The Sun.
London, England, 1860-09-20 00:00:00

TEE PRUSSIAN CIRCULAR.

The Cologne Gazette publishes the following cir-
cular addressed by the Prussian Government to its
representative at the German Courts :
" The attitude which the Prince Regent's G nt
has assumed with regard to -certain important questions
pending in the Federal Diet has, as you know, given rise to
diverse appreciations. We have, however, not failed to
expose, with frankness and without reticence, in each spe-
cial case, the motives of our conduct. Nevertheless, the
importance which we attach to having our position with
regard to our German cofederates understood everywhere
in its real signification, and properly explained by the re-
presentatives of Prussia to the German Cabinets, causes
me to call anew your attention to this subject, and to notice
the general points of view by which we are guided in the
manner of treating the questions referred to.
" The Government of the Prince Regent, as I have no
need to assure you, considers the existence and maintenance
of the Confederation as of the highest importance. It knows
that in this matter all the cofederate governments are per-
fectly in accord with it. It also knows that the majority of
its cofederates share its opinion that the organisation of the
Confederation is capable of, and requires, amelioration.
It finally shares with them the opinion that a reform of
the federal organisation can only be undertaken by reli-
giously respecting the rights of all, and can have a chance .
of success only in circumstances favourable to the solution
of such a difficult question. The Prince Regent's Govern-
ment cannot consider the present as a propitious moment;
and it has consequently confined its efforts to obtaining an
application of the existing organisation in a manner in
accord with the veritable spirit and the real mission of the
Confederation.

" The German Confederation is an association accord-
ing to international law, the essential object of which, in
the eyes of the Prince Regent's Government, is to protect
the security and the independence of Germany, and of
each of its members in presence of foreign nations. Some
of our cofederates, however, appear to turn their attention
principally to the uniform development of internal political
organisation, and especially to the constitutional institu-
tions of each cofederate State, according to a system which,
if carried to its extreme consequences, would lead to the
establishment of a supreme federal authority interfering
with the internal organisation of each State.
" We abstain from examining more profoundly the ex-
tent of the jurisdiction which the fundamental laws of the
Confederation assign in this respect to the Federal :Diet.
We also abstain from inquiring if, on certain previous oc-
casions, those laws have not received too wide an interpre-
tation. But we do not hesitate to declare that froin ftrin
conviction we adopt the principle that the action of the
Federal Diet, as regards the internal organisation of States,
and especially their constitutional institutions, ought to
be reduced to the most restricted measure of its gene-
rally recognised jurisdiction. In fact, the confedera-
tion of a certain number of States differing in extent,
in character, and in power, and yet enjoying equal
rights in that Confederation, cannot overcome the
difficulties arising from such a situation, unless the tie
which binds its members together touches as little as pos•
sible their internal independence.
" The same result is indicated by a consideration of a dif-
ferent kind. The Federal Diet is composed of repre-
sentatives of the ()Ferman Governments. Does there not
result from that fact alone, the necessity of avoiding even
the appearance that the whole of the Governments could
wish to subject to their jurisdiction, in order to decide in
their peculiar point of view, differences concerning the re-
lations between the Governments and the Legislative
Chambers ?

