The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-05 00:00:00

THE PRUSSIAN DIET.

BERLIN, Nov. 4.
The Prussian Diet was opened to-day by thl3
King in person, who delivered the following speech
from the throne :

" Illu,trious, Noble, and Honourable Gentlemen
of both Houses of the Diet,—The session which
begins to-day opens for you a new field of impor-
tant legislative labour. I trust that the same spirit
of ready co-operation with my Government, to
which the favourable results of the last sessions
were .duc, will rule over your deliberations on this

occasion.
The budget for the next year will be laid before
you without delay. In consequence of the concur-
rence of several unfavourable circumstances, it has
been necessary to draw upon the extraordinary re-
venue in order to completely cover the expenditure,
although the latter has been curtailed as much as
possible. The continued badness of trade, and the
consequences of the unfavourable harvest of
the previous year, have prevented the
otherwise naturally increasing revenue from
keeping peace with the unavoidable increase of the
requirements of the State. The reductions of the
Customs duties and other sources of revenue which
were resolved upon in the general politico-econo-
mical interest of the country, have occasioned 3
falling off of the receipts to a considerable extent.
In the expectation of this, bills were at the be-
ginning of the year brought before the Customs
Parliament, which did not, however, give them its
approval.

" I confidently hope that the necessity of an ad-
dition to the special revenue of the Confederation
will be acknowledged, and that this addition will ne
longer be refused. Inasmuch as, according to
the present state of things, a revival of trade and
its favourable influence in increasing the State
revenue may be expected, we may deduce there-
from the hope that means will shortly be available
for restoring the equilibrium between the ordinal
revenue and ordinary expenditure, and that we
shall be able to provide more liberally for the 0-
penses of the State than is at present possible. i°
considering these circumstances, you will not hesi-
tate to give your sanction to the proposals of mit
Government for meeting the required expenditure
for next year.
"The improvement of our administrative insti"
tutions has been the subject of searching examina-
tion. It cannot be intended to shake or abolish
those hitherto existing institutions to which Prussia
owes her prosperity, before other institutions
which promise to endure and be fruitful of re-
sults shall have been created. But, looking at
the increased extent of the monarchy, and bay-
ing regard to a desire which has in many NOV
been manifested, my Government recognises as
its duty gradually to hand over to the respec"
tive provincial and communal corporations,
for independent consideration, those branches
of public business which do not on ac-
count of any direct interest of the State, necessarily
require to be retained under the direction and care
of the State authorities. So soon as those corpora-
tions are provided with proper administrative orgs-
nisatious, legislation will be directed towards ex-

tending their field of operation in the separate
branches of public affairs, according as the experi-
ments made shall show such extension to be ad-
visable. In several of the new provinces the wag
is already paved for establishing these administra-
tive organisations. To prepare the ground in the
old provinces the completion of the system of di-
viding the country into districts is above all requi-
site. My Government will lay before you a bill
aiming at that object.
" It is intended to effect a number of other ill'
portant amendments to the laws through your co-
operation. The regulations respecting the acquisi-
tion or loss of the character of Prussian subject
require modification as affected by the establish'
ment of the North German Confederation. Wits
reference to the settlement of the communal rela-
tions in the province of Schleswig-Holstein, bills
will come before you treating of the constitution
and administration of the towns and district cons'
munes.

" My Government devotes unceasing care to the
development of the popular schools, and confi-
dently expects your approval of the bills which re-
late to the position of those schools and their
teachers.

" Your attention will be claimed in a special;
degree to the improvement of the administration °`
justice, and to a project for a complete identical
code for the whole monarchy.
" Bills will also be presented to you relative to
superior law appointments and law examinations,
relative to expropriation, and also a bill for intro-
ducing modifications urgently desired by the corn'
mercial world in the bankruptcy laws.
" Moreover, proposals will come before you for
reforming the mortage laws, and a general gam°
law to obtain throughout the whole monarchy Os
been drawn up.
"By the conclusion of a revised Rhine Naviga"

tion Act, a new international agreement has been
obtained for the traffic upon one of the most impor'
tant of rivers. My Government will lay this C 00"
vention before you for approval, in accordance with
the Constitution.

" It affords me satisfaction that a return of the
distress which afflicted a portion of the province
of Prussia last year need not be apprehended this
winter—a result due to the measures which were
taken with your approval, to the devoted activity
of the authorities and corporations, and to this
year's favourable harvest in every province of the
monarchy.

" The relations of my Government with foreign
Powers in every direction are satisfactory and,
friendly. The events in the Western Peninsula 01-
Europe can give rise to no other feeling within 0
than the wish and confidence that the Spanish na-
tion will succeed in finding in the independent
formation of her national position a guarantee
her future prosperity and power.
A proof of united progress in civilisation and
humanity has been afforded by the internationnl,
congress which has just accomplished at Geneva
the task of completing and extending to the nay°
the principles already settled previously for treat-
ing and caring for the wounded in war. We innYti
hope that the moment is far distant which
will call for the application of those principles'
The sentiments of the Sovereigns of EarOaci
and the nations' desire for peace give grown
for trusting that the advancing develop-
ment of the general welfare will not only suer
material disturbance, but will also be freed from
those obstructing and paralysing effects which have
0
only too often been created by groundless fear;
taken advantage of by the enemies of peace sl3u.
public order.
Let the Diet proceed to its work of peace, pene-
trated with this confidence.

ACCIDENT TO AN ACTRESS.—An accident of 5
serious character occurred at the Exeter Theatre ou 6:1;
turday night. Whilst the pieco of "Stolen" was 1901°°
played Miss Reignolds, in walking across a bridge,
precipitated to the ground in consequence of the plans
having broken. One of her ribs was broken, and she wv.

much bruited.
TIIE SOUTHPORT EMBEZZLEMENTS.—Yesterda,y,
the Kirkdalo Quarter Sessions of the Peace, the grand PI
found a true bill against Hodgkinson, the late chief clone
to the corporation of Southport, on six counts of the .r
dictmeut for embezzlement. Tho total amount of tho Gl°
falcAticno is XlO,OOO.