The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 7, 1848

NOTICE. a piece of tarpaulin ! This was at about the noon of
MR. AINSWORTH'S NEW ROMANCE, f
"THE LANCASHIRE WITCHES," will shortly be pub-
the night between Friday and Saturday. The result
I
lished by Mr. COLBURN, 13, Great Marlborough-street. proved to be only such as common sense would tell
Orders received by all Booksellers, and at all the Libraries.
every one was inevitable. The dizziness and qualms
of sea-sickness were very soon forgotten in the un-
endurable sensations of suffocation. Efforts were
made to force a way out of the confinement—they
were found to be unavailing. Shouts were raised to
attract attention—they were drowned in the roaring
noise of the storm. And then, according to the de-
scription of the few survivors, ensued a spectacle such
as sets the imagination of even the most morbid at
defiance. The steamer drove bravely through the
tempest, while those who directed her remained
wholly unconscious of the frightful conflict for life
and death which was then raging in her very entrails.
The trampling and beating sounds within the cabin
were rendered inaudible by the throbbing of the
pistons, and the shrieks and groans of the sufferers
only died away with the gale towards morning. Not
until then were the seamen aware of the tragedy
which had been enacted under their very
feet. Out of the one hundred passengers
who had been driven down the companion-ladder a
few hours before--72 were found to have perished !
Men, and women, and little children, husbands
and wives, sons and mothers, were heaped
about the floor of the cabin in disorder,
some with their clothes torn from their
backs in tatters, some with their hands and
faces lacerated, some with their features trodden into
a " mummy" by the iron-shod " brogues" of their
fellow-sufferers—here a father locked in the arms of
his daughter—there a sister clinging to the corpse of
her brother—their countenances black and distorted
with the convulsions produced by suffocation. At
ten o'clock on Sunday morning the Londonderry
put into Derry, and then the crew and the captain
(Jonss.roa) were taken into custody by order of the
authorities.
While the examination is still proceeding, and while
our judgment is agitated with the emotions caused by
a misfortune so remarkable, it would, to say the
least of it, be injudicious to decide upon the extent of
the culpability of the persons who are charged with
negligence. That there is culpability somewhere,
and that that culpability is most grievous, no one
will for one instant deny. It remains, there-
fore, for the Coroner's jury, now sitting at
Derry, to pronounce an accurate and equitable
decision. In doing so they must discover whether
the space and other conveniences afforded by the
saloon cabin were overlooked by the captain and his
subordinates, and whether in any single particular
due attention was paid to the comforts or to the con
dition of the passengers.

TIIEATRE ROYAL, COVENT GARDEN.
Manager, Mr. BUNN.
GENERAL REDUCTION OF PRICES.
The repeated representations that have been made to the manage-
ment ^especting a reduction of prices, in order to fleet the exigencies
of the times, have led to its present adoption. In complying with so
general an expression of public feeling, it is only Re,:essary to state
that precisely the same character of performance w;11 be given, sup-
ported by the same artistes, and aided by all the gorgeous parapher-
nalia of the establishment, presenting a series of attractions on a
scale of admission suitable to all classes, without any precedent in so
splendid a Theatre.

SCALE OF Dress Circle in the Grand TierADMISSION. Six Shillings.
First Circ1e.......... . .... Five Shillings.
Upper Boxes. •••• • . Four Shillin4q•
Pit .........• •..........• Half-a-Crow.
Lower Gallery ........ .•• • .. One Shilling nitl Sixpence.
Upper Gallery ........ •• .• One Shillir g.
Private Boxes, One and Two Guineas ; Stalls, Seven Shillings.
Half-price at Nine o'clock.
Dress Circle, 3s. ; First Circle, 2s. 6i. ; 1...cr Boxes, 2s. ; Pit,
2s. id.; Lower Gallery, Is. ; tipper Gallery, 60.

THIS EVENING,
The Entertainments will commence with a Grand Opera, entitled

QUEN TIN DUR WA RD.
Louis the Eleventh, Mr Borrani ; Charles the Bold, Mr. H. Corti;
LGUIF, Mr. Herberte ; Ludovic Lesly, Mr. W H. Payne ; Quentin
Durward, Mr. W. Harrison ; the Pi incess Joan, Miss Messent ; the
Countess Isabelle of Croye, Mrs. D. King.

After which, the Last Act of
THE BRIDE OF LAMMERMOOR.

Lacy Ashton, Mdlle. Nissen; Edgar Ravenswood, Mr. Sims
Beeves.

To conclude with the First Act of a Grand Ballet, entitled
THE DEVIL TO PAY.

Doors open at hialf-pastSii,peifOrlancetCeorrn once at Seven.
The Box-office Is open from Ten tin Five, under the direction of
Mr. John Parsons.

r HEAT RE ROYAL, 11AYMARK
Mr. B. Webster, Sole Lessee and Manager, Old Brompton.
The public is respectfully informed that this Theatre has, during
the recess, undergone very extensive repairs and alterations and the
whole re-decorated.

