King of Prussia to say what were the internal reforms which Germany required to make her great; and we may be sure that, if they had suggested the suppression of the smaller sovereignties and the division of Germany into two powerful kingdoms for the idea of entire unity was then nowhere entertained -the scheme would have been universally denounced, and by none more loudly than by the Liberals, as an attempt to repeat on a larger scale the infamous dismemberment of Poland.

It cannot be denied that the present state of Germany is most perplexing; and that her constitution -if such a thing can really be said to exist-bears strong resemblance to a piece of cumbrous and antique machinery. "Germania" is indeed a mere phantom or eidolon; or at best a geographical name for a portion of the surface of the earth, divided into various kingdoms and principalities, and inhabited by people who, speaking the same language, have no common bond of fealty or allegiance. Nominally there is a "Bund," or Confederation of the different states; but virtually they act as if each were wholly independent. They are so far from having a common policy, that their interests are constantly conflicting. That is, no doubt, a deplorable state of affairs; and it is, offended with this danfords a direct temptaaggression and en

sympathise with hich are so audible many, especially in ut the Rhine. But about to find a revirtually trying to ost difficult political it was ever yet offered ingenuity of mankind. cles in the way of unity dous-nay, to all appear rmountable. In order to ity, it is necessary that ld be only one head to regulate the motions of

the different members; but where for Germany is such a head to be found? There is rivalry between the great houses of Hapsburg and Hohenzollern. Neither Austria nor Prussia will yield their claim of precedence. Besides, both these powers have more than German interests to attend to. Prussia holds part of the kingdom of dismembered Poland-Austria has Hungary, Galicia, and Venice. It is now a very long time since both of them have, to use a familiar but expressive phrase, set up for themselves, altogether independent of the German Confederation; and their relations with other states are entirely regulated by regard to their own individual interests. If Germany is to have real unity, there must be one Lord Paramount, with one central ministry, one system of finance and taxation for the whole empire, and a concentration of its armed force. How is that to be achieved? It is neither to be hoped nor expected that either of the two great powers will yield, for that would imply a renunciation of rule, an abdication of sovereign authority. Nor does there anywhere exist a force that could possibly compel either the one or the other of them to yield. Not only the rulers but the people would resist to the uttermost a change which they could not help feeling as a deep and disgraceful humiliation. The cry for German unity which resounds on the banks of the Rhine, is feebly heard in northern and eastern Germany. It is natural enough that men should be reluctant to call themselves Homburgers, Hessians, Nassauers, Anhalters, or Swartzburgers. These are no doubt names properly pertaining to the inhabitants of independent territories; but there is something as ridiculous in their assumption, as if a Scot were to style himself exclusively an Aberdonian or an Orcadian, or an Englishman to repudiate his generic appellation in favour of Cumberland or Cornwall. But no one is