The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-05-26

that not dollar appears TO have been expend-
ed for mere ornament Unless blown up by
gunpowder, or thrown up by an earthquake, it
would last until the end of time.
The ENGLISH PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
The number OF members elected up to Friday
was $751; of whom 304 are Liberals and 248
Conservatives, showing majority of Sc Liberals
The Liberal losses in the boroughs amount to
%; in the counties, to 7 and the Liberal gains
In the boroughs are 10; in the counties, 3. The
net gain OF the Conservatives is, however va
riously estimated from Is to %. There are
still more than 100 members to be returned
but it is not supposed that the present proper
tons will be much altered, so that Lord Derby
is almost certain to meet the new Parliament in
a decided minority.
The London Times speaks as follows of the
general result of the elections:
Except Mr.. Osborne, the Government can
not console itself by contemplating the defeat
of any formidable opponent All the wellk known
members of successive Wing Cabinets will be
found on the front opposition bench, Mr.. Card
we'll and MIR. Sidney Herbert will occupy their
accustomed places, and Sir James Graham re-
turns from Carlisle with growing conviction
that the ballot, although it may be vicious in
theory and detestable in practice, is by many
degrees less Objectionable than Lord Derby.
MIR. Bright has enjoyed the opportunity of ma
king several eloquent speeches and of triumph
ing over an illjudged opposition and, instead
of fighting single-handed the battle of radical
reform, he will be reinforced by the formidable
ability of Mr.. Golden. The same officers, fol
lowed by nearly the same army, will at once
recommence the Parliamentary assault with an
increased determination to carry the position.
One-half of the prayer which was contained in
| the royal speech will be granted when the House
OF Commons has shown that it can make up its
mind as to the expediency of allowing the
present Government to continue in the Occupa-
ton of office. 1t is difficult to foresee the fate
of the Cabinet which may succeed to power,
but its members must be more perversely in
genious than Mr.. Disraeh himself, if they can
not embody in a reform bill the changes which
no one desired twelve months ago, and which
every Liberal candidate, and a large portion of
their Conservative opponents, unanimously ap-
proved on the hustings."
DEATH OF BARON HUMBOLDT-The Canada
brings us news of the death of the venerable
Baron Won Humboldt, the great German nat
uralist and philosopher. The Baron was born
in Berlin, September l4th, 1869, and was con
sequently in the ninetieth year of his age at
his death.
About year ago he predicted that he should
die in 1859; and his presentiment has had a
singular realization.
The Philadelphia american, in giving a
sketch of his life, says:
Humboldt was of an ancient noble family
his father having been high officer and ia
vorite in the military service of Prussia, under
Frederic the Great. His elder brother, Will
liam, born 1867, attained great literary and
political eminence in Germany, and indeed in all
Europe, being at one time Minister to England
and subsequently taking a strong stand as Min
lister of State for a constitutional government
in Russia. This was in 1918 and 1919, at one
of those periods which have opened with prom
Use for liberal institutions in Germany, to close,
so far, in reaction and misfortune. He attack
ed the despotic Carlsbad DEGREES of the German
Diet of 1919 with extreme sharpness and Sc.
verify, alarming Austria and the despotic party
of all Germany, and for this course, in which
he was supported by his brother Alexander, he
was forced to retire from the Ministry at the
close of 1919. William died in 1885, having
devoted his later years to history and ltera-
ture.
During the twenty-five years since his elder
brothers death, Alexander has received all the
honors and testimonials of confidence from the
people and Government of Prussia which were
before that time divided between them. He
has held the post Of Privy Councillor of Prussia
since 1929, and has continued to receive every
testimonial of political and personal respect
which the ruling family could confer. Though
never taking the active part which his brother
took on the liberal side, he has always testified
his attachment to constitutional Government
From the date of his first visit to the United
States, in 1904, on his return to Europe from
South America, he has omitted no opportunity
to express his high regard for our institutions
as well as our people, and in l848 he was con-
fdently looked to for support of the new order
which the weakness of the Republicans of Eu-
rope then failed to establish
| " Humboldt spent two or three months in this
city and Washington in the early part of 1904,
visit devoted, as he himself says to the study
of our political institutions. 1t is not an un-
warrantable conclusion, that the strong stand
taken by both the brothers for constitutional
Government, few years later, in Germany,
was the result of these Investigations. But
Alexander Humboldt was never willing to exer-
else decisive political power, considering, proba-
bly, that he was represented by his brother in
that department, and that his favorite field of
investigation in physical science was ample
work for mind. The foundation of his
great final work, entitled the Kosmos, was laid
in an extended course of lectures as early as
1927, and its peculiar character deserves a
more extended notice than we have space for
here.
There is singular completeness and full
ness in the life of Humboldt, which makes his
death appear but as a slight change. Held in
high and affectiOnate regard as he is, his ad-
mirers everywhere have become accustomed to
the gradual attenuation of his physical frame,
without associating with him any idea of intel
lectual decay. In his library, an imperishable
statue should succeed to his personal presence,
and every scene should be preserved unaltered,
as shrine to which lovers of nature may for
ever turn with reverence"
IHE REVOLUTION IN TUsCANY-EXCITING
SCENES AT FLORENCE.-A correspondent of the
New York Express, writing from Florence on
the 9th ultimo, gives some interesting incidents
of the late blOodless revolution there, which
led to the flight of the Grand Duke of Tuscany.
We make a few extracts
Early this morning, our Pddrona rushed
into our rooms, exclaiming, The people have
declared independence, and are marching to
the Pitt Palace, to force the Grand Duke to
abdicate, and they have hoisted the Republican
flag, crying Vipa la Liberia, Vipa Halia.'
True enough was this news, as our ears inform
ed us before our eyes confirmed it. The peo-
pie, in number several thousands, assembled in
the Piazza Maria Antonio, $50 named after the
Grand Duchess with music and tri-colored
flags, from whence they marched in the most
orderly manner to the Palazzo Vecchio the
Government Palace, on which, at noon precise
ly, was raised large and magnificent banner,
of red, green, and white, with the Florentine
arms emblazoned in the centre. The military,
the guard of the day, then saluted it.
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