The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-23 00:00:00

THE ELECTOR OF HESSE.

Imagine a portly, square-built man, on the other
side of 40, with regular features, a sinister counte-
nance, and a bearing which completely accords with
his usual dress—a general's uniform—and you have
the Elector before you. The moral aspect of this
man it is difficult to present, for his actions are along
succession of contradictions, which are only referable
to two common categories—boundless egotism, and
an equally unlimited contempt of his fellow-men.
He believes in no truth or honesty under the sun.
In his subjects he sees so many presumptuous subjects,
whom he must make feel his power upon every
opportunity, in order to hold them in check. He
hates the democrats, since they will not admit that
such a sovereign as he can realty rule by the " grace
of God; " he hates the constitutionalists because they
would limit his princely prerogative; he hates the
orthodox in church and state, because he regards the
former as hypocrites, and the latter require payment
for their servile patriotism. Formerly the military
life was his hobby, and still he finds his highest grati-
fication in the pomp of the parade ground ; but, since
he has convinced himself that whenever the alternative
is presented to the army to overturn either him or the
constitution, the soldiers will declare to the last man for
the constitution, he has mistrusted li!s troops, and
lost no opportunity of showing his hatred to the
officers who do not understand that their commissions
pledge them to become the blind instruments of his
arbitrary power. Ills most venerable example is
the Emperor Nicholas, who banished to Siberia a
cavalry officer whose spur fell off on parade.
Thinks to Providence, the sphere of the Elector's
power is very circumscribed, but within it he
omits no opportunity of acting out a despotic
nature. Take an example:—Colonel von B—, an
officer universally respected, had erected an elegant
summer residence near to one of the gates
of Cassel, and was accustomed to spend an hour or
two each day in his flower-garden. Oae day he was
carefully watering a bed of favourite plants, when he
was surprised by the Elector, who was riding out for
an airing. The latter reined up his horse, and called
the Colonel. " What do I see, Sir ; does such an em-
ployment become an officer of the staff ? A watering
can, indeed ! You would do well, Sir, to hold your
uniform in more honour for the future." Thus stuttered -
his most gracious Mejesty, with a voice anything but
agreeable ; and eight days afterwards Colonel von B.
was removed far from his house and flowers, with
one consolation, however, that he was also far from
his petty oppressor. Similar was the case of another
officer high in the civil service, who had just built a
house, and when about to move into it, was ordered
to leave Cassel, for no other reason than that it was
known he had counted much upon enjoying his in-
tended new residence. Since these occurrences
it has become a bye-word among the officers of
bath services, "If you would be removed from
Cassel, build a house, and furnish it comfortably."
Several officers have removed from Cassel, because
they were too intimate with some of the liberals
there ; others, however, for a very different reason—
for the sacrifices they had made for their sovereign in
trying moments ; for it is one of the characteristics of
the Elector that he holds it to be degrading to acknow-
ledge a debt of gratitude to any one. As he will be
influenced by no one, he will entrust to no man his
confidence. Even those officials who are haaerding
life and honour in his service stand not an inch nearer
to his heart than the rest of the world. It would, for
example, be a mistake to imagine that such persons
as Hassenpflug and his associates are trusted by
the Prince. He upholds them because they are
his most ready instruments, and are willing to do
anything for a consideration. He knows well
enough that Hassenpflug's patriotism and fidelity do
not transcend the value of the salary he draws ; he
knows that that man would be the first to betray
him :in the hour of extremity ; but he finds a
charm in dealing with men whose virtue nothing
can revolt. 114 treats Hassenpfiug with the same
superciliousness which the latter exhibits to those be-
neath him; but the more dislike the people manifest
towards the minister, the more does his master de-
light to heap outward honours upon him.—Cologne
Gazette.

BANK OF FRANCE.
The foiloß ing is a return of the situation of the Bank
of France on Sept. 19:—

ASSETS.
Cash and ingots .... . . ... f. 341,780,907 71
Ditto in branch banks ... ... 115,016,002 0
Bills past due ••• ••• ••• 122,161 35
Bills falling due in Paris, of which
14,418,238 f. wero receivel from
the branch banks ... ... ... 47,114,231 10
Bills in the branch banks ... 75,623,644 0
Advances on coins and ingots... ... 6,725,600 0
Ditto by the branch banks ... • ... 971,960 0
Ditto on French public securities ... 15,731,881 10
Ditto by branch banks...
... ... 2,460,221 0
Ditto to the State on Bons du TrCsor... 50,000,000 0
DiLo on the loan of 150 millions ... 50,000,000 0
lientes of the reserve fund ... . 10,000,000 0
Rentes, disposable funds ... _ 42,394,488 13
Investments of the new branch banks in
the public funds ... ... ... 12,952,725 74
Hotel and furniture of the Bank ... 4,000,000 0
Beal property of the branch banks ... 3,494,717 0
Interest in National Discount Bank ... 200,000 0
Ditto branch banks ... ... ... 230,000 0
Bills protested at Paris ••• 9•• 1,033,006 92
E'..tpenses of administration of the Bank 175,806 9 L
Ditto of the branches ... ... ... 227,353 0
Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... 810,225 95

f. 781,064,931 91