There exists a law in Prussia, dated 17th of January? 1820, 
forbidding the King to contract any State Debts without the sanction 
of the States-General, an assembly which it is very well known, does 
not yet exist in Prussia.42 This law is the only guarantee the Prussians 
have for ever getting the constitution which, since 1815, has been 
promised to them. The fact of the existence of such a law not being 
generally known out of Prussia, the government succeeded in 1823 
in borrowing three millions of pounds in England — first violation. 
After the French revolution of 1830, the Prussian government being 
obliged to make extensive preparations for a war which was then 
likely to break out, they not having any money, made the “interests 
for transatlantic trade’, a government concern, borrow twelve 
millions of dollars (£1,700,000), which, of course, were under the 
guarantee of the government, and spent by the government — sec- 
ond violation. Not to speak of the small violations, such as loans of a 
few hundred thousands of pounds by the same concern, the King of 
Prussia” has, at this moment, committed a third great violation. The 
credit of this concern being as it seems exhausted, the Bank of 
Prussia, being just in the same way, exclusively a government 
concern, has been empowered by the King to issue banknotes to the 
amount of ten millions of dollars (£1,350,000). This, deducting 3'/; 
millions as deposit and ?/, million for the increased expenses of the 
establishment, amounts in reality to an “indirect loan” of six millions 
of dollars or nearly one million of pounds, which the government 
will be responsible for, as up to this time no private capitalists are 

* The Northern Star mistakenly gives 22nd of June.— Ed. 
> Frederick William IV.—Ed. 

Violation of the Prussian Constitution 53 

partners to the Bank of Prussia. It is to be hoped that the Prussians, 
particularly the middle classes, who are most interested in the 
constitution, will not let this pass without an energetic protest. 

Written in May 1846 Reprinted from the newspaper 

No. 446, May 30, 1846 

with an editorial note: