PRUSSIA.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XX, Issue 28, 30 March 1861, Page 4

PRUSSIA.

DEATH OF KING FREDERICK WILLIAM IV.

The King died on the morning of the 2nd January, at Saoi Spuci. Our readers are

aware that his Majesty's illness had long been of a hopeless character. On the 31st December, for the first time, his Majesty felt a difficulty, even an impossibility, to relieve the chest from the accumulated phlegm by expectoration ; but this symptom was declared to be accidental, as it did not again recur until late that night, when those distressing sensations in the throat, so often the sure precursors of death, appeared ; and as the life of the afflicted King seemed then likely to run out rapidly, the physician iv attendance deemed it to be his imperative duty, although it was then one o'clock in the morning, to send a telegram to the Prince Regent at Berlin. This telegram arrived at the Prince Regent's palace about two o'clock, when his royal highness instantly forwarded a reply that he would come himself. Immediately afterwards a report of the contents of the Potsdam despatch was sent to all the princes of the royal family then in Berlin, and we state with pleasure, demonstrating as it does the kind womanly feelings of a scion of the royal house of England, that the first who arrived at the palace of the Prince Regent was the Princess Frederick William, who hastened thither on foot and through the darkness of the night, though the snow lay deep upon the ground, and the weather was piercingly cold. The Prussian Chambers were opened on the 14th of January. His Majesty, in his speech, lamented the death of the late King. The King then made mention of the new organization of the army, which he said had become necessary, the defence of the integrity of the German territory being his first duty. His Majesty said that negotiations were imminent between France and the Zollverein in reference to their mutual commercial relations. His Majesty continued thus: — "The relations between the great Powers have become still more friendly by the personal meetings which have taken place between the Sovereigns. It is therefore to be regretted that the steps taken by Germany for the settlement of the question of the constitution of the German Duchies placed under Danish rule have remained without any result. Prussia, as well as the rest of Germany, recognise it as a national duty to finally bring about the proper solution of this question." The King energetically stated that it was his intention to remain faithful to the principles of government which he imposed on himself on assuming the Regency, as he found in those principles a safe guarantee against the revolutionary spirit spread abroad in Europe. The Cologne Gazette, of January 22, publishes the text of the address of the House of Nobles in reply to the speech from the throne. The address does not make any allusion to the Holstein question. As regards the apprehensions of a general war, the address expresses the hope that peace will not be disturbed; but, should it be otherwise decreed, Prussia would rise like one mau " for the homes, rights, and honour of Prussia." Great warlike preparations are going forward in Prussia. A distribution of standards took place at Berlin on January 18. 142 standards were distributed among the different regiments. The King was enthusiastically received. On the day after the King transferred his residence from Potsdam to Berlin he received the generals on 89rvipe at Berlin. In his address his majesty made an allusion to the probability of war, and it has made some sensation at Berlin. His majesty said ;— > - This is the first time that I find myself in your midst as your military chief. I never should have thought that Providence would call me to so difficult a dignity. I never thought I should have survived my beloved brother. In my youth I was of much more delicate health, so that, according to the laws of nature, there geetned little prospect of my succeeding to the throne of my ancestors. That is why I devoted all my energies to the service of the Prussian army ; I have done so with zeal and perseverance, thinking that by so doing I was best fulfilling the duties of a Prussian prince towards his King and country. The impenetrable decree of the Almighty haß now called me to the throne, which hitherto it had been my sole care to defend. This event haa taken place at a moment pregnant with dangers and with the perspective of struggles in which, gentlemen, I shall perhaps stand in need of your devotion. If my efforts, and those of the princes who, like myself, wish to maintain peace, do not avert the storm which is brewing around us, we shall have to collect all our strength to resist it and overcome it. lam happy to see at your head, in such excellent health, FieldMarshal General Wrangel. As regards you, my dear Minister of War, Roon, I have never put you on a bed of roses, and you will have to work vigorously to make the army what it ought to be for Prussia's future. Let us not deceive ourselves ', If Ido not succeed iv averting the struggle, it will bs a struggle in which we must conquer, if we do not wish to be annihilated,