17 DECEMBER 1859, Page 8

The rumoured abdication of Franz Joseph, after ten years' reign,

is really assuming some tangible shape. The origin of this scheme is not at 'Vienna, but at Prague, where the great mother and now venerable Egeria of the house of Hapsburg, Archduchess Sophia, holds her court in the liradschin Palace. This lady has already brought about two abdications, that of Ferdinand and of Archduke Charles ; she rules the whole family, and has bitterly resented the banishment of her son, Archduke Maximilian' to Brazil. Happily he has not reached Gibraltar. Forced into Messina by stress of weather, his further exile is stopped, and on him the Kaiserlick crown devolves, though Franz Joseph has PAi di' sfatthitilbife aftildrbitt suchis the talk in Bohemia, as well

etitki—L60168e.fitrts Correspondent. -