The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-19

discipline and ready TO take the field at moments
notice. No wonder therefore, that the small fry of
German princes, who love peace and quietuess
above all things and only fol owed IN the wake of
Austria as long as that Power overawed them by
clustering braggadocia should throw Of the yoke as
soon as Bobadil displayed the white feather and
transfer their allegiance TO q protector who COM
bines greater efficiency with fewer prcensons, and
will, into hoslties from which they can derive no
personal advantage, secures to them the endowment
Of that neutrality which is the object of their most
ardent aspirations but which they have no means Of
asserting against the opportunities Of their more
powerful neighbors.
Ii il not impossible, however, that the policy Of
Prussia may experience some modification, il an
event should take place which has been talked of
here pretty freely for the last two or three weeks
The Kings health has been very much shaken Of
late. The death OF his brotherin-ow, the late EN-
peror Nicholas, had great effect upon his mind.
and perhaps laid the germs Of low fever, which
he had been suffering from some time before the
public were made acquainted with his illness. He
was generally reported to be in very alarming
state, and, as usual in such cases. you heard people
declare that his chief physician Dr. Schoenleil had
persons to whom the profoundest secrets are always
iold " in confidence" and who show how deserving
hey are of such Coincidence by divnlginy them un.
70 the va ass ne II no
many days would pass before Frederick William the
Fourth was gathered to his fathers. In spite OF these
prognostics, and the positive yet mysterious air with
which they were uttered, lie has sufficiently re.
covered to take journey to Siesia, where be is
drinking some mineral waters, which, to use the
phraseology Of the court newsmen. have produced
the most beneficial effect upon the highest OF all
healths" (Allerhochste Gesundllet, vernacular Ger
MANI. Nevertheless, it can scarcely be doubted that
his constitution has sustained severe shock, and
am not misinformed, there are symptoms that his
present disease will turn to dropsy in the chest,
i'd a..vy, sor
inclined to. However, there does not seem to be
any immediate danger, and at any rate it s prelna-
ture to speculate upon the consequences likely to
arise from the accession Of the Prince Of Prussia to
ment for visit to the court OF st. Petersburg, is, in
my opinion, sufficient proof that there would be
little aA0ation in the system Of foreign policy, al
though, OF course, the official and semtoiical news
papers instructed to assure us that the Princes
Journey has no political object whatever, but is only
occasioned by the ardent desire of his sister, the
Dowager Empress, to see her " beloved brother"
again after her late bereavement. At home there
would probably be some changes, but mostly OF a
personal nature, and any one acquainted with the
character and antecedents OF the Prince Of Prussia
will pronounce the hopes OF sweeping reforms, enter
tanned in some circles, to be perfectly Utopan.
In former communication gave some particu-
law Of the new taxes imposed by government to pro-
vide for the interest Of loan OF thirty Millions con-
tracted for the purpose OF Keeping the Prussian
expense falling on the city, and besides duty on
taxed already and on fuel Of every description,
Council have raised the tax upon house rent by about
one-third (from 81 to per cent on the amount Of
the rcnt. Although the number Of inhabitants
has kept increasing again for the last five years, t
had decreased in 49, and every new settler is called
upon to pay contribution OF thirty Or forty thaers
for being made free of the city, which produces a
pretty sum Of money; yet the income does not come
up to the expenditure, and considerable deficit Is
the consequence. The reasons stated by the civic au-
thorities to account for this unwelcome fact are the
additional charges incurred by the augmentation of
the police force, and expenses attending the same,
heavy outlay occasioned by the improved fire de.
paitnent. This may properly be called new es.
tablishment, originally the plan of the corps of
Pompiers in Paris, but with considerable improve
The Building IL occupied sy the ' ire department Is
situated in the centre Of the city, where great
number Of practsed Gremen quaytercd, and where
fire engines, horses, carriages with water tubs, and
omnihuses are in constant readiness to convey the
requisite PERSONAL along with the engines, to the
spot where the fire has broken out. Electric wires are
laid under ground from all thepoiee stations in the
different parts ofths city, communicating with this
establishment and tie chief police Office, 80 that rs
as the telegaphic message is received, the en-.
giIes and men start off, and arc conveyed at full
speed to the scene OF the coniagration. great
difficulty has arisen hitherto from the scarcity OF
water, which had to be procured from the pumps in
the streets; but in future Berlin will be supplied by
water company. established in London upon
shares, who are building woterworks aud reservoirs
here upon the same principle az in London. The
water will he brought from lake about five miles
from the city limits, communicating with the river
Spree and the "pipeaying," which has been carried
on with the utmost activity for the last twelve
months, IL now nearly completed. When the water
works are finished, they will have their plugs in
every street. and it will then be always easy to OBJ
tain plentiful supply Of the element in case of fire:
Sir Charles Fox and Mr.. Champion, the managers OF
the London company, who were over in the spring,
expressed themselves extremely gratifled with the
working of the newly established fire department,
which went through series Of highly interesting
manuuvres in their presence, and 1t is fact that
not O single fire Of any consequence has occurred
since this institution has got under way, as the fire.
men have Invariably succeeded in checking II before
II had time to spread.
Two distinguished American sarans - James
Dana, of New Haven, Conn.,. ard Asa Gray, Of Cam
bridge Mass.--have just been elected corresponding
members Of the physico mathematical class of the
Royal Academy OF this capital. The botanical
works Of Professor Gray, particularly his Flora Of
Illustrate" are held in high estinaticn in the scien
silc circles Of GeggaDy, A. D.
BERLIN, INTER DEN LINDEN, July Is, 1856.
Ltoc.s from the Note Book Of Literary Cosmo
poiite-His Musings and neutrality-suspicious.
ing Influences Of Trarel--Hamburg- First
mpressiOns--Ahoaa--Bit Place Of Elopstock-
His Berlin 1ssociates- German Literature, &c.
You arc entitled, by this time, to letter from
Reisender who travels the world over, not for plea
sure, health traffic but for that less popular
motive. which strives to study man and nature under
new and different phases; TO ascertain what mankind,
under vastly differing circumstances, have learned
and wrought, thereby teaching himself aud possibly
others, through the diversified wisdom and ways of
the human race. Though all the principles and
passions by which the world il swayed enter into
the history of neighborhood and an indiv
dual cven we stilI the world but nicroscopicay
and in miniature, from fixed locality In the town.
and not in those great and commanding dcmonstra-
tons which the many nations and cultures of the
earth exhibit 10 the reflective observer The world
was made wide, that we might travel in it, as
line Of Goethe somewhere intimates. Then, you
know that particular localities do in the course Of
m Uppp afa a IF a.J