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    merchandise .. They contented themselves with conveying a single prize to Pisa , laden with rich spoils . With the produce of = this booty they began , in the middle of the eleventh century to raise their beautiful- cathedral , which still attracts so much admiration . It is declared that Galileo ' s discoveries with r egard to the oscillations of the pendulum were due to the lamps suspended from .. the dome of this cathedral - The famous Leaning Tower also afforded him the opportunity of making many of Ins observations and calculations . Prom about the sixteenth century Pisa has gradually sunk in importance and activity , and lias been as lifeless and apathetic in appearance as almost any of the minor cities of Italy . It was , therefore , emphatically a bright day -for this town when " its new King entered its gates . Recently led to indulge in the hope of seeing itself restored to something of its former importance as a place of learning by the educational and professorial arrangements made by Baron Ricasoli , it was ^ well disposed to greet Victor Emmanuel with affectionate enthusiasm . The slight check given to its display of loyalty by the timorous deference of the Archbishop to lloman orders , only served as a foil to the almost universal respect manifested by the clergy towards the King throughout his memorable journey .

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    May 19 , 1860 J The Leader and Saturday Analyst . 479

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    Hanover , May 14 th , 1 S 6 O . I N the Hanoverian Lower House , on the . Sth inst ., M . von Bennigsen said he had a declaration to present in that Chamber , where a German Minister had been so bold as to utter the words quoted . This declaration had been drawn up by a number of German men assembled at Heidelberg , and was as follows . _« M . vox Bohhies , Minister of the Interior , of Hanover , has lately declared , in the Parliament of his - country , ' that any attempt to establish a Central Government , having the sole management of the military and diplomatic affairs of all Germany , would lead to a league among the petty princes , and might even force

    them to form alliances with foreign powers , who would be but too glad to have a voice in the internal affairs of Germany . Io : tins avowal of a German Minister , an avowal which has excited universal indignation , we oppose this declaration : — ' The people of Germany are determined never to permit an inch of German ground to fall under Jbrejgn domination . The dangerous net which a foreign powerIs weaving around "its , grows day-by day closer and more menacing to our existence ; the conviction that a Central Government-: , united military and diplomatic forces , are the only means to resist successfully this imminent peril—this conviction is becoming more " encrar and '' profound . ; . The German people will hail the of affairsto that

    transmission of the supreme direction - German Government which , in the presence of these dangers , shall enter the lists with manly resolution to defend the hoiiouK . the liberty , and the interests of ' the country abroad . But the German Government which shall so i >>» noininionsly forget its duty as to seek the aid of foreign powers in questions of internal . development , or shall demand assistance from inimical powers to escape the sacrifices which may be demanded of it to withstand the common enemy , will succumb to the judgment of the entire nation , and meet with the fate which traitors " deserve . "' The declaration was signed by Benxigskn himself , Von " G . ujern" , W"ETC ^ T ! Tj- ^ iwnTnro'n 7-- ' Brater Stkeit , Geuvinus , and other leading politicians .

    To this declaration M . von Borriks replied : — "I regret that my words have been misunderstood intentionally , or unintentionally perhaps . People have gone so far " as to attribute to the Hanoverian Government a design of seeking foreign alliance * . It will suffice to recall the past history of Hanover to convince them that tins Government could never ' for one moment entertain suoh . a project . My words bore reference to no Government in particular ; I wished merely to point out in a genera ) manner that the tendencies of the sncnlled National Association , if they could come to any result , would produce precisely the contrary of what the Association desired to effect—that they would bring misery upon Germany , would lead to civil wars and foreign intervention . I should have thought myself secure against a false interpretation of my words on the pavtot M . von Bknniosen , who on a former occasion blamed the Hanoverian Government for attaching itself too closely to the

    pri ciplesof the Germanic Confederation . Tins Government has never dreamt of any alliance with foreign powers , and least of all with that foreign power to which it would seem allusion has been made ( France ) . No one can doubt that when all shall be undermined , the Diet overthrown , violence opposed to violence , civil war and foreign intervention will bo the inevitable consequence . But I should like to know by what authority the gentlemen assembled nt Heidelberg pretend to speak in the nsuno of the whole Gorman people . Their declaration contains , however , one good thought , which is that not an inch of German territory shall ever bo ceded to a foreign power . With this I cordially agree , and lirmly believe tl ' iatall German Governments are of ono accord upon that point-On the following day-Vow Bobbies uud his . supporters .. formally protested against tho presentation of the Heidelberg addresses ,-when Von Brnnigsen declared that he took the entire responsibility

    closely connected ; and some persons imagine that the timid and inexplicable policy of Prussia as regards this country is owing to a fear of displeasing the English court . These opinions may be very erroneous , and perhaps absurd , but there is hardly any other wayjof accounting for Che resolute opposition to Prussia , and disregard of the desires of the great mass of tlie people of HanoVer . The King and his ministers are so detested , that it is surprising how an outbreak is prevented . The Second Chamber , like the First , has refused the credit demanded by the Government for the purpose of fortifying the Hanoverian coast , but , at the same time , proclaims its readiness to accede to any measures that ' be taken in conjunction with the other maritime States . The settlement of the Elbe toll has again been postponed for three months . entertain the idea

