The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-18 00:00:00

RUSSIA.

ST. PETERSBURG, April 18.
The official Northern Post, referring to the state-
ment that Russia would support Prussia in the
event of war, states that the sole object of the Rus-
sian Government is the maintenance of peace. The
Emperor and Empress will make a public entry into
Moscow on the 3d May.

CLOSE OF THE NORTH GERMAN PAR-

LIAMENT.
SPEECH OF KING WILLIAM.

BERLIN, Wednesday Afternoon.
The close of the North German Parliament by the
King of Prussia in person, as previously announced
by Count Von Bismarck during the morning's sit-
ting, took place at noon to-day in the White Saloon
of the Royal Castle.

A large number of Deputies were present,iinclud-
ing Prince Frederick Charles. The Left, how-
ever, was only represented by Herren Becker and
Schraps. In the box of the diplomatic body were
the Ambassadors of England, Russia, Denmark, and
Holland. The Queen and the Crown Princess, with
her eldest son, were in the Royal box.
On the entry of the King Ilerr Simson, President
of the Parliament, exclaimed, " Long live the
King, the Protector of the North German Bund."
His Majesty then delivered the following speech
from the Throne :

,' Illustrious, Noble, and Honourable Members
of the Parliament of the North German
Confederation,

" I see you again assembled around me at the
termination of your important labours with a feeling
of sincere satisfaction. The hopes I recently ex-
pressed from this place in the name of the allied
Governments have since then, through your aid,
been brought to fulfilment. With patriotic earnest-
ness you have understood the greatness of your
task, and havekept in view our common objects with
voluntary self-restraint. For that reason we have
succeeded in establishing upon a secure basis a con-
stitution whose development we may confidently
leave to the future. The Federal authority is fur-
nished with the attributes indispensable to, but also
sufficient for, the prosperity and the power of the
Confederation. The individual States, while their
future is guaranteed by the totality of the Bund,
have retained their freedom of action in all depart-
ments wherein variety and development is admis-
sible and salutary. The popular representation is
secured, that co-operation in carrying out the great
national objects which corresponds to the spirit of
the existing constitutions of the countries, and to
the necessities of the Governments to see their
action supported by the agreement of the German

people.
" All of us who have co-operated in carrying
out the national task—the allied Governments as
well as the representatives of the people—have
readily made the sacrifice of our views and our
wishes, and we were able to do so in the conviction
that these sacrifices were made for Germany and
that they were worth our union. By this universal
readiness, coupled with the conciliation of and
victory over opposing views, the guarantee is
at the same time gained for that future fruit-
ful development of the Confederation, with
the conclusion of which also the hopes com-
mon to us with our brethren in South Germany
have advanced nearer to their fulfilment. The time

has arrived when our German Fatherland is able to
uphold its peace, its rights, and its dignity by its
own collective strength. The national self-con-
sciousness, which has found elevated expression in
the Parliament, has met with a powerful echo from
all quarters of Germany. None the less, however,
are all the Governments and peoples of Germany
unanimous that the regained power of the nation
has, above all, to uphold its significance by render-
ing-secure the blessings of peace.
" lionourab.le Gentlemen, —The great work in
which we have been thought worthy by Providence
to co-operate is approaching its completion. The
popular representations of the individual states will
not refuse their constitutional recognition to what
you have created in community with their Govern-
ments. The same spirit that has enabled the task
to succeed here will also preside over their delibera-
tions. Thus, then, the first Parliament of the North
German Confederation may close its labours with
the elevating consciousness that it is accompanied
by the thanks of the Fatherland, and that
the work it has accomplished will, with the help of
Providence, be fruitfully developed both in our time
and in future generations.

" May God bestow his blessing upon us and our
dear Fatherland."

The paragraphs of the Speech relating to South
Germany, and to the duty of securing the blessings
of peace, called forth loud cheers.

After the delivery of the Speech Count Bismarck,
on behalf of the Federal Governments, declared the

session closed.

The Saxon Plenipotentiary then called upon the
assembly to give three cheers for the King of

Prussia.