The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-09 00:00:00

SPAIN.

Madrid journals of the 2d have arrrived.
The Gazette contains a royal decree, dated the
30th ult., giving a new organization to the normal
schools of primary instruction, and appointing an
" inspector" over these schools in each province, with
salaries of 8,000 to 10,000 reals per annum.
The news of the defeat and abdication of CHARLES
ALBERT had caused great excitement in Madrid.

-------
CARRERA was at fiubi on the 24th, and General
CON cuA at Gerona.
MADRID BOLSA, APRIL 2.—The effect of the news
from Italy was favourable upon the funds. The Three
per Cents. rose as high as 23, declining to 22i sellers,
and are reported after the close at 13.16, :I buyers; Five
per Cents. 104- buyers, * sellers; Coupons, 64 sellers;
Passive Debt, 31, sellers, and after the close buyers at
that price. Bank Shares have risen considerably
within the last day or two. Some transactions took
place on Saturday at 70, and to-day they are quoted 73
buyers, 76 sellers; Treasury Bills, 67; Exchange on
London, 49 95.

GERMANY

AND

THE NORTHERN STATES.

PRUSSIA.

In the sitting of the Chambers on the sth, the fol-
lowing circular was communicated to the Members of
both Houses by the Ministers.

"CIRCULAR FROM THE PRUSSIAN GOVERNMENT TO ITS
DIPLOMATIC AGENTS IN GERMANY.
" His Majesty's reply to the Frankfort deputation re-
quires no further explanation. Whilst, on the one hand,
it acknowledges the sense of the election that has taken
place at Frankfort, arid expresses his Majesty's readiness
to place himself at the head of German affairs, it declares,
on the other hand, that his Majesty considers that the
constitution of Germany and the recent election can only
become fully and lawfully valid through the medium of
mutual accord (vereinbarung), and a free understanding
between Governments. In order to avoid even an ap-
pearance of indirect compulsion, or of in any way preju-
dicieg this understanding, the acceptance of the election, as
was expected in different quarters, has not been proclaimed
under reserves or under preconcerted stipulations, as to
the subsequent accord of individual states. In propor-
tion us the reserve and consciousness of the King's Go-
vernment has been great in this respect, insomuch more
does it feel itself impelled by duty to labour, as far as
depends upon it, in placing the destinies of Germany
upon the path of development, and in conducting them
to the desired completion. It now considers itself
equally justified and bound to address itself openly to
other Governments.
"In consideration that the Arch-Duke Administrator
has adopted the resolution to resign his functions, and
iu consideration of the imminent perils which menace
Germany through attendant complication, his Majesty
the King is prepared to undertake the provisional di-
rection of affairs, at the proposition of German Govern-
ments, and with the assent of the German National
Assembly. In consequence of the recent appeal made
to him, and in consideration of pretensions derived from
Prussia's position in Germany, his Majesty is resolved
to place himself at the head of a German Confederate
State (Bundesstaats), to be composed of such states
which of their own free will and accord may attach them-
selves thereto. The form of this Federate State must
naturally depend upon the number and nature of states
subscribing.
mits, however, of no procraqination. You will there-
The carrying out of the above resolve ad-
lore address the most pressing summons to the Govern-
ment to which you are accredited to dispatch, without
delay, to Frankfort, special plenipotentiaries, em-
powered to return explicit explanations upon the follow-
ing points:—

i'(a). Upon the adhesion (of their Government) to
the Bundesstaat and the conditions attached thereto.
"(b.) Upon the position which their Government
intend to assume in regard to the National Assembly
and its resolutions, it being understood that the work of
mutually agreeing to the constitution shall be forthwith
taken into consideration.
"(c.) Upon the relations to be maintained with those
states which object to join this Bundesstaat, whereby it
would be desirable, and to be sought for, to harmonize
existing confederate relations with the new state firms.
'• His Majesty's Government will dispatch, within the
space of eight days, a plenipotentiary to Frankfort, fur-
nished with the retuLite instructions and full powers.
It expresses a hope that other Governments will treat
this important question with the same prompt zeal, and
at all events forward without delay to this place their
declarations, both in regard to the Provisorium, and to
the other propositions."
The Minister President, in terminating this com-
munication to the second Chamber, added—
" We are under a conviction that it will be in our
power to communicate some definitive explanations rela-
tive to the German question in less than a fortnight."
The First Chamber adjourned for a week imme-
diately after this communication had been received,
and the Second Chamber resumed the discussion on
WINCKES'S motion. :Ultimately all the propositions
were negatived.
The Frankfort deputation left Berlin on the sth,
after having forwarded to the Government the follow-
ing declaration :

