trians lost about 1,000 men and 17 pieces of ordnance, while the Prussians sustained a loss of about 300. The Prussians advanced slowly, and did not occupy Prerau until the 17th. Benedek, on the other hand, who, on the 15th, had advanced on the railroad from Prerau to Hulein, now deemed it necessary to abandon the railroad, retreat over Freistadtl, Holleschau, Wisowitz, Slawitschin, and across the Carpathians to Trentschin into Hungary. From there he continued his march along the Waag and through Leopoldtstadt, Tyrnau and Bösing to Presburg, where he expected to form a junction with the army which the Archduke Albrecht had assembled at Vienna.

was

When the Austrian counter propositions for an armistice had been rejected by the King of Prussia, the advance of the three Prussian armies was resumed. The Army of the Elbe advanced from Znaym in the direction of Klosterneuburg, on the Danube, sending out detachments to the right as far as Krems, and to the left as far as Wilfersdorf, in order to maintain the connection with the army of Prince Frederick Charles. The latter, on the 16th, occupied the important railroad junction of Lundenburg, and on the 19th advanced as far as Gänserndorf, at the junction of the railroads leading to Vienna and Presburg. It also secured the passage over the March at Marchegg. The headquarters of the King of Prussia were, on the 17th of July, established at Nikolsburg. On his arrival at Nikolsburg he met the French ambassador, Benedetti, who was instructed by his government to continue his efforts for bringing about a peace. Austria now disposed more favorably toward peace, as the interruption of communication between Benedek and Archduke Albrecht, the proclamations of Prussia to the Czechs of Bohemia, and the movements of the Hungarian Legion under Klapka, which was on the point of invading Hungary, threatened new dangers. Accordingly, the Cabinet of Vienna declared, in the evening of the 21st of July, its readiness to conclude an armistice of five days upon the basis of the Prussian propositions, and in the morning of the 22d July it was agreed that the armistice was to begin on the same day at noon. On the 21st, the 8th division of infantry (of the army of Prince Frederick Charles), which had crossed the March at Göding, had advanced as far as Stampfen, near Presburg. On the same day, the 7th division crossed at Marchegg and joined the 8th. Both were placed under the command of General Fransecky, who was ordered to make a reconnoissance toward, and, if feasible, an advance upon Presburg. This movement was executed in the morning of the 22d, when at Blumenau, near Presburg, a severe engagement occurred with an Austrian brigade, which was gradually reënforced by all the brigades of the 2d army corps. The engagement was still undecided when it was terminated by the official announcement of the armistice. Several days

later the garrison of the Austrian fortress of Theresienstadt in Bohemia, being unacquainted with the armistice, made a sortie against the Prussian troops guarding the railroad from Turnau to Prague, and captured several hundred prisoners, who were returned.

Preliminary Peace of Nikolsburg-Treaties of Peace concluded at Prague, Berlin, and Vienna.-On the 26th the representatives of Austria and Prussia agreed on a truce at Nikolsburg. The definitive peace was signed at Prague on the 30th of August, as follows:

1. Peace and friendship shall prevail in future and forever between the King of Prussia and the Emperor of Austria, their heirs and successors, their states and subjects.

2. In order to execute article 6 of the peace preEmperor of the French has officially declared at liminaries concluded at Nikolsburg, and after the Nikolsburg, upon the 29th of that month, through his ambassador accredited to the King of Prussia, "that Venetia, after the conclusion of peace, would be transferred to Italy," the Emperor of Austria also accedes to this declaration, and gives his consent to the union of the Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom with the Kingdom of Italy, without any other compulsory condition save the liquidation of those debts which shall be recognized as incumbent upon the ceded territories, in accordance with the precedent of the treaty of Zürich.

3. The prisoners of war on both sides shall be at once released.

4. The Emperor of Austria recognizes the dissolution of the hitherto-existing Germanic Confederation, many, without the participation of the Austrian Emand gives his consent to a new organization of Gerpire. His majesty equally promises to recognize the closer federal relation the King of Prussia will estab lish to the north of the Main line, and declares himself agreed that the German States situated south of this line shall conclude a union, the national connection of which with the North German Confederation remains reserved for further agreement between both parties, and which shall possess an international independent existence.

