The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-20 00:00:00

an effective executive power and a general representation in
the Bund may be inseparably united.
"All details are based on one single idea—an idea that has
taken complete possession of my mind. It is, that the time
has come for renewing in a way which shall be in accordance
with the spirit of the times, the Bund which our ancestors
entered into. By allowing our peoples to participate in the
Bund, we shall give new vigour to it, and enable it to up-
hold to the end of time (bis in die spdtesten Tage) the
honour, power, security, and welfare of Germany as one
great and inseparable whole.
" Doubtless my propositions will admit of improvement.

I readily admit that such is the case. But I beg my Con•
federates to take into consideration whether it is not our
common interest not to postpone, even for a time, the ac-
ceptance of a plan which, as it now stands, is a great im-
provement on the present state of things in Germany. In the
proposed Act of Reform (Reforiii-acte) the necessary means
for repairing its defects in a constitutional way are pointed
out. I see no prospect of finding a firm basis in the ques-
tion relative to the future of Germany by means of pro-
longed deliberations. The question must be settled by the
prompt, unanimous, and disinterested resolves of the Ger-
man Princes, who: in matters of inferior moment, most
magnanimously make sacrifices for the attainment of the
great object which they have in view.

"Most illustrious and beloved Brothers and Cousins,
most valued Confederates,—As you all share with me the
" exalting " (erhebend) impression of the present moment,
so must you participate in the deep regret which I feel that
Prussia is not represented here. One of my most heartfelt
wishes has not been fulfilled. I was not so happy as to
be able to persuade King William of Prussia to participate
in person in our work of union' (fint,gungs•werke); but,
nevertheless, I have not lost the conviction that the results
of this day will be salutary. The King of Prussia fully
appreciated my arguments concerning the urgent necessity
for a reform of the Band. King William had no other
objection to make to my proposition to hold a Congress
of Princes than that the necessary preparations for such an
important step had not been made. In principle, the
King was not opposed to an assembly of Princes, but
he was of opinion that a Conference of Ministers ought
to precede it. I called his Majesty's attention to the
fact that all former negotiations by means of second
persons (11ittelspersonen) had been fruitless, and that it was
for us to reform the Build, and that we were firmly re-
solved that the German nation should no longer be de-
prived of the means of enjoying greater (hohere) political
development.' Let us pass quickly over mere matters of
detail for the sake of the incalculably more important whole.
In good federal faith let us preserve for the mighty (king-
dom of) Prussia the place to which she is entitled, and let
us hope that our unity will produce an indelible impression
on ail German hearts.

" In as far as I am personally concerned, my allustrious
Confederates and Friends, I shall always feel satisfied to
have done all in my power to draw closer the ties which
unite all the German peoples, and to make the Bund, as one
great power (Gesammt»tacht) a boon (Bell) for Germany
and a guarantee for the peace of Europe."
The Emperor of Austria delivered (read) his
speech in such an impressive manner that his hearers
could not doubt that he deeply felt the necessity for
a reform of the Bund. When his Majesty had done
speaking there was a murmur or rather " bum" of
approval, which was continued until the King of
Bavaria rose to reply to his fellow Sovereign. In
substance his Majesty said that he acted as the
mouthpiece of his illustrious Confederates when he
assured the Emperor that they fully shared the
opinions he had just expressed. The members of
the Band then present had accepted the invitation
of his Majesty without knowing the exact nature of
the propositions he was about to make, as they felt
assured that the rights of all would be respected,
and that if sacrifices were necessary, they would be
required of all the members of the Bund, and not of
some few of them. The King of Bavaria said,--
"The assembled Princes will take the propositions made
by your Majesty into conscientious consideration, and it is
probable that some modification of them may be deemed
desirable, although we are as desirous as yourself that the
important questions now at issue may be brought to a speedy
and happy end. We share the regret of your Majesty that
the King of Prussia, our dear federal ally, is absent, but we
cherish a hope that at our next meeting for the despatch of
business that powerful link in the great chain which con-
nects the different German States will not be wanting."

It is said (but I know not with what truth) that
the King of Saxony, who is a literary man, acted
as secretary to the Congress. The only furniture
in the hall in which the Congress of Princes holds
its sitting are a very large table and a certain num-
ber of arm-chairs, on which are emblazoned the
arms of the different members of the Confederation.
There is one chair of less pretension, which is said
to have been intended for the person who was to
act as amanuensis.