proclamation of a republic at Paris.  He now resolved himself to take the initiative.  He saw that the proposals hitherto made for revision did not satisfy public opinion; and on March 8, without consulting his ministers, he took the unusual step of sending for the President of the Second Chamber, Boreel van Hogelanden.  He asked him to ascertain the opinions and wishes of the Chamber on the matter of revision and to report to him.  The ministry on this resigned and a new liberal ministry was formed, at the head of which was Count Schimmelpenninck, formerly minister in London.  On March 17 a special Commission was appointed to draw up a draft scheme of revision.  It consisted of five members, four of whom, Thorbecke, Luzac, Donker-Curtius and Kempenaer, were prominent liberals and the fifth a Catholic from North Brabant.  Their work was completed by April 11 and the report presented to the king.  Schimmelpenninck, not agreeing with the proposals of the Commission, resigned; and on May 11 a new ministry under the leadership of Donker-Curtius was formed for the express purpose of carrying out the proposed revision.  A periodical election of the Second Chamber took place in July, and difficulties at first confronted the new scheme.  These were, however, overcome; and on October 14 the revised constitution received the king’s assent.  It was solemnly proclaimed on November 3.

The Constitution of 1848 left in the hands of the king the executive power, i.e. the conduct of foreign affairs, the right of declaring war and making peace, the supreme command of the military and naval forces, the administration of the overseas possessions, and the right of dissolving the Chambers; but these prerogatives were modified by the introduction of the principle of ministerial responsibility.  The ministers were responsible for all acts of the government, and the king could legally do no wrong.  The king was president of the Council of State (15 members), whose duty it was to consider all proposals made to or by the States-General.  The king shared the legislative power with the States-General, but the Second Chamber had the right of initiative, amendment and investigation; and annual budgets were henceforth to be presented for its approval.  All members of the States-General were to be at least 30 years of age.  The First Chamber of 39 members was elected by the Provincial Estates from those most highly assessed to direct taxation; the members sat for nine years, but one-third vacated their seats every third year.  All citizens of full age paying a certain sum to direct taxation had the right of voting for members of the Second Chamber, the country for this purpose being divided into districts containing 45,000 inhabitants.  The members held their seats for four years, but half the Chamber retired every second year.  Freedom of worship to all denominations, liberty of the press and the right of public meeting were guaranteed.  Primary education in public schools was placed under State control, but private schools were not interfered with.  The provincial and communal administration was likewise reformed and made dependent on the direct popular vote.