" If, then, the Prince Regent's Government is animated
with the desire to see the action of the Federal Diet, as re-
gards the internal organisation of States, and especially
their constitutions reduced to the strictest limits, it is at
the same time persuaded that to do so is not only the best
way of preserving to the Confederation its real character,
but that by resolutely entering on such a path, an end
would be put to apprehensions which the Diet has particu-
lar interest in seeing removed. Penetrated with that con-
viction, and firmly resolved not to abandon its attitude, the
royal Government hopes that such of its confederates as
have hitherto entertained different ♦iews, will not refuse,
after an impartial examination of the arguments which it
presents, to adopt its opinion.
" The Prince Regent's Government is certain in advance
to obtain that adhesion when it proclaims its conviction
that the first and the highest mission of the Confederation,
and that which principally led to its establishment, was no-
thing more than to protect from all danger and all violence
from abroad, the independence of each German State sepa-
rately, and the absolute integrity of the national territory.
" At no epoch las this mission been more imperative for
the Germanic Confederation than in presence of the exist-
ing political situation. But the spirit which animates the
nation facilitates the accomplishment of it. Since the foun-
dation of the Confederation, the idea of nationality has been
stronger and stronger among the Germanic people, and the
Governments will only anticipate their wishes by aealously
joining in giving to the military forces of Germany the de-
velopment and the organisation calculated to inspire in the
nation, on the appearance of a foreign danger, a well-
founded hope of the success of the efforts which in that
eventualty it would be called on to make.
" Prussia has quite recently, in order to increase her
power and her military forces, added new sacrifices to those
which she had previously demanded from her populations.
Relying on this eircum,,tance, en the fact that, as demon-
strated by experience, the security of Germany depends
chiefly on the efforts of Prussia, and on its loyal intentions
and the purity of its object, the Government of the Prince
Regent can confidently hope that its German confederates
will not only respond, in the measure of their resources to
the exigencies of the general political situation, but that in
the Diet they will zealously support all the measures which
the gravity of circumstances and the real character of the
situation imperatively demand for the defence of the coin-
mon country. You are authorised to speak, in accordance
with the views I have indicated, whenever an opportunity
may present itself.—Accept, etc.,

" SCHLEINITSP

THE HARDWARE TRADE AND THE NEW FRENCEC
TREATY.—Messrs. Wagner and Fletcher, the deputation
appointed by the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce to
confer with the French and English Commissioners in Paris,
on the subject of the new tariff on British manufactures._
have returned, the commission, so far as relates to the tariff
on metal and hardware goods, having concluded its inquiries.
The final adjustment of the duties is all that has now to be
done, and, so far as we can learn, Messrs. Wagner and
Fletcher are perfectly satisfied with the result. It is ex-
pected that in the course of a few days the report of the
commission, after receiving the sanction of the Emperor
and the Queen, will be published, and the deputation will
afterwards formally notify to the Chamber of Commerce
the reasons which have induced certain classifications of
articles. Whilst referring to the subject we may mention
that we have good authority for stating that the paragraph
appearing in Alonday's Times, relative to the arrangements
as to Sheffield cutlery, is to a great extent erroneous.
Birmingham Post.
THE " MUTTON CLUB" IN INDIA.—We are
going to join the Mutton Club. This is one of the great
social institutions of the Mofussil, that is, of all Northern
India except Calcutta. The Mutton Club consists of those
residents at a station who unite for the laudable purpose of
supplying their tables twice a week with joints of grain-fed
mutton. A shepherd is hired ; sheep arc bought; gram (a
sort of pea) is supplied to the animals in a long trough two
or three times a day ; and the club's butcher every week
selects from the stock for slaughter as many sheep as may
be required. The members receive in regular rotation a
fore quarter, a hind quarter, a saddle, &c., and always ar-
range their dinner parties, if possible, for hind quarter or
saddle day. At the end of each month the secretary (usu-
ally an active-minded lady) adds up the expenses, divides
the sum by the number of members, and receives from each
his share of the cost. Whoa a new Mutton Club is started
each member deposits a sum, commonly £5, and when he
leaves the station his successor in office, or some other
person, buys up the share at the price originally paid for
it, provided the club be in a flourishing condition,-,-Fron
London to Lucknow, by a Chaplain in the Indian Service.
BRIGHTER THAN VENUS.—The Star, according
to the Sun. is to be incorporated with the Dial. Accord-
ingly the Dial, instead of being a Sun-Dial, will become a
Star-Dial. If it will enable anybody to tell the time of day,
Bright's particular Star will be wonderfully luminous,—
Punch.