The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-18 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, JUNE 14.--Four messages from the
Crown, conveying important projects for financial
laws, have been presented to the National Assembly :
—l. In consequence of the failure of the voluntary
loan, which has produced less than if million rix
dollars, this loan will be closed upon the 10th of
August, and will be replaced by a forced loan bear-
ing 3f per cent. interest. This forced loan will in-
clude all Prussian subjects possessing property to the
value of 4,000 rix dollars, and will be graduated as
follows :—Property of all kinds valued at from four
to eight thousand rix dollars to pay 5-10 per cent.,
and so on to a maximum of 2 per cent. The loan
will be payable by thirds, on the Ist of Octo-
ber, November, and December. The repay-
ment of the capital will commence upon the Ist
January, 1850, at the rate of 1.1 per cent. It
is calculated that this loan will bring in fif-
teen millions rix dollars, of which eleven will be
furnished by those liable to the classification tax ;
2dly, towns subject to meal and slaughter-house
dues, and one and a quarter to two millions by those
who have been hitherto exempted from the classifica-
tion tax. The second project abolishes the exemption
hitherto enjoyed from payment of classification (per-
sonal or head) tax by certain persons, such as mem-
bers of provincial states (standesherren), clergymen,
schoolmasters, officers of the army and of the land-
wehr not on actual duty. This is calculated to pro-
duce 230,000 rix dollars. The third project augments
the excise on home-made brandies and beet sugar,
from 11 silver groschen to 2f silver groschen per 2,.)
quarts of the former, and from l / to 2 rix dollars per
cwt. on the latter. A fourth project reduces the tax
or permit on daily newspapers to a maximum of 1
rix dollar per week, to 12 silver groschen on those
published twice, and to 4 silver groschen (sixpence)
on those appearing hebdomadally.
A memorandum, embracing the whole financial
system, and explaining in all its multifarious details
the divers sources and employment of national reve-
nues, ordinary and extraordinary, has been presented
by M. HANSEMANN to the Members of the Assembly.
In consequence of the sum demanded for extraordi-
nary expenditure, and for the support of manufac-
tures, commerce, &c., 23 millions dollars have been
required. Towards meeting this, the Treasury has
furnished 13, and the voluntary loan 1 1.3 d, and other
resources about 2-3 d millions; altogether 15, leaving
a deficit of more than eight millions; but as extraor-

1848,

.dinary expenses to the amount of eight millions more
are inevitable, the deficit will exceed 16 million rix
dollars, which deficit must be covered by extraordi-
nary means. But as the public Treasury at this mo-
ment contains 2i millions rix dollars, the absolute sum
required may be set down at 14 millions rix dollars,
for which purpose it has become imperative to have
recourse to a forced loan.

DENMARK AND THE DUCHIES.
HAMBURGII, JULY 14 —Letters received from Co-
penhagen to-day state that the armistice was ratified
by the KING. and sent off to the head-quarters of
General HEDEMANN by a special messenger. The
messenger, who was the bearer of the Prussian rati-
fication, passed through here two or three days ago
to the head-quarters of General WRANGEL ; they
must have been exchanged before now, and we may
expect to hear the particulars within a few days.
The Prussian Consul in London having notified to
the German captains whose vessels are anchored in
British ports to get ready to go to sea, seems to in-
dicate that the blockade of the rivers is to be raised.
As far as our accounts from Heligoland go, the
Danish blockading ships are still at the mouth of the
Elbe.

HUNGARY AND CROATIA.
Under the date Pesth, July 7, the Silesian Gazette
says :

" The fortifications of Arad have likewise been got
into a state of defence. The insurgents have plun
dered and fired Szolos and St. Michale.
"In the numerous Ministerial conferences with
the Deputies this Ministry has already secured the
ready assistance of the Lower House, and can there-
fore take its measures without hindrance.

" The proposal of the Archduke John that one of
the Hungarian Ministry and the Bann Jellachick
should repair to Vienna, to consult about the settle-
ment of the existing difference, has been rejected by-
cur Ministry, which refuses to act with the traitorous
Jellachick, and will negotiate with none but depu-
ties of the Illyrians legally elected.
"The other proposal of the Archduke John re-
specting the union of the Hungarian Ministry of
Finance with the general Austrian Ministry, has met
with an equally unfavourable reception."
In Carlowitz a fearful, bloody engagement has
taken place, and the whole city is now in flames. In
Neusutz, also, there have been bloody scenes. In
Agram numerous arrests have been made.
Private intelligence which we have received states
that the Hungarians have taken the city of Vuratd.
The village of St. Mathaly has been taken and
burnt by the rebels, who defeated the Hungarian
detachment posted there, took prisoner and then put
to death Captain Count D'ORSAI. On the other
hand, Barasd, a large town, has been taken by the
Hungarians, who have an army on foot of 50,000
men, divided into three camps, independent of some
30,000 volunteers. It has been agreed also between
the Ministers and representatives, that a project shall
be laid before the latter for raising 200,000 men,
should means be found for paying and arming them.

ITALY.

SICILY.
THE NEW KING.

We are without direct intelligence from Sicily,
but we have every reason to believe that the state •
ment of the election of the Duke of GENOA, son of
CHARLES ALBERT, to the throne of Sicily, which ap-
pears in the French papers, is correct.