"Berlin, April 4.
"We have the honour respectfully to submit to the
Ministers of State the following declaration.
" The Constituent German National Assembly charged
testthye the
deputation
the undersigned deputation humbly to invite his Majesty
the King to accept the hereditary Imperial election,
which fell upon his Majesty in virtwe of tho National
King
yesterday, has
according to the
communiConstitution.cation
not considered himself authorised to accept this most
respectful invitation, and has, in the meantime, pub-
licly made known his motives for this resolution.
The Germzn National Assemblyy ~
COW(' DO t proceed
to the election of a supreme national chief on the
misadMea oj
28th of March, that is, a part of the Constitution, until
the proclamation of the whole had been completed. The
transfer of the Imperial hereditary dignity to a reigning
German Prince, founded ab initio upon the Constitution,
determined the fact of the pre-existence of that Consti-
tution. Tho declaration of his Majesty, on the other
hand, does not consider the said Constitution as an ac-
complished fact, or even as anyway binding for any por-
tion, great or small, of Germany. It does not even, as
did the Ministerial communication of the 2d of April to
the Chambers, recognize the Constitution as valid and
binding for those German States whose Governments
might freely acquiesce therein. It recognizes in indivi-
dual Governments the right not only to accept the Con-
stitution as a whole, and thereby to take part in the
new Bundessfeat, but to reject it, and thereby to exclude
themselves from such federal State. The declaration
of his Majesty upon this point is thus expressed:---' It
now rests with the Governments of individual German
States to prove, by deliberation in common, whether
the rights conferred upon me will empower me
to conduct the destinies of our great fatherland, and
remise the hopes of its population with that strong hand
which such a missiou requires of me.' According to
this, the constitution of the German National Assembly
is made subservient to the deliberations in common of
Governments, and its validity made subject to the deci-
sionfthedeputation to discuss the rectitude of this view of the
opposed in all its.fractional, legal,
of a majority. It is not within the mission o
question, soand other
grounds,
to the view taken of the
misunderstanding relative
by the declara-
tion Frankfort constitution, as made apparent
completely astonished the
to that. of the National Assembly. But the
of his Majesty, has so
deputation, that, in order to avoid further errors and
misunderstandings, it feels itself called upon as a duty
to return without delay to Frankfort. The invitation to
his Majesty to accept the election fallen upon him in
virtue of the Constitution, must be considered by the de-
putation as rejected by the King, since his Majesty does
not recognize the validity and legal existence of the Con.
stitution, twice read and approved of in the Constituent
Assembly; but, on the contrary, refers the same to the
acceptation in common with the German Governments.
Under these acceptations the Constitution may be con-
sidered as the basis for further deliberations of govern-
ments, but it cannot possibly be taken as that for the
legal power of the chief of the nation.
(Signed) "TEE DEPUTATION."
The following is the _Ministerial reply :
" Berlin, April 5.
" We have received the communication which du, Na-
tional Assembly did us the honour to address to us yes-
terday. The deputation will, we doubt not, agree with
us, that we are not in a position to enter into any imme-
diate or satisfactory negotiation upon the contents of
their communication, but that we must wait the decisions
that the National Assembly may feel disposed to take
upon receiving the declaration made by his Majesty.
We avail ourselves of this opportunity to transmit to
the deputation a copy of the circular (see above), ad-
dressed by us to all diplomatic agents, accredited to
German governments, in consequence of the King's de-
claration.

(Signed by r.ll tho Ministers.)

FRANKFORT.

In the sitting of the German Parliament of the 4th,
Vice• President Kirehgessner read a note from the
deputation in Perlin, stating that, after receiving the
answer of his Majesty, the deputies bad immdiately
entered into deliberation as to what their next steps
should be, and would report thereon to-morrow, at
the latest. The note is dated half-past nine P.M.,
April 3.

In respect to the Danish question, the President or
the Council stated that England, as the mediatory
Power, not haying been able to promise that she
would prevent the re-commencement of hostilities on the
part of Denmark so lung as the negotiations for peace
were in progress, the Central Power had immediately
put rush troops in motion as were necessary to ward
off the impending danger. Every attempt made by
England at mediation had been met by still more ex-
travagant demands on tho part of Denmark. On the
25th of March, Denmark bad declared that she was
willing to defer all hostilities until the 3d of April ensu-
ing, provided the march of the German troops were sus-
pended. But this suspension could nut be effected on so
short a notice. The Central Power had done its utwst

t,..?-freetwoo a happy reconeitiat ion of pendiug
•
6,weiai van Plittw,:z to p to the tittaeii, out
imply to maintain his present po,ition of defence until
some act of aggression should have been perpetrated by
the enemy.
Hoffbauer moved that the National Assembly debate
at once on thn aniwcr of the King of Prussia, and corn-

