The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-18 00:00:00

LAIEST NEM S.

KONIGSBERG, THURSDAY EVENING.

To-day, at the reception of the functionaries,
Deputies, and other persons invited to witness the
coronation, the King, addressing the members of
the Prussian Diet, said—

" I desired to summon the representatives of the
Chambers to my presence, even before the coro-
nation, and I thank you for having complied
with my wish. The rulers of Prussia receive their
crown from God. To-morrow, therefore, I shall
take the crown from the Lord's table and place it
on my head. This is the signification of the ex-
pression ' King by the Grace of God,' and therein
lies the sanctity of the Crown, which is inviolable.
I know that you will thus understand the meaning
of the act which I have summoned you to witness:
The Crown has been surrounded by new institu-
tions, by virtue of which you are destined to
afford to it the benefit of your counsel. You will
advise me, and I shall listen to your advice."

PARIS, OCT. 18.

The Moniteur of to-day publishes a circular, dated
16th inst., addressed by Count Persigny, Minister
of the Interior, to the Prefects of the Departments,
explaining the necessity of bringing the charitable
societies established without the formal sanction of
the Government under the operation of the law.
Count Persigny acknowledges the benefits dif-
fused by these associations, and then speaks
of the Freemasons, who, he says, are ani-
mated by a patriotism which has never failed
them in great emergencies, and have not for a
long time given the public authorities any serious
cause of complaint, unless in reference to their
central organisation, whose mode of election, tend-
ing to excite rivalry between the different lodges,
and to disturb their good harmony, calls for some
modifications. Count Persigny continues, "But
it is advantageous to authorise Freemasonry,
and to recognise its existence." He also acknow-
ledges the good done by the local societies of St.
Vincent de Paul, but regrets that the provincial
committees, while pretending to afford encourage-
ment to the different charitable societies, deprive
them of the right of choosing their dignitaries, thus
imposing themselves upon all the societies of a pro-
vince, as if they wished to make them serve as the
tool of an idea foreign to charity."
In reference to the Superior Council of the Society
of St. Vincent de Paul, now sitting in Paris, Count
Persigny says—" The Government cannot approve
the existence of a kind of committee not ap-
pointed by the local societies which fills up its
ranks by its own sole authority, assumes the
right of governing the local societies in order to
form them into a secret association whose ramifica-
tions extend even beyond France, and collects from
the societies a budget, respecting the employment
of which nothing is known. Such an organization,
inexplicable on the sole ground of charity, is use-
less. The honourable and charitable people of
Lyons, Marseilles, and Bordeaux have been influ.
enced by the committee at Paris. The law inter-
dicting these kinds of associations has been too long
violated.

Count Persigny then requests the Prefects to
authorise these societies, if there be any such in
their departments, without delay, according to the
legal forms, and to ascertain whether they wish
to have a central representation at Paris. The
votes of these societies, it is added, are to be for-
warded to the Ministry of the Interior, and the
Emperor will determine upon the bases and princi-
ples of such central representation.

"Until then," concludes the circular addressing
the prefects, " you will prohibit the sittings of any
superior central or provisional council, and will
order their dissolution."

The Noniteur also announces that the Revue dea
Deux Mondes has received a first warning for its
last fortnightly summary of political events, signed
by E. Forgade.

CONSTANTINOPLE, OCT. 12
(via IiIISTENDJEE).

The Sultan goes to Ismid, on the Sea of Mar-
mora, on Monday next, to lay the keel of a new
steam-frigate.

It is rumoured at the port that his Imperial
Majesty will visit Egypt in January next.
Riza. Pasha will proceed to Smyrna to-morrow.
The treaty of commerce between Turkey and
Belgium was Biped yesterday.

MADRID, OCT, 17.
The health of the Infanta Donna Maria de la
Concepcion has again suffered a relapse.