The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-09 00:00:00

PROVISIONAL ARTICLES

111. If by the Constitution which is to be settled for
Germany, altrations of the present constitutional law
are rendered necessary, the King will order these altera,
tions, and communicate his orders to the Chambers
during their nearest session.
112. Immediately after the first meeting of the Cham-
bers the present Constitution shall be subject to a re-
♦ision in the legislative way (Arts. 60 and 106). The
oath of the King, mentioned in Art. 52, as well as those
prescribed for the two Chambers, are immediately to fol-
low this revision (Art. le;.)
Given under our signature and Royal seal,
FREDERICK WILLIAM.
Count von BRANDENBURG,
Von LADENBERG,
Von MANTEUFFEL,
Von STROTHA,
RINTELEN,
Von der HEYDT.

Potsdam, Dcc. 5,
PATENT ON THE MEETING OF THE REM

SENTATIVES.

We, Frederic William, by the grace of God, King o.
Prussia, &c., have, by our decree of this date, dissolved
the Assembly called to agree upon a Constitution. At
the same time, wishing to let our faithful people partici-
Pate in:tlae desired blessing of the promised constitutional
liberty, we hare nut thought fit to let this depend on the
remote prospect of an agreement with another repre-
sentative body, but have secured it by a Constitution
Which we have this day completed. In laying down
this fundamental principle of the State, the plan pro-
Posed by the Government, which has been modified ac-
cording to the proposals of the Constitutional Committee
of the Assembly, and their other preliminaries, and
also with respect to the decrees of the German National
Assembly at Frankfort—has been taken as the basis.
We trust, therefore, that we may hope with confidence
that this Constitution will suit the wishes of our faith-
ful people. Moreover, in Art. 110, provision is made
for a revisal on the next representation of the people.
Immediately after this revisal has taken place we will
cause the army to take the oath to the Constitution, as
We have promised. By reserving this right of revision,
We allow a possibility of making the Prussian State har-
monise with the German Constitution now in process of
formation.
We now decree that the Chambers which are to be
called into existence according to this Constitution, shall
Meet on the 26th of February, 1849, in our capital city
of Berlin. To this end, all the voters in the first in-
stance are to meet on the 22d of January next for the
Choice of the electors; all the electors are to meet on the
sth of February, for the election of the members of the
Second Chamber; all who have a right to choose elec-
tors for the First Chamber are to meet on the 29th of
January, to elect the electors; and finally, these electors
are to meet on the 12th of February next, to elect the
members of the First Chamber.

A regard to the circumstance that we have commis-
sioned our Minister to prepare the projects of law which
are so to be laid before the Chambers, being reserved in
the Constitution, and urgent in other respects, and more-
over, the expenditure of time which is required by the
elections, do not allow us to have earlier intercourse with
the representatives of our people.
Moreover we expect with confidence that until the
Period of assembling the Chambers the majesty of the
kw will be restored in our capital city by the goodwill
of its citizens, and that nothing will impede the tree de-
liberations of the representatives.
However,we do not intend to let that advancement of the
Prosperity of our rural populations, which is especially
Next our heart, nor the satisfaction of those other wishes
of our faithful people, which admit of no procrastina-
tion, suffer by reason of this necessary delay. Hence,
We shall publish, as soon as possible, several laws, pro-
visionally-, on the approval of the approaching session of
the Chambers, and among others:
1. A decree on the provisional regulations of the ma-
norial rights in the province of Silesia.
2. A decree on the introduction of oral and public
proceedings with juries in cases of examination.
3. A decree on the abolition of the peasant law of suc-
cession in Westphalia.
4. A deerce on the abolition of private jurisdiction,
and privileged exemption from the law tribunals, and on
a further organization of the courts.
5. A decree on the abolition of the circular-order of
the 26th of February, 1799, and the alteration of the
punishment for wrongs.
At the next session will be submitted for approval-
1. A law touching the right of parents in deciding on
the religion of their children.
2. A law to regulate the mill taxes.
3. A law on binding communities to indemnification
for tumults.
4. A law for the abolition of exemptions from class
and land-tax, and for the introduction of a general
land-tax.
5. A law for an income-tax.
. A new decree of remission, and a law touching the
eta6tuitous abolition of various taxes and burdens.
7. A decree for the communities.
8. A decree for the provinces, districts, and circles.
°. A decree touching the removal of certain obstacles
LI) marriage.
10. A decree on the form of oaths.
As the election of the First Chamber by the repro-
tentatives of the provinces, districts, and circles, as de-
lined in the Constitution, cannot yet be carried out, in
I"haNuence of the non-appearance of the order of the
3.!ovinces, &c., we have completed a provisional election
;14‘? for the formation of the First Chamber, which is to
AaaLduring the first year of the approaching Legislature.
tutrin now resign ourselves to the hope, that the Consti-
-I°n we have granted will, with God's blessing, con-
,,,.tribute to the greater glory of our country, and will
4, °r° firmly tie that knot of mutual attachment between
Zilar Royal house and our faithful people which is founded
_the history of ages, while it places the prosperity
411,,cl.freedom of our people on a lasting foundation.
Maven at Potsdam, Dec. 5, 1848.
(Countersigned as above.)

