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    GERMANY '

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    a country house , besides his earnings , and he aaked the girl to write him an account of her means . The grandmother wrote to the same effect , and stated the father had given his consent . The girl replied analogous to the Frenchman's letter , and sard she had a fortune ; The individual frbm Pau rushed off immediately , married , and then discovered that the girl had no more fortune than lie had . He brought the action at Pau , and succeeded in obtaining the dissolution of the marriage on the plea that his father had not given his consent . The girl is enceinte . I shall Yeturn to the subject in my next , which illustrates one of the greatest evils of the age . But I am desirous of stating that the keeper of the Panton Hotel figures in the suit as having stated that sixteen years' experience has taught him that English fathers will do anything to avoid giving a dower , and English girls anything to catch a husband .

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    CONTINENTAL N O TJL S . fiiax < r .. Pkinck Xapoi-kom has left Paris for Warsaw . He h expected back ubout the 5 tli or Gt . li of this month . Paris gossip assigns to the journey of Prince" Napoleon a matrimonial object . It is said that Princess ClotiWe , the daughter of King Victor Emmanuel , whom- the Prince . affects , is half engaged to the Prince of Leuchteubcrg , and that Prince Napoleon is tfoiic to sound the ground and see how matters stand . On the other hand , it is rumoured that the Prince has gone to Warsaw to

    invite his Russian Majesty to pay a visit to 1 am Another rumour assigns to his journey no lew an oltject than promoting an alliance ? between l ' i : uico and Ilussja . It may safely be taken for granted that the Prince ' s journey to Warsaw is nothing ¦ more than that of an act of courtesy , in return for the visit of the Grand Duke Constantine to France . A gigantic scheme for tho fortification of the French coasts has been decided upon by the Government . Ilavro is to bo protected at a cost "f ( J . nOH . OOOi . ;' 080 , 000 / . id to be expended on Dunkirk ; 2 * 0 , 000 / . on Dieppe ; and 72 , 000 * . on 1-Vivinij > . Formications are also to bo subsequently constructed : tt Uoulogno and

    Calais . The fndttjjcndancc Bchja says that the French ( . overnment ia about to grant a port on the Algerian const to Russia , to serve ns a coaling station . Sl'AIX . . f The elections absorb almost entirely tho attention oi tho public , and active preparations for the contest arc making by tho different pavtiea . A royal tlot-roo * " ^ f ? the elections for the 31 st hist . Tho garrison ol . unurm is 15 , 000 Htrong . . . , Tho Madrid Gazetta contains tho decree raising "i " state of siogo in Barcelona , C . cromi , Tarragon " , J ^ riun , Malaga , and Macstrassffo } the districts in whichit bo maintained arc tho Arrniroiioao Pyrenees , tho iroiiutu

    of Navarre , and Catalonia . .. . .. Tho unpopularity of Queen Isabella in Madrid u «« soribed in « private letter , which e « iy * Hint up »» l " Queen ' s entry into her cap ital her Mnjo .-ly coiiw « pans unobBorvod tho cold reception she met vriui »« her pooplo . She ia accustomed to it , but tho olTect . m « havo appoared in thl » instance groAtor , as it f . » urn ^ , with hor rccoption in Gftlieiu and th <« Asluri < is . i capital received it « Queen with that Mloneo « l |» 011 ' ' cording to Mlrabonu , is thn most , eloquent loj wnii i enn be given by Hiiljoots to tlioir rulom . It 'I ' ' " , j , v poar that there wore many wlio had uvon ''| 0 ' ' , . | l 0 " to hoo thoir Quoon on hor return to tho chlH ™> y () yt {[ dominions ttftor an nbrtonou of hv <> month- . . . " ,, nin " i « - countoimnoo clearly uxpniwoil tlibcontcnl at tn - , takablo odtrnntfomont , ' nnd Hik ' olimiuv ol ill •; « ; ! ||' wolcomo . Hor Majesty's torn hwUnl two mmiiiis .

    oxpoiiBO must havo boon very grcnt . t , | r Tlio ProgroHnlata party , onrufTiiIl / MupiirntIuh policy from thnt of tho ( iovoriiinpiit , whlcli « wr ( hooping up a position Just lu tho middle bo wg . «»« » and tho Modwttdos . have got leave from tho Uovor

