The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-13
THE POLITICAL STATE OF EUROPE.
Especial Correspondence Of the UnIOn,l
FRAHKFoRr-oS-THE-MAIN. Oct. 20

The English papers have caught another mares
nest in the French unceremonious demand of the
Charles and George, carried into Lisbon as SLAYER
and damages to boot, England is still playing the
moral man and the philantlropist i'll Africa but the
Emperor of the French who understands
sense, is determined to carry out his own colonial
policy in spite of the philanthropists For this the
English press is now reading him strong lesson !;
the Times with its usual Delphicorace positiveness
asserting that Portugal in this question of the Charles
and George, is clearly in the right and France clear
y in the wrong. Had the writer of the article been
of diplomatist had he studied the philoso-
ply of life conveyed in the innitable comedies of
Moliere, he would have said Portugal is clearly in
the right but France is not altogether in the wrong
Instead of that, we hear of an English ne-ofbatte
ship and frigate having entered the Tagus, where
the Austerlitz and Donaworth at anchor, and
the British channel ect it is asserted will cruise
before Lisbon for other reasonable purpose than
to keep the Portuguese government in countenance.
All this is very beautiful Each nation lattcrs the
national vanity of its subjects, and both may enjoy
this innocent pasme the more as il is undoubtedly
known to them that the matter is settled, and that
Portugal will have not to refuse demand
made by the French Emperor in so civil and formal
manner. The measure of damages to be paid by
Portugal is the only thing which the Emperor of the
French may be supposed to leave to umpire, pro-
ydod that umpire be not chosen from Great Britain.
Russia Prussia will perhaps be selected for that
purpose, to which selection nobody can object.
There is othing in this Charles George business, if
it be not that France after the related iii Gil
Bias, wishes to whip England over the shoulders of
Portugal. England will have a not to interfere
in the matter, and, after it is settled, it is hardly
probable that England will again cruise for sayers
coast.
Since VillafraDca has become a Russian coal sta
tion the town of Nice, always a delightful winter
residence, has almost become Russian residence.
All the best quarters of the town have been retained
by Russian families for the winter, and it almost
seems as it there were to be court at Nice. The
Grand Duchess Caharne aud her consort Duke
George of Nlcclenburg were on their arrival from
Genoa, I'm q Sandman governm' mt boat,l received
with military honors, and by ull the principal gov
crnment officers in uniform. What there is Of artil-
lcry in the small town belched forth its thunder;
but as the Austrian military ports lie in the Adratic,
and as Italy proper (the peninsula mean) lies be-
tween Nice and those ports, the of cannon
not heard at Trieste, where the Archduke Maxmil
ian has just arrived from Trieste and did not alarm
Austria Meanwhile it is fact that the happiest
relations are established between Russia and Sar-
dina, and that the latter power, in its coverings of
Lombardy, counts not only on the support of the
liberal powers of the west of Europe but also on
thcnorthern colossus The friendly feeling between
Russia and Sardinia is not exclusively swayng the
diplomatic circles in those, but is also shared by the
people. As proof the fishwomen of Nice present.
ed her Imperial Highness with magnificent
bouquet OF the size of carriage wheel-an attention
heretofore only shown by the femme de Halle to the
Empress Eugene. No wonder some English cores
pondents grew angry at the distinction thus confer
~ Si"oo Shiiioh1y pup
lie sentiment
Some Englishmen whom have lately seen on my
tour through southern Germany and whose views
aud remarks were corroborated by Germans in posi-
tons likely to know what they were talking about
apprehend that the royal Princess Adelaide Victoria
married to PIsnce Frederic William eldest son of the
Prince of Prussia, and heir presumptive to the
throne, is not very happy iii her new relations.
Every one knows that she was the pet child of the
Queen OF England, who to her honor be it said is
model woman and, perhaps, the model mother of
Europe. The relations in her family do not smack
OF the throne but the simple genuine ofFsprings
OF strong natural affections, joined TO the highest
cultivation of moral and intellectual qualities To
take girl of tender age away from such mother
and such family brothers and sisters is under the
best circumstances, hard trial for tender heart.
The severe court etiquette of Berlin the military
tournufe OF the people, especially of those who
round the throne, compared to the Free natural life
III the Queen of England's family must form con-
trast little calculated to impress her with the charms
OF life in German capitals. Berlin is a military city
you cannot go anywhere without meeting men in uni
form with long sab. es dragging on the ground The
long moustaches, dangling under the noses of the
officers OF the guards, have something frightful
to young, tcnder-heartcd Princess and the whole
gaudy yet economical display of silver steel and
brass, made the heart of the young lady only yearn
the more for the simple yet elegant attractions of her
English ire-side. For this purpose Prince Albert
went to pay her visit fdnHe and staid a little
while (; then came the Queen of England herself;
When shc had lett Prince Alfred came and lust now,
the charming Princess has received a visit from her
brother, the Prince of Wales. Thus consoled by at
least part OF her family, the Princess is said to be
a little more reconced to her new home and it is
also to be expected that the Princess of Prussia her
mother-liiaw, who is of the best and kindest
women OF Germany, will much add to the attractions
OF the new court. The Princess spent most ofher time
last summer IN Baden--her daughter having married
the Grand Duke of BadeIl--in quiet retirement and
charitable works, which endeared her to the people
pl,a 4 Z, n
will be felt at home it may be supposed that Princess
homc-sick for merry old England" You know that
the Germans spite of their transcendenal philoso
phy,a slightly given to superstition They believe
III omcns, like the stouest Roman of old, and
augr untavoably for the success of this or that per-
son from the veriest tle or accident Thus it has
been considered bad omen that the marriage of the
English Princess with the eldest son of the King of
Prussia was postponed for while by the death
OF the Duchess of Gloucester; then the third brother
OF Prince Albert who had married the daughter of the
late Grand Duke OF Baden, could not attend the we'd
ding ON account of the death of the Duke his father
lnlaw, aud finally, two months after the marriage,
the Princess fell on the stairs and spruined her
ancle, which confined her for three weeks to her
room. hope that all these German soohsayers will
be put to shame with their ridiculous predictions
but the previous marriages of Euglish Prncesses
with Prussian monarchs, including that of the
wife of the Elector, father of the Great Fred
erick, rather giving color to their Iugubrious
prophecies. People must not forget, however that
the times have changed aud that Berlin is now one
of the most refined cities III the world with court
protecting arts aud sciences on the most liberal