The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-03 00:00:00

BELGIUM

BRUSSELS, JULY 29.

his Royal highness Frederick William Prince of
Prussia, accompanied by M. de Manteuffel, head of
the Prussian Cabinet, and a numerous suite, have
just arrived at Ostend from Berlin.

It is understood here that his Iloyal Highness will
remain in the Belgian port until the arrival of
Queen Victoria, who, after her visit to the Emperor
at Cherbourg, will proceed to Ostend en route on a
visit to her daughter the Princess William Frederick
of Prussia. Prince Leopold and the royal family of
Belgium will'also be in waiting to receive her Bri-
tannic Majesty on landing. It is not, however, quite
certain whether Ostend or Antwerp is to be honoured
as the place of her Majesty's debarkation. The Bth
of August is named as the day on which her Majesty
will land upon the Belgian territory.
The Courier de la Dyle says:—.

" The tempest of Sunday !vet has committed fearfu
ravage in the arrondissement of Nivelles. A vast quantity
of corn has been blown down by the wind, and in many
fields the damage occasioned is valued at from 100 to 130
francs the hectare. The oats especially, which are very
ripe, have suffered considerably. It is calculated that the
corn st:lks have been so shaken by the wind as to have
shed one-brlf of the grain—in fact, that about one-half of
the corn is completely lost."

The discussion relative to the proposed fortifica-
tions in Antwerp still continues in the Chamber of
Representatives. The following is a sutnmati of
the proceedings yesterday :
M. de Luesemans (Louvain) stated that he would
vote for the adoption of the Government proposi-
tion, not as a question of confidence in the Ministry
or of triumph to a pa-ticular party, but simply as a
question of patriotism and of good government. He
considered this project as one in accordance with
the spirit of the resolutions taken by the Conferences
of London to guarantee the nationality of Bel-
gium.
Gen. Renard, the Government Commissioner, who
made on Tuesday a brilliant speech in favour of the
proposed fortifications, then proceeded to reply to
the arguments used by M. Vervoort, the repre-
sentative of Antwetp, in opposition, on Wednesday.
The general defended the scheme in a strategical
point of view.
Gen. Goblet, reporter of the central section, com-
bated the opinions expressed by Gen. Renard.
M. Frere, the Minister of Finance, followed, and
defended the projel de loi in a financial point of view.
Having sketched the history of the question, the
Minister reminded the Chamber that, in 18.56, the
Government proposed to complete the works neces-
saty for the defences of the country for a sum of
5,400,000 france. The city of Antwerp then asked
but one favour, that was—the power of constructing
works in the fifth section. Subsequently, it de-
manded a partial extension of the northern side. To-
day it is said there must L 3 a general enlarge-
ment. The city of Antwerp had never made any
serious propositions to the Government of partici-
pating in the expense of the completion of the
works which it now appeared to desire so much.
The offer of treating with the Goverement for the
cession of the lands occupied by the fortifications
was an illusory proposition. The Government
never wanted to sell those lands away from the city
of Antwerp.
After M. Frere's speech, the debate was again
adjourned to this day.
By a telegraphic despatch received here from
Hamburg, dated yesterday, we learn that the follow-
ing modifications have just taken place in the Danish
Ministry :
"The Ministry of the Interior for Ordinary Affrirs is
suppressed, such affairs to be administered by the Minister
of the Finances, M. Krieger. M. Unsgaard to be the
Minister of the Interior for the kingdom of Denmark. The
Councillor of Legation, Skrike, to be Director-General of
the Colonies; Professor Wedel to be head of the depart-
ment for Foreign Afters."

The official Gazette of Milan of the 24th inst. pub-
lishes the following letter addressed by the Emperor
Francis Joseph to his brother the Governor-General
of the kingdom of Venetian Lombardy :