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

TILE PRUSSIAN DIET.

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

" Illustrious, Noble, and Honourable Gentlemen
of both Houses of the Diet,---The session 0.01
begins to-day opens for you a new field of inifinr:
taut legislative labour. I trust that the same spiry
of ready co-operation with my Government, to
which the favourable results of the last session
.
were due, will rule over your deliberations on this
occas;on.

The budget for the next year will be laid before
you without delay. In consequence of the concur-
rence of several unfavourable circumstances, it 105
been necessary to draw upon the extraordinary re'
venue in order to completely cover the expenditure,
although the latter has been curtailed as much ae
possible. The continued badness of trade, and the
consequences of the unfavourable harvest 01
the previous year, have prevented the
otherwise naturally increasing revenue front
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"
tnical interest of the couu:ry, 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 thew 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 ll°
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 ordinary
revenue and ordinary expenditure, and that We
shall be able to provide more liberally for the ef-
penses of the State than is at present possible. 13
considering these circumstances, you will not hesi-
tate to give your sanction to the proposals of
Government for meeting the required expenclita°
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 sysY
been manifested, my Government recognises as
its duty gradually to hand over to the resPee-
tive provincial and communal corporatioust
for independent consideration, those brauohe3
of public business which do not on ac-
count of any direct interest of the State, neces3arill
require to be retained under the direction and cars
of the State authorities. So soon as those corper3-
tions are provided with proper administrative orga-
nisations, legislation will be directed towards e'
tending their field of operation in the separate
branches of public affairs, according as the exPercii:
ments made shall show such extension to be 3
visable. In several of the new provinces the wsl
is already paved for establishing these administra-
tive organisations. To prepare the ground iu the
old provinces the completion of the system of Ai
viding the country into districts is above all recl.ll'-
site. My Government will lay before you a bill
aiming at that object.
" It is intended to effect a number of other 5.31'
portant amendments to the laws through your ico-
operation. The regulations respecting the aecilli%
tion or loss of the character of Prussian subjecv
require modification as affected by the establish-
ment of the North German Confederation. IVoi
reference to the settlement of the communal rela-
tions in the province of Schleswig-Holstein, bills
will come before you treating of the constituti°
and administration of the towns and district COllla
munes. • -

.6 My Government devotes •unceasing care to the
development of the popular schools, and eeog-
dently expects your approval of the bills which re.;
late to the position of those schools and ittel
teachers.
" Your attention will be claimed in a special
f
degree to the improvement of the administration v
justice, and to a project for a complete identieia
code for the whole monarchy.
" Bills will also be presented to you relative to
superior law appointments and law examination°,
relative to expropriation, and also a bill for intro'
during modifications urgently desired by the COr
mercial world in the bankruptcy laws. for
" Moreover, proposals will come before you 0
reforming the mortage laws, and a general goo
law to obtain throughout the whole monarchy
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 iroPpt"
taut of rivers. My Government will lay this el;
vention before you for approval, in accordance W
the Constitution.
" It affords me satisfaction that a return of the
distress which afflicted a portion of the proviilo
Le
of Prussia last year need not be apprehended to
winter—a result due to the measures which vrely,
taken with your approval, to the devoted netivi
of the authorities and corporations, and to t,bbie
year's favourable harvest in every province of
monarchy.
o
"The relations of my Government with fore';n
id
Powers in every direction are satisfactory an
of
friendly. The events in the Western Peninsula
Europe can give rise to no other feeling Witbin t
than the wish and confidence that the Spanisii,°s,
0t
tion will succeed in finding in the indepeou'd
formation of her national position a guarantee

her future prosperity and power. fld
44 A proof of united progress in civilisation LI al
humanity has been afforded by the internati°,o
congress which has just accomplished at Gel3,,e•eg
the task of completing and extending to the 03'-t,
the principles already settled previously for tre33s,
ing and caring for the wounded in war. }Ye
hope that the moment is far distant I"ies,
will call for the application of those prifleiPope
The sentiments of the Sovereigns of
and the nations' desire for peace give gr°itior
for trusting that the advancing devenfier
merit of the general welfare will not 0011 6,-1.00
no material disturbance, but will also be freed 'bo
those obstructing and paralysing effects whiell"rof
only too often been created by groundless lea
taken advantage of by the enemies of Poe)

public order. pear
Let the Diet proceed to its work of pea"'
tratQd with this confidence.

0
ACCIDENT TO AN ACTRZSS.—An accident
serious character occurred at the Exeter Theatre on °g
turday night. Whilst the pieco of "Stolen" 11-35 )2:05
played Miss Rcigeolds, in walking across a bridge,
precipitated to the ground in consequence of th')lo,s
having broken. One of her ribs was broken, and siLe
much briljsed.
THE SOUTHPORT EMBEZZLEMENTS._yester,I3Y'of
the Kirkdale Quarter Sessions of the Peace, 00 gr 3, Ti, jlerl4
found a true bill against Hodgkinson, the late chw'
to the corporation of Southport, on six counts of the cir
dictinent for embezzlement. The total amount of tli°
falcations is £lO,OOO.

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Nov. 3•

58 Untie/
e Leopold,

g. frayla

Nov. 4.

y by tb4
in g speech

ion WhiCh

or impor:
arn e spirit

Lment, to
it sessions

us on tilio

ad before
le concur'
.les, it has
dinary re'
penditure,
3 much 811
~ and the
e
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ited the
iue from

.ase of the
ins of the

nue wine

co-econo-

asioned a
)1e extent•
,t the be'

a Customs
e thew its

of an ad"
federation
on will no
mling to
trade and
the State

Lee there'
availabl°
e ordinal
I that Wo
Dr the 0'
Bible. DI
not 1101'
;Ms of Dv
[peaditur°

Lave insti"

exanlins-
or abollsll
ch Prussia
nstitutiooe
;ful of re•
looking at
and hail-
'any WaYl
)gnises 85
resPec-
porationsf
branchefl
ou

lecessarilr
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c corPav
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he exPerii-
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all requ.l-
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onstitutO
strict cOOl

:tare to the
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which re"
and their

n
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a sPen- is
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identical

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for intro.
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eral
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t has bee"
Lost in3lo
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rhich Were
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rice Of the

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within 'iv
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