municate its eventual resolution to the deputation.
The urgency of this motion, which was supported by
L. Simon, Nauwerek, and the most influential members
of the Left, was negatived; it was therefore ordered, as
usual in such eases, to be referred to a committee.
Nauw( rck said that the Prince who did net acknow-
ledge the resolutions of the Central Assembly, but spoke
of negotiation with the other German Sovereigns, could
only be endeavouring to cast a veil over St. Paul's alto•
gettier.
Beckerath moved that the act of reference to a com-
mittee be deferred.
A member of the Right Centre movcei that the refe-
rence be deferred until the deputation had returned from
Berlin.
Vogt said this latter motion was as unjust as that of
Beckerath's. The motion ought to be referred to a com-
mittee, and without delay.
A fter some lively altercation, strongly tinctured with
mistrust, not to despair, Hoffbauer withdrew his mo-
tion, being satisfied that it could not command a
majority.
Raveaux then moved that the National Assembly
commission the President to recal the deputation from
Berlin.
The question as to urgency was put. The result of
division was doubtful, though the Left supported the
motion in a body. The votes were told—noes, 191; ayes,
163; majority against the motion, 28.
Simon, of Triers, wished to ask the President of the
Council whether he had received any telegraphic dis-
patch conveying the answer of the King of Prussia to
the address of the deputation, and whether such answer
was to be communicated to the Assembly.
A debate ensued as to the admissibility of a debate
then and there on the urgency of the motion.
The President of the Council cut matters short, and
distinctly declared that he had received no dispatch.—
(Sensation in the House.)
The question as to adjournment for a period of seven
days was then discussed.
Resler urged the admissibility of the House meeting
at any rate on the morrow.
Weitz thought that, even admitting the danger that
hovered over the country, the appointment of a sitting
for to-morrow would be of no avail. He was decidedly
of opinion that they must wait the return of the depu-
tation.
Bassermann begged the House to be mindful of the
critical state of parties at the present moment, when so
few votes one way or the other might turn the scale.
Although voluntary absenteeism was not to be regarded,
yet the deficiency of the 33 members of the deputation
was important. He supported the motion for adjourn-
ment till Wednesday, the 11th inst.
After a somewhat disorderly wrangle, this last-men-
tioned motion was carried.
Another interpellation was announced, and fresh ex-
citement ensued.
L. Simon wished to ask the Imperial Ministry whether
it had received official communication, either through the
Plenipotentiary of Prussia or otherwise, of the answer
returned by the King to the deputation from the As-
sembly ?
The President proposed to put the question as to ur-
gency.
Vogt did not think the Minister was obliged to an-
swer.
Simon referred to the printed order of business, and
read the law in such cases, by which the Minister was
obliged to answer, to say when be would answer, or to
state his reasons for not answering.
The President said, if the Assembly were in doubt, he
—(Great clamour)—must take the sense of the House.—
(Increased clamour.)
Simon persisted, and
The President of the Council, though he agreed with
Vogt as to the formalities of the question, did not scruple
to answer at once. In no official way, he said, but in the
form of a confidential communication, he had yesterday
evening received intelligence from Herr von Camphausen
of the royal answer, as contained in the published tele-
graphic dispatch.
After a brief debate as to the order of the day for the
11th inst., the House adjourned.
The Deutsche Zeitung asserts that another note of
the Schwarzenberg Cabinet has arrived at Frankfort,
in which Prince SCUWARZENBERG protests that he
will not allow Austria to be excluded from Germany
by any acts or statutes (hinaztsdecretiren). The same
paper states that the most cordial understanding exists
between Olmiltz and Berlin.

AUSTRIA.
There is no truth whatever in the rumoured defeat
of BEM. On the contrary, he is at this moment in
possession of Hermannstadt ; the Russians have com-
pletely evacuated Transylvania with the exception of
Cronstadt, where there is a small garrison, and the
whole of the province is, with that exception in pos-
sesion of the Magyars, as PUG/INEZ?. has retired into
Wallachia.

WELDEN was at Comorn on the 29th, and is-
sued a proclamation to the Hungarians :—" The
EMPEROR had on his accession given to Hungary
equality of rights with the other portions of the
Empire, and consented to pardon all who returned
to their allegiance. PrinceWiNniscuGawrz had acted
in a spirit of clemency in accordance with this pro-
mise; having, after his victorious troops had pene-
trated to the Theiss, and taken Kaschau and Tokay,
called no one to account who submitted to the law.
Only the traitors who desolated their country for the
gratification of their ambition were menaced with
destruction. He gave them twelve hours to
return to the Imperial flag ; after the expi ration of
which, if they still resisted, he would batter Comorn
as long as he had a man or a gun left, so help him,
God !"

