There is no doubt but that Prussia will be fixed upon as the State which will have to furnish the troops.

Your Lordship will see that the time allowed before irrevocable steps will be taken is brief, and in the dispositions shown by the Prussian Cabinet, it would seem that there was no chance of avoiding extremities but by Denmark making concession to Holstein of the financial autonomy demanded by the Diet on behalf of this Province.

I cannot learn that there will be any question of Schleswig at preseut.

(Extract.)

Sir A. Malet to Lord J. Russell.-(Received January 14.)

Frankfort, January 11, 1861. THE Diet held no sitting yesterday, M. von der Pfordten, the Reporter of the Committee on the Oldenburg proposition of 26th July, 1860, not being quite ready with his Report.

I learn that it will not be submitted to the Diet till Thursday next the 17th instant.

No. 96.

My Lord,

Mr. Murray to Lord J. Russell.-(Received January 14.)

Dresden, January 11, 1861. I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith, for your Lordship's information, the translation of M. de Beust's speech on the Holstein question in the Saxon Chambers, on the 7th instant.

Speech of Baron de Beust in the Saxon Chambers, January 7, 1861.

(Translation.)

THE more I consider myself justified in taking for granted that the proposal we have just listened to meets with unanimous and undivided applause in this august Assembly, the less do I think it right to leave it a doubtful matter that the proposal represents, in its most material points, the views and intentions of the Government, which need not hesitate, therefore, to declare its thorough. acquiescence in the line of conduct approved by this House.

It is well known that the Confederation must very soon come to soms definite resolution in the matter, because, in consequence of the notorious proposal of the Government of Oldenburg, to which the Proclamation of the Danish Government, at variance as it was with the last Resolution of the Confederation of the 8th of March of last year, had given occasion, the Report of the United Committees is shortly to be looked for.

The Prussian Government has, in a way for which we have reason to be grateful, according to previous arrangement and in concert with Austria, given increased force to the consultations of these Committees. The disclosures which she has made on these points to the German Governments have met with universal approbation and countenance, and it is therefore scarcely a matter of doubt that the Report of the Committees will be framed in the same spirit, and the Resolution be of a corresponding nature. It is likewise, therefore, to be anticipated that the Prussian Government, which especially takes the lead in this question, will know how to give equal force to the Resolution to be taken. If the same Government, without letting any injury accrue to the steady pursuit of

the end to be aimed at, takes the lead, not without conscientious weighing and consideration of all the concomitant circumstances, such a line of conduct merits not only justification but approbation, and the idea of a reproof is therefore certainly present to no German Government, and this would indeed be most unjust when coming from the people of Germany.

I must, nevertheless, throw particular emphasis on the point that the difficulties which have to be overcome, the doubts to be suppressed, the contests to be fought out-that all this lies entirely out of Germany, not in Germany; the Constitution of the Confederation, whatever may be its defects, has never been an impediment in this question, and is not so at present; and that Prussia may be certain of seeing all the other German Governments on her side in this question, not only in the sense that they are ready to vote with her, but also ready to act with her, and, if necessary, to go into the field with her. I do not scruple to declare this in the name of the Government of this country, and am convinced that I shall expose myself to no refutation if I assert the same of every Government in Germany.

No. 97.

My Lord,

Mr. Ward to Lord J. Russell.-(Received January 14.)

Hamburgh, January 11, 1861.

I AM not yet able to inform your Lordship that any time has been fixed for the meeting of the States of Holstein, who, it was at first expected, would be summoned to assemble in the course of the present month.

The Danish Minister for Holstein, M. Raaslöff, lately made a tour in the Duchy, which extended to Altona, and conferred with a variety of persons on the situation of affairs. He has, I am told, satisfied himself of the inutility of assembling the States just now, and the Danish Government will, probably, wait the result of the motion pending before the Federal Diet, which may lead to an army of execution being sent into the Duchy in the course of the spring. This motion was made by Oldenburg on the 26th of July last, and charges. Denmark with having violated the Federal Resolution of the 8th of March last by issuing a financial law for Holstein during the continuance of the "provisorium" previously agreed to on both sides.

There appears to be no doubt that this motion of Oldenburg will receive the concurrence not only of Prussia, but of all the other German States, and that they are united in considering Denmark to have violated the compact, in consequence of which the Executory proceedings against the King-Duke were stayed last year.

The Danish Crown will, therefore, be placed in a serious position, having no hold whatever in the Duchy of Holstein, or even the semblance of a party to support its acts.

