HISTORY OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 572, 25 January 1851, Page 3

HISTORY OF THE WEEK.

[From the Atlas, September 22.] The petty war in Schleswig-Holstein has had its incident. The two armies, encamped on the Schleswig frontier, have hitherto been amusing themselves by watching one another. Tired of his inactivity, the Schleswig Commander, as we stated in our last paper, crossed the Schlei on the 9th, and attacked the Danish position at Missunde. He was ignominiously beaten back for his pains. For the disaster the Schleswigers give a multitude of reasons; —they fought under “most disadvantageous circumstances”—the Danish artillery was far superior in numbers—the Dares knew the exact bearing and distance of the ground—and they had three strong forts to retire upon. All this, while it proves its point for the bravery of the army, tells but little for the generalship of General Willisen, who ought to have known it before. The Germans rather whimsically complain of the rapidity with which the Danes issued from the hollows, thereby securing a multitude of prisoners. However, Willisen declares himself very well satisfied, “he has attained bis object, and shown the enemy that he is not lord in Schleswig, as he vainly pretends.” One has heard this sort of bravado from a clown in a passion ; but the commander of an army should adopt a different style. His object has been rather dearly bought. He has lost from a small array about 300 men. He has gradually retreated from his former position, and the Danes are quietly bombarding the adjacent towns. .

The French revolution of 1850 has bad its caricature in Hesse Cassel. The Chambers refused to support the existing Ministry ; whereupon the Minister and the Elector sent the Chambers about their business—declared the country in a state of siege published a series of ordinances against political meetings and the press—and resolved to carry on the government on their own account. Less warlike than the French, the Hessians coolly took the case into a court of law, obtained a judgment against the Elector, and organized a government of their own. without striking a blow. The Elector ran away to Frankfort with all possible speed. The country, considering that it has had within the week as complete a revolution as it well could, is perfectly quiet. If all revolutions can be completed as easily, the old observation about revolution and rose-water will lose its point.

1 he President of the French cannot quite carry out his plan of Napoleonising France anew \yy fetes and receptions, owing to the want of money. His travelling expenses are high and his purse low. So he is forced to leave the south unvisited. It will be something for him to do next season. The Committee of Permanence seem to have been appointed to alarm the public. Every time they meet, the world is sure that something wonderful has happened, though the subject of their deliberations has hitherto been trifling enough for a town-council. °

The Queen has been entertaining herself with the athletic feats of our brawny friends, the Highlanders.

A most frightful accident has taken place on the Eastern Counties, a train having dashed in amongst a gang of workmen before they could get out of the way. The very fact of itself argues a gross negligence somewhere. Not a (.ay passes, but on every line in England the gangs are at work on all sides, and if this sort of acciuent were to be amongst those which cannot be prevented, a railroad would be lhe worst of executioners. It is true there was a fog, hut are the railroad laoourers to <i° killed iu dozens every November ? As the inquiry is adjourned, we do not feel justified in saying all that we should otherwise.