The Sun.
London, England, 1848-06-20 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

THE RIOTS AT BERLIN-TAKING OF
THE ARSENAL.

• We continue our narrative of the occurrences at
Berlin, on the 14th and 15th, from our edition of yes-
terday. It appears the Burgher Guard, in attempting
to disperse the crowds in the streets, wounded five
men. There was an immediate cry of "To arms ! "
and at ten o'clock the people attacked the
arsenal, from which two muskets shots were fired,
and two persons wounded, and one killed. The cry of
"Barricades" was raised, and the people retreated for
reinforcements. Alarmed at what had occurred, the
Burgher Guard deposed Major Benda, who had
given the order to fire, from his command, and deserted
the arsenal, which was also evacuated by the troops,
and at eleven o'clock the people collected round it
again, and it was resolved to storm it. The windows
of the ground floor are closed inside with heavy
slitters. A large beam of timber was procured, and
having been slung between a party of 30 or 40 men,
was applied to doors and windows in the manner of a
battering-ram. Four windows defied all the attacks;
glass and woodwork were split and shat-
tered, but the iron held out ; a fifth gave
way, and through it the crowd entered
and in a few minutes were masters of all the military
stores and ammunition the building contained. The
search on the ground-floor discovered no weapons ;
but several pigs of lead, provided for casting bullets,
were carried away in various directions ; there were
also some cannon there, but they were left, as too
heavy for removal. In the upper story the depot of
muskets was found, seized, and forthwith di-
vided among the invading party ; the stock was not
so great as expected; for since the former distribu-
tion the Government has not placed any others there.
From 700 to 800 is reported to be about the number.
The crowd held possession of the building till one
o'clock, and then retired. But quiet was not
perfectly restored the whole night. Numerous patrol
parties crossed the city in every direction. fhe
troops, too, were called into requisition, and at'day-
break the apparition of a troop of Lancers created an
alarm, and the tocsin was sounded from all the
churches. When the arsenal was stormed the mili-
tary were called out. They only arrived in time
to see the last of the storming party departing ; but
they succeeded in rescuing a few muskets from the
hands of those who had stayed in the building a little
too long.
The arsenal—now it is gutted of its contents—is
held by a strorr, military force. Up to eight o'clock
the city appeared pretty quiet.
The following speech, made in the Chamber b3r M.
Camphausen, shadows forth the difficulties the Go-
vernment has had and has still to contend with :
"I "I will onlyobserve that the excesseswhich havlemented,
the subject of just complaint must be much
because they endanger the safety and libertya of
this Assembly, and might lead the provinces to
believe that what springs from our deliberations_ and
debates is not the true and free expression of thew
opinion of the Assembly. The measures which ha
been taken to prevent similar occurrenceses will be
stated by the Minister of the Interior; but the re-
proach might be made to the Government of having
neglected measures which would prevent the repetition
of these occurrences, I beg you to listen to a few
words explaining and justifying its conduct. When
I was called to my present office the country was
in turbulent commotion. Two courses could then
have been adopted for the purpose of restoring order.
The one was to act quickly, vigorously, and boldly,
to obtain all the results which might have been
derived from the past events, end to govern, as it were,
in the spirit of the revolution; the other was to continue
to govern by those historical means which the old consti-
tution had left us, until the day when the representatives
of the people should take their position at our side. The
first course, the course of revolutionary dictatorship, the
Ministry would not adopt. The second it has followed,
and this was not easily done. We had to govern
in accordance with public opinion, which at all times it
is so difficult to ascertain, and which often proves to be
changed after a fact has been accomplished. Often we
had to seek strength in a passive resistance, often to
omit vigorous measures for the purpose of not appear-
ing as reactionary. We had to seek support through the
Burgher Guard, and often our decrees were dependent on
their opinion and consent. We have succeeded in over-
cominr, these difficulties. The time is come in which
this Ilion. Assembly takes its position at our side. What
it decrees conjointly with the Government must be ac-
knowledged as law by the country and by Berlin. As
regards the subject just alluded to that this Asssembly
should be removed from Berlin, I am of opinion that
this would be impolitic and incompatible with the wel-
fare of the country."
At the sitting of the Chamber on the 15th, the
Ptesident Dead a communication from Major Blesson
which created the utmost astonishment. He in-
formed the Chamber that he had ordered the number
of men required to take their posts round the
hall, but after the events of yesterday he could
not guarantee the safety of the Assembly. The
guard had the proper orders, but he could not promise
they would obey them ; just as little could he say
they would do their duty if they did ! A second
letter from him, apparently latter written, stated
that the 4th, sth, and 7th battalions had volunteered
for the duty, and on them he thought he could rely.
M. Camphausen then stated the measures the
Government was prepared to take for the protection
of the Assembly. As it appeared the existing force
could not be depended on, it proposed to call out the
3d battalion of the Berlin Landwehr (consisting of
men who have served their time in the regular army,
but are still liable for extraordinary service) to mount
guard along with the citizens. A new organization
of the Civic Guard itself is resolved on, and the for-
mation of a special protective force for the Chamber
is contemplated.