Of the fifty-one Deputies to the States who were chosen at the general election, only one (a Government Agent) can be counted on as a supporter of the Danish Administration; and, although twenty-nine of the fifty-one were new members, these are known to be as strongly opposed to the Administration as the former members whom they had replaced. It would, therefore, be wholly useless for the the Government to assemble the States with the view of submitting to them any propositions whatever in furtherance of the line of policy hitherto pursued by Denmark in regard to the Duchy.

In Schleswig a general election has also lately taken place of Deputies to the next Assembly of the States of that Duchy. The number to be elected was forty-three, and of the Deputies chosen it is announced that twenty-five belong to the German and eighteen only to the Danish, or Ministerial party. The latter is said to have gained three votes by these elections, but still remains in a decided minority, so that if the States were assembled the Government would not be better able to influence them than it was last year.

The States of Schleswig are, therefore, not likely to be assembled this year, and the Government will, doubtless, defer this meeting as long as possible, considering its own helplessness, and the strong and universal discontent of the German population of the Duchy.

My Lord,

No. 98.

Mr. Paget to Lord J. Russell.-(Received January 16.)

Copenhagen, January 11, 1861.

I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship translations of two Decrees, bearing date the 9th instant, relative to certain changes in the laws of Confirmation and Education in the Mixed districts of the Duchy of Schleswig. Their purport may be shortly stated as follows:

The first Decree relates to Confirmation, which is divided into two partsthe one religious, the other civil.

The religious ceremony may be performed in the language chosen by the parents of the person to be confirmed. Up to this time the ceremony had to be performed in Danish.

As the religious, as well as general, instruction in the Schools of the Mixed districts is given in Danish, the examination preliminary to the religious ceremony will take place as heretofore in that language; but should the parents object to this, they will be free to take their children to another parish (where the language of the School is German), and have them religiously instructed and examined in German, and then bring them to their own parish for confirmation. This has hitherto been forbidden, except where special permission was granted.

The second Decree empowers persons to choose private instructors for their children without reference to the authorities of the parish, and to have them instructed in the language of their own choice, subject only to the condition that both the instructors and instructed should, on being required, submit to examination in the language they have chosen, at Special and General Church Visitations.

As I hope to have an opportunity of addressing your Lordship next week by the messenger, I do not think it necessary to add anything further by the post to-day.

Inclosure in No. 98.

I have, &c. (Signed) A. PAGET.

Royal Patent concerning Confirmation of Candidates in Schleswig.

(Translation.)

HIS Majesty has been graciously pleased, by a Resolution of the 4th instant, to decree the following Regulations for the Confirmation of Catechumens:

1. The Regulations contained in the Patent of August 12, 1820, whereby the appointed public examination of candidates for confirmation is to take place on the day of confirmation and previous to the confirmation, are annulled; and the two acts shall henceforth be distinct, and shall take place on different days.

2. Whilst that language which in each place is the language of public education is still to be used for the instruction and examination of candidates for confirmation, as regards the acts of confirmation there shall be applied those Regulations for religious acts which were laid down (February 15, 1854) in Annex A with reference to the Decrees concerning the Constitution of the Duchy of Schleswig.

3. The Circular published by the former Schleswig Upper Consistory at Gotthorp, February 25, 1831, whereby the Regulations relative to confirmation. of children out of their own parish were enforced and more clearly defined, is annulled; and it will henceforth, consequently, be open to every one to let his children be confirmed out of the parish without requiring a permit from the clergyman of his parish.

The above is published for the information and instruction of those concerned.

1861.

Given at the Ministry for the Duchy of Schleswig, Copenhagen, January 9,

Circular to all the Church Visitors in the Duchy of Schleswig.

Having received the desired information (January 21 and March 21 of last year) relative to the procedure respecting the exercise of the control devolving on Church Visitors and School Inspectors in the choice of tutors at home, and the instruction given by them, the Ministry sees fit to lay down the following Rules for the regulation of these matters :

1. It shall for the future, as hitherto, be free to every family to allow its children to be instructed by teachers at home. The language of instruction used in this home education depends entirely on the parties concerned.

2. The children, for whose instruction suitable care is taken, are furthermore, as hitherto, exempt from attending the Public School, The parties concerned have only previously to make the necessary announcements to the District School-Inspector and Schoolmaster, who will make a note of it on the School

Lists.

