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    RECORD OF THE WEEK. HOME AND COLONIAL. A...

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    Hanovee, May 7th, 1860. The Proceedings ...

    large class of what I will take the liberty to term leisure men , who , without being feudal nobles , are men of rank and wealth . Hitherto the leaders or spokesmen of the Liberals in this country have been professors , schoolmasters , and lawyers . We have too few Von Gagebns and Vok Bennigsens , who , like the English Hjcmpdens , Sidneys , Busseixs , and Foxes , possess rank , wealth , xvide connexions , leisure , influence , and popular instincts . Sachevebeixs , " Wii-kes ' s , Cobbetts , Fbosts , and 0 'Connei . ls are in abundance , who ha re power to inflamebut not to lead , mere bell-wethers , not

    , strong , watchful , protecting , directing shepherds . Thus it is that in want of leaders we hear Germans proclaiming a desire for war , praying for an invasion to unite them and raise up chiefs . The Governments , without exception , are in themselves so feeble , being without any hold upon the esteem or affection of their subjects , that in countries like England , Holland , and Sweden , they would be reduced to their legitimate powers , or overthrown by the mere expression of the popular wish . A few hundred men like Vok Gagebn and Bennigsen , and in six months Germany would be a

    united monarchy . . ..... But , discouraging as the constitutional life m Prussia is , it is hopeful and animated compared with that in Hanover , where a minister is so bold as to hint that the princes of Germany would , if much longer threatened with a united Germany under the leader , ship of Prussia , seek alliances among foreign non-German States , and , if needs must , with France . This hint of M . Von Babbies has excited a cry of indignation through the entire German press and people , which must serve as a counter hint to the minister , that the days when a Rhine bund could be formed are passed . _ It is not very probable that the Hanoverians , Saxons , and Hessians would allow themselves to be led again like sheep to the slaughter , in fact , we all perfectly well know that a word from Prussia—one word only—and the Sovereigns of Hanover , Hessia , and Saxony would be exiles in twent-four hours . . '

    y . , , . „«« ... The Danish Government lately issued a circular note justifying its conduct in the matter of the Schleswig Assembly , the leading members of which , as your readers have been already lnfomied , are being prosecuted by the Danish' Government for the distribution ot an address which the Assembly had presented to the King . The Danes excuse their proceedings by the assertion that the Assembly systematically and maliciously rejected almost every measure brought forward by the Government , even when shown to be both practical and useful . The German party reply to this circular , and declare thnt out of twenty-four bills introduced by the-Government , seventeen were agreed + o with very few and slight modifications . Of these , nine have since received the king ' s assent and become tie about

    law . The Danes " seem , however , to care veryji' public opinion in Germany , relying doubtless , upon the promise made fnnnnviv i >» . t ~~ n Tyr ,- — < j-4- « . „ i ™< v o < a fi > o Gorman States did not interfere with the old ally of France ( Denmark ) he should likewise abstain , but that if any German power invaded the territories appertaining to the King of Denmark , France could not remain a passive spectator . For some time past , as I have already written , there have been Tumours of the existence of an offensive and defensive treaty between France and Denmark . Whether such has really been concluded cannot as yet be ascertained , but that it-wotrld-Ottl v ^ xpress-the ^ mpat h ^^ is certain . ' The French have an eye to the sea-faring population of

    Denmark as an auxiliary force to man her fleets , while Denmark sees her own safety in the military supremacy of France . The ruling party in Denmark are particularly desirous of a close alliance with France , to enable them without risk of a war with the Germanic Confederation , to take active and sharp cutting measures against the German propaganda in Holstein and Schleswig , more especially in the latter country , nnd not only msjintnin what they consider to be their own , but to extend Danish influence , manners and language across the border of Germany itself . Since the report of such negotiations between France and Denmark , ihe Danish papers have become considerably more insolent and daring towards Germany . The Flensburg Gazette , which , though not of much

    value as nj ' ournal , is nevertheless important , ns being the organ of the Danish Cabinet , vies with the other Danish papers in invectives against Germany in general and Prussia in particular . It boldly advocates the " revendication " of the Rhine provinces , and expresses a conBdent belief that , if not nt this moment , Franco will most assuredly do so the instant Prussia attempts a forcible entry into Holatein or Schleswig-. The Danish Government , snys the Gazette , confident that France will never permit the strong to trample iipon the weak , looks to France for help against the designs of the Propagnndn . Tho late debate upon tlio Schleswig Assembly affair in the Prussian Chambers has been as oil to flames on both Bides .

    Germany to a man is ready to go to war for Schleswig nnd Holstein , and no man enn doubt that Franco will take part with Denmark . There wi ) l bo no underhand work on the part of France in this case . Years ago Louis Napoleon declared his resolution , nnd , it Germans will have wnr with Denmark , they must be prepared for a war with Frnhco . This must be well known to Prussian politicians , and , therefore , one ia inclined to nsk , what is the aim . of ¦ the late debate P Prussia , that cannot reform her army , nor unite Germany , nor protect the Germans of tho Duchies against tho Danes , nor even erect const defences , nay , riot even eommunieato unhindered with her arsenals , speaks as loudly through her Parliament , as if she were exactly in the position of England . Thnt bold oratory which , when vontod in England , exeitcB admiration and ' glee , mnkee us tremble here . . The Austrian official journals are striving : hnrd to mystify tho public respecting the transactions of tho late minister Von Bbuck ,

    and the causes which led to his dismissal and subsequent suicide . A few days ago , he was held up as a criminal—now he has died a man of honour . The public , however , cannot help thinking that he chose a most unlucky moment to take away his life , if he wished to make the world believe he destroyed his life because his feelings were hurt . This sort of glossing is by no -means uncommon in Germany , for the police authorities , in ' parts , have adopted it as a rule to mystify or hush up . - I am acquainted with five cases of suicide , in a neighbouring town , which were completely ignored by the authorities—the relatives being" permitted to advertise that death had taken place from apoplexy . It was but the other day that the Chief Police Commissary of the City of Bremen , Von