    Germany '

    admiring a splendid piece of sculpture ; on another occasion he is enraptured with a masterpiece of painting , or attending divine service , or enjoy ing the retirement of the domestic circle , and so forth . Not a word is mentioned as to what the disease really is with ' which he is afflicted , nor is any notice taken of the general belief—nauiely ., that the King is a confirmed lunatic and labouring under delirium tremens , as is asserted by most people . Others say that he has been for years past gradually sinking into idiocy . Many stories are in circulation about his doings , but it would be improper to repeat them , for he is kept so close that no one can see him—as , indeed , he ought to be ; not even his most intimate associates are allowed

    access to him . Judging by the aspect of affairs at this moment , the Regency question will not be settled till the end of next month , or the beginning of November ; indeed , it is doubtful whether it will be decided then even . If the Prince will not submit to a co Regency , and the Court refuse to accede to an absolute Regency , no resource remains but an appeal to the Chambers ( old or new , is the question ); but as the press is gagged , and addresses bearing upon the coming election prohibited , it is not very difficult to foresee of what elements the Chamber will be composed . The people are indifferent in political matters , and voting is a profitless an ^ noyance to them . The few who vote will be induced to do so by the officials , who are , of course , in the

    intethe town-hall , and have his papers examined . "While on the road he is liable to be overhauled by the Landdragoncr horse-patroles , and , if his papers be not correct " sent back the way he has come . At every town he is bound to show that he has funds sufficient to maintain himself , or that he has a fixed employment , and further that he possesses money enough to carry him on his way to his next destination . In some places the poor workman is obliged to deposit a certain sum , called hospital monej--, to cover any expenses in case of sickness . After having worked and begged alternately his way , and having had all his spirit crushed out of him by the insolence of officials , he returns to his native

    town . Here , if he be the son of a citizen—if not he must buy the freedom to labour—he makes his masterpiece , and if it prove satisfactory to the examiners , he u allowed to establish himself ; but not at any trade , " for the trades of butcher , baker , saddler , barber , and others are closed fields , that is to say , the trades are hereditary ! and only a certain number are permitted ; thus , in some towns—indeed most towns—a certain number only of butchers , bakers , and barbers are tolerated , and if a barber dies leaving a daughter but no son , the daughter confers the barbership upon the man who marries her . It is not so long ago that the same system of miserable snobility existed in England , but , thanks ] to our free press and Adam Smith , the English workman is freed from uiui . fiujuii oiiiitd , niu A ^ u ^ ii ^ it wuimiuiu is ut'uu jroni

    this shocking infringement upon the rights ef man . This is'the first monster evil the patriots . at Gotha seek to overthrow . May success attend their efforts ! Their next subject will be the river tolls and transit duties , which , by the way , are still under the consideration of the Zoll Conference , and as far from a settlement as ever . I did not touch upon the reported readiness of Prussia to accede to the abolition , because it was pretty clearly understood to be mere dust thrown in the eyes of the German people . It is now reported that there U some chance of a progress being made , as two of the chief opponents to the ^ abolition oL the transit duties , Bavaria and WurteflMjfrg , have withdrawn their demand to retain the transit duties till the river tolls were abolished .

    GERMANY . ( From our own Correspondent . ' ) September 29 . " And Prussia is a constitutional state , and Austria will continue stationary as long as her people are dumb , " said the framers of the Breslau election address , as though it were to conciliate tho censors , and to remind them that all Germany and Europe regarded Prussia as a constitutional monarchy ; but the thinly-veiled and flattering ruse did not avail , for no sooner had the address been published , than the authorities took measures to prevent its circulation in the provinces , thinking , no doubt , that so intellectual , philosophical , and critical a people can of their own innate talent discover the men for -whom they ought to vote , and the measures ¦ which these men are pledged to support . It is difficult to comprehend why the Government should take so much trouble to check any possible electioneering excitement , when the experience of the last three elections shows that far from any discouragement being necessary , the electors require the utmost spurring on to get them to the poll . The Germans , as a people , have never been considered as a very vivacious or excitable people . Solid they may be , and as stolid as solid . This they are in every-day life , wherein their most tangible interests are affected ; how much more so , then , in political elections , of which , owing to their past and present tutelage , they cannot see the drift . The privilege of voting , or of having a voice in sending some man to some place

    in Berlin , is , apparently , such a trifling privilege J There is no fuu inJi Prussian election , and certainly no profit , but a goWdeal of inconvenience ; besides , the sight of the officials frightens the voters . The German peasants have an awful dread of the officials , and the very circumstance of officials being at the polling-booth to receive their votes is quite enough to keep them away . If the Prussians be really sincere in their constitutional tendencies , they ought rather to employ persons expressly to get up a little political enthusiasm , and even offer a bounty to every elector coming to tho poll . In my last I presented your readers with a specimen of an election address , which , in all conscience , ¦ was as mild as could well bo . It sang the praises of

