PRUSSIA, which now fills a large space in the political world, and which, from an insignificant state, has risen within the last century to be one of the five great powers of Europe, is governed by Frederic William IV., born in 1795, during the storm of the first French revolution, and ascended the throne in 1840, at the age of fortyfive. He is, therefore, fifty-three at the present time. The government has been heretofore an absolute monarchy, over a population of 14,330,000, and a territory of 106,301 square miles. The people have for years been cajoled with promises of a constitution, which, however, have yielded nothing till since the fall of Louis Philippe. On the 18th of March, after bloody conflicts between the people and the king's troops, the cause of freedom triumphed, extorting from the monarch such pledges as satisfied them at the time, and which, if fulfilled, will probably save the throne a little longer. AUSTRIA is the second of the five great powers, with a population of 35,000,000, composed of heterogeneous materials, of different races, different religions and different languages. The present monarch, Ferdinand, commenced his reign in 1835, at the age or forty-two-now fifty-five, and imbecile in character. The real monarch, since the peace of 1815, has been Prince Metternich, the arch representative of despotic ideas. But his days are numbered. The storm has swept him from the council-board of European politics, and his sovereign has been compelled to submit to the demands of the people. BAVARIA, with a population of four millions and a half, under the rule of Louis, the admirer of Lola Montes, has heretofore been a limited monarchy in form, having its two legislative chambers, like France. Louis is now well advanced in life, say sixty-two or sixtythree, and has disgusted his people and all Europe with his liaison with the dancing girl above named. The last news mentioned that he had abdicated in favor of his son. BELGIUM, the great battle-ground of Europe, has about the same population as Bavaria, though less than half its territorial dimensions. Leopold I., an amiable man, is king, with two chambers. It has promptly recognized the new government in France. The ITALIAN STATES are all, more or less, disturbed by the spirit of revolution, and would seem to be tending decidedly to republicanism, notwithstanding the concessions in most cases reluctantly yielded by their sovereigns. Sardinia, population 4,100,000, has obtained what it demanded of Charles Albert, whose sincerity, however, is doubted. This has been an absolute monarchy till now. So was Tuscany, under the Grand Duke Leopold II. Population a million and a half. Naples, or the Two Sicilies, with nearly eight millions of people, Ferdinand II., king; and the LombardoVenetian kingdom, with four millions and a half, under Austrian control, are all raging at fever-heat for reform; while the Pope, in the States of the Church, seems as yet not afraid to go forward in the path he has chosen as a liberal ruler. The inferior States and Duchies in Italy and the smaller principalities, landgravines, electorates, &c., in Germany, must all be affected, in greater or less degree, by the movement of the heavier and more important governments. RUSSIA, the great bear of the north, is as yet an unexcited spectator of these magical transformations; yet even Russia will have to engage in the strife when the voice of violated and unappeased Poland rises high and clear above the general jar, demanding a kingdom and a name. A PARABLE FOR THE LADIES. Naomi, the young and lovely daughter of Salathiel and Judith, was troubled in spirit because, at the approaching feast of trumpets, she would be compelled to appear in her plain, undyed stole; while some of her young acquaintances would appear in blue and purple and fine linen of the land of Egypt. Her mother saw the gloom that appeared on the face of the lovely girl, and taking her apart, related to her this parable. A dove thus made her complaint to the guardian spirit of the feathered tribe: "King genius, why is it that the hoarse voiced strutting peacock spreads its gaudy train to the sun, dazzling the eyes of every beholder with richly burnished neck and royal crown, to the astonishment of every passer-by, whilst I, in my plain plumage, am overlooked and forgotten by all? Thy ways, kind genius, seem not to be equal towards those under thy care and protection." The genius listened to her complaint, and thus replied: "I will grant thee a train similar in richness to that of the gaudy bird thou seemest to envy, and shall demand of thee one condition in return.' "What is that?" eagerly inquired the dove, overjoyed at the prospect of possessing what seemed to promise so much happiness. "It is," said the genius, "that thou dost consent to surrender all those qualities of meekness, tenderness, constancy and love, for which thy family have been distinguished in all times." "Let me consider," said the dove. "No; I cannot consent to such an exchange. No, not for all the gaudy plumage, the showy train of that vain bird, can I surrender those qualities of which thou speakest, the distinguished features of my family from time immemorial. I must decline, good genius, the condition thou dost propose." "Then why complain, dear bird? Has not Providence bestowed on thee qualities which thou valuest more than all the gaudy adornment thou admirest? And art thou discontented still?" A tear started in the eye of the dove, at this mild rebuke of the guardian spirit, and she promised never to complain. The beautiful girl, who had entered into the story with deep and tender emotion, raised her fine blue eyes to meet her mother's gaze: and as they rolled upward, suffused with penitential tears, she said in a sudden tone, with a