The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-29 00:00:00

AFFAIRS OF AUSTRIA,

A letter from Vienna, dated June 23, says :
Daring the last day or two committees of the two
Houses of the Iteichsrath have been occupied in
drawing up an address in reply to the Imperial
Speech. The select committee of the Lower Cham-
ber is composed of Dr. von Muhlfeld (a representa-
tive of this city), Dr. Rechbauer (a member for
Gratz), Dr. Giskra (a member for Brunn), Dr.
Herbst (member for a country place in Bohemia),
Count Adam Potocki (member for a rural district
in Galicia), Baron Doblhoff (he was Minister of the
Interior in 1848), M. Kuziemski (a Galican country
member), Dr. Prazak (member for some rural dis-
tricts in Moravia), and M. Hagenauer (one of the
members for Trieste). During the first sitting
Count A. Potocki complained of the vexatious
proceedings of the Imperial authorities in Galicia,
but he expressed approval of the policy of the Go-
vernment in regard to Poland. After an animated
conversation, in which Count Rechberg, M. von
Schmerling, and Baron Mecsery (the Minister of
Police) took part, the committee resolved to recom-
mend to the house to express its lively satisfaction
that Austria was acting in concurrence with Eng-
land and France in the Polish question. Count
Rechberg read to the committee the Austrian ver-
s on of the six points, but he gave no insight into
the contents of the last despatch forwarded to St.
Petersburg, as it had not reached its destination.

The Minister of State professed to think that the
inhabitants of the kingdom of Poland would be
content if they could enjoy complete " autonomy,"
but Count Potocki plainly told him that nothing
but emancipation from the yoke of Russia would
satisfy them. Baron Mecsery tried to justify the
measures of the Lemberg and Cracow police, but
some of the members of the committee gave him to
understand that his subordinates displayed more
zeal than discretion. It was then the question of
the reform of the German Bund, but it was deemed
inexpedient that an incomplete Reichsrath should
express an opinion on a matter of such high impor-
tance. Among the questions discussed by the com-
mittee are those which relate to the Customs-Union.
to Transylvania and Hungary, and to the relations
between the Roman Catholics and Protestants in
Austria. The proposed address will not be commu-
nicated to the house until Thursday next, but the
liforgen Post of this date contains the subjoined
summary " of the more important parts of its con-
tents."

" The Chamber of Deputies regrets that one of the pro-
vincial Diets (Galicia) was unable to discharge its consti-
tional duties, but it is of opinion that circumstances ren-
dered its prorogation necessary. We regret that we are still
deprived of the assistance of the representatives of some of
the other kingdoms (Hungary and Croatia), and the more
so as we believe that their absence is equally injurious to
their interests and to ours, We are prepared to assist in re-
moving all impediments to their co-operation with us, but
we cannot allow the validity of the Austrian Charter
(Reichsverfassung) to be called in question.' We shall be
delighted to listen to the voices of our brethren in the
East (Transylvania), and we sincerely hope that the Go-
vernment will soon succeed in reviving constitutional
institutions in the kingdoms in which they are lying
dormant. Ths country has to thank God, your
Majesty, and the new liberal institutions for the
blessings of peace, and it is our belief that
the present system of government has regained for Austria
that influence which she so long enjoyed in Europe, The
Chamber of Deputies is of opinion that the concurrence of
Austria with England and France, in respect to the affairs
of the kingdom of Poland, is both wise and just, and when
the Government joined the Western Powers in demanding
guarantees for the national and religious requirements of a
very ill-used neighbouring race (IVachbar• stasnrn) it gave
expression to the sympathies ane wishes of the inhabitants
of the empire, and furthered the real interests of Austria
and of the world at large."
The next sentence in the Address relates to toe
system of public education, and to the re'ations be-
tween the different confessions, and the sense of it
is that changes are greatly required in both. The
concluding passage in the address runs as follows:

"Your Majesty,—Not in vain do you count on the de-
votion and patriotic support of the Chamber of Deputies.
The favour and grace shown by your Majesty increases the
confidence of the representatives of the people that the
Government will cpntinue to act in accordance with the
Charter and with the institutions which have become abso •
lutely necessary (unentbekrlich) to the splendour (glanz) of
the Crown and to the prosperity, power, and honour of the
Empire, May God save, protect, and bless your Majesty."