The Bank of England has made its appearance in
a new character. Henceforward it may be regarded
as a vast trading, as well as a banking corporation.
The Act of 1844 stripped its directors of many of the
discretionary powers formerly entrusted to them.
They -were no longer permitted to regulate the cur-
rency of the country by an unrestricted issue of
paper, they were compelled to have bullion stored in
their cellars for every note in circulation beyond the
14,000,0001., which might be basel upon securities.
There was, therefore, some plausibility at least in the
assertion, that they were justified, :subsequently
to the passing of that Act, in entering
into competition with other joint-stock and private
banks, and rel:ased from every obligation save that
of consulting the pecuniary interests of the pro-
prietors, so far as the conduct of their banking de-
partment was concerned.
It has never however, we believe, been put forward
up to this time, that the Bank should enter into any
of the many branches of trade carried on throughout
the country, that it should be permitted to embark
any portion of its capital in manufactures, trade, or
commerce, or to mingle new and very different
functions with those which came legitimately
within the sphere of its operation.. We had supposed
that the Bank of England traded in money alone
that its sole business was to lend the notes it was em-
powered to issue to parties engaged in the various
branches of trade—to yield a general support to the
commercial interests, but that it should not enter
into competition in any respect in their dealings ;
that it should not bring its enormous resources into
operation to crush and overwhelm those with whom
it might choose to enter into rivalry. We must now,
nowever, acknowledge our mistake. It appears that
this gigantic corporation deals in iron as well as in
notes, and that, from the peculiar facilities it pos-
.,esses, it is enabled to underzell all competitors, and to
dispose of its wares in the market at a cheaper rate
than similar articles can be produced by others of
ess power and influence.
A letter from Mr. CRAWSHAY, the eminent iron-
master, which will be found in another part of our
impression this day, casts new light upon the pro-
ceedings of the Bank. That gentleman states
that he is an ironmaster, carrying on va-
rious iron works, under the superintendence of
his sons, and that he is also an iron merchant, and
the extensive nature of his dealing.; may be estimated
from the fact, that the wages which he pays to his men
amount to the large sum of 25,0001. per month, or
300,0001. per annum. It might be supposed that,
with such resources, Mr. CRAWSHAY need not fear
any competition to which he might be subjected, that
he could produce the article, in the manufacture
of which he is engaged, at as cheap a
rate as any other person or body of per-
sons in the empire. Such, however, proves to be
contrary to the fact. Although, owing to the falling
off in the demand for rails, the iron trade is in a state
of depression, and bar iron and rails may be purchased
at prices below the actual cost of production, there
are parties who contrive to sell at a lower rate than
any of the ordinary traders, so cheaply as to make it
worth while even for the manufacturers themselves
to purchase from their new rival. Mr. CRAWSIIAT
thus details their proceedings. He says,—" I have
met with the most cutting competition from a com-
pany of irt.nmaaters entitled in the iron trade the
Bank of England ;' and in Liverpool and London
almost every quotation which I make to inquirers of
the price of iron for export is met with the reply, the
Bank of England will sell considerably lower.'
To a quotation which I made to a metal-broker,
for only fifty tons of sheet-iron for shipment
to India of 91. per ton, free on board in the docks
here, I received the answer, I can buy it from
the Bank of England at 71. 10s., free on board
here;' and I have since been informed, by the
same party, that he so bought the said
50 tons of sheet-iron, the total price being 3751.
In consequence of this low and to the makers ruinous
sale of sheet-iron, I deputed the same broker to
purchase of the Bank of England for me 100 tons
of the same description. But, after a delay in the
acceptance of my order of three days, I was in-
formed that the Bank of England had been deceived
in the quantity of sheet-iron which they could
manufacture, and having already sold several other
parcels, could not enter into further engagements at
presen`

Here then we have this fact of the dealing at
ruinously low prices on the most unquestionable au-
thority. And it remains to be seen what justification
will be put forward by the directors for this most
unwarrantable departure from the objects for which
the Bank was instituted, and for the furtherance
of which it obtained so' many valuable exclusive
priviltheeges,
If Bank had, indeed
advancesbeen
,made large and indiscreet
to, t companye a
e orn
p t o e l al
endy
orm
er tbody,gabtg e. and
as
dit that
the
only
nh
le y
y tan-
could had
gible security that bo
its duty to bring the trade
ame , would
.be
into the market for sale
withh anlid goodw. ill
aeon convenient
speed. If any loss were sustained in
such a course, it should be regarded as theconsequence
consequences to which the institution must nece
oo uff any a s a
trade bads
sexily be liable, and should be written
debt, but nothing whatsoever can warrant so palpable
a violation of the charter as the carrying
or manufacture for any period however brief, or to'
avert any losses however weighty.
If the principle could for a moment be sanctioned
it would be impossible to define any limit, or to say to
what extent it might not be carried. 'What branch of
trade could be safe from the intrusion of the "Levia-
than ?" Cotton or woollen goods might surely be manu-
factured as well as iron, corn or wine might be dealt
in with equal propriety. It is the generdl interest to
resist so flagrant an usurpation—all parties are equally
interested in resisting the encroachments.
The corporation may be possessed of enormous

powers, and extraordinary influence in the Legisla-
ture, but it may find, that for once it has reckoned
without its host; that it has been guilty of the
"vaulting ambition that overleaps itself," and that the
public will view with extreme jealousy any aggression
on the rights and interests of any portion of the com-
munity. A strict investigation into the circum-
stances must take place, and if the directors should
be proved to have acted in violation of the terms of
their charter, they must be taught that even their
extraordinary powers cannot shelter them from the
consequences of their own acts—that they should have
recollected and acted upon the old adage—
" Ne sutor ultra Crepidam."

