The Liberator

ABDICATIONS.

Throughout the history of Europe there never existed similar examples of so many sovereigns threatening to resign their thrones as at the present moment. No fewer than three or four potentates are declared to entertain serious intentions of abdicating their power and authority. The autocrat of Russia stands highest in political importance. He is said to be suffering great mental anxiety from some unexplained cause; and having provided the means of supporting himself liberally during life, by considerable investments in the English and French funds, under color of a great financial operation, he intends, it is said, to go to Italy, and there pass the remainder of his days. The King of Wurtemberg, the father-in-law of the Prince of Orange, has repaired to the Hague, solely for the purpose of dissuading the Prince of Orange from the decided resolution which he is said to have taken to renounce the crown of Holland. Dutch journals have thought it necessary to deny any intention on the part of the King to abdicate, but that he is about to make a temporary visit to his estates in Silesia. The King of the Belgians seems to be equally afflicted. He has returned to the Palace Laecken at Brussels, from Paris, in such a mentally debilitated state, that he is unequal to the cares of government, and all parties seem at a loss to conceive what will be the upshot. Turning to Spain, accounts from Madrid have repeatedly stated, that the Queen has expressed to her Ministers her resolute intention to abdicate the throne, and it was reported that a special council was summoned to deliberate upon the subject. With regard to this latter case, there is no doubt less apprehension need be entertained of the Queen of Spain taking so rash a step as it would be in her case, as of the other royal personages acting upon their declared intentions. The unhappy marriage of the Queen of Spain, brought about by French intrigue, is doubtless the cause of her Majesty's disgust of her present position; but her youth, and still more her political importance in the preservation of the balance of European politics, preclude the thought of any such serious change of dynasty in Spain. With these singular and unprecedented events hanging over the fate of Europe, it is a great happiness for mankind, that the general tendency of political opinion is to maintain peace, and to enlarge the sphere of human industry.—Wilmer and Smith's Times.