5. The Emperor of Austria transfers to the King of Prussia all his rights to the duchies of Holstein and Schleswig acquired by the Vienna treaty of October 30, 1864, with the understanding that if the populations of the northern districts of Schleswig shall manifest by free voting the wish to be united to Denmark, the districts in question shall be ceded to Denmark.

6. By the desire of the Emperor of Austria, the King of Prussia declares himself ready to permit the present territory of the Kingdom of Saxony to occupy self on the other hand to determine more exactly the the extent it has hitherto enjoyed, reserving to himcontribution of Saxony to the cost of the war, and the future position of the Kingdom of Saxony within the North German Confederation by special peace treaty to be concluded with the King of Saxony. On the other hand, the Emperor of Austria promises to recognize the new arrangements to be established by the King of Prussia in North Germany, including the territorial changes.

7. In order to come to a settlement as to the property of the hitherto-existing confederation a commission shall meet at Frankfort-on-the-Main within at least six weeks after ratification of this present treaty, at which all demands and claims upon the Germanic Diet are to be brought forward, and liquidated within Six months. Prussia and Austria will send representatives to this commission, and all other members of the hitherto-existing confederation are at liberty to do the same.

8. Austria remains entitled to remove or otherwis

dispose of the imperial property in the Federal fortresses, and to adopt a similar course with the acknowledged share of Austria in movable Federal property. The same holds good of the entire movable property of the Confederation.

9. The officials, servants, and pensioners belonging to the staff of the Diet are secured the pensions to which they are entitled, or that have been already granted pro rata of the scale. The Prussian Government, however, undertakes the pensions and assistance-moneys to officers of the former SchleswigHolstein army and their relicts, hitherto defrayed

from the Federal funds.

10. The amounts of the pensions granted by the Austrian viceroy in Holstein remain secured to the parties interested. The sum of 449,500 Danish rix dollars in four per cent. Danish state bonds, in the custody of the Austrian Government, and belonging to the Holstein finances, shall be returned thereto immediately after ratification of this present treaty. No natives of the duchies of Holstein and Schleswig, and no subject of their majesties the King of Prussia and the Emperor of Austria, shall be prosecuted, disquieted, or injured in person or property on account of his political conduct during the recent occurrences and the war.

11. The Emperor of Austria engages, in order to cover part of the cost incurred by Prussia in the war, to pay the King of Prussia the sum of forty million Prussian dollars. From this sum, however, shall be deducted the amount of the war costs the Emperor of Austria, by article 12 of the aforementioned Vienna treaty of October 30, 1864, has still to claim from the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein-i. e., fifteen million Prussian dollars, and, as an equivalent for the free provisionment the Prussian army shall enjoy in the Austrian districts it occupies until the conclusion of the peace, a further sum of five million Prussian dollars, so that only twenty million Prussian dollars remain to be paid in cash. Half of this sum shall be defrayed in cash simultaneously with the exchange of the ratifications of the present treaty; the remaining half, three weeks later at Oppeln.

12. The evacuation of the Austrian territories occupied by the Prussian troops shall be completed within three weeks after the exchange of the ratifications of the peace treaty. From the day of the exchange of the ratifications the Prussian governing generals will confine their functions to the purely military sphere of action.

13. All treaties and conventions concluded between the contracting parties previous to the war, in so far as they are not necessarily rendered invalid by the dissolution of the Germanic Confederation, shall herewith reënter in force. The general cartel convention between the German Federal States of Feb

ruary 10, 1831, in especial, together with the supplementary clauses belonging thereto, retains its validity between Prussia and Austria. Nevertheless the Austrian Government declares that the coinage treaty concluded January 24, 1857, loses its chief value to Austria through the dissolution of the German Federal relation, and the Prussian Government declares itself ready to mediate in negotiations for the discontinuance of this treaty between Austria and the remaining participators in the same. The contracting parties equally reserve to themselves to enter into negotiation as early as possible for a revision of the commercial and custom treaty of April 11, 1865, in the sense of increased facilities to mutual traffic. In the mean time the aforesaid treaty shali reënter in force, with the understanding that it is reserved to either of the contracting parties to terminate it after six months' notice to that effect.

