over which the Prince Chancellor converse with and collect the opiof State presided. On this occa- nions of men of learning in the sion the Prince delivered a long provinces on the subject. These speech, in which he described the commissioners are to be chosen manner in which the basis of the from the body of the Constituconstitutional labours should com- tional Committee, and to receive mence. He laid down the pro- orders to complete their inquiry position, that the constitution by the next meeting of the Counought to unfold itself as it were cil of State, which is to take place in a historical manner out of the in Autumn, in order that their state of society; that therefore a labours may in that meeting be correct knowledge of existing in- made the subject of deliberation. stitutions was necessary; and This proposal was generally apthat what was now in existence proved ; and the minister of state, ought first to be taken into con- Von Altenstein, Von Boyme, and sideration. He accordingly pro- Von Klewitz, are nominated to posed that commisioners should this commission, and have set out be sent into the different pro- for the provinces. Thus (says the Finees, in order to obtain informa- paper) one step more is taken totion on the spot respecting the wards the forning of a constituancient constitutions; and also to tion for Prussia. СНАР. CHAPTER XIII. Stutgard.—Sitting of the States.—Their Dissolution.-The King takes upon himself the Regulation of the Finances.-Duchy of Saxe-Weimar : STUTGARD. IN terpoise are, as you desire, ex. cluded from the deliberations or N the first sitting of the states, the votes of your assembly, it is this body presented an address too plain that the chiefs of the to his Majesty, to which he re- faction will not bring forward turned an answer on the 16th of their strongest objections to the March, assuring them that he views of government in the prewould not permit the members of sence of the privy counsellors, but his Privy Council to be present at in secret sittings ; and that in any discussion in which it should these, resolutions will be adopted be proposed by the States to pre- without allowing an opportunity fer complaints to the throne of hearing or weighing the reasons against them. The States, pro- which government might state ceeding in the commenced delibe- against them.” rations on the constitution, voted In the further proceedings of an address to the king for his the States, differences arose begracious assurances. At the same tween that body and the king ; time they specify the ameli- and on the 28th and 29th of May, oration of divers laws since the in consequence of the decided accession of his Majesty, express. part which his Majesty had taken ing the greatest confidence in his in the late discussions relative to wisdom and good intentions, and the hereditary duchy, a set of anticipating the brightest pros- rioters, composed, it is said, of pects of national happiness and the lowest class of people, atimprovement from his reign. tacked the house of the minister On the same day the king Wangenheim, where they praccaused to be read the answer of tised several outrages. They were, the Privy Council addressed, by however, soon reduced to order his order, to the States. “Nothing with the assistance of the usual (said the council) can be more per- patrols. A proclamation was in nicious to an assembly composed of consequence issued against all different elements, than the spirit seditious assemblies. of faction, when it is not perpe- The king, on the fourth of tually qualified by a sufficient June, finding himself unable to counterpoise. If those whom the control the majority of the States, laws appoint to form that coun- dissolved that body, and com manded manded all those members who ner in which the work of the conwere not domiciliated at Stutgard, stitution has been hitherto treated, to repair to their respective habi- will convince every impartial pertations. son, that we have done, to effect On the following day he pub- so desirable an union, every thing Jished an additional rescript, ad- that is compatible with the rights dressed to all the subjects of his of our crown, and the principles kingdom. of a good administration of the “ We William,” &c. state; and that the project of the “Dear and faithful subjects !- constitution, annexed to the reThe address of the Assembly of script of the 26th of May, conthe States of the 4th of June, ac- tains every thing that could be cording to which the majority has done to confirm the individual and rejected in an inexplicable manner political freedom of the people of the definitive offers which we Wurtemberg. made, in our rescript of the 26th “We may confidently hope, of May and its supplement, to that our cotemporaries and posconclude a constitutional compact, terity will do justice to our way of has brought the negotiation to acting, and that they will, with such a point, that we must re- us, recognize as real and prudent nounce all hope of attaining our friends to their country, the 42 object by means of a convention members who have distinguished with this Assembly. themselves by their proper and “However painful it be to our honourable conduct on this impaternal heart to see the failure portant occasion. of all our efforts for the establish- " But to do still all that dement of a constitution suited to pends upon us, that our faithful all the different relations, and people may suffer as little as poswhich might have consolidated sible from the perverse conduct tranquillity and order, and cause of their representatives, we add general satisfaction, our duties in to what we said in our rescript of the quality of sovereign, and our the 26th of May, the declaration, relation with other states, do not that if the majority of our people permit us to make to the demands signifies in the assemblies of the of the States further sacrifices, bailliages, or by the organ of their which would cause the throne to magistrates, that they accept the lose its dignity, the government project of the constitution, under its force, and the people the in- the restrictions contained in the dependence of their representa- said rescript, we shall, on our tives, side, consider the constitutional “ In consequence, we have compact as concluded, and shall found ourselves under