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC

We have received the Paris papers of yesterday.
There was a report circulated in the lobbies of the
National Assembly on Tuesday night, to the effect
that CHARLES ALBERT had been poisoned. The
Gazette de France alludes to this report, but gives
no particulars. The rumour did not meet with ge-
neral credence.
The expedition to Civita Vecchia has not sailed,
and has been countermanded in consequence of the
arrival of the PorE at Gaeta.
The Debats says--
"Letters received yesterday in Paris state that the
Holy Father is gone to Malta. Malta, as is well known,
is an English island, the general population of which is
Catholic, and the Governor, M. O'Ferrall, is Catholic,
and there is also a Catholic p. Nevertheless, we
doubt the truth of this news. We think that it is more
probable that the Pop has sought an asylum in the
kingdom of Naples. It is easy to believe that Pius IX.
would be unwilling to quit the soil of Italy till the last
extremity. All Governments, not only Catholic but
Christian, will have contended for the honour of offering
pious hopitality to the Sovereign Pontiff, but Italy has
naturally the first claim. Pius IX. cannot have re-
nounced the hope, however illusory it may be, of seeing
the Romans come to a repentance of their own suicide.
At all events, if the head of the Catholic world has
thought of waiting in Naples the effects of the remorse
of a people as ungrateful as they are blind, we feel con-
fident that he will have gone under the protection of the
flag of the French Embassy, which was due to him, and
will not have failed him."
We read in the Credit:—
" A rumour has prevailed that the Popo had arrived
at Malta, on board the Tonnare. In reproducing this re-
port, which must be received with a certain reserve, we
consider it our duty to make every inquiry into the
matter. The following is what we can affirm on autho.
rity worthy of all our respect :—Pius IX., before the
sacrilegious attack of the Quirinal, which followed the
murder of M. Rossi, foresaw in a future, which we, how-
ever, did not think so near at bawl, the necessity which
he might be under to quit the States o: the Church; and
as we have already said, he turned his eyes towards
France. But, in the last moments which preceded his
unexpected and precipitate dispossession of power, he
perceived, we are informed, a difficulty in the way of
the realisation, at least immediately, of his desire.
Pius IX., driven from Rome by a Bonaparte, could nut
demand hospitality in France from a Bonaparte. His
Holiness, in consequence, resolved, it is said, to await
at Malta the result of the election of the President of
the Republic ; and, according to the choice which
shall be then made, he will proceed to Majorca, which
the Queen of Spain places at his disposal, or repair to
Paris."

It was generally believed in Paris yesterday that
the POPE had gone to Naples, and that his Holiness
would take up his abode for some time in that city.
"We have reason to believe," says the Frew,
"that a dispatch has arrived from Turin, urgently
desiring to know what will be the attitude of the
French Cabinet in case the Austrians, without attack-
ing Bologna, should advance towards Rome by
Faenza, in accord with the King of NAPLES, in
whose states the HOLY FATIIER has sought his first
asylum."
l'he Debats says :—" M. Durnf has been for the
last three weeks in the department of the Nievre,
where he went to take some repose, after six months'
agitation and continued labour. He has written to
several friends to say that he should certainly have
voted for the order of the day moti7te in favour of
General CAVAIGNAC."
The Socialists of Lyons refuse to be bound by the
decision of the Democratic and Social Congress of
Paris on the question of the Presidency. They will
not accept LEDRU ROLLIN as their candidate, but
inter.d to start RASPAIL, who will, it is calculated,
poll 30,000 votes in the department of the Rhone
alone.

It was reported yesterday that the steamer, on
board which M. DE CORCELLES had embarked for
Gaeta, had been compelled to put into Corsica by
stress of weather.

In a " communicated article" on the Italian ques-
tion, the Presse says, that in consequence of the ne-
gotiations, Austria and Sardinia have undertaken to
refrain from all hostility with respest to Venice
during the winter.

~.
The I?eforme publishes the follote;.6- ietc.f from
M. CAUSSIDIEEE to the Freese :
" Monsieur le Redacteur,—ln an intention, very
laudable without doubt, of claiming the arrears of pen-
sions and salaries of your Royalist friends, you stated in
your 'umber of November 20, that the identity of repre-
sentation was religiously paid to MM. Bartel;, Caussi.
d'i e, Louis Blanc, &c. The assertion is completely
false as far as Louis Blanc and myself are concerned.
We each of us charged a representative to Craw the
money for the last fortnight of August. They received
at the Questors'•oflice the indemnity for eleven days, the
night of the 25th, in which we were the principal actors,
reckoning for a whole day. Since August 26, we gave
received nothing from the present Government, and I
am not aware that my colleagues at Vincennes have been
more favoured. Like us, they have not voted the Con-
stitution.—Receive, &c. 66 CAUSSIDIERE."
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAIL WAYS AT Tllll
LONDON STOCK-EXCHANGE, DEC. 6.
Boulogne and Amiens, . 6—Luxembourg (710, %
Ditto (101.), 2—Northern of France, 6Vs Orleans and Bor-
deaux, 1%.

politics.
" The people replied to this ignoble and illegal pro-
ceeding as became a thinking, people, who know how to
t laws and national interests. Worthy of that
respect
fidelity which shines in its history, and the maintenance
of which is a necessity for all noble spirits in times of
calamity—it has risen for its King.
We, on the other hand, assembled at Brandenburg
upon the 27th, in compliance with and in virtu3 of the
Royal decree of adjournment We came here in the
hope that the preceding interval would have calmed
men's passions, and
,induced them to quit the
path they had followtd. We confidently trusted that the
voice of the country, which pointed out the peril, weaild,
on reflection, have arrested their rash steps on the
borders of the abyss to which they had brought their
Fatherland. We thought that it might be r ossihle to all,
profitting by the past, and mindful of the dangers we
tiad overcome, might be strengtheneel by unity and pro-
ceed rapidly to the completion of our constitutional
labours, w hereby the cravings of the people, who eagerly
await a solution, might be satisfied. We hoped, through
the consolidation of our new institutions, to restore that
confidence and peace which are essential to the fructi-
fication of those rich sources of prosperity whose bless-
intss, participated in by citizen and peasant, by artizsn
and operative, would have rendered them more pros-
perous than ever, and shed new lus!re and increase upon
commerce, industry, arts, sciences, and charitable insti-
tutions; in a word, its benefits would have been dif-
fused through all things and classes, whereby our country
had become so prominent, and can still be so again.
"The path was open to the adverse party. The de-
cision of the Frankfort Assembly, the judgment of our
universities and most eminent tribunals, and countless
addresses, had spoken in favour of the rights of the
Crown, and placed the force of fact upon its side. Sup-
posing this not to have been admitted by the others, it
was easy for them to have proclaimed their opinion
publicly to the nation, and then, without compromising
themselves as to the future, to have joined to those who
obeyed the decree of adjournment on the 9th, and the
re-assembly on, the 27th at Brandenburg; for the wel-
fare of the land does not consist in retrogression, but in
progress. Such, according to the lessons of history, has
been the case upon innumerable occasions. In this
manner all men should conduct themselves, to whom the
interests of the whole are dearer than the triumph of
individual legal subtleties; and who, in eventful times,
when all things totter, are convinced that self-abnegation
is a mural duty, which the country earnestly demands,
and for the fulfilment of which each man is responsible
before the judgment-seat of the Almighty. In this
manner, one man—Bornemann—whose absence from
among us we for a time deplored, did conduct himself;
and it is to be regretted that others did not follow his
example.°