The peace with Bavaria was signed at Berlin on August 22d. Bavaria engaged to pay to Prussia thirty million florins in three instalments, the last instalment six months after the exchange of ratifications. The navigation dues

on the Rhine and Main were to cease on and after 1867. The Bavarian telegraph stations in the territory of the North German Confederation, and in the Grand-duchy of Hesse, were transferred to Prussia. Bavaria surrendered to Prussia such documents in the archives of Bamberg as refer exclusively to the former burggraves of Nuremberg and the margraves of Brandenburg of the Franconian line." In order to settle Prussia's claim to the picture-gallery, which was formerly at Dusseldorf, and was later brought to Munich, Bavaria will designate three German courts of appeal, from which one will be selected by Prussia as arbiter. From strategical and commercial reasons the frontier is rectified by the union of a few Bavarian districts to Prussia. (See BAVARIA.)

The treaties with Würtemberg, Baden, and Hesse-Darmstadt were also concluded at Berlin (July 12th, August 21th, September 3d). Würtemberg was to pay eight million, Baden six million, Hesse-Darmstadt five million florins. Hesse-Darmstadt was to enter for its province of Upper Hesse the North German Confederation, and cede to Prussia Hesse-Homburg and several other districts. (See HESSE-DARMSTADT.) The following are the conditions of the treaty between Austria and Italy, signed October 3d:

The mutual exchange of all prisoners of war; Austria consents to the union of Venetia with Italy; the frontiers to be ceded to Italy are those which constituted the administrative frontiers of Venetia while under Austrian domination. The military commissioners appointed by the two contracting powers, shall be charged to trace the line of demarcation with the shortest possible delay. The amount of the debt assumed by Italy is 35,000,000 florins, payable by eleven instalments, within a period of twenty-three months. The Monte Lombardo-Venetio is transferred to Italy, with its actual assets and liabilities. Its assets are three and a half million florins, and its liabilities 36,000,000 florins. With regard to the Venetian railways, until a further arrangement is arrived at, the revenues of the two networks of railway north and south of the Alps will be allowed to accumulate in order to calculate the gross revenue which should serve as a basis for the valuation of the kilometric guaranty. The contracting parties company would take a part, for the separation of the engage to prepare a convention, in which the railway two networks and the completion of the unfinished railway. The Venetians residing in Austria are to have the right of preserving their Austrian nationality. All objects of art, as well as the archives belonging to Venetia, will be restored without exception. The iron crown of Lombardy will also be given up to Italy. The treaties which formerly subsisted between Austria and Sardinia will again come into force for one year, during which period fresh arrangements can be concluded. Another provision of the treaty stipulates for the restitution of the private property belonging to the Italian ex-princes, which has been sequestrated by the Italian Government, with the reservation of the rights of the State, of one-third.

A complete amnesty will be accorded by both Austria and Italy to all persons condemned for political offences; to deserters from either army; and to persons compromised by their political con duct. The emperor also decided to renounce the title of King of Lombardy and Venetia, and decreed his majesty's other titles, whether the latter be fully accordingly that in future it shall be omitted among given or otherwise.

GERMANY. I. THE GERMAN CONFEDERATION. The confederation of German states, which was organized in 1815, was destroyed by the German-Italian war in 1866. (See GERMAN-ITALIAN WAR.) At the beginning of the year 1866, the confederation consisted of one empire (Austria), five kingdoms (Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, Hanover, Würtemberg), one electorate (Hesse-Cassel), fourteen grand-duchies and duchies, eight principalities, one landgravate (Hesse-Homburg), and four free cities (Frankfort, Hamburg, Bremen, and Lubeck). By the death of the childless Landgrave of HesseHomberg and the annexation of Hesse-Homberg to Hesse-Darmstadt on March 24, 1866, this number was reduced to thirty-three. The area of the German Confederation amounted to 243,099 square miles, and the population to 46,059,329. The Federal army consisted of 531,281 infantry, 92,300 cavalry, 59,485 artillery, and 12,979 pioneers.

