Department, for which, hitherto, the additional taxes have been levied.

"I do not deny that this problem offers great difficulties to be resolved, but I flatter myself with the hope that, in consideration of the serious position in which we are placed, your Excellency will admit the importance of the motives which plead for my proposal, especially in view of the result of the forthcoming elections, and that you will be inclined to second me in my difficult post of Minister of Finance by a willing acquiescence in the measures which the force of circumstances imperiously demands."

The result of the elections was very unfavourable to the Ministry, and when the new Chambers met on the 19th of May, there was a considerable majority in the Lower House against them. In the speech with which the Premier opened the Chambers, he said :

:

"His Majesty the King has ordered me to open the Diet of the Monarchy in his name. The Government considers it its duty to engage your activity this Session no longer than will be necessary for the settlement of the most urgent affairs. The finances of the country continue to assume a more favourable aspect. It has not been found necessary at the close of the financial year to make use of the extraordinary credit for defraying the expense of the organization of the army which had been granted in the Budget of 1861 from the public funds. The surplus in the revenue of this year has even exceeded the requirements of the public service. His Majesty the VOL. CIV.

King has determined, for the relief of the country, that the additional taxation should not be levied on and after the 1st of July next. From the Budget for 1862 and 1863, which is to be submitted to you without delay, you will perceive that the decrease of income arising therefrom will be fully covered by provisional reductions in the military administration, by savings in the cost of the administration of the public debt, and by increased revenue; and that means for useful application to all departments of the public service are still available. The more detailed specification of the income and expenditure in the Budget, and the early presentation of the Budget for 1863, will afford testimony that the Government is ready to meet with willingness any practicable proposition of the representatives of the country. The necessary operations for a further regulation of the land-tax have reached the first important stage towards completion by a central committeethat, namely, of a temporary establishment of the classification tariff. Repeated examinations have manifested the possibility of further savings of a temporary character being effected, in the military expenditure. These reductions, however, in order not to injure the vital conditions of the organization of the army, can only be continued until a new source of revenue is opened by the land-tax. By this means the Government shows that it is ready and desirous to meet the objections raised in former Sessions, and is therefore justified in expecting that, in considering the arrangements and require[P]

ments of our military force, due provision may be made for the independence and security of the country, which depend upon the undiminished excellence of the army.

In the question of the Constitution of Electoral Hesse, the unremitting endeavours of the Government have succeeded in causing almost all German Governments to come to the conclusion that the Constitution of 1831, excepting those stipulations which are contrary to the Federal Constitution, must be re-established; and Austria has joined Prussia in making a in making a common proposal to the Federal Diet, the immediate acceptance of which may now be expected. The new ordinance respecting the elections, which is in direct opposition to this proposal, and which deeply offends the country's sense of right, will not come into operation, in accordance with the express demand of Prussia, and with the request of the Federal Assembly addressed to the Government of Electoral Hesse. The Government of the King will take care that a final solution shall be arrived at without further hesitation in favour of the Constitution of 1831. As regards an incident which occurred in reference to this question, the Government still awaits definite explanations from the Government of Electoral Hesse, and will in any case understand how to protect the dignity of Prussia. For the development of arts and science increased means are required, which you will readily grant. The organic laws, Bills for which were submitted to the late Diet, cannot be definitely adopted until the

next winter Session of the Diet. The Government of the King adheres to the principles upon which these Bills are based, and will endeavour to carry them out in that sense. The Bill respecting Ministerial responsibility and district regulation will not be withdrawn from the present discussions. The Government of the King, not led astray by the pressure exercised by change of parties, will earnestly and zealously endeavour to carry out, in the manner hitherto pursued, the well-known principles which the King, upon assuming the regency, and upon several subsequent occasions, has pointed out to the councillors of the Crown as the line of policy in the administration of the country. In accordance with these principles the Government will conscientiously maintain the rights of the Crown as well as the constitutional rights of the representatives of the country. But it also entertains the hope that you, gentlemen, will not refuse the Government your patriotic support in adopting the measures necessary for the honour and dignity of Prussia, as well as for the furtherance of all branches of peaceful pursuits."

An Address to the King was voted by the Chamber of Deputies, in which they called upon him to grant, amongst other concessions, a reduction of taxation, and to interfere in the affairs of Hesse Cassel.

The King received, with marked coolness, the deputation from the Chamber which waited upon him, on the 7th of June, with the Address; and in a written reply, he said :

"I have received with pleasure

the assurance of faithful and loyal devotion which has just been expressed. While repeating that I still remain unchangeably upon the ground of the Constitution to which I have sworn, as well as upon that of my programme of November, 1858, and that I am therein in full accord with my Ministry, I add thereto the firm expectation of seeing the sentiments you have expressed ratified by deeds. As you have selected a sentence of my programme of 1858, it will be well that you should impress it line by line upon your minds. You will then rightly estimate my sentiments."

At the latter end of September a change took place in the Prussian Cabinet; Prince Hohenloe, Count Bernstorff, and M. von der Heydt resigned, and Count von Bismark-Schönhausen was appointed President and Minister of State.

The Government and the Chamber of Deputies were in direct conflict on the question of the Military Budget. The Liberal party wished to make a large reduction in the estimates so as to bring the numbers of the army down to what they were before 1859. The King, however, was strongly opposed to this. He was supported by his Ministers, and neither party would give way.

An adverse vote was passed by the Chamber at the latter end of September, and Count Bismark informed the Deputies that the Chamber having rejected the charges for reorganizing the army included by Government in the Budget for 1862, the Government must presume that the House would adopt a similar course with regard to the new

items in the Budget for 1863. The King, therefore, had authorized him to withdraw the Budget for 1863, but next Session they would lay before the House the Budget for 1863, "with a Bill supporting as a vital condition the reorganization of the army."

