The government, as hinted above, is a military despo tism ; and though, like all northern nations, it once pos sessed a representative body, tinder the name of States, yet this body has been long unknown, the people having no voice or influence in any of the affairs of the nation. In some particular provinces, indeed, the States exist as in ancient times; but they seldom assemble, and they en joy no legislative or executive authority, scarcely even dare make representations to the monarch ; their authority and inquiry being confined exclusively to the regulation and management of the debts and expenses of their respec tive districts. The people have of late, however, been awakened to a number of abuses, and to the necessity of electing a representative body, as in former times. The expectation of this reform is said to have inspired them with the spirit and patriotism which they displayed in the late memorable conflict with France. These expectations, however, whatever hopes may have been held out, have not yet been adequately fulfilled, though the king has made considerable improvements in the executive branch of the government. The croTvn is hereditary in the family of the present reigning monarch, descending to the oldest branch, whether male or female. The age of majority is twenty•one. The present family are Calvinists; but as there is no national religion, there is no legal religion pre scribed to the king. The whole executive and legislative power is vested in the king, without responsibility or con trol. There is a council of state, to which nominally the administration is entrusted, consisting of members of the royal family, and cf the ministers of foreign aflairs, of the finances, of justice, of public instruction, of trade, of the public debt, of police, and of war. But the president of this council, to whom the heads of the different depart ments are responsible, and make weekly returns, is di rected solely by the king, by whom he is nominated, and is uncontrollable by his colleagues. There arc also pro vincial councils for the transaction of public business ; namely, the superintendence of the police, the regulation of traffic, the collection of taxes, the administration of the laws, kc.; at the head of each council there being a pre sident, who serves as a medium, or connecting link, be tween the provinces and the sovereign. The affairs of the government, in all its departments, are managed with the strictest regard to economy, insomuch that, probably with the exception of the United States, it scarcely finds a pa rallel in the world.
The present code of laws was originally formed by Frederick the Great upon the ancient customs and usages of the people, but not reduced to a regular and complete system till the time of his successor. There are courts of every gradation of dignity and authority ; and the whole system is extremely simple, expeditious, and economical. Feudal or baronial jurisdiction is either entirely abolish ed, or contracted within very narrow limits. The nomi nation of the judges of the lower courts, which resemble our justice-oi•peace courts, is vested either in the king, in the ecclesiastical dignitaries of the district, or, in those places obtain( d from Germany, by the mediatised princes.* The decision of these courts, except in very petty and un important cases, is not final. The second stage of juris diction is the Oberlandesgerichaen, which are established in each government, and to which appeals from the lower courts arc made, and the final appeal is to the High Col lege of Justice in Berlin. The police is under separate
jurisdictions, whose influence is extensive and various to a degree unknown in Britain. The police courts, for ex ample, not only perform most vigilantly the duties which in this country are peculiar to them, but they also have the superintendence of the examination of those who wish license to enter the medical profession, take cognizance of the assurance offices against losses by fire, and of the en gines and other implements for preventing fires from ex tending. With all this diversity of interests, however, the police department is managed with much mildness and efficiency, greater attention being paid to the prevention than the punishment of crime. In the cities arc Boards, under whose superintendence, buildings, sewers, the sup plies of water and of food, are placed. The affairs of the church are managed by provincial consistories. Commer cial affairs are under the direction and control of a board of merchants, in several of the large cities, particularly Breslau, Konigsburg, and Swinemunde in Pomerania.
The royal arms of Prussia are representative, and em blematical of the different provinces of which the kingdom is composed. Thus, for Ducal Prussia, argent, an eagle displayed sable, crowned or ; for Brandenburgh, argent, au eagle displayed, gales, with semicircular wreaths.— There are various orders of knighthood of which the most important are the following : "'Fhe Order of Generosity," instituted by Frederick, elector of Brandenburgh, the first king of Prussia, in 1685. The motto is " La Generosite." The same prince on the day of his coronation at Konigs burg, in 1701, instituted the " Order of the Black Eagle," with the motto " Suum cuique." The king is always grand-master; the number of knights, exclusive of the members of the royal family, is limited to thirty ; and all admitted into this order, with the exception of foreign princes, must previously be members of the " Order of Generosity." Frederick the Great founded three orders, namely, the " Order of Merit," in 1740; the " Order of St. Stephen," in 1754; and the " Order of St. John," in 1756. The 6 6 Order of Merit" is the most celebrated, and was instituted with the express design of rewarding meritorious individuals in arms, in literature, or in science, without regard to birth, religion, rank, or country. " Pour ie Merite" is the simple but appropriate motto.
It may not be improper to mention-in this place, that few countries in Europe are more destitute of antiquities than Prussia. Nor can such be expected to exist in a country where the arts and sciences were totally unknown till a comparatively recent period ; and where neither the Romans nor any civilized people ever penetrated to leave behind them monuments of their ingenuity and skill. There are, however, some Selavonic idols, cast in brass ; seine pieces of coin as old as the twelfth century ; and re mains of castles and churches, of considerable elegance and magnificence. Berlin, Konigsburg, and Damzick, Ole last particularly, from its great antiquity,) contain many specimens of ancient architecture, which would do honour to Britain or to France.