£46

LIFE OF COBDEN. fons?

1847. plain supper; were afterwards conveyed to the railway
dir. 43. station in a carriage, and reached Berlin at eleven o’clock:”
“Berlin, July 29th.—Went with Mr. Howard to call upol
Dr. Eichhorn, at present Minister of Public Instruction;
but formerly in the department of trade, and who took 8%
active part in the formation of the Zollverein, an able and
enthusiastic man; he stated that the originators of th
customs-union did not contemplate the establishment of
protective system ; on the contrary, it was distinctly laid
down that the duties on foreign goods should not as a rule
sxceed ten per cent. To the opera in the evening, and
was introduced to M. Nothomb, the Belgian minister; 2
clever, ready man. M. Nothomb thinks the Corn Laws of
Belgiom will soon be abolished, and says, after the lato
calamities, arising from the scarcity of food, all Europe ought
fo unite in abolishing for ever every restriction on the ard
trade; he thinks the next ministry in Belgium, although 189
head will probably be an ardent Free Trader, will be obliged
bo advance still further in the path of restriction ; that the
majority of the chambers is monopolist. ‘An absolute gover®
ment may represent an idea, but elective legislatures represent
interests.” The enlightened ministers of Prussia are overruled
by the clamours of the chambers of Wurtemberg, Bavaria
and Baden, the majorities of which are protectionist. He
remarked that France stood in the way of European progress,
 for, so long as she maintained her prohibitive systerh
the other nations of the continent would be slow to adopb
the principles of Free Trade.”
“ Berlin, July 80th.—Went with Mr. Howard to call 0B
M. Kuhne, one of the originators of the Zollverein., Wher
Saxony joined it, she objected to the high duties which
were payable upon foreign goods. Now the manufactures
of that country are wanting still higher protection; he 18
not of opinion that Hamburg will join the Zollverein: 19