Star.
London, England, 1817-08-20 00:00:00

kURLIGN INTELLIGc.e.

FRANKFORT, AUGUqr 9.

The resolution adopted by the Diet in its 28d Sit-
fitig in favour of the purchasers of domains in that
part or the kingdom of Westphalia whicb,since 1814,
has come under the dominion of the Elector of Hesse-
Catsel. has not as yet had the desired eff:ct. The
D:et, therefore, in its 4th Sitting, has just recom-
mended to the Electoral Gmernment to act with a
spirit of moderation, and to treat the new purchasers
with that regard which they deserve. The Diet,
however, definitively refers these ptirchasers of na-
tional prop rty to the Elector, before whom they are
to make their representations, and on whom it de-
pends to attend to them or not. Nothing could prove
better the complete impotence of the Diet than this
glair. We see that it is rather a political academy
for discussing lights, than a supreme tribunal for de-
ciding them. The most remarkable vote given on
this occasion was that of the Grand Duke of Baden,
which is as follows :
s• The Grand-ducal Court has ordered me to de-
clare, that I must abstain friatn formally voting in
this baroness, till a definitive recision be pronounced
on the following question, fundamental to the deter-
mination of the claim, namely, to• what extent the
quality of usurpation, with conseqnences that result
from it, can be attributed to the Westphalian Go-
vernment, which was formally acknowledged by the
peace t f which subsequently entered into trea.
ties as a recognised State with all the Powers of Eu-
rope, and with which several of the Members.of the
Confederation concluded political conventions."
It must be confessed that none of the treaties made
at Path or Vienna in 1814 and 1815 have pronoun-
Led definitively on this question. The Diet has been
adjourned till the month of November. Its labours
have not hitherto led to any real or useful results.
The act of Germanic federation, together with the
Diet, gave reason to hope for a frank and intimate
union between the different States which compose it ;
but this hope has not been realized. Judging front
the spii it that appears to reign in Germany, we are
kd to believe that the force of circumstances will do
snore for the good of that confederation, than the
men who have been placed at the head of affairs have
yet been able to accomplish.
M. the B iron di Gagern. Minister Plenipotentiary
of the Netherlands, for the Duchy (I) of Luzern.
burg, in his speech delivered in the 44th Sitting of
the Diet, made some rather remarkable declarations
on the situation of the Germanic Confederation and
of the Diet. The following summary of his speech
deserves attention t

There are yet in our country (Germany) the
elements of fermentation : and it cannot be denied

that many objects are yet incomplete and far from
the point of maturity ; that, in fact, even this confe-
deration is not generally appreciated as it ought to
be; and that its complete organization cannot be ex-
pected for a long time yet to come. Nor can it be
denied that the ISth article of the Act of Federation,
so important in itself, and so essentially connected
With the dissolution of the empire, as well as the
multiplied promises of giving constitution to States,
are yet scarcely any where executed : that melan-
&wily events have resulted therefrom :' that the
maxims of a just and wise policy, not such as they
have been professed by some Statesmen, or heads of
schools of philosophy, but such as the spirit of history
adopts, such as'other great nations around us practise
without calling them in question, such principles are
not let developed among us, that they are not the
• object of auy discussion here, and but too frequently
tall into unskilful hands that spoil them."
(i) 7 be King of the Netherlands is a mamba of the Germanic.
Cooteileratioci, to his quality of Duke of I.loismtiorg.