SPAIN.
Madrid journals of the 29th ult. have been re-
ceived.
The Carlists have gained another important vic-
tory in Catalonia, having completely routed General
LORSUNDI'S column, and cut off four companies.
They, moreover, fell upon CORDOVA'S army, as he was
retreating on Barcelona, after his recent defeat, and
cut off his rear guard.
A party of Carlists have entered Mataro, a town of
more than 15,000 souls, and were in complete posses-
sion of it when the last accounts left. The town of
Vich, in Gerona, which has a population of 11,000
souls, is closely blockaded by the Carlists, and a large
party within the town are desirous of delivering it
into their hands. Carlist Guerillas are appearing in
Castile, and an outbreak may be shortly expected in
Navarre. EL ESTUDIRNTS has increased his band to
100 men, 60 of whom are well mounted. They
keep the QUEEN'S troops in the neighbourhood of
Burgos in a perpetual state of alarm.
It appears, from an official statement, that the re-
gular troops in Catalonia last month consisted of
thirty-one battalions of infantry of the line, thirteen
battalions of light infantry, three regiment of cavalry,
viz., 9th and 11th Lancers and Ist Chasseurs ; theist
regiment of Artillery and 2 mountain batteries, and
four companies of Sappers and Miners. In a paper,
evidently drawn up to show the necessity of the large
increase conceded to General CONCHA, it is stated that
the whole force in Catalonia amounts to 33,430 soldiers
and 1,324 horses, commanded by 141 chiefs and 1,376
officers; but it is stated that of these soldiers 40,000
will have been discharged ere this from their term of
service having expired ; and that although the same
number of conscripts will have supplied their places,
they cannot be of any service as yet. It is further
stated that 15,383 men and 506 horses are employed in
garrison duty; that 3,390 men and 118 horses are " not
disposable;'' and 693 men "out of the district;"
and, in short, it is stated that the force actually ope-
rating against the Carlists, at the end of October, was
not more than 8,964 soldiers, with a proportional al-
lowance of officers, and 624 horses.

MADRID BOLSA, Nov. 29.—The Three per Cents.
191 11-16 sellers ; and 9-16 # buyers after the close.
Five per Cents. 9 7-16 k buyers, 1 sellers Coupons,
5/ buyers. Passive Debt, B 9 16 buyers, # sellers.
Bank Shares, 46 buyers, 50 sellers. Discount on
notes li. Exchange on London, 48 35.

" Such, however, has not been the case. On the
contrary, after we met daily from the 27th to the 30th,
in incomplete numbers, there suddenly appeared, upon
the Ist December, a considerable portion of those who
had hitherto been absent, with the declaration put for-
ward by their foreman, that they bad come on the in-
vitation of their President, Unruh, elected during the
adjournment (between the 9th and 27th); and that the
latter, together with the two vice-presidents, would have
appeared had they not been engaged in convoking mem-
. bets who might still be absent, but that this convocation
would be completed upon the following Monday.
" Immediately after this, it was proposed (by that
party) to adjourn the house until that day. The Cham-
ber had no sooner negatived this proposition than the
whole of the members
composing this fraction quitted
the chamber, and thereby left those who remained in
sufficient numbers for business, so that the definitive
election of a President could not be completed.
"It clearly results from this declaration that the
members who had remained absent continued firm in
their uncompromising opposition to the Government,
that they were resolved to adhere to their illegal acts
and elections (of President and Vice-President) be-
tween the 9th and 27th November, and that they had
not come to Brandenburg _ on the convocation of the
Crown, but held the invitations of their assumed Presi-
dent Unruh to be alone valid. The result of this is an
open declaration of hostility to the Crown, the setting
up of civil war in the Cathedral of Brandenburg, and
the establishment of an Unruh Government, against that
of his Majesty Frederick William IV.
" Inhabitants of Prussia 1 At the call of the King
you sent us to ' concord ' a constitution, and with
him to lay the foundation of a work of unity, peace,

* Bornemann, ex-Minister of Justice, joined the Left,
but appeared at Brandenburg on the 27th or 28th, and
stated that he felt it his duty to sacrifice his own convic-
tions upon the altar of his country, and in favour of
unity and public tranquillity.