3. Those who let their children be educated at home by tutors are obliged, on requiry, to allow these tutors, as well as the children, to meet for examination at the Special and General Church Visitations.

The language which has been adopted by the parties concerned as the language of education is to be used also at the examination.

4. If the tutors and children, on being summoned, abstain from appearing at the examination, without showing any insurmountable obstacle to their so doing, or if they are not considered to possess the same degree of knowledge and proficiency in the prescribed subjects as children of the same age on an average obtain in the School, their exemption from attendance at the Public School ceases, and they cannot again, without special permission, be taken from school to be educated at home.

The above is communicated for the information and instruction of parties concerned.

Ministry for the Duchy of Schleswig, Copenhagen, January 9, 1861.

(Signed)

No. 99.

WOLFHAGEN.

My Lord,

Earl Cowley to Lord J. Russell.-(Received January 18.)

Paris, January 17, 1860.

I HAD some conversation a day or two ago with M. Thouvenel respecting the proceedings of the Diet at Frankfort with reference to the military occupation of the Duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg.

M. Thouvenel expressed himself as of the opinion that this was a matter which regarded the internal constitution of the Germanic Confederation alone, but he seemed to be under the impression that before a Federal Execution could take place, the Dukes of Holstein and Lauenburg must receive three several summons to conform to the Resolutions of the Diet.

I HAVE received your Excellency's despatch of the 17th instant, reporting the substance of a conversation which you had had with M. Thouvenel respecting the proceedings of the Diet at Frankfort in regard to the military occupation of the Duchies of Holstein and Lauenburg, and I have to state to your Excellency that Her Majesty's Government agree with M. Thouvenel in the opinions which he has expressed on this subject.

I am, &c. (Signed) J. RUSSELL.

No. 101.

My Lord,

Sir A. Malet to Lord J. Russell.-(Received January 21.)

Frankfort, January 17, 1861. I HAVE ascertained that M. von der Pfordten will present his Report in the ordinary sitting of the Diet held this day.

There was a wish in some quarters to fix Thursday next the 24th instant for voting on the subject, but I have reason to believe that the vote will not be taken earlier than the 31st.

I hope in a day or two to be able to inform your Lordship what course M. von der Pfordten recommends. Its tendency admits of no doubt, and the language lately held by M. de Beust in the Saxon Chambers, and the speech of the King of Prussia on opening those of Prussia, point to the adoption of vigorous measures.

I understand, however, that in case all the preliminary steps for Execution in the Danish Duchies are taken according to rule, and that no dilatory motives are admitted, either on the Diet's part, or from consideration of Danish proposals, the actual Execution cannot take place sooner than the beginning of April.

I have, &c.

My Lord,

Sir A. Malet to Lord J. Russell.-(Received January 21.)

Frankfort, January 18, 1861. WITH reference to my despatch of yesterday's date, I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship that the conclusions of M. von der Pfordten's Report invite the Diet to decree nearly as follows:

1. That the Patent of the 25th September, 1859, for the Duchies, together with all regulations for the Budget of the Duchies, are to be regarded as null and of no effect, as being put forward without the assent of the Provincial Diets ("Stände ") which they concern; and the Budget for the current year 1861, from the 1st of April, can only be brought in with the concurrence of the two Duchies. 2. That the Royal-Ducal Government be required to declare in what manner it has complied with the German Diet's requirements of the 8th of March, 1860, in reference to the "provisorium.”

3. That, in case such declaration is not supplied within six weeks in an entirely satisfactory manner, the mode of proceeding initiated by the German Diet's Decree of the 12th August, 1858, be carried out.

I can with confidence lay before your Lordship these particulars, as giving the gist and purpose of the conclusions of M. von der Pfordten's Report.

I have, further, the honour of stating, that an interval of three weeks has

been fixed for the vote of the Diet to be taken thereupon.

I need not point out to your Lordship that the third paragraph points to military execution.

The Diet has shown moderation in not precipitating its proceedings, and it may be hoped that the interval of nine weeks will afford room for inducing both sides to listen to terms of amicable arrangement.

My Lord,

Mr. Howard to Lord J. Russell.-(Received January 21.)

Hanover, January 19, 1861.

YOUR Lordship will no doubt have been already made acquainted with the proposals which were submitted to the German Diet on the 17th instant by the United Committees charged to report upon the motion of the Government of Oldenburg of the 26th of July last, relative to the affairs of Holstein, and upon