The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-02 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE PRUSSIAN

CHAMBERS.

THE KING'S SPEECH.

BERLIN, FEE. 26.—The Prussian Chambers were
opened this morning, at half-past eleven o'clock, by
the King, who came in from Charlottenburg before
nine o'clock, not only for that purpose, but in order
to hold a council of Ministers. Neither of the build-
ings selected as temporary Houses of Parliament
being spacious enough for the reception of the
whole of the Members united, the noble saloon in
the palace, called, from its furniture and silver orna-
ments, the White Hall, was selected for the purpose.
Soon after ten o'clock, the diplomatic corps, in full
dress, and nearly the whole of the deputies, reached
the Palace, and were conducted. by the Master of
the Ceremonies, Count Portalts, and household
officers ; the former to the places reserved for
them, and the latter to the benches and chairs
arranged in front of the throne. The ante-chambers
were guarded by the Garde de Corps, in their full
dress surtouts, and by detachments of the grenadiers
of Kaiser Alexander Guardo, in their canonical
caps and full dress. Soon after eleven o'clock, the
King, attired in a general's uniform, with crape on
his arm and sword, as a token of mourning for his
Royal Highness Prince 'Waldemar, entered the White
Hall, accompanied by the Princes of the blood, and
attended by the grand officers of the household. His
Majesty was received, upon entering, with a triple
burst of loyalty from the whole of the members So
soon as the King had ascended the throne, and the viva:
had ceased, Count Brandenburg delivered the follow-
ing speech to the King, who read it with a firm and
loud voice, seated, and wearing his helmet
" Gentlemen! Deputies of the First and Second
Chambers!—
" Circumstances that must be fresh in all your recol-
lections rendered it necessary for me in the month of
December last to dissolve the Assembly, invoked for
the purpose of concocting a Constitution. Being con-
vinced of the indubitable necessity of the ultimate resto-
ration of a durable public state of legality, I at the same
time acceded to the country a Constitution, through which
the promises made by me in the month of March last
have been faithfully fulfilled.
" Since that period the state of excitement which
at that time prevailed throughout the country has
been tempered. Confidence, so deeply shaken, is
generally in progress of restoration. Commerce and
industry commence to recover from the wounds that
threatened to destroy them. Convinced of the
gravity of the present times, I see the members of
both Chambers, elected in virtue of the new Con-
stitution, assembled round my throne. You know,
gentlemen, that I have placed it in your power to re-
vise this Constitution. It rests with you, then, to
agree among yourselves, and with my Government,
upon this point. Iregret that it was requisite to sus-
pend the state of siege over the city and its imme-
diate vicinity, in order to restore public security and
supremacy to the laws. Propositions relative to this
measure will be laid before you without delay. Inde-
pendent of the urgent dispositions announced in my
protest of the sth of December, other dispositions have
been made in accordance with the 105th Article of the
Constitution, in regard to subjects which, for the sake
of public good, required immediate arrangement. In
consequence of the numerous pressing propositions
for an immediate reform of the relations of the ope-
rative classes one to the other, I found myself com•
pelled to promulgate two depositions to that
effect. These will be placed before you, without
delay, for your assent. You will, moreover, be called
upon to occupy yourselves with deliberating upon other
laws, partly required for the carrying out of the Con-
stitution. The projects for the same will be laid before
you in succession. I recommend to your special consi-
deration the project for the new commercial ra;ula-
Cons, the new circle district and provincial regulations,
the law on education, the law on church patronage,
the income-tax law, the land-tax law, as well as the
law on the cessation of the summary charges (on
land) ; on the abolition without compensation of
some of them, and upon the establishment of
discount banks. Measures have been adopted to bring
about the independence of the different religious com-
munities promised by the Constitution. They will be
carried into effect so soon as the importance of the sub-
ject will permit. The public budget for the current
year, 1849, together with the necessary explanations,
will be placed before you for your acceptance, as
directed by the Constitution. You will perceive,
therefore, that notwithstanding the diminution •f
certain branches of revenue when compared with
former years, and notwithstanding an augmentation of
certain expenses, such, for instance, as those for sums
expended on public works, all demands can be met without
any increase of public burdens, or employment of public
credit. An account will be rendered to you of the use
made of the 15 millions of voluntary loan authorised by the
united Landtag. I have to acknowledge with gratitude
and satisfaction that the readiness with which persons of
property from all parts of the country, and from all
classes of society, took part in this loan, notwithstanding
the pressure of the times, has rendered it unnecessary to
have recourse to more expensive measures. A report
will also be made teLenn relative to the future employ-
ment of the Loan sosonns ;.,
sues on toe aubleotre,y of the Landtag, for the relref ot
suffering industry. By this means many serious mis-
fortunes which menaced the welfare of large dis-
tricts and entire provinces have been averted, and the
activity of industry has been maintained. The budgets
of the year 1850, together with a project for the enact-
ment of definite laws on this subject, wiil be laid before
you, so soon as your deliberations upon the tax-laws to be
presented shall be sufficiently advanced to enable you to
form a fixed basis fur the general receiptl. The com-
pletion of measures of defence for the country has, not-
withstanding other increased demands upon the public
treasury, not been interrupted. Prussia may look with
confidence to her army, while organisation, effective-
ness for war, and devotion, have been maintained
amidst severe triple. (The King, on reaching the last
passage, raised his face, which, from being very short-
sighted, he approached close to the paper, and read the
words with greater earnestness, and in a more emphatic
tone.) The intimate union of the German States, in a
Confederate State (Bunderstaate), is the continued sub-
ject of my most lively desires. My Government has la-
boured with honourable zeal towards the attainment of
this great object; for which Prussia will not refuse to
make sacrifices. The path of understanding between all
German Princes and the National Assembly at Frank-
fort is opened. [This announcipnent, especially the ac-
cent laid upon the word produced a great sensa-
tion in the audience, and this sensation will find an echo
out of doors.] My Government will continue its exertions
in the same direction. I need not remind you, gentlemen,
how much your co-operation can tend to the attainment of
this great object. The present condition of the negotia-
tions for peace between the Provisional Central Power of
Germany and the Crown of Denmark justifies the hopes
that these differences, which caused interruption to
peace, and to navigation and commerce,, last year,
will be settled in a satisfactory manner. The peaceful
and friendly relations of my Government with other
states have met with no interruption. I most deeply de-
plore the loss of a Prince of my royal house, who was
removed but a few days past, in the bloom of life, from
the noble career of devoting his whole strength to his
country.
" Gentlemen of the First and Second Chambers
" The country awaits with confidence from the united
labours of its representatives and my Government the
definite consolidation of legal order now restored, in
order that it may enjoy in peace its constitutional liber-
ties. The protection of these liberties and of legal
order—the great foundation of public welfare—will
always be the object of my conscientious solicitude. I
trust in this to your co-operation. May your exertions
contribute, through Almighty aid, thereto; so that the
honour and glory of Prussia, whose people, united in one
bond with its princes, have fortunately overcome many
difficulties, may be raised aloft,peaceful and blessed
future be the lot of our fatherland,and a
far and
with the Ministers
inniesaterr stood
ea r.”
s
Count Brandenburg, who,
le
on the King's left side, now exclaimed, " I hereby ,de
the two Chambers to be opened, and I invite the same to
meet, each at its destined chamber, under the Presidency
asre t hassiidency
of the eldest members. I beg to remark, that
been found impossible to complete all the arrangements
this day, the great meeting must be postponed until to-
morrow at 10 A.u." The King now rose, and having
bowed to the Members, withdrew amidst loud cheers.