The Address of the Upper House is much less
significant. The Peers express approval of the
policy of the Government in respect to Poland, but
they make no allusion to the concurrence between
Austria and the Western Powers. They trust that
peace may be upheld, and with it " the integrity of
the Austrian Empire." Many of the Vienna papers
assure their readers that Austria has a model con-
stitution and the Reichsrath very extensive legisla-
tive powers, but the Presse drily asserts that hither-
to the august assembly in question has been little
more than a " Budget Committee." The Minister of
State has laid on the table of the Lower House the
draught of a law " for the treatment of more volu-
minous draughts of laws," which requires special
mention. He proposes that legislative committees of
from five to 15 members shall read and examine
into the draughts of bills. During the first reading
any member of the House will have a right to be
present, and in writing to propose amendments to
a bill. During the second reading the members of
the House will be allowed to bring forward in,
writing their objections to the propositions of the
committee ; but at the third reading no member
will be allowed to raise objections unless he is,
backed by 50 of his colleagues. The liberties of
Austria are still very young, and consequently they
require to be carefully looked after. In a pastoral
letter the Prince-Bishop of Trent announces to the
Roman Catholics that he is about to celebrate the
third centenary of " the most sacred" oecumenical
and general Council of Trent. In the letter of the
most rev. gentleman are the subjoined passages ;
" When Martin Luther, for the gratification of his pas-
sions, had raised the flag of rebellion against the Church of
Christ he was joined by the greatest reprobates in Europe,
who did all in their power to reintroduce barbarism into
the world. They inflicted deadly wounds on numberless
souls, they trod the blood of the Redeemer under foot, they
robbed Heaven of souls and ruthlessly plunged them into
the depths of hell."

The Russians positively deny that any wounded
Poles were buried at Lubar, in Volhynia, in the
same grave with their lifeless fellow•countrymen ;
but I am able to confirm the statement made by the
Cracow Czas on the subject, as a gentleman of my
acquaintance has received direct information from
persons residing at the place in question. Several
Routhene peasants looked on while the unhappy
Poles were being put alive into the grave, and they
lost no time telling what they had witnessed to
the inhabitants of Lubar. A man of high rank, who
is in communication with Vilna, states that General
Mouravieff has taken the wife of a refugee as a host-
age, and threatens to have her put to death if her
husband does not return to his home within a given
time. When the Archbishop of Warsaw went to St.
Petersburg he was allowed to have part of a railway
carriage to himself, but an escort of gendarmes was
in the adjoining compartment. In the next carriage
in the train were 30 soldiers.

It is expected that the Emperor will return from
Kissingen on Thursday or Friday next.

COLONEL DAWSON DAMER'S SAGACIOUS ESTI-
MATE OF NAPOLEON 111., WHEN PRINCE LOUIS
NAPOLEON!—On one occasion I happened to call at his
house with my old commanding officer. Arthur Upton,
when, in the course of a conversation on France, he asked
my opinion on the revolution, and of Prince Louis Napo-
leon's chance of being named President of the Republic.
Alvanley informed us that he had not very long before
passed some days with the Prince at Colonel Dawson
Damer's country seat, and ho observed that he had never
met with a more agreeable person ; that the Prince was
very communicative, and would sit up smoking cigarettes
to two or three o'clock in the morning; and that upon one
occasion, in a long political discussion, he had said, among
other things,— " It is fated that ere long I shall become
Emperor of France, avenge the defeat of Waterloo, and
drive the Austrians out of Italy; and the time for this is not
far distant." On the following morning. Lord Alvanley
related what he had heard to Coloner Darner, who ob-
served,---" Prince Louis is a charming person—so gentle.
manlike and pleasing in manner, so accomplished and well-
informed. He has a thousand good and agreeable qualities,
\
but on the subject of politics, my dear Alvanley, he is as
mad as a hatter I"--Captain Gronow's Anecdotes.
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