The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-28 00:00:00

AUSTRIA.

The EMPEROR has agreed to the proposal of the
Ministry recalling Count LEOPOLD Tircx from the
Government of Bohemia,

PRUSSIA.

The Bremen Gazette says a Cabinet Council was
lately held at Potsdam, in which the important
question was discussed of the position of Prussia with
regard to the Regent of the Empire. The KING ex-
pressed himself very warmly in favour of active de-
votion to the provisional chief of the empire, saying,
that obedience is the duty of all good citizens, includ-
ing the Princes of Germany. But for his own part
he would submit voluntarily, and would contribute
with all the power of Prussia to the realisation of the
unity of Germany. The army, he added, would
submit to orders coming from Frankfort, and Prus-
sia, being the most powerful of the German states,
Ought to be foremost in setting a good example.
The following address has been extensively pla-
carded in Berlin :

" TO THE PEOPLE.

" The danger which has floated over our heads during
months now menaces to burst upon us, and to bereave
U 9 of that which is dearest and most holy. We fear
neither anarchy, republic, nor reaction in favour of
absolutism; these will tall powerless before the sound
spirit and sturdy resolution of the people. What we
fear is the sunset of our fatherland, ' Prussia.' All
that has been effected and provided for in our country is
to be undone; the glory of our forefathers is to be buried
in oblivion, and the name of Prussia for ever extin-
guished! This is the aim of our enemies. This is what
they understand by the words, Prussia henceforth
is amalgamated with Germany.' All the energies of the
greatest man that ever lived—the immortal Frederic—
were required to found our noble monarchy, and when
this monarchy fell into terrible straits, when the whole
people rose and exclaimed, It shall not perish, the
jewel bequeathed to us by the great man ;' and it did
not perish ! And now, when our country is powerful,
great, and prosperous—now, when it might hold Its
ground single-handed against the world, and raise its
head aloft with just pride, now must it go down without
a cause, without even a single struggle ? Is that which
the great Emperor Napoleon could not effect to be ren-
dered possible by phrases and phrase-heroes ? and all
this for the honour and strengthening of Germany,
as political intriguers declare, although it is well
known to the whole world that Germany cannot
exist without a most strong and powerful Prussia.
Not Prussia alone, but all Germany is interested.
Should Prussia be fist split asunder to give life to a
chimera, Germany will soon share in her demote' ; and
we are nearer to that downfal than we imagine. Oh !
who is there whose boart does not throb with rage and
indignation ? Who is there who does not deeply teel
the shame of this ignominy—ignominy greater than that
heaped upon us in 1806—greater than men could ever
dream of ? But the Prussian people still live—the re-
cords of her glories are not extinguished in them—all
hope is not lost ! This brave and honour-loving people
will rise like one man in the hour of peril, and with a
voice of thunder call to judgment those who would fain
tarnish their honour and trench upon their independ-
ence ! (Signed)
"Prussian Union for a Constitutional Kingdom."
M. E. AItAGO, the Envoy from the French Re-
public, has presented his credentials to the KING.
The new project of Constitution has been printed
and distributed. The preamble commences with
" We, Frederic 'William, by the grace of God
King of' Prussia ;" but the adjuncts of dukes of, &c.,
are omitted. The Ist section, relative to territory,
says—" All portions of territory of the Prussian
monarchy in their now existing circumscription form
the Prussian monarchy"—thus omitting the passage
n g
rt
eobtyh et
hr ea -t
"tghaisH zreat-io°rngaolfi'iPzaotsieonn, wainlld niinottimtaakte-
place " unless by authority of law." The 2d
chapter, section 2, runs thus :—" There shall be
no distinction of classes nor privileges in
the state. All Prussians are equal before
the law. The nobility are abolished." Sect.
24. Every Prussian who has attained the
age of twenty is entitled to carry arms. The
law decides exceptions. Every Prussian entitled
to bear arms is bound to serve the state (wehr
pfticten). Sect. 25. The armed force consists of the
standing army, Land weh, and Burgher Guard
wehr). Sect. 27. The Burgher Guard shall
choose their officers to the rank of major (bataillon
chefs); the Government to select the higher grades
from a list of those presented by the Burgher Guard.
The Landwehr to select their officers to the rank of
captain, inclusive. Sect. 30. No armed force can
deliberate (as a body). Chap. 111 , sect. 38. The
royal power is hereditary in the male line of the royal
house, according to the rights of primogeniture and
that of the agnate law." The rest of the articles
of this chapter relative to the royal powers are
similar to those of which a translation is already be-
fore you. Chapter,V. s. 55. " The executive power
shall be carried into effect by common accord between
the King, Representative Chamber, and Senate. The
full accord of the King and two Chambers is neces-
sary to validate laws. Should, nevertheless, a project
of law be accepted a third time unchanged by both
Chambers. It shall, on the third passing have force
of law." Thus a suspension, and not absolute veto,
is admitted ; and no law can be rejected by the Crown
more than three years, or rather three sessions. Sect.
56. "The second Chamber (ToMshanuner) shall
consist of 350 members. Sect. 57. Every Prussian
aged twenty-four is entitled, after six months'
domicile in any given place, with certain
exceptions, to vote as a primary elector (zihrwaider.)
These shall elect one (wahlinan) direct elector
out of every 250 souls of population. It is not
necessary that an elector should be able to write.
Sect. 59. The deputies are to be chosen by the
Wahlmanner. The legislative period for the second
chamber is fixed at three years. All Prussians aged
30 are eligible as candidates. Sect. 64. The first
chamber (Senate) shall consist of 175 members.
They shall be elected by the representatives of the
istricts and circles (bezirks and hreisvertretr). The'
legislative duration of the senate shall be six years.
All Prussians are eligible who have attained their
fortieth year and resided one year in Prussia. Sect.
70. The chambers shall be regularly opened by the
King yearly during the month of November. If not
convoked, the chambers shall meet of their own law-
ful right on the last day of this month."
The above are some of the most essential and in-
teresting clauses, as they determine the question of
the title, the monarchy, the kingly powers, and the
First Chamber or Senate.

