thing, that I may be able to sign my name to it. You know that I am a man of my word-what I say I promise to keep. I can assure you I have but one object-the happiness and prosperity of the country, and I never had any other. You know the fidelity of the Hanoverian. I have always placed the greatest confidence in the country. Unhappily some bad persons are everywhere met, but the mass is good and honest. I feel as if a stone is taken from myheart by hearing what you say to me. I am now certain that we shall obtain our object."

PRUSSIA. On the 7th of June, Frederick William III., king of Prussia, expired at Berlin, and was succeeded by his son, Frederick William IV., the present monarch. On the 17th of the same month the latter communicated to his subjects two documents, both in the handwriting of his deceased father, and which had been placed in his hands by the late king on the day of his death. The one was headed "my last will," and the other commenced with the words "On you my dear Frederick, the burden of the government now comes They were both dated 1st December, 1827. The "will" breathes the spirit of the most affectionate regard for his family, and alludes to the death of his first wife (the beautiful and gifted Louisa Augusta, princess of Mecklenburg Strelitz, so harshly treated by Napoleon after the battle of Jena), who departed in 1810, in the following terms. "By the same decree of God, I have had to undergo heavy and hard trials, as well as in what personally concerned me, especially when, seventeen years ago, he deprived me of that which was the dearest to me, as by the

events which so heavily afflicted my dear country. But, on the other hand, God (eternal thanks to him for it!) has permitted me to live to witness glorious and happy events. Among the first, I reckon, above all, the struggles gloriously endured in 1813, 1814, and 1815, to which the country owes its restoration." Amongst the latter, the good old king considers the attachment and prosperity of his children, and the affectionate love of his second wife, given him by Providence in his "fifth decennium."

In the accompanying paper, addressed to his son, were general maxims of advice as to the principles on which he should endeavour to govern his country. He thus speaks from his grave. "Your principles and feelings are a

security to me that you will be a father to your subjects. Beware, however, of the love of innovation, now so general; beware of impracticable theories, so many of which are now in vogue; but, at the same time, beware of an almost equally fatal, obstinate predilection for what is old; for it is only by avoiding these two shoals that really useful changes proceed. The army is now in a remarkably good condition, since its re-organization it has fulfilled my expectations; as in war, so also in peace. May it never lose sight of its high destination, but may the country likewise never forget what it owes to it. Do not neglect to provide for, as far as lies in your power, concord among all the European powers; but, above all, may Prussia, Russia, and Austria, never separate from each other. Their union is to be regarded as the keystone of the great European alliance."

On publishing these two documents, the new king says, in his official communication of them to the minister of state, that he is resolved, with the help of God, to walk in his father's ways. "Let my people pray with me for the preservation of the blessings of

peace, that precious jewel which he gained for us by the sweat of his brow, and cherished with truly parental care. This I know, should that jewel ever be in danger, which God forbid, my people will rise up, like one man, at my call, as his people did at his call.”

THE

HE Spanish Cortes were opened on the 18th of February, and the queen regent Christina seated beside her daughter, read from the throne the speech which was presented to her by the president of the council. It was a long and not very important document. It commenced by an assurance that the relations between Spain and foreign powers were on the most satisfactory footing. The king of the Low countries had recognized the rights of Isabel II. "In the Peninsula," to give the words of the speech, "the greatest part of the provinces taste the sweets of peace, and reap abundantly and with public expressions of gratitude the fruits of the memorable treaty of Bergara.*

"The greatest portion of our military forces, now concentrated in Lower Arragon, is preparing for new triumphs, which I confidently expect from their valour and discipline, as well as from the intrepidity of their general-in-chief. In the meanwhile, the provinces of Gallicia, Toledo, and Ciudad Real are pacified, and if, to my great regret, others do not enjoy the same blessing, my government has devised the measures necessary for the attainment of that so anxiously desired result.