This proclamation produced no result and WELDER
returned to Vienna on the Ist instant.

General GORGEY was advancing to the succour of
Comorn, and the besieging army had been obliged to
suspend their operations, in order to concentrate and
take measures for resisting GORGEY'S attack. The
Austrians had suffered greatly in the siege, from their
being forced to bivouac in the midst of snow and bad
weather. The simultaneous defeats of General REM-
BERG at Losenez, and of SLICH'S brigade at Hatven
are fully confirmed. The Russian General, HAM-
MERSTEIN, had not entered Hungary, and, in fact, in
the northern portion, at Eperies, Kaschau, and the
regions round, there were no troops of any kind,
Austrian or Hungarian, for the very good reason,
that all the provisions of the country had been com-
pletely consumed and the granaries emptied. JELLA.-
(mica is again at Pesth.
BRUCK and NIGRELLI have been ordered to pro-
ceed to Verona as Plenipotentiaries, to treat with the
King of SARDINIA.
. _

The elections of Deputies for Frankfort are stopped.
Those who have been chosen have been called upon to
suspend their intended journey, and the recall of the
Austrian Members from the National Assembly is ex-
pected.

DENMARK AND THE DUCHIES,
DEFEAT OF TIIE DANES, AND DESTRUCTION

OF A DANISH SHIT' OF THE LINE.

We have received Hamburgh papers of the 6th
inst. Certain news from the scene of war, which
came to Hamburgh on the morning of the 6th inst.,
and which were published in an extra edition of the
Borsenhalle, have filled the people of that town with
enthusiasm and surprise. It appears that an engage-
ment has taken place between the Danish naval force
and the German strand-batteries, in which, though
the latter were the weaker party in guns and artil-
lerymen, the Danes were defeated, and sustained con-
siderable loss. The following account of the action
was brought to Altona by the Prince of NOES, who
was an eye-witness of the affair
Several Danish men-of- war, viz , King Christian
VIII., 84 guns, and the frigate Gefion, 42, the brig
St. Croix, and the two war-steamers Geyser and
Skirner, besides a third steamer towing six landing
craft, appeared in the evening of the 6th inst. in the
offing of the bay of Eckernforde, when they anchored.
Early on the morning of the 6th one of the steamers
and the brig parted company with the squadron, and
stood out to the east, but the rest of the squadron
weighing anchor at seven o'clock, sailed into the
harbour of Eckernforde, and at eight o'clock com-
menced engaging the strand batteries, which answered
their fire, until after a cannonade of several hours the
northern battery was silenced by the steamer Geyser.
Shortly afterwards, however, the Christian VIII.
went aground in the inner harbour, and the Gefion
had her rudder shot away. In consequence of this
disaster the Christian VIII. hoisted a flag of truce,
and a Danish officer was sent on shore, who offered to
spare the town if the German batteries would cease to
fire, and allow the two Danish ships to get away.
These terms having been rejected by the military
commander of the German forces, as well as by the
magistrates of Eckernforde, another parley commenced,
and a truce of two hours v% as finally agreed upon.
This truce enabled the Germans to get the northern
battery into working order, and to relieve the men
that had been working the southern battery almost
without cessation, while the Danish ships were busily
engaged repairing damages, and the Chris-
tian VIII. struggled hard to afloat. This
being at length effected, a signal was made for
one of the steamers to come in and take the Chris-
tian VIII. in tow, but a couple of shots which were
fired from the Strand batteries warned the steamer to
keep off, which then veered round and stood out in
the tack of the ships that had left in the morning.
After the expiration of the truce, the hostilities were
recommenced by half a battery of Nassau Artillery
opening- upon the two Danish vessels, and playing
‘3,ith great precision and effect, whole the Danes fired
a broadside now and then. In the course of the en-
gagement the Christian VIII. managed to run again
aground and to catch fire, and was at length compelled
to strike to a Holstein battery of two pieces, aided by
some Nassau light artillery. The surrender of the
Christian VIII. was almost immediately followed
by that of the Gefion, and the Danish sailors of the
Gefion, aided by the Getman soldiers, set about to
save the crew or the Christian VIII.; 400 men were

saved. but at eight o'clock. P.M., the vp,::,el. whi,;h hid
burlling teadily all the while, e:q.:;,-IoS
remaining 700 men. Of the crew of the Getion 250
escaped without injury, but the nundxlr of the kink d
and wounded was not less than 150. The Guinn-is
had but one man killed and thirteen wounded. The
reports of the battle give due praise to the courage of
the Danish sailors, and no less praisk is given to the
German Commander, the Duke of SAXE-COBURG, for
his judicious arrangements, and the humanity and
z9al which he displayed in his attempts to save the-
unfortunate crew of the Christian VIII.