the neces- put it in force. sity of dissolving our assembly, “We also leave to the members the operations of which could no who have virile votes, who have longer make us hope for a happy not personally voted against the issue. acceptance of the constitution in “ The exposé which we shall the assembly of the States now lay before our people, of the man- dissolved, the liberty of acceding to SAXE WEIMAR. to it. We repeat at the same the pretext of its not being contime the assurance that, we will sented to by the states; and let our people enjoy from this threatens all the severity of the moment all the benefits of the law against the disturbers of the project of the constitution, in public peace. every thing that does not relate to a representation of the states. « On the other hand, we expect, This Duchy appears to bave taken with full confidence, that the sub- the lead of the other German states, jects of our united kingdom will with respect to the true principles not suffer themselves to be shaken of a free constitution. Its diet had in the observance of their duties just decided, in themonth of March, as subjects and citizens, but that that the estates of the nobles, and they will persevere the more in those of the order of knighthood, their fidelity and obedience, as all were henceforward to be liable to opposition in every act tending to all the public burdens borne by disturb public order and tranquil- the rest of the people ; but at the lity will be punished with all the same time it enacted, that the rigour of the laws. actual proprietors should be in“Given at Stutgard, in his Ma- demnified for the loss of the imjesty's Privy Council, June 5, 1817. munity from contribution which By liis Majesty's command." they formerly enjoyed, and upon The ministry of the interior, by the faith of the continuance of order of his Majesty, published a which they bought and held their proclamation on the 6th, contain- estates. ing a recital of all that happened It has been generally observed, at the late diet of Wurtemberg. that the greatest harmony and The sudden dissolution of the good feeling reigns in the assemassembly of states having put an bly of representatives of this end to his Majesty's hopes of being Duchy. The order of the peasantry able to effect the introduction of sent đeputies who defended their the representative system, he found interests with moderation, but it necessary to take upon himself with firmness. The attacks made the regulation of the finances for upon the immunity of the estates the years 1817 and 1818. Ac- of the noblesse excited at first cordingly, on the 4th of Septem- some animated debates, bat the ber, he published a report address- representatives of the noblesse ed to his Majesty by the finance yielded as soon as an indemnity minister, in which the sum of was proposed. 2,400,000 forins, with the addi. A proposition made by the tion of one tenth to make good Duke of Saxe-Weimar to the grand the expense of the meeting of the diet sitting at Frankfort, that the states, was charged upon the na- constitution of his duchy should tion. The king at the same time be placed under the guarantee of orders all public officers to keep the Germanic Confederation, was a watchful eye upon such as may formally confirmed by a vote deendeavour to persuade their fel- livered by Austria, and after cerlow-burghers to resist the law, on tain explanations, was concurred STATES GENERAL. in hy Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, to see the basis of them laid in Hanover, Wurtemberg, Baden, this session. Some measures will Hesse, and Denmark. be proposed that experience has shown to be useful to ilidustry. Nothing has been more injurious On October the 20th the annual to this effect than the deatness of session of the States General was provisions, which has checked opened at the Hague with the the consumption of manufactured usual solemnities. His Majesty goods among the most numerous delivered a speech from the throne, classes of people. The governof which the following is the sub- ment itself has felt the influence stance. of this state of things, by the His Majesty began with noticing great increase of its expenses, the happy event of the birth of a and the diminution of its receipts. son to the Prince of Orange, add- Besides this, a great deficit has ing, that his education would be been caused by the not l'evying a so directed, as to inspire him from tax upon inherited property, or a his earliest childhood with a sense legacy tax. of his duties, and with the most The law respecting the militia ardent zeal for the freedom and has been put in execution for the wellfare of his countrymen. first time, and has answered The general peace, said his Ma- every expectation. Agriculture is jesty, has been undisturbed; and flourishing. The fisheries, the every day proves that the govern- colonial trade, and all branches ments, as well as the people, are connected with them, have imunanimous in the desire of main- proved; and the freedom of the taining it.' On my side I have corn trade by sea, while it secured neglected nothing that can tend the kingdom from scarcity at to ensure to this kingdom and its home, and kept the prices of bread inhabitants the goodwill of foreign in the country lower than among powers. its neighbours, has confined to the His Majesty then noticed at ports of the Netherlands the prilength the difficulties caused by vilege of being the granaries of the unfavourable season, but all Europe. which the rich harvest of the year His Majesty then notices the would put an end to. The dis- great expense caused by the fortitresses, he said, had been relieved fication of the southern frontier. partly by finding them work, and A great many public works, such partly by affording them assist- as harbours and the like, have ance. The local authorities had been begun and continued, and done their utmost; and private even completed. In some procharity, the fairest trait in the vinces great roads have been national character, had kept pace made, which the most enlightened with the increasing distress. His inhabitants bave for years designMajesty observed that some effec- ed in vain. tual regulations relative to the His Majesty speaks with satisporr are necessary, and he hoped faction of the joy which has been displayed |