The Prussian Assembly has authorised the prose-
cution of one of its members, implicated in the attack
on the Assembly in June.
The report of the Committee on M. LINESKI'S
proposition for the abolition of the punishment of
death has been drawn up, and a project of law of the
following tenure drawn up:---
" See. 1. The punishment of death is abolished. The
punishment of death, when resulting from martial law or
state of siege, shall not be affected by this law. The
conditions, forms, and circumstances under which a state
of siege shall be proclaimed, remain to be determined by
special laws.
Sec. 2. In lieu of the punishment of death, hard
labour for life shall be substituted in the Rhine pro-
vinces, and in the remainder of the country imprisonment
for life ii a house of correction or fortress.
" Sec. 3. The commutation of sentences of death
already pronounced shalt follow upon the passing of this
law."

BELGIUM.
%MEM', juLT 25.—During the first six months
of 1848 the national revenue amounted to
47,386,309 f.. being a decrease of nearly 380,000 f.
compared with the corresponding period of 1847. It
must be observed, too, that in the foregoing amount
of revenue the direct taxes or imposts are included,
and that the latter comprise the extraordinary ad-
vances made to the Government by the tax-
payers. Taking the indirect revenue alone (the
one by which the real resources of a
country like Belgium must be judged of) it
shows a decrease, compared with the first half of 1847,
of not less than 1,408,179 f. 3.5 c., the chief falling off
being in the Customs department and the national
railway. The receipts of the latter are still diminish-
ing, being for the month of June last nearly 26,000 f.
less than during the month of May. With a decreased
and still decreasing revenue, and with some hundreds
and thousands of inhabitants in a state of all but
utter destitution,.it certainly behoves this country to
look sharply after its expenditure, and not to waste
its treasures as it has done of late, in raising up an
armed force by far too great for a small and neutral
kingdom like Belgium. •