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member of that small band of pioneers to whom the country was indebted for originating this movement . Mr . Lucas acknowledged the toast in an excellent speech , in which he expressed his regret at having had to leave Manchester , and consequently to abandon , in a great degree , his exertions in the education cause . The Chairman next proposed *• The President of the Lancashire Public Schools Association , " which Mr . Henry , M . P ., responded , expressing a hope that their next meeting would be to celebrate the triumph of the cause in which they had embarked .
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THE FRENCH MINISTERIAL CRISIS . "Whatever Government France may live under , whether Legitimist , Constitutional Monarchy , or Republican , we always find that a Ministerial crisis takes place every few months , which furnishes a theme for much political gossip . The latest news on that head is the dismissal of General Neumayer from his command in Paris , and the appointment of an Orleanist general in his place . This decision is much resented by General Changarnier , and appears to have been done partly to wound him . The decree was announced to M . Neumayer by the Minister of War
and the President , who expresse'd at the same time the intention of bestowing another post upon the displaced general . In answer to this announcement General Neumayer wrote a letter to the Minister of War declining any other . post in compensation . General Changarnier was invited to name the successor of General Neumayer , but resented the compliment as derisory . The contest between General Changarnier and the Elysee is generally thought to be coming to a crisis . The belief was that the General would
throw up his command in disgust , but it is said that he has signified to the Government he feels bound in honour to the Assembly not to resign his command until he shall have an opportunity of explaining his motives to the Assembly itself . He may , he says , be deprived of his command by the Minister of War , should he choose to assume the responsibility of such , an act ; but he will not allow himself to be forced or thwarted into a resignation which would be unseemly on his part .
The Ordre , which professes to know the cause of the removal of General Neumayer , says that , at the last review at Satory , he expressly enjoined the troops not to give utteiance to any cry whatever , deeming silence to be more strictly in accordance ¦ with the regulations of the army , and in conformity , too , with the instructions he had received from the Commander-in-Chief . This , of course , much displeased both Louis Napoleon and the Minister of War , and hence the ground of offence stated , with the removal of General Neumayer consequent thereupon .
The committee of permanence of the Assembly was called suddenly together on Wednesday morning , and the meeting was a very stormy one . All that is known of the proceedings is , that a considerable number of the members present contended that the Assembly should be convoked for the 5 th . of November . The opponents of the proposition contended that the convocation of the Assembly on that day would be impassible , as the notice would be too short to enable the members to reach Paris ; and that it -would have the effect of giving unnecessary alarm to the country , as the Assembly was at any rate to meet on the 11 th . The committee ultimately adjourned ¦ without deciding anything , but it is believed that they will not convoke the Assembly till the period originally fixed , namely , the 11 th of November .
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THE WARSAW CONGRESS . It is impossible to . glean any precise information from the German papers relating to what is going on at Warsaw . All that can be said is that a number of those men called " illustrious personages " are now there , on a visit to the Emperor Nicholas . Among others there are the Emperor of Austria , attended by Prince Schwarzenberg , Count Grttnne , and other military and civil functionaries ; the Crown Prince and Princess ( Grand Duchess Olga , daughter of the Emperor ) of Wurtemberg , Prince Frederick of the Netherlands and his Consort ( sister of the Empress ) , Prince Frederick of Hesse Cassei ( son-in-law to the Emperor ) , widower of the Grand Duchess Alexandrina , the Duke Christian of Holstein Gliicksburg , in
The latest news from Berlin is , that all the propositions of Count Brandenburg have been rejected , including the proposition for free conferences .
on a mission from the Court of Denmnrk , company with Count Plessen , Count and Countess Brandenburg , the former a morganatic uncle of the Empress , and the lattafrher Majesty ' s intimate friend . Of course , there are continual parades and festivals , but , amidst all these , cunning old Nicholas never forgets the business for which all this gathering has been brought about . Count Brandenburg is said to have had repeated interviews with Count Nesselrode and M . de Meyendorf , and the Austrian journals are S leased to say , It is hoped that the mediation of Lussia may produce an approachment between the parties , and avert those calamities which appear so imminent , and which the * Liberal' party in Germany are labouring night and day with , reckless and cynic effort to entail upon their country . "
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PREPARATIONS FOR WAR . The intelligence from Germany , though somewhat contradictory , is mainly of a warlike nature . Immense masses of troops have been hastened towards Hesse-Cassel by Austria , Bavaria , and Wurtemberg on the one part , and by Prussia on the other . All Germany seems hastening to war , with Hesse-Cassel for the battle-field . The later accounts are confused and contradictory—some saying that the Prussians have entered Hesse-Cassel , some that the Austrians have done so , some that neither . Austria and her allies have the greater force , and are backed by the undisguised influence and incitement of Russia ; but Prussia , who seems to have been energetically , though quietly , preparing for the crisis , is stronger in point of position .
