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508 %1&t 3Lea$($t+ [Saturday,
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PRUSSIA AND AUSTRIA. It would appear tha...
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A HIGHLAND LOCHINVAR. The Inverness pape...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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M—M*Mmmmmm~ Aw—Iibhimai^Bi-Imab^Wmhimaim...
entered the Sehleswig-Holstein army , and the Times tries to be hifmorous ahout it . Yet to any intelligent ohserver of German affairs , not blinded by partiality or something worse , as the writer of those articles in the Times but too plainly is , that fact must appear rather grave and significant than " funny . " Gagern may be called the " Representative man " of his nation . He reflects the convictions , the aspirations , the temper , and the political situation of his countrymen . With regard to the Schlegwig-Holstein question there is but one opinion in Germany ; it is the general conviction that , in spite of all diplomatic entanglements and actual
animosities , justice and equity , the law of nations , and the records of history , are on the side of the Duchies ; and that the honour of Germany is at stake . This conviction is shared even by the Governments , by the kings and princes ; such , at least , is their official language towards their Chambers and Parliaments . But , unfortunately , these kings and princes are too busy with mere personal squabbles and so-called dynastic interests , with most disgraceful intrigues and falsities ; above all , with the eager desire to create and to seize opportunities for vexing , thwarting , and opposing the only strong and national power in Germany—Prussia , that they cannot afford to enforce their own convictions and the national will , and manfully to take the lead in a cause which they allow to be just and national . In Bavaria , for example , ¦ where the popular sympathy for Schleswig-Holstein is great , the Government has sentcircular . instructions to its employes and officials , permitting them to subscribe , & c . in favour of the Duchies , so they do it not " too prominently . " Bavaria at the same time acquiesced in the peace with Denmark . The people , thus abandoned by their governments , are left to individual action . Unexperienced in , perhaps not qualified for , " constitutional opposition ; " unaccustomed to act together in bodies independent of , or against their " Obrigkeit , "—their " constituted authority , " their exertions remain isolated and unorganized . They do not assemble to petition , to remonstrate , to employ that " pressure from without , " which has been used effectively in other countries ; but they subscribe money , they send surgeons , artificers , here and there a patriotic corporal ; they sing in concerts and " Liedertafeln , " for the benefit of " our brethren on the shores of the Baltic ; " , above all , " wherever two or three are met together , " they lament over the disgrace of the nation and the treachery of her rulers . Ileinrich von Gagern , all along the calm but firm asserter of the rights of the Duchies and of Germany against Denmark , two years ago , when the excitement was highest , risked , and partly lost , his great popularity by energetically defending the armistice of Malnio , which nothing but the weight of his influence could then have carried through the Parliament . He trusted in the sincerity and honour of the German Princes to procure by negotiation and dignified action an honourable peace . In this , as in other still more important questions , the Kings and Princes who , to the loyalty and moderation of Gagern and his friends , owe the present existence of their thrones , shamefully abused his trust , and trifled with the just demands of their people . And now , when all hope of a satisfactory solution through the action of the Governments is at an end , when the Duchies are left to their own valour and private resources , when partial defeat too has but increased their ardour and determination , he comes amongst them saying , " In the councils of the nation I can no longer serve your cause , which I still think just , true , and national ; but such service as I am able to render you , and through you to our country , by the influence of my name and example , by the strength of this right arm , I have come to offer you . I am not so young as I was at Waterloo ; but I am not too old to prove , even by the sword , that I , for one , have been , and still am in earnest , whatever others may be ! " The chief organ of English public opinion ought not to have Bnecrcd at such proceeding of such a man . Amongst the thin politicians of expediency and compromise , the admired of " men of the world , " in the dreary barrenness of our time of public men with sufficient virtue to be able to act from " impulse , " it is pleasant to find one man who , to calmness of purpose and to moderate practical views , joins the * entire devotedness of one who has " his heart
in the matter . " Ileinrich Von Gagcrn , in many respects reminds one of the English patriot John Hnmpden . An accomplished country gentleman , esteemed by his neighbours and beloved by all who approach him , his life has been divided between rural pursuits and the fulfilment of public duties . In 1818 it was principally his eloquence and the force of his character which kept the German revolution within bounds and caused the people to stop
" before the thrones . " It has been his indefatigable endeavour to persuade the leading sovereigns that they could only safely rule in Germany by ruling for Germany , a lesson which they seem incapable of learning . And now—when , in consequence of that fatal incapacity , political action lies paralyzed , stale-mated , when undisguised anarchy reigns , not unionist the people , but amongst their rulers , when manly advice iinds no car , nnd speech is drowned iu the confusion of kingly faction—like a
M—M*Mmmmmm~ Aw—Iibhimai^Bi-Imab^Wmhimaim...