At a special sitting of the Federal Diet, on April 9th, the Prussian representative made the following proposition for the constitutional reform of the Confederation: "1. That an assembly should be convened composed of members directly elected throughout Germany by universal suffrage, to meet upon a day to be appointed, in order to receive proposals to be laid before the German Governments for a reform of the Federal Constitution. 2. That negotiations should in the mean time take place between the various governments to settle the above proposals." A motion brought forward by the Austrian representative, as President of the Diet, demanding the immediate communication to the Federal Governments of the Prussian motion, was agreed to. The Prussian representative advocated the earliest possible appointment of a committee for the examination of the proposal made by his government. On April 21, the proposal of Prussia, for a reform of the Federal Constitution was referred by a majority of fourteen to a special committee of nine members. The committee was elected on April 26th, and consisted of the representatives of Austria, Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, Hanover, Würtemberg, Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt, Electoral Hesse, Mecklenburg, and the representatives of the houses of Saxe. The committee organized itself on May 9th, when the representative of Prussia gave a more explicit statement as to the intentions of his government. The reforms desired by Prussia were as follows: 1. Introduction of a national representation into the organism of the Confederation. 2. Within the sphere of this legislature should fall, in accordance with article 64, of the Treaty of Vienna, provisions of common utility, such as coins, civil laws, patents, etc. 3. To these subjects should be added a regulation of the intercourse between the members of the Confederation. 4. Development of article 18, of the Federal pact, concerning freedom of intermigration, a general German homestead law, etc. 5. Common legislation on duties and commerce. 6.

Organization of a common protection of Ger man commerce; appointment of consuls representing the whole of Germany. 7. Foundation of a German navy. 8. Revision of the Military Constitution of the Confederation.

On the 20th of May, the Congress of German Deputies (members of German legislatures) held a meeting at Frankfort, at which two hundred members were present. M. Sigismund Müller, of Frankfort, presided. The Congress adopted, on the recommendation of its committee, a resolution condemning a war, declaring guilty of grave crimes toward the nation those who might cause one, and threatening with the national execration those who might attempt to dispose of any portion of German territory to foreigners. The resolution adds, that if war be inevitable every effort should be made to localize it as closely as possible. All the states not actually engaged in the dispute, especially those of Southwestern Germany, ought not unnecessarily to take part in the contest; their duty is to retain their forces intact, so that, if occasion should arise, they may be in a position to maintain the territorial integrity of Germany. The chambers of the various states should demand guaranties in this sense before voting credits for military purposes. The resolution concluded thus: A solution of the Federal constitutional question can alone prevent the recurrence of so dangerous a state of affairs. The chambers and the German nation generally ought, therefore, to require a speedy convocation of a German parliament, on the basis of the electoral law of 1849.

With regard to the war threatening to break ont between Austria and Prussia, the majority of the Diet ranged itself on the side of Austria, the representative of Prussia, on June 1st, declared that if the Federal Diet should show itself unable to prevent violations of the federal peace like that now threatened by Austria and Saxony, Prussia would have to draw the inference that the actual condition of the Confederation was inadequate for the fulfil ment of its task, and it would base its further steps upon this condition. On the same day the Diet accepted an invitation to take part in a peace conference to be held in Paris, and unanimously elected the Bavarian minister, Von der Pfordten, its delegate.

When the Federal Diet, on June 14th, adopted the Austrian proposition for a mobilization of the Federal army, the Prussian representative declared that Prussia considered the Federal pact as dissolved. He then submitted proposals for the constitution of a new "bund," announced that Prussia seceded from the present confederation, and immediately withdrew from the assembly. The Austrian Minister-President addressed the Diet in a speech in which he referred to article 1, of the Federal pact, and article 5, of the final act of Vienna, and insisted upon the indissolubility of the Federal pact. He protested against the

He

Prussian project, and maintained the continuance of the Confederation, with all its rights and duties, declaring that no member was at liberty to secede from the "bund,” and that the whole of Germany had a right to demand that the Confederation should remain intact. concluded by inviting the Diet to unite with him in solemn protest for the preservation of the rights and competency of the "bund," which should continue in full vigor and binding upon all its members. The Diet adopted a resolution expressing its adherence to the declaration of the Austrian representative.

The following states soon followed Prussia in withdrawing from the Confederation: The two Mecklenburgs (14th curia); Saxe-Weimer, SaxeAltenburg and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (13th curia); Oldenburg, Anhalt, Schwarzburg (15th curia); the two Lippes, Waldeck and Reuss, younger line (16th curia); Hamburg, Bremen, Lubeck (17th curia).