A stonily debate ensued ; the left, the Opposition,
declared such extraordinary measures were unworthy
of a popular representative Assembly ; it would
end by every member being obliged:to walk home
under an armed escort. Their best protection was
a prfeat confidence in the people ; but it was no
wonder, considering the nature of their discussions
and votes, that the suspicions of the people had
been excited. A deputy, named Uhlich, formally
moved that the Assembly should declare that it did
not require any armed guard, but that it placed itself
under the ;protection .f the people of Th,rlin. The
motion of M. Uhlich was carried by a great majo-
rity ; it is, of course, equivalent to a defeat of the
Government,
Neither of the Ministers made any observation as
to what may be the result of the vote.
The Assembly then entered on a 'discussion as to
the best means (if hastening the progress of the debate
on the constitution. It was then proposed to form a
commission of 24; three members to be named from
each of the eight bureau; to take the draught
into consideration, to make alterations in it, or to
draw up an entirely new one; the constitution thus
amended and developed to be submitted to the whole
Chaufber. The Ministry, through M. Hanseman,
opposed the motion, as much more likely to cause
delay than progress; but on the division the Govern-
ment was again defeated, the numbers being, for
the 'notion; 188 ; against it, 142. In the Chamber,
as well as out of doors, the power of the Govern-
ment is
gone ; political and social disorder are deepen-
ing every day ; and, with them, distress. The smaller
traders, who have to pay rents and taxes as usual,
with no returns from their business, are sinking gra.
dually into
pauperism; and sturdy mendicancy is
turning to theft.

RUSSIA, DENMARK, AND

S WEDEN.

•
nom Malmo it is reported that the shipment of
Swedish troops has been suspended, Sweden being
anxious to avoid war if possible. A portion of the
Swedish fleet, consisting of frigates, brigs, schooners,
and, steamers, is lying off Malmo. A report from
Copenhagen mentions that a considerable body of
troops is on board the Russian fleet ; as many as
11,000 men is named.

On the other hand it is reported that a reinforce-
ment of 40,000 men will join the Schleswig army in
a few days.
It appears that at the conference which took place
at Malmo, between the Kings of Sweden and Den-
'n'ark, the Grand Duke Constantine of Russia,
and the British Minister at Copenhagen, nothing
definitely could be arranged with regard to any
truce, the Russian demands, on behalf of Denmark,
being, that both the duchies should be cleared of all
foreign troops before any negotiations were en-
tered into, and that, in the event of Denmark
being forced to give up Schleswig, or any part
of. it, which had been guaranteed by England,
France, Sweden,
.. and Russia to that power, the Rus-
ZuuEmperor would make a similar claim (with re-
pest to a formal breach of treaty) to the possession
of Holstein, of the Duchy
to favour which had been given up
Paul I. the Danish Monarchy by the Emperor
It was further stated that a marriage was on the
and
tapis
the between thr‘eiaeughter of the King of Sweden
as settled. Gransdac.uh
an Constantine, which was as good
siderably strengthen them.'" would of course con-
and become ultimately 28100 of these two Powers,
balance of power of the nortrie importance to the
The Swedes in general are opposed to any such
alliance with Itutzia.