The Sun.
London, England, 1862-02-17 00:00:00

MAILS.

The Indus (from Southampton on the Ist inst.)
and the Massilia (from Marseilles on the 12th) left
Malta for Alexandria at 11 p.m. on the 14th.

PRUSSIAN NOTE ON THE GERMAN
QUESTION.
BERLIN, FEB. 15.

The Preussische Zeitung of to-day says that an
identical Prussian note was remitted yesterday to
Austria and the other German States of the Wurz•
burg coalition. The following are the principal
passages of this note :

Since Austria, taking into consideration the
general interests of Germany as well as positive
rights, feels herself called upon to protest against
the views of Prussia in reference to German affairs,
the Prussian Government will not conceal the fact
that there does not appear to be any well-founded
motive or any right for such a protest. The step,
which is rendered still more striking by the send•
in g of identical notes, has so little of the character of
an exchange of opinions, that the Prussian Govern-
ment cannot enter into a discussion of the views
expressed in the Austrian note in opposition to
those entertained by Prussia. The Prussian Go-
vernment yields precedence to no confederate in the
conscientious fulfilment of Federal duties, in the
representation of real German interests, in the
serious endeavour to do justice to well-founded
national claims and to induce their recognition by
the other Governments of the Confederation.
Should the views on a reform of the Federal con-
stitution, hinted at in the latter part of the Aus-
trian note, in favour of the establishment of a con-
stitution for the whole Confederacy with an efficient
executive power at its head, and aiming at a poli-
tical consolidation of a wider extent, comprising
non-German territories, as already stated in the
Austrian note of the Bth November, be realised, the
Prussian Government would be compelled to see in
such realisation a far greater peril to the con-
tinuance of the Confederacy than in the reforms
indicated in the Prussian despatch of the 20th
of December.

The Prussian Government is far from opposing a
formal protest to a mere expression of opinions, but
at the same time considers it more proper to await
proposals of reform in a more concise shape.
At present, as filr as the Prussian Government is
able to judge, the proposed reforms are imprac-
ticable.

As the proposals are entirely in contradiction
with the views of Prussia, the Prussian Govern-
ment on its part considers it impossible to enter
into discussions on any such reforms.

The following is the text of the proposition laid
before the Prussian Chamber of Deputies by M. de
Carlowitz on the 14th inst., respecting the recogni-
tion of the King of Italy :

" That the Chamber do decide to vote the declara-
tion, that it is in the interest of Prussia to delay no
longer in recognising the Kingdom of Italy."
The bill "on Ministerial responsibility" has been
adopted by the Committee of the Upper Prussian

Chamber by eight votes against four, with the
important modification, however, that Ministers
cannot be sentenced unless they openly violate the
express regulations of the law.

The question of the Electorate of Hesse is actually
before the Prussian Chamber of Deputies. M. de
Twesten, the first speaker, insisted upon the neces-
sity of Prussia interfering by force of arms. Count
Bernstorff replied, that the Government was firmly
resolved that any alteration in the Constitution of
the Electorate of Hesse of 1831 should be operated
only by legal and constitutional means. The debate
was adjourned.