, 1865-07-28

~
tive Assembly, wishing to secure popular
support and gain a new ally Of her own
creation against Austria, who had Just
placed her veto upon the conversion of
Kiel into a Prussian harbour. Herr Won
Bismark at that time intended to ~enfran-
chise every living soul in the DuchieS,
hoping to outvote the middle. clBsS re-
representatives. by a numerous peaSantry,
who, he supposed, were less likely TO
care for independence and Liberalism than
tor &c ,nomy and the best means of escap-
Ing The settlement of his little bill for the
war. But the King was uufayourable to
u plan ~sayouring Of democratic principles,
and the Parliamentary events which have
since supcrvened in Prussia render it
hardly advisable for him TO call TO his aid
the votes of any Representative Assembly
in this part of the world. In SchiesWig-
iIolsteln people have begun to believe
that after all that has happened at Berlin,
Herr Won Bismark cannot count upon a
majority for his schemes in the DuchieS,
and that the regard he has lately shown
to the Danish element among them arises
from a wish to have at least one party on
his side, whether a Parliament be assem-
blcd or no.
We learn from inspired correspondents
that the Prussian Crown lawyers now
engaged in completing their report on the
right of succession in the Duchics have
acknowledged the validity ,of the former
title of King Christian Of Denmark, thus
recognizing implicitly the legality and
unrestricted form Of the title now owned
by Austria and Prussia. Ii case only of
the two latter agreeing TO renonnce their
newly acquired rights, there would, in
the opinion of these profound legists, be
any occasion to revert to the claims of
the Duke Of Augustenburg and his rivals
aud in this case it would appear that none
OF the various candidates being entitled
TO the whole of the Duchies, the question
can be decided only on political not on
genealogical grounds, unless, indeed, The
country is to be portioned out, and divi-
sion TO follow in the wake of the war.
With reference to the mysterious attitude
assumed by the Grand Duke of Olden-
burg, it may be as well to remark that
this limitation of hereditary rights bears
more directly upon him than upon any
other among the five or six candidates in
the field. The Holstein-G ottorp or OIL
denburg line never owned more in past
centuries Than IA small slice Of the very
respectable whole; aud having in the
person of the Emperor Of Russia renounc-
ed their rights TO this portion only, when
the existence Of the Danish Monarchy was
to be perpetuated under King Christian,
1t is thus proved that they never thought
of asking, on the ground of their descent
and family connexions, for any further
share in the prize under dispute. The
negotiations pending between the Grand
Duke and the King of Prussia are not re-
garded as of any particular significance.
The Grand Duke, it is thought, may be
used as a means Of teaching manners to
the other p%retenders, and, above all, coerc-
ing that disagreeable Duke of Augusten-
burg, who will insist upon The exclusive
ness of his claims; but it will be difficult
10 turn him to better account. In the
first instance, the Grand Duke, having no
personal rights, is indebted for what be
owns to the Emperor of Russia, the head
of the senior branch of his family, who
thought it polite to cede his title to a
relative, that happens to be a member of
HI@I