The Express.
London, England, 1861-03-04 00:00:00

THE NEW AUSTRIAN CONSTITUTION.

We have received from Vienna the collection of
diplomas, patents, and statutes which compose
the new Austrian constitution, hitherto very inade-
quately described in telegraphic reports. These
documents till 150 pages of the official record ; but
all that is necessary to a judgment of the general
character of the scheme may be stated briefly.
The constitution is one for the whole monarchy,
awl nu nationality is exempted from its grasp.
Thus it is not true that Hungary is to retain her
ancieut constitution. So far from that, she is to
member,, to a general Diet, and the taxes
and levies of that country are to be voted at
Vienna, or wherever else the central assembly
mists, and nut at Preabarg ar Peath. In an
im-
penal diploma, which, like the instruments accom-
panying it, bears date February 26, the Emperor,
after recitiug the general provisions of the diploma
of October 20, 1860, proceeds to define the forms in
which the liberties there promised are to be
realised.

The enlarged Imperial Council, or Reicharath,
of whore discussions we heard so much a few
months ago, is abolished, to make way for a
"Council of the Empire," which will be a diet
or parliament, meeting in two housts, a House
of Lonls and a House of Deputies.
The House of Lords will be composed of princes
of the blood, sitting by right of birth ; the heeds
of those great, noble, and territorial families,
to whom the Emperor may give an
lerislitary title to a seat ; the arch-
In.hop4 and bishops haring princely rank ; and
lastly, men distinguished in the church and state
or in smiler and art, whom the Emperor may
nominate .IP members for life.

The Douse of Deputies will be composed of
persons ducted to seats by the Diets of their re-
spective countries. Their number is lowigued iu
the following proportions :
T., the Kiwricsoe of Hammy Bt,
To the K mirk.. e 1 Bohemia 54
To the li,e,cdosa of Loothemly ani Veolos. 2O
To tishostis 5
To Crystal sad Illovemis 9
To 4:ellieis ma Lideseafo. elth lb* Maim of
A uselarils mil &ONE sad the Om Dully of
4 'meow
The .trolmhey of Lowe Add&
The Asolleasby if Upper Ilootrlo
Flo bosky al 96119•16 3
The Doelq of ark. l3
rho Doehy of Animals r.
llie Ductiy of Cloif ds 6
the Bak...imo
The Arne( Prioeipality of friaryleaais 96
the Ilar,74esto if llaragrio
The Duchy al Una, mid Laser Silesia
T),e Iliac* Onsty if Tyrol sad Vomiting
It, Alseasvoto a Istrio, 'melodies Qs Ay sod
u.eritery of Tried*

A Diet can only elect members to the lower house
f the C.sicil of the Empire from its own body.
Ao ttruonlinary provision occurs in the regula-
te for these elections. "In the case of • Diet
r-fu•m; t., send representatives to the Chamber of
Deputies, the Emperor will have the right to cause
ths 04%11.414 to he made by the towns, corporations,
sod districts of that particular country in a direct
manner." Theft can be no mistake about the
t..utitigcncy thus provided against. The Austrian
'Venatuoit knows that no Hungarian Diet will
lend deputies to another deliberative body.
The Council of the Empire is to meet once a
Yea:, and is to have a right to discuss all that re-
late. to th- rights, duties, and interests which are
tonolion t.. the whole empire. Certain exceptions of
s'd'l•''ts am made in favour of the Hungarian
Hirt. whose deputies in turn will retire from
the Council whenever topics of the same kind are
discussed by the representatives of the other
toasts-its of the empire. Members are elected