smile like that assumed by all nature, when the bow of God appears in the heavens after a storm-"My mother, I think I know what that story means. Let me be thy dove! let me have that ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, and I am satisfied to see others appear in rich and gaudy apparel!" my TOUCHING SCENES. The following extracts are from a letter written by Captain Merrill, of Batavia, to his brother. Captain M. was in all the battles: "I cannot forbear noticing two touching incidents that fell under observation. Among the brave and good who have this day fallen, was my friend Burwell, of the 5th infantry. He fell early in the action, from a wound in the leg. On the slight repulse of our troops, he was inhumanly murdered by the enemy's lancers. His faithful dog, a beautiful pointer, had accompanied him there; he also was wounded. During the action, he became separated from his master. After it had subsided, the noble form of Burwell, manly as in life, was discovered, and beside him, and even licking his face and wounds, was his poor dog, who, regardless of his own pain, had sought his generous master in the hour of danger, and there, upon the same field, to die. This affecting scene touched the hearts of many. "Again, after the fury of the battle was over, I saw a campwoman, of the Infantry, who came upon the field to look for her husband. Almost frantic with despair, she ran from one to another to inquire after him, but, getting no information, she immediately went to search for him among the slain. Passing from body to body, she at length found him-dead. Kneeling over his corpse, she endeavored to raise it, but finding life extinct, she gave utterance to shrieks and lamentations truly touching to hear. Her all had fallen. She continued to remain on the field, (under the fire of the enemy,) until his lifeless body was carried off, which she followed in the deepest grief. Such is affectionate woman." To this letter of Captain M., we add another of a most touching kind, from Lieutenant Sears: "My dear Madam: "JALAPA, MEXICO, August 22d, 1847. "It is my very painful duty to inform you of the death of your son, Lieutenant George D. Twiggs, who was killed at the battle of the National Bridge, on the 12th instant. I had the honor to command a battery, and while returning from the bridge, where my junior lieutenant had been mortally wounded, I met your son, who, on being informed of my situation, volunteered to assist me. While engaged in drawing one of the pieces up the hill under a very heavy fire, I turned to address a direction to him: he replied 'Yes,' in the same breath, exclaiming, 'Oh! my God, save me,' at the same time, before I could catch him, falling to the ground. I caused him to be laid beside the road, and as soon as the piece was carried up the hill, I descended myself to bring him up; but, alas! he was dead! shot through the body. A cross, a miniature, and a prayer-book were found in his breast. Permit me, madam, to sympathize with you, most sincerely, in the loss of so esteemed a son. Never has it been my good fortune to meet a gentleman possessed of so many excellent qualities of heart and mind. To every accomplishment which beautifies and adorns man's noblest character, was added a bravery and high-souled chivalry unequalled. He was a worthy scion of the noble stock from which he sprung. It may in some manner assuage the grief of a soldier's mother, to know that her son died nobly fighting for his country. Again, madam, permit me to tender my sincerest sympathies, and remain, "Very truly, your obedient, servant, "HENRY B. SEARS, Lt. 2d Artillery.” THE MEN OF CHURUBUSCO. ["Contreras being carried by Persifor Smith, Worth pushed on towards San Antonio and San Angel. How San Antonio was carried by Worth, and how the whole army then fell upon Churubusco, and drove the enemy from his works, and completely routed him, the letters we give in other columns sufficiently tell."]-New Orleans Picayune of Sept. 9th. They'll point them out in after years- And tender hearts will name with tears Was equal, in the deeds he wrought, They'll point them out, those veterans then, And each to each, with stern delight, They'll sing their praise, when they're no more The men of Churubusco Fight! And when their latest march is o'er As one by one is lost to sight- A shred but of the scattered hair Which waves so richly now: They'll paint their deeds in statued hall— Will smile their pictures, brave and bright, When every warrior bosom bore Five hero hearts within: They'll legends tell of heroes then, Far, far, beyond all modern men And still in song will grow more bright, THE PRESS. The Rev. The art of printing is, perhaps, the mightiest instrumentality ever contrived by man, for the exertion of moral influence. Dr. Adams, in his late address at Yale College, remarked: "In the city of Strasburg, on the eastern frontier of France, there stands, in the principal square, a large bronze statue of Guttenburg, the inventor of the art of printing with movable types. It is a full-length figure of that fortunate individual, with a printing press at his side, and an open scroll in his hand, with this inscription:-And there was light. Upon the several sides of the high pedestal on which the effigy stands, are four tableaux in bas-relief, designed to represent the effect of the art of printing on the general progress of the world. "In one, stand the names of the most distinguished scholars, philosophers and poets of all times; in another, the names of those who have been most eminent for their achievements in the cause of human freedom; conspicuous amongst which is an allusion to our Declaration of Independence, with the names of Washington, Franklin, Hancock and Adams. On the third side, is a representation of |