The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-30 00:00:00

DUTCH MAIL.

-.~

ROTTERDAM, MARCH 28.—The Batavier steam-ship,
which ought to have arrived yesterday, has been dis•••
patched from Rotterdatn to St Sebastian, having on
board the Duke and Duchess of Mowpensier and suite.
They both appeared in good health and spirits.
THE HAGUE, MAncn 27.—1 n the sitting of the States
Chambers on Saturday, the 25th of March, the Presi-
dent of the Council of Ministers communicated the reso-
lutions respecting the honourable dismissal of the former
Cabinet, and the appointment of the new Ministry, under
the following conditions:—
"Your High Mightinesses,
" The Chamber is acquainted with the dispositions
which his Majesty was pleased to decree on the subject
of the composition of the new Administration. I, how-
ever, conceive it to be my duty, as President of the
Council of Ministers, to inform your High Mightinesses
of the acts which preceded and accompanied these dis-
positions.
" A few days ago his Majesty was pleased to summon
me from London, and to inform me that his Majesty
considered it important that in the present extra-
ordinary and difficult circumstances of the country,
I should come and give him my concurrence and assist-
ence in the formation of a new Ministry.

"In reply to the confidence with which his Majesty
was pleased to honour me, I took the liberty of frankly
stating my opinion to the King. I declared that it
was my firm conviction, as well as the previous ex-
perience of my political life, rendered it impossible
for me to act for the benefit of the country, and to my
own satisfaction, in the task confided to me, unless some
important points were previously concluded.
"In the firstiplace, I requested to know whether the revi-
sion of the fundamental law now under consideration
was of such a nature as to enable me to assent to its
principles, and thus to commence the task imposed upon
me with confidence.

" I❑ the second place, I deemed it necessary to be in-
formed whether, in case it should be proposed in concur-
rence with the States-General to compile the project of
a fundamental law based on the constitution of England.
and modified according to our national relations, and
the requirements of the present epoch, his Majesty's
would not refuse his sanction to such a fundamental law.

" In the third place, I declared that I could not con-
sent to join a Ministry, if the King considered my ser-
vices needful, unless his Majesty would be pleased to
grant my respectful request, and give me full liberty to
propose such persons as might with ma compose a homo-
geneous and responsible Ministry, without any restric-
tion whatever.

" ' The Hague, March 23. •
" Sire,—The Commission instituted by) our Majesty's •
decree of the 7th of this month, has been made
acquainted with the letter, dated this day,
which M. Schimmelpenninck has addressed to your
Majesty. The commission sees from it that M.
melpenninck, animated by noble and courageous pa-
triotism, is inclined to undertake the formation of a new
Ministry.' •
" After I had made known my views to the King his
Majesty was pleased to refer them to the commission
of your honourable Chambers, instituted by the decree
of the 17th of this month, and especially charged to
submit its views on the formation of a new Ministry to
the King. The commission returned the follow-
ing reply, which I shall uow have the honour of
reading to your High Mightinesses :—' Minister
for the accomplishment of such a task—a simple
individual, and especially if that man bears the
name of Schimmelpenninck, has infinitely more chance
of success, than as if several combined. M. Schimmel-
penninck makes those demands which, supposing that
his Excellency be charged with the formation of a Mi-
nistry, ought in our opinion to be accorded by your Ma-
jesty to M. Schimmelpenninck.
" Your Commission has the honour to solicit your
Majesty to examine and to decide whether the task
which M. Schimmelpenninck has undertaken shall be
confided to him, and in case the proposition be accepted,
to report the second part of your Majesty's royal decree
of the 17th of this month, which will enable us the more
speedily to terminate our work on the revision of the
fandamental law which is so imperatively called for.
" The members of the Commission—
"D. DONKEE CARTIUS.
T. M. DE KEMPENAER.
L. C. LUZAC.
D. D. STORM.
THOR BECKE.' "
" After his Majesty had received this communication
from the COmmission, his Majesty was pleased to take
it into consideration ; and to concede unreservedly the
three points to which I had taken the liberty to draw
his Majesty's attention.

" Thus his Majesty has given me full liberty to seek
every possible and necessary information of the funda-
mental law which I may be able to obtain. his Majesty
has, at the same time, given me the positive assurance
that, if the project of a fundamental law conformable
with the fundamental basis of the constitution of Great
Britain, and including those modifications which may
render it applicable to our nation and to the exigencies
of the time, shall be approved of by the States General,
his Majesty will not refuse his complete assent, whereas,
being firmly persuaded that a constitution thus esta-
blished cannot fail to be useful and salutary to the
country.

