Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-27
THE pRussIAN

wa have been favored says The journal o. oou
MERGE, with the perussl of a letter from q re"ao'o
oourcs in Berlin to a gentleman in this city on tue
orbisct Of the recent change in the executive govern
nooOt of Prussia, the following translation OF when
we are permitted to publish:
BERLIS, Oct. 26, 1851.
Tho ,smnorsry transfer Of the sovereign power by
Eina Erederick William " Of Prussia to his brother,
the Prince of Prussia, is an event the importance y.
.b;ch nav be somewhat underrated on the otner
aide of the Atlantic. There are q variety Oh 1un1Ie
in circulation "a to the manner IN ~nich n's u
ws. effected. Some pretend that the document ~
wh;ch his Majesty was to confer the regency on ns
hro,her had 6sen for several days in the HANDS oI tue
| Oueen, awaiting the royal sign manuaI, out " o H :.
layed on account of the Kings disIhcihn.'osu ;.I;Ls 20
ibs MOVE TO his brother, and the Queens diailke 10
ths Princess of Prussia, and that It was on!y heoes
sjty that caused its ultimate signature, arising ltvmi
the absolute inability of the King to atteho 0 puo.nbS
busiusss. Oihsrs maintain that me sich on.
hss been for some time in a state of ldlotcy, aud tna!
his signature was merely q matter OF form' ar.angeu
at a family meeting, in which he was completely 'n'
capable Of understanding what was going IoI"alu.A
Time alone can decide which OF these Two accounts
ia correct, or whether they are not both erroneous
f. 10 cer,aip. however, that on the 23d OF October the
I.oabiuet.order" was published, bearing the royai
sipuature and seal, making over the sovereign power
for three months to the Prince OF PRUSSIA, VINO on Tue
next day formally assumed the resns OF government.
This does not teCDnlCoiJ otbou"'
the King, but The general impression 10 that lis VIZ
tualIy equivalent TO abdication.
That bio Majesty will never be able 10 attend 70
sctiy. business; and it is universally believed that hs
forced retirement will be Of suihclently ,ohg duraton
TO enable the Prince OF Prussia 10 make some I'm
por,snt and notable changes IN the domestic anu ior-
eign policy Of Prussia.
The inhabitants of this city-indeed, of the entire
kipgdom-are unusually excited, and seem to hail Inc
change in The Government with extreme JOY. Since
Il. .JI,b; ,uteps nrnula nj man ara In be- seen On the
Linden aud other promenades, az u celebrating some
JOYOUS event, and many hopes are expressed OF winch
no doubt a large number will never De tulhleu. II
may not be uninterestiug in the New World TO learn
a few OF these confident expectations and the GROUNDS
ON which they are based. in connection with the slight
sketch of the Prince of Prussia and bis consort.
Prince Frederick William Louis waa bora on the
q2d of March, 1897, and is therefore now oO years old,
and is two years younger than the King, who was
horn on the 18th Of October, l795. The latter is, or
rather wac, possessed Of a certain amount OF genius,
but much wanting in decision and hrmness OF cna'
rscter; while the former, though far less talented,
has much more frmness, and IS IN every respect
more reliable, than bis elder brother. his wife, Marie
Louise Augusta Catherine, born Princess of Weimar,
was born on the 3Uth of September, 1911, Is a LADY OF
remarkable ability and most attractive manuers, and
in these respects has always placed the queen very
much in the shade. She exercises a very considerable
influence over her husband. and will consequently, IT
ia hoped, use it now 10 produce the adoption OF ad-
yantageous reforms during her husbands govern
ment. She was never popular at Court, and llved al
Coblepz in a sort of Punishment, where she has &C
ouired great popularity by her afsbility and kind.
ness; and it is Inferred from this that she will pursue
the exactly opposite course to that hitherto pursued
at court.
Although the Prince and Princess may not really
be les, ahsoluti.t in their feelings than the Aing'
there is till every reason to believe, Judging from
pat events. that they are sincerely attached to the
Constitutional party and the German ques'ion-that
10, the general national interest Of Germany-an and
that they will assert and protect these interests with
greater energy and warmth than mas hitherto oeeh
the case in Prussia. 1he Regent will endeavor, in
the first place, to win the prominent position OF ad'
yocate Of German ~interests, which Austria has been
allowed to assume. Already has he given signs OF
his determination in this respect. 1t is stated that a
special Prussian envoy 10 the Germanlc Contedera'
ton has been nominated, to bring the question Of the
German Duchies of Holstein and Lauenburgh be-
fore the Diet, and to claim the support OF Austria IN
the matter. Prussia has the advantage over Austria
10 Germany that she has more Germans under her
rule than other States, and as the entire voice OF Ger.
many is heartily opposed to tbs despotio measures Of
the little Kingdom of Denmark, any steps taken In
defence of the German Duchies by the Regent cam
not fail to add to his popularity. -,
II is further confidently expected that Prussia will
abandon her pro.Russian foreign policy, and that a
closer alliance will BIZ formed with constitutional
England. 10 which the approaching marriage OF
Prince Frederick William Nicholas Charles, (oorn
October Is, 1891 son of the Prince OF Prussia with
the eldes, daughter of Queen Victoria, will largely
contribute. The conclusion of such an alliance
would naturally lead to a change in Prussian policy
in the question of the Danubian principalities, which
has hitherto been in harmony with that OF France
and Russia; but will now probably coincide with that
of England aud Austria. Such an event would pro.
duce no uninportant change in European politics,
particularly in the effect it would have in weakening
the influence of Louis Napoleon.
II in also thought that the Prince will dispense with
the Camarills Of Frederick William w., and par
tioularly the Gerluch party. TO which the majority of
the people are 30 much opposed. Finally, great
hopes ere entertained that a general amnesty for po-
liticsl offenders will be soon proclaimed.
However these hopes may be fulfilled, wholly or in
part, there lie good reason to anticipate that Prussia
will assert herself with more vig"r and energy in
questions Of European interest; that she will assume
the position to which she Is entitled, aud BIZ more re-.
spectfully and more frequently mentioned abroad than
heretofore.