The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-26 00:00:00

also speaks the same language as his new subjects ;
that he too, as an Italian, claims to be born among
them ; that he came by invitatior, to brother Italians
who thought their real independence conditioned by
their relation to a free Italy; and who certainly were
not conquered by ono patriot, advancing to the city,
with half a staff of officers only, and his little army
of Italians, of all provinces, several day marches be-
hind him. Did not FRANCIS 11. know all this
even without any one to advise him? And, while
he points to temporary martial law, does he not
know that martial law is liberty itself com-
pared with the oppressions and cruelties
of his own police administration—an admi-
nistration utterly without law. Perhaps,
however, we have already bestowed too many sen-
tences on tnis long document, absurd, waste paper,
indeed, as it really is. We can only express our
hope that his late Majesty will in a few days accept
his real position, quit Italy for ever, and so show
to his late subjects that he really wishes them " a
happy New Year."

We have now the decision of the judicia
tribunal of Bonn, in the case of the eleven
English residents who had the temerity to
dare the displeasure of the Constitutional
Prussian Government in vindicating the national
character by protesting against the sweeping
abuse which the Deputy of the Provincial
Attorney-General thought fit to lavish on the
English people. The protest, considering the strong
cause of complaint the unoffending residents had,
was extremely moderate; but this very moderation,
together with the logical conclusion drawn from
M. MOLLER'S intemperate address, which went to
show that this ornament of the Prussian Bar had
not only insulted the British nation, but in so doing
had slandered the consort of the heir-apparent to the
Prussian Crown. The public will remember that
in September last an English gentleman, one
Captain MACDONALD, was grossly insulted by cer-
tain military officials at Bonn, and confined most
unjustly in the common gaol, he being at the time
the aggrieved party. At the investigation which en-
sued on the 15th of that month. M. MOELLER made
use of the following polite and startling remark
that " The English, residing and travelling on the
continent were notorious for the rudeness, impu-
dence, and blaguardism of their conduct."
If M. MOELLER be taken as a specimen of the
Prussian nation the cap fits much better, oar Ger-
man neighbour than ourselves. The English re-
sidents, feeling justly indignant, published the
following protest in the Bonn and Colognejournals :
We, the undersigned English inhabitants'of Bonn, beg
to protest against the assertion made by the Staats-Pro-
curator Moller, on Tuesday, the 17th inst., during the
public sitting of the poliee court, that " the English re-
siding and travelling on the continent were notorious for
the rudeness, impudence, and blackguardism of their
coaduct" (Anmassung, Unverschamtheit, and Lummelei).
We may not have reached the height of refinement and
proper feeling en which the Staats-Procurator stands (we
are but Englishmen), but we cannot understand how a
representative of the Prussian crown could be so far carried
away by his private feelings of hatred as to insult a whole
nation to which the consort of the crown prince belongs.
Our royal princess is "an Englishwoman residing on the
continent ;" our Queen will soon be "an Englishwoman
travelling on the continent." Must they, too, quietly allow
themseves to be dragged out of a railway oarriage by the
railway servants, called " dummes Volk aid Flegel" by
orthopaedic physicians, as if they defend themselves, be
thrust into a dirty gaol for a week, and be then brought out
to to be told that theyare "rude and impudent blackguards"
by the Attorney-General of the Crown.
Is the conduct of the many respectable English families
who live in Bonn as peaceably as the feeling which the
Staats-Procurator tries to rouse against them will allow, of
such a kind as to deserve so uncalled-for and cowardly an
attack on the whole British nation ?
What would be thought of an English Attornsy-General
of tho crown who should stand up in e.ourt and denounce all
the German resident in London acid Manchester ae "rude
and impudent blackguards.
J. S. M. Anderson, British Chaplain; Walter C.
Perry, P. J. H. Baddeley, E. Rapp, G. M. Cum-
berland, Major; C. J. Oldfield, Eieut •Colonel ;
Mortimer Pery Drummond, Francts P. Washing-
ton, G. C. E. Rochfort, George Williams, C. T.
Thurston.
The Government in the meantime had perceived
that their representative had gone too far and
thought to appease the indignant remonstrance to
be expected from the English Ambassador at
Berlin, by instituting an enquiry into the conduct
of M. MOELLER, which resulted in his being for-
mally reprimanded. But notwithstanding that
they thus admitted the justice of the protest the
individuals who signed that document were ar-
raigned at the bar of the Judicial Court at Bonn,
charged with libelling the character of M.
MOELLER, and its four principal mem-
bers were fined the following sums :
Dr. PERRY, who had boldly avowed himself to be
the originator 100 thalers, or in default five
week's imprisonment. The other three were fined
25 thalers, or, in default nine days' imprisonment.
This is a sample of justice in Prinsia, a country
which boasts to be a free country with a corp.
stitational government and liberal institutions.
One good result must, however, follow this mon-
strous act of tyranny and injustice. The
British Government cannot permit such an insult
to pass unnoticed. Lord JOHN RUSSELL may not
have power to interfere with the decisions of Prus-
sian judges, but it is his duty as Foreign Secretary
to express through our Ambassador at Berlin an
indignant remonstrance against such a mockery of
justice. Prussia is after all bat one degree removed
from the despotism of Austria and Russia, yet has
not the honesty to avow it. In fact, the policy
pursued by the Prussian Government is unworthy
of the ruler of a great nation. It has characterised
their proceedings for a considerable time past.
F During the late Russian war, Prussia fear-
ing to provoke the hostility of the all power-
ful alliance of England and France, yet in
secret favouring the course of the Autocrat,
declared herself neutral, which was in
reality a monstrous deception, for under the cloak

of neutrality she rendered more essential service to

_--
Russia, enabling the sinews of war to be

conveyed thither through the Prussian ports
than had she furnished- an auxiliary army. But
to return to the freedom supposed to be possessed
in this land of despotism and injastice. Some time
past a member of the Prussian Chamber called at-

tention to the fact that a number of revolutionary
pamphlets had been circulated throughout Prussian

Poland so openly that he was convinced that it was

done with the connivance, if not by the authority
of the Director of Police. An inquiry was insti-
tuted, and, as is usually the case, a subordinate

officer was made the scapegoat, and the matter for

a time ended ; but it ultimately transpired that this
was but a subterfuge, and it was proved beyond a
doubt that •the Police authorities had caused the

names of several of the principal inhabitants to be

forged to certain letters sent to a revolutionary
club in London inviting its members to
send delegates to confer with those then existing
in Poland, and declaring that the country was ripe
for revolt, when in reality all was quiet and peace:
able. This was done to implicate certain influential
individuals who were obnoxious to the Government.
Had such a statement been made in the British

Parliament all Europe would have rung with ii,

but this decrete Prussian Chamber passed it by as a
matter of course, and the Free Press, we suppose,
had orders to be silent. We have drawn attention
to strange facts to show how absurd it would be
to hope for any redress from the Prussian Gc-

vernmeut, unless it was wrung from it by the
fear of the serious displeasure of England; Let,