Advices from Vienna of the 23 rd ultimo , stated that on the receipt of the last despatches from Berlin , the contents of which had not transpired , a Cabinet Council was held , at which it was resolved to concentrate an army of 150 , 000 men . These despatches were said to have contained an ultimatum respecting the line of conduct to be observed by the two powers 60 , 000 men will be concentrated in the immediate vicinity of "Vienna , and marching orders have already been sent to the divisions in Hungary and in Italy . The artillery will comprise 240 pieces of heavy artillery . Later accounts , however , affirm that , in spite of the warlike rumours afloat , peace will be maintained .
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PROFESSOR GOTTFRIED KINKEL . ( From a Correspondent . ' ) In the great revolutions and crises which have shaken , and still continue to shake , Germany , the happiness of many individuals has been destroyed . There are martyrs amongst the Germans , upon whom it is necessary to draw the notice of their fellowmen ; for the great events of our day are like the waves of the sea , —they submerge too soon , alas ! the pilot whenever he is compelled to abandon the steerage of his stranded vessel .
Dr . Gottfried Kinkel , professor at the University of Bonn , appears to us to be one of the revolutionary martyrs the most worthy of sympathy , and we cannot withhold furnishing the English public with a biographical sketch of his life . Brought up in the strictest Christian orthodoxy of pure manners , and of irreproachable character , Gottstudof theol
fried Kinkel devoted himself to the y ogy , and after having gone through the required examination was elevated to the doctorate , and lecturer of theology at the University of Bonn . Here he lived in quietude and retirement , being a successful teacher , and highly esteemed as a lyric poet , until seized by the spirit of the modern German metaphysics , which j ? raduallv inclined the bent of his mind in that
direction , inis drew upon mm zae , ox theological body . They endeavoured to put difficulties in his way ; sought to prejudice the Government against him , they having in their power the disposal of the various professorships . Accordingly they demanded his dismissal , but , as they gave no definite reason for such a demand , the Government refused to comply with the request . Kinkel
But an event now occurred in the life of , which , though contributing to his domestic happiness , compelled him to sustain severe struggles for a lengthened period . Gottfried became acquainted with Madame Jane Mockel , a Catholic lady , who , after an unfortunate matrimonial alliance , which terminated in a divorce , lived with her parents at Bonn as a teacher of music . Jane Mockel , alike distinguished both by her profound knowledge of music and for her charming poetical narratives , was a phenomenon the young doctor , in his retired life , has never seen . From a like enthusiastic love for poetry and art , with a similar appreciation of human life , sprung a pure deep love between Madame Mockel and Kinkel . Influenced by the metaphysical views of her lover , Jane became a convert herself to Protestantism in
order to become his wife . This marriage with a divorced and converted Catholic was deemed by his colleagues a serious indiscretion , and subjected him to so many annoyances , he at last accepted the offer which the Prussian Government made him , viz ., the exchange of his theological chair for that of German antiquity and history of arts , which his multifarious knowledge rendered him equally capable of filling .
