The Sun.
London, England, 1840-12-23 00:00:00

GERMANY.

BANKS OF THE DANUBE, DEC. 15.
As I see in the English Journals a great deal of "
talk
about the German " A rmy of the Confederati and
very incorrect ideas seem to be flying about on the subject,
I think it will be not unprofitable to explain the term in
question.
The German Confederation consists of 39 distinct Mem-
bers, each of which, by the treaties of 1915, are bound to
contribute a certain number of men for the common de-
fence of the whole.
According to a decree made the 20th of August, 1818,
the exact amount of the force to be contributed was
laid down—viz., one in one hundred of the whole popu-
lation of each State. It was further determined that
on the marching out of these troops, a further conscrip-
tion of one in six hundred should be made, to act as a corps
de reserve Six weeks after the departure of the army, one
half of this reserve is sent after as a reinforcement, and
if it be necessary, successive supplies are despatched every
two months, and further levies made to take their places.
No State, however, is compelled to send out more than
two in 100 of its whole population. The numerical pre-
portions of infantry, cavalry, and artillery are as follow :
The cavalry constitute one-seventh of the whole contin-
gent ; the artillery is 72 men and two pieces of cannon to
each 1,000 men, and consequently the infantry the re-
mainder. The Commander-in-Chief of the whole army
of the Confederation is chosen by the Diet of Frankfort, in
its smaller Council of 17. The General of each corps is
chosen by the State to whom the corps belongs ; or if,
which we shall presently see is the case, more than one
State join to form an army corps, he must be chosen from
one of them by virtue of an understanding entered into for
that purpose between the several States.
The army of the Confederation consists of 10 corps, 7
of which are unmixed, and 3 mixed, or composed of the
combined complements of several different States. During
peace it is not required that the whole amount of each
contingent shall be in active service, many being away on
leave, but it is requisite that one-sixth of the foot and two-
thirds of the cavalry should be always employed. Those
on leave, however, must present themselves each year,
and be exercised for six weeks.

The following is the exact quantum of troops supplied
by each Sate, according to the last arrangemen; made
by the Diet, in December, 1830 ; nor is any State re.
quired to supply more than was at first settled, although
since that time ( is9.l) the population in soma is consider-
al Ay i.scrensed
Corps No. 1,2, and 3.—Austria contributes 3 army
corps, amounting in all, to 94,822 men, with 192 pieces
of cannon.

Corps No. 4,5, and 6.—Prulsia, contributes 3 arms
corps, amounting in all to 79,234 men, with 160 pieces
of cannon.

Corps No. 7.—Bavaria contributes 1 army corps,
amounting in all to 35,600 men, with 7 pieces of cannon.
Corps No. B.—Wurtemberg, Grand Duchy of HCSAG,
and Baden, together, contribute 1 army corps, amounting
in all to 30,150 men, with 60 pieces of cannon.
Corps No. 9.—Saxony, Electoral Hesse, and Nassau,
to;ether, contribute 1 army corps, amounting in all to
21,718 men, with 44 pieces of cannon.
Corps No. 10.—Hanover, Holstein, Lunenburg, Bruns-
wick, 'Mecklenburg Schwerin, Mecklenburg Strelitz,
Oldenburg, free towns of Lubeck, Bremen, and Ham-
burgh, together contribute 1 army corps, amounting in all
to 28,038 men, with sii pieces of cannon.
The remaining confederate States, instead of forming
army corps, are required by the last arrangement to form
in common a body of infantry reserve, which amounts in
all to 11,366 men. In order to the maintenance of these
several forces, each State is required to contribute a cer-
tain sum to the general fund. But we must particularly
observe, that the above numbers arc only the required
minimum from each confederate State, and that in all pro-
bability the forces by them actually contributed would, in
case of need, amount to double the estimate.

With regard to the Confederation fortresses, there arc at
present three.
1. Menu, the bulwark of Germany as it is called, with
the adjoining works of Castel and Kostheim, is garrisoned
by equal numbers of Austrian and Prussian troops, to
which is added a battalion of Hesse Darmstadt troops. In
peace the garrison amounts to 7,000 infantry and 200 ca-
valry ; when the fortress is declared in a state of siege, and
not till then, it is increased to 20,000 infantry sad 600
cavalry, of which one-third is Austrian, one-third Prussian,
and one-third may be composed of the forces of some
neighbouring province. _ _

2. When the Governor of this fortress is Prussian, the
commander i 3 Austrian, and vice versa. The election of
these officers is made every five years. Luxembourg, the
garrison of which is three-fourths Prussian and one-fourth
Dutch, the Governor and Commander are both Prussian;
in war the number is 6,000 infantry and 200 cavalry.
3. Landau, in Rhenish Bavaria, in peace entirely gar-
risoned by Bavarians, in war one-third Badish, (query,
whether, if Bavaria undertook to garrison the whole, Ba-
den would be allowed to add its complement ?) In war
the garrison is computed at 7,000 infantry and 200 cavalry.
It has long been determined that a fourth Confederation
fcrtross is to be built for the defence of the Upper Rhine.
The following towns have been proposed as Confederation
fortresses :—Ulm on the Danube, as a grand depot for
arms, &c., Germersheina, in Rhenish Bavaria, and Horn-
burg in the same province, the last-mentioned, however,
more as an offensive than defensive stronghold. Rastadt
has also been mentioned, and Esehingen on the Danube.
The "airy nothings" which have been flying about in
all the German papers, about calling out troops, &c. have
now realty assumed" a local habitation and a name."

