The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-20 00:00:00

SPAIN.

Madrid journals of the 14th have been received.
The unfortunate Queen ISABELLA is again a cap-
tive in her own Palace. On the 13th NARVAEZ and
CHRISTINA were at the Palace. The Ministers had
tendered their resignations, which ISABELLA had ac-
cepted, but NARVAEZ and CHRISTINA coerced her into
withdrawing her acceptance of them, and compelled
her to banish her own private friends from the Palace.
Queen ISABELLA herself would, we should imagine,
be among the first who would rejoice to see the Count
DE MONTEMOLIN in Madrid, as his accession would
secure to her personal liberty, which she has never yet
been permitted to enjoy.
MADRID BOLSA, DEC. 14.—The Three per Cents.
done at 204 cash, and were buyers, 11-16 sellers,
after the close ; Five per Cents., 9- buyers, 10 sellers;
Coupons, 5i buyers; Passive Debt, 3i buyers,
sellers.

GE It AI A N Y
AND

THE NORTHERN STATES

FRANKFORT.

-
In the German Parliament, on the 16th, the ques-
tion of the commercial unity of Germany was dis-
cussed. The Assembly rejected, by a majority of
202 against 171, the proposition of the minority of
the Commission to draw up a formal law on the sub-
ject, and it adopted the conclusions of the majority,
to leave it to the care of the Minister of Commerce
to conclude treaties, regulate navigation laws, cus-
toms duties, railway traffic, &c., with the reserve of
the ratification of the Assembly, and its right of
initiative.
Two proposals were rejected. The one was to
abolish all the custom-houses in the interior of Ger-
many (Austria excepted), from the Ist of May next;
the other was to open negotiations with Austria and
Prussia for the establishment of an universal customs
union for Germany.
After the discussion, M. BESELER read the follow-
ing communication • from the Administrator of the
Empire :
" I request you to announce to the National Assembly
that M. de Schmerling, Minister of the Empire in the
department of Home and Foreign Affairs ; and M.
Wurth, Under-Secretary of State in the Home-office,
have placed their resignation in my hands, which has
been accepted.
" Signed by Archduke Joax, and countersigned
by M. DE PEUCRER, Minister of War."
M. VON GAGERN then ascended the tribune and
spoke as follows :
" I have to make a declaration to the Assembly re-
specting the actual situation of the Ministry of the Em •
pare. In consequence of the programme presented by
the Austrian Cabinet on the 27th November to the Con-
stituent Assembly of Austria, the Ministry of the Em-
pire has found it necessary to regulate the position of
the Central Power towards Austria—to place it on a
basis suited to existing circumstances. The Minister
Schmerling declared that, in his capacity of an Aus-
trian, he could not take a hand in this question. The
Ministry of the Empire resolved to propose to Archduke
John to invite me to his councils. Thus matters stood
when the first overtures were made to me by M. de
Schmerling.

" I replied, that for the moment I could not enter into
the Ministry to direct the relations with Austria, be-
cause, pending the discussion of the bases of our future
union with Austria, my opinion was with the minority
of the Assembly. But if, in consequence of the pro-
gramme of the Cabinet of Olmutz, and the reception it
met with from the Diet at Kremsier, and, as it ap-
pears, from the great majority of the Austro-German
provinces—the opinion of the Assembly on the rela-
tions to be' established between Austria and the rest
of Germany should undergo a change, I should feel it
an honour to be called upon by the Archduke to give my
support to men who had merited the highest praise, and
whose acts have obtained general approbation.
" But since then the situation of affairs has changed.
MM. Schmerling and Worth, to my great regret, have
thought fit to tender their resignation. The other
members of the Ministry were of opinion that before
the Cabinet was re-constructed it would be impossible for
them to submit any important measure to the Assembly.
Yesterday I was called to the presence of the Archduke
Administrator of the Empire, and I felt it my duty to
accept of the commission proposed to me to complete the
Ministry. Up to this hour I have not yet succeeded in
doing so, and in making this preliminary communication
of the state of things to the Assembly, I beg of you, in
the thn MlLliotry, to oxcuso the (.Ireurnst ance
that some of the in terpellations made yesterday have re-
mained unanswered.

"At the same time, I have the honour to announce
that from this day I feel myself obliged to renounce the
functions of President, with which this high Assembly
had honoured me. Gentlemen, it is not ambition that
induced me to accept of a mission of such importance.
All the ambition I possessed was amply satisfied in this
Assembly, which elevated me to the most honourable
post a citizen may aspire to. lam also far from pos-
sessing an exaggerated opinion of my own powers. I
count essentially upon the support of the Administrator
of the Empire and of this Assembly, as also on the con-
tinuation of that confidence you have manifested to-
wards me, and which I shall endeavour to preserve."
The honourable gentleman sat down amidst loud
applause, and on leaving the tribune many of
the Members advanced and shook him warmly by
the hand.

M. BIEDERMANN, one of the secretaries, then read
a proposition presented by various Members, tending
to authorise the Central Power to open negotiations
with Austria, so as to regulate its position towards
Germany. It was referred to a Committee ; after
which the House adjourned.
The Hanoverian Envoy has returned to Berlin, re-
port says to protest, in the name of his Sovereign,
against the King of PRUSSIA'S accepting the impe-
rial Crown.