Notwithstanding the rejection of the Military Budget for 1862 (as the Government proposed it), by the Chamber of Deputies, the Upper House resolved to adopt it, and passed a vote in favour of it. This led to the dissolution of the Chambers.

On the 13th of October they met for the last time this year. The Upper Chamber only sat for half an hour, but in the Lower Chamber there was a discussion and considerable excitement, which lasted for some time. The President of the Chamber, M. von Grabow, read a letter or message from the Upper Chamber, notifying the Resolution which it had adopted; and in communicating it to the Chamber, he said:"Gentlemen, I deeply regret that it is my lot to be the medium to call upon this Chamber to express itself upon the second resolution of the Chamber of Lords (the adoption of the Budget of 1862 in accordance with the Government proposal). But the regulations of the House do not allow me to dispense with the consent of this Chamber to reject from the bar of this Assembly a resolution which in my profound conviction I believe to be contrary to the Constitution."

The House soon afterwards adjourned for an hour, and when it again met, the reporter on the Committee of the Budget, M.

von Forckenbeck, proposed the adoption of the following Resolution :

"The resolution voted by the Chamber of Lords in its sitting of the 11th of October, relative to the Budget of 1862, violates the sense and the letter of Art. 62 of the Constitution, insomuch as, not confining itself to adopt or reject the resolution of the Chamber of Deputies of the 3rd of October, which was alone submitted to it, after the rejection of that resolution it adopted the Budget project of the Government, which did not come under its powers at all; that consequently that resolution is null and without value, and the Royal Government cannot derive any right therefrom.'

M. von Bonin protested in the name of the Feudalist party against the resolution, and with seven others left the Chamber.

President Grabow severely censured such conduct. He said that the Chamber had decided by large majority that the matter was to be discussed, and the protest of a few members could not alter that decision.

No discussion followed. On a call of names, the resolution was unanimously adopted by the 237 deputies who were present.

Count Bismark then read a Royal Message ordering that the close of the Session should take place in the Royal Palace that

afternoon.

The President proposed "Three cheers for King William I., who remains firm to the Constitution to which he has sworn; and for the Constitution sworn to by Prussia, that invincible rampart of liberty."

The Chamber responded with loud cheers, and shouts of "Long

live the King! long live the Constitution!"

M. von Grabow then declared that the Session was closed, and soon afterwards the Members of both Chambers met in the White Hall of the Palace, when Count Bismark read the Message closing the Diet, which contained the following passages :—

"The Budget for the year 1862 as decreed by the Lower Chamber having been rejected by the Upper Chamber on the ground of insufficiency, the Government of His Majesty is under the necessity of carrying out the Budget as it was originally laid before the Lower House, without taking cognizance of the conditions prescribed by the Constitution. It is perfectly aware of the responsibility it incurs from this lamentable state of things, but it is also alive to the duties which it owes to the country, and therein it finds the authority to continue to meet the expenses which are necessary for the maintenance of the public institutions, and for the development of the prosperity of the State, until such time as the Budget can be legally decreed. It entertains the hope that these expenses will be finally sanctioned by the Diet.

"The Government of the King is convinced that our Constitutional system cannot prosper except on the condition that the branches of the legislative power should impose upon themselves, each in the exercise of its powers, a reserve commanded by the respect due to the rights of others, and by the constitutional necessity of a free understanding between the Crown and the two Chambers of the Diet.

"The Government of His Majesty does not doubt that our constitutional existence will develope itself in this path, thanks to the lessons of experience, and that the present conflicts will find their solution in the sentiments of a common self-denial in favour of the power and of the dignity of the Crown, and of the welfare of the country.

66

In the name of the King I declare that the Session of the two Chambers of the Diet is closed."

This, of course, was tantamount to saying that taxes would be levied and the Government carried on independently of Parliament, and for the rest of the year such was the state of things. The views of the King, on this important question, will appear from the following answer to an address drawn up and submitted to him by various deputations from the country, when he said in reply:

"I am happy to see around me so many men from different parts of my kingdom-all animated with the same sentiments. We are in a serious crisis, more serious than I expected, or could have expected. From the moment I assumed the Regency, and then the Government, I placed all my hope in the confidence of my people. But the words I then spoke have been wrongly interpreted by many, because a press, prompt to lead to error, has distorted them. I was convinced of the necessity of undertaking and leading to a good end my own work, the reform of the army. Of what use are all our present riches-all the blessings of industry-all the bounties which God has bestowed upon

On

us-if they are threatened, if there is not sufficient protection for them? Rarely has an undertaking been so much attacked as this work commenced by me for the defence and welfare of my country. It is true that, on this occasion, I had asked sacrifices from my people, but sacrifices which in my full conviction were not exorbitant, as is proved by the financial statement. Wherever the charges appeared to fall heavily, I was quite willing to modify them. To that end I consented to the suppression of additional imposts. Did I receive gratitude in return? the contrary, the Chamber of Deputies has issued an address which contains anything but thanks. This has deeply afflicted me. But, as you have justly observed, the reform of the army is not the real object of attack; it is elsewhere. Views formerly concealed have dropped the mask, at least in part. I wish to preserve the Constitution intact to my people; but it is my indispensable mission, and my firm will also, to maintain intact the Crown inherited from my ancestors and its constitutional rights. This is necessary for the interests of my people. But to do this, or for the defence of the blessings already alluded to, a well-organized army is requisite, and not a self-styled national army, which ought, as a Prussian has not blushed to say, to stand behind the Parliament. I am firmly resolved not to sacrifice anything more of my hereditary rights. Say so to those who have delegated you. You now know, you now have heard my view of things. Let every one of you propagate them and support them