fulfilment,'although it was obstructed rather than helped
forward by the three cabinets which in turn rapidly
arose. Placed under the necessity of substituting, for
the project of constitution, drawn up in a popular point
of view by the Camphausen Ministry, the one agreed to
by the Committee appointed to prepare the draft, we
had succeeded by our labours in the sections, and central
sections, in rendering the latter project ripe for discus-
sion in the plenary sitting. The bills relating to com-
munal laws, and to those of circles and districts, were
also in a short time prepared fur the consideration of the
Assembly, although the latter Bills, up to the present
period, have not peen presented by any Minister. In the
same way we prepared the law relating to the land-tax,
the object of which law is to put an end to the inequality
of taxation in the provinces, and the burdening of the small
rather than the large landed proprietor. The discussion,
in pleno, of that project of law was recently ended, in the
days of our oppression (by the military). The National
Assembly is now busied with a law fur the removal of
the burdens on the landed property of the peasant
class. The consciousness of the solemn earnest-
ness of its mission became more and more de-
veloped in that Assembly. The resolution of ';'th of
Sept. on Herr Stein's motion evinced at once i!s de-
termination to preserve its oe n dignity, and at length to
commence the reform of the class of army officers who
were standing beyond the influence of the law of the
new orde rof things. It was necessary to show in ch ar
terms to the privileged classes, to all bureaucrats, to all
servile depen lents on the old military and police sys-
tems, that that Assembly would not permit the continue
ance, simultaneously with the phantom of a constitution,
of the old arbi'rary predominancy for the destruction of
the fruits of the revolution. It was upon that account
those classes and those persons defamed the National
Assembly in all possible ways—accused it of inactivity
—raised a cry in favour of an empty and hollow form of
constitution—turned to account the political immaturity
of the citizen class, as well as its dread of the proleta-
rians (a dread altogether unfounded in Germany), and
seized upon some isolated transgressions of the law as
pretexts for oppressing by means of the ingenious device
of a state of siege i❑ a time of profound tranquillity, the
freedom of the press and of association—liberties gained
at the price of blood. In order to mislead the provinces,
those parties pointed to a few excesses (unavoidable i❑
moments of strong excitement) as proofs that the
Assembly was overawed. Meantime, more thickly than
ever, and with an increasing waste of the public money,
was the military network drawn around the peacetul
capital. But when the Assembly. during the discussion
of the fundamental laws, again manifested its firm deter-
mination to cause the fruits of the revolution to be ap-
preciated—when it sets its hand on the feudal rights,
abolished nobility, titles, and orders, and when it di-
rected its attention to oppressed Vienna—the reaction-
ary party considered it was high time to set aside that
Assembly, in order to annihilate the hopes of the people
—hopes which in a few moments would have been
realised. Then it was that military force came forth,
undisguised, under a Brandenburg Ministry. And now
whet are the deeds of this man in power? The arbi-
trary removal and adjournment of the Assembly; the
frequent and violent breaking up of its sittings at the
point of the bayonet; the conferring of the dictatorship
o❑ Wrangel; the placing Berlin in a state of siege
whilst that capital was peaceful; the dissolving and
disarming of the civic guard; the destruction
of the liberty epf the press and of association, and the
violation of the law for the protection of per-
sonal liberty (the Habeas Corpus Act). Such,
we repeat, are his deeds. But we, your representa-
tives, have, to the utmost of our power, opposed the
existing despotism. Step by step have we followed the
measures of this Ministry, and declared them illegal.
As the last resource of passive resistance, the National
Assembly deprived this Cabinet—one lying under the
charge of high treason—of the right to raise taxes, or to
dispose of the funds of the State. Whilst thus acting,
however, we frequently offered the hand of conciliation
for terminating the conflict, and our only demands were
the change of Ministry, and the uninterrupted conti-
nuance of our discussions in Berlin. All this was in vain!
Now that the regular assembling of the representatives
of the people is prevented by unlawful force, the Go-
vernment convene Deputies (who betray their mission)
to a meeting in Brandenburg, which is in every respect
an illegal one. The Government forget, perhaps, that
all the decisions of a minority are null and void; that
even the increase of the present small number of
Members assembled in the above town would not
in any way legalise the meeting, inasmuch as the
bayonet would still remain its only basis. Taking
matters at their worst, should the Government dole out
to, that is to say force upon, the country a constitution
—such a constitution will be perfectly invalid. One of
the acquisitions of the month of March, is the provision
that the constitution shall be founded only with the co-
operation of the chosen representatives of the people.
Now we who here in Berlin form the national consti-
tuent assembly are above those representatives. Any
dissolution of that assembly is illegal, and on that ac-
count invalid. The National Assembly solemnly pro-
tests against all the acts of a government which, by its
military arrangements, causes a weekly waste of millions
of tinders of the state funds—and all for the subjugation
of the nation. It solemnly declares also, that, without
any reference to the non-payment of taxes (a measure
already voted), that ministry has not the right to dispose,
after January 1, 1849, of one pluming, as we have not
yet voted the budget. Fellow-citizens, wait courageously
a little longer, and drive all selfishness from amongst you,
and temper your meral power, which, in the end, will
put down the lawless conduct of your oppressors. Long
life to freedom! Long life to Fatherland!
On the other hand, the minority who support the
KING and the Alinigt.r, have addressed their coun-
t, juien in the following proclamation :
" TO TUE COUNTRY.
" BRANDENBURG, /EC. 2.—We have already, during
these eventful times, addressed our words to you, inha-
bitants of our Prussian State. You approved of those
words, and results have justified them. Trust to us
once more, for confidence and unity can alone save our
Fatherland.
" The portion of the National Assembly which op-
p)sed the tranafer to Brandenburg—a transfer resulting
from necessity—continued for some time its meetings,
regardless of the schism and confusion into
which it thereby plunged the country; nay, it went so
far as ultimately to decree the refusal of taxes,' and
thus coupled a question of public interest with that of

and real popular liberty. Judge for yourselves, what
are the obstacles that prevent the Raiment of our
duties.

" Men and youths of our fatherland I We have al-
ready addressed to you these words—• Should schism
burst forth, in despite of our heartfelt desire, we will
stand and fall by the constitutional monarchy!' That is
our banner! Rally with us round this banner. Show
yourselves worthy of German fidelity and of liberty !"
(Signed by ninety-one members.)
A regiment of Guard Landwehr, composed wholly
of Pomeranians, entered Berlin on the 2d, and were
marched by their Colonel, the Prince of Prussia, to
the palace, where they are quartered. The KING and
the Ministers are said to be in a state of the utmost
perplexity.

