The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-06 00:00:00

OPENING OF THE PRUSSIAN

CHAMBERS.

SPEECH OF 'TIE KING.

BERLIN, Aug. 5.
The opening of the Prussian Chambers by the
King in person took place at noon to-day. The
following is the full text of his Majesty's speech :
" Illustrious, noble, and loyal Gentlemen of both

Houses of the Diet,—

" Now that I see assembled around me the repre-
sentatives of the country, my heart impels me to
express first of all from this place my own and my
people's thanks for God's gracious goodness, which
has assisted Prussia, amidst heavy but successful
sacrifices, not only in averting from our frontiers
the dangers of hostile attack, but in enabling the
army of the country, by a rapid career of victory,
to add fresh laurels to its inherited fame and to
smooth the course for the national development of
Germany.
" Accompanied by the visible blessing of God,
the part of the nation capable of bearing arms
enthusiastically obeyed the summons to the sacred
struggle for the independence of the Fatherland.
Our heroic army, supported by few but faithful
alliess, advanced from success to success, from vie"
tory to victory, in the east as in the west. Much
precious blood has been shed ; the country
mourns the loss of many brave men, who died the
death of the hero in the flush of triumph, until our
standards waved along a line extending from the
Carpathians to the Rhine. It will be for the Govern-
ment and the representatives of the people, in united
co-operation, to bring to maturity the fruit that
must be gathered from this sanguinary seed, to pre-
vent its having been scat',-crei in vain.
" Loyal Gentlemen of both Houses of the
My Government is able to look with satisfaction on
the financial position of the State. Careful foresight
and conscientious economy have placed it in a posi-
tion to overcome the great financial difficulties
which have resulted as a natural consequence from
&-cumstances of the present time. Although
material outlay has tnen imposed upon the Treasury
during recent years by the war with Denmark, it
has been found possible to meet the expenses hitherto
incurred in the present war from the State revenue
and the existing balances, without imposing all
other burden upon the country than that of furnish'
ing the supplies in kind for war purposes it is bound
to provide by law. I hope the more assuredly that
the means required for the successful termination of
the war and for the payment of the supplies in kind,
whilemaintaining order and security in the finances,
will be readily granted by you.
" An agreement with the representatives of the
country as to the settlement of the budget has nest
been able to be effected in the last few years. The
State outlay incurred during this period is there'
fore destitute of that legal basis which, as I a:gait.°
acknowledge, the budget can alone receive through
the law, which Article 99 of the Constitution ordai°
is annually to be agreed upon between my Gov
ment ment and the two houses of the Diet. Althoughrai,
Government has nevertheless carried on the budget
for several years without this legal basis, this 11/
only been done after conscientious examination, and
in the conviction, in accordance with duty, that the
~
conduct of a settled administration, the fulfilmee:
of legal obligations towards public creditors ahouf
officials, and the maintenance of the army and ,e
the State establishments were questions vital to toi ,
existence of the State, and that the course adopte!i3
therefore, became one of those inevitable necessitl%
which, in the interest of the country, a Governine'
cannot and must not hesitate to adopt. tri-
" 1 trust that recent events will in so far conts
bute to effect the indispensable understanding W..
an indemnity for having carried on the Admiuist!:.
tion without a law regulating the budget—aPPlic....,`
tion for which will be made to the representatives
will readily be granted to my Government, and the
ail j
hitherto existing conflict be therewith finally'
the more securely brought to a conclusion, as it ,
be expected that the political position of the Fatheb%,
land will admit an extension of the frontiers of
State, and the establishment of a united Fed+ esr:f
army under the leadership of Prussia, the cos'
Ineni
which will be borne in equal proportions by a dill
bers of the Confederation. The bills requiree
this respect for the convocation of a popular rbe19,01.0
sentation of the Federal States will be laid
the Diet without delay.
as '
the'r'lGanend feels—the
tlemen—Yohuigfheeilmwpiotrhtanc
r 0
that brings me once more among you. IN,l3Y-
vidence bless Prussia as graciously in
hasfut3,..uiraeyod-
visibly blessed the immediate past.
'ant it I" importance of me—the
t :env roe t
]; 1-
111_

tho
The Earl and Countess of Derby have taken
at
villa formerly belonging to the late Sir Henry Wr°bste
Roehampton, in order that the noble earl WI, in
IttgetieY of public business, be in the vicinity of WO'