"In regard to the third point, his Majesty has been
graciously pleased to give me ample proof of his confi-
dence, and to authorise me to propose to him those per-
sons who should in my opinion form a part of the new
Ministry, a confidence which will ever be remembered
with lively gratitude. In conformity with the commu-
nication contained in the letter from the Com-
mission which has just been read, his Majesty's
royal decree has intervened which bad refer-
ence to a part of the obligations imposes
on this Commission. The authority which was requested
for the formation of a new Cabinet, reached no last
night at eight o'clock. Circumstances were imperious ;
every person whom I consulted on this subject confirmed
me in the opinion that public affairs could no longer re-
main in this uncertain state; that it was unjust to re-
quire the former Minister, who, in the extreme exigency
of present circumstances, continued to consecrate all
his talents to the work of the administration, should
be any longer charged with its consequences. I did
not defer for a single instant to fulfil the obliga-
tions which were imposed upon me, as far
as lay in my power. His Majesty approved of the names
which I submitted to him, and your High Mightinesses
are already informed of the royal decree appointing the
new Ministry.
" Your High Mightinesses will observe that our number
in this assembly is not small. General Nepoen, who had
been temporarily appointed Minister of War, will return
this evening. Some of us have undertaken a most diffi-
cult and onerous task. For my own part it will be quits
impossible for me long to support the burden of
two distinct ministerial departments, that of Foreign Af-
fairs and Finance. I, however concluded that it would
be better at this moment to be content with a small
Ministry than to suffer any further uncertainty on this
point. The essential object was to give the general ad-
ministration of affairs a regular course until the funda-
mental law should be modified. It was also extremely
difficult easily to replace the chiefs of the department of
the General Administration, since the men who might
be called thereto were at this moment occupied in their
several public functions, which would be left in abey-
ance if they were immediately to take their place
amongst us. _ _ _

" It was impossible at this moment definitively to deter-
mine the Cabinet, since the tone of the new Ministry
must be dependent on the principles which shall be
decreed in the revision of the fundamental laws. The
prominent question was the temporary administration of
the affairs of government in the most efficacious manner.
It was, therefore, requisite speedily to form a temporary
Ministry, and it is by this title alone that we are ready
to take upon ourselves the administration of affairs.
Your High blightinesses will doubtless desire to be
informed of the programme of the new Ministry, and
of the principles upon which they propose to direct
affairs; but it is impossible in the present transitory
situation, and immediate prospect of the important ques-
tion of the revision of the fundamental law, to make these
communications which, under other circumstances,
would be deemed indispensable. I will merely explain
in a few words the principles by which we will be
guided in the accomplishment of our task
"1. We are all firmly resolved to concur zea-
lously and energetically for the regular. development
of national affairs, conformably with the wants of our
beloved country, and until the revision of the flinda-
mental law shall have been accomplished.
" 2. We are resolved to do all in our power for the
speedy revision of the fundamental law, to be laid before
the Chamber of the States-General—a difficult task in
which the Commission of the States is at this
moment engaged. We hope that the opinions
of this Commission accord with those of your
High Mightinesses, and we flatter ourselves that those
important affairs will be brought to a happy conclusion,
and that our political institutions will be established on
solid bases.

" 3. We consider it our duty to place the country in
such a state of defence, that it may be able to resist,
at least provisionally, any attack which may be made
upon it from abroad. It is not my desire here to speak of
open parading, or existing dangers, but4to have regard to
circumstances which may take place, the prospect of
which must necessarily inspire us with some ingratitude.
Nearly all the countries of Europe are a party to revolu-
tions more or less serious. Events crowd upon one an-
other with a rapidity which confounds even the most
stout-hearted. In this state of things, the Netherlands
cannot remain defenceless. '

"4. We conceive that it is our duty to act energetically
for the maintenance and consolidatioa of public tranquil-
lity, order, and concord at home. Now, more than ever,
men should combine all their efforts for the salvation of
the country. Without this intimate union at home.
every external development of forces will be unavailing.
" Your High Mightinesses, these are the bases upon
which our administration will be founded. These are
the sentiments by which we are animated, and upon
which we are entirely unanimous. Even before we had
come to an explanation we were assured of the unanimity
of our views for the welfare of our country. The love
which reigns in our hearts will regulate our conduct.
We are not ignorant of the difficulty of the task which
we have accepted. Our responsibility is great, and no
less great sacrifices which we have imposed upon our-
selves, and are ready still further to impose upon our-
selves for the good cause.
"I have long been convinced that our country has a
right to require them of us.
" If I could for one moment have hesitated, this Cham-
ber, whom my father also made such grand sacrifices for,
his country, would have reminded me of my duty
as a Dutchman. But, your High Mightinesses, however
powerful might be our efforts for the public good, they
will be in vain unless we can insure the support of this
assembly. We, as well as the whole of Europe, are in
a most critical position. But when Government and
our national reprksentatives work in concert, wlatn our