_ At a meeting of the Members of the majority of
the Assembly, held on the 3d, they decided-1. 'l hat
they should consider and declare the vote of adjourn-
ment until Thursday to be null ; 2. That they having
at length been summoned by their President UNRUH
to meet at Brandenburg, should obey this summons;
and 3. That they should, as proposed on Friday, as-
semble to morrow (Monday), and proceed at once to
open the sitting at the Cathedral.
Cologne was, on the night of the 2d, the
scene of a gross outrage committed by the
military. A soldier who had been drinking
at a small public-house, being unable to pay
his score had his side arms taken from him and de-
tained. His comrades returned to the barracks for
the purpose of obtaining assistance, and the whole
body, armed with sabres, assembled in the street and
attacked the house, and mounted on the roof itself.
" Long live Frederick-William" was! engraved by
sabres on the plaster. The windows and door of the
house were driven in by sabrrs. Even in the street
nobody could move about without being struck with
lime, stones, and such matters. It is said that four
soldiers were wounded, one of them so badly as to
require being sent to the hospital. Even after the
restoration of quiet, one of the watch, who was
passing that way, received a serious wound from a
stone. The guard was soon on the spot to drive away
the soldiers.

AUSTRIA.

Several of the Liberal members of the Austrian
Diet assembled at Kremsier, have submitted to the
Assembly the following plan for a new constitution
of the Austrian Empire :
" As from many quarters numerous erroneous views
have been attributed to us as the object of our efforts ;
as it has been sought chiefly by the members of the
retrograde party to render us suspected, by representing
us as the representatives of other nationalities, as the
opposers of the equality ot all nationalities, and as wish-
ing to secure a preference to the German elements
therein ; so do we hold ourselves bound in duty to lay
before you, shortly, our principles relative to the new
state ot things in Austria. Our endeavours have had for
their object, in the first place, the perfect development of
the democratic principle ; but herein we repudiate all re-
publican tendencies, as it is our most fervent conviction,
from the peculiar construction of the Austrian states, the
most extensive development will be best secured by a de-
mocratic monarchy. But the necessary consequences of
these democratic principles are the equality ot all men,
and the possession of equal rights to all nationalities.
And this we maintain to be possible only where, so far
as they can be made compatible with the existence of a
strong central power, every nation obtains its own ma-
nagement and lees, and where the members of one
country shall not be allowed, without the most urgent
necessity, to interfere with the internal management of
another. It is with a view to the emission of these
principles that we put forth the following programme for
a powerful Executive for the countries of Austria who
take part at this Diet:—
" 1. That the following Austrian countries, taking
part at this Diet, be united into one Federative State,
consisting of the five National States hereafter men-
tioned; that is to say—Polish Austria, Czechisch Aus-
tria, Selavoniau Austria, Geiman Austria, and Italian
Austria.
" These States will be formed as follows:
" (a) POLISH AUSTRIA, from Galicia, Cracow, and
Buknwina. The official language to be Polish and
Euthenists.
" • (b) CRECHISH AUSTRIA.—The Czechisch portion,
from Bohemia and Moravia, and the Tachener boundary
of Silesia. The official language to be Cashisch.
" (C) SCLAVONIAN AUSTRIA.—From grain to that
portion of the Klagenfurth border lying on the left of
the Draunser, from Carinthia and the Sclayonisch por-
tion, and from Steyermark and Giirz. Official language
to be Sclavonish.
" (d) GERMAN AUSTRIA .—From Lower and Upper
Austria, Salzburg. North Tyrol, Vorarberg ; from Ca-
rinthia to the Villacher border, from Silesia to the
Troppau border, and from the Klagenfurth border to
the Drau, and the German part ot Steyermark, Bohemia.
and Moravia. Official language to be German.
"` (e) ITALIAN AUSTRIA. —From the South Tyrol,
Istria, Dalmatia, Trieste, and the Italian portion from
GOrz. Official language to be Italian.
" • N.B. 1. In laying down the border line the prin-
ciple to be considered is, that the smallest possible num-
ber of the members of one nation shall be included
within the borders of another.
" N.B. 2. Should any other part not represented at
this Diet be desirous of being so, they may be so if the
thing be possible; that is to any, Croatians end Slave-
Mein. may be taken in the State of Slavonian Austria,
"' 2. As regards the executive department of some of
the national states.
• The general executive is placed in the Monarch,
who issues his orders through the Secretary of State's
office, who is answerable to the Parliament of the States.
The Secretary of State's department shall consist, in
addition to the first Secretary of State, who also stands
in the place of the Monarch, when he is absent, of the
S( cretaries of State of the Home Department, of Justice,
of Instruction, of Worship, of Finance, and of Agri-
culture.
" The Legislative Power, so far as it does not come
within the boundaries of the Central Power, are bound
to obey the Parliament, and will be elected by it, either
by direct vote or by universal suffrage.
" To the Parliament, also belongs, as of right, the
allowance of all taxes to be imposed for the necessities
of the States, and those for the establishment of States.
To the Monarch belongs a suspension veto against the
resolutions of Parliaments. In each State there shall
be a supreme court of judicature.
" • 3. From the Central Power the reservations are—
" The Foreign affairs, army, toll-post, railway, and
trade matters, shipping, and States taxes, and banking
affairs. The executive power is exercised by the Mo-
narch, through a Ministry responsible to the Senate,
consisting of President Minister, the Ministers of Fo-
reign Atlairs, of War, of Public Works, of Trade, of
General Finances, and so many Ministers without port-
folios as there are States—one for each State. The
legislative power is exercised by the Senate, who will be
elected partly through direct votes of the body of the
people and partly by vote from the Parliament. To
these belong also the granting and maintaining the budgets
of the Central Power. A suspension veto belongs to the
Monarch against the resolutions of the Senate.
" 'For the disputes of the States with each other, and
for the impeachment of a Minister, a supreme court of
judicature shall be established.
"By means of this proposition, we believe that, at the
least, the e qual rights of all nationalities will be assured,
because thereby any one amongst them, who is now vir-
tually excluded from the service of the Central power,
will be able to attain it by means of the use of his
mother tongue. Also do we remark that, as regards the
settlement of the sphere within which any State shall act,
and of the Central Power thereof, we have only given a
sketch, to which such modifications as may be required
can be easily determined on."'
WINDISCHGRATZ, in direct violation of the laws of
war, has caused the Hungarian General TETANYA,
who came in the character of an Envoy to the
Austrian camp to treat for peace, to be arrested and
conveyed as a prisoner to Vienna. KOSSISTH, as a
measure of retaliation, has caused all the Austrian
officers who have expressed a desire to leave the
Hungarian army to be placed under arrest. The
Hungarians have made the most extensive prepara-
tions for defence, and Presburgh has been so well
fortified that WINDISCHGRATZ and JELLACHICH have
been seriously 'deliberating as to the propriety of
altering their point of attack. The fact is they fear
a defeat at Presburgh, for not only is the city
strongly fortified, but as the inhabitants have ploughed
up all the land for two miles round it, WINDISCH-
GRATZ 'sill experience the utmost difficulty in
manoeuvring his troops and bringing up his artillery.
A letter from Vienna of the 30th ult., states that
on the day before news had been received direct from
Transylvania, with which province communication
had been intercepted for a considerable time. The
General who commands in that province has, it ap-
pears, established a series of posts on the boundary of
Hungary, and which are connected by means of mili-
tary piquets. We also learn that the different races
which inhabit Transylvania for instance, the Scla-
vonians, the Magyars, the Bulgarians, the Servians,
the Germans, the Wallachians, &c., are fighting the
one against the other, and that unhappy country is
the prey to murders, robberies, incendiaries, and
other outrages. The Magyars in defending them-
selves occasioned great destruction of property which
will require many years and millions of money to
repair the loss. The south of Hungary is inundated,
the course of many rivers have been turned or barri-'
ceded, roads have been destroyed, and bridges have
been broken through, &c. The Magyars have erected
fortified works on all the roads which remain.
VIENNA, DEC. ].—The Wiener Zeitung of this
day officially contradicts the often repeated assertion
that the Hungarian regiment of infantry had intended
to desert on the Gallician frontier to the Magyars,
and had consequently been disarmed and conveyed to,
Brunn under charge of a strong detachment of
cavalry. The Minister of War asserts that, on the
contrary, that regiment has nobly withstood the
reiterated attempts that have been made to seduce it
from its oath of fealty.
The EMPEROR has sent Baron JELLACHICH a very
flattering letter of thanks for his conduct of affairs
since his nomination to the Banat of Croatia, and
more particularly during the late trying events. His
MAJESTY has at the same time transmitted to the
Ban the insignia of the Grand Cross of Leopold.
The Ban has now quitted Vienna for the army, and.
Prince WINDISCHGRATZ is already at Presburg Each railway train brings large arrivals of
troops,-. artillery, pontoons, &c., from Bohemia and Moravia
which go off again instanter by special carriages for I

