THE MOTHERLESS. A MOTHER'S name! a mother's name. With joy I still the sound retain, And sometimes in the lonely glen My mother's voice! my mother's voice! Its music made my heart rejoice, And gladness spread around. My mother's hand! I've felt it oft Its gentle pressure, warm and soft, As when she knelt and asked in prayer; I ever felt its soothing power. My mother's kiss! my mother's kiss! No power could heal my grief like this- When she my tiny hand would press, My mother dear, to thee 'twas given Ah! since that hour-that painful hour, M. L. B. Monthly Record. FOREIGN ITEMS. GERMANY.-The controversy between Austria and Prussia is not yet settled. In order to understand fully the relation of these countries to each other, our readers should be aware, that, after the power of Napoleon Buonaparte was destroyed, the several states, formerly constituting the German Empire, entered into a confederation. The parties in this compact were, Austria and Prussia for their German territories, Denmark for Holstein, the Netherlands for Luxembourg, and thirty-three independent states and free cities, embracing a territory of two hundred and forty-four thousand, three hundred and seventyfive square miles, and comprising at present, a population of forty-two millions. The members of this confederacy were to have equal rights, to defend each other, in case of foreign attack, the members not to make war on each other; but to submit all differences to the decision of the Diet. The Diet was to assemble at Frankfort-on-the-Maine, and Austria was to preside in its delibera tions. The larger states were to have respectively, two, three or four votes, and the smaller, one each. The whole number of votes was seventy. The army of the confederation in 1830, it was decided, should number three hundred and three thousand four hundred and eighty-four men. One member of the confederation might be at war while the others were at peace. In the Hungarian and Italian wars against Austria, the Confederation took no part, as it only guaranteed to Austria the possession of her German territories. Each state being independent, established custom houses, and levied tolls and heavy duties upon its frontier, to the great detriment of commerce. This finally became intolerable, and a general custom's-union(Zollverein) was formed under the direction of Prussia, and it was so arranged, that duties only should be levied on the common frontier. This union includes more than four-fifths of Germany, with the exception of Austria. The people of Germany desire to have a general government, and not be split up into so many independent states, while the princes oppose it. Prussia has sometimes favored it, hoping to be the leading power in the new state. The difficulties in Schlesswig-Holstein, and the present troubles arising from the disputes in Hesse Cassel, have arisen from this cause. Holstein is the most northern German state, and subject to the King of Denmark, as he is duke of Holstein. He has no male heirs, and upon his demise, the crown will pass to the female line. It is contended that the law excluding females from the right of succession, applies to Holstein, thus making the Grand Duke of Oldenburg, a German prince, heir to the throne. The king, in order not to lose Holstein, issued a patent, conforming the succession in Holstein, to that of Denmark. The Holsteiners are more favorable Prussia as to Germany than to Denmark, and resisted the King's decree, appointed a provisional government and appealed to Germany. Hence the war. sisted Holstein, Austria and Bavaria opposed her. The other states of Europe favored the old order-keeping Holstein and Denmark united. When Hungary revolted from Austria, Prussia aroused the German states, and endeavored to form a confederation, with herself at the head; but Russia interfered. Then occurred the difficulties in the Electorate of Hesse Cassel. The Elector in collecting unconstitutional taxes, was resisted, and fled, demanding the protection of the Diet, which was granted, as that body consisted of representatives of the sovereigns. The Diet ordered Austrian and Bavarian troops to march into the Electorate, and re-instate the Elector. But Prussia being nearest marched her own troops in, and took possession of the Electorate. Austria, demanded the withdrawal of the troops, Prussia refused. Thus the troops of both parties occupied the Electorate, ready, at any moment, for hostilities. In the meantime a conference has been held at Warsaw between Austria, Prussia and Russia, and an endeavor made to settle the difficulties. The decision was against Prussia. Prussia is stronger than Austria; but Austria and Russia could probably flog Prussia. Austria demands right of passage through Brunswick, of her army, to interfere in the Holstein war; but Prussia utterly refuses such passage excepting under such conditions as will not be accepted. By letters from Europe of Dec. 14, we have the following information:"A change has taken place in the head quarters of the Duchies. General Wilisen has suddenly resigned command of the Holstein army, and has gone to Altona. General Von der Horst has been appointed to command in his stead. By the latest accounts the Prussians were at Hanfield, being loth to depart. The absolute Elector, now counting upon the support of the Austrians, in protesting against the presence of the Prussians in his capital, and the Austrians thus encouraged, continue to advance. At the last accounts they occupied Marburg, where they commanded the rail-road from Frankfort to Cassel, and completely turned the flank of the Prussians. The Berlin Journals seem to count on peace being preserved. From Vienna, the news is not quite as pacific, and whilst it is said that the Russian army is ordered to be reduced, the armaments at Vienna still continue. English papers of Dec. 21, announce that hostilities between Denmark and the Duchies, were daily expected. About the last of December, or the first of January, an Austrian army of twenty-five thousand men was about to march into the Duchies, accompanied by a Prussian force of the same strength. There was no hope that the difficulties would be amicably settled. News of the fourth of January, furnish the following:-We are told that Austria and Prussia are on the best terms; that they have come to some sort of bargain; that the presidial rights of Germany are to be enjoyed by each alternately, for two years successively. That a re-arrangement of votes at the new Diet, is to be made, in which the numbers are to be reduced from seventeen to thirteen. Prussia being two, Austria two, the four kingdoms of Hanover, Saxony, Bavaria, and Wurtemburg four; with five groups of minor States, one vote each, making thirteen votes." ENGLAND. The excitement in reference to popery has not yet subsided. A letter has been written by the Premier, Lord John Russel, to the Bishop of Durham, censuring in high terms the Catholics. Cardinal Wiseman has replied to it in a manner calculated to allay, in some degree, the excitement. THE GREAT FAIR IN LONDON.