, 1874-10-21

duced more than ordinary enthusiasm, be-
cause it was, amongst other reasons, in
tended to celebrate the completion of a
new ship Of the line as q step 10 the expect
ed advance of Germany to maritime supre-
macy. In his speech the EMPEROR stated
that the name of the Frederick the Great was
peculiarly appropriate to the first German
ironclad ship which had been constructed
at Kiel. It'll true that the chief founder
of Prussian greatness can scarcely have
f~oreseen either the Imperial pre-emlnence
ofhis family or even the possession by
Prussia of the Duchy of Holstein. In his
time Prussia scarcely aspired to the rank
of naval Power, although he was at all
times Jealous of the maritime pretensions
of England. Nevertheless his successor is
fully justified in assuming that FREDERICK
THE GREAT would have approved of every
form of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of his country and
his dynasty, and of every attainable acqui,
sition by land or sea. The Germans of
the present day are unanimously DESTROYS
of increasing the national strength where
it has hitherto been relatively deficient.
In 1864 the Prussians were unable to en-
counter Denmark at sea, and in 1870 Ger
many was confessedly inferior to France
The recent expansion of commercial actl-
witty has tended to increase the mercantile
marine and there is no reason why the
German Empire should not at q cores
ponding expense become the equal of Italy,
or perhaps of France, as @ maritime Pow
er. Some German journalists have lately,
with a levity not belonging to the nation
oil character, expatiated on the achieve
ments and capabilities OF o couple of gun
boats which are cruising on the northern
coast of Spain. The description of the &C.
tivity and courage Of che, seamen, and Of
the Jealous admiration of the natives, was
not more dignifed than the similar enthu-
siasm excited 10 the minds of English pro-
vincisl reporters by a volunteer review ;
but it is ineligible that the nation which
possesses an unequalled army should wish
to have an efficient fleet, as the first of naval
Powers sometimes endeavours to persuade
itself that q few good regiments would be
a match for q Continental army.
ItWould be interesting to learn whether
any patriot in Holstein now remembers
the hereditary claim ofthe Duke Of AU-
G~UsTENBURG to the ducal throne. Ten
years ago it was deemed reasonable to
question the hereditary right ofthe Prince
who had been superseded by usurping
European diplomatists in favour of the
King of DENMARK. After the expulsion
of the Danish forces, the rights Of the
lawful Pretender still commanded a GER
tain show of respect and the Prussian
Government employed a Commission of
lawyers to examine the title which was
afterwards summariIy disregarded. On
further consideration the Prussian Minis
ter decided that Austria and Prussia had
acquired both Holstein and Schleswig by
right Of conquest and the %cession of the
Austrian claim after the war of 1866
completed the Prussian title. Although
there was a certain cynicism in the mode
of annexation, the inclusion ofthe provin-
ces in the Prussian monarchy was the
most desirable arrangement both for To-
cal and for national interests. Although
the minor princes have submitted with
commendabIe docility to the newly Great
ed predominance of the Empire, it is pos
sible that, when the pressure of BIS
MARCK's strong hand is removed, the jeal-
ousies and ambitions by which the Con-
federacy was formerly distracted may re-
vive. The chief security for the mainte-