leusut al tranquillity
DISTRESSING kiCCURRENCE.—
of the border country has lately been somewhat dis-
turbed by the discovery that the heiress to a_ landed
estate of 4,0001. per annum was betrothed to a domestic
servant of the family. The lady is young, the fortunate
swain, who is their gardener, is double her age, and it
is believed that a similarity in their religious views has
produced this result. Be this last circumstance as it
may, however, the family, which is an old one, claim-
ing the rare distinction of being embalmed by the name
in the unfading page of Shakspere, is in deep; distress
on account of the match. It may be added, that the
gardener is of unexceptionable character, but it is diffi-
cult to excuse such a proceeding on his part, being un-
doubtedly a breach of the fidelity implied in the relation
between master and servant, and which a mere simi-
larity of religious views cannot palliate. The marriage
is expected to take place in a few days.
VISIT OF THE PRINCE OF ORANGE TO LITER-
Pool,—Yesterday afternoon his Royal Highness the
Prince of Orange Nassau (King of the Netherlands)
arrived at the Adelphi Hotel, accompanied by Admiral
Arriens, Sir Henry Johnstone, Bart., and Captain Ju-
dicher, who formed his suite. His Royal Highness and
party were entertained at dinner at the Town Hall last
night by his worship the Mayor. The mayor's carriage
was in attendance at the Adelphi to convey his Royal
Highness to the Town Hall, where he was met by his
Worship. Amongst the guests present who had been
invited by his Worship to meet his Royal Highness and
his suite, were the Earl of Yarborough, the Hon. C. W.
G. Howard, the Hon. Coleael Lowther, J. Willinck,
Mayor of Stock-
port;watch consul), J.
.Marsha.ll,
Esq.
Major-General Sir William \ arre
Lieutenant-
Colonel Garrett, Captain Pennell, R N , J. A . Tin n e
Esq., E. Marsland, Esq., R. M. Coo•pe.y,Esa., J. B.
Lloyd, Esq., T. S. May, Esq., &c. We_
.believe.that the
Mayor will have the honour of conducting his Roy%
Highness and suite to the steeple chase at Aintree to.
day.—Liverpool Courier of Wednesday.
NOT AT ALL A BAD WAY Or LOOKING AT XT..--
Two architects were looking at the new front of Buck-
ingham Palace. The one abused it very strongly, and
the other praised it iust as warmly. " What can you
see in it to admire i " inquired the first-
"It is not
what I see, but what Ido not see," said the second ; it
has the beauty of hiding the remainder of the building.
I call it a clean front put on to make the best of an in-
different ihirt.".—Punch,