By article IV. of the Treaty of Peace, concluded on August 23d, between Prussia and Austria, the Emperor of Austria agreed to recognize the dissolution of the German Confederation, and to give his consent to a reconstruction of Germany without the participation of the Austrian Empire. The emperor also promised to recognize the new Confederation, which the King of Prussia would establish north of the Main, and declared himself satisfied that the German States south of the Main should establish an association, the national connection of which with the North German Confederation was to be left to further agreement, and which would receive an international and independent existence. The kings of Bavaria and Würtemberg, as well as the grand dukes of Baden and Hesse-Darmstadt, in the separate treaties of peace concluded with them, gave their adhesion to the above stipulation of the Prusso-Austrian treaty. Hesse-Darmstadt agreed to enter with the province of Upper Hesse into the North German Confederation. The last sitting of the Federal Diet was held on August 24th, when it was declared that in consequence of the war and of the treaties of peace the German Confederation was dissolved. From the last publication of the Diet, a volume, containing the proceedings and acts of that body during 1866, it appears that from the installation of the Diet on the 5th of November, 1816, to the 24th of August, 1866, the day of its dissolution that is to say, a period of forty-nine years, six months, and ten days-it has held 1,712 sittings. Its labors were suspended from the 12th July, 1848, to the 29th December, 1849. Its average annual sittings were thirtyfive.

II. NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION.-The North German Confederation consists of Prussia (with the annexed States of Hanover, HesseCassel, Schleswig-Holstein, Nassau, and Frankfort), and the German States north of the river Main. The population of the new confederation is as follows:

In

The area of the North German Confederation is 159,940 English square miles. Of the inhabitants, 70.78 per cent. are Protestants; 26.95 per cent. Roman Catholics; and 2.27 per cent. members of other denominations. point of area the North German Confederation is exceeded by five European States (Russia, Sweden, and Norway, Austria, Spain), and in point of population by four (Russia, France, Austria, Great Britain). The merchant marine of the confederation numbers 7,167 vessels, with an aggregate tonnage of 1,336,719.

The first step toward the permanent establishment of the confederation was an offensive and defensive treaty, which was signed at Berin on the 18th of August, and the ratifications of which were exchanged on the 8th and 10th of September. The treaty is as follows:

Oldenburg, Brunswick, Saxe-Altenburg, Saxe-CoART. 1. The Governments of Prussia, Saxe-Weimar, burg-Gotha, Anhalt, Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Waldeck, Reuss (junior line), Schaumburg-Lippe, Lippe, Lubec, Bremen, and Hamburg, have concluded by this treaty an of fensive and defensive alliance for the preservation of the integrity and independence, as well as the inner and outer safety of their respective States, and enter immediately on the joint defence of their present possessions, which they guarantee each other by this

treaty.

ART. 2. The objects of this alliance shall be ensured by a federal constitution, based on the fundamental principles laid down by Prussia on the 10th June, 1866, and with the coöperation of a national parliament, to be convened jointly by the allied powers.

ART. 3. All treaties and conventions existing between the allies remain in full force if not specially modified by this treaty.

ART. 4. The military forces of the allied Governments are placed under the supreme command of his vices in time of war shall be regulated by special Majesty the King of Prussia, and their several seragreement.

ART. 5. The allied Governments engage to make the needful arrangements in their separate States for the election of members of Parliament in accordance 12, 1849, and convene them at the same period that with the stipulations of the Electoral Law of April Prussia does. At the same time they promise to

send to Berlin commissioners armed with full powers to make a draft of the Federal Constitution according to the fundamental principles of the 10th June, to be laid before the Parliament for their discussion and approval.

ART. 6. This treaty is to remain in force till the settlement of the new federal relations, eventually for a year, should the new act of confederation not be definitively settled before the lapse of that period. ART. 7. The present treaty shall be duly ratified, and the acts of ratification exchanged at Berlin as quickly as possible, and certainly not later than three weeks from the present date.

Later the Governments of Saxony, of the two Mecklenburgs, of Hesse-Darmstadt (for the province of Upper Hesse), the Governments of Saxe-Meiningen and Reuss, elder line, gave in their adhesion to this treaty.

The following electoral law for the first North German Parliament, was (in September) adopted by the Prussian Legislature and sanctioned by the Government:

1. A Parliament is to be assembled for the consideration of the Constitution and of the regulations of the North German Confederation.

2. Every man blameless in the eye of the law who is a citizen of one of the German States united in the Confederation is to be a voter as soon as he has attained the age of twenty-five.

3. From the right of voting are excluded. (1.) Persons who are under guardianship or trusteeship. (2.) Persons against whose property rules of bankruptcy have been granted, during the term of such bankruptcy. (3.) Persons who obtain support as paupers from the funds of the State or of their district, or who have obtained support during the year preceding the election.

