The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-15 00:00:00

" ROYAL DECREE.

" Charles Albert, by the grace of God King of
Sardinia, Cyprus, and Jerusalem, Duke of Savoy,
Genoa, Montferrato, &c., Prince of Piedmont and
Oneglia, Marquis of Italy, &c., Count of Moriana,
Geneva, Nice, &c., Baron of Vaud and Fancigny,
Lord of Vercelli, &c.
" The people whom by the will of Divine Pro-
vidence we have governed for seventeen years with
the love of a father have always understood our affec-
tion, as we, in like manner, have sought to compre-
hend their necessities; and it has always been our
intention that the Prince and the nation should be
united by the closest ties for the common good of the
country.
" 0, this union, now more solid, we hare had most
consolatory proofs in the sentiments with which our
subjects received the recent reforms, which our
wish for their felicity had counselled us to effect for
the purpose of ameliorating the various branches of
Government, and initiating them into the discussion
of public affairs.
"Now, therefore, that the times are ripe tor greater
things, and in the midst of the changes which have
occurred in Italy, we hesitate no longer to give them
the most solemn proof that we are able to Five of the
faith which we continue to repose in their devotion
and discretion.

" Prepared in tranquillity, the political institutions
which will form th 2 completion of the reforms which
we hare already efiltcted are 1-sing malured in our
council, and will consolidate the benefit in a manner
conformable with the state of the country.
" But for the present w• have much pleasure in
declaring that, with the advice and approval of our
Ministers and the principal advisers of our Crown, we
have resolved and determined to adopt the following
bases of a fundamental statute, for the establishment
in our states of a complete system of representative
Government.

" Art. 1. The Catholic, apostolic, and Roman reli-
gion is the sole religion of the state.
" The other forms of public worship at present
existing are tolerated in conformity with the laws.
" Art. 2. The person of the Sovereign is sacred
and inviolable. His Ministers are responsible.
"Art. 3. To the King alone appertains the execu-
tive power. He is the supreme head of the state.
He commands all the forces, both naval and military ;
declares war, concludes treaties of peace, alliances,
and commerce ; nominates to all offices, and gives all
the necessary orders for the execution of the laws
without suspending or dispensing with the observance
thereof.

"Art. 4. The King alone sanctions and promulgates
:he laws.

"Art. 5. All justice emanates from the King, and
is administered in his name. He may grant mercy
and commute punishment.
"Art. 6. The legislative power will be collec-
tively exercised by the King and by two Chambers.
" Art 7. The first of these Chambers will be com-
posed of members nominated by the King for life ;
the second will be elective, on the basis of the census
to be determined.

"Art. 8. The proposal of laws will appertain to the
King and to each of the Chambers, but with the
distinct understanding that all laws imposing taxes
must originate in the elective Chamber.
" Art. 9. The King convokes the two Chambers
annually, prorogues the sessions, and may dissolve
the elective one ; but in this case he will convoke a
new assembly at the expiration of four months.
" Art. 10. No tax may be imposed or levied if not
assented to by the Chambers and sanctioned by the
King.
" Art. 11. The press will be free, but subject to
repressive laws.

Art. 12. Individual liberty will be guaranteed.
" Art. 13. The judges, with the exception •f those
of mandamento, will be irremovable, after having
exercised their functions for a certain space of time,
to be hereafter determined.

" Art. 14. We reserve to ourselves the power of
establishing a district militia (una milizia comunale),
composed of persons who may pay a rate which will
be fixed upon hereafter. This militia will be placed
under the command of the administrative authority,
and in dependencu on the Minister of the Interior.
" The King will have the power of buspencling or
dissolving it in places where he may deem it oppor-
tune so to do.

" The fundamental statute which is about to be
prepared by our command, in conformity with these
bases, will be put in force vs hen the new organization
of the communal administrations shall hare been
carried into effect.

" Whilst we thus provide for the highest emer-
gencies of political order, we are unwilling to defer
any longer the accomplishment of a desire which we
have cherished for some time—namely, that of re-
ducing the price of salt to 30 centimes per kilogramme
from the Ist of July next ensuing, principally for the
benefit of the poorer classes of society, persuaded, as
we are, that we shall find amongst the wealthier that
compensation for the public treasury which the neces-
sities of the state require.
" May Almighty God protect the new era which
is dawning upon our subjects, and meanwhile, until
they can enjoy the greater liberty acquired, of which
they are, and will be, worthy, we expect from them a
rigorous observance of the laws in actual force, and
the maintenance of that imperturbable tranquillity so
necessary for the consummation of the work of the
internal organization of the state.
" Given at our palace in Turin, this Bth day of
February, in the year of Grace 1848.
" CHARLES ALBERT."