    Germany and the glorious prospects of constitutional Prussia , yet the , authorities thought it too violent in tone , and forbade its distribution . What grounds can the authorities possibly advance for this interference with the smallest right of a representative system ? Can Prussia , with suc * h instances of arbitrary power and , contempt of public opinion ,, be looked upon as a constitutional monarchy ? Tho Prussian Government has sneaked into favour with the people of England under the pretence of being liberal , tolerant , constitutional ; but what is the fact ? The press is fettered as much as in France or Russia , and the people themselves ten times worse . The poor German can hardly go to bod or get up -without a police certificate . But in forbidding the circulation of election addresses , what object does the

    present Government seek to attain ? Is thore any danger of an outbreak ? Ia it presumed that the framers of tho addresses have some sinister motive in tho background ? The men who have issued these addresses have always made it their boast never to step beyond the limits of tho constitution ; these men are the most moderate of the noncontents ; they are few in number , and deserve to be encouraged . The malcontents—the rebellious—may bo counted by millions . Tho present Government pf Prussia Is not taking the wisest meana to impart confidence in the stability of tho existing order of things . Their interference with the press and elections at this time is a confession of a spirit of rebellion socking to exert itself in the country . Thore is a spirit of rebellion , and a bitter one ;

    If I were to repeat the nowapapor reports upon tho state of the King of Prussia ' s health , and tho progress of , the regency question , my letters would only bo mado up of assertions and contradictions . Not a word that is uttered ; by tho Gorman journals ) ls to bo credited , for tho simple reason that they are not permitted to publish the truth , oven i ' f they could ascertain It . One day tho Kin ^ Is re presented by tho Court journals as being convuleeclng , the next as somewhat indisposed and unable to receive visitors ; now ho is out for a drive , then he Ia

    rests of the Court party . Consequently , should the question be referred to the Chamber , the Court party will carry out their views , for the Liberals will be most assuredly iu the minority in tho next election . The Prince is the man of the people ; in him they place their frail hope , while the Court party is held in utter detestation . The Prince has but to speak , and the Court would be scattered in an instant ; but no violent measure will be attempted , and it was probably to bush such an expectation that the Prince alluded to " the dangers attendant upon the ideas of 1848 , which are not eradicated but only kept in check . " This speech has made so great an impression that the advisers of the Prince have thought . it worth while to state that these

    words published had been uttered by the Prince in context with others , and had been misconstrued , and that orders have been given to print the entire speech . The National Zeitung has been again confiscated , as li kewise the Vossisscke Zeitung , which , by the way , is the oldest . paper in Germany , and one of the most innocent . An article upon the Regency led to its seizure . These confiscations have caused so much exasperation ( it must be remembered that most German newspapers are taken quarterly and paid for beforehand , and the loss falls upon the subscribers ) that the Government has thought proper to put forth an excuse for the seizure , to the effect that u the observations of the press upon the Regency question ruthlessly overstepped the bounds of the sanc ^ tuary which the nation regarded with sentiments of grateful loyalty , and which thev desired to keep from

    ungentle allusion" ( unzarter Beriihmng , literally untender contact , or touch ) . This is presuming a little too much upon the blindness or stolidity of their countrymen . Do tho authorities really fancy that the people have neither eyes nor brains ? Why , every one who reads knows that this question of the Regency has been under consideration for these twelve months past , during which time the journals haye hardly dared to utter their views upon it , and when they did venture , they expressed their sentiments so moderately , so timidly , with reference to the authorities , and so respectfully when mentioning the King , as to bring themselves into contempt with tho people , who dotcst both authorities and King . When the Government talks of tho journals encroaching upon sacred ground , it is an insult to common sense , for the press is allowed no voico at all .

    The Danish question is known to bo still pending , but every avenue to information respecting the transactions of the Federal Diet is hermetically sealed . There aro rumours afloat that Denmark has lately mado some concessions . This rumour has originated from tho circumstance that at the last sitting of tho Committee tho Danish Ambassador was present , and Prince Mottornieh hastily sent for from Johanniaberg . There has been a great deal of visiting going on lately amongst Emperors , Kings , and Princes , which is looked upon as boding no good for civil liberty bore . Tho chains of despotism are being daily tightened more and more in every diroction . Tho Prinoo of Prussia has just left tho Emperor of Russia at Warsaw , and Prinoo Napoleon is on his way thither .

    The Congress which was advertised to moot at Gotha has commenced Us patriotic labours , and with an ordorlinoss and dignity worthy of tho objoct which tho members have in vlow . Tho first subject discussed was that of tho Guilds , tho ovila of which havo boon thoroughly oxposnd in a work just published entitled " IPrelholt dor ArboW ( Freedom of Labour ) , by Dr . V . Bohmert . It would inako an Engllxh working man open hia oyos very wide to road of tho present condition of tho Gorman working man . This poor oroaturo' is obliged to serve an apprenticeship of a certain number of yoara , nt the expiration of which ho Is forced to travol from town to town , In a proscribed direction , which ho daro not deviate from under penalty of Imprisonment . At every town he comes to ho has to present himaolf at

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    1024 I ? IIE LEAD E It . [ Ko . 415 , Ociobeii 2 , 1858 .

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 2, 1858, page 1024, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2262/page/8/