General Hedemann has been expressly ordered to act merely on the defensive, until he shall receive further orders."

The result of the active interference of the King of Sweden in this tedious contest was, that Count Portalis was sent from the Court of Berlin to that Monarch, in order to arrange the terms of an armistice between Germany and Denmark. Many delays took place, and at one time the negotiations were broken off; but an armistice was ultimately concluded between the Plenipotentiaries at Malmö, on the 26th of August, which was to last for seven months. The following were the principal pro

visions:

"The blockade established by the naval forces of His Danish Majesty shall cease, and orders to this effect shall at once be sent to the commander of the Danish men-of-war.

"All prisoners of war, and all political prisoners, shall at once be liberated without delay or restriction.

"All vessels that have been captured since the commencement of the war, and on which an embargo has been laid, shall be returned with their cargoes within ten days after the signing of the armistice. This space of time has been thought necessary, on the one hand to prepare these vessels for sea, and on the other to effect the evacuation of the Duchies. Prussia admits the indemnity claimed by Denmark for the requisitions levied on Jutland, and Denmark engages to refund the value of the cargoes that have been disposed of and which cannot be restored in naturá.

"The two Duchies, as well as the islands belonging to them,

shall at once be altogether evacuated by the Danish and by the German federal troops. But the King of Denmark shall be allowed to guard with 400 men the hospitals, and storehouses, and military establishments on the Island of Alsen. On the other hand, an equal number of federal troops shall be allowed, for a similar purpose, to remain in the city of Altona, and in other places where there are military hospitals and establishments.

The two contracting parties, being desirous as speedily as pos sible to restore order and tranquil. lity in the Duchies, are agreed that the mode of administration which was in force previous to the events of March shall be re-established while the armistice lasts. The collective Administration of the two Duchies shall be composed of five Members, to be taken from the gentry of the Duchies, and who enjoy general respect and consideration. They shall administer the affairs of the Duchies after the existing laws and ordinances, in the name of the King of Denmark, in his quality as Duke of Schleswig and Holstein, and with the same authority, always excepting the Legislative Power.

"Two of these Members shall be chosen by the King of Denmark for the Duchy of Schleswig, and two by the King of Prussia, acting in the name of the Germanic Confederation, for the Duchy of Holstein. These four Members shall choose a fifth, to be the President of the collective Administration of the Duchies; and, if they cannot agree on this choice, then shall Great Britain, in her quality as mediating Power, be invited to nominate this fifth Member from among the inhabit

ants of one of the Duchies. It is understood that neither the Members of the Administration of and before the 17th of March, nor of those of whom the Provisional Government was since composed, can form part of this new Administration. The same shall with all possible speed enter upon its functions-that is to say, at the latest a fortnight after the signature of this present Convention.

"The contracting parties claim the guarantee of Great Britain for the strict execution of the articles of this present Convention of an armistice.

"It is expressly understood that the articles of this Convention shall nowise prejudice the conditions of a definitive peace, and that neither Denmark nor the Confederation give up any of the pretensions or rights which they have respectively asserted."

Thus terminated for the time a contest, which seems to have been conducted on the part of Denmark with moderation as well as firmness, and the result of which showed that, if it is again renewed, both Sweden and Russia are not likely to remain inactive spectators, but join the Danish forces in repelling any hostile interference on the part of the Germanic Confederation. The pretensions of the latter body to consider Holstein as incorporated with it are not opposed by Denmark; but she justly refuses to make the same concession as regards Schleswig; and so long as the quarrel is confined to that question, and to the demand of an indissoluble union betweent he two Duchies, our sympathies must be enlisted on the side of Denmark in the contest.

On the 23rd of October the King opened the Session of the

Danish Diet with the following Speech from the Throne:

"Men of Denmark,—

"It is with great joy and comfort that I see myself for the first time surrounded by the elected representatives of my faithful Danish people. The love and unanimity with which they upheld the cause sacred to me and the country in those difficult days since I have ascended my father's throne are to me a pledge that a better time will soon dawn upon our suffering country, which has been so severely visited by violence and dissension. With a deeply felt consciousness of these past days, I now proceed to discuss, with the elected of my people, that Constitution which by my free Royal resolve I promised you, and by which it is my desire, my hope, and my pride, to consolidate the ancient glory and happiness of Denmark. I submit to you, by my Ministers, to whom I reserve the free access to the Assembly, and the right to speak therein, if necessary, the draught of the Constitution; and I rely implicity on your faithful and energetic co-operation, in order that a conclusive arrangement of this important affair may be accomplished by the present Diet, who are here assembled for that purpose. Should this, however, not be the case, it is, nevertheless, not my intention to let that Constitution be carried into effect until I have first submitted it to a new Diet. May the blessing of God rest upon you and your endeavours, so that our beloved country may obtain honour, happiness, and peace!"

NETHERLANDS.-The kingdom of Holland presented this

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Considering that on the one hand it is our duty to take all the necessary preliminary measures, while it is our duty on the other hand to guard against any precipitate measures which might lead to adverse results;

"We have decreed and decree "1. To nominate a Committee which, in accordance with the wishes of the Second Chamber of the States-General, shall lay before us a complete sketch of the basis of the fundamental law, and after that their formation of a Ministry.

"2. The following gentlemen are appointed Members of this Committee:-Dirk Donker Curtius, J. M. de Kempenaer, L. C. Luzac, L. D. Storm, J. R. Thorbecke.

sent to the two Chambers of the States-General, to the departments of general government, to the Privy Council, and also to the appointed Members of the Committee, for their information.

"WILLIAM.

"The Hague, March 17, 1848. "On the part of the King, Privy Councillor, and Prime Minister,

"A. G. A. VAN RAPPARD."

BELGIUM. Serious apprehensions were not unreasonably felt that Belgium might be drawn into the vortex of the French Revolution; for it was well known that, at the time when Leopold was called to the throne after the severance of Belgium from Holland, there was a strong republican party in the former kingdom, which might now be disposed to sympathize with the republicans of France. But experience had made them wiser. Not long after the events of February in Paris, a party of French malcontents did actually cross the frontier for the purpose of exciting an insurrection at Belgium; but, on their arrival by the Great Northern Railway, they found themselves surrounded by the military, and their mischievous designs were at once stopped. The population of Belgium showed no disposition to join them, and a remarkable document appeared from the pen of M. Potter, who had been one of the most conspicuous advocates of a Republic at the period of the Belgian revolution, in which he strongly exhorted his countrymen to be content with the blessings they enjoyed under a monarchical form of Government, the results of which had been so beneficial to the kingdom.

On the 26th of June, the Session of the Belgian Chambers was [2 A]

opened by the King, who thus alluded to the aspect of the times:

"In presence of the agitation which so deeply excites Europe, Belgium has remained calm, confiding, and strong. The changes in the political state of several nations have not in any way altered our good international relations. Our official relations with the French Republic have been esta blished on terms of mutual goodwill. From all parts we have received testimonies of sympathy and esteem. . . . . By means of the financial measures voted last Session, our patriotic army has been maintained on a respectable

footing of defence; we have sustained employment; the public treasury has been able to fulfil faithfully all its obligations, and the burden of the floating debt has ceased to press on credit. The future will recompense the sacrifices of the past.

"We are passing through a period of difficulty for European society. Belgium will not allow herself to be diverted from the wise and sure path in which she has entered. By happy union, she has been enabled to reconcile stability with progress, and order with the practice of liberty in every shape."