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his father ' s promises , antl so follows in the wake of the other rulers . Notwithstanding the ill-feeling against them the princes have still , I think , the means in their hands of saving themselves and their posterity . Let them but do away with passports and aiifentkaltskai'ien legitimation papers , &c , sweep away the guilds , and Ihe many other foolish restrictions upon the rig htful liberty of men , which are of no benefit to the governments , but which render the German a foreigner in his own country in some instances indeed worse than a foreigner , for Americans can trade in some towns of Germany , where Germans , who have not purchased the privilege , cannot . I allude to the Hanse Towns , where , by a treaty of
reci-Wockenblcdt recommends that in future there should be a constitutional fixed period for the elections , independent of cases of dissolution . The Holstein affair is , of course , at a stand-still . — , _ — -j »
procity entered into in 1827 or 1828 , the Americans obtained the right to carry on business by wholesale or retail , just as the citizens of the Hanse Towns are permitted to do in the United States . The natives of other countries , German or foreign , have to pay from fifty to sixty pounds sterling for the same privilege . Such a distinction cannot be otherwise than galling to Germans —it is not quite agreeable to an Englishman to see another nation enjoy advantages fr ~ 6 m which he is excluded , but he can console himself with the reflection , that perhaps the English Foreign-office does not know of any such treaty . Further , if the governments would give up that system of dictation and interference in the most natural right of man , that of deciding for himself
MU 8 ICA 1 > . Liszt , according to the Theater Chronik , is at present diligently engaged upon a new m . usical creation , to be entitled Holy ( or Saint ) Elizabeth . The text is by Otto Roquette , and is said to be excellent . A lover of music has amused himself by collating the ages of the most celebrated composers . According to this collation , Schubert died at 31 years of age , Bellini 32 , Pergolese 33 , Herold 36 , Mozart 36 . Feska 37 , O . Nicolai 38 , Mendelssohn 38 , Weber 40 , Donizetti 49 , Adam 52 , Beethoven 57 , Lindpaintner 64 , Kreutzer 64 , Bach 65 , Spontini 67 , Piccini 70 , Gre " try 72 , Gluck and Handel 75 , Haydn 76 , Hasse 78 , Weigl 80 , Zingarelli 85 , Burnej' 88 , Caressimi 91 , and Gemiani 96 .
The authorities at Vienna have intimated to the managers of the minor theatres that a stricter censorship must be exercised in future with regard to the plays brought upon the stages of their respective theatres . The reason of this is , that the pieces performed for the delectation of the people represent the lower classes as possessing and exercising all the Christian virtue , a la Eugene Sue , while the higher classes are shown up as monsters qf depravity .
when to choose a wife and establish a home , they would save themselves from a great disgrace , for the vice arising from their interference with this human right is entirely of their creating . The condition of some countries under the present system has been exposed by Dr . Wichern , at the convocation of the clergy at Lubcck , lately . He stated , as a fact , that in two hundred towns or villages of Mecklenburg one-third of the children born hi the course of one year were illegitimate ; in one hundred towns or villages the half were illegitimate ; and in seventy-nine towns or villages all the children were illegitimate . In the neighbouring countries the disproportion was still greater , for whereas , according to the Mecklenburg Schwerin Stuats Kalender for 1 , 857 , there was
one child illegitimate to 1 1-llth legitimate in Mecklenburg Schwerin , in Hanover , since the year 1816 , this proportion has been constant as 1 to 11 . In the year 1795 there was one illegitimate birth to 18 legitimate ; 1820 . 10 4-5 ths ; 1845 , there were 6 -, 1852 , there were 5 ; 1856 , there were 4 1-llth ; consequently , in 1 S 56 , there were four times as many illegitimate children as 62 years earlier . This state of things is the fault , not of the people , but the rulers , who throw all manner of difficulties in the way of a man ' s settling in life . They fear pauperism , nnd they encourage vice . By listening to the voice of reason before it be too late , and hastening to unite in some plan of reform for their country they may save themselves , and make Germany the shield of civilisation on the Continent . These are reforms the people hope to obtain bj' a union of all the states under one head .
And this is the only question that really interests the people . The staple Subjects of correspondence , such as the Schleswig-Holstein quarrel ; the Prussian Regency question ; the encroachments of the priesthood . Austria , are simply standing jokes for intelligent Germans , who know that Schleswig-Holstein and they themselves were betrayed in 18-19-50 ; they know that they spent their money ( voluntarily contributed ) to fit out war-steamers and gun-boats , which wero suffered to lie idle while their rivers were being blockaded , and which were afterwards sold at any price they would fetch , in a manner that called up a blush on every German ' s cheek ; they remember , too , that German blood was shed to make a game for their rulers to play ; they recollect it all , and , therefore , they have done with Sehleswig-Holstein , if the princes have not .