Hungary. Some accounts from Hungary lead to the
confident expectation that the crisis there may ter-
minate more quickly than there was at first any
cause to hope.
The Silesian Gazette of yesterday says, however—
" The far distant rolling of the thunder of the cannon,
which has this day reverberated from the Hungarian
frontier, announces that Hungary has commenced a
new era in her history bathed in blood, and that the
first solemn hour, which shall decide the fate of this
kingdom, has struck."

The report gains ground that, with respect to
Vienna itself, the siege will be raised on the Ist of
January, and that the EMPEROR will then, as a mark
of renewed confidence in the capital, convoke ti e
National Diet in that city.
Great and general satisfaction has been caused by
the declaration, that the sittings held in Vienna on the
28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st of October are null and
void, and also by the Ministerial programme. The
Ministry is looked upon as perfectly sure, and that it
will generally have in iti favour from 140 to 160
votes, whereas the Left cannot reckon with certainty
upon more then 30, and will now again be weakened
by the voluntary or compulsory withdrawal of some
of the mcst influential Members. PILLERSDORF has
already resigned ; VISLAND, SCIIIVLRZER, and GOLD-
MARK have received votes of " want of confidence ;"
DOBLHOFF is also expected to resign; he has married
within the last few weeks the beautiful daughter of a
burgher.

The Ministerial programme will have an especially
favourable influence on the state of finance, inas-
much as, by the energetic manifestations propounded,
the rich provinces which we had deemed lost will
now be actually more secured to us.
A voluntary loan is spc ken of for covering the ex-
traordinary expenses of the Treasury. The loan is
to be 60,000,000 guilders in cash, fJr the repayment
of which the income of the states, and especially the
tolls, is to be applied. All the monasteries and con-
vents' estates are to be guarantees.
Vienna is still empty, and though many returned,
yet of the numerous families who quitted it, 487 are
still absent from the inter:or of the city alone.
Many of the students intend to quit Vienna, and
to go in a body to Munich, for the purpose of there
continuing their studies.— Vienna Papers.

ITALY.

THE POPE.

The intelligence from Italy gives us some interest-
ing particulars of the escape of Pio Norco from the
Bonapartists at Rome. It appears that his HouNEss
disguised himself as a livery-servant of the Bavarian
Embassy, and escaped from the Quirinal on the box
of the coach of the Bavarian Ambassador, Count
SPHOR, the mob mistaking him for the foot-
man of the Ambassador. Count SPHOR, who had
suggested this disguise to the Pontiff, had, for-
tunately, three days before these occurrences,
taken out his: passports' for himself and suite for
Naples. Arrived at the Bavarian Embassy, the POPE
doffed his livery suit, and attiring himself in the garb
of the chaplain to the Ambassador, took his place in
the carriage by the side of Count Sruox; post horses
were procured, and early on the morning of the 25th
the POPE had arrived in safety at Gaeta, the fron-
tier town of the Neapolitan dominions. On the
arrival of the POPE at Gaeta, on Sunday morning,
the Commander of the Forces telegraphed the fact to
Naples, and asked " How are we to treat his Holi-
ness ?" " With every possible attention," was the
reply. _ _ .