FREDERIC WILLIAM.

AUSTRIA.
gThe following is a report of the proceedings of the
ourthsitting of the Austrian Diet at Kremsier, on the
d December, on which occasion an official commu-
nication.f the Was made by the Ministry of the abdication
' EmperorF D and of the accession of
the ERDINAN ,
Emperor FRANCIS JOSEPH :
President—Smolka.
Present on the Ministerial bench—Bach, Cordon,
kraut, Stadion, Schwartzenburg, and Thninfield.
;14e President—This morning, at eight o'clock, I re-
el a teleeraphic dispatch from the President Minister,
I.ince of Schwartzenburg, which therein mentiened. that
the Its:
, --4inistry of the Diet had a most important statement
"I
take'm and for which purpose the President required
!.7.ne ti
ter himsa:ll7 general sitting. About half-past one o'clock,
I received a second telegraphic dispatch that the Minis-
had left 011miitz at eleven o'clock. Under
e particular circumstances, they beg you will accept
the
r apology for their late arrival.
The Minister President, Prince Schwartzenburg, as-
cended the tribune, and stated that an act of the
tsuest historical importance had taken place that
day'4aestyile then delivered the protocol whereby his
the Emperor Ferdinand the First in the Co-
ronation-hall of the Prince Bishop's Palace, at 011miitz,
Co-
with the-hall
; e assent of the members present of the Imp-
-1.41 House, as also in the presence of his Excellency
the Field-Marshal Prince Windischgratz, and of the
LtHap Of Croatia, the Baron Jellachich, in council assem-
ed, and at which council also appeared her Highness
not consort, accompanied by the Prince Lobkowitz, gave
there that, in consequence of weighty motives him
o! to moving, he had abdicated the Crown in favour
his nephew Francis Joseph, after having declared
hurl of full age ; awl that his Imperial Highness the
Grand Duke Francis Charles had resigned the Crown in
favour of his son.
?The Minister President hereupon delivered the Act,
?.hereby his Majesty the Emperor Francis I. declared
Ills nephew Francis Joseph as havirg attained his full
Penal Highness the Grand Duke Francis Charles in
_favour of his eldest son and successor. Af er this fol-
lowed the deed of abdication of his Majesty the Em-
peror infi,vour of his nephew Francis Joseph, which
Lbe_Minister President delivered with a faltering voice.
Alter these acts had taken place, the same wen?.
.unodersigned by all the persons taking part in this illus.
and 7
msernbly ; were countersigned by the Ministers ;
rancis Joseph I. was proclaimed Emperor amid
loud chec rine
_ The /Minister President then delivered the farewell
n_lauifesto of his Majesty the Emperor to the people of
Joseph
; also the manifesto of the Emperor Francis
. to the Austrianpeople on the occasion of his ac-
cession to the throne
to A.
the manifesto announced the Imperial greeting
mg high constituted Diet, and indicated the wish that