The Berlin correspondent of the Times, in a very remarkable
letter, published on Tuesday, the 11th inst., states that the weak- ness of the Prussian Parliament is due to three causes. In the first place, Ministers are rarely taken from the Parliament, but .almost always from the bureaucracy which alone produces men sufficiently acquainted with detail to preside over the departments. In the second place, the electors scarcely yet know what they do -want, convictions, whether as to religion, morals, economic principles, and social principles, having of late years fallen into -confusion. And in the third place, Parliament is divided into six distinct parties, the National Liberals, who vote with Bismarck ; the Advanced Liberals, who resist Bismarck ; the Ultramontanos, 'Who are guided by Rome ; the Free Conservatives, who vote with 'the Chancellor on principle ; the Conservatives, who are abso-
• lutists ; and the " Savages," i.e., Poles, Socialists, and a few 'idealogues. The National Liberal is the strongest section, but mo one is strong enough to form a government or a ruling party, and no other fraction will permanently unite with the main divi- 'lions. Consequently the Government, which is very efficient, and has the sense to be respectful to Parliament as a whole, does -as it likes.
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