'The KING and the Royal Family immediately set
out for Gaeta to pay their respects to the POPE. The
KING, having had an interview with his Holiness, re-
turned to Naples on the 27th. It was rumoured in
Naples that the PorE would take up his abod3 in that
city, and would occupy either the Palace of Portici
or that of Caserta.

The Pluton, French steamer, with Admiral THE
HOUART on board, left Naples for Gaeta on the 27th,
All the foreign ambassadors except the Sardinian
have accompanied the POPE.

On the arrival of the French steamer at Gaeta, the
POPE refused to go on board, or to proceed to France.
His HOLINESS has ordered the Cardinals to repair to
Malta, there to hold a conclave in the event of his
demise.

The King of NAPLES has prorogued the meting
of the Chambers to the Ist of February.
Prince CARIATI has apologi,ed to the English Ad-
miral, Sir IV. PARKER, for a note presented some
time since, charging the English with having landed
cannon and military stores in Sicily. The Admiral
had every ship's company mustered, and on finding
that the accusation was false, returned a very sharp
answer.

The Bellerophon has sailed from Naples for Pa
lermo.

The report of the flight of the Grand Duke of
Tuscany from Florence is not confirmed, On the
contrary, GUERAZZI has pledged himself to the Grand
Duke to restore order, and has issued an address to
the inhabitants of Leghorn, in which he says, "It is
time that we return to order, and I shall compel those
who are disinclined."

The Corriere Mercantile of Genoa, of the 13th
ult., states the following from Milan, 28th :—" A
Russian Ambassador arrived here yesterday ; RA•
DETZKY immediately sent him an Austrian guard of
honour, but he refused, and accepted instead a piquet
of Municipal Guards, after having asked whether he
could have any National Guards, and being answered
in the negative." The emissaries of the Duke of
LEUCIITENBERG are actively canvassing Placentia and
Lombardy for adherents.
The Venice Gazette of the 23d ult. contains a de-
cree of the Provisional Government, imposing on the
communes, at present subject to the Venetian Go-
vernment, a new contribution of 12,000,000 f., pay-
able at the rate of 25 centimes a year on every franc
of estimated value, in quarterly payments, to begin
from March 31, 1849. A quantity of paper money,
equal to the amount, to be called " Money of the
Commune of Venice," is to be issued from the Ist
inst., in sums of not more than three millions a
month. Admiral ALBINI arrived at Venice on the
23d, and had an immediate conference with the
Government.

CO VEN T GARDEN THEATRE.
Considerable interest was manifested last night at
his fashionable resort of the morale musicale to hear a
new opera composed by Mr. Henri Laurent, a very
young man, scarcely of age. The opera was com-
posed before the new candidate for operatic honours
had attained his twentieth year; and indeed it does
him great credit. We understand Mr. Henri Lau-
rent studied under Mr. G. A Macfarren and Mr.
French Flowers. The new opera is called Quentin
Durward, and is founded upon the brilliant romance
of the same title by Sir Walter Scott, and is drama-
tised with great skill and dramatic effect by
Mr. Fitzball, the author of a hundred and
one successful pieces, Ai hose charming stanzas
in many of the sweet melodies in the opera will be
warbled by many a fair damsel in cottage, castle, hail,
and bower, before Christmas. The airs allotted to
Mr. Harrison, who personated Quentin Durward,
were exceedingly beautiful, and Mr. Harrison ap-
peared to great advantage in this role, the music of
which suite him to a nicety. "I come from the Land
of the Mountain" is a bold, broad melody, and was
encored. "Is she a Spirit ?" is a divine melody. A
beautiful effect is produced in the accompaniment, the
violins playing tremolo con surdinst. The encore to this
ballad was as enthusiastic as it was deserved. The
ballad in the last act, sung by Mr. Harrison, was one of
the best pieces in the opera,"O Isabelle, my love," and we
predict it will eventually be one of the most popular
in the opera. Mrs. Donald King as Isabelle has
added considerably to her reputation by the able
manner ahe sustained her role, her singing through-
out the opera was remarkable for taste, judgment,
and sweetness. The beauteous melody, " Memory
returns to the days of my childhood" is the gem of
the opera, and was deliciously rendered by her, and
encored; perhaps a slight improvement may be made
were she to sing a shade faster. The exquisite
morceau, "0, think not the feelings of
woman's heart," was sung by her with great
feeling, and the finale, " Like crystal
streams," with great brilliancy. Miss Messent
created quite a sensation by the earnest and highly
effective manner she sung " The merry dance is not
for me," which was enthusiastically and unanimously
encored. The judicious manner in which the young
composer has suited the poetry of the second part of
the ballad, where a religious strain is introduced, is
charmingly effective, and gives great promise of good
things. Mr. Borrani, as Louis XI., was excellent, he
was encored in the song " They call me Maitre
Pierre," and deservedly so, for he sang it well, and it
is a right good song, with a very pretty and ingenious
accompaniment. Want of space prevents us from
noticing at full length the various swrceaux of the
opera, but we must not omit the trios " Oh chide her
not" and "A moment from their joy," and the duets
"Ye skies of azure"—in which a sweet flute solo oc-
curs, which was exquisitely played by Signor Bru-
cialdi—and " Through the pale night." The opera
was got up in splendid style. The scenery and
dresses were gorgeous, picturesque, and appropriate.
The principal vocalists, and the youthful and
talented composer, were called before the curtain, to
receive the plaudits of a full and fashionable audience