Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-05-15

has risen excessive height and wheat has been sold for
ITS quarter Every species Of food scarce and large
part Of the population is reduced beggay The currency
deprecated forty per and the Treasury exhaust
ed The middle classes iated by exactons of every
kind by the military drill to which they have been subjected
and by the duties imposed them for the defence city,
The Queen said have become the object of great popular
luminosity, and is looked upon the of evils
The prison of Lmoero and the Castle of ST. George
full of political prisoners, but they i'll guarded that they
have connexions in the city and willing take
the lead OF an instruction at the first signal from the army
beyond the Tagus In SD , every thing indicates the pro-
liability OF disturbance in Lisbon ITSELF which may reduce
the Queen to take refuge on board British We
sincerely hope that in this supreme hour the Court may be
induced to offer such terms the Constitutional party
accept and that influence, which has happily been com
promised by breach of neutrality may still be enabled TO
| negotiate peace.
OPENING OF THE DIET OF PRUSSIA
The chambers of the palace Of Frederick the Great have
never witnessed more imposing scene or memorable
than the solemn Inauguration Of the United Diet Of
Prussia by King FREDERcK WILLIAM w. on the 18th of
April The ceremony, which had been puposey appointed
for that day Of the week. which is usually apart for the
service of God preceded by the religious rites Of both
Churches destined TO consecrae and had almost said
sanct the compact between the Sovereign and the Prs
sian nation In all these obseyances the Court and the rep
esenatves of the realm seemed TO unite in
men OF honest hope and devou patrosm alike from
the turbulence Of popular enthusiasm and the stiff pageans of
Court The arrangements for the reception of the several
Courts OF the assembled Parliament Gas they henceoh
be caed had been accurately provided and the Royal
delivered in the great white chamber Of the old palace
presence Of the whole Diet, the royal family, the diplomatic
body, and OF all that most ilustrious in the kingdom
On such occasion the conventional language of political
declarations might well be laid aside and the royal dignity
could suffer nothing in giving utterance with than
warmth, the emotions which the day naturally called
forth. The King OF Prussia his people face to face TO
the
ed promise of the Crown and to throw open the portals
the hall Of constitutional freedom his subjects With all
experience OF the uncertainty Of human expectations and
the raty of human institutions, is impossible share
something OF the enthusiasm which pevaded that remarkable
assembly, and not reecho the wishes which
breahed for the Of this enterprise is
before remarked the first time in the history of mankind
that the absolute Sovereign of great nation has paid per-
cty free and dsnerested homage the principle of
utional government under consant impulse but that
OF his own magnanimous disposition, his confidence in the
temper Of his people, ard his enlightened difference for that
public opinion which has made itself resby felt through
all the barriers Of despotc power. No for
doubt that the motives which have acuaed the King Of Pus-
sa do honor to his throne and we trust that the results Of
these measures will throw lasting glory on his reign.
We should do injustice TO the Prusan people and to Ger
many large, il failed notice the admirable spirit they
have exhibited since the publication of the patent Of the Sd
OF February. No mpaience excitement, mistrust
has been allowed to the impression which the Royal pro-
mise was calculated to produces but in than
est and patriotic mind the welcome conviction has been
ened that the political life of the German nation hence
forth TO begin on its basis and might be guided great
ends There has been yet disposition TO degrade the
institutions which would soon be placed within the reach
Of the people into engine of agitation of faction,
rather to lend their strength to the support Of the Throne
and the real advancement of the State.
As to anticipate these rational views and those
topics which might have provoked the mpeou demands
of the country the King Of Prussia has spontaneously pro-
mugated before the assembling of the Diet, Of
the most important laws which had been under the consdea
ton of the Government He had proclaimed the principle
complete religious freedom TO all sect he has granted the
publicity Of the proceedings in the civil and criminal of
Justice and the Prusan Envoy at Frankfort has been in
sruced to bring before the Federal Diet the question Of the
liberty of the press with view the complete execution
the pledge contained in the sth article Of the federal COM
pact Of Germany At the time the regulations for the
conduct Of public business by the United Diet Prussia are
conceived in liberal spirit akin to the practice Of Par
lament in this country than to that of the French Chambers
and complete freedom has been secured to the publication Of
the debates with the names of the speakers. t.#.
Such the favorable auspices under which this session
the first representative assembly of the people Of Prussia be-
gins and cordially hope that the result their debeia
tons may be wise, temperate and just to lay the foun
dalton Of durable poy to raise the political character of Ger
many to the high standard of her intellectual power and
reward the patriotic exerons of the King Prussia by the
abiding gratitude of his peope-Loadoa Times, l6M uh
The Journal des Debas gives the following of the
effect produced by the speech of the King of Prussia the
auditory
The strange impression which the Royal speech produced
the auditory depicted the Of ALL The
assembly thrown into great agitation. considerable
number Of Deputies had determined immediately quitting
Berlin and returning home but the counses of prudence and
moderation prevaid and the excitement by degrees subsidized
The correspondent of the Cologne Gazette properly observes
that the Kings speech had placed from the the debera
ton Of the Diet ground widely different from that which
the members, in their preparatory meetings, intended
sane."
The Union Monarcque thus up the ects of Fred
erck William in assembling the States and the he has
adopted to obtain those objects:
'This prince. whom have called philosophe, but
whom shall call wise, has compehended all the dangers
OF rendering the royal authority feeble He does not think
that ought to be ininged by hasty concessions; he
he has received without bsh shall pass untouched his
legitimate There point in fine, upon which
the speech Of Frederick William leaves doubt eqvoca
them with energy, may say rather military STYLE
On the whole this speech clearly Analyses and without any
mental reservations the real object Of the monarcho
achca principle, favoring the first without taking any thing
from the integrity OF the second consecrang their growing
alliance by pacific MEANS without any violent efforts likely
produce shock This grand spectacle exhibited
evolutionary schools which have hitherto refused admit
such union. II is great problem to be solved and
hope that Il will be solved without collision without any alb
rupt shocks without any rebellion. If this great undertaking
be brought good end il will be orcbe demonstra
ton Of the truth Of the dctum that enlightened liberty the
holy daughter Of monarchy" Hr
rf FRUITS OF AGRARIAN GROWTH. ..s
The Albany correspondent of the New York Courier"
says in his letter Of Tuesday last .... .a.#