4. As criminals, and therefore excluded from the right of voting, shall be considered those from whom the full and perfect enjoyment of their rights as citizens has been withdrawn by legal sentence, as long as these rights are not restored to them.

5. Any man entitled to vote who has belonged for at least three years to one of the States forming the Confederation may be elected as deputy, Penalties for political offences which have been undergone or remitted do not exclude from election.

6. Persons who occupy a public office require no permission from Government to enter Parliament. 7. One deputy is to be elected for every 100,000 souls of the population as shown in the last census. A surplus of 50,000 souls or more, in the total population of a State, is to be reckoned as equal to 100,000 souls. Each deputy is to be elected in a special elective department.

8. The elective departments will be divided, for the purpose of voting, into smaller districts.

9. Whoever wishes to exercise his right of voting in a particular district must have his residence at the time of the poll in that district. No elector may vote in more than one place.

10. In every district lists will be opened in which the Christian and surnames of those entitled to vote, with their ages, professions, and dwelling-places, will be entered. These lists shall be open to every one's inspection at the latest four weeks before the day appointed for the election, and this is to be publicly advertised. Objections to the lists are to be made within eight days of the appearance of the public advertisement to the authority by whom the advertisement has been published, and are to be settled within the next fourteen days, whereupon the lists will be closed. Only those are entitled to vote who have their names inscribed on the list.

11. Voting is to be in public; members of the community are to take part in it who hold no direct office under Government. The vote is to be given in

person by means of a voting card, without signature, which is to be enclosed in an envelop, and so placed in an urn.

12. The voting is to be direct. Election is to be dependent upon the absolute majority of all the votes given in one department. Should there not be an absolute majority the votes are to be taken over again, but only to decide between the two candidates who have the most votes.

13. Representatives of the deputies are not to

vote.

14. The polls are to take place at the same time in the whole of the State.

15. The elective departments and districts, the directors, and the proceedings of the elections, in so far as they are not determined by the present bill, are to be settled by the Government.

16. The Parliament examines into the privileges of its members, and decides upon the granting of them. It regulates the order of its business and its discipline.

17. No member of the Parliament can at any time be prosecuted in a court of justice, or a police court, on account of his vote, or for any utterances made use of in the exercise of his office, or be otherwise rendered responsible outside of the Assembly.

The main points of the constitution for the North German Confederation, as proposed by Prussia, were reported to be as follows:

The draft consists of 13 sections, divided into 69 or 70 paragraphs. The first division sets forth what is to be considered Federal territory; the second contains definitions of the legislative power in the Confederation; the third treats of the Federal council; section 4 settles the position of the presiding power; section 5 treats of the parliament; sections 6-10 of the competence appertaining to the legislative pow er; the 11th contains the important clauses as to the Federal army; and section 12 refers to the settlement of differences between members of the Confederation. The last section holds forth a prospect of the regulation of relations with the South German states. The Federal territory embraces the states of the Governments known to belong to the North German Confederation, with those parts of Hesse lying north of the Main. Subjects of any of these states are to have equal rights with natives in all other Federal states. The Federal Legislature consists of the Federal Council and the Parliament having under its jurisdiction, as common affairs of the North German Confederation, customs, commercial legislation, coinage, weights and measures, banks, regulations as to native rights and rights of settlement, etc., patents for inventions, protection of German trade, railway, postal, and telegraph systems, river navigation, the code of civil process, laws relating to bills of exchange, and commerce. The Governments are represented in Federal Council. Similarly to the plenum of the former Diet, the votes are divided, so that Prussia commands 17, Saxony four, Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Brunswick two each, and the remaining states one apiece. The total number of votes amounts to 43.The members of the Federal Council may be present in Parliament, and represent the views of their Governments; the Council forms departmental committees for the various branches of the functions within the competence of the Confederation; except in alterations of the constitution, the resolutions of the Council are passed by mere majority. The Prussian crown occupies the presidency, which represents the Confederation abroad, decides upon war and peace, concludes treaties, and appoints ambassadors. A Federal chancellor, appointed by the presiding power, takes the chair at the Federal Council. The Council and the Parliament meet yearly. The Parliament is chosen by gen. eral direct election, and possesses the right of initiative within the competence of Federal legislation; it