brave man he does " tte duty which lies nearest , " even to the girding on of the sword . But the people of England ought to learn from this , at least , that the cause of the German Duchies against Denmark is of too deep rooted a character to be easily set aside by unmeaning protocols , although assisted by much thunder and small fire from the columns of leading journals , which , whether from ignorance , foreign influence , strange infatuation , or from whatever other cause , have been most grievously misleading the English public . The English , and still more the Irish , know what an " Orange faction" is ; well , this
unfortunate war has been solely brought on and kept up by a Danish Democratic Orange faction , who , in the spring of 1848 , accomplished a revolution in Copenhagen , coerced the King ( who alone , and not the Danish Government , has rights in the Duchies ) , and offered to deprive of their ancient rights , to subjugate , and to Danify the inhabitants of these German provincesa people superior to them in culture , in intellect , in industry , and in wealth , with , besides , a large nation at their back , to whom they are related by race , by language , and by ancient political ties . Suppose Wales , an independent state , subject to a king who , under English supremacy founded upon ancient and complicated laws and conditions , was aUo hereditary ruler of two adjoining English counties—say Cheshire and Lancashire—and the Welsh people , arrogating to themselves the rights of their king in those English counties , were trying to carry things with a high hand there , and to make them " Welsh for ever , "—and you have something of ararallel case to that of Schleswig-Holstein . Is it natural that Cheshire and Lancashire would patiently submit ? And yet Lord l almerston has joined Russia and France in the formal expression of something between a wish and a threat that they should submit—that they must submit . Lord Palmerston has many admirers amongst the liberals of Germany , and they were willing to look upon him as the champion of the good cause , " der guten Sache , " in Europe . But that last ugly birth of Downing-street , that shabby offspring of an unnatural coquetry with Russia , has mortified and mystified everybody . Germany is the natural ally of England—Russia , to say the least , its jealous rival . Is it the business of England to intimidate its friend , and to assist its rival in getting a footing in the Baltic ? For Denmark is a mere vassal of Russia ; and whatever advantage the former gains will in the end be for the sole benefit of the latter , if that protocol was , as some say , a mere unmeaning diplomatic make-believe—a sop to Russia after , or perhaps during , the * ' Greek debate "then it is unworthy the Minister of a great country . If it is intended as a reality , to be acted upon in case of need , then it forms the strangest contradiction to the recent professions of the liberal " English" Minister , par excellence , and will draw you into the strangest combinations . In the meantime , the people of Schleswig-Holstein , in spite of difficulties and reverses , continue to kepp up a resolute and determined spirit , proving that the Anglo-Saxon blood is still true in the old stock . They have kept their army pure from all condottieri elements ; offers from Poles , from Hungarians , from Baden refugees have been declined . Theirs is a purely national cause , and its defenders are the gentry , citizens , and freepeasantry of the country , who have shown themselves cheerfully ready for every sacrifice . Such people may be beaten by superior numbers and by Russian resources , but they cannot be permanently coerced by such a state as Denmark . They will stick to their " rights . " They profess loyalty to their Duke , opposition to the arrogant pretensions of his Danish subjects . " If successful , " says the manifesto of tho Stattholdership , " we will ask for no more than our ancient rights ; if overpowered , we will never be satisfied with less . " Those nations and Governments who wish for aperma ? icnl peace in Europe ought to consider this . J . N .
508 %1&T 3lea$($T+ [Saturday,
508 % 1 & t 3 Lea $ ( $ t + [ Saturday ,
Prussia And Austria. It Would Appear Tha...
PRUSSIA AND AUSTRIA . It would appear that the comedy of the diplomatic misunderstandings between the two cabinets of Vienna and Berlin is approaching its end , for they nre coming to such terms as will prevent the Baden , Mayenee , and Federal stumbling-blocks from causing a casus belli . The dispute at issue relative to the passage of the Baden troops through Mayence is to be referred to a court of arbitration , to consist of three members , one of whom is to be appointed by-Prussia , tlie other by Austria , and the third by the
two conjunctive The question of federal property , that is , fortresses , fleet , funds , and archives , is to be administered by a committee selected ad hoc , acting under the instruction and superintendence of Prussia in the name of the so-called Union , and of Austria in that of the closer council ( Engerc-Ruth ) about to be convoked . A proposition has also been made which offers a possibility of settling the question of ratifications , in so far as Prussia and the states of the Prusso-German Union are concerned . It has been proposed to tho Danish Government to accept the ratifications of Prussia on behalf of the states
belonging to the said Union , as a preliminary to the ratifications of those states which , act with . Austria . To this proposition , however , the Danish Cabinet has not yet returned its answer . The inauguration of Prince Schwarzenberg as Archbishop of Prague ( capital of Bohemia ) , took place at that city on the 13 th instant , with a pomp unprecedented .