"After a disastrous war of seven years, the finances are not in so prosperous a condition as might be wished. We still possess, it is true, immense resources, sufficient to retrieve the credit of the nation, and to leave unimpaired its good faith, which never belied itself.

"The great work of pacification being thus far advanced, it is indispensable to initiate the nation in the knowledge of the advantages

See vol. 81, p. 394,

of the constitutional system, by means of laws, which being in perfect harmony with the constitution of the state, will give force and energy to the government, as well as pledges and guarantees for the preservation of order and public tranquillity.

"With this important view the government intends submitting to you various projects of law, of which the urgency and gravity are generally admitted. Such are the laws which will place the provincial deputations and municipalities in accord with the tenour and spirit of the constitution in vigour; that necessary to correct the defects which experience has pointed out in the electoral law: that which, without curtailing in the slightest manner the liberty of the press, will oppose a barrier to its abuses; that which has for its object to guarantee both the security and dignity of religion and the maintenance of the clergy, without overlooking the sad position of the secularized nuns and friars; that for the organization of the council of state, in order that it may serve as a beacon and guide to the crown; and, finally, the legislative measures required for the administration and the national navy, ever worthy of the liveliest solicitude, and other objects of equal importance."

As soon as the session was opened for the commencement of business, a scene of confusion and violence followed, which led to military interference. The party of the Exaltados, who constituted the opposition, found that they were much weaker in the new Cortes than either they or the ministerialists had anticipated. They resorted, therefore, to the same plan as that adopted by the Jacobins in

France at the beginning of the French Revolution, and filled the tribunes or galleries with partizans who by their gestures and language sought to intimidate ministers. During the discussion of a question respecting the election for Cordova, on the 23d of February, while M. Calderon Collantes (one of the ministers) was speaking, he was interrupted by shouts and hisses from the galleries, whence a cry arose of "Down with the deputies!" "the constitution for ever!" The president attempted to maintain order, but could not succeed, and the military in consequence was summoned in, and the galleries were cleared of the crowd of turbulent demagogues, many of whom were immediately arrested. Some disturbances afterwards took place in the streets, which continued until the mob was charged by a squadron of lancers, when ⚫ some lives were lost. Madrid was declared to be in a state of siege, and on the 26th Don Diego Entrena was by a royal decree appointed political chief of the capital in the place of Don Jose Maria Puig. The sitting of the Cortes which was for some days suspended, recommenced on the 29th of February, but " the state of siege" still continued for some time longer. The best proof, however, that no changes of any consequence were apprehended was, that the funds rose during the émeute.

The verification of the elections of the different members of the cortes occupied a long time, and gave rise to some very stormy debates; there were three candidates proposed for the offices of president-M. Isturitz, M. Mon, and M. Martinez de la Rosa. M. Isturitz, however, was elected by a large majority, and the other mem

bers of the bureau were chosen from among the same party. This happened in the middle of March, and immediately afterwards the

state of siege" was raised in Madrid. The ensemble of the address in answer to the royal speech was adopted, although almost every point was disputed by the opposition. When the paragraph alluding to the "state of siege" was under discussion, M. M. Olozoga and Corsina moved by way of amendment that a clause should be introduced declaring the opinion of the chamber, that for the future no such measure as the declaring the capital in a state of siege could be legally adopted. This, however, was rejected by a majority of 98 to 39, and on the 1st of April the address was voted by the chamber.

On the 7th of April M. Nemtes de Oca, minister of marine, M. Calderon Collantes, minister of the interior, and general Navarez, minister of war, tendered their resignations to the queen regent, on the ground as was asserted at the time that they could not assent to the multitude of promotions and favours demanded by Espartero for officers of his army. Their resignations were accepted, and this opportunity was taken of reorganizing the administration which was constructed as follows:

SENOR PEREZ DE CASTRO, President of the Council, and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

SENOR ARMENDARIZ, Minister of the Interior.

SENOR ARRAZOLA, Minister of Justice.

SENOR SANTILLAN, Minister of Finance.

SENOR SOTELO, Minister of Ma