-About twelve hundred hands are at work on the monster building, and it rapidly approaches completion. Messrs. Clowes & Spicer pay a premium of three thousand pounds for the privilege of printing the Catalogues for the Exhibition, and pay two pence for every catalogue sold besides. The catalogues are to be sold at one shilling FRANCE.-Paris papers of January 1st, state that there has been a complete rupture between the Executive and Legislative powers of the state. This was looked upon as the precursor of greater difficulties, when the bill should be brought forward for an increased allowance to the salary of the President of the Republic, in 1851. YUCATAN.-Papers of January 1st, from Mexico, inform us that Yucatan has pronounced against the supreme government, and declares herself independent of Mexico. TURKEY.-The persecutions of Christians has been horrible in that country. On the sixteenth of October, an attack was made in the night by a party of Turks and Arabs, on the Christians in Aleppo, and a great slaughter ensued. The Greek bishop was among the murdered. HUNGARIAN REFUGEES.-The United States have offered these afflicted chieftains a home, which they have accepted. The Ottoman government pays their expenses to Liverpool, and England pays their expenses to this country. GENERAL ITEMS. CONGRESS.-The Session is drawing near to its close; but little beneficial to the country, has yet been accomplished. The House have passed a reform postage bill, though not coming up to what is needed by the country. THE GOVERNOR AND HIS MESSAGE.-Since our last issue, the Legislature of this State have assembled and are slowly moving on with the affairs of State. Governor Hunt in his opening message, presents a satisfactory view of financial matters. He says that after meeting all the appropriations, payable during the last fiscal year, from the ordinary revenues, there remained a balance in the general fund, at the close of the year, of $54.521.28. Amount of State debt, Sept. 30, 1850, was-Canal Debt $16,171,109,16. General Fund Debt, 6,359,693,32. $22,530,802,48. These debts are so arranged that they are gradually reduced without special taxation. The capital of the school fund September 20, 1850, was$2,290,673,23. It appears from the latest returns of the common schools that there are in the State 11,396 school districts: that the whole number of children taught therein, in the year 1849, was 749,500, of all ages, and that the whole amount paid for teachers' wages, during that year, was $1,322,696,24, of which $667,389 20 was contributed from the State Treasury and raised by county and town taxation. The Legislatures of several other States, held at the North and the South, have assembled since our last issue. The opening messages of the governors are generally in favor of the peace measures, passed by the Congress of last year, and express the belief that the Union will not be severed; but that a better state of feeling will exist between the North and the South. CALIFORNIA. The admission of California into the Union, was celebrated at San Francisco, and other places with great rejoicing. From November 12th, 1849, to Sept. 30, 1850, the amount of bullion cleared from the port of San Francisco, was seventeen million, eight hundred and twenty-two thousand, eight hundred and seventy-seven dollars, and the amount received, two million one hundred and thirty-four thousand dollars. On the Klamath river, where mines have recently been discovered, among one thousand diggers, each averaged one ounce of gold per day. The gold digging has been prosperous on the whole. The cholera made sad ravages for a short time; but it has subsided. Later advices state that it has increased again. NEW DISCOVERY IN ASTRONOMY.-November 15th, 1850, a third ring of Saturn was discovered at the Cambridge Observatory. At the same place, about two years since, the eighth satelite of that planet was discovered by Mr. Bond. STRANGE, INDEED! THE FEbruary NumbER OF THE MEMORIAL ISSUED BEFORE THE JANUARY.-We are sorry to say that we have experienced disappointment after disappointment in respect to the engraving for the January No. The publisher gave the engraver several months in which to complete the portrait, and he promised faithfully to complete it by the 1st of December last. At the time agreed upon, the plate was called for, and behold it was not commenced. Then the engraver promised that it should yet be done in season, and put us off from time to time, until January 18th the publisher demanded the plate whether done or not, and behold it was good for nothing. Then another engraver was immediately engaged to work night and day until a good portrait should be completed. We shall not be able to present our readers with the January number, consequently, until the 1st of February. But we thought it best to have it right before issuing, believing that our friends would excuse us, as we think the delay not to be our fault. We thought it best to issue our February number promptly, with the valuable portrait of Father Peck, and let our friends know that we are still alive. We never have before had half as many voluntary subscriptions for a new year come in so early, as we have this year, and we exceedingly regret that there should be such delay. AMERICAN AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.-We learn that the receipts for December, exceeded those of the same month, last year, by several hundred dollars. Other months exhibit a similar result. |