NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE quarrel between the King of Prussia and the National As- sembly has come to a direct struggle for power, in which the Assembly is at the disadvantage of being a divided body. The King followed up his reappointment of the Count of Branden-
• burg as Prime Minister by proroguing the Assembly and order- ing it to meet at Brandenburg, so as to be out of the way ,of in- timidation: some members of the Right obeyed ; many of the Left remained at Berlin and persisted in meeting: General Wrangel marched into the city, blockaded the Assembly, and obliged it to abandon its hall : a proclamation from the King dissolved the Burgher Guard, and Berlin was declared to be in a state of siege.
Such are the patent facts ; but the actual position occupied by the several parties is not quite clear. The Democrats, although there are able men among them, lack the ability to agree upon one simple and intelligible course of action, and cannot put their issue in a perfect form. The King seems to be practising some reserve, and not to have avowed the real issue which he seeks through the quarrel. In his proclamation dissolving the Burgher Guard, he disclaims reaction ; but the selection of the Count of Brandenburg as Prime Minister has an unfortunate look of that kind. For the present, Frederick William has kept within constitutional bounds : he has a right to name his Minis- ter; and though a constituent Assembly is not the same as an ordinary legislative Assembly, it-is not the Executive —the King had not been deposed, but continued de facto as well as de i jure n the enjoyment of the executive power.
But the question is leas one of right than of policy. Should Frederick William contemplate a reactionary course, the hazard must be considerable, even to his possession of the throne. He may have with him the army and the upper classes ; but it is most improbable that he should be able to reestablish the status quo and resume his position as a "Divine right" sovereign. Were he to make such an attempt, his people would either depose him, or if vanquished would be for ever sulky and turbulent. But Frederick William without his people .ould lie helpless at the mercy of Russia, and would soon find himself making territorial concessions to that dangerous ally. If, on the other hand, he only intends to establish a position of power within the bounds of constitution, the effort may be crowned with success; though his choice of a Premier does not appear to be felicitous, and it must be confessed that his language is painfully "paternal."