It was in this new position , living a serene and tranquil life , in the enjoyment of domestic happiness , surrounded by his four lovely children , that the revolution of 1848 found him , worshipped by his wife and numerous pupils . Guided by his convictions , Kinkel joined , from the beginning of the revolution , the Democratic party ; and when ho afterwards was elected member of the Prussian National Assembly , ho took his seat there , and occupied it until the dissolution of that parliament . When the Constituent Assembly of
Frankfort was likewise dissolved , and Herrvon Gagern ( who was the first in thefaceof thetotteringthrones to maintain the sovereignty of the people ) , now when the princes , favoured by intrigues and circumstances , once more gained the upper hand—he ( Von Gagern ) , by order of the princes , abandoned the post where the sovereignty of the people had placed him . There still , however , remained at Frankfort , after Von Gagern and
his party had left them , a sufficient number of men who had not lost the sentiment of right , and who had persevered in the maintenance of their post . These remaining representatives thought themselves bound , both by their conviction and by the compromise ( which they and Von Gagern with his party had signed ) , to concede only to a certain extent to the reactionary exigencies of the German princes ; but the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly of
Frankfort put an end to all . The said compromise m the hands of the then deputy , Henry Simon , of Breslau , now an exile in Switzerland . These deputies , faithful to the compromise , and considering themselves the only legal representatives of the people , after having been driven away from Frankfort , found a new footing in Stuttgard , whither they went ; and the King of Wurtemberg declared , at the reception he prepared for them , that he himself acknowledged them as the legal legislative power .
. But the penetration and the love of justice of his Wurtembergian Majesty was not strong enough to stand against the united power of all the other German princes . He hesitated to venture the chance either of becoming Emperor of Germany , should Democracy triumph ., or to lose the crown of Wurtemberg , in case the party of the princes should be victorious . He preferred to sacrifice democracy and the right of the people to the personal interest of his dynasty , causing the Constituent Assembly in Stuttgard to be dissolved by force of arms .
Nevertheless , this party tried once more with a praiseworthy perseverance to stand their ground , and to preserve the rights of the people with whose representation they were entrusted . Dr . Kinkel , like many thousands of others , put himself at the disposal of this party . They appointed a provisory government ; called the people to arms , thus attempting to obtain by force what was refused to their legal claims . The contests of Dresden , Elberfeld , Iserlohn followed each other in rapid succession . A sanguinary civil war ensued .
To think of an arrangement with the princes was then out of the question , especially as the people were anxious to break the power of absolutist monarchies . In order to defend the rights and to hasten to the assistance of the struggling people in the besieged towns ( for Dresden , Elberield , and Iserlohn were then beleagured ) , it was necessary to have arms ; and to get them , they were compelled to break into the arsenals . Dr . Kinkel was not the chief , but one of the chiefs , who headed an attack upon one of the arsenals in Rhenish Prussia .
We despise civil war , indeed , we abhor all war , the exigency of which , will , in more humane and more enlightened times , be inconceiveable . But as long as there are wars , as long as we shall not have peacecongresses whose sound judgment shall decide between the nations and the princes , as long as the princes think themselves empowered to struggle for their existence with cannons , and to put to death all those who are not inclined to be governed by the supreme will of an absolutistic ruler , the people will always be compelled to oppose violence to violence , thus verifying what is said in the old Testament of the Jews , " Eye for eye , tooth for tooth ; " Christian patience will be exhausted , and the " right cheek will not be offered after the left has been
smitten . " Dr . Kinkel was taken prisoner in a conflict , m which he was wounded in the head . Whilst they were escorting him to prison , he heard the fusillades of other prisoners . The tumult of the struggle was succeeded by the dull calmness of momentary exhaustion ; those prisoners who were not at once shot , were tried by courts-martial , and Dr . Gottfried Kinkel was sentenced to hard labour for life in a house of correction . There had always been in Prussia up to that moment a distinction made between the common criminal , the highway robber , the murderer , &c , and the man who by struggling for a sacred conviction had overstepped the laws of the country . Now they thought themselves justified in setting aside this distinction .
Dr . Kinkel was put into a gaol at Naugardt , in Pomerania . They shaved his head , put on him the course dress of the criminal , and condemned him to live upon the common food of the prison . They deprived him of all books , the Bible excepted , and he had to wind wool from half-past four in the morning till five in the evening , and that on a heavy wheel bo old and broken that his right arm became almost entirely lamed . He , from whoso elequent lips so muny youths had been inspirited to all that was grand and elevated—one of the most beloved professors of the German universities , and ono of the most distinguished poets ! The whole liberal press of Germany was bestirred in his favour , and the universal voico of the people )
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Nov . 2 , J 650 . 1 ®() 0 & £ atier * ^ 47
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 2, 1850, page 747, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1857/page/3/
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