A Highland Lochinvar. The Inverness Pape...
A HIGHLAND LOCHINVAR . The Inverness papers contain a report of a trial for assault and battery , at the Assizes in that town , the incidents of which contain as pretty a piece of romance as any modern fiction-writer would ask as the groundwork of a story . The parties charged were—Donald Macdonald , Baliloch , North Uist ( son of Mr . Macdonald , Munkstadt ); Donald Mackenzie , Munkstadt , Kilmuir , Skye ; and Charles Mackinnon , fisherman ,
Munkstadt . The charge was that they invaded the dwelling-house of John . Robertson Macdonald , Esq ., Rodil , Harris , commissioner for the Earl of Dunmore , in company with a number of others , some armed with sticks , that they burst open the door , assaulted Mr . and Mrs . Macdonald , and Mr . Macdonald ' s clerk and shepherd , the former to the effusion of his blood and injury of his person , and that the inmates were b y ^ these proceedings put to great terror and alarm .
Donald Macdonald , of Baliloch , North Uist , son of a Highland laird , and the Lochinvar of this modern romance , was the only one of the party who surrendered to take his trial , and he pleaded not guilty . The affray with which he and his comrades were charged arose out of his carrying off a young lady , Miss Jessie Macdonald , who had engaged to marry him , contrary to the wish of her parents . From the evidence , which is given in a very confused manner , it appears that the young lady eloped from her father ' s house with young Macdonald in February , and while on their way to Edinburgh to be married the vessel which bore the loveis on their journey touched at Tarbert , in the Island of Harris , when her uncle and other friends went on board and took
her away , " she crying and sobbing very much , and almost in hysterics . " One witness said , ' She clung to Macdonald , determined not to leave him . She said she would die rather than part with him . " Jessie Macdonald was now a prisoner in the house of her uncle , Macdonald of Rodil , and a policeman was employed every night to watch lest she should be carried off again . Worse than all , another suitor appears to have been brought forward , a Mr . Cooper of Portree . This gentleman and the father of the fair fugitive intended to go to Rodil and take her home , but fortunately she heard of their intention in time , and contrived to frustrate it by warning young Donald of the Isles in the following model of an elopement letter : — " Thursday Morning .
" My dearest Donald , —If the bearer of this letter meets you on your way here , you must return home . It seems that W . Macneil suspects , or else has heard what we have been intending to do . As he had no opportunity of telling papa of it , he deputed John Macdonald to do so , which he did last night ; and papa immediately wrote William to find out all he knew of the matter . I heard this from the grieve ' s wife . John Macdonald told her husband of it . Now , my own Donald , we must be off this night . You had better not come till half-past eleven o ' clock . / Shall be quite ready to start toith you . "
Next morning , accordingly , " dearest Donald , ' having mustered a strong party of friends , proceeded to Rodil , resolved to rescue his bride . They reached Rodil about four in the morning , and immediately commenced operations for carrying off their prize . Donald made his way into tho house , having first ascertained where to find Miss Jessie . By this time her uncle had been awakened by his wife , who , by way of security had slept with her niece , and who told him that Macdonald , of Munkstadt , had come with a party of men to carry off Jessie . He instantly jumped out of bed and ran to Miss Macdonald's room , where he found her dressing herself hurriedly while Donald was standing by . Ho asked the young man why he had dared to break into the house at that hour and enter
that room ? Donald said ho would not go till he got his wife . Macdonald of Rodil said there was r . o wife of his there . He then ordered him away , and took hold of his collar . Donald said it was of no use to make any noise as he had a party at hand . He then went to the window and called out , Come on , my lads , I am a prisoner in the house . " By this time the aunt of the young lady had returned to the bedroom , and therefore Mr . Macdonald , who appears to have been standing all this time in the primitive state in
which he had jumped out of bed , returned to his own bedroom and partly dressed himself . A number of men had now come to his assistance , and a struggle wns going on in Miss Jessie ' s bedroom . lie threw himself into the fight at once , taking hold of his niece , the easier part of the battle , while he told his men to remove young Macdonald . Before they could effect this , however , the door was burst open , and in rushed a number of men to his assistance . A short parley now took place . An attempt was made to persuade the young folks
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 24, 1850, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_24081850/page/4/
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