    I have just remarked that some parties here that England would interfere to prevent any change in the present constitution of the German States , and the following extract from an article in the Hanoverian Landes Zeitung bears me out . "We need not , " says this journal , with reference to M . von Borries ' speech , " look solely to Prance if the lesser and middle States should require the assistance of foreign powers against the attempt to dissolve the Confederation , and encroach upon the rights of their dynasties . England and Russia are also guarantees of the Germanic Confederation . Their dynasties are connected with the princely houses of Germany , and have claims upon the hereditary succession : it will not be " indifferent to them if these Sovereign rights are destroyed or curtailed . They will he entitled to huvea voice , not only from their position as European Powers , but also in consideration . " of their family claims .

    The " Staatsanzeiger " declaims against the National Association and'the desired , union under a Prussian " Hegemony , " and gives the assurance that , although a new Rhine bund is not thought of , yet , should Prussia persevere in her present aggressive policy , an alliance which ' , is now being negotiated will undoubtedly be formed between the three kingdoms of Bavaria , Saxony ¦ , and Wurteinburg , the Electorate of Hessia , the Grand Duchy of Baden and Nassau . These States tog-ether can bring from ' -two to three hundred thousand men into the field , and will be found powerful enough to defend themselves against any serious attempt adverse to their sovereignty . If Prussia would have peace in Germany , she must cease to demand a price for it which the middle States neither can nor will pay . " . .. . ;

    _ _ __ . „ . , ; , It would" appear that tlie late debates ' m the Prussian Parliament have roused the Princes of the middle States ., to action . They have reason to trust to their little capital towns and the . peasantry , who , although mostly able to _ read , are without political knowledge or the means of obtaining it , and political traditions they have none . Tlie liberals are now being met at every point , and it is doubtful whether the National Association , whose task professedly is the political education of tho people , will be able to maintain itself against the violent measures adopted with regard to it by the Princes , more particularlby the Government of Hanover . iK - ¦

    y In the Second Chamber of Hesse Darmstadt on the 11 Ih inst ., the Member for Mayence , Mr . ' Strikcu / ek , moved this declaration or resolution : " That the Hessian Chamber considers any attempt on al

    -rhe ^ arti ^ f ^ iudividn ^ er-ma n ^ ? hameful act of treachery towards the country of Germany , and that any German Ministry that should lend themselves to any such attempt would deserve the contempt of the nation . " This motion was , however , after a long debate , rejected . This serves as a proof that M . Vox Borriks is not without his supporters and admirers m other parts of tlie country . In Mecklenburg , too—but this might be expected , for Mecklenburg is the hotbed of feudalism in Germanytlie Hanoverian Minister is loudly applauded . The JSrord-dcutscJie correspondent put the question to the Prussian or liberal party , If Prussia pursues a policy which must apparently lead to tho dissolution of tho Germanic Confederation , can the Princes , who think their

    interests thereby endangered , be blamed if they form separate alliances and retaliate upon that power ( Prussia ) , which for her own aggrandisement has sought to destroy them ., ? Or even can it bo justly ' regarded as treason on their parts , if , when the confederation is broken up , they should seek to strengthen themselves by foreign alliances P" These and other examples testify that the feudalists would rather sacrifice their country to France , than tolerate a united Germany under tho leadership of Prussia . „ ..,. , ¦ In consequence of tho opposition in and out of Parliament to tho ministerial proposals with regard to tho remodelling ot the Prussian military forces , tho measure has been withdrawn , and the Government lms meanwhile accepted a grant of nine millions of thalors towards necessary improvements . Tho Government would attribute tho failure to tho refusal of tho Upper Chamber to adopt univer

    tho reform of tho land-tax , but tho faut is , tho measure was - sally condemned . Had it really boon a popular measure , the Upper Chamber would hardly have dared to oppose it : indeed , by their resistance to tho land-tax , tho Feudalists huvo made themselves so detested , that it was seriously dobixted by the press and people whether it would not bo bolter to abolish the Upper Chamber a toffother The session of tho Prussian Parliament closes with a scorning victory of tho Feudalists , by tho postponement of the army reform , tho rejection of the Civil Marriages Bill , and tho Land-tax Bill- but none of those were ' decidedly national questions , mid as far as progress is concerned , the session has proved a very barren

    ° Tho King- of Denmark has signed the concession for a' /«»« £ ? direct from lla . nburg to Lubeok , through the Duchy " ^ ^^ Negotiations aro also going on between an English company ana

    upon'himself . , . The Hanoverian minister has not improved ) ns position in public estimation by his reply . To tho exasperation is ' now added utter contempt ; for it appears ho has not oven tho courage to maintain his own words against tho sound of tho public voice . What would become of him and his liko'in another 18-18 P It has been asserted by the supporters of tho prosont Government that tho reigning Sovereign of England would not tolerate tho annexation of Hanover , and the defutfo ruin of its dynasty , with which Her Majesty is so

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), May 19, 1860, page 479, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2348/page/19/