    Httnteln , took away his own life . The journals represented him . as being driven to the rash step by excessive sensitiveness at a slight reproval given him by the Senate , But the public were fully aware that the account-books of the passport-office had been stolen or destroyed , for the purpose of hiding heavy defalcations , supposed to have been committed by the head of the department , who is at present , or was till very lately , a prisoner in his own house , too ill , or pretending , as the public believes , to be too ill , to be removed to the common gaol . The journals have so mystified the public upon the affair , that although it is certain that the robbery or destruction of the accounts could have been effected only by an official , it has been merely a nine days' wonder , and is now hushed

    up , as the authorities would have it . The telegraph brought your readers the news last week of the suppression by the Austrian Government of the twenty-ninth article of the Civil Code , by which foreigners were prohibited , as in every other part of Germany , from establishing themselves in any business , without first being naturalized , which was attended with great expense and annoyance . Foreigners can now establish themselves in Austria proper , without naturalization . By this step , if really and honest ! v carried out , Austria will gain a great advantage over the other countries of Germany , in all of which , more or less , foreigners are excluded . So much the worse for the silly Governments , and the better for England , France , and the United States , and the shipowners of Bremen , Hamburg , An t ^ * i l j i ii j

    werp , < c . ... ... ... - _ -. i . ' - ; i An additional postal treaty has been concluded between England and the Hanse towns , Bremen , Hamburg , and Lubeck , by which letters and packets—but , as I have ieen informed , not newspapers , except as packets—will be forwarded vid London and Hull . Ine letters will be charged as vid Ostend ; not pre-paid , eightpence ; pre-paid , sixpence . Why newspapers , with .- the stamp , are not to be forwarded , with a small local charge for delivery , as before the treaty with Prussia , by the Hamburg and Bremen steamers , 1 am at a loss to conceive , unless the English Government is-lending itself to the Continental authorities to exclude the English nress from the Continent .

    Record Of The Week. Home And Colonial. A...

    RECORD OF THE WEEK . HOME AND COLONIAL . A suMi"ruors entertainment was given on Saturday , the 4 th of May , by the Royal Academy of Arts , to inaugurate the opening of the Exhibition in J ' ratalgar SqunTe : ' . ¦ ~ ~ T ~ Mr . Adderley ' s new Hill , just introduced into the House of Commons , to provide for the education of children employed in manufactures , or other regular labour , is a measure of great interest and importance . It proceeds to inflict a penalty for employing any child under twelve years of age , in any mine or colliery , or m any manufacturing process , whether for wages , or as an apprentice or learner , unless a certificate be first obtained from " a schoolmaster , that the child can read tolerably and write legibly . Mr . Adderley s proposal ought to be widely known , that it may have due considera-Tho 2 S ezo Zcalandcr , of February 27 th , published at Auckland , contains an account of the insurrection of the natives , in the province of Tarawaki , who had taken up arms against the Queen s forces , to prevent the survey of a portion of land , at Waitnra , by the Government agents . Colonel Murrny was mnking the most energetic arrangements to resist the natives , but no collision hud taken ^ A ^ Malteso washerwoman , whoso veracity may be depended upon , affirms that twelve months ago on cleaning a gurnet , « l » e found in its inside a Venetian zecchino , which she disposed of for 15 s . 2 d . Six months afterwards , m a fish of tho same species , Bhe found a valuable diamond ring . She declares , moreover , that- a brother , who is a scullion > n a cookshop , has repeatedly found , in the snmo description ot fish , pieces of metnl nnd coral ? The fact of the discovery of tho com nnd the diamond hns created much speculation nt Malta ; and a correspondent of a Malta paper inquires , whether the latter may not have been a ring the Doges of Venice were wont to cast annually into tho A 1 * 1 * A Cabinet Comvcil was held on Saturday , at the official repidenco of the First Lord of the Treasury , in Downing Street . ^ The annual account of tho Merchant Seamen ' s Fund lias bean mndo up . It shows that in 1859 pensions amounting to £ 4 , 043 Ic 11 in , nnd now pension * to the amount of « 2 were Bwrfof- ™ nonsionors now upon tho fund are £ 1 , 400 iti number , and the Snnual amount oAhoir pensions is £ 58 631 , ' Of the P-sioncrs 5 , 690 hnvo been masters or eenincn , 10 , 843 are widows , ana 4 , » u / Ch Tho e Roynl Mail Btcnmship Europn embarked i . iuils nnd nussengeva

    May 12 , I 860 . ] The Leader and Saturday Analyst , 455

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), May 12, 1860, page 19, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_12051860/page/19/