Tno regiments of infantry have actually left Vienna, to-
gether with a company of artillery, for the garrison of
Mentz. This example will most probably be followed by
Prussia. In Bohemia a strong corps de reserve will be
stationed, and a smaller one at Bregenz, near the Lake of
Constance. In order to meet the extraordinary call for
horses, 14,000 are being collected in Upper Austria and
Salzburg; add to this, I have heard, on very fair autho-
rity, that 50,000 Austrians will march to the Upper Rhine ;
the 7th corps of the Confederation to the Middle Rhine;
while the Lower Rhine will be defended by a body of
Prussians (commanded by Prince William of Prussia,
brother df the King), and backed by Hanoverian troops.
These troops, moreover, are not to be removed from the
Rhine until the army of France shall have been reduced to
the peace establishment. I will not vouch for the exact
truth of:all this, but I expect my sources are pretty authentic.
There certainly appears to be something new on the
tapis. Austrian and Prussian Generals are crossing each
other in all directions in South Germany, but all is kept as-
secret as possible.
The Viennese seem to think the present calm much like

that preceding a tempest. The funds there al-6 very un-
st<•ady. This is, indeed, the only thing to go by in Aus-
tria. In the shape of direct intelligence from Vienna there
appears almost nothing. We know comparatively nothing
of what is really taking place in his Apostolic Majesty's
dominions. Trollopes and such people may fancy that they
are enlightening the world by their lucubrations, but as
for real solid information as to " things as they are" in
that part of Europe, we might as well take up " Hood's
Comic Annual," or any book you please.
Not a single book appears at Vienna, whether foreign
or domestic, without undergoing the censorship—not a
single line is printed there that has not previously been
weighed maturely by the efficets thereto appointed Some
alleviations of this have lately been made, but in point of
fact nothing of importance has, or is likely to be done.
Apropos, at Berlin the censorship appeals to be exer-
cised more strictly than ever. By a new regulation for
books in each particular branch of science, persons ac-
quainted with that branch are appointed as censors—thus
medical men, medical works ; lawyers, legal works, &c. ;
while the police have to superintend the lighter works,
newspapers, periodicals, &c.

. . .
The Commissioners appointed to discuss the propriety cf
the renewal of the German Customs' Union at Berlin have
now nearly finished their sittings ; this was not because the
termination of the Union had arrived, three years' previous
no' ice being required. Why was not Dr. Bowring or some-
body sent this year (this was the important year, and not last)
to &Al something, if possible for the interests of England,
and if possible to-lessen the injury done to our merchants
by the exclusive system 'which toms the basis of the
Prusso- German Customs' Union?
'The late King of Prussia kept a diary of events, i
which are attached his remarks thereon ; these are now
going to be published by the order of the present Monarch.
It is stated that in the spring the King of Prussia will
make " a progros " through Westphalia and other parts
of his dominions, and that this good old custom will be re-
newed every year. fie appears to be very popular with
a large body of his subjects.—Tinos.

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.—An extraordinary
scene took pace at this theatre last night. As the concert
was proceeding, some gentlemen in the promenade recog-
nised a person in the boxes, who has lately been brought
before the public under no very enviable circumstances--
( Lord Cardigan.) The password was " black bottle,"
which ran like wildfire through the multitude, and a gene-
ral rush was made towards the object of attraction, when
the scene beggared description ; the yells, hissing, and
discordant sounds were deafening. His Lordship for some
time sat indifferent to the tumult, but it eventually became
too hot for him—he was obliged to move ; yet with an
attempt at unconcern, although it was strongly evident he
felt keenly his well-merited reception. His Lordship put
on Lis cloak, bowed to the audience, and retired amidst
a scene no gentleman could envy.—Morning Advertiser.
FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Wednesday after-
noon last, between the hours of four and and five o'clock,
a most fearful collision took place on the Lancaster and
Preston Railway, between Dock-street and the Maudland
( Preston and Wyre) station, about one hundred yards from
the crossing to the latter place. It appears that during
the afternoon an old man about 62 years of age, named
Ilenry Taylor, a labourer on the railway, had been carting
some ballast from near the Maudland station towards
Preston, and having finished his day's work about half-
psst four o'clock, wiz returning towards the Maudland
with his empty waggons. As soon as the collision took
pli.cc the engineer stopped the engine instantly, when it
was ascertained that so far as the engine, carriages, and
passengers wore concerned, no damage of consequence
and no personal injury were sustained. On narking round
the carriages the guard found Henry Taylor lying on the
'llwaY. He never spoke, nd was perfectly di ad. His
"Y was completely cut in two, his head being laid in one
direction and his feet in another.
ELIJAH ROWE.--•ThIS notorious individual,
who has been incarcerated in Kirkdale gaol upwards of
three month,,
oa wwaaisti n
sog his
mtrialate
intimately
r mburglaryin
nt thethn
cineatrenams.-
s;zes,
and
-lances of the Wigan-lane murder, expired, we under-
stand, on morni Thursday i .
ng, n the gaol hospital. He
has been, almost from the very first day of his imprison-
we hear, on the contrary, is in excellent health and
merit, gradually wasting away in a consumption. Ander-
t on,
spirits.—Liverpool Paper.
It is rumoured that Sir Digby Mad:worth will
come forward for the representation of Monmouthshire, on
the retirement of Mr. W. A. Williams, M. P., who accepts
the Chiltern Hundreds on the meeting of Parliament, on
account of ill health.