuatei
between 60W. and 7001. a year, to meet which the annual
subscriptions were at present insufficient, and the eon.
mitts* called upon all those who took au interest in the
charity to exert thenseclvee towards incressing Its toads.
About 100 gJotlemea eat down to dinner, and la the coon.
of the evening subscriptions were announced, amounting to
upwards of 9001.
Flu AND Lois or LITE.—A tire, attended with
law of life, occurred last night at an early hour, in the
neighbourhood of Park street, Backside, Scuthwark, in the
premises belouging to a person named Carpenter. The fire
took place in the first-11 ior front room, and the fleetness,
alter great exertion, succeeded in subduleg it, when they
found that Hrs. Carpenter, the wife of the ranter, had been
burned to death. The origin of the ealtmity remains wax-
plaia44.

OUR PEACE

Batlike' isitliketplies up M a
pBeM autablialumat, aed wheredtTrytt. Hone in
All=ea llesday sight:
II Oho estabmr aed demeription of troops supplied
with P
rid&ea
lmaeery
tee dertrtmese, distingolshing floss depart-
nests envy.
I halm aid damoriptloa of troop supplied by the Ordnance
newsagent.
No. of Men. Demetrios of Troop.
5,296 Ressler Cavalry.
675 Royal Rotas Artillery.
13,600 Yeomanry Cavalry.
98,019 Regale Infantry.
11,347 Royal Artillery (Foot).
1,670 Royal Sappy!' sad Maws.
73 Royal Invalid Artillery (master geasers).
200 Gentlemes Calotil, Woolwich.
200 Gentlemen Cadets, lisisdhurst.
6,993 Colonial Regiments.
16,124 Enrolled Pendoners.
About 10,000 Militia, Home, Channel Islands, and Colonial
11,621 Royal Matinee.
8,873 Royal Dockyard Brigades.
186,891 Total.
The royal navy is supplied by the Ordnance Department.
Number of H.R.'s ships and pukes now in commission,
about 221), and 40,000 men.
N.B. Rome gad foreign stations cannot be distinguished.
(By order of the Muter General and board)
Office of Ordnance, July 10, 1848. R. Secretary.
We copy this return' from the Appendix No. 24
and 25 to the Report of the Select Committee on the
Ordnance Department; and when we look to the
number of 185,891 troops for whom the ordnaccedeput-
ment have to furnish supplies, the expense and
trouble may be guessed at more easily than we can
suggest any other remedy than that proposed by Mr.
Hume viz., to redone the number of these armed
bodies,.

It should be 'recollected that the large est►blish-
ment of police to Inland and England is not included
in this return ; and it becomes a sad reproach to out
government to know that in proportion as education
and civilization have been introduced into the country
the number of military to keep the pesos have been
inmzewed.

What, we ask, are the Financial Reform Associa-
tions in the country about, and, we ask, will they
allow their representatives to absent themselves, as is
now generally done, from the house, when the voting
of public money goes on ?
Mr. Hums remarked that during the time Col.
Anson was making his statement and asking for
2,434,0001. for the ordnance estimates, the house was
nearly empty. We can vouch for the statement by
Mr. Hume that for a long time there were not 40
members in the house, and on the opposition benches
two members only appeared--Colonel Sibthorp, in
his usual station on the 3rd bench, and another mem-
ber in front, sitting very quietly in fall enjoyment of
the whole bench. Can such scenes endure lung it
corn continues at its present prices? Will the county
members continue their neglect of the expenditure of
the country ? Will the farmers allow it ?