PRUSSIA.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XV, Issue XV, 7 January 1857, Page 4

PRUSSIA.

A letter from Berlin, of the 3rd, in the Presse of Brussels, mentions a singular incident which has caused considerable excitement in the capital. Two nights following the sentinels placed at one of the gates of the palace of Charlottenburg have dissappeared from their posts, and their bodies have been found the following morning in the Spree, bearing marks that show that they must have first been stunned by a sudden blow and then thrown into the river. The police are making the most rigorous search to discover the authors of this outrage. The debts of Prince William of Mecklenburg, which, after all, did not exceed i>20,000, having been settled by the family under certain strict conditions and drawbacks as regards the debtors, and under proper scrutiny and taxation as relates to creditors, his highness will not carry out his intention of emigrating to America. His brother, the reigning duke, has appointed him a place of residence within his territory, where he will reside as best he can upon his reduced allowance. Having been compelled to resign his commission in the Prussian army, his name no longer appears as a major of the regiment of Gards de Corps cavalry.

The palace inhabited, during his latter years, by the late King, is being considerably enlarged as the future residence of Prince Frederick William and his intended illustrious consort. When finished, it will be one of the most spacious aud commodious of the minor royal residences. Its situation, immediately contiguous to the Linden, and in front of the Arsenal, is the most airy and agreeable in Berlin. This palace was originally constructed as a residence for the celebrated Marshal Schoinbuij:, who, during a short time prior to his accompanying William of Orange to England, was commander-in-chief of the Great Elector's army. People relate the folloiing anecdote connected with the building of this palace : — The architect's charges being submitted to the Elector, lie found them exorbitant, and, before payment, I resolved to inspect the building. Some one of! his intendants having ventured to remark that the building appeared perfect in all its parts, and nothing wanting, the Elector replied — " Yes, something is decidedly wanting, and that — a gallows whereon to hang the contractor and unholsterer." It is said that the widowed hereditary Prince of Saxe-Meiningen is not unlikely to appear as a suitor for the hand of her Royal Highness Princess Mary of Cambridge, who is at this time, with the Duchess, her mother, at Baden. It would be a highly appropriate marriage on both sides. The Prince is a worthy and amiable man, in the bloom of life, nephew to our late Queen Adelaide, and also to the King of Prussia, by marriage with the deceased Princess Charlotte (Albert), by whom he has two sons. On the other hand, our Princess is said to have a rival in Princess Mary, a younger sister of the Grand Duke of Baden and of the reigning Duchess of Saxe-Coburg. A joint-stock company has been established at Berlin by Mr. Birdan, Englishman, for the purpose of building railway locomotives and supplying all the rolling and permanent stock of the lines.