The Express.
London, England, 1861-05-08 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND FINLAND.

The populations of Finland, who have so long
demanded reforms of the Russian government,
appear at length to be in a fair way of obtain-
ing some, at least, of their requirements. A mani-
festo of the Emperor Alexander, dated the 10th of
April, invokes an assembly of delegates of the four
orders of the province, in order to deliberate upon
"several legislative measures indispensable to the
material and moral progress of the country."
In the preamble the imperial manifesto states that
in the ordinary way these measures will be sub-
mitted to the states of the Grand Duchy, but that
"other political interests of a high order" do not
permit the convocation of the states at this moment.
The meeting, however, of the delegates—this
species of consultative chamber—is not to take
place before the 31st of January, 1862. The
bourgeoisie, the peasants, and the clergy, will each
be represented by 12 members, while the nobility
will have but four delegates, and the votes will be
irrespective of rank.

PRUSSIA AND ENGLAND.
THE MACDONALD AFFAIR.

The following is a translation of the note which
has been addressed by Baron Schleinits, through
Count Bernstorf4 to Lord John Russell, relating
to the recent Macdonald discussion in the House
Of COMMODE :

I have observed from the public journals, with as much
surprise as deep regret, the manner in which Lord Palmer-
ston replied to the questions addreseed to him in the House
of Commons on the 26th of last month on the 'abject of
Captain Macdonald. We could not expect that he would
take in this matter the rme view as the Prussian govern-
ment, but we might have taken it for granted that the first
minister of England, fully cognisant of the circumstances
stated by us, would abstain from heaping groundless re-
proaches (Vorwittle) on the government and laws of Prus-
sia. He himself could not do otherwise than acknowledge
that the conduct of the Prussian officials had been
in aooordance with the Prussian laws. And, in truth,
the Prussian court placed upon the affair of
Captain Macdonald the mildest interpretation al-
lowed by law, and merely inflicted upon him a slight
pecuniary fine. Those whose signatures were affixed to the
offensive protest have been, it is true, condemned by the
judge, but they have escaped punishment, because the royal
amnesty of the 12th of January of this year his affected them.
Finally, the Prussian government, which did everything in
its power to shorten the time of Captain Macdonald's con-
finement, has expressed without reserve to the British go-
vernment its regret for the occurrence itself. How, in so
clear a use, the Prussian government can be reproached
with having neglected to do what wu incumbent on it an
a great power, and u a government in friendly relations
with England, even Lord Palmerston's speech has not suc-
ceeded in showing.
' When this distinguished statesman makes mention of
me In terms for which I cannot but be personally grateful
to hltn—when he makes appeal to my knowledge of the
mods of thought and habits of the English people—l
cannot before all things repress the observation that
during the several years of residence in England which
my official position afforded me nothing filled me with
greater admiration than the sense of right and law which
is everywhere firmly rooted in the English people,
and which is also manifested in respect for judicial seu-
tenor. I cannot suppose that the English people will deny
this respect to the enterer of Prussian judges, in • case
where, in the person of an Englishman, • violation of the
laws of the country in which he has been residing had to
be punished, and where the legal advisers of the English
crown themselves acknowledge that the proceedings have
been in madame with the laws el the land.

In carrying oat the laws of one country, the judicial con-
demnation of the subjecte of another appears to me not to
be a circumstance which could disturb the mutual relation
of two governments, a close friendly union between which is
in the Interest of both. I cannot, however, conceal from my.
self that accusations of such a kind as those which Lord Pal-
merston, without ground or justification, has raisedegainat the
government and the laws of Prussia are well calculated to
excite in the Prussian people as ill feeling against a govern-
ment the leader of which has no hesitation in designating
the condition of Prussia es lamentable. If such an
ill-
feeling should result in an alienation of the governments of
Prussia and England—which I should deplore in the highest
degree—the Prussian government would at least bear no blame
in the disturbance of the good understanding with England
which it has always honestly laboured to foster and promote.
I beg your excellency to read the present despatch to
Lord John Russell, and to deliver Whim a copy of it.
(Signed) ecauumn.
Berlin, May 1, 1861.
To his Excellency Count Bernstorff,

ka., to:, Loudon.