As to tho Prussian Regency , it is to them a matter of indifference whether tho government be nominally carried on by tho King or the Prince ; it is true , the latter has a good reputation for energy nnd liberality ; but tho people know from , experience that , it is the cue of the Sovereign in Prussia to piny the despot , and that of tho Crown Prince to play tho liberal . Thus they call to mind , that when tho present nflUctocl king was Crown Prince , ho was the philosophical liberal , an enemy to despotism and the censorship of the press ; tho patron of art , science , nnd progressive measures , while tho roigning monarch was just what ho himself became after hia accession , and just what tho present energetically liberal and hopeful Crown Princo will , no doubt , become In Prussia , tho lioir to the throne in always tho man ibr tho people , and tho King tho man for tho throne . Tho trick is getting etnlo ; but it appears to have boon adopted by tho present dynasty of
_^ r ^ n QQ' Loi | J 3 ffTfl nolftpn , fla Ml " jy ., .... un JhUHlluy ., nj . , being "forcca to lio so very strict , but tho people niny coiihoIo themselves , hia cousin Napoleon is a thorough republican . If tho people of Franco aro deceived by this jugglery , which is rather now to them , tho people of Germany oro not . If tho Governments think they are , tlielr cunning can onl y bo compared with that ascribed to tho poor ostrich that bruises its head in tho sand , 4 nn ° y | n g tl »« t , bocnu . 80 aho cannot bco , nobody else oim . Political nowa thoro is none Tho Prussian prose ia growing nnxioua to know when tho elections for the House of Roprosontutivo 8 will commence ; and tho
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FRANCE . ( From our own Correspondent . ^ Paris , Thursday , 6 £ p . m . It is a curious commentary upon the assertions of the Anglophobists of the French piess who declare , like Mi Marie-Martin , that English society is being undermined bv the Chartist doctrines of Mr . Ernest Jones ; who , like tbe author of Cherbourg et VAngleterre , assert that English workmen are praying for the advent of a French
fleet , which is to liberate them from the tyranny of an odious and corrupted aristocracy , and at the same time endow them with French freedom and French unity ; it is a strange coincidence , I repeat , that , at the very moment such absurdities are put forth by the organs of the Government , I should receive information from Corsica which would tend to prove that the inhabitants of that island have no very exalted idea of French liberty , and that they are anything but united in supporting the present French system of government . .
Marshal Castellane landed at . Bastia the day after General Sebastiani and the new sotts-prefet . The arrival of the military dictator of Lyons was preceded by numerous fresh arrests . Triumphal arches of the sorriest description were stuck up here and there in Bastia jto f § te the arrival of the marshal , but it was confidently ' asserted , that if the people had been able to have their own , way , they would have provided a very different reception , for discontent is universal , excepting , of course , among the paid agents of Government . Numerous . ] meetings for the organization of opposition have been already held in various parts of the island , and ray informant witnessed one at which , were present some sixtv or eighty stalwart fellows who
if they had no arms evidently knew where to procure them . The causes of this widespread ill-feeling against the Government are numerous . The first is the tyrannical conduct of the governmental majority in the Cohseil-General , and the peculiar means employed to obtain this majority . The second , the stringent laws respecting tbe possession of fire-arms and ammunition , the offensive manner in which they are enforced in most instances , and the gross partiality with which they are violated in others . Thus , one of the chief grounds of complaint under this head was , that while , according to the " immortal principles of the Revolution" and the articles of the " Code Napoleon , " all Frenchmen are equal before the law , the Prince Pierre Bonaparte—he who challenged General Ilenschmann—was permitted , when in Corsica , to carry arms publicly , he and his servants , and to make up hunting-parties into the interior ,
of upwards of twelve persons sometimes . But the great source of discontent are the strong republican sentiments of the inhabitant * . Your readers will remember that in all cases of uncontrolled voting the suffrages of Corsica have been republican . Strange as it may seem , it is nevertheless true that the birthplace of the founder of tbe Imperial dynasty is the most hostile of any department in France to the Empire . But what is stranger still is , that in the seaport towns and among the mercantile classes it is regretted that Corsica had not remained an independent state under the protectorate of England . Even to this day , " English party " is not an obsolete term . The independent Corsicans profess , no sympathy with Frenchmen , of whom they speak with feelings bordering on contempt ,, as " Continentals , " nor do they hold themselves to be the same nation . Like manv other races that dwell on the
borders of the Mediterranean , they have strong commercial instincts , and as strong perceptions of which way their interests lie as thoir former masters have—the Genoese . They argue , consequently , that had Corsica remained under the protectorate of England , Corsicans would have ^ shared in the freedom , progress , and material prosperity of Englishmen . I mention these facts more for their curiosity than anything else , as I have every reason to believe them to be correct , for the separation of Corsica from France is out of all question , and because they tend to throw light upon the condition and public feeling in a portion , of France which is less known to Englishmen than any other . It is no secret , I believe , that there is one
imperial wish which it has been found impossible to gratify —one achievement which imperial ambition appears doomed to fail to accomplish , in spite of the obsequiousness of courtiers and the more than Byzantine deference to power of public functionaries—and that is , to obtain a literary illustration of the Second Empire . If the honours nnd rewards showered down on M . Ponsard for his laboured compositions—which at the time of their appearance wore , by great stretch of courtesy , called dramatic poetry , but which have long since been forgotten—are " earnest of the value set on literary distinction , wo can form a tolerable estimate of how great is tho wish for its appearance , and how much greater tho disappointment at its continued absence . It would be absurd to pretend to speculate
on tho future , or to deny tho possibility of some great poot or writer appearing who , in the history of letter , may give a stamp and character to tho Imperial epoch ; but the chances of any such advent are confessedly very small indeed , and beyond the range of probabilities . Arguing from tho past it is asserted that tb , o imperial regime is unfavourable to literature—as August sun to violets . Tho uorco glory of tho First Empire scorched up whatever alight sentiment of poetry may have been transmitted by Andre ? CUeuiur , or may have survived tho deadly influences of the Terror . . The conqueror at Maroiigo and Austerlitz— , to whoso earthly power ^ hore seemed no bounds , and whoso armed hosts wore numberless ; who compelled a daughter of tho Crosars to his bed , and bont tho boad of Catholic Christendom to his yfH \ wl'oae military suecoascs wore for a , time
unparalleled , and \ vlib « o faintest wish wnfl law to continental Europe—even ho was impotent before tho pasalvo opposition , or inertness of literature . Ho could command a pitful of kings to do honour to his presence at a thoutro , but ho could not obtain tho production of an original play possessing tho slightest literary inorit . Ills constant but never suliallod desire was that hi * reign should bo illuotrated by some groat literary work , ilia reiterated orders to his familiars woro , " lAolics r / c me tmuccr uHjMCta f" llo " could call spirits from the vasty ilocjs" us could U « rvy llatymr , « i « l with like aucc « as .
Some time ago , as was duly mentioned in the daily press , a revolt " , as it is called , broke out in the College at Basiia . The college lads were very obstreperous and not at all respectful in their expressions towards the Government of the day . The gendarmes and troops were called out . In their exuberant loyalty and military ardour they could with difficulty be restrained from firing on the boys . Fortunately , some cooler heads were present , and , instead of a rolling fire or bayonet charge , the boys were threatened with liquid volleys from a fire-engine . It would appear the collegians stood upon their dignity , and treated the commanding-oflicer to the benefit of their opinion as to his being guiltv of breaking the Sixth Commandment ,
and as to his ignorance of military laws , in coming to treat ( pour pai'ler ) with his head covered . At the time little attention was . paid to the matter , which ended , I believe , without bloodshed , or , at least , loss of life , and was regarded as a mere college disturbance , having no more to do with opposition to Government than a barring out at Rugby would have to do with a change of ministry in England . But from what has just ronchedme it would appear the collegians had but anticipated the sentiments of the older inhabitants of the island , or , as M . Baroche took credit for doing in 1848 , when ho called out in the Chnmbcrs , " . /'< u devaucc' la justice du peujifc . " Towards the end of last month , the steamer which left Marseilles for Bastia curried out the General of Division
Scbastinni , with his staff and a new sous-prtfit , in place of tho former one , M . Finch , who , after holding the post for ton year « , was suddenly dismissed , or as it is more euphoniously termed , mis it la retraito . Tho reason of M . Flach ' s dismissal must be n mystery to tho general public , for , according to a resolution of the Conacil d ' arrondinDcmcnt de Corte , " age has not weakened his physical forces nor his high intellectual faculties , and , it ' ho has lost nothing of his talents and brilliant qualities of mind ami heart , he has conquered that experience of men nnd things which is so precious in tho mission which tho representatives of Government aro called upon to fulfil " It would . hnvo been thought that a gentleman possessing all those talents and virtues , to say nothing of his experience , would have been highly prized by ft Government
i . ni . te h . jiifliiiia .. mftt mnii 9 ft . Ep \ u \ yv , nlwW y \\ ji \\ w } y ° f 9 U » ° r tnlentod , or virtuous , or experienced representatives . lWt tho truth is that M . Finch was dismissed because he had not been successful in preventing expressions of discontent against tho Government from being made known . Tho day before General Sebastinnl and the new t > ou . ij ) i ((/ l ) t arrived ,, cloven noroons had been arrested for alleged political ofUmcon . Among thorn wore . two doctors , two lawyers , nnd nu cmployd do la Mairie . It was currently reported in Bastia that they woro handcuffed whon brought up for examination before thojuytf d'ins t ruction .
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f No . 441 , SeptemberJL ^ 1 S 58 . ] THE LEADER